Fabiola....

Best wishes for all...

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:05:48 -0400

Hello dear people,

I will be absent in our last Speaking Class, but I would like to say bye bye.
It was a great time, and it was a pleasure share that moments with you.
You are wonderful people, and I am so glad for know you!

For who is leaving (Sara, Francisco, Jihye, and Hyunju) I hope you had a great time in US, and you are ready for next phase in your life… For sure a great and new time is coming!
For who will be here a little more I hope meet you next session… Enjoy your break time!

After December I will be at home in BR… If one day you go to Brazil, let me know.
It’s a joy for me and my husband to have friends in our house.
I will really appreciate to introduce you the most beautiful Brazil’s part!

Take care ;)

Fabiola

Weekly News HW (July 29)

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:49:00 -0400

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106826971

The Crow Paradox

Questions

How do you see this kind of experiment? Useful or not?

How can this kind of experiment contribute with the society?

Weekly Speaking Reflection (July 27)

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:28:08 -0400

In the last weekend I had two couples of friends in my house. Actually they have been my brother’s friends since they were children, and they have been in US for two years. It was a great moment. Both have american girlfriends, and it made the weekend fully filled of english language. They are nice girls, and one of them have not been in Brazil yet. We talked a lot about differences between life in US and Brazil because one of the couples is going to get married this september, and they are going to move to Brazil. The life in a new country is always a challenge specially when it comes together marriage (what is a challenge too). In my opinion, patience, really good mood, clear goals, and time are essential for the adaptation runs well, and she seems ready for the change. I wish they can do it in the best manner!

Weekly News HW (July 22)

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:19:00 -0400

Should Everyone Go To College?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106636657

What’s your opinion about College Education? Is it essential to get good jobs or not?

In your opinion, is there more space for people well-trained on-the-job training or people that come from formal schooling?

Vocabulary

Unveil: (v.) reveal, uncover, disclose

Backdrop: (n.) back curtain on a stage; background

Vocabulary from www.babylon.com

Hyunju! I am going to know this one. Usually, on wednesday from...

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:46:00 -0400

Hyunju! I am going to know this one. Usually, on wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m there is a Farmer’s Market near my house, and it is really nice too (but it’s really small). I can find fresh fruits and vegetables. I really appreciate the idea of to buy from citizens and stimulate local market.

hyunju:

I visited the 17th street Farmers’ Market. This market is one of the oldest public market in the United State. This market could be the best place to enjoy your weekend.

Francisco, great moment! I also spent good moments on fridays...

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:39:29 -0400

Francisco, great moment! I also spent good moments on fridays evening there. Do you know if the concerts still happen on friday evening?

greatsanfrancisco:

Concert in Belle Isle

My speech is about a concert I went in belle isle last month. I spent a great time with some friends and I new many american people. We had music, beer, and dance. It was awesome! I would recommend you to go there at least once.

Here you can see about this event. It’s really called Friday Cheers in Brown’s isle. It’s done every friday.

http://www.venturerichmond.com/events/vrevents.html#june26

Sara! I agree with you, it’s really great. I take Zumba...

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:37:20 -0400

Sara! I agree with you, it’s really great. I take Zumba class in other gym every friday, and it is a fun way to exercise. I like too much!

spanishsara:

I went to Zumba class, I liked it a lot. I decided to do an interview to Lizza. She accepted my proposition very kindly. Zumba class is done in the Gym of Broad street and in other partse of Richmond, is very fun and I recommend that everybody go to do it.

Jihye, I didn’t know about this Museum in Richmond. I had...

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:32:05 -0400

Jihye, I didn’t know about this Museum in Richmond. I had an opportunity to visit other Holocaust Museum in Berlin, and, like you, I could feel how terrible was this part of World’s History.

lidarkomil:

This is about the Holocaust museum. This museum is little bit scary and sad, but if you want to know and learn about the Holocaust, this museum is really helpful.

-Jihye-

“Richmond Tennis Meetup Group” This speech is...

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:51:00 -0400

“Richmond Tennis Meetup Group”

This speech is about my Community Experience. I really enjoy sports, and I found a group of people that enjoy tennis like me. Nice place! Nice people! Great experience! If you like sports, you can join this Group and follow their schedule. It seems to work very weel!

Weekly News HW (July 15)

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:45:55 -0400

“Sotomayor Differs With Obama On ‘Empathy’ Issue”

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106569335

What do you think that Obama’s statement means ( “he said that in a certain percentage of judicial decisions, “the critical ingredient is supplied by what is in the judge’s heart.”)?

As we can read in the report, she said that “judges can’t rely on what’s in their heart. … It’s not the heart that compels conclusions in cases, it’s the law.” Do you agree with her statement?

Vocabulary

Confirmation Hearing: Noun - a hearing held by the U.S. senate to gather information on which to approve or reject candidates for high federal office that are nominated by the president.

Vocabulary by www.babylon.com

Weekly News HW (July 8)

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:01:00 -0400

In Br the legal age to purchase cigarette is 18, but they break the law all the time. Unfortunately, the young people start to smoke earlier, and many stores don’t ask for ID. It has not control in BR. About places where is allowed to smoke, it is still like here. In restaurants, bars, clubs they can smoke in some special places designed for them, but always close to reserved area for non-smokers. It’s not allowed smoking in public transportation, cinemas, museums, theatres, shops. Since last April, they are trying to approve a new law that become forbidden smoking in any collective area (public or not). If the law is sanctioned, it will not be allowed to smoke in any restaurant, bars, common public areas, common areas in condominium and hotels (there will be not special areas for smokers), and so on. Today there still are special places, reserved places for smokers. I really hope for this approbation which becomes the smoker life harder, and the non-smoker life freer. About cigarettes advertising I don’t know how it works in US, but in BR it is absolutely forbidden any kind of advertising by any kind of media. Tobacco companies must include on the cigarettes box the phrase “Health Ministry warns that smoking is harmful for the health”, and they must show shocking pictures with consequences from smoking.

ashort:

What are smoking laws like in Brazil?

bia2009:

States Look To Cigarettes To Bridge Budget Gaps

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106338167

Questions

Do you think that to raise [RAISING] tobacco taxes is an effective way to decrease the consume [CONSUMPTION]?

Could it make smokers give up smoking?

Vocabulary

- Levy: (n) act or process of collecting or conscripting (money, property, etc.) by a government or other authority; something which is collected through a levy (i.e. money, property, troops, etc.).

- Revenue: (n) income, return, gains; government income earned through taxation; government agency that collects tax monies; source of income.

- Shrinking: (v) contract, become smaller, shrivel; flinch, recoil; decrease, diminish; make smaller, cause to shrink

Definitions from http://www.babylon.com

Weekly Speaking Reflection (July 13)

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:52:47 -0400

On July 11, I had dinner in my home with some friends. It was a great time when I could meet again people that I had not seen for a long time. There were Brazilians, Americans, Germans, and a couple of friends from Indonesia. We talked about several issues, and the “official language” was English. Everybody had good news, good stories, good remembers from the last time that we had been together. So, Saturday was a fun time. Nice people. Nice moment. A special conversation was with my friend from Pittsburgh that is a nurse. She told me about a Speech Pathologist work in the hospital where she used to work. It is a Pediatric Hospital, and the Speech Pathologist team develops great job there. Besides pattern techniques they use special software for learning disorders caused by several reasons. She told me how efficient is this, and how satisfied are professionals and parents with results. It was a really great tip because I have been thinking a lot about takes some new way in therapy to Brazil. I have many ideas, but it’s so important hear from somebody that has experienced true results in something. From now, I’m gonna investigate and study deeply about this software by myself, and whether it is what I’ m wondering maybe I can take the certification course that will be in Richmond on July 25. So, on Saturday I met again very dear people for me what was really special, and in the same time it was also a productive moment. Great!

Weekly News HW (July 8)

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:04:00 -0400

States Look To Cigarettes To Bridge Budget Gaps

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106338167

Questions

Do you think that to raise tobacco taxes is an effective way to decrease the consume?

Could it make smokers give up smoking?

Vocabulary

- Levy: (n) act or process of collecting or conscripting (money, property, etc.) by a government or other authority; something which is collected through a levy (i.e. money, property, troops, etc.).

- Revenue: (n) income, return, gains; government income earned through taxation; government agency that collects tax monies; source of income.

- Shrinking: (v) contract, become smaller, shrivel; flinch, recoil; decrease, diminish; make smaller, cause to shrink

Definitions from http://www.babylon.com

http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/90/75590-004-F2C9CB0A....

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:24:54 -0400

http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/90/75590-004-F2C9CB0A.jpg

Weekly Speaking Reflection (July 6)

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:17:00 -0400

On July 1st, I met one of my neighbors at swim pool where we live. It was the first time that we talked a little because other times she was always running and busy. We talked about our lives and routines. I told her why I’m here, what I’ve been doing, and my plans after December when I’ll live in Brazil again. This particular meeting was gratifying because it was one more opportunity to see how people are happy in different ways. We are in the same age, and our lives and goals are pretty different. She has been married for eight years, and she has three children. She doesn’t work outside home, and her routine is based in the children’s routine. As personal activity she is membership of a network of moms called Richmond Mommies. It is a volunteer program which moms help each other in many ways, offer support in any situation, and have fun together. She is really excited about her activities in this networking. Besides this program, she also is volunteer in a Library where she tells stories for children in a weekly moment called Story Time. She is a really interesting person, has a beautiful life, and seems so happy. It’s so beautiful to see real examples that people have to do what they really believe. It’s the only way to a happy life in all aspects.

Weekly News HW (July 1)

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:50:28 -0400

Michael Jackson’s mom gets kids, estate control for now

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/29/michael.jackson/index.html

The report is just an example. My question isn’t about Michael Jackson specifically.

My question is about events over covered in general. I mean, events, usually tragic, that are exploited (or explored? I don’t know the right word for this context) by media much more than should be. Events showed and told by all kinds of media, in minimum details, all the time, for many days. Of course, many times, they are important events, but some personal details are not important for us.

The question is why it does happen? Are the Medias guilty? (Because they open their space for this kind of information and the coverage is more than necessary). Or are people guilty? (Because people accept, “buy” it. People support the media, and they make this kind of report stronger.)

Weekly Speaking Reflection (June 29)

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:22:18 -0400

On June 26, I met a High School teacher in a dinner at my friends’ house on Mechanicsville. We talked about a lot of things, but the most interesting topic was about allergy. I’ve been impressed how nowadays we hear much more about different kinds of allergy than in the past years. She told me that she has a 4 years old daughter. The girl has a serious high level allergy (level 5) from any kind of nuts. I did not know about allergy levels. She explained what means level 5 and which cares she has to have with her daughter. The girl can not have any kind of contact with nuts even with people that have eaten nuts few hours before. If it happens the consequences are really serious, she can even die. The girl is going to study at home until 13 years old. Just at this age she will go to school because she will be considered able to manage her medication. The family has been really hoped in an allergy level decrease. It’s possible as much the girl grows up, and her immunologic system gets strong. We still talked about allergy causes what is a controversial issue among doctors. There are many researches about this, but my friend has followed a discussion group in one of them. This one is trying to make connection between maternal food at pregnancy time and allergic children. They believe that exclusive organic food can change the children’s immunologic system and become them more likely for high level allergies. It is so hard believe that one thing so good can cause such alterations, but I will read more about and wait for news in all aspects.

Thank you for your attention Audrey! You are a great teacher. I have heard about you from other...

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:19:00 -0400

Thank you for your attention Audrey!
You are a great teacher.
I have heard about you from other students, and I’m really happy in have class with you.
Our professional areas are pretty similar. I’m pretty sure that you know what I’m talking about.. We try to give a way and alternatives to people get a better communication.
I’m sorry for my mistake about the credits. I’ve fixed it.
It was my fault. Actually I even thought about. I just got the perfect explanation for Auditory Processing Disorders, but I really know that I should give the credits.
I know how it is so important.
Like I said, it was my fault and next time I will do better.
Thanks!
See you tomorrow!

So… It’s a really good question. At the first sight there is no connection between my...

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:05:00 -0400

So… It’s a really good question.
At the first sight there is no connection between my profession and English language besides it is required in the University which I’m gonna take PhD next year (they require 80 in TOEFL or other recognized English test). However this point I could solve easily taking English classes and studying hard in Brazil.
The decision for come to US was hard for two reasons. One of them was my professional life since I should have a break in a seven years old career, and I was really afraid of this. Other reason was the language. I could speak just few basic words in English.
My fears were the most important challenges at that time. I had to come. I wanted to come because my husband was here (he came 8 months before me), and our life would be here until December 2009. The best way was found more connections were possible between Speech Language Therapy and English, and it was so determinant the decision of to learn speaking English as well I can.
Besides all personal growth that come from experience of living in another country, I see this time like a laboratory. This time I can not communicate very well. I’m in the other side.
Of course I can not compare the reasons of these communication difficulty, but I’ve lived many communication stages. Different situations.
When I arrived almost one year ago nothing that I heard made sense (as the patients that lose the comprehension capacity).
I can see almost all stages of the language acquisition process in my English learning process (It’s amazing!).
Many times people don’t understand me, and I need to try to speak again… sometimes in a different way.
Always I need to stop and think what I want to talk. English is not automatic for me.
All the time I have to think how make a sentence.
I have to be aware of my current mistakes, and I have to try make better and better.
There is an disorder treated (I’m not sure if I can use this verb in this context!) by Speech Therapy called Auditory Processing Disorders. In this situation, according to http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/ears/central_auditory.html., “kids can’t process the information they hear in the same way as others because their ears and brain don’t fully coordinate. Something adversely affects the way the brain recognizes and interprets sounds, most notably the sounds composing speech. Kids with APD often do not recognize subtle differences between sounds in words, even when the sounds are loud and clear enough to be heard. These kinds of problems typically occur in background noise, which is a natural listening environment. So kids with APD have the basic difficulty of understanding any speech signal presented under less than optimal conditions”.
In this area was my thesis (In my Master’s degree). You can imagine how hard is to these kids learn a second language, or even how hard is any general learning, but, with help, they can do it. From now, I will look them in a new way, and probably I will change many old strategies.
So, I could write hours about this. My profession is one of my loves.
I’m sure that I will come back pretty different. I will see my patients with other eyes. I could know a little bit the world of who can not communicate very well. I have lived the way to get an efficient communication. It’s a hard way, but the reward worth it.
Maybe, I still can find out a new work niche. Maybe new ideas…
Audrey, thank’s for your question. It made me write what still was just in my mind!
See you tomorrow!

How can I improve my speaking ability?

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:19:04 -0400

How can I improve my speaking ability?