Isn´t it?
2.16.2009
2.13.2009
This is THE girl!
Congratas to 18 year old Francine Grotto Arida, from Mauá, SP, the first at Fuvest! She was a public school student who basically got 939,6 points out of a THOUSAND!! Saying she is great is not enough to the girl! She is super! :-D
Read more here - it´s in portuguese - and spread the news! I wonder if something like this can make other girls be sure that there´s more in life than dreaming of being nothing more than a pretty face. Maybe a girl will believe more in herself instead of believing the best that could ever happen to her is finding a partner to pay her bills. Or maybe that maths and engineering are not only for boys?
Maybe some girl when reading this, will see that intelligence is also cool - and needs no botox , starvation or constant surgery. Maybe someone will look at her books and think that they are the promise to a better and bright future and studying is much better than dieting like crazy, dancing bizarrely or straightening her hair so much and so often you can be bald before you´re 40.
Read more here - it´s in portuguese - and spread the news! I wonder if something like this can make other girls be sure that there´s more in life than dreaming of being nothing more than a pretty face. Maybe a girl will believe more in herself instead of believing the best that could ever happen to her is finding a partner to pay her bills. Or maybe that maths and engineering are not only for boys?
Maybe some girl when reading this, will see that intelligence is also cool - and needs no botox , starvation or constant surgery. Maybe someone will look at her books and think that they are the promise to a better and bright future and studying is much better than dieting like crazy, dancing bizarrely or straightening her hair so much and so often you can be bald before you´re 40.
Be Francine! Be you! Be a smart, wonderful girl!
2.11.2009
Can x Can´t
Can is a modal. And what´s a modal: it´s not a verb, but it modifies a verb.
1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.
Examples:
Can tells about a possibility or a permission. For example:
You can drive if you are over 18. ( Permission)
You can´t vote if you are under 16. (Permission)
You can get bloated if you eat a lot of cheese. (Possibility)
1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.
Examples:
- He can speak Chinese.
2. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past.
Examples:
- He should not be late.
3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses.
Examples:
- He will can go with us. Not Correct
Can tells about a possibility or a permission. For example:
You can drive if you are over 18. ( Permission)
You can´t vote if you are under 16. (Permission)
You can get bloated if you eat a lot of cheese. (Possibility)
2.07.2009
American Literature I
It starts with the Colonial Literature, which was basically pamphlets and writings extolling the benefits of the colonies to both a European and colonist audience, besides the religious disputes that prompted settlement in America.
Captain John Smith could be considered the first American author with his works: A True Relation of ... Virginia ... (1608) and The General Historie of Virginia, New England, and the
Summer Isles (1624). Other writers of this manner included Daniel Denton, Thomas Ashe, William Penn, George Percy, William Strachey, John Hammond, Daniel Coxe, Gabriel Thomas, and John Lawson. Some poetry also existed with Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor and Michael Wigglesworth , who wrote a best-selling poem, The Day of Doom, describing the time of judgment the end of times.
Later, writings described conflicts and interaction with the Indians, as seen in writings by Daniel Gookin, Alexander Whitaker, John Mason, Benjamin Church, and Mary Rowlandson.
Then, there was the Great Awakening Group, made by protestants. Its writings were about religion, as most of them were calvinists and Puritans: Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield were important names, as Thomas Hooker, Thomas Shepard, Uriah Oakes, John Wise, and Samuel Willard.
The revolutionary period also contained political writings, most of them helped to build the American identity as a country. Two key figures were Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine. Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac and The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin are esteemed works with their wit and influence toward the formation of a budding American identity. Paine's pamphlet Common Sense and The American Crisis writings are seen as playing a key role in influencing the political tone of the period.
Captain John Smith could be considered the first American author with his works: A True Relation of ... Virginia ... (1608) and The General Historie of Virginia, New England, and the
Summer Isles (1624). Other writers of this manner included Daniel Denton, Thomas Ashe, William Penn, George Percy, William Strachey, John Hammond, Daniel Coxe, Gabriel Thomas, and John Lawson. Some poetry also existed with Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor and Michael Wigglesworth , who wrote a best-selling poem, The Day of Doom, describing the time of judgment the end of times.Later, writings described conflicts and interaction with the Indians, as seen in writings by Daniel Gookin, Alexander Whitaker, John Mason, Benjamin Church, and Mary Rowlandson.
Then, there was the Great Awakening Group, made by protestants. Its writings were about religion, as most of them were calvinists and Puritans: Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield were important names, as Thomas Hooker, Thomas Shepard, Uriah Oakes, John Wise, and Samuel Willard.
The revolutionary period also contained political writings, most of them helped to build the American identity as a country. Two key figures were Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine. Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac and The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin are esteemed works with their wit and influence toward the formation of a budding American identity. Paine's pamphlet Common Sense and The American Crisis writings are seen as playing a key role in influencing the political tone of the period.
During the revolution itself, poems and songs such as "Yankee Doodle" and "Nathan Hale" were popular. Major satirists included John Trumbull and Francis Hopkinson. Philip Morin Freneau also wrote poems about the war's course.
Students, be aware: just reading this will not make you know about Early American Literature. Click on the links, read the poems, write comments, TRY!
2.04.2009
For next week:
Nineth year:
Present Perfect
Explanation: here. Exercises: here.
Eight year:
Past Simple
Explanation: here. Exercises: here. Click on next exercise at the bottom of the page to do more exercises.
Seventh year:
Present Simple x Continuous.
Explanation: here and here. Exercises: here and here.
Sixth year: Present Simple.
Explanation: here. Exercises: here and here.
Present Perfect
Explanation: here. Exercises: here.
Eight year:
Past Simple
Explanation: here. Exercises: here. Click on next exercise at the bottom of the page to do more exercises.
Seventh year:
Present Simple x Continuous.
Explanation: here and here. Exercises: here and here.
Sixth year: Present Simple.
Explanation: here. Exercises: here and here.
2.03.2009
Rules
Guys, most of classes have already have their first call with me. Therefore, you know how things will be this year, but a small reminder is never too much.
1 - If you have to miss class, LET ME KNOW BY EMAIL. It can be really helpful for both of us.
2 - No chatting during classes. I won´t yell to overcome your voices.
3 - Homework is homework. Do it at HOME, not in class.
4 - If homework is not done, I´ll stamp your books.
5 - Abduction happens. Try me.
6 - Whatever is on the board, is on my notebook. Anything you need, just ask me for a copy.
7 - This is an English class blog. So, this blog is in English. Use the dictionary or Google Language Tools. Take a chance and put down new words on your notebook.
8 - Bring all material: book, notebook, dictionary and our dear and beloved red pen. Students with no material won´t be allowed to be in class.
9 - Deadlines will be respected, believe me.
10 - If you think English is not important, check English marks at the public Universities. A low mark in English may mean not classified, and that shall trash out a year of your life.
Have a great year!
1 - If you have to miss class, LET ME KNOW BY EMAIL. It can be really helpful for both of us.
2 - No chatting during classes. I won´t yell to overcome your voices.
3 - Homework is homework. Do it at HOME, not in class.
4 - If homework is not done, I´ll stamp your books.
5 - Abduction happens. Try me.
6 - Whatever is on the board, is on my notebook. Anything you need, just ask me for a copy.
7 - This is an English class blog. So, this blog is in English. Use the dictionary or Google Language Tools. Take a chance and put down new words on your notebook.
8 - Bring all material: book, notebook, dictionary and our dear and beloved red pen. Students with no material won´t be allowed to be in class.
9 - Deadlines will be respected, believe me.
10 - If you think English is not important, check English marks at the public Universities. A low mark in English may mean not classified, and that shall trash out a year of your life.
Have a great year!
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