El Dia de los Reyes

Hola Clase! I found an interesting children's story by Esmeralda Santiago. Santiago is one of the most influential Puerto Rican writiers of English and Spanish literary works. Please read this story. It is basically about the way the Puerto Rican people celebrate the holiday season on their island. For example, their types of decorations, traditional foods, and how they ask Santa for the gifts that they want for Christmas. This book is found in the local libraries. Ojo: If you are unable to find the book in your library, type in El Dia De Los Reyes, Santiago, Esmeralda in Google Books, and you will be sure to find the book. In addition, we will be discussing what you have read in Spanish for class when you return on Thursday.
Suerte y Sauldos

Reflejos

          Hola clase! There is extra credit for those who wish to boost their grade in our wonderful class! If one decides to do this project, thus do it correctly or without many grammar mistakes, one must make a mini  portfolio. The following are the requirements:

• a two ring binder
• dividers
• elastic covers (to protect the printed papers inside of the binder)
• written reflections about the Hispanis movies we had discussed throughout the semester in Spanish.
• write a three page, detalled summary about the movies.
• write one page reflection of what you thoghut about the movie, and why it is realted to our course, El Mundo Hispanoo.
• you must describe six movies to reflect on such as Maria Full of Grace, Men with Guns, Todo Sobre Mi Madre, Selena, Documentary of Eva Durate Peron, Pedro Pans, The Lost City, Pans Labyrth, Rosa de Guadalupe, and the Documentary of Jose Marti.

          Ojo: These reflections count as sixty points towards any test grade, homework, and classwork, depending on how well one would do on this assignment. Any questions, I will be available via email or before or after class. I will allow fifteen minutes during the class session for those who would like to complete this assignment. Suerte.

Empire

Hola Clase! As this beginners course quickly comes to end, we will be watching the movie "Empire" in class. This film describes the life of a Puerto Rican American gangster from New York, his crew, his rivals, his lover, the death of his  brother, and how his business turns sour due to dealing in the corporate sector. The purpose of watching this film is for all of you learn about the lives of Puerto Ricans in New York. In addition, all of you are going to answer the questions that I will provide for you during the movie. For the next class session, we will have assigned partners speaking in Spanish ONLY. One student will give a summary of the film, and that student's partner will make creative sentences pertaining to the movie while using the preterite, imperfect, and subjunctive verb tenses.

Suerte

Acción de Gracias feliz !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hola Clase! Thanksgiving is next week, and we still have a lot of work to do. However, a lot of fun activities! While all of you are away from school, I want all of you to listen to Univision on channel sixteen, Telemundo, and/or any type of radio station that airs the Spanish language for one hour each day starting tonight up until we return from Thanksgiving. Then, I want all of you to write a one paragraph summary, in Spanish, describing the theme that was being said such as music, cuisine, art, current events, etc. The purpose of this assignment is to enrich your writing skills in Spanish, and your listening. When we return from the Thanksgiving holiday, I will collect all of your assignments (No late work accepted!). We will all work in groups of two, and we will discuss, in Spanish, what we did over the holiday using the imperfect and preterit verb tenses.

Saludos

Men with Guns

Hola clase! For the next few days we are going to watch Men with Guns. After the movie is finished, we are going to compare notes, and a have a short quiz about what you learned from the movie.

Men with Guns is a movie about an old prominent doctor of Colombia, who has had an eventful life being a doctor as well as a teacher. After caring for ill people for many years, he learns that he is in poor health. Before he retires; however, he visits a handful of his students that he had taught in the past, in which they are now doctors themselves. Unfortunately, the indigenous tribes and military soldiers (guerillas) of Colombia are killing doctors and other people who pass by because they are considered as a threat to the community. 

The purpose of watching this movie is so that you can develop knowledge of the murderous time periods of Colombia. Think of these questions while you watch the movie: Why did these people kill, especially the doctors? Why did doctors, innocent tourists, and the indigenous pose as a threat? Why did the old prominent doctor want to visit his students? Why did these doctors continue to travel to dangerous areas, knowing that their lives were in danger? In addition, I want all of you to write down all of the names and locations from watching the movie.  The names of the doctors, indigenous, and the locations are important in reference to understanding the movie. (Ojo: This movie is very interesting, and terrorizing so pay close attention. In addition, the end of this movie is shocking!)

Saludos

El Dia De Los Muertos

         EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

               El Día de los Muertos es una festividad celebrada por muchos en México y por algunos mexicano-americanos que viven en Estados theUnited y Canadá. La celebracion consiste en reuniones de familiares y amigos a orar y recordar a amigos y familiares que han muerto.La celebración tiene lugar el 2 de noviembre en el marco de las fiestas católicas de Día (01 de noviembre) y Todos los Santos Todos los Santos (2 de noviembre). Las tradiciones relacionadas con las vacaciones incluyen la construcción de altares en honor a la fallecida privado con calaveras de azúcar, caléndulas, y los alimentos y bebidas favoritas de los difuntos y visitar las tumbas de estos como regalo. El Día de los Muertos es un momento de celebración cuando se come y la fiesta son comunes. Debido a que ocurre poco después de Halloween, el Día de los Muertos a veces se piensa que es una fiesta similar, aunque los dos se celebran de manera diferente.

           Los estudiosos rastrear los orígenes de la fiesta moderna para las celebraciones indígenas que datan de miles de años y un azteca festivaldedicated a una diosa llamada Mictecacihuatl. En Brasil, el Día de Finados es un día festivo que muchos brasileños celebran al visitar los cementerios y las iglesias. En España, hay festivales y desfiles, y, al final del día, la gente se reúne en los cementerios y orar por sus seres queridos muertos. observancias similares ocurren en otras partes de Europa, y las celebraciones de temas similares aparecen en muchas culturas asiáticas y africanas.

           As a  result, I want all students to make a piece of artwork in reference to El Dia de los Muertos. Example works of art could be a drawing, painting, recipe, decorative mask, and/or poem. All students have to explain their piece of artwork for three to five minutes in Spanish. This project is worth ten points on your upcoming exams next week.

Suerte

      

     

       

works cited : students from my Spanish classes who celebrate this holiday, which they are Mexicans. In addition,  Profesor Cordero (Stockton), and my Cuban teachers from high school, Sra Duca y Sra. Whyano.

La Comida Cubana

I have made many Spanish dishes, but I love Cuban recipes. My class project, in the fall semester of Stockton, I talked about the history of Cuban food, how the embargo affected the Cuban people, and I conducted a cooking segment, in Spanish, on a Cuban dish known as Avocado and Pineapple Salad. These are the ingredients and how to make the salad.

Avocado and Pineapple Salad

                                   Ingredients

·         8  cups  iceberg or other crisp lettuce

·         2  cups  fresh pineapple chunks

·         1  medium red onion, thinly sliced

·         1/3  cup  extra-virgin olive oil

·         1/3  cup  white vinegar

·         1/3  cup  fresh orange juice

·         1/4  cup  sugar

·         3/4  teaspoon  salt

·         1/2  teaspoon  pepper

·         2  medium avocados, sliced

·         Fresh lime wedges

Preparation

Toss together first 3 ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk together oil and next 5 ingredients. Pour desired amount of dressing over salad mixture, and toss well. Spoon salad onto individual plates. Arrange avocado slices over salads; serve with lime wedges. Serve immediately.

This salad is tasty. I loved it, and my classmates loved it! Now, I have given all of you another example on how to make your cooking segments for your projects due next week. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment on this blog, or send me an email in private (so that no one will steal your ideas)!

Suerte

Works Cited: http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001175998

La Cocina Colombiana: Mi Proyecto

        It is interesting to read about the works of famous Hispanic writers, poets, and play writers.  Today, I have an interesting assignment for all of you. Each student has to make a seven to ten minute presentation, in Spanish, describing and preparing a Hispanic dish. Hint: Think along the lines of a cooking session. OJO: There are no partners, and no two people can prepare the same dish! 

This is how each students should conduct their project:

1.) Writing Component and discussion during the presentation: research the history of the country's  food such as where the region is located, what types of animals, vegetation,, and sea food exist there, how is the food grown, imports, exports, traditional dishes, meal times, restaurant reviews etc. Give detailed descriptions, and examples so that all of our mouths are watery.

2.) Select a dish of your choice, and explain how to prepare the dish in the Spanish language.

This is the dish that I prepared last semester at Stockton.

 La Cocina Colombiana (Colombian Food)

Recipe: El Dip de Atun

Ingredients:  

2 (5 oz) Cans tuna, drained

1 tablespoon chopped onion

2 tablespoon mustard

¼ teaspoon ground cumin

1/3 cup cream cheese

¼ cup crème fraiche o crema de leche

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Salt and pepper (http://www.mycolombianrecipes.com/tuna-dip-dip-de-atun)

Directions

1. Place all the ingredients in the food processor and process until smooth.

2. Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle fresh parsley on top. Serve with crostini or fresh raw vegetables. However, I served jalapeño pita chips, and pineapple with this dish.

Suerte!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

El Poema de Jose Marti

     Hola Todos! All of you can easy find this poem of Jose Marti at this site http://jose-marti.org/jose_marti/obras/poesia/versossencillos/03yosoyunhombresincero.htm, and all of you can easy request to have this poem translated for you in case if none of you know the Spanish language.

    In my third year of Spanish class at Winslow Township High School, I had to read this poem in its Spanish form to my teacher for a midterm grade. Then, in my second semester at Camden County College, I had to read this poem quietly to myself, and answer the questions for reading comprehension for a final exam. Next, in my first semester at Stockton College, my Profesor had each of us read a few stanzas, and we had to discuss (in Spanish) what was described in the poem. Last, I am posting this poem on my blog. This poem, as well as Jose Marti, and his additional works serve as the highlights of Cuba's history. Please read or translate this poem so that you can read it. This poem is well known as well as speacial to the Cuban people.

   

 

Poesía de José Martí

Versos Sencillos-1891

I-YO SOY UN HOMBRE SINCERO...

Yo soy un hombre sinceroDe donde crece la palma,Y antes de morirme quieroEchar mis versos del alma.

   Yo vengo de todas partes,Y hacia todas partes voy:Arte soy entre las artes,En los montes, monte soy.

   Yo sé los nombres extrañosDe las yerbas y las flores,Y de mortales engaños,Y de sublimes dolores.

   Yo he visto en la noche oscuraLlover sobre mi cabezaLos rayos de lumbre puraDe la divina belleza.

   Alas nacer vi en los hombrosDe las mujeres hermosas:Y salir de los escombros,Volando las mariposas.

   He visto vivir a un hombreCon el puñal al costado,Sin decir jamás el nombreDe aquella que lo ha matado.

   Rápida, como un reflejo,Dos veces vi el alma, dos:Cuando murió el pobre viejo(*),Cuando ella me dijo adiós(**).

   Temblé una vez —en la reja,A la entrada de la viña,—Cuando la bárbara abejaPicó en la frente a mi niña.

   Gocé una vez, de tal suerteQue gocé cual nunca:—cuandoLa sentencia de mi muerteLeyó el alcalde llorando.

   Oigo un suspiro, a travésDe las tierras y la mar,Y no es un suspiro,—esQue mi hijo va a despertar.

   Si dicen que del joyeroTome la joya mejor,Tomo a un amigo sinceroY pongo a un lado el amor.

   Yo he visto al águila heridaVolar al azul sereno,Y morir en su guaridaLa vibora del veneno.

   Yo sé bien que cuando el mundoCede, lívido, al descanso,Sobre el silencio profundoMurmura el arroyo manso.

   Yo he puesto la mano osada,De horror y júbilo yerta,Sobre la estrella apagadaQue cayó frente a mi puerta.

   Oculto en mi pecho bravoLa pena que me lo hiere:El hijo de un pueblo esclavoVive por él, calla y muere.

   Todo es hermoso y constante,Todo es música y razón,Y todo, como el diamante,Antes que luz es carbón.

   Yo sé que el necio se entierraCon gran lujo y con gran llanto.Y que no hay fruta en la tierraComo la del camposanto.

   Callo, y entiendo, y me quitoLa pompa del rimador:Cuelgo de un árbol marchitoMi muceta de doctor.

La Poema: Consejos de una madre

Hola Clase! I know that the last Hispanic story that I posted was a big challenge. Now you can relax and learn from one of the most famous poets in Mexico, Francisco X. Alarcon. This poem is short and to the point. After reading this poem, please answer the following questions:

A.) La persona que habla en el poema es....
B.) La persona que esta por cumplir los 33 anos es.....
C.) Los primos que se mencionan en el poema.....
D.) El hijo probablemente es....
E.) La madre probablemente es...

OJO:  Also research Francisco X. Alarcon, por favor!

hijo
ya cruzas
los 33 anos

y no veo
asientes
cabeza

mira
tu mundo
alrededor

tus primos
estan todos
bien parados

con los pies
plantados
en la tierra

mientras tu
me duele
verte asi
gastando
tus ojos
y tu tiempo

en eso
que llamas
poemas


Works Cited:
Alarcon, Ohara, Rojas,and Samaniego: El Mundo 21 Hispano.2005: pgs.15-16.

Los Cuentos Hispanos (El Hombre de Plata)

El Hombre de Plata
Isabel Allende
El Juancho y su perra «Mariposa» hacían el camino de tres kilómetros a la
escuela dos veces al día. Lloviera o nevara, hiciera frío o sol radiante, la
pequeña figura de Juancho se recortaba en el camino con la «Mariposa» detrás.
Juancho le había puesto ese nombre porque tenía unas grandes orejas
voladoras que, miradas a contra luz, la hacían parecer una enorme y torpe
mariposa morena. Y también por esa manía que tenía la perra de andar oliendo
las flores como un insecto cualquiera.
La «Mariposa» acompañaba a su amo a la escuela, y se sentaba a esperar en la
puerta hasta que sonara la campana. Cuando terminaba la clase y se abría la
puerta, aparecía un tropel de niños desbandados como ganado despavorido, y la
«Mariposa» se sacudía la modorra y comenzaba a buscar a su niño. Oliendo
zapatos y piernas de escolares, daba al fin con su Juancho y entonces,
moviendo la cola como un ventilador a retropropulsión, emprendía el camino de
regreso.
Los días de invierno anochece muy temprano. Cuando hay nubes en la costa y
el mar se pone negro, a las cinco de la tarde ya está casi oscuro. Ese era un día
así: nublado, medio gris y medio frío, con la lluvia anunciándose y olas con
espuma en la cresta.
Mala se pone la cosa, Mariposa. Hay que apurarse o nos pezca el agua y se
nos hace oscuro... A mí la noche por estas soledades me da miedo, Mariposa
decía Juancho, apurando el tranco con sus botas agujereadas y su poncho
desteñido.
La perra estaba inquieta. Olía el aire y de repente se ponía a gemir despacito.
Llevaba las orejas alertas y la cola tiesa.
¿Qué te pasa? le decía Juancho. No te pongas a aullar, perra lesa, mira
que vienen las ánimas a penar...
A la vuelta de la loma, cuando había que dejar la carretera y meterse por el
sendero de tierra que llevaba cruzando los potreros hasta la casa, la Mariposa
se puso insoportable, sentándose en el suelo a gemir como si le hubieran pisado
la cola. Juancho era un niño campesino, y había aprendido desde niño a
respetar los cambios de humor de los animales. Cuando vio la inquietud de su
perra, se le pusieron los pelos de punta.
¿Qué pasa, Mariposa? ¿Son bandidos o son aparecidos? Ay... ¡Tengo miedo,
Mariposa!
El niño miraba a su alrededor asustado. No se veía a nadie. Potreros silenciosos
en el gris espeso del atardecer invernal. El murmullo lejano del mar y esa
soledad del campo chileno.
Temblando de miedo, pero apurado en vista de que la noche se venía encima,
Juancho echó a correr por el sendero, con el bolsón golpeándole las piernas y el
poncho medio enredado. De mala gana, la Mariposa salió trotando detrás.
Y entonces, cuando iban llegando a la encina torcida, en la mitad del potrero
grande, lo vieron.
Era un enorme plato metálico suspendido a dos metros del suelo, perfectamente
inmóvil. No tenía puertas ni ventanas: solamente tres orificios brillantes que
parecían focos, de donde salía un leve resplandor anaranjado. El campo estaba
en silencio... no se oía el ruido de un motor ni se agitaba el viento alrededor de
la extraña máquina.
El niño y la perra se detuvieron con los ojos desorbitados. Miraban el extraño
artefacto circular detenido en el espacio, tan cerca y tan misterioso, sin
comprender lo que veían.
El primer impulso, cuando se recuperaron, fue echar a correr a todo lo que
daban. Pero la curiosidad de un niño y la lealtad de un perro son más fuertes
que el miedo. Paso a paso, el niño y el perro se aproximaron, como
hipnotizados, al platillo volador que descansaba junto a la copa de la encina.
Cuando estaban a quince metros del plato, uno de los rayos anaranjados cambió
de color, tornándose de un azul muy intenso. Un silbido agudo cruzó el aire y
quedó vibrando en las ramas de la encina. La Mariposa cayó al suelo como
muerta, y el niño se tapó los oídos con las manos. Cuando el silbido se detuvo,
Juancho quedó tambaleándose como borracho.
En la semi-oscuridad del anochecer, vio acercarse un objeto brillante. Sus ojos
se abrieron como dos huevos fritos cuando vio lo que avanzaba: era un Hombre
de Plata. Muy poco más grande que el niño, enteramente plateado, como si
estuviera vestido en papel de aluminio, y una cabeza redonda sin boca, nariz ni
orejas, pero con dos inmensos ojos que parecían anteojos de hombre-rana.
Juancho trató de huir, pero no pudo mover ni un músculo. Su cuerpo estaba
paralizado, como si lo hubieran amarrado con hilos invisibles. Aterrorizado,
cubierto de sudor frío y con un grito de pavor atascado en la garganta, Juancho
vio acercarse al Hombre de Plata, que avanzaba muy lentamente, flotando a
treinta centímetros del suelo.
Juancho no sintió la voz del Hombre de Plata, pero de alguna manera supo que
él le estaba hablando. Era como si estuviera adivinando sus palabras, o como si
las hubiera soñado y sólo las estuviera recordando.
Amigo... Amigo... Soy amigo... no temas, no tengas miedo, soy tu amigo...
Poquito a poco el susto fue abandonando al niño. Vio acercarse al Hombre de
Plata, lo vio agacharse y levantar con cuidado y sin esfuerzo a la inconsciente
Mariposa, y llegar a su lado con la perra en vilo.
Amigo... Soy tu amigo... No tengas miedo, no voy a hacerte daño... Soy tu
amigo y quiero conocerte... Vengo de lejos, no soy de este planeta... Vengo del
espacio... Quiero conocerte solamente...
Las palabras sin voz del Hombre de Plata se metieron sin ruido en la cabeza de
Juancho y el niño perdió todo su temor. Haciendo un esfuerzo pudo mover las
piernas. El extraño hombrecito plateado estiró una mano y tocó a Juancho en un
brazo.
Ven conmigo... Subamos a mi nave... Quiero conocerte... Soy tu amigo...
Y Juancho, por supuesto, aceptó la invitación. Dio un paso adelante, siempre
con la mano del Hombre de Plata en su brazo, y su cuerpo quedó suspendido a
unos centímetros del suelo. Estaba pisando el brillo azul que salía del platillo
volador, y vio que sin ningún esfuerzo avanzaba con su nuevo amigo y la
Mariposa por el rayo, hasta la nave.
Entró a la nave sin que se abrieran puertas. Sintió como si «pasara» a través de
las paredes y se encontrara despertando de a poco en el interior de un túnel
grande, silencioso, lleno de luz y tibieza.
Sus pies no tocaban el suelo, pero tampoco tenía la sensación de estar flotando.
Soy de otro planeta... Vengo a conocer la Tierra... Descendí aquí porque
parecía un lugar solitario... Pero estoy contento de haberte encontrado... Estoy
contento de conocerte... Soy tu amigo...
Así sentía Juancho que le hablaba sin palabras el Hombre de Plata. La Mariposa
seguía como muerta, flotando dulcemente en un colchón de luz.
Soy Juancho Soto. Soy del Fundo La Ensenada. Mi papá es Juan Soto dijo
el niño en un murmullo, pero su voz se escuchó profunda y llena de eco,
rebotando en el túnel brillante donde se encontraba.
El Hombre de Plata condujo al niño a través del túnel y pronto se encontró en
una habitación circular, amplia y bien iluminada, casi sin muebles ni aparatos.
Parecía vacía, aunque llena de misteriosos botones y minúsculas pantallas.
Este es un platillo volador de verdad dijo Juancho, mirando a su alrededor.
Sí... Yo quiero conocerte para llevarme una imagen tuya a mi mundo... Pero
no quiero asustarte... No quiero que los hombres nos conozcan, porque todavía
no están preparados para recibirnos... decía silenciosamente el Hombre de
Plata.
Yo quiero irme contigo a tu mundo, si quieres llevarme con la Mariposa dijo
Juancho, temblando un poco, pero lleno de curiosidad.
No puedo llevarte conmigo... Tu cuerpo no resistiría el viaje... Pero quiero
llevarme una imagen completa de ti... Déjame estudiarte y conocerte. No voy a
hacerte daño. Duérmete tranquilo... No tengas miedo... Duérmete para que yo
pueda conocerte...
Juancho sintió un sueño profundo y pesado subirle desde la planta de los pies y,
sin esfuerzo alguno, cayó profundamente dormido.
El niño despertó cuando una gota de agua le mojaba la cara. Estaba oscuro y
comenzaba a llover. La sombra de la encina se distinguía apenas en la noche, y
tenía frío, a pesar del calor que le transmitía la Mariposa dormida debajo de su
poncho. Vio que estaba descalzo.
¡Mariposa! ¡Nos quedamos dormidos! Soñé con... ¡No! ¡No lo soñé! Es cierto,
tiene que ser cierto que conocí al Hombre de Plata y estuve en el Platillo Volador
miró a su alrededor, buscando la sombra de la misteriosa nave, pero no vio
más que nubes negras. La perra despertó también, se sacudió, miró a su
alrededor espantada, y echó a correr en dirección a la luz lejana de la casa de
los Soto. Juancho la siguió también, sin pararse a buscar sus viejas botas de
agua, y chapoteando en el barro, corrió a potrero abierto hasta su casa.
¡Cabro de moledera! ¡Adonde te habías metido! gritó su madre cuando lo
vio entrar, enarbolando la cuchara de palo de la cocina sobre la cabeza del niño.
¿Y tus zapatillas de goma? ¡A pata pelada y en la lluvia!
Andaba en el potrero, cerca de la encina, cuando..., ¡Ay, no me pegue
mamita!..., cuando vi al Hombre de Plata y el platillo flotando en el aire, sin
alas...
Ya mujer, déjalo. El cabro se durmió y estuvo soñando. Mañana buscará los
zapatos. ¡A tomarse la sopa ahora y a la cama! Mañana hay que madrugar
dijo el padre.
Al día siguiente salieron Juancho y su padre a buscar leña.
Mira hijo... ¿Quién habrá prendido fuego cerca de la encina? Está todo este
pedazo quemado. ¡Qué raro! Yo no vi fuego ni sentí olor a humo... Hicieron una
fogata redondita y pareja, como una rueda grande dijo Juan Soto, examinando
el suelo, extrañado.
El pasto se veía chamuscado y la tierra oscura, como si estuviera cubierta de
ceniza. El lugar quemado estaba unos centímetros más bajo que el nivel del
potrero, como si un peso enorme se hubiera posado sobre la tierra blanda.
Juancho y la Mariposa se acercaron cuidadosamente. El niño buscó en el suelo,
escarbando la tierra con un palo.
¿Qué buscas? preguntó su padre.
Mis botas, taita... Pero parece que se las llevó el Hombre de Plata.
El niño sonrió, la perra movió el rabo y Juan Soto se rascó la cabeza extrañado.
F I N
Works Cited: http://www.pprincipe.cult.cu/najasa/Biblioteca%20virtual%20R/Allende,%20Isabel%20-%20El%20hombre%20de%20plata.pdf



        My ninth grade students loved this short story by Isabel Allende. During the class period, I assigned four people in each group to translate two paragraphs in the story.When ten minutes was over, each group, in the order of the story, had to translate to the class what their perception was from the story. NO GOOGLE TRANSLATOR WAS ALLOWED, ONLY A SPANISH DICTIONARY! I challenge the students in Mr. Scott's Technology for educators classroom to translate this story and tell me what they thought about it. If you would like to take on this challenge, you may work with a partner from our classroom. Then, post your translation on the comment section of this blog. OJO: I WILL KNOW IF YOU USED AN INTERNET TRANSLATOR! Try your best! It is fun and interesting. Buena Suerte!

Los Cuentos Hispanos (Molina)

Molina, Silvia. Repasey escriba. 2007:pgs. 27-29.

 “La casa nuevo”

Escritora: Silvia Molina

Translation by Sydney McKnight

Before I read this story, I asked the ninth graders to think about the following questions:
Did you ever move into a new house? If so, compare and contrast characteristics of your new home vs. your old one.
If could move into a new home, what would it look like on the interior as well as the exterior?
What do you think about the families who are less fortunate who dream about owning a decent home?
What do think about the people who have lost their home? What would you do to help?             A little girl did not believe in luck. She said that her father always did, and that it became a sickness. Her father won the lottery, and the family was going to move into a new house. La calle de Melchor Ocampo, where the family was going to buy a house there, was clean, exotic, and a dream. However, the little girl and her family lived in San Rafael. San Rafael was dirty, consisted of two bedrooms, no running water, and no bathroom. The little girl could not wait to move into a better place.
             When the little girl saw the house for the first time, she loved the fence with the white paint, and the house smelled fresh. She held onto her father’s hand to entire time as he showed her the house. He showed her new room. Her new room consisted of many compartments for her clothes and toys. The little girl said that she was so happy because she finally had a room to herself. She did not have to sleep with her brothers anymore. In addition, the little girl saw her twin sisters’ room, her brother’s room, her parents’ room, laundry room, dining room, kitchen, and most importantly the bathroom. The little girl was extremely excited because she could finally put her entire body in a bath tub, and sit on a toilet seat without having to go outside and use the canteen
             The little girl was so excited about the new house. She said that when she will return to school, she will write a composition describing her new house versus her old one. The little girl finally let go of her father’s hand because she went back upstairs to view her room again. However, the little girl described a man in a suite (the real estate agent) ordering her to close the bedroom door. The little girl is confused, and she asked her father why she was not allowed to see her room anymore. Unfortunately, the end of the story reveals that the father could not afford to make a settlement on the house after all.
              The ninth grade students were shocked. I asked what their thoughts were about the story. Half of the class believed that the little girl’s father had good intentions, and the other half said that the father had bad intensions. For an exercise I had split the class evenly in ones and twos. The ones had to explain in Spanish why they felt that the father had good intentions, and the twos had to explain to their partners in Spanish why they felt that the father had bad intentions. When the class period was over, I had the students write their responses to the questions above in Spanish for a homework assignment.

Los Cuentos Hispanos (Muerto y Resucitado)

Los Cuentos Hispanos

"Muerto y Resucitado"

Written by Amado Nervo of Mexico 
Translated, and Summarized (to form a discussion with ninth grade students) by Sydney McKnight
    
         A soldier reads about his death in an army bulletin, and he felt a strange surprise. When a Yankee is dead on the battlefield, he watches his corpse mangled on the ground with eyes and mouth open. But the soldier didn’t see his corpse, nor did he feel lifeless. The soldier wanted to be a free man, and now he could be.
The soldier, now on a steam boat heading towards London, was told once more of his death by a passenger. He was also surrounded by other fugitives of all different nationalities on the boat. The soldier thought to himself for hours. He thought about his old life such as having a fat wife with a mustache, a nagging mother-in-law, and living in poverty. However, the soldier thought about making a new beginning that was full of his desires such as having an English wife who is thin with blond hair, no mother-in-law, and himself having a steady job.
         The boat finally docked, and the soldier felt like a blue bird. The soldier felt like a blue bird because he was free from his old life, and finally pursuing a better one; or so he thought. “Juan!” A man touches the shoulder of Juan Perez (the soldier). The man said, “My dear friend! Back from the dead! They gave your wife a medal to be placed on your portrait! We truly thought you were dead, but we are so glad that the news is false! Juan thinks to himself that the blue bird always returns home.
        The ninth grade students looked puzzled after I read the story. “Can anyone tell me what I have just read”, I said firmly. Many of the students’ responses were, “The soldier died and was reborn again”! “HA HA HA, his wife is fat with a mustache!” “The story is confusing because it went from one scene to the next without notice.” I thought about their responses and I decided to give the students a hint, “Remember Mrs. Duca’s ninth grade Spanish class to disregard the title of the story. Think about the old life as Juan Perez described in the story. Why was he planning on living another life?’ The students’ began to call out at once, and I had to suggest to them to raise their hands to give their reasons as to what the story was about.
        As a result of many of their conculsions, it was correct that the army mistaked Juan Perez as dead. Although Juan Perez was unhappy, he took advantage of the false news, and he was heading towards a new life. Juan almost got away until his friend identified him. For an assignment, the ninth grade students had to type a one page paper giving their explanations as to what they would do if they were thought to be dead. Would one start a new life, and if so, what were the reasons? Or would one go back to one’s old life, and explain. Short stories are always believed to be the most interesting for students because it helps them to think critically, and to have an open mind. 


Nervo, Amado. "Muerto y Resucitado". Repase y escriba, 5 ed. 2007: pgs. 1-3. 　

Reading: 21st century skills

          After reviewing the 21st Century Literacy website, I have learned that it is important for teachers to incorporate technology in the classroom. Today’s society is extremely competitive, and students need to posses strong academic skills, thinking, reasoning, team work skills, and proficiency in using technology. In addition, it is also the teacher’s responsibility to facilitate technology in the classroom effectively in order to prepare the students of the future. The use of technology in schools today has become more positive because the use of technology helps the environment, it makes the course work interesting, helps with collaborative learning, and allows the students to be creative. Technology is also more convenient for both the teachers and the parents in regards to the students’ performances in the classroom, behavior, absences, or important board of education reminders.
         Although technology serves as a convenient source, the use of technology can also be negative. The use of technology may have negative affects on most children because many children of today are not productive. For example, the obesity rate has heightened, and diabetes has become an issue in young children. In addition, budget cuts indicates limited resources to the schools, especially low economic schools, and what about the teachers? Teachers are the main source as to how children will acquire these educational skills in order to advance throughout the world! Some critics argue that students can learn just as much, probably more, with or without teachers due to technological advances around the globe.
           As a result, I have also learned that technology is needed in order to communicate with others, and used as educational tools. Technology may be scary for those who are in the older generation because they have to slowly adapt to the world that is changing around them. I believe that technology will prepare the future students of America because now computers are being integrated into the schools. When students learn a new concept when they are young, it will not be hard for them to adapt to possible new technologies in the future to come because they have already mastered the intricate information in schools as to how to perform many technological tasks. This is why higher education has created the computer courses in the colleges and universities so that the future teachers will learn these new advances and teach the future students of today, and in turn learn from the students.

1st Day of Tech for Edu.: 1st Day of Tech for Edu.

1st Day of Tech for Edu.: 1st Day of Tech for Edu.: "HOLA CLASE! I really enjoyed Wednesday night. By the use of computer technology, I got to learn about my classmates (their interests), how t..."

1st Day of Tech for Edu.

HOLA CLASE! I really enjoyed Wednesday night. By the use of computer technology, I got to learn about my classmates (their interests), how to design a powerpoint presentation, analyze old technology that was used in schools, watch a video as to how technology will help students learn and how teachers will learn from their students, and creating my first blog. Even though I am twenty-one years old, I am not computer savvy. During my educational experience, I disliked computer class so much!LOL! I thought it was boring and confusing. But after attending, I think that this will be one of the four classes this semester that I will enjoy.
In reference to what I have learned on Wednesday night, I strongly believe that getting to know each other through technology was fun, easy, and educational. Students will be more focused in school if teachers use technology because many students of today are visual learners.
Buenos Noches, y Tener cuidado,
SydMaree'