Education in Crisis

Over the past few years, there has been a growing concern about the declining state of the educational system in Argentina. The main reasons for this decay have to do with a low education budget and a lack of a common language and dialogue between parents, authorities and teachers. We might think of different solutions that can be aimed at improving our education. 

Perhaps one of the main reasons for this is the low education budget, which prevents both teachers and students from having enough resources to accomplish a successful education. Another contributing factor includes the fact that there is a lack of a common language and dialogue between parents, authorities and teachers. Furthermore, our society keeps changing at a speed that schools are not prepared to comply with .  As a direct consequence,  education is in crisis.

       One way to deal with this crisis would be to ensure higher education budgets. More financial support from the state might be a good start to change this situation since nowadays, many schools cannot  even afford the basic needs. By increasing the budgets, teachers and school authorities would not need to concentrate their attention on how to overcome the crisis but on their actual aim: to provide students with high quality education.

    

        Another possible measure to combat the crisis would be to set  a common language as regards objectives and priorities between families, teachers and authorities. There is a clear  misunderstanding whose outcome is reflected in the poor education quality. Every stakehoder that is part of the educational system seems to have different expectations and priorities, but for education to be effective, a change in the educational paradigm should occur. It would be certainly a good idea to remember that it is the students who are our priority.  

        One final suggestion that would help to improve this situation would be to start considering the real demands from our society . Schools are sometimes seen as  bubbles which do not comply with the real demands of our culture and society. Owing to the outdated views many educators have on different issues, for example, the methods used for teaching or the importance of teaching certain values,  it is a tall task to prepare students successfully to be part of society.   

         To conclude, there are several measures which could be taken to improve education in Argentina. If we were all to collaborate, to create dialogue and to set common objectives, it would help to raise people’s awareness of the importance of education. It should be one of our priorities to invest in education. 

Discrimination in the Classroom

The teacher's role. 

"Why do you wear the same old fashioned and stained T-shirt everyday? It's high time for you to get a new one, don't you think?" Such an innocent utterance can trigger off a painful experience in a child's life. Discrimination among students may sound very familiar to all school teachers. It is definitely a tall task for teachers to have to deal with these appaling daily situations. Is trying to avoid discrimination the foremost role of teachers? Maybe trying to make students aware of the consequences discrimination may bring about would be a starting point. 

Nowadays, it is very common to find multi-cultural classrooms, given that children from different contexts and backgrounds attend a same school. Although teachers know that a chocolate-box classroom does not exist, they specifically need to be on the alert as regards discrimination and the manifold reactions students can have. It is essential for teachers to be trained so as to be able to face these multicultural classrooms and prepare students to accept and live with different people from different contexts.

Students are used to facing discrimination not only in the classroom but also at home, in the streets and even on TV. Teachers cannot stop discrimination outside school but it is their role to find the roots of the problems in the classroom and to do away with it. An efficient teacher should first be a model for his/her students and secondly, figure out strategies to make kids aware of the fact that discrimination is present everywhere. However, they do not have the right to hurt others.

Another role of utmost importance that a teacher should be ready to play is to ensure a good education to students who suffer from discrimination. Their low quality performance in class is usually the result of how they feel: discouraged, frustrated and not willing to learn. Under these conditions, it is the teacher who should encourage and find the most suitable strategy to make the students feel comfortable and prepared to learn. 

All in all, it is the teacher's role to fight against discrimination in the classroom by providing students with tools in order to make them become aware of how rich it is to share the classroom with children from different social, economic and cultural backgrounds with different opinions and ideas. However, it is not only the teacher who should be in charge of changing this situation, but also the families. It is a collaborative task and everyone should cooperate. 

MY WRITING EXPERIENCE 2

Dear Writing Experience,

    I am writing to you to let you know how I have improved on my writing skills and the obstacles I had to overcome during this year. To be honest, I had my ups and downs but I have managed to identify the problems, tackle them and finally clear them up, although there are still things to work on.

    This year I experienced a writing process I had never been exposed to before. My piece of writing started as a simple brainstorming session by jotting down ideas before setting to write. After that, I focused on the text organization and I thought about who the audience of my writing would be. According to this, I chose the suitable vocabulary and register I would be using. This was just how the piece was born.

    To start with the second step, I developed my ideas in paragraphs, including the vocabulary learnt throughout the year and in previous years. The following steps were peer feedback and tutor feedback before submitting the last version  to my teacher. I think I have made my best efforts in order to achieve my goals as regards writing.

    There was sometimes a feeling of frustration in me. After getting some good pieces of advice from the teacher, whenever a difficulty arose, I was able to deal with it successfully. My foremost objective during this year was to be able to spot mistakes since I consider this a tall task for me.

    I am sorry to tell you this, but you have definitely changed for the better from the beginning of this year.
       
                    Sincerely,
                            Bárbara.

A true tale of Argentine life

An unexpected guest

Have you ever  experienced  being in front of a U.F.O.? There are many people who claim to have actually seen these flying creatures but there is no need to talk about others. I have experienced it myself and to be honest, it was a before and after in my life. 

When I was about 8 years old, I used to live with my parents in Avellaneda but on a Sunday night, a day I will never forget, I stayed at my uncle Poroto’s house. The house was immense for such a young boy. I can still picture that gigantic backyard full of leaves rustling in the middle of the night. I was very concentrated watching “Los supercampeones”, my favourite daily cartoon when, out of the blue,  I noticed an intense and blinding light in the garden out of the corner of my eye. It was a harsh light coming from the sky.

I started to shake like a leaf and my heart was throbbing frantically. I could not believe my eyes. I had never been so shocked in my whole life. Who would believe what I was seeing? I was too little but I could tell that it was  a UFO. I had dreamt all my life about UFOs. I tiptoed out of the living room into the garden to make sure I was not dreaming. I stood stiff in front of the light which dazzled me.

After some minutes trying to make out what was in the middle of that glowing light, I suddenly heard a piercing sound and this strange object rose into the sky again. I could only see a dark shadow surrounded by the light. I looked up trying to find an explanation for what had just happened, but … was there any? I’m 45 and I still can’t find it! I shuffled into the house and sat staring at the wall. I felt sheer frustration since I could not gather any evidence of what I had just undergone.  

This unexpected guest was an eye-opener in my life. Believe it or not, from then on, I started to look at things in a different way. I believe in extraterrestrial and intelligent life on other planets and paranormal forces.  You may think I am a loony but wait until a true story like this one happens to you!  

My after Writing Reflections

PROBLEMS ON

THE ROAD

You may find it very comfortable to have your own car nowadays. However, have you ever thought about the fact that due to lack of controls and drivers’ awareness of traffic rules, having a car is becoming a nightmare? Due to these driving conditions , more and more people are becoming victims of accidents, delays, traffic jams and violations of rights.

To start with, people do not abide by traffic regulations in Buenos Aires. They may know the rules, but they do not comply with them. This attitude is reflected in the constant increase in the  death and accident rate. Not only are the drivers who jump traffic lights to blame but also the pedestrians who do not wait for the right time to cross the street. On top of this, this inappropriate behavior is seldom punished.

To make matters worse, not only are our lives in jeopardy but our rights are also threatened. Although all drivers know where it is allowed to park and when, they turn a blind eye to this. They ignore the parking signs and what is even worse, they do not pay attention to wheelchair ramps. Why do we have to tolerate this careless behavior. Why is it that disabled people have to suffer from this? Regulations are made to be obeyed but we also need traffic wardens to help people become aware of them.

Furthermore, not only are people’s lives put in danger during the day but also at night due to the effects of alcohol and drugs. It is said that the most tragic accidents take place late at night, when drivers aged 17-30 drive back home. Some years ago, new laws were passed to control drunk-driving. At the beginning, wardens were very strict on them but as time went by the laws became laxer. It is generally agreed that if drivers do not drive under the expected conditions, they should be penalized for risking their lives as well as their friends’ and relatives’.

All in all, I believe that if you decide to drive a car in Buenos Aires, you should bear in mind all the dreadful situations you will probably face. As was stated before, the problems on the road affect not only drivers but also pedestrians. Having more traffic wardens would help to raise awareness as regards traffic regulations and respecting one another’s’ lives. 



My After Writing Reflections

BUENOS AIRES FROM DAWN TO DUSK

Mix together a beautiful European-like city with attractive residents (call them porteños), gourmet cuisine, awesome shopping, a frenzied nightlife, and you get Buenos Aires, a cosmopolitan metropolis with both slick neighborhoods and downtrodden areas. It’s an elegant, seductive place with a ragged edge, laced with old-world languor and yet full of contemporary attitude. BA is different from any other city in the world. 

To start off the day

There are many typical old cafés you can visit for a good breakfast to start the day full of energies. Café Tortoni is the oldest coffee shop in the whole country. With a very rich history, it is visited at all times by intellectuals, politicians and artists. It is located at Avenida de Mayo 825. Once you are done with breakfast, you can make the most of the day and visit the Historical heart of Buenos Aires. Just walk a few blocks and you will find plaza de Mayo, the main square; Avenida de Mayo, the grand boulevard where you can see many famous buildings; the Obelisco, the Cathedral and The Pink House (La casa Rosada), where the president and executive government work.

Europe-like midday

Many people say that Puerto Madero has a very European style. Since you are very close to San Telmo area, you can have a break from walking and have a barbecue (parrillada) in front of the river. There is a wide range of options to try the best Argentinean food. Of course you can’t miss trying some of our incredible wines! Once you are satisfied, you can keep on walking all along the river. Needless to say, this is an unmissable thing to do on a sunny and warm day.

Sunset

After enjoying the colorful sunset on the river, drinking some beer and eating a yummy picada (a mix of different types of cheese, ham, salami, olives, etc) you can walk around San Telmo area. Look for antiques in a dusty San Telmo shop, or visit on Sunday for the barrio’s spectacularly popular fair. Learn to tango like a real Argentine, and then attend a super-passionate fútbol match between River and Boca. These unforgettable adventures (and many more) are just waiting for you to go out and experience them.

Going for a Pub-crawl

After dinner with family or friends you can experience what we call previa (getting together with friends for some drinks before going out). Argentineans are used to having dinner very late and this is one of the reasons why Buenos Aires is a late city.  There are infinite numbers of possibilities to enjoy a nigh out in BA. Nightlife is usually compared to Spanish nightlife, and sometimes said to be even better here (not a small detail). You can choose visiting different bars in San Telmo, where you will find lots of tourists given that there are lots of hostels and hotels nearby, or going to a big nightclub with hundreds of people and good music. You can find the best nightclubs in Palermo and Costanera.  

Everyone knows someone who has been here and raved about it. You’ve put it off long enough. Come to Buenos Aires and you’ll understand why so many people have fallen in love with this amazing city, and even decided to stay or come back. There’s a good chance you’ll be one of them.

My After Writing Reflections. 

EDAPI

Abstract 

Are you a switcher?

 The aim of this poster is to encourage teachers of English to reflect on one specific aspect of their experience in the classroom, namely, code-switching, which refers to the use of the mother tongue when teaching a foreign language. In order to do so, we will provide figures obtained through a survey on the frequency with which, and the reasons why, teachers of English speak to their students in Spanish.

If you haven't attended our presentation, at least you can have a look at our survey.

Survey: Are you a code-switcher?
Please underline the appropriate answer/s regarding yourself as a teacher of English

1)  Your teaching context:

a)Kindergarten(*)

b)Primary school(*)

c)Secondary school(*)

d)Tertiary level(*)

e)University(*)

f)Language academy

g)In-company

h)Other (please specify)

(*) if your answer to question 1 is a, b, c, d, or e please answer question 2

2) The place where you work at is...

a) Private

b) State-run

3) Age group of your students:

a) Children

b) Teenagers

c) Adults

4) Level of your students:

a) A1

b) A2

c) B1

d) B2

e) C1

f) C2

5) Do you ever switch languages in your classroom?

a) YES

b) NO

6) Why? Or what for?

a) To tell off your students

b) To explain something they may not understand in English

c) To translate words

c) Because you want to talk about something serious (e.g. an incident)

d) To tell a personal anecdote

e) Other (please specify)

7) How do your students react when they hear you speak Spanish?
         a) They are surprised

b) They switch to Spanish as well

c) They pay more attention

d) They get distracted

e) They don’t mind

f) Other (please specify)

Self feedback on poster presentation

I really think that the three of us did a very good performance. Personally, I felt very confident, and enthusiastic about it. I enjoyed explaining the poster while having fun at the same time with my classmates. It was a very nice and juicy experience. As we have already discussed with you, for next time we will try to handle the timing in a different way so we all have the same opportunity to speak. We will improve on that!

My Writing Experience

I am trying to look back in time to remember the first time I had to face a writing task. I am trying very hard but to tell the truth, I do not remember being exposed much to writing until I was 16. It all started when I was doing one of the last levels at Cambridge English Institute, where I studied. I am almost sure that those were not good times for my writing.

    Taking into account all the experience that I have gained since my first year at the Prof, I can now reflect upon my previous experience. Looking with a critical eye, I can certainly say that I had not been provided with enough tools and good pieces of advice on how to write in a successful and clear way before I started the Prof. 

Entering the Prof was an eye-opener for me. Actually, attending the second year subjects was a before and after in my life. It was not that in first year the teachers had not taught us in a proper way, but I think that it has to do with a personal growth. There is always a critical moment in everyone’s life when you see the light and you start looking at life in a different way. 

   While attending Language II, I was encouraged to express my ideas and experiences in a way I had never been able to do before. I was able to approach writing in different ways, thinking before writing. I will always be grateful because I think that my Language II teacher was able  to pass on me all his knowledge and made me feel confident, enthusiastic and willing to write. 

    It is not that I consider myself a great writer who would deserve an award for what I write. I would not 

 dare say that if I wrote a book it would sell like hot cakes, but I think I am getting better with the passing of 

 time.  Of course not all the effort is on the teacher’s side but I believe it is key to encourage students and find 

 creative ways of helping them to soldier on and not give up writing.

After Writing Reflections

Speakers' Corner

Some videos for you to enjoy!