Portfolio 12.

Analyzing my performance in the oral presentation, I think it was clear enough and exemplifications were simple to be understood by everybody. My group could get to the punctual idea of what writing is about, and we tried to provide our mates with enough information about how we can develop this skill, in different aspects. Personally, visual aids helped me to follow a correct order of my exposure. I prepared a power point with clear pictures, drawings, examples and webs to exemplify what I was saying.

I could realize that the majority of my mates could follow my explanations because I used my own words, and that made it very understandable. Eye contact and pronunciation were two important issues I paid attention to. It helped me to improve my performance on the spot. I could realize if my mates were boring, or if they could not follow my speech, or if I was not being clear in the explanations. What I should acknowledge, is that I did not focus on Intonation. I was concentrated on how and what I was going to say next.

Honestly, I should admit that I could take just some notes. It depended on the speaker, whether he or she was clear and lively on his or her speech I was able to understand better than with those students who had a monotonous tone of voice, or those who were reading what they were suposed to explain with their own words. In this way, I could profit from those students who did it well, and take into account  errors with the purpose of not committing them myself in the future. What I would change on my own performance is the quality of language I used to explain things. Maybe I got lost trying to find the right words and, as a consequence, I used a lot of words to explain simple things, adding extra time to my performance.

Of course every member of the group had to read the whole chapter to understand the central theme and organize our speech. This helped us to connect the different parts of our power point to make it coherent and cohesive. We were able to link concepts in a hierarchical order of importance, and relation between them. We tried to make it simple and clear for us and for our mates to achieve a good performance.

I could find two positive aspects in our oral presentation. Firstly, I could perfectly connect what I read in the sources to my classes of English (EFL classes), because depending on the context I can use some aspects to improve my students’ writing through the explanation of the use of linkers, and how they help to the connectedness of a text, how to organize ideas before writing a text, and how to provide a good topic sentence. The second positive aspect of presenting this kind of task, is that it prepares us for future important presentations, and gives us confidence to be in front of a class.

PORTFOLIO #11

Metacognitive Analysis.

Even knowing that i still have to do it better and that i have a lot to learn, i have came to the conclusion that my writing has improved a lot this year. Maybe, i could find the way to start my writing efficiently. I have a clearer idea about the steps to follow for each type of essay or paragraph i want to write. My problem, before writing, was to have many ideas mixed in my mind and i could not put them in order in the text. The prewriting, writing, and revising stages are easier now, because i have models to follow  and rules that made everything clearer for me.

This year we are  concerned about academic writing, which not only helped me to enhance writing in all aspects, but made me acknowledge how basic and simple writings from previous years were. Apa rules, a good presentation, well redacted papers, a correct organization of the paragraphs, all these things differ from previous years when, in contrast, writing was about a specific item with little research about it, or summaries of a given text. Moreover, the limitation of time to write was really hard to manage but, all in all, i know that all that was part of the training. The more you write the better.                

Vocabulary: (synonyms).

•   I have reached to the conclusion - I have came to the conclusion:       

            _ Reach to a conclusion: to complete a discussion and decide an issue.      

            _ Come to a conclusion:   to arrive at (a certain state)  

• Easily - Efficiently:

            _Easily: in an easy manner; with ease; without trouble    

            _Efficiently:  performing or functioning in the best possible manner with  the least waste of time  and effort.

•  Improve - Enhance:

            _ Improve: to bring into a more desirable or excellent condition

            _ Enhance:  to raise to a higher degree; intensify; magnify.

• Realize - Acknowledge:

           Realize: to grasp or understand clearly./ To make real; give reality to (a hope, fear, plan, etc.).   

           Acknowledge: to admit to be real or true.     

      Bibliographical Data:

• Dictionary.com. Retrieved from: http://dictionary.reference.com
• Reverso. Retrieved from: http://dictionary.reverso.net                                 

Graphic Organizer:  

           

WRITING ASSIGNMENT

For a Nonviolent Revolution.

Egyptian people should not give up easily, injustice and deaths must stop, the revolution means claiming for what belongs to them and still in the 21st century they do not have: freedom. Since 2011, when millions of Protestants from different socio economic and religious backgrounds overthrew the regime of President Hosni Mubarak, Egyptians demand police brutality, lack of free elections, corruption, freedom of speech, and “the state of emergency laws” which prohibited all non governmental political activity or street demonstrations. At the same time, people were tired of being unemployed, having low wages and still paying a high inflation for food. It is really disgraceful to have this kind of issue at this time of the century, where “revolution” should be an old fashioned word to claim for basic rights.

The transition to democracy in 2011, regrettably failed. Islamist parties had won the elections, but this democratically elected parliament was dissolved in June 2012. The “Muslim brotherhood” candidate Mohammed Morsi became president just under 52 percent of the votes. Of course this was a perfect opportunity for the Muslim brotherhood, hungry for power after waiting for decades under Mubarak’s rules. This government, as it was expected, was dishonest and tried to monopolize power making social and economic reforms. Luckily, things seemed to be going to the fair side when activists, journalists, and even TV personalities criticized Morsi openly. Consequently, the intolerant president ordered to arrest the comedian Jon Stewart for exercising free speech. As a result, this democracy failure brought another crisis for the country in 2013.

Egyptian people would not let authorities abuse of their power once more. A year later, on July 3, a mass of antigovernment protests and the military power, took Morsi into custody and formed an interim civilian leadership. This generated, naturally, the competition between dozens of political parties desiring power. Anxiety and uncertainty over the future of the country, are the feelings for those people who want peace and respect for their lives and rights. Obviously the protests provoked chaos and more deaths. Labor strikes, mistrust between Islamism and secular parties, and tension between Muslim and Christian have started. Moreover, the criminal activities and violence in some cities are inevitable because of the poor security in the streets.

Once more, people have to pay with their lives the consequences of a government that did not adapt correctly to democracy. It is really unbelievable that still in the 21st century, it is the so advanced technological media that has to tell the world about a war or violent revolution in a certain country. Power and more power, it is all the great leaders and other politicians think about. While the opponents to Morsi celebrate a second revolution, what is just, his supporters sentence the “military coup” who is in power nowadays. But still there are the common people, waiting for a just democracy. Revolution is justice, in this case, but it should not mean deaths and war just for the sake of power. We do not know how all this will end, but we should bear in mind that every human being have rights, and they should be respected naturally. But the reality shows us that there is still necessary to claim for what should be naturally given.

                                                     Thesis statement:

Egyptian people should not give up easily, injustice and deaths must stop, the revolution means claiming for what belongs to them and still in the 21st century they do not have: freedom. (Argumentative thesis statement)

                                                      Graphic organizer:

          

                                                      Sources:

Gamel, K. (2013). What's Going On In Egypt: A Brief Explanation. Retrieved from:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/14/whats-going-on-in egypt_n_3758890.html#slide=2810933

Manfreda, P. (2013). Timeline of Egyptian Crisis in 2013. Retrieved from:

http://middleeast.about.com/od/egypt/a/Timeline-Of-Egyptian-Crisis-In-2013.htm

Egyptian Revolution of 2011. Retrieved from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Revolution_of_2011

Manfreda, P. (2013). Current Situation in Egypt. Retrieved from:

http://middleeast.about.com/od/egypt/tp/Current-Situation-In-Egypt.htm

PORTFOLIO #10

PORTFOLIO #10 from Ayeh Len

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ENTRY #10

                                   Painting a Brighter Future

The Inclusive Education in Action (IEA) works in an excellent project to introduce the concept of inclusion in education through arts, around the world. Part of this project was carried out in Cairo, Egypt, where they worked with students with and without intellectual disabilities. The aims of this project were, at first instance, to use art to promote integration, secondly, to create awareness among young students to gain "future activists", and finally, to apply this kind of classes in schools of general education where inclusion has not been implemented yet. Furthermore, the IEA project is working not only in Africa, but also in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, Arab States and Europe to introduce this concept of inclusion in schools.

To facilitate the inclusion, this project was developed through artistic activities. This helped to create the right atmosphere to work with both groups, considering that art activities have a significant place in the curricula of special education. It offers children with disabilities powerful and memorable learning experiences. For this reason, many special children are even more knowledgeable about the art techniques than those without disabilities. Moreover, these children need to feel self-esteem and develop inner strength, and it is through art that they gain the safeness they need, since there is no way to fail. In addition, many schools in Cairo unfortunately have no direct contact with students with disabilities, and “art” is always a theme of interest among children which facilitates the inclusion.

Another very interesting theme in this project was how the two groups of students envisioned being together in the future. A questionnaire was delivered to both groups to raise awareness about this aim. Furthermore, special teachers prepared students without disabilities to break the stereotypical image they had about their peers with disabilities. These teachers helped students to build up enough confidence to communicate with special students. It was important to involve both groups of students in activities based on principles of equality. To create this kind of awareness among students without disabilities will help to improve the situation of inclusion, not only in the schools of the city of Cairo where this change is very significant, but also around the rest of the world. Young generations have to be conscious about problems of discrimination and segregation, and in that way, get involved with associations that help and fight to have a better society in the future.

If every human being dreams about a better society, the best way to do this is by introducing this kind of projects in every school around the world. The change must begin with children because they are the future, and we are responsible for that change. Adults should help children to develop positive attitudes about their own worth and the worth of others if we all want a caring, non-violent society in which everyone is treated with respect. Consequently, the main goal of IEA project was to create consciousness about inclusion in different schools around the world, and do it though artistic activities provoked favorable results. Some of the students, who participated from this project in Cairo, maintained a friendship and they were invited by the IEA to guide future initiatives in other schools of the city.  In United States, for example, the project focused on promoting socialization skills of students with autism through integrated arts activities, which had successful results. In Canada, the design of a curriculum based on creative arts as dance, drama and music for pre-school age children with developmental delays, was really encouraging for teachers who implemented this curriculum in different schools. Just as in Cairo, the IEA project spread all over the world obtaining very positive results.

As it was remarked before, these projects had favorable results for inclusion among young students. In the city of Cairo, where segregation and discrimination is an important issue still nowadays, students without disabilities became defenders of the rights of special students for inclusive purposes. Artists with intellectual disabilities had the opportunity to discover their artistic potential, while working with their peers in artistic activities. Both groups of students produced fantastic ideas about a just society in the future, moreover, they considered the idea of becoming future activists to create in society the consciousness it needs. These kind of projects are really important, people need to be well educated in all aspects, and being noble minded with those people who are special, but not different, create in us a sixth sense needed to build up a better society.

                                                         Sources:

Bishop, C. (2011). Encouraging the Arts for Children with Special Needs. Retrieved from:

http://www.indyschild.com/Articles-i-2011-01-01-249384.112112-Encouraging-the-Arts-for-Children-with-Special-Needs.html

 

Inclusive Education in Action (2011). About the IEA project. Retrieved from:

http://www.inclusive-education-in-action.org/iea/index.php

 

Inclusive Education in Action (2011).Facilitating inclusion through the arts in Egypt.

Retrieved from:

http://www.inclusive-education-in-action.org/iea/index.php?menuid=25&reporeid=144

 

Inclusive Education in Action (2011). Geographical region. Retrieved from:

http://www.inclusive-education-in-action.org/iea/index.php?menuid=46

Entry #9

Conclusion paragraph:

It is clear, therefore, that accidents caused by the use of cell phones while driving could be reduced if every state legislature begins to take this problem seriously. Punishments to imprudent drivers would help to create consciousness about the dangers, not only for themselves but also for others. As it has been shown, many researches, cartoons and, above all, people's common sense tell us that there are some things that a driver must respect to keep their attention on the road. However, the misbehavior of some drivers would be easier to regulate if the law is well applied, to reduce nonsense accidents.

Entry #8

                                                 Argentinian Salad Bowl.

Bolivians, Paraguayans and Chinese immigrants are the largest groups which move to our country for labor reasons, bringing with them their cultural habits. In our country there is no much restriction about immigration. Bolivians, in their majority, have found a good job opportunity in greengroceries and, moreover, they outnumber Argentinian greengrocers. Talking about Paraguayans, they have adapted to wide variety of jobs in our country and, noticeably, they are closest to our cultural habits. Chinese immigrants, on the contrary, have moved to Argentina to set enormous supermarkets all over the country. Their culture is evidently different to our, and the majority of them seem not to care about adaptation. These groups of immigrants are increasing in our country, and we have to adapt ourselves to their cultural manners in their working environment.

                                                  Argentinian Salad Bowl.

Bolivians, Paraguayans and Chinese immigrants are the largest groups that move to our country for labor reasons, bringing with them their cultural habits to which we have to accept and adapt. In our country there is no much restriction about immigration. Bolivians, in their majority, have found a good job opportunity in greengroceries and, moreover, they outnumber Argentinian greengrocers. Talking about Paraguayans, they have adapted to wide variety of jobs in our country and, noticeably, they are closest to our cultural habits. Chinese immigrants, on the contrary, have moved to Argentina to set enormous supermarkets all over the country. Their culture is evidently different to our, and the majority of them seem not to care about adaptation. These groups of immigrants are increasing in our country, and we have to adapt ourselves to their cultural manners in their working environment.