Peer`s Observation

One Friday afternoon, I had the duty to observe my peer Shirley. The whole preparation for the class took plenty of planning. I had to give teacher Shirley restrictive information about my students before the implementation of the lesson. This information required: the name of the course: Ingles Integrado para otras carreras I, place: UNA, classroom: 328, the number of students: thirty, and finally the text book being used: interactions I. The topic to be issued was: Traditions from countries such as: Mexico, France, United states, Africa, and China.
The students were more than happy to have a special guest for this class. Teacher Shirley addressed the lesson in a very polite and professional way. She handed the students with pieces of card board along with envelopes containing illustrations of different traditions on the countries mentioned previously. The class was divided into groups so that they could glue the pictures to the card board and write down expressions and thoughts related to the corresponding culture.
Finally, each group presented in an oral form every piece of information they were in charged of.
The whole lesson went quite well, with much organization. The students were satisfied about the things they learned. They also had their laughs with the while and post activities carried out in groups.

CIMARRONA CONTEST IN SAN ISIDRO DE HEREDIA

SAN ISIDRO DE HEREDIA:
It is one of the most traditional mountainous towns in Heredia. It is also well-known for its gothic- style church. This church possesses beautiful stained-glass windows which match its white walls and red roof.
One of the most attractive traditions are the so called ¨turnos¨. This a a tradition for the town people to get together and enjoy traditional foods, dances, ox-cart parades, fireworks, and the most popular: Cimarrona Contest.

On a cold Friday night, our Culture Professor, Olga Chaves, extended the invitation to me and my classmates to pay a visit to this town in order to witness a traditional Cimarrona contest; and so we gladly accepted. This activity was carried out right next to the church. It was completely crowded. People were cheering and clapping at the performers. We had the luck to see more than ten bands playing their instruments, especially drums. Each performance was amazing because of the quality of the tunes accompanied by the voices of the players who indeed did their best in order to entertain everybody out there!

I must add to this splendid night that I was more than shocked to see that the audience at this party was completely sober. It was curious to see that people were empty-handed. Nobody was drinking anything, not even water. It is interesting to notice such respect people from San Isidro have towards an event like this. I personally enjoyed this night out so much that I hope to attend this same event next year.

The White Ribbon

This past weekend, Sunday to be specific, I rented an outstanding german film. Its name: The White Ribbon", it is a black and white drama written and directed by Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke. The story darkly depicts society and family in a northern German village just before Worl War I. According to Haneke, the film is about "the origin of every type of terrorism, be it of political or religious nature"
I should add that the photography is deluxe. The performances are neat.
There is one part of the story in which a teenager is tied to his bed to keep him from masturbating. This kind of punishment is inflicted by his own father, who is as well the priest of the village.
This film is worth the rent.

TEXAS REVISITED

On March 12, we were cheered up by a guest from Texas!!
Her name is Joan, she took over the class for a period of two hours. She got us started by asking us to pull out some of our personal effects to introduce ourselves. It was fun.
Then, she proceeded by sharing some of the issues still confronting the citizens of the United States. One of these was on how they deal with sexual preferences. It was a very healthy discussion because we learned how to use words properly, for instance when addressing a person who is born with two sexes, the word to be used is ¨intersex¨. Some time ago, ¨hermaphrodite¨was the appropriate term.
To continue with with the chatting, she spoke on another discriminatory racial issue. There is a town in Texas called¨San Marcos¨. It is more than shocking to learn that in San Marcos black people are not allowed. It seems to be that the¨Ku Klus Klan¨is quite organized in that town.............even the police would harass the African Americans for them not to set a foot on that land.

How I understand Acculturation....

Acculturation is my capacity to assimilate different cultures under uncertain circumstances; this transit endows me with the skills to integrate and share my language and culture as well. Therefore, this process of adaptation is mainly carried out through communication.
I might grant that language is the pass to endure one´s stay in another culture; due to the fact that it is the one basic skill to survive the world as it presents itself; for good or evil. Besides, along with the process of adapting my ego to the culture of the target language, I should be humble enough to redo some learning and thinking on communicative skills such as writing and reading, and not only words but symbols and signs of the L2 (target language). Somehow, during this journey, common sense is also overdeveloped in such positive ways such as the willpower to overcome barriers that keep me from expanding my vision of the humankind united as one with the Universe. Consitently, I turn into a more respectful and joyful traveler. It is like possessing a VIP pass to be wecomed anywhere one chooses to go.

randall gonzalo azofeifa.

Acculturation

According to the authors William R. Acton and Judith Walker de Felix, acculturation is "the process of "acquiring" a second culture has been studied from a number of perspectives. Acculturation, the gradual adaptation to the target culture without necessarily forsaking one´s native language identity, has been proposed as a model for both the adult entering a new culture and the child in the bilingual program in a public school. A problem with many models having to do with acculturation, however, is the often unexamined assumption that the essencial or most important factor affecting acculturation is the "difference" or "social distance" between the two cultures"(e.g., Shumann 1976a)

Reccomendations

Some things to do on your free time:

1- Film: The Blind Side.
Starring: Sandra Bullock
This is a movie based on an extraordinary true story. It
narrates how love and kindness can bring people out to life.

2- Film: Entretinieblas. (Dark Habits)
Directed and written by Pedro Almodovar
This film was released in 1983.
It is about a group of nuns who redeem whores and junkies
who perform at clubs in Madrid, Spain.