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| From http://comerecommended.com |
It's up to you which you choose but I'm currently thinking of at least giving it a shot! I may fail but hey there is no loss there is there! It starts tomorrow so you don't have long to weigh up your options.
Monday, 31 October 2011
Challenge Write an EBook in November
There are actually a couple of Ebook writing challenges for November.
So who is with me.
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Teaching Observations and Life
During my CELTA [training to become an English as a foreignlanguage teacher] one of the very first things we did was to take part in a
sample lesson where we could see the methodology we would eventually teach with
being done on us. The next thing was to watch a lesson on some students fromour course supervisor.
These initial observations were very useful as sometimes
words can only go some far and it can be a lot simpler to just show how to do
something than explain it.
I think the apostle Paul understood this, he didn’t just
preach [Although he certainly did that! Remember the in Athens or what about
when he bored a boy to sleep who then fell to his death after he had beenpreaching for “some time”] but he also demonstrated with his actions.
In fact he even goes as to say that he shared his entire
life with the church in Thessalonica. And that they became imitators of him
whilst he was there.
Now whilst I certainly haven’t observed as many teachers
since finishing my CELTA I still continue to do this.
These observations are still good.
Sometimes there is a revelation about teaching that I hadn’t
thought of until I saw another teacher do it.
In the same way as Christian we should continue to observe
the lives of other Christians. We should continue to be challenged by their
example, and become imitators of them and ultimately God.
So who are you imitating?
Friday, 21 October 2011
Music from Ukraine: Okean Elzie
This is a band I was introduced to early on during my time here there name is Okean Elzie and they are probably the biggest Ukrainian rock band around. Not only that but they sing...In Ukrainian!!! Not Russian.
I've been listening to them for a while and really like them. In fact I've posted some of their music on the blog before in some of my reviews of the month. The track bellow is probably my favourite song of theirs.
It might [is] be hyperbole but I would actually dare to suggest that Okean Elzie are probably the modern inequivalent of Taras Shevchenko [no not the footballer] in terms of promoting the Language via artistic means.
I've been listening to them for a while and really like them. In fact I've posted some of their music on the blog before in some of my reviews of the month. The track bellow is probably my favourite song of theirs.
It might [is] be hyperbole but I would actually dare to suggest that Okean Elzie are probably the modern inequivalent of Taras Shevchenko [no not the footballer] in terms of promoting the Language via artistic means.
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Jesus and present simple sentences
After introductions and basic questions about themselves we usually move on to teaching students present simple sentences [starting with affirmative, positive statements and then moving on to negatives and interrogative (or question) forms] Jesus seams to follow this pattern.
For those of you who don't know present simple is used for stating repeated actions [with varied frequency] and facts. Here Jesus is stating facts and repeated actions. When you are persecuted (this isn't a single offense) you are blessed [you may not my choice of a zero conditional there, to exaggerate the nature of this being a fact.]
Let's look at the grammar a bit deeper, these are actually all passive voice sentences. They don't state who does the blessing. We use passive voice when we don't need to state who is doing an action as the result is more important OR we know who is doing the action.
So which is it in this case? Well it is certainly possible that Jesus wants to focus on the positive outcomes of these blessings and the nature of the blessings. However if we look at the end of the section we can see that actually there is the assumed knowledge there ("for your reward is great in heaven")
So Jesus's first sermon started with a load of facts in the present simple passive voice. They were all about how God blesses the unlikely and people who appear to be losers (in the fullest sense of the word)
The Beatitudes
The beatitudes in Matthew five are full of present simple sentences. Blessed are....2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sonst of God.10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you
For those of you who don't know present simple is used for stating repeated actions [with varied frequency] and facts. Here Jesus is stating facts and repeated actions. When you are persecuted (this isn't a single offense) you are blessed [you may not my choice of a zero conditional there, to exaggerate the nature of this being a fact.]
Let's look at the grammar a bit deeper, these are actually all passive voice sentences. They don't state who does the blessing. We use passive voice when we don't need to state who is doing an action as the result is more important OR we know who is doing the action.
So which is it in this case? Well it is certainly possible that Jesus wants to focus on the positive outcomes of these blessings and the nature of the blessings. However if we look at the end of the section we can see that actually there is the assumed knowledge there ("for your reward is great in heaven")
So Jesus's first sermon started with a load of facts in the present simple passive voice. They were all about how God blesses the unlikely and people who appear to be losers (in the fullest sense of the word)
Sunday, 16 October 2011
How am I blessing people?
The reason for this pondering comes down to a few things.
The first is that I have been very blessed and I am very thankful for that. So I should pass on this blessing.
Secondly I believe that Christians should be agents in bringing in the Kingdom of God on Earth. The Kingdom of God is complete fullness of life for people both here on Earth and In the age to come. If this is true then I certainly should be blessing the people closest to me. After all the closer you are to a light, the brighter it is for you and the greater effect it has.
Thirdly I do want to bless the people around me. It's not always an active thought in my mind but I want to turn this desire into more actions.
Fourthly my girlfriend asked the question of how we can bless people together back in England?
The first step is not really a blessing but merely doing my part. If I am making a mess and leaving it to others around me to tidy up then I can't really be a blessing to these people.
The second would be to work out what things are burdening the people around me. How can I help easy these Burdens?
The final is what token gestures can I do to bless these people? What little extra nice touches can I do.
Take for example fellow teachers, the first step would be to make sure I am doing my work well and not forcing my DOS to chase me up over missing paperwork or other teachers reguarding what I taught. The next step would be to work out if I can help other teachers by making lesson material or providing lesson plans on day's when they are very busy. And the final might be bring in some chocolates to the staff room.
Overall I think the second step is the most important of these, Helping people when they feel burdened really does make a difference and really blesses them.
These thoughts were inspired by Galatians 6: 1-8 and my girlfriend.
Secondly I believe that Christians should be agents in bringing in the Kingdom of God on Earth. The Kingdom of God is complete fullness of life for people both here on Earth and In the age to come. If this is true then I certainly should be blessing the people closest to me. After all the closer you are to a light, the brighter it is for you and the greater effect it has.
Thirdly I do want to bless the people around me. It's not always an active thought in my mind but I want to turn this desire into more actions.
Fourthly my girlfriend asked the question of how we can bless people together back in England?
So How can I bless people around me?
The first step is not really a blessing but merely doing my part. If I am making a mess and leaving it to others around me to tidy up then I can't really be a blessing to these people.
The second would be to work out what things are burdening the people around me. How can I help easy these Burdens?
The final is what token gestures can I do to bless these people? What little extra nice touches can I do.
Take for example fellow teachers, the first step would be to make sure I am doing my work well and not forcing my DOS to chase me up over missing paperwork or other teachers reguarding what I taught. The next step would be to work out if I can help other teachers by making lesson material or providing lesson plans on day's when they are very busy. And the final might be bring in some chocolates to the staff room.
Overall I think the second step is the most important of these, Helping people when they feel burdened really does make a difference and really blesses them.
These thoughts were inspired by Galatians 6: 1-8 and my girlfriend.
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