ARE YOU A STUDENT-RESEARCHER?

I am a researcher, what about you?

The key element for being a researcher, in my opinion, is curiosity. When we are curious, we are impelled to broaden our horizons, to expand our knownledge, to search for new trails. One might mention the drawbacks of being too curious, but I'd rather believe it is all about benefits.

I know I am not being clear here, and there is a purpose in doing that. A challenge: can you think of it as having any relation to language, English studies?

I came up with this concept of student-researcher while I was teaching one of my chapters 16 (for those who have already been through it, it may ring a bell; for those who haven't, take it as a tip). In this chapter, there is a text called 'Land Down Under" with which almost all of my students confess having a very hard time. The problems get to its apex when they (should I say YOU?) have to answer the questions "What is the Australian Outback? What is usually found there?", which are not in the text. Few students, unfortunately, get curious enough or have time to browse the net, magazines for this information. These are not student-researchers. =(

Greatest tip ever, then: being a language researcher is one of the keys for success. Your development as a speaker depends on that. Do not wait for the answer, look for it. Contribute to classes by bringing new information, ideas, curiosities. Be autonomous. Carry out a research on new vocabulary, materials, websites, books and share them with teachers and classmates. Be prepared for the classes in all aspects. Research for strategies, for a better performance. Be curious, be a researcher.

Instructor Rafa.

btw: Australian Outback is a desert!

TRY CROSSING THE BRIDGE...

Some days ago, while talking to a student of mine (one of my daily conversations about motivation and commitment), an analogy came to me as a flash of light. I was trying to show her how profitable the study of English was and what she could do to be more involved with it during her extra contact at home, when I had an image of English as a BRIDGE. A BRIDGE, if you consider its main role, is very important with regard to connecting places. This fact, however, loses its so-far-single relevance if you think that what really matters is what its broader meaning represents: the mingling of people, societies, costumes, cultures and experiences. I always have that feeling while I’m traveling on my back from Niterói (in my best friend’s car), for instance. It’s a very short trip, I know, but the feeling is of a passage; I am never the same when I get home.

And, why English as a BRIDGE? Language can be a tool/a BRIDGE for you to access other sources and worlds. If you like to cook, for example, read recipes in English; if you like to sing in a karaoke, sing songs in English; if you buy a new product, read its manual book in English; if you usually read news about the world or fiction books, read them in English; if you like to read gossip or magazines, get them in English; if you write poems, try them out in English; when looking for any information, see if you have it in English; and so forth. Also, spend some time looking for videos and texts about your professional field in English; it’s going to be a good way to improve knowledge in its all ways.

Final word: try to see English as a BRIDGE, not only as a final point (that is, learning for learning). Open your mind to new worlds and count on English for that; seize the opportunities and be determined to reach the other side of the road.


Instructor Rafa.

LET'S READ!

Hi!
I'm Alana, your teacher at UpTime!
How have you been? I'm here to give you some tips!

This is the SBS Bookstore site, there you can find lots of story books, dictionaries, help books... it's great!
There is a SBS store on Quitanda street! Go there and have fun.

http://www.sbs.com.br/virtual/ingles/index.asp

And this is a really intresting American newspaper site, you click on one of the orange dots on the map and then it shows the first page of their local newspaper.

http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/flash/

Enjoy! And read a lot! =)



CONGRATS AND A SUGGESTION

Hello guys! How was your weekend? I hope you had a great mother's day!
I had a wonderful one! That is the advantage of having a big family; there is always a lot of fun.

Today, I'd like to begin the post by thanking Celso, Gilherme and Petrus for answering the question I proposed. Second, I'd like to congrat CELSO 'cause, after some discussion, we decided he is the one who deserves the two cinema tickets for having written the most thrilling story ever! lol


Finally, I'd like to recommend a very good website with lectures/talks about many different themes. It can be very useful for you to practice your listening skills! Choose the one related to your job field.


http://www.ted.com/themes/browse


(They have got a channel on Youtube as well: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=TED&aq=f)

(FYI: Stroke is a sudden change in the blood supply to a part of the brain, which can cause a loss of the ability to move particular parts of the body)

TICKETS FOR THE CINEMA _ SECOND CHANCE!

For those who wanted a second chance to get TWO cinema tickets, here it is!

As we're getting close to the MOTHER'S DAY, I decided to go with the flow and post you a challenge based on that. Now, the one who writes the STRANGEST/FUNNIEST answer for the question gets the ticket! I will read your posts until Sunday, right?!

WHAT WAS THE FUNNIEST AND STRANGEST SITUATION YOUR MOTHER EVER PUT YOU IN?



I found a nice video about the mother's day. Take a look at it and practice your listening.

(Do you think the guy in the video is a good son?)

Guys, take a look at the NEWS about Celso on uptime website: http://www.uptime.com.br/materia.aspx?cod=398