Learning English

The English language was extended for the most of countries in the last years. In this context, the learning of this language has been developed in much educational centres.

In Chile, nowadays the learning of English is put into practice since the primary school, in general as a course obligatory. Also, it exist educational centres specializing in your learning, because of the necessity of people for have English as 2nd language it has increased in our globalized system of life.

Most of jobs and the academic programs consider necessary the use of the English language. For example, the publication of an article in a scientific journal, it considers that at least the abstract should be in this language. Also, any courses of the university careers have in his programs, books, articles or other materials of study wich are in English language.

I had English courses in the school and at the University. In the university the English program it was implemented as an obligatory course, and after the test of this language, I was selected for basic level I. In this moment I am in level IV.

This experience was good for to learn specially how to read fluently , but the listening part and the oral skills are very difficult for me and I think that in these four years learning English, these elements have not improve very much. I don’t know if it is a problem with my abilities learning the language, the bad learning at school, if I need more practice or maybe would be necessary to improve the method of learning of English program at the university. Maybe, it can be a mixed of all this elements.

Without a doubt, the learning of English is very necessary in different aspects, for example in academic life or when you visit other countries. However, the preponderance of this language is too much, and this is negative if it lowers the possibility to know other languages, an interesting experience and important for keep the cultural diversity.

In my case, in this moment I have courses of English and French, and in the future I would like to learn Mapudungun.

I need a sabbatical year!

After too many years at school and the university, I consider necessary to have a free year for me, because in my case I need some time to think about my future, to re-consider the idea to work as a sociologist or to take other options in my life.

So, I imagine that in my free year, I would do something to relax, for example, to stay some time in my house in Chimbarongo, or to travel around Chile, maybe I’d go to Valparaíso or to any place in the South of Chile... perhaps this would be an opportunity to visit my family of Punta Arenas, because I have never visited them. Also, in the other extreme of our country, I would visit Iquique because one of my best friends will be mum in the next weeks!!

Well, I think that the possibility to have a sabbatical year is only for some persons because this supposes to have some money (unless that you consider to stay only in your home) or that it isn`t necessary for your family that you work. For this, if I could have a sabbatical year I think that I would work three months to pay this long holyday, to do a painting course, or to learn some interesting things not related with the university.

I consider that a sabbatical year would be a moment to do the things that I haven`t been able to do with the educational responsibilities, for example, to sleep, to visit old friends or simply to have time to share with the persons that I love.

Think Green

The people learn about environmentally friendly practices in different contexts, in the family, the school, with the friends or in the advertising campaigns of eco-organizations. In my case I learn this in my family, but it not of an explicit form because the ecological practices are part of the country life.

In my habits I incorpore the recycling when I separate the rubbish, for example, the rest of food is for the hens of my house or throw it in the ground. Also, I give the glass bottles and tins to my uncle because he sell them. However, here in Santiago is much more difficult to practice the recycling… and in my apartment I don’t have a courtyard or hens and for this I would look for another form for recycling.

I prefer using my legs or a bike when I’m in my hometown. When I go to the university I use the public transport frequently.

I consider that these ecological initiatives are necessary for the protection of our environment. The organizations’ actions helped to solve the problem of the dam in Punta de Choros, for example. However, I don’t join or support any eco-organizations, because this require time and money, and at the moment I don’t have any of them. Maybe in the future…

I’d like to do anything for to help to create conscience about our environment and to learn more about this topic.

For to reduce my carbon footprint I have plants in my house and I am careful with the tipe of foods that I consume, for example, I prefer eating organic products.In our society, specially in Santigo, I consider that it miss more efective public politics, and to consider this problem as a fundamental aspect for the quality of life because in general are most important the interests of the big companies and it exist an irregular fiscalization.

Party

Well, really I don’t know what to write in this post. Cause I’m a very quiet person (maybe too much) and for this I haven't had a crazy or wild party. I could invent something but in this moment my imagination isn’t functioning. So, I will write about the last party that I went, it was three months ago. This was the birthday of my friend Claudia and she celebrates it in The Arcano Pub in Providencia; I went alone as an independent person XD.

Well, I don’t consider this one as a “wild party” but it was a great moment to know new people… and it was funny to stay in this celebration because all the persons were older than me and it was interesting to hear their conversations… there was a woman that related estrange stories and anecdotes.

Also, I remember some years ago, the celebration of the Carlita’s birthday together another (ex) classmates. That night we cooked sushi and we bought other things to eat and drink.

In both opportunities the consequences I think that they weren’t as you imagine (teacher huhuh) because I don’t drink alcohol… my mind was lucid and I can remember everything that happened. I don’t consider that to drink alcohol as a bad thing is only that I don’t like to taste it. So, I prefer to talk, or eat delicious things.

Maybe in the next years I could have a wild and crazy party… but I won’t write it in this blog jeje

Music

I like different kinds of music and groups and for this it is very difficult to decide for one. In general I listen to pop and traditional Chilean music.

One of my favourite pop groups is Mecano formed by Ana Torroja, Nacho y José María Cano, because their songs have a particular sound with the electronic mixes specially in their beginning when they worked together with Hans Zimmer for example.

This Spanish trio, very popular in the 80s, have six cds approximately but also they have records of concerts and material not published. My favourite material is a dvd with a live concert at the end of the 90s because I enjoy the voice of Ana at that time. They separated and nowadays everyone does their own careers as singers but it is not the same.

In my romantic side, I like Laura Pausini. Last year I went to the concert at the Movistar Arena, her vocal quality is incredible and she is very nice.

In the traditional Chilean music I really like Violeta Parra. I consider that she is an important woman because she collected different musical forms through our own country and she showed them in other countries such as France. The contents of her songs refer to elements of our own culture and she does social criticism with this. She was a great artist because she practiced the music and at the same time she was painter and sculptress for example. I recommend you her website: http://www.violetaparra.cl/.

Also I like Congreso because they are spectacular musicians; I attended a concert this year in the Municipal Theatre and the musical quality was fantastic.

Well, I think that the music and his its different kinds are element very important for our culture.

Lastarria

After the Bicentenario weekend and all the movement, food, travels, meetings with family and friends, it would be good to do any activity or visit a place to relax.

Well, I don’t know very well Santiago, but to relax I walk regularly on the Santa Lucía hill and to see Santiago from the top. After going to the hill, it is interesting to go to the neighborhood Lastarria and to go to El Biógrafo Cinema.

I discovered the neighborhood Lastarria when I studied architecture and I drew sketches of the road and buildings. But I knew El Biógrafo Cinema because a friend invited me. Her boyfriend worked in that place and for this reason we can get in for free... huhu. This place is very special because it is an art cinema, and keeps the form of the old cinemas. I know the “cojo”... he is a very nice and interesting man.

In Lastarria you can find many restaurants, coffee shops, arts galleries, cultural centres, museums, and some days there is an antiquefair.

I don’t remember exactly the times that I’ve been to that place, but maybe, at least, ten and the most of the time I go with any friend.

To conclude, I recommend that place because has a beautiful architecture, you can do different activities and it has a great historical value. Also, for its characteristics is an important place in the cultural landscape of Santiago.

To visit this place I think that you should have money, but walking along is also good activity.

The National Holidays

I will celebrate this special national holiday in Chimbarongo. I'm going to be with my family and it’s very important for me because on 21th of September is my birthday, and I will celebrate these days before returning to Santiago.

I think that for this celebration isn’t necessary to spend much money, it’s depends on the person, for example, my family spends money especially in food… my mother cooks tasty empanadas!!

I like the week of the National Holiday to rest, and the possibility of doing funny things such as flying kites. Also I would like to learn to dance cueca.

Regarding to the celebrations of our bicentenary I think, that this isn’t very special because the authorities and the government do a show with this, we can see the use of the image of our national heroes, the monuments, etc… and the creation of an national imaginary based on wrong interpretations of our history, for example, as Gabriel Salazar says, the recent closeness of the monuments of Carrera and O’Higgins as a form of reconciliation has no sense. I think that is funny to celebrate but also it is the moment to do a necessary and real reflection about our country, for example about the situation of Mapuche and the public education.