Tuesday, December 21, 2010
I will miss you!
2010 was such a great year! We had lots of fun, laughter... It was so good to me! I will miss you, my dear friends. Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! XOXOXOXOXOXO
Thursday, December 9, 2010
What the h...?
OH, My GOD! I've just found out my huge mistake! "Hit" me!
And, WHERE ARE YOU, guys!
We were suposed to post our texts here! They are on page127 up to 130! Don't get me wrong and don't think I'm a nerd, ok? I just need points with this rough man named Robson.
Oh, I almost forget:
In my text " The Shy Sorceress" the words which are likely to cause doubts are:
Sorceress - Witch
Welfare- Financial or other assistance to an individual family from a city, state or national government.
Browse - To look through in a casual leisurely manner. (To look through or glance at casually)
Cadge- To obtain imposing on another´s generosity or friendship. To borrow without intent to repay.
Diaper - A piece of cloth or other absorbent material folded and worn as underpants by a baby no yet toilled-trained. SOMETHING THAT THE MALU'S BABIES ARE WEARING AT THIS MOMENT.
And, WHERE ARE YOU, guys!
We were suposed to post our texts here! They are on page127 up to 130! Don't get me wrong and don't think I'm a nerd, ok? I just need points with this rough man named Robson.
Oh, I almost forget:
In my text " The Shy Sorceress" the words which are likely to cause doubts are:
Sorceress - Witch
Welfare- Financial or other assistance to an individual family from a city, state or national government.
Browse - To look through in a casual leisurely manner. (To look through or glance at casually)
Cadge- To obtain imposing on another´s generosity or friendship. To borrow without intent to repay.
Diaper - A piece of cloth or other absorbent material folded and worn as underpants by a baby no yet toilled-trained. SOMETHING THAT THE MALU'S BABIES ARE WEARING AT THIS MOMENT.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Like I promised... Aardvark!
Aardvark
Once Upon A Hill (1970)
Sitting alone on top of a hill
Hard to describe the way that I feel
Feel so relaxed feel so at ease
Watching the sun play in the trees
Used to have fun on the hill
Young and carefree but until
Minutes of place look at my face
I wish I was much younger still
As time pass by I age with each year
Longing to see the hill I left here
Laughter, sadness, splendour and joy
Things I remember when I was a boy
Nevertheless I'm really content
Although I'm tired and money I've sepent
Don't want your pity I don't want your tears
Had good time in my 63 years
* Repeat
It's getting real late and I've gotta go
Move right aroung to where I don't know
Tomorrow I'll be many miles away
Remember the hill where we sat yesterday
* Repeat
I wish I was much younger still
Once Upon A Hill (1970)
Sitting alone on top of a hill
Hard to describe the way that I feel
Feel so relaxed feel so at ease
Watching the sun play in the trees
Used to have fun on the hill
Young and carefree but until
Minutes of place look at my face
I wish I was much younger still
As time pass by I age with each year
Longing to see the hill I left here
Laughter, sadness, splendour and joy
Things I remember when I was a boy
Nevertheless I'm really content
Although I'm tired and money I've sepent
Don't want your pity I don't want your tears
Had good time in my 63 years
* Repeat
It's getting real late and I've gotta go
Move right aroung to where I don't know
Tomorrow I'll be many miles away
Remember the hill where we sat yesterday
* Repeat
I wish I was much younger still
Friday, June 11, 2010
Ponzi Scheme
Scheme 1. A systematic plan of action. 2. A secret or devious plan; a plot.
A Ponzi Scheme is a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to separate investors from their own money or money paid by subsequent investors, rather than from any actual profit earned. The system is destined to collapse because the earnings, if any, are less than the payment to investors.(Wikipedia)
An example is the Bernie Madoff scheme.
A Ponzi Scheme is a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to separate investors from their own money or money paid by subsequent investors, rather than from any actual profit earned. The system is destined to collapse because the earnings, if any, are less than the payment to investors.(Wikipedia)
An example is the Bernie Madoff scheme.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Rites of passage
Hey, why are you guys so quiet?
I know you miss me, but having a replacement teacher is also a rite of passage.
So, stop crying and do your homework. And post something here.
See ya.
I know you miss me, but having a replacement teacher is also a rite of passage.
So, stop crying and do your homework. And post something here.
See ya.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Ars Poetica
Ars Poetica
A poem should be palpable and mute
As a globed fruit
Dumb
As old medallions to the thumb
Silent as the sleeve-worn stone
Of casement ledges where the moss has grown -
A poem should be wordless
As the flight of birds
A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs
Leaving, as the moon releases
Twig by twig the night-entangled trees,
Leaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves,
Memory by memory the mind -
A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs
A poem should be equal to:
Not true
For all the history of grief
An empty doorway and a maple leaf
For love
The leaning grasses and two lights above the sea -
A poem should not mean
But be
Archibald MacLeish (1892-1982)
A poem should be palpable and mute
As a globed fruit
Dumb
As old medallions to the thumb
Silent as the sleeve-worn stone
Of casement ledges where the moss has grown -
A poem should be wordless
As the flight of birds
A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs
Leaving, as the moon releases
Twig by twig the night-entangled trees,
Leaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves,
Memory by memory the mind -
A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs
A poem should be equal to:
Not true
For all the history of grief
An empty doorway and a maple leaf
For love
The leaning grasses and two lights above the sea -
A poem should not mean
But be
Archibald MacLeish (1892-1982)
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Progressive
Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Progressive
Both tenses are used to express that an action began in the past and is still going on or has just finished. In many cases, both forms are correct, but there is often a difference in meaning: We use the Present Perfect Simple mainly to express that an action is completed or to emphasize the result. We use the Present Perfect Progressive to emphasize the duration or continuous course of an action.
Present Perfect
irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of irregular verbs
Example: I / you / we / they have spoken
he / she / it has spoken
regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed
Example: I / you / we / they have worked
he / she / it has worked
The following verbs are usually only used in Present Perfect Simple (not in the progressive form):
state: be, have (for possession only) Example: We have been on holiday for two weeks.
senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch Example: He has touched the painting.
brain work: believe, know, think, understand Example: I have known him for 3 years.
Present Perfect Progressive
Form of 'have' + been + verb + ing
Example: I / you / we / they have been speaking
he / she / it has been speaking
Result or duration?
Do you want to express what has happened so far or how long an action has been going on yet?
Present Perfect
Result (what / how much / how often)
I have written 5 letters. / I have been to London twice
Present Perfect Progressive
Duration (how long)
I have been writing for an hour.
Emphasis on completion or duration?
Do you want to emphasise the completion of an action or its continuous course (how has somebody spent his time)?
Present Perfect
Emphasis on completion
I have done my homework. (Meaning: My homework is completed now.)
Present Perfect Progressive
Emphasis on duration
I have been doing my homework. (Meaning: That's how I have spent my time. It does not matter whether the homework is completed now.)
Result or side effect?
Do you want to express that a completed action led to a desired result or that the action had an unwanted side effect?
Present Perfect
desired result
I have washed the car. (Result: The car is clean now.)
Present Perfect Progressive
unwanted side effect
Why are you so wet? - I have been washing the car. (side effect: I became wet when I was washing the car. It does not matter whether the car is clean now.)
Permanent or temporary?
If an action is still going on and we want to express that it is a permanent situation, we would usually use the Present Perfect Simple. For temporary situations, we would prefer the Present Perfect Progressive. This is not a rule, however, only a tendency.
Present Perfect
permanent
James has lived in this town for 10 years. (Meaning: He is a permanent resident of this town.)
Present Perfect Progressivetemporary
James has been living here for a year. (Meaning: This situation is only temporary. Maybe he is an exchange student and only here for one or two years.)
From: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/prepersim-preperpro
Both tenses are used to express that an action began in the past and is still going on or has just finished. In many cases, both forms are correct, but there is often a difference in meaning: We use the Present Perfect Simple mainly to express that an action is completed or to emphasize the result. We use the Present Perfect Progressive to emphasize the duration or continuous course of an action.
Present Perfect
irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of irregular verbs
Example: I / you / we / they have spoken
he / she / it has spoken
regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed
Example: I / you / we / they have worked
he / she / it has worked
The following verbs are usually only used in Present Perfect Simple (not in the progressive form):
state: be, have (for possession only) Example: We have been on holiday for two weeks.
senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch Example: He has touched the painting.
brain work: believe, know, think, understand Example: I have known him for 3 years.
Present Perfect Progressive
Form of 'have' + been + verb + ing
Example: I / you / we / they have been speaking
he / she / it has been speaking
Result or duration?
Do you want to express what has happened so far or how long an action has been going on yet?
Present Perfect
Result (what / how much / how often)
I have written 5 letters. / I have been to London twice
Present Perfect Progressive
Duration (how long)
I have been writing for an hour.
Emphasis on completion or duration?
Do you want to emphasise the completion of an action or its continuous course (how has somebody spent his time)?
Present Perfect
Emphasis on completion
I have done my homework. (Meaning: My homework is completed now.)
Present Perfect Progressive
Emphasis on duration
I have been doing my homework. (Meaning: That's how I have spent my time. It does not matter whether the homework is completed now.)
Result or side effect?
Do you want to express that a completed action led to a desired result or that the action had an unwanted side effect?
Present Perfect
desired result
I have washed the car. (Result: The car is clean now.)
Present Perfect Progressive
unwanted side effect
Why are you so wet? - I have been washing the car. (side effect: I became wet when I was washing the car. It does not matter whether the car is clean now.)
Permanent or temporary?
If an action is still going on and we want to express that it is a permanent situation, we would usually use the Present Perfect Simple. For temporary situations, we would prefer the Present Perfect Progressive. This is not a rule, however, only a tendency.
Present Perfect
permanent
James has lived in this town for 10 years. (Meaning: He is a permanent resident of this town.)
Present Perfect Progressivetemporary
James has been living here for a year. (Meaning: This situation is only temporary. Maybe he is an exchange student and only here for one or two years.)
From: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/prepersim-preperpro
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Beach
This is an example of how we can use present tenses in descriptions and to tell stories that happened in the past. I hope you like it.
The Beach
The year is 1988, and I'm in the passenger seat of a 1987 Golf heading for the beach. Songs flow from the radio, bringing us into the right mood. The light, cool and salty sea breeze serves as refreshment on an otherwise sunny and hot day. The thermometer reads 103F, and the seagulls we see in the distance certainly agree, for they're thirstily diving into the sea and joyfully taking off to the perfect blue sky of Rio de Janeiro. Much like the birds, we are simply responding to a call from Mother Nature.
Along the way, we bow to the statue of Christ, the Redeemer, serenely looking upon us from its sacred place atop Corcovado Mountain. Farther away, packed with delighted tourists, the tramway joining Urca Hill to Sugar Loaf Mountain can be seen. As we near our destination, the crowd grows thicker. We all gladly share the crisp air coming from the ocean and the sublime scenery bestowed upon us on this glorious Sunday morning. The smiles stretch wider as we draw closer to attaining our goal: beating the heat and having a lot of fun in the process.
We are now driving along the shore. The sound of crystal clear water clashing against the foreshore replaces the radio, and a gust of wind sprays tiny drops of water onto our faces. Surfers, windsurfers, jet skiers and bathers alike ride the waves. Kids build their castles. Gorgeous girls in skimpy bikinis make it even easier on the eyes. Bronze-tanned guys play volleyball or soccer, or lie on the sand, enjoying the view. On the sidewalk, a black and white mosaic made of Portuguese stone, bodies on the verge of complete nakedness bustle around kiosks in search of a cold brew or coconut milk. We park our car and ready ourselves to go into nirvana.
The year is 1998; the day is Thursday. I'm awakened by the thunderous roar of a 747 blasting off from La Guardia Airport. It's late. My class starts in an hour, and I have homework to do. I'd better hurry.
RSB
NYC, 1998.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Thanks and apostrophes
Rock 'n' roll (rock and roll)
Wouldn't (would not - contraction)
She's (she is or she has - contractions)
'Cause (because)
Robson's posts are very interesting. (possessive)
R's and 4's are used informally to substitute for "are" and "for", respectively. (plural of letters and numbers)
See you later.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Comma Splices
Run-ons - Comma Splices - Fused Sentences
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/598/02/
Run-ons, comma splices, and fused sentences are all names given to compound sentences that are not punctuated correctly. The best way to avoid such errors is to punctuate compound sentences correctly by using one or the other of these rules.1. Join the two independent clauses with one of the coordinating conjunctions (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet), and use a comma before the connecting word.
_________________________, and _________________________.
He enjoys walking through the country, and he often goes backpacking on his vacations.
__________________________;_____________________________.
He often watched TV when there were only reruns; she preferred to read instead.
__________________________; however,____________________.
He often watched TV when there were only reruns; however, she preferred to read instead.
Incorrect: They weren't dangerous criminals they were detectives in disguise.
Correct: They weren't dangerous criminals; they were detectives in disguise.
Incorrect: I didn't know which job I wanted I was too confused to decide.
Correct: I didn't know which job I wanted, and I was too confused to decide.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
An e-mail to a relative
Dear Andreia,
Hello! How was your arrival in Chicago? Is still snowing? How I wish to be with you... please don't think I'm an envy person, maybe one day I can go with my babies and I take you to help me!
As you know Francisco was born, he is so wonderful! Last tuesday he did one month. Antonio is a little jealous, but we are trying to make him understand that is good to have a brother. He is not alone anymore. Sometimes Antonio asks me to carry Francisco. He lays in my bed then I put Francisco in his arms carefully. He likes do it very much! I took a picture of them, I'll send to you in the next letter.
My new house is very comfy, there's a big garden. It is very simple and small but it's my house. It's so good to arrive there...
Well, I have to go, there's a baby waiting for lunch. Taking care of two kids is a taught work!
I hope September will came soon to see you and to see Francisco bigger!
Send me news!
Miss you,
Love,
Malu.
Hello! How was your arrival in Chicago? Is still snowing? How I wish to be with you... please don't think I'm an envy person, maybe one day I can go with my babies and I take you to help me!
As you know Francisco was born, he is so wonderful! Last tuesday he did one month. Antonio is a little jealous, but we are trying to make him understand that is good to have a brother. He is not alone anymore. Sometimes Antonio asks me to carry Francisco. He lays in my bed then I put Francisco in his arms carefully. He likes do it very much! I took a picture of them, I'll send to you in the next letter.
My new house is very comfy, there's a big garden. It is very simple and small but it's my house. It's so good to arrive there...
Well, I have to go, there's a baby waiting for lunch. Taking care of two kids is a taught work!
I hope September will came soon to see you and to see Francisco bigger!
Send me news!
Miss you,
Love,
Malu.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Written Quiz - Unit 1
You should pay special attention to:
- to vs. for
- suffixes
- phrasal verbs
- writing (think about the topics we have discussed in this unit)
- to vs. for
- suffixes
- phrasal verbs
- writing (think about the topics we have discussed in this unit)
An e-mail to a friend.
Hello Luana,
Long time no see. How have you been? How's life there in Uberlândia? I guess we won't see each other for a while now that you moved to your father's place. At least the internet is available to us whenever we want to get connected.
I bet you guys are getting along well. I remember you once told me that you'd rather live with your father than with your Mom.
I'm pretty sure you enjoy your new job a lot. What is your office like? What about your workmates?
I am still working many hours a day but things here couldn't be better.
When I pass by your old house on my way to work it reminds me of us chatting on the porch about boyfriends and hang outs. I miss you, girl!
Speaking of boyfriends, how's your love life? Mine is great. Unfortunatelly my man and I don't have much time to see each other now that he is studying. I know he will be the greatest web designer.
Guess what? I'm trying to get my driver's licence. I can't wait to drive my car!
Well, I had better go now. I have got lots of homework to do.
Write me soon.
Affectionately,
Mariana Diamond
Long time no see. How have you been? How's life there in Uberlândia? I guess we won't see each other for a while now that you moved to your father's place. At least the internet is available to us whenever we want to get connected.
I bet you guys are getting along well. I remember you once told me that you'd rather live with your father than with your Mom.
I'm pretty sure you enjoy your new job a lot. What is your office like? What about your workmates?
I am still working many hours a day but things here couldn't be better.
When I pass by your old house on my way to work it reminds me of us chatting on the porch about boyfriends and hang outs. I miss you, girl!
Speaking of boyfriends, how's your love life? Mine is great. Unfortunatelly my man and I don't have much time to see each other now that he is studying. I know he will be the greatest web designer.
Guess what? I'm trying to get my driver's licence. I can't wait to drive my car!
Well, I had better go now. I have got lots of homework to do.
Write me soon.
Affectionately,
Mariana Diamond
Friday, March 5, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Hello, everyone!!!
Do you wanna improve your listening? Check out this site
http://librivox.org
It´s simply great. You´ll have the chance to listen to classics of world literature in different accents.
Enjoy!
XOXO,
Martha
Are you a picky eater?
Well, these are not really perfect homonyms. You see, "peace" and "peas" are not pronounced exactly the same way. The former ends in a /s/ sound whereas the latter ends in a /z/ sound. On the other hand, "peace" and "piece" share the same pronunciation.
If you ask Martha, she'll tell you the people at Fiorenza are really trying to give peas a chance. No matter how she tries to tell them not to add them to our risotto, they always seem to find a way to give us some extra peas.
Give peas a rest!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Homophones
Hom.o.phone n. 1. One of two or more words, such as night and knight, that are pronounced the same but differ in meaning, origin, and sometimes spelling.
This is just a small sample. There are many more.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Welcome to our first Grad 1 blog.
My dear Grad 1 students,
Welcome to our blog. I hope we all have some fun and improve our English here.
I'm still learning how to use these tools. Feel free to make suggestions.
I hope you keep coming back.
See ya.
Robson
Welcome to our blog. I hope we all have some fun and improve our English here.
I'm still learning how to use these tools. Feel free to make suggestions.
I hope you keep coming back.
See ya.
Robson
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