Feedback on writing

I've been re-reading the introductory coments you've been posting. I thought I'd mash them, and create a word cloud to see what came up the most; here it is:

Secondly, I'd like to share some common errors. 

Please don't feel self-conscious or singled-out about the mistakes, I hope this is useful for everyone, regardless of whether it was you who produced the sentence.

I'd like you to think about them, and comment below what the correct version of these sentences would be. Choose 2 or 3 of them and explain why.

1. I am an opened mind girl...
2. ...since I was fourteen years old I am doing an activity...
3. I used to dyed my hair...
4. I've studied Japanese since I'm 12...
5. I find difficult discribe myself...
6. I hope improve my vocabulary...
7. ...and play piano...
8. I’m looking forward improving my English...
9. I'm turning 18 in August 25...
10. I love the music...
11. I'm used to listen at people who talk in English
12. i will do my best effort.
13. Finally i want to approve the lesson...
14. I don't have a particular hobby.
15. I have another extra activities...
16. ...on winter i always go...
17. ...it's important know another idiom...
18. It can helps you a lot...
19. I'm looking foward to get prepare to...
20. I have a lots of hobbies...

Symbolism

As you may have noticed, the other day Victoria shared a link with us. It's a reading of Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven, his most popular poem. Feel free to watch it. Interestingly, today I talked to Andrea, who told me you might be working with this poem in the future. She suggested working on symbolism.

So, I'd like you to search the web for different possible interpretations of birds as symbols, especially in connection to death. You will find that different species represent a variety of things, so there isn't only one right answer. Finally, make sure you find out what ravens symbolise for different cultures in literature and myth.

Write your answers in a comment below.

The Mystery of the 'Poe Toaster'

You may remember from the listening we did last week that 2009 was the 200th anniversary of the Edgar Allan Poe's birth. In close connection to this, I'd like to share an article that I stumbled upon. It deals with one of Poe's hardcore fans, who used to visit the author's grave every year:

Mystery as Edgar Allan Poe's famously dedicated fan misses anniversary

Enigmatic 'Poe toaster' who has marked the author's birth for the last 60 years failed to show up for yesterday's celebration

• Alison Flood
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 20 January 2010 15.05 GMT

Cynthia Pelayo, of Chicago, leaves roses and cognac at Edgar Allen Poe's grave, after the mysterious individual who has been doing so for the last 60 years failed to appear. Photograph: Gail Burton/AP

Edgar Allan Poe would have turned 201 yesterday, but the mysterious stranger who has marked the birth of the author for the last 60 years failed to show up at his grave.
Every year since 1949, the stranger – known locally as the Poe Toaster – has left three roses and a half-bottle of cognac on Poe's grave in Baltimore on his birthday. The roses are believed to represent the three bodies buried beneath the monument – Poe, his mother-in-law and his wife Virginia; the significance of the cognac is not known.
But this year, as around 30 fans – one of whom had flown in from Chicago – waited all night in the cemetery for the visitor to show, he failed to appear. He usually leaves his gifts between midnight and 5.30 am. "I was very annoyed. I've been doing this since 1977, and there was no indication he wasn't going to show up," Jeff Jerome, curator of the Poe House and Museum, told local paper the Baltimore Sun. "Everyone was very sad, but there was still a feeling of goodwill. We were there, and we paid our respects to Edgar." The fans occupied themselves instead by reading aloud from Poe's writings throughout the night.
One theory as to why he failed to show up this year is that 2009 marked the bicentennial of Poe's birth. "If it was going to end, that would be the perfect time to end it," said Jerome. "Everybody has their theories about what happened. Somebody said, 'Maybe he just has the flu.'"
Baltimore Sun writer Mary McCauley was even inspired to write a poem, based on Poe's "The Raven", by the stranger's absence. "Once upon a midnight dreary Long we waited, weak and weary, / To see the quaint and curious Poe toaster who has come before. / 'Come dark visitor,' we chattered, 'Leave us not with hopes a-tattered. / Lay cognac on the gravesite floor.' Though the wind took up our sighing, / No answer came back to our crying: Is a grand tradition dying? / Will you haunt us nevermore?" she wrote, calling the poem "The Raving".
The Poe Toaster might not have paid tribute to Poe, but the author's birth was also marked yesterday by the Mystery Writers of America's release of the shortlists for the 2010 Edgar Allan Poe awards, honouring the best in mystery writing. Tim Gautreaux's The Missing, set in the Southern badlands, Kathleen George's The Odds – her fourth novel featuring Pittsburgh homicide chief Richard Christie – and Norwegian author Jo Nesbo's Nemesis, about the latest investigation of Detective Harry Hole, are all up for the best novel award. The winner will be announced on 29 April in New York.

© 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.

Discuss the following questions:

1) Who was the 'Poe Toaster'? What did he do every year?
2) How did the fans feel when he didn't turn up? What did they spend the night doing?
3) What do people believe happened to the Poe Toaster?
4) What is 'The Raving'? What was it inspired by?


Search the web:

5) What happened to the Poe Toaster? Was he seen the following years? If not, what do you think happened to him?

Please send your answers by e-mail (mmasuyama.nes@gmail.com)

The Tell-Tale Heart

Watch these adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart.

 

 

   

1) Which version, in your opinion, is the closest to the original story?
2) Which version did you like best?
3) Choose one version, and discuss
- What part of the story is best illustrated by the film?
- What part of the story would you change, or portray differently?
- Is any scene irrelevant?
- Is any scene missing?

Write your answers in a comment below.

Edgar Allan Poe

I've been told that you have been and will be working with some of Edgar Allan Poe's stories, so I thought it would be useful to find out about his life and works.

The following is a listening comprehension activity. Listen to a radio programme about the writer, and complete the following tasks. Please send your answers by e-mail (mmasuyama.nes@gmail.com)

 Edgar Allan Poe by mmasuyama


1) Answer the questions:

a. What was his full name?

b. When and where was he born?

c. What happened to his parents?

d. What was he addicted to?

e. Who did he marry?

2) Complete the paragraph:

Edgar Allan Poe did something unusual for writers of his time: he used a _____________ in a story to describe what was happening. A good example is the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart."
The narrator claims that he is not _____________ , yet reveals that he is a murderer. He has killed an old man for no apparent reason. He cuts up the body and hides the parts under the floorboards of the _____________ 's house.
Police officers arrive after getting reports of noises from the house. The murderer shows them around the house and is proud of the way he has hidden all the _____________ . But he begins to hear a _____________ . The others in the room cannot hear it.

3) Poe was also known for his detective stories. Which famous writer said this about him?

Each may find some little development of his own, but his main art must trace back to those admirable stories of Monsieur Dupin, so wonderful in their masterful force, their reticence, their quick dramatic point.

4) According to Jeff Jerome, Poe's work has had great influence. Name some examples.

5) How did Poe die? Mention three hypotheses.

Getting to know each other

During these initial couple of weeks we are going to do a series of diagnostic activities.

The very first thing I'd like to know is who I'm working with. So please write an introductory comment -around 100 words- describing yourselves. Here are some questions to help you out:

• What are you like? How would you describe your personality?
• What are you interested in? Have you got any hobbies?
• What is your attitude towards learning English? What are your expectations for this course?

I look forward to reading you!

Vocabulary for charity

Here's an amazing website I came across:

FREE RICE 


As you take a multiple choice vocabulary quiz, the website donates rice through the United Nations World Food Program for every correct answer you give. For real.
You can play for as long as you want. Nothing happens if you lose. And you might learn some new words, too.

Check it out, it's for a good cause.
Comment below how much you've helped donate!

24 HOURS IN LONDON

Welcome

Hi everyone!

Welcome to our e-learning blog. My aim is to complement your face-to-face lessons and to provide you with different tools to further your English learning process.

So let me start off by answering some questions:

How often do we have to check the blog?

At least once a week. I will usually post new entries on Wednesday afternoons.

Where will new posts be?

You will find the latest posts at the top, and older posts at the bottom. 

What kind of activities will we do?

Of course will be doing 'traditional' activities, such as grammar practise exercises, reading and listening comprehension, writing, and so on. But also I'll try to incorporate multimedia resources in order to take full advantage of the online nature of our course.

How do we submit homework?

In some cases, you will only be asked to comment on the post. If I need you to hand an assignment in individually, I will ask you to send it over by e-mail to the following account: mmasuyama.nes@gmail.com

Can we comment in Spanish?

No. You must use English at all times!

Any other questions?

Please post them in the comments section below.