This time I want to write about the book I've read for class. It's a collection of short stories whose endings are surprising. Roald Dahl had the wit not to explain everything at the end, so you can guess or imagine what you wish.
A topic that comes up many times is how in a couple in which one of the two people is under the control of his/her partner, the weakest one takes advantage of an unusual situation that gives him/her the chance to revenge. You have to be attentive to get it, because the writer is sometimes ironic and subtle. That's perhaps the achievement of the book.
Another idea that is repeated several times is gambling. It's curious to see how they react when they loose. Humans are able to such crazy things for money!
Some of the tales are frightening, others funny, others seemed science fiction or even a Woody Allen's film. On the whole many feelings were suggested to me (it suggested me many feelings): tenderness, fear, hate, pity, need of justice, need of good sense in maaaany cases, and above all a sort of intrigue.
I liked this book very much because it tells situations and behaviours that could be perfectly real (you only have to have a quick glance at newspapers or watching TV to check it). Therefore as you read it you can understand a bit better what the characters are going through. A very recommendable book!!!
jueves, 3 de mayo de 2007
jueves, 19 de abril de 2007
HUMAN EVOLUTION
I never thought that the topic ot the human evolution could seem so interesting to me. I suppose we are too young when we are taught this subject and we are not ready to get the importance of all of this so that we can understand a bit better our present world and ourselves.
Some reflections come to my mind that could be used by any script writer to make another science fiction film. For instance, I wonder what would have happened if homo neanthertalensis hadn't extingished and his intelligence had evolved (evolutioned) like ours. Can you imagine a planet with two different intelligent species? How would our world be nowadays? would the strongest one make the other one slave as we do with animals? could we get on if actually we have difficulties to accept other races? One thing is sure, everything would be absolutely different.
Related to an idea that came up in class concerning to natural selection, stated by Darwing, it was said that human evolution might slow down or even change because nowadays in the developped countries (the 1st world) almost everybody survives despite anatomical or healthy problems thanks to huge advances in medicine, science, hygienic conditions, nutrition, etc. Therefore it could be said that in some aspects we have some control over the natural rules. On the other hand our fight against (the) nature has drawbacks. The quality of human beings is lowering and our faulty geenes will be transmitted to future generations. For example, if a person has heart problems anyway he'll live long and the illness will remain in his sons. In other periods this person would have died and his problem wouldn't have been intherited. Yesterday I heard that's why, in spite of having very good conditions in our life, there are more and more degenerative illnesses.
As for the Flores man whose remains where found some years ago in I don't remember which country in Asia, once I saw something similar in a TV series. They posed that an homo intelligent hairy being had survived hidden till now. It sounds scaring, doesn't it? Obviously it's only a film for enterteining, but what I wonder is wheteher we would be prepared for new scientifical discoveries which could change our idea about the world. We trust science and scientists indeed, but we all know nothing (anything) is closed and research (researchings) make universal theories change. Remember when people used to believe the Earth is flat...
Some reflections come to my mind that could be used by any script writer to make another science fiction film. For instance, I wonder what would have happened if homo neanthertalensis hadn't extingished and his intelligence had evolved (evolutioned) like ours. Can you imagine a planet with two different intelligent species? How would our world be nowadays? would the strongest one make the other one slave as we do with animals? could we get on if actually we have difficulties to accept other races? One thing is sure, everything would be absolutely different.
Related to an idea that came up in class concerning to natural selection, stated by Darwing, it was said that human evolution might slow down or even change because nowadays in the developped countries (the 1st world) almost everybody survives despite anatomical or healthy problems thanks to huge advances in medicine, science, hygienic conditions, nutrition, etc. Therefore it could be said that in some aspects we have some control over the natural rules. On the other hand our fight against (the) nature has drawbacks. The quality of human beings is lowering and our faulty geenes will be transmitted to future generations. For example, if a person has heart problems anyway he'll live long and the illness will remain in his sons. In other periods this person would have died and his problem wouldn't have been intherited. Yesterday I heard that's why, in spite of having very good conditions in our life, there are more and more degenerative illnesses.
As for the Flores man whose remains where found some years ago in I don't remember which country in Asia, once I saw something similar in a TV series. They posed that an homo intelligent hairy being had survived hidden till now. It sounds scaring, doesn't it? Obviously it's only a film for enterteining, but what I wonder is wheteher we would be prepared for new scientifical discoveries which could change our idea about the world. We trust science and scientists indeed, but we all know nothing (anything) is closed and research (researchings) make universal theories change. Remember when people used to believe the Earth is flat...
lunes, 26 de febrero de 2007
Ideas to practice oral skills
IDEAS TO PRACTICE ORAL SKILLS
After our first experience speaking opposite (in front of) our classmates we all realize that each one of us can't avoid to get nervous and it's an obvious challenge for us.
On (In) one hand it's because we don't feel confident with English yet, what is a matter of practice. It'd be perfect if we could live for a period of time in an Anglo-Saxon country, or at least we could chat in English more often than only 4 hours weekly. Unfortunately I don't think we have many opportunities for that in this moment.
Besides, in my opinion for the majority of us the trouble is due to something else which doesn't have anything to do with (the) language. It's what you feel when you have to speak to many people and you feel uncomfortably observed and analysed.
I like the idea of discussing in a circle about different matters that are less specific and more familiar to everybody. This way the protagonism is shared, we're all at the same level. The rest is up to everyone, we must make an effort and (to) take the initiative to overcome our shyness, laziness, tiredness and fear.
I propose some topics (topycs) that are interesting for me and probably for the rest of the people in class as well. Those are the following:
1- ENVIRONMENT: do we really do everything we can to respect it?, with regard to it, what do you do in your daily life?, do you think there is enough information about what we can do at home, in our (ours) cars, etc?
2- LEISURE TIME: what do you do in your free time? don't you think everybody does the same things and we aren't creative? why do we usually prefer watching tv rather than reading books or other activities?
3- SPORTS: don't you think elite sports are bad for sportpeople's bodies? don't spectators demand them too much, without limits? why? what do you think about sportpeople that take substances to yield more and more?
4- INTEGRATION: do we respect and understand other cultures? do you think we have prejudices? would you get married without minding race, religion, political beliefs...?
5-GENERATIONS: how do you think life has changed since our grandparents' period to nowadays? Marriage, job, studies, information in general, morality, priorities... Do you think we are more individualists or more open-minded? Which values are better in your opinion?
6- SOCIETY: does society demand us to be perfect and competitive in our jobs, studies, as parents, about our physical appearance...? do you think our present society values diferencies and respect people who don't follow the "standards"? do people criticize others who behave differently?
I hope all this is helpful for you, Nuria.
After our first experience speaking opposite (in front of) our classmates we all realize that each one of us can't avoid to get nervous and it's an obvious challenge for us.
On (In) one hand it's because we don't feel confident with English yet, what is a matter of practice. It'd be perfect if we could live for a period of time in an Anglo-Saxon country, or at least we could chat in English more often than only 4 hours weekly. Unfortunately I don't think we have many opportunities for that in this moment.
Besides, in my opinion for the majority of us the trouble is due to something else which doesn't have anything to do with (the) language. It's what you feel when you have to speak to many people and you feel uncomfortably observed and analysed.
I like the idea of discussing in a circle about different matters that are less specific and more familiar to everybody. This way the protagonism is shared, we're all at the same level. The rest is up to everyone, we must make an effort and (to) take the initiative to overcome our shyness, laziness, tiredness and fear.
I propose some topics (topycs) that are interesting for me and probably for the rest of the people in class as well. Those are the following:
1- ENVIRONMENT: do we really do everything we can to respect it?, with regard to it, what do you do in your daily life?, do you think there is enough information about what we can do at home, in our (ours) cars, etc?
2- LEISURE TIME: what do you do in your free time? don't you think everybody does the same things and we aren't creative? why do we usually prefer watching tv rather than reading books or other activities?
3- SPORTS: don't you think elite sports are bad for sportpeople's bodies? don't spectators demand them too much, without limits? why? what do you think about sportpeople that take substances to yield more and more?
4- INTEGRATION: do we respect and understand other cultures? do you think we have prejudices? would you get married without minding race, religion, political beliefs...?
5-GENERATIONS: how do you think life has changed since our grandparents' period to nowadays? Marriage, job, studies, information in general, morality, priorities... Do you think we are more individualists or more open-minded? Which values are better in your opinion?
6- SOCIETY: does society demand us to be perfect and competitive in our jobs, studies, as parents, about our physical appearance...? do you think our present society values diferencies and respect people who don't follow the "standards"? do people criticize others who behave differently?
I hope all this is helpful for you, Nuria.
viernes, 19 de enero de 2007
A strange day
She opened her hairdresser's on time at 8 o'clock as (like) everyday. However, something really strange was in the atmosphere: none in the streets, no cars, no customers...Punctually at 2 o'clock she closed as (like) everyday and saw people leaving the church. She had forgotten to switch off her alarm clock!
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