Wednesday, April 11, 2012


On December 21, 2012 the Mayan civilization predicted the end of their "Long Count" calendar of 5, 126 years.
The Mayan civilization lived during the years of 300-900 A.D., and were known for their mathematical, astrological,
architectural and engineering abilities.
But, what does this mean to us? Well, it could mean many things. For some it might mean the end of the world as we know it...an "Apocalypse," if you will. For others, it could mean a new beginning to the way we view and treat the earth. According to an article in USA Today, titled "Does Mayan Calendar Predict 2012 Apocalypse?" many people became intrigued with the Mayan calendar's prediction. This came to be primarily from a film about the Mayan civilization released in 2006 by Mel Gibson titled "Apocalypto," (which I saw and loved), and also by several books that went on sale the consecutive year,one of which was; "The Return of Quetzalcoatl" by Daniel Pinchbeck (which I also began reading some time ago). Another reason, that G. Jeffrey MacDonald, author of the USA article, suggests to the sudden trend of this phenomena is also due to society's concern for the global environment. Yet, regardless or your opinion, the fact is that a prediction was definitely made, and we are fast approaching December 21, 2012. I guess everyone is just going to have to wait and see what comes...if anything.

Vocabulary

civilization: an advanced state of human society, in which a high level of culture, science, industry, and government has been reached.
predicted: an instance of this; prophecy.
astrological: the study that assumes and attempts to interpret the influence of the heavenly bodies on human affairs.
architectural: the act of having a profession of designing buildings, open areas, communities, and other artificial constructions and environments, usually with some regard to aesthetic effect
engineering: the act of having art or science of making practical application of the knowledge
of pure sciences, as physics or chemistry, as in the construction of engines, bridges, buildings,
mines, ships,and chemical plants.
Apocalypse: a prophetic revelation, especially concerning a cataclysm in which the forces of good permanently triumph over theforces of evil.
intrigued: to arouse the curiosity or interest of by unusual, new, or otherwise fascinating or compelling qualities.

Vocabulary Exercise

Writing Activity:

What do you predict?
After having read the above article use the vocabulary words to help you write your own prediction for the coming month of December. Write down four predictions for 2012. Feel free to include any predictions, no matter how crazy they might seem!

Predictions

We often use the Future Simple when making a prediction based on experience or intuition.

Examples:

It will rain in a moment. Positive Statement: subject + will + verb


It won’t get more difficult. Negative statement: subject + will not/won’t + verb

Use the following words to help you write:

probably… most likely… we’re sure …

we think… we expect… It is certain…


Grammar Point

Future Tense
Simple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice, the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.

FORM Will

[will + verb]

Examples:

  • You will help him later.
  • Will you help him later?
  • You will not help him later.

FORM Be Going To

[am/is/are + going to + verb]

Examples:

  • You are going to meet Jane tonight.
  • Are you going to meet Jane tonight?
  • You are not going to meet Jane tonight.
Read more at: http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefuture.html

Grammar Exercise

Predictions

We often use the Future Simple when making a prediction based on experience or intuition.

Examples:

It will rain in a moment. Positive Statement: subject + will + verb

It won’t get more difficult. Negative statement: subject + will not/won’t + verb

Complete five of the six questions listed below in the future tense.

1. What do you think will happen to the governments of the world when resolving the issues facing the global economy?

________________________________________________________________________.

2. What new developments will companies have for the iPhone, iPad and Android platforms during the first two quarters of 2012?

________________________________________________________________________.

3. After you have had so many classes scheduled in the first semester of 2012 will you do to recover from so many tests?

________________________________________________________________________.

4. Do you might think the world is going to end on December 21st 2012?

________________________________________________________________________.

5. Do you think that the world will be a more peaceful place in 2012?

________________________________________________________________________.

6. Ask someone at home what they might predict for this New Year and write it down. Also write down if you agree or disagree with their predication.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________.

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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

To Procrastinate or NOT to Procrastinate???


If your like me, and in most cases people are, then you will admit that you procrastinate quite often. Procrastination does not have to be done on something really important like filing your taxes, or getting your car fixed, but it can also be done on small things like; sending out an e-mail, or buying a gallon of milk. Its amazing what I can come up with to do, rather than what I "have to do!" For example; I might clean my whole apartment from top to bottom, before actually getting started on a college paper, and my excuse is that "I can't possibly think in all this clutter, I need to clean it!" And so apparently, there are more people out there in the world just like me, who would put off tomorrow, what they can actually do today. According to Piers Steel, a business professor at the University of Calgary, "the percentage of people who admitted to difficulties with procrastination quadrupled between 1978 and 2002. In that light, it’s possible to see procrastination as the quintessential modern problem." Quadrupled....mmmmm, very interesting indeed. So you see, I am not the only one, and you were probably shaking your head in agreement with this thing called "procrastination." So I decided to post up 7 helpful steps to combating procrastination (taken from the Huff Post).

1. Don't be shy. Look at what you actually have to do: Usually once you're willing to take a look, what you initially thought was insurmountable turns out to be surprisingly simple and manageable.

2. Break it down into small steps: Be a good project manager: Break down the goal, name the steps and rather than feel like you need to juggle everything at once, get your eagle eye focused on one thing at a time.

3. Fire the perfectionist: Good enough is great (and it's done): Strive to do excellent work, not perfect work. It's not about lowering your standards, it's about lowering the very unrealistic stakes that you've constructed in your mind of what it means to fall short of the non-existent construct of perfection.

4. Set up your launching pad, then walk away: Don't get cozy on the couch until you've done your setup first. Open up your briefcase or backpack, arrange your work station with all the necessary supplies, open the books to the right page, find and open computer files whatever you need and then... leave. Leave? Yes, for a short period of time, and then when you come back, voila! Everything's there waiting for your arrival.

5. Start in the middle. Or, skip the hard parts: Some projects have to be done in a certain order, but most times there are no rules. Getting started is the hardest part. Rather than sit in a staring contest with the proverbial blank page, waiting for inspiration to hit, skip it.

6. Be willing to end just short of finishing something: X marks the spot. That will provide a quick and easy transition or on-ramp when you return to the project later. Immediately knowing where you were headed and what you need to do short-circuits fear and doubt.

7. Follow Grandma's rule -- or, dinner first, then dessert: Do a good chunk of work and then reward yourself with that break. We enjoy breaks more when they're earned, not sneaked. Go into your project knowing your exit strategy. Designate a schedule: work for 45, break for 15.



Vocabulary:

procrastinate: to defer action; delay: to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost.
amazing: causing great surprise or sudden wonder.
apparently: readily seen; exposed to sight; open to view; visible.
quintessential: of the pure and essential essence of something.
combating: to fight or contend against; oppose vigorously.
insurmountable: incapable of being surmounted, passed over, or overcome;insuperable.
strive: to exert oneself vigorously; try hard.


Vocabulary Exercise:

Circle the word that does not belong.

wait defer now delay
usual great surprise wonder
not seen visible exposed seen
pure essential essence duplicate
fight contend oppose no struggle
passed over overcome surmounted insuperable
exert lazy try attempt

Grammar Point:

COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES:

>> When we use an adjective to compare two things, we add "er" to the

end of the adjective if it is short, and we say "more" or "less" before the

adjective if it is long.

Comparative Vocabulary:

as, bad, best, better, between, difference, favorite, good, least, less, more,

most, than, what, which, worse, worst

-The planet Earth is big. Saturn is bigger. Jupiter is the biggest.


 >> In the above sentence

the word "big" is an ADJECTIVE

the word "bigger" is a COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVE


Grammar Exercise:

Write the correct form of the adverb for each sentence.
  1. We travel to the beach _______________________ during the summer months.

(often)

  1. Emily usually arrives _____________________ than everyone else in the morning.

(early)

  1. This chemical reacts ________________ than the others do.

(quick)

  1. The singer on the left sang __________________ than the others.

(loud)

  1. Olivia cared __________________ about swimming with friends than doing homework.

(deep)

  1. Ethan understood the concepts of algebra _________________________ than his classmates did. (easy)

  1. A hybrid car drives _____________________ than a similar gasoline-powered car. (efficient)


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Sunday, March 4, 2012


The Benefits of Massage Therapy

I've been a massage therapist for a little over ten years, and I can happily say that as the years pass on, i grow fonder of my learned skill. I am able to help people deal with their stress, aches and pains, and it's one of the professions that truly makes you feel as though you've made a difference in someones life. I've treated thousands of people, from big to small, old to young, almost all kinds of people. Being a licensed massage therapist allows me to be as creative as I want, to work at my own pace and to make me want to exceed at it every time I work on someone new. Although, it's without saying, that being a massage therapist is not the easiest profession, but in the end it is wonderful. And despite the fact that I a now a Spanish teacher, i do intend to continue the art of massage, its flexible in such a way that I will be able to do so. So for all of you who might feel a little stressed, or achy or have some pain...try having a massage today!

Massage therapy helps you relax, re-align and rejuvenate. There are many positive aspects to receiving massage therapy on an ongoing basis, and with the busy lives we lead, we can all benefit from a little stress-management.

Vocabulary

fonder: having a strong affection for something or someone
treat: to provide medical aid or attention
licensed: authorized or permitted by law
exceed: to go beyond expectation
profession: what you do for a living
wonderful: that causes wonder, amazing
intend: to plan to or design for


Vocabulary Exercise

Create synonym for each word on top. A synonym is a word or expression that has nearly the same meaning as another word or expression. Synonyms tend to be adjectives, adverbs and verbs, with relatively few nouns qualifying as true synonyms. For example “big” (an adjective), “slowly” (an adverb) and “talk” (a verb) all have synonyms, while “sock” (a noun) does not.

Grammar Point

Contractions: A contraction is a shortened form of one or two words, one of which is usually a verb. In a contraction, an apostrophe almost always takes the place of the missing letter(s), for example “don’t” is the contraction for “do not”


Grammar Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the correct contraction:

1. ___________ been waiting here for an hour!
2. The teacher said that ___________ not having homework!
3. ____________ like to play baseball after lunch.
4. ______________ going on the field trip, aren’t you?
5. He said that ____________ already had lunch, Mom.
6. Mom said that ___________ buy me a new dress.
7. _____________ coming to my birthday party.
8. ________________ seen that movie, too.

Word Bank

he’d she’d you’re I’d
they’re we’ve they’ve we’re

For more information or examples log on to:



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Got Humor?



A sense of humor... is needed armor. Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life.
Hugh Sidey

Readmore:http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/laughter.html#ixzz1oCJX62Oo

According to Help Guide.com laughter is good for several things:

Laughter is good for your health

  • Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
  • Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
  • Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
  • Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

So if this is true, then we should all be laughing much more! I try to keep this in mind when I'm teaching. In high school, or any school for that matter it should be deemed necessary for all teachers to possess this quality! The ability to not only laugh at funny things, or at jokes that students might say, but to also laugh at ones self. I'm glad to say that I laugh at myself all the time. Of course, I tend to be very clumsy, so that truly helps, I can't tell you how many times I've fallen and laughed ridiculously at myself! Silly of me to do so? Perhaps, but I don't mind, it keeps me sane, especially while teaching at school and when I have two little girls at home! So, keep laughing it helps!!! :)


Vocabulary

deemed: to think, believe or judge
possess: to own, or have
clumsy: describes someone or something that moves awkwardly
ridiculously: something that is silly or foolish
especially: particularly or to a greater degree


Vocabulary Exercise

  • Create a dialog with the vocabulary words above, it can be between you and someone else (be creative: Choose a famous person).
Example:

Me: I'm afraid I cannot accept your _(ridiculous)_ invitation.

Brad Pitt: Oh, that's a pity! I'm so sorry. I just thought I would let you know that you’re the most beautiful woman on the face of this earth and that Angelina means nothing to me!


Grammar Point

Future tense:

Simple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice, the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.

FORM Will

Examples:

[will + verb]

Example:
  • You will help him later.

FORM Be Going To

[am/is/are + going to + verb]

Example:

  • You are going to meet Jane tonight.
Now you try, fill in the blanks with the future tense of will/go.

1. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up!
B: I (get) you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up.

2. A: I can't hear the television!
B: I (turn) it up so you can hear it.

3. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) Paris, Nice and Grenoble.

4. Sarah (come) to the party. Oliver (be) there as well.

5. Ted: It is so hot in here!
Sarah: I (turn) the air-conditioning on.

For more examples or information log on to:
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