If Music Could Talk

When I was youngER, I used to save money to buy CDs. It was difficult to save the money because my parents did not give me much. but still I managed to buy a few from time to time. My idea was to collect them and have a huge pile of them somewhere in display. However, the Internet came and it was easier to download music than buying it. Then, I started to collect records in mp3. I have lots! but the truth is I've barely listened to an eight of them. Seriously. I guess that's what happens when things come easy, we don't really value them. Or maybe it's just me, that I can't stand the idea of just hearing a record, so I end up not listening to them at all :S

I still buy CDs now, but not as many as I'd like. I don't even listen to them anyway, because I have the mp3s that I've downloaded, so I don't need to...

I guess you could say that is the closest to a hobby I have. You had to make a video about your hobbies, I know, but you also voted this topic so now it's time you write about it.

Do you have any? I hope you do, or did at some point.

In your entry you could mention:

- What is it?
- When did you start it?
- Do you still have it?
- Has it evolved into something different?
- Do you spend as much time as you'd like doing it?
- etc.

Include a photo or video.

Word count: 280
Leave comments on 3 of your classmates' entries.

The Village Green Preservation Society

Today we're going to get green, but not the JGM green! The other green, the one that concerns the environment...

This means you'll have to answer the following question in your blog entry:

HOW GREEN ARE YOU? (huh?!)

In order to do so you must use the following questions as a guide. And I mean it!! ¬¬

- Where do people learn about enviromentally friendly practices?
- Have you incorported recycling into your habits? Describe
- Do you use a bike or your legs instead of a car?
- Have you joined or supported any eco-organisations? Why/Why not?
- What else have you done /would you like to do?
- What have you done to reduce your carbon footprint?
- What's missing in our society/Santiago regarding this issue?

Include an image of something catchy, somewhat related to the topic...

Number of words: 250 - 280
Don't forget to make comments on at least 3 of your classmates posts.

Career Opportunities

Have you ever consider how your life would be like if you had chosen to study something else? When I was 15 I wanted to study acting, but I don't really see myself being an actress these days. OK, maybe my life would be much more exciting, you know, having to play different characters and all... but I don't think I would like to live a life of uncertainty monewise... To tell you the truth I like stability, and I'm not sure would have it if I had studied acting instead of Linguistics (¬¬)... Also, if I had studied that, chances are I wouldn't even be working in the area right now. 

Now, what do you think about this topic? Is there another career you would have liked to study? I hope there is because you'll have to write about it. 

In your post you can mention: 

- What other career would you have liked to study? Why? 

- Where would you have liked to study it? Why? 

- Why didn't you study it? 

- Do you think your life would be different if you were studying it? How? Why? 

- Etc. 

Word count: 230-250 words 

Leave comments on 3 of your

Strange News from Another Star

Hi all! This week you'll have to write a summary of a newspaper article. So don't get confused and remember that a summary is what in Spanish we call a 'resumen'.

Now, here's the task:

First, go to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/

Then you'll have to:

* Select a piece of news connected to your area of studies/future career
* Write a summary of it.
* In the entry you must include the link to your piece of news, so I can check it.
* Do all of this in 200 - 230 words

* Leave a comment on 3 of your partners' posts.

Let me know if you have any questions!!

Music Is My Radar

Music means a lot to me. If it wasn't for music I wouldn't be here writing in English, I wouldn't be the person I am... Who knows where I would be if I hadn't discovered music!

When I first started listening to the music I like now I was 13 years old. Back then I discovered my first favourite band, and they are still one of my faves. I remember I used to listen to them every morning and, as we only had one radio at home, everyone was obliged to listen to them too. That's the reason why my parents and sisters at home know them so well and like them too, even when back then they used to complain because I would take over the radio and wouldn't let anyone else listen to other music at all. They hated me, but I didn't mind.

Anyway, I guess you voted 'music' because it means something to you too, so that's what this week's post is going to be about.

What you have to do is write about Music and how it affects your life. You could mention:

- What music means to you

- When you first started listening to the music you like

- Why you like it/What it makes you feel

- Your favourite band/musician/singer/album/genre

- Who first introduced you to your favourite band/singer

- etc...

In this post you MUST:

- Write 180-200 words.

- Include a photo or video of your favourite band/singer/musician.

- Comment on 3 of your classmates' posts.

Subterranean Homesick Alien

I entered university in 2000. I studied a BA in English Language and Literature here at JGM. When I entered university, there was no ICEI building, there was no Cenicero, no DEP and Calama existed but it was only dirt. The grass was no grass; actually, they called it 'verde bosque' just because there was nothing green about it. It was only dirt too. I remember they once organised an activity where everyone helped remove the weed (I don't mean the one they smoke).

I studied here for many years. I used to go to Artes to relax or just hang around Filosofía, at the back of the library. I missed lots of classes because I wasn't motivated in life, so I finished university in 2006 (yes, six years! Although the last one I had only one course in the second semester, so it doesn't really count as a whole year studying). 

When I finished university I used my time only to work for a year until I decided it was time to come back to university and get my teaching degree. I enrolled at Universidad de Chile again and studied Education right next to Calama and the Cenicero. That was 2008 and I finished studying in 2009. Then I studied for about 9 months at PUC (a diploma) just to come back here again for my Master's. Now I'm studying at Filosofía again, this time it's a Master's in Linguistics.

I have worked at different campuses that belong to this University and I've also had the chance to visit some others. Although I don't know them all, I can tell you from the ones I know the best one is definitely JGM. So many things have happened here, we have so many places to hang around. We are allowed to do almost anything! (not that much lately, though, but we've already had times like this before so I can tell you all the security won't last forever). I love this campus! I always tell people from other campuses that. This is definitely the best one. No one bothers you, you have lots of places to party, to study, or just relax. I remember when I was younger I used to watch the encapuchados fight with carabineros and stuff, somehow we really enjoyed that at Filosofía... I almost became immune to cry gas (not really). 

I think this is definitely the best campus. I remember 2008's occupation and sleeping at DEP and even partying there (in the photo). I have so many great memories from this place. My university years are the happiest years of my life and all of them have happened here, so for me this campus is home and I never get tired of coming back.

As you can see, I'm in love with the whole campus! However, I'd like to know how you feel about your Faculty. I didn't mention mine because for me all the place is home, but you wanted to talk about Facso so go ahead and tell me. What is it that you love about it?

In your post you can mention:

- Your first impression when you got here.
- Your favourite place in the Facso.
- The place you hate inside it.
- Good things and bad things about it.
- Etc.

You have to write 120-150 words (but if you are too inspired you can write more).
Remember to leave comments on 3 of your classmates' entries.

Down In Albion

When I was 16 all I wanted in my whole life was to learn English, go to England and work there doing the dishes at some bar or restaurant. Seriously, with my friend Veronica we used to daydream about this (well, I'm not sure she daydreamed about the 'washing the dishes' part, because she's never liked doing dishes in the first place, but she certainly dreamt about being there with me).

We were so silly, really, because we had this strange idea that life there would be different and funnier than life here (as if there were no Sundays in England or something) and that we would meet Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, and Thom Yorke so easily just because we were Chilean, hence, exotic (yeah, right) and we would have their thousand babies and all.

Well, our original plan didn't really include the washing the dishes bit as part of our goal, really. What we wanted to achieve once there was higher education and stuff. We wanted to study film making and become film directors and make movies and meet Ewan McGregor and have his babies also (OK. We didn't really want to have their babies, but we wouldn't have minded...) I know we were kind of desperate back then, but that's one of the things that can happen when you study at a girls school... among other things I'm not going to discuss here. :P

For us, England was a dream. We were young and shallow (the latter I still am, though), we didn't care about imperialism, we thought our lives would change if we spoke English, we wanted to go to England and visit all those places we'd heard about...

I think we were stupid, really, but one is allowed to be stupid when she's in her teens, I think... so I don't feel embarrassed about it at all.

Now, what you have to do today is tell us what country you'd like to visit. In your post, include the following:

- Which country would you like to go to? Why?
- What do you know about it?
- What would you like to do there?
- Would you like to study/work/live there? Explain.

Remember to:
- Make comments on 3 of your classmates’ posts
- Word Count: 150 - 180 words

Ask me if you have any queries!!