Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Theatre trip - The Winter's Tale
Catia and friend.
I will leave your tickets at the box office. Tell them you have reserved them under my name.
Collect before 21.15
Call me if problems 967693386
Estrela Hall Lisboa
Lapa R Estrela 10
1200-669 LISBOA
213 961 946 Lisboa.
link to Map : Paginas Amereals:
http://www.pai.pt/search/Estrela_Hall,_Lisboa.html;jsessionid=A5DC3543A9A94E9716B97DE67DADAFC8
Monday, December 11, 2006
Review – Tea with the Birds
The short story Tea with the Birds by Joanne Harris deals with how little encounters can have a lot of meaning in one’s life.
Tea with the Birds tells us the story of a lonely, somewhat anti-social woman who comes across an enigmatic neighbour. His name is Juzo Tamaoki, which just adds more exoticism to the story and curiosity for the woman. Ultimately, their brief encounter will help her discover a new way of viewing life.
Using appealing images and simple language, the author manages to get the reader involved in the mystery of Tamaoki’s personage. This character is deeply connected with another powerful image – the birds. When reading the story the reader will notice that this image can give, not only much beauty to the text, but also a metaphor concerning the “captivity” in which the woman is.
Another captivating aspect of the text is how the small quotation in the beginning – “Some people spend their lives without ever raising their eyes from the ground. Others dream of flying.” – reveals and sums up the intention of Tea with the Birds.
Personally I think, it is this intention that makes the story so interesting and attractive.
The experience of reading Tea with the Birds can be quiet and peaceful at the beginning. But once the reader starts getting involved in the hidden meanings and new perspectives of the story, it can make him “dream of flying”.
In the end, a simple change of perspective can make one’s life experience much more pleasurable.
Tea with the Birds tells us the story of a lonely, somewhat anti-social woman who comes across an enigmatic neighbour. His name is Juzo Tamaoki, which just adds more exoticism to the story and curiosity for the woman. Ultimately, their brief encounter will help her discover a new way of viewing life.
Using appealing images and simple language, the author manages to get the reader involved in the mystery of Tamaoki’s personage. This character is deeply connected with another powerful image – the birds. When reading the story the reader will notice that this image can give, not only much beauty to the text, but also a metaphor concerning the “captivity” in which the woman is.
Another captivating aspect of the text is how the small quotation in the beginning – “Some people spend their lives without ever raising their eyes from the ground. Others dream of flying.” – reveals and sums up the intention of Tea with the Birds.
Personally I think, it is this intention that makes the story so interesting and attractive.
The experience of reading Tea with the Birds can be quiet and peaceful at the beginning. But once the reader starts getting involved in the hidden meanings and new perspectives of the story, it can make him “dream of flying”.
In the end, a simple change of perspective can make one’s life experience much more pleasurable.
Collaborative group task
TASK OBJECTIVE:
To contribute to Wikipedia, enriching the information made available about Portugal.Due date: 1st draft version January 8th. Final version January 15th .
HOW?
In your small groups you will need to decide what areas of inteterest to focus on, what information about Portugal is missing, and then individually to contribute to your group’s work with entries to the Wikipedia.
STAGE 1. Research
See how Portugal is represented in Wikipedia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/> Consider how representative Wikipedia is. (Use ‘search’ to locate Portugal).Read the guidelines for contributing to Wikipedia Portugal. You need to sign in to:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Introduction
STAGE 2. PLANNING
As a group, choose a particular area of interest, for example under Culture <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Portugal>, you may choose popular music. Identify who is already mentioned in Wikipedia and then decide on artists who you think should be mentioned. In your small group, you then plan who should research into which Portuguese artists to contribute to the work. Each person in the group should make an individual contribution.
You do not all have to choose the same topic area in the group, but you need to plan who will be doing what.
STAGE 3. Research and writing
Each person does their own research relating to their individual contributionand writes an entry for Wikipedia.Each person posts their contribution in the small group blog.Read and comment on eachothers work in your blog. Make suggestions to language and content.
STAGE 4. SubmissionsSubmit for marking on January 8th. Correct your work and submit to Wikipedia by January 15th .
This work may also provide the basis for your individual short talks in January. These will be timetabled.
To contribute to Wikipedia, enriching the information made available about Portugal.Due date: 1st draft version January 8th. Final version January 15th .
HOW?
In your small groups you will need to decide what areas of inteterest to focus on, what information about Portugal is missing, and then individually to contribute to your group’s work with entries to the Wikipedia.
STAGE 1. Research
See how Portugal is represented in Wikipedia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/> Consider how representative Wikipedia is. (Use ‘search’ to locate Portugal).Read the guidelines for contributing to Wikipedia Portugal. You need to sign in to:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Introduction
STAGE 2. PLANNING
As a group, choose a particular area of interest, for example under Culture <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Portugal>, you may choose popular music. Identify who is already mentioned in Wikipedia and then decide on artists who you think should be mentioned. In your small group, you then plan who should research into which Portuguese artists to contribute to the work. Each person in the group should make an individual contribution.
You do not all have to choose the same topic area in the group, but you need to plan who will be doing what.
STAGE 3. Research and writing
Each person does their own research relating to their individual contributionand writes an entry for Wikipedia.Each person posts their contribution in the small group blog.Read and comment on eachothers work in your blog. Make suggestions to language and content.
STAGE 4. SubmissionsSubmit for marking on January 8th. Correct your work and submit to Wikipedia by January 15th .
This work may also provide the basis for your individual short talks in January. These will be timetabled.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Review: Tea with the birds
The story tells us about the life in Mortimer Street specialy about the life of a girl who moved into the terraced houses on that street. She describes the street as a place "busy without being comfortable", "crowded without being friendly" and a cold place, with "a reluctance to get involved". One particular thing about Mortimer Street was that despite the terraces being close together, people lived there like "birds in cages" closed in their own space, not caring about the others and not speaking to one anothers.
This girl was an outsider in a place where being an outsider was a crime. The coldness of the place was fine with her because she had spent two years in a psychiatric hospital and she was comfortable with privacy and silence. She didn't speak much with her neighbours and she enjoyed the peace and quiet of her little space.
One day someone moved into the flat opposite her. It was Mr. Juzo Tamaoki. He was a very silent and calm person, so the girl didn't have many problems with the new presence. There was just a problem which disturbed her and it was the fact that every early morning, there was a noisy delivery of vegetables for Mr. Juzo. This interfered with her sleep and it was the only thing that annoyed her.
Everything was curious about that man. One day he was waiting for her and without ever speaking to each other he invited her to his flat to drink some tea. It was the first person she felt comfortable in silence with. He then showed her his refrigerator and surprisingly it was filled with silent and colourful birds. These were the "vegetables" that were delivered every morning to Mr. Juzo.
After this, he left without saying goodbye and "a funny kind of woman" was the next occupant of the flat, a woman who didn't talk very much, as it was said. This didn't sound very pleasant for the girl as once it might have sounded and one night she inveted her new neighbour for a cup of Japanese tea that Mr. Juzo had left before leaving.
A brilliant short-story with a moral in the beginning: some people spend their lives looking down while others "dream of flying".
This girl was an outsider in a place where being an outsider was a crime. The coldness of the place was fine with her because she had spent two years in a psychiatric hospital and she was comfortable with privacy and silence. She didn't speak much with her neighbours and she enjoyed the peace and quiet of her little space.
One day someone moved into the flat opposite her. It was Mr. Juzo Tamaoki. He was a very silent and calm person, so the girl didn't have many problems with the new presence. There was just a problem which disturbed her and it was the fact that every early morning, there was a noisy delivery of vegetables for Mr. Juzo. This interfered with her sleep and it was the only thing that annoyed her.
Everything was curious about that man. One day he was waiting for her and without ever speaking to each other he invited her to his flat to drink some tea. It was the first person she felt comfortable in silence with. He then showed her his refrigerator and surprisingly it was filled with silent and colourful birds. These were the "vegetables" that were delivered every morning to Mr. Juzo.
After this, he left without saying goodbye and "a funny kind of woman" was the next occupant of the flat, a woman who didn't talk very much, as it was said. This didn't sound very pleasant for the girl as once it might have sounded and one night she inveted her new neighbour for a cup of Japanese tea that Mr. Juzo had left before leaving.
A brilliant short-story with a moral in the beginning: some people spend their lives looking down while others "dream of flying".
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Universidade Nova de Lisboa - FCSH
Artur Andrês
On The Road,
As a singular and so necessary homage to the mother Gaia and as a most due tribute to all the beautiful places scattered on the surface of the planet that I will never visit, I must choose this picture as a symbol which will stand for them all. A symbol that will stand for the magic word “traveling” itself.
Traveling so quietly along the river as done in this particular picture embraces so many meanings and possibilities that I can hardly talk properly about a single one…
Crossing, even such a quiet and apparently calm river, could be the deed of a lifetime. The colours of the picture, the wide-open view of the river and the little and fragile canoe are just pieces of worlds we can see through infinite opened doors, a challenge to the most fertile imagination.
This picture may bring peace to the restless mind and it may also bring the slow beating of the waters of the river to our hearts, turning our eyes heavy and sleepy. It is like an opened window from which we can take a look to fantasy and to reality as well, a bridge to all kinds of riversides.
The river is a concrete boundary to different regions of space. It may be the line that divides past from future or, much more than just that, a line full of life, a surface that keeps the present floating as a living reality, full of movement. It may be the water that will never pass through the same place - the continuum that never remains the same except in the memory of things.
For the time being, it just brings to my mind memories from the very first time I read “Siddhartha”, the novel from Hermann Hesse.
I do not really know what will bring to your mind…
14 November 2006
Artur Andrês
On The Road,
As a singular and so necessary homage to the mother Gaia and as a most due tribute to all the beautiful places scattered on the surface of the planet that I will never visit, I must choose this picture as a symbol which will stand for them all. A symbol that will stand for the magic word “traveling” itself.
Traveling so quietly along the river as done in this particular picture embraces so many meanings and possibilities that I can hardly talk properly about a single one…
Crossing, even such a quiet and apparently calm river, could be the deed of a lifetime. The colours of the picture, the wide-open view of the river and the little and fragile canoe are just pieces of worlds we can see through infinite opened doors, a challenge to the most fertile imagination.
This picture may bring peace to the restless mind and it may also bring the slow beating of the waters of the river to our hearts, turning our eyes heavy and sleepy. It is like an opened window from which we can take a look to fantasy and to reality as well, a bridge to all kinds of riversides.
The river is a concrete boundary to different regions of space. It may be the line that divides past from future or, much more than just that, a line full of life, a surface that keeps the present floating as a living reality, full of movement. It may be the water that will never pass through the same place - the continuum that never remains the same except in the memory of things.
For the time being, it just brings to my mind memories from the very first time I read “Siddhartha”, the novel from Hermann Hesse.
I do not really know what will bring to your mind…
14 November 2006
Preparation for Written assessment task Monday 4th December
BOOK REVIEWS:
In preparation for the written assessment task on Monday 4th bring with you the following and be prepared to explain your choice to your partner.
1. Choose a book review from either of these sites:
http://www.complete-review.com/main/main.html
BOOKS / SUNDAY BOOK REVIEW November 22, 2006 Holiday Books: 100 Notable Books of the Year The Book Review has selected this list from books reviewed since the Holiday Books issue of Dec. 4, 2005.
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/books/review/20061203notable-books.html?ex=1165122000&en=441f1f46a251c475&ei=5070&emc=eta1
2. And ONE short story from this site, the New Yorker FICTION
http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/
In preparation for the written assessment task on Monday 4th bring with you the following and be prepared to explain your choice to your partner.
1. Choose a book review from either of these sites:
http://www.complete-review.com/main/main.html
BOOKS / SUNDAY BOOK REVIEW November 22, 2006 Holiday Books: 100 Notable Books of the Year The Book Review has selected this list from books reviewed since the Holiday Books issue of Dec. 4, 2005.
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/books/review/20061203notable-books.html?ex=1165122000&en=441f1f46a251c475&ei=5070&emc=eta1
2. And ONE short story from this site, the New Yorker FICTION
http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/
Monday, November 27, 2006
A Christmas outing.
How about a trip to the theatre to see the Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare? Some more story telling?
Shakespeare says it all! Have a look at the Lisbon Players, performing the production. Check out their site. http://www.lisbonplayers.com.pt/
See who they are, who they appeal to.
Find out about the orginal play by William Shakespeare. A synopsis here: http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/winters_tale_summary.htm
Other useful information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Winter Share with your blog group.
Let's go to the theatre as a group. How about Thursday 14th December??? or 15,th, 16th December.
Allyson
Friday, November 17, 2006
English lesson postponed for Monday 20th
No English on Monday 20th. This leson will be replaced at the end of the first semester.
Allyson
Allyson
ASSESSMENT TASK 2 - REVIEW. Due Wednesday 22nd November
ASSESSMENT TASK 2 REVIEW Due date: Wednesday 22nd November
There are 3 stages to this task: research, writing, and reflection.
Stage 2, The review will be assessed, but include part 3.
Your objective is to writ e a review on something specific you are interested in.
Stage 1. RESEARCH
To help you with organisation, ideas, and language for reviews, before your write you own review, look at the following sites to give examples and ideas.
Guardian Newspaper, section: Arts and Entertainment, which includes art, books,
film, music. These include reviews and BLOGS for each section. Use the search
(top right).
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/
Internet Movie Base (film reviews) http://www.imdb.com/
Or with http://myspace.com/
For an example of reviews, check out
http://www.newyorker.com/critics/
Or find your own review examples using a google search.
Stage 2. Write a review
Choose something you would like to review.
This should be your work. Any suspected plagiarism will be penalised, with
serious consequences
Stage 3. Reflections
1. How did the reviews help you with writing your own review?
2. What did you learn about the subject you were researching?
3. How did this help you with your writing?
FREE SHORT STORIES TO READ ONLINE!!!!! Fabulous stuff!!! Check it out
http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/
There are 3 stages to this task: research, writing, and reflection.
Stage 2, The review will be assessed, but include part 3.
Your objective is to writ e a review on something specific you are interested in.
Stage 1. RESEARCH
To help you with organisation, ideas, and language for reviews, before your write you own review, look at the following sites to give examples and ideas.
Guardian Newspaper, section: Arts and Entertainment, which includes art, books,
film, music. These include reviews and BLOGS for each section. Use the search
(top right).
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/
Internet Movie Base (film reviews) http://www.imdb.com/
Or with http://myspace.com/
For an example of reviews, check out
http://www.newyorker.com/critics/
Or find your own review examples using a google search.
Stage 2. Write a review
Choose something you would like to review.
This should be your work. Any suspected plagiarism will be penalised, with
serious consequences
Stage 3. Reflections
1. How did the reviews help you with writing your own review?
2. What did you learn about the subject you were researching?
3. How did this help you with your writing?
FREE SHORT STORIES TO READ ONLINE!!!!! Fabulous stuff!!! Check it out
http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
English class cancelled Wednesday 25th October
Apologies for cancelling this class on Wednesday 25th October.
See you Monday 30th October.
Allyson
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Hi everyone, my name is Cátia and I´m a L.L.C student.
I live in Setúbal ,which can be a great place to live but , but most of the times its kind of dull because there is not much things to do .
So far I´m loving school , and the English classes are amongst my favourites due mainly to the fact that we are a small group, making learning easier.
Well, see you all soon.kisses.
I live in Setúbal ,which can be a great place to live but , but most of the times its kind of dull because there is not much things to do .
So far I´m loving school , and the English classes are amongst my favourites due mainly to the fact that we are a small group, making learning easier.
Well, see you all soon.kisses.
Monday, October 16, 2006
14 de Outubro de 2006
Greetings everybody,
I'm Artur. I'm a student from the Translation course. At the very first days in this College I thought I've joyned the "
Now, things seem to be in order and I hope everything goes ok.
I'm enjoying classes so far, and I'm expecting and willing to improve myself a lot.
So long!Presentation
Hi, my name is milton, i´m 20 years old, it is my first year of english at the university; i´m sure i will learn more and improve a lot.
My "maior" is LLM EP- (Portuguese studies); i´m in the third year;
I like to write philosophical texts in portuguese and poems in portuguese and english, i like to stay at home listening to music and at the computer and... thinking , yes thinking how to develop my "school skills" and several other things... i am a person who thinks a lot about the world that we live in and that...
When it comes to university, my favourite class is english (I like it a lot)...
Thanks, see you wednesday
My "maior" is LLM EP- (Portuguese studies); i´m in the third year;
I like to write philosophical texts in portuguese and poems in portuguese and english, i like to stay at home listening to music and at the computer and... thinking , yes thinking how to develop my "school skills" and several other things... i am a person who thinks a lot about the world that we live in and that...
When it comes to university, my favourite class is english (I like it a lot)...
Thanks, see you wednesday
ASSESSMENT TASK 1
ASSESSMENT TASK 1 TELLING LIVES Due date: Monday 23rd October
Stage 1. RESEARCH
1. Look through the digital stories and select one which you find particularly interesting.
Keep a note of the link and be prepared to explain the following:
Why did you choose this particular story?
What did you find interesting?
What did you find out about the life/community of this person?
What did you find out of cultural interest?
Are there any similarities between you and this person?
What do you know about Wales? The Welsh language?
Listen to some Welsh…..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/cipolwgargymru/
LEARN SOME WELSH! And language learning techniques too!!!
http://www.linkwordlanguages.com/welsh.htm
Find out about Wales
http://www.visitwales.co.uk/
Now listen to and watch the lives of people from Wales. Sometimes you have the transcript as well as the video and audio. Go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/capturewales/
And select from:
Challenge
Community
Family
Memory
Passion
Areas
I chose the following:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/capturewales/transcripts/catherine-downs.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/capturewales/background/catherine-downs.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/capturewales/background/genevieve-webb.shtml
2. Now look at other regions of the United Kingdom and choose someone you are interested in. http://www.bbc.co.uk/tellinglives/
(By the way, also find out the difference between the United Kingdom, Great Britain, Britain, and The British Isles).
· Challenge
· Community
· Family
· Memory
· Passion
· Areas
Stage 2 WRITING
Write you own story with the title My life, using any of the topics.
Max Nº of words 300.
Stage 3 REFLECTIONS
How did the research and writing processes help you to develop your language and cultural knowledge? Write 100 words and add to your assessment task.
Stage 1. RESEARCH
1. Look through the digital stories and select one which you find particularly interesting.
Keep a note of the link and be prepared to explain the following:
Why did you choose this particular story?
What did you find interesting?
What did you find out about the life/community of this person?
What did you find out of cultural interest?
Are there any similarities between you and this person?
What do you know about Wales? The Welsh language?
Listen to some Welsh…..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/cipolwgargymru/
LEARN SOME WELSH! And language learning techniques too!!!
http://www.linkwordlanguages.com/welsh.htm
Find out about Wales
http://www.visitwales.co.uk/
Now listen to and watch the lives of people from Wales. Sometimes you have the transcript as well as the video and audio. Go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/capturewales/
And select from:
Challenge
Community
Family
Memory
Passion
Areas
I chose the following:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/capturewales/transcripts/catherine-downs.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/capturewales/background/catherine-downs.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/capturewales/background/genevieve-webb.shtml
2. Now look at other regions of the United Kingdom and choose someone you are interested in. http://www.bbc.co.uk/tellinglives/
(By the way, also find out the difference between the United Kingdom, Great Britain, Britain, and The British Isles).
· Challenge
· Community
· Family
· Memory
· Passion
· Areas
Stage 2 WRITING
Write you own story with the title My life, using any of the topics.
Max Nº of words 300.
Stage 3 REFLECTIONS
How did the research and writing processes help you to develop your language and cultural knowledge? Write 100 words and add to your assessment task.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Hi everybody,
I'm Ana Claudia and I'm 21. My course is L.L.C. - English and American studies. I live in the suburbs of Lisbon (near Loures) but I've always studied and worked in Lisbon. I live with my parents, my brother and my two beloved cats. Here you can take a look at one of them. ->
Besides studying I also work part-time at H&M. Tomorrow will be the inventory, which means working till 3 a.m.!
I spend a lot of time reading and am keen on cinema. My favourite author so far is Carson McCullers, I find her work very touching.
I'm also very curious about other cultures. I'm always trying to discover new perspectives and different points of view, but I do think that besides all the differences between cultures there's something in common. Ultimately, that's what makes all of us humans.
As far as cinema is concerned, my tastes are quite extensive. I'm fond of funny kids movies from the 80's (like The Goonies) as equally as more intellectual nouvelle vague movies (like Godard's Contempt). I also like Japanese cinema.
I've got to admit that writing about me and my tastes is not one of my favourite things. So...that's all for now!
See you next monday :)
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Are you able to post your profiles?
Let me know if you are having problems by replying to this message. I may have to change the settings.
I need your help to check whether you are able to post a new message with your own personal profile. You need to sign in with your gmail account which you used to start replying to comments.
Click on NEW POST on top tool bar, then write in the opened window and finally publish your profile.
If you find yourself in DASHBOARD, you will see a small green cross below to post NEW MESSAGE. Click on this and then write in the opened window and finally publish your profile. Let me know if you are having problems by replying to this message. I may have to change the settings. Allyson
Allyson
I need your help to check whether you are able to post a new message with your own personal profile. You need to sign in with your gmail account which you used to start replying to comments.
Click on NEW POST on top tool bar, then write in the opened window and finally publish your profile.
If you find yourself in DASHBOARD, you will see a small green cross below to post NEW MESSAGE. Click on this and then write in the opened window and finally publish your profile. Let me know if you are having problems by replying to this message. I may have to change the settings. Allyson
Allyson
Sunday, October 08, 2006
A very big welcome
This is our class blog. We may be a big group, but for sure, unique and special. Where to start?
Right here by getting to know each other. So, home is near Torres Novas. It takes me quite a while to get to the faculty - almost 3 hours! When I worked in London I thought 45 minutes was a long time. But I love the contrast of Lisbon life and living in the country. I live with my partner Jonathan, and Jaffa and Jinga. You will find out about them sooner or later!
I don't have any reasonable photos of us, so thought I would post this painting instead. I just started learning to paint this yea
r. Hopefully by the end of the term there will be something a bit better to post! One of my goals is to paint fabulous skies. Another is to play jazz piano.My favourite place is floating in a hanging chair, feet off the ground.
r. Hopefully by the end of the term there will be something a bit better to post! One of my goals is to paint fabulous skies. Another is to play jazz piano.My favourite place is floating in a hanging chair, feet off the ground.
My favourite meal is either a really good, home-made Italian pasta ( I make my own pasta), or a huge plate of vegetables with couscous. I lived in Algeria! My favourite place in Portugal is right here in Adofreire. That is another story!
Looking forward to working with you this semester. Tell us something about yourself.
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