Do You REALLY Want to Improve your English?

If you want to improve your English, you may already know my standard responses:

1) Watch popular movies/TV shows in English with the ENGLISH sub-titles turned on.

2) Listen to music in English, with the lyrics in front of you, and listen to it and sing along until you can do it fluidly.

3) Read books, magazines, articles--anything!--in English, making sure to look up any new words.

4) Talk to yourself aloud in English…and think through phrases and conversations in English

...And then, take time to look at and work through the following web-sites:

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/
http://a4esl.org/q/h/grammar.html
http://www.englishdaily626.com/

My suggestion is to pick ONE of these web-sites and go through all that it offers--the instruction, the quizzes, everything! Then, move on to another of the web-sites. After that one, do the last.

Any combination of exposing yourself to English in various formats is going to improve your language skills. But, you have to REALLY want it. "You can get it if you really want it," says one popular song...and it's true! However, you have to REALLY want it...and if you REALLY want it, you'll do whatever is necessary to get it!

Enjoy!

A Dangerous Profession....

(English below....)

Una Profesión bastante Peligrosa…

No siempre pensamos en docencia entre las profesiones peligrosas. Usualmente pensamos en la policía, los soldados, los bomberos...o unas profesiones médicas, guardias y profesiones semejantes. Pero, sí, en mi perspectiva, ser maestro también puede ser algo peligroso.

¿Cómo es posible? Bueno, nosotros maestros vivimos una vida muy--pero muy--sedentaria. Sentamos en el escritorio...o estamos en pie frente al pizarrón. Llegamos en casa después de un día de estrés...y nos sentamos en nuestro sillón favorito para marcar y calificar las tareas del día. También, en que no pudimos levantarnos con tiempo, salimos sin merienda ni comida...entonces, pasamos en el Oxxo para comprar una chucherías...algo barato, suficiente (pensamos). No hay tiempo ni energía en la tarde y noche para hacer nada más que prepararnos para el día siguiente. Llegamos a la cama, bien exhaustos...y así siguen día tras día.

Por eso, nuestra profesión puede ser tan peligroso. He visto muchos maestr@s perder su salud, poco a poco, a través de los años. Por falta de ejercicio, por una dieta mala (dieta: manera de comer en el largo plazo), por falta de descanso...muchos maestr@s pierden su forma, después su salud y por fin...su vida.

Como maestros, tenemos que tomar control de nuestras vidas. Tu director quiere que llegas con tiempo antes de los alumnos y quedas hasta el puesto del sol--no es razonable ni puedes mantener un horario así Y tu salud haciéndolo día tras día. Tu sub-director quiere que estés en tu trabajo día tras día...y no quiere oír nada de enfermedades ni nada. Tus compañeros de trabajo siempre piden tu ayuda, tu asistencia en su lugar y otras cosas. El director, sub-director y compañero de trabajo están pensando en la escuela y en sí mismo..no en ti. Ellos no son malos...como tú no eres malo por no pensar en la salud de ellos--cada quien tiene su enfoque, su tarea...y tú salud no está en la lista en mano. Es posible que les gusta a ti...pero ellos no van a protegerte ni cuidar tu salud. Tu salud es tu problema, tu asunto...y nadie va a ayudarte en cuidarte!

ENTONCES, decide ya tomar control de tu vida y tu salud. Desarrolle ya una práctica de hacer ejercicio. Decide ya mantener una dieta buena, saludable. Decide ya cuantas horas de sueño necesitas cada noche...bastante y no demasiado.

Yo, después de ver mis compañeros de trabajo perdiendo su salud, de ver mi propia salud bajando, decidí hace dos año caminar cada mañana, lunes - viernes. No camino siempre los cinco días, pero camino por lo menos cuatro días. Camino yo por tiempo, no por distancia: camino 35 minutos cada mañana, y no cualquier paseo tranquilo--estoy casi corriendo en el fin de mi camino. Estoy sudando y mi corazón está palpitando rápidamente. Es ejercicio en verdad.

Mi dieta incluye siempre frutas, granos, leche light, mucha agua; no como carne en casa, y pollo solo una o dos veces por semana. Evito comidas fritas y las alta en grasas. Comemos mucha arroz y frijoles enteros, avena, arroz y vegetales, pescado...y otras comidas saludables. No llegó fácil esta manera...pero vale la pena.

Y, finalmente, mi meta es dormir unas siete horas cada noche. Quiero ocho...o nueve. No puedo sobrevivir con menos de seis. Entonces, siete es una meta buena. Ahora, después de unos años de habito, mi cuerpo despierta a las 5:30am cada día...listo para caminar, listo para trabajar.

Solo recuerde que NADIE va a cuidarte, nadie quiere animarte en una vida saludable--el quehacer es tuyo. Y, por mis propias experiencias, puedo confirmar y atestar que vale la pena en cuidarte ti mismo, que puedas vivir una vida larga y buena...lleno de gozo y energía. Evite el peligro...viva bien!

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A Dangerous Profession....

We don't always think about teaching being a dangerous profession. Usually, we think of police, soldiers or fire-fighters...or of some medical professions, guards or something like that. But, yes, from my perspective, being a teacher can be quite dangerous.

How is that possible? Well, we teachers live a very, very sedentary life. We sit at the desk...or we stand at the blackboard. We arrive home after a stressful day...and sit in our comfy chair to check and grade the homework of the day. Also, since we couldn't get up in time, we left the house without a snack or lunch...so, we went by the Oxxo to by some goodies...something cheap, sufficient (we think!) We have neither the time nor the energy in the evening to anything more that get ready for the next day. We go to bed, rather exhausted...and start all over again the next day.

Because of this, our profession can be so dangerous. I have seen many teachers lose their health, slowly but surely, through the years. For lack of exercise, for a poor diet (diet: as in one's usual habits of eating), for lack of proper rest...many teachers lose their bodies, their health and finally...their lives.

As teachers, we have to take control of our lives. The principal wants us to arrive before the students and stay until the sun goes down--no, it's not a reasonable nor can you maintain such a schedule AND your health day after day. Your department chair wants you at work day after day...and doesn't want to hear anything about being sick. Your co-workers always want your help and want you to fill-in for them or something else. The principal, department chair and co-worker are thinking about the school and themselves...not about you. They aren't bad...just like you're not bad for not thinking about their health--everyone has their own focus, their own tasks...and your health is just not on their list. It's possible that they like you...but they are not going to protect you nor take care of your health. Your health is your issue, your problem...and no one is going to help you take care of yourself!

SO, decide today to take control of your life and your health. Develop a practice of exercising. Decide to maintain a good, healthy diet. Decide how many hours of sleep you need each night--enough but not too much.

After seeing my co-workers losing their health, after seeing my own health in decline, I decided about two years ago to walk every morning, Monday-Friday. I don't always walk all five days, but I walk at least four of those days. I walk for time, not for distance: I walk about 35 minutes each morning, and it's not just a stroll--I'm almost running by the time I finish my walk. I'm all sweaty and my heart is racing. It's real exercise.


My diet always includes fruit, grains, light milk, lots of water; I don't eat meat at home, and chicken only once or twice a week. I avoid fried foods and foods high in fats. We eat a lot of rice and beans, oats, rice and vegetables, fish...and other healthy foods. Developing this habit was not easy in the beginning...but it's worth it all.

And, finally, my goal is to sleep some seven hours a night. I want to sleep eight...or nine. I can't survive well on less than six. So, seven hours is the goal. Now, after some years of habit, my body just wakes up around 5:30am every day...ready to walk, ready to work.

Just remember that NO ONE is going to take care of you, no one wants to encourage you to live healthily. And, because of my own experiences, I can confirm and attest that it is worth it all to take care of yourself, so you can live a long and good life...full of joy and energy. Avoid the danger...live well!

THE COMMA -- BASIC RULES

Use between words, phrases or clauses in a series.

     Ryan, Stephanie, David, and Carlos went to the beach last week.

     We went over the mountain, beside the river, and through the valley.

     Dave went to London, Carol traveled to Paris, and I stayed home in Monterrey.

Use after a long introductory phrase (5-6+ syllables.)

     During the War of 1812, the issues of the conflict were seldom clear to the soldiers.

     After our Sunday dinner, we often travel to Sta. Catarina to visit Grandma.

Use with appositive phrases

     My friend, David, is captain of the football team.

     The class elected Lucy, the class clown, to be their official representative.

Use with non-restrictive clauses [who, which, that]—(a “non-restrictive clause” is a supporting clause that provides extra or non-essential information.)

     My brother, who works at a bank, thinks that scuba diving is a great sport.

Use to separate independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (F.A.N.B.O.Y.S.!)

     Karen went to the movies, so I decided to hang-out with my friends.

     I really do like this author, but I wouldn’t buy one of his books.

Use to separate dependent and independent clauses in sentences.

     Because David was feeling so good, he got up and cooked breakfast.

     Although the game was far from over, the Rayados were already celebrating!

Use with coordinating adjectives not joined by 'and.'

     Ferocious, alert, loyal dogs were needed badly.

Not with cumulative adjectives:

     The huge old iron lock fell apart.

     TEST: insert 'and' in the above sentence, and it “sounds funny.”

Use with dates, addresses.

     We’re leave on March 17, 2012.

     He lives at Calle Cañon no.422, Col. Del Valle, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.

Use to separate interjections and direct-address from sentence.

     So, you’re off to see the President?

     I’m telling you, Carl, that you cannot just walk into the President’s office.

Use in conjunction with semi-colon when using conjunctive adverbs.

     The storm was finally passed; however, the rivers were still roaring down the mountain.

     I don’t like to eat meat; nevertheless, I will eat what I’m served at someone’s house.

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THE SEMI-COLON--BASIC RULES

Use a semi-colon to join two related independent clauses.

     Sandra eats mostly junk-food; Kriss prefers fruit and veggies.

     The train’s breaks failed; nothing could stop it now.

Use with conjunctive adverbs.

     The crowd was demanding more food; moreover, they were armed and prepared to fight.

Filosofía–Un buen gráfico…

de: http://www.scribd.com/doc/6527940/Filosofia-y-Educacion-Tabla-Comparativa

"Story of the Pencil" / "La Historia del Lápiz" (by/por Paulo Coehlo)

     The child watched his grandmother who was writing a letter.  After a moment, the child asked, "Are you writing a story about us?  And, by chance, are writing about me?
     The grandmother stopped writing, smiled and said to her grandson, "I am writing about you, it's true.  But, you know, more important that what I'm writing is the pencil I'm using.  I hope that you will be like this pencil when you grow up.
     The child looked at the pencil, intrigued, and saw nothing special about it.  "But, it's just like every other pencil I've seen in my life!"
     "It all depends on how you see things," replied the grandmother. "This pencil has five qualities that, if you strive to have in your life, will make you peaceful person in this world."
     "The first quality: you can do great things, but must never forget that there exists a Hand that guides your steps.  This Hand we call God and this Hand will always guide you in the direction of His will.
     "The second quality: from time to time you need to stop writing and apply the pencil-sharpener.  In this process the pencil suffers a bit, but in the end it's sharper.  So, you need to know that you have to endure some pains in life because it will make you a better person."
     "The third quality: this pencil allows us to use an eraser to remove the errors.  You need to understand that correcting something we've done isn't necessarily a bad thing, rather, it's important if we're going to stay in the path of righteousness and justice."
     "The fourth quality: the thing that's most important about the pencil is not wood nor its external form but the graphite within.  So, always care for what is going on inside yourself.
     "Finally, the fifth quality of the pencil: it always leaves a mark.  In the same way, you must remember that everything you do in life will leave a mark and you need to be conscious of all your actions."

...from Coehlo's book, _To Be Like a Flowing River_, Grijalbo, 2006.)
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El niño miraba a su abuela, que escribía una carta.  En determinado momento, preguntó:
--¿Estás escribiendo una historia que nos sucecdió a nosotros? ¿Y es, por casualidad, una historia sobre mí?
    La abuela dejó de escribir, sonrió y comentó al nieto:
--Estoy escribiendo sobre ti, es verdad.  Ahora bien, más importante que las palabras es el lápiz que estoy usando.  Me gustaría que tú fueras como él, cuando crezcas.
    El niño miró el lápiz, intrigado, y no vio nada especial.
--Pero, ¡si es igual a todos los lápices que he visto en mi vida!
--Todo depende de cómo mires las cosas.  Hay cinco cualidades en él que, si consigues conservarlas, te harán siempre una persona de paz con el mundo.
    >Primera cualidad:  puedes hacer grandes cosas, pero no debes olvidar nunca que existe una Mano que guía tus pasos.  A esa Mano la llamamos Dios y Éste debe conducirte siempre en la dirección de Su voluntad.
    >Segunda cualidad: de vez en cuando necesito dejar de escribir y usar el sacapuntas.  Con eso el lápiz sufre un  poco, pero al final está más afilado.  Por tanto, has de saber soportar algunos dolores, porque te harán ser una persona mejor
    >Tercera cualidad: el lápiz siempre permite que usemos una goma para borrar los errores.  Debes entender que corregir una cosa que hemos hecho no es necesariamente algo malo, sino algo importante para mantenernos en el camino de la justicia.
    >Cuarta cualidad: lo que realmente importa en el lápiz no es la madera ni su forma exterior, sino el grafito que lleva dentro.  Por tanto, cuida siempre lo que ocurre dentro de ti.
    >Por último, la quinta cualidad del lápiz: siempre deja una marca.  Del mismo moda, has de saber que todo lo que hagas en la vida dejará huellas y procura ser consciente de todas tus acciones.

(Del libro por Coelho, _Ser como el río que fluye_, Grijalbo, 2006. )