Some people believe in fate. They believe “What will be, will be,” and “Life will unfold as it should.” “There is nothing that one can do to change what will happen in life.” On the other hand, others believe that people can “Make things happen,” and “It is up to us to control our future,” and “If you make clear and specific plans, you will be able to reach those goals.”
Do you believe in fate or controlling your own destiny, or do you believe in a combination of both?
William Arthur Ward, a motivational speaker, said, “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”
Do you agree or disagree with his statements. Give reasons and examples to support your point of view.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
Culture and Language
This week our theme deals with travel to foreign places. Many people love to travel and, certainly, it is easier to travel now than it was in the past. Yet, when we travel can we really say we learned about a place. Can a brief stay in a country and a tour of its high spots really enlighten us as to how the people and the culture are? If I travel to 7 countries in 7 days what have I really learned?
Quite often when people are goiing on a long trip they study the language and/or carry a phrase book so they can communicate with the "natives." While this is a step in the right durection, is it enough? How important is language to culture and how important is culture to language?
That leads us to this question:
Title: Fluent Fools
Think First
Think about the following quotation. What do you think it means? Do you agree with it? Why or why not? You can ask your friends for ideas also.
“To study a language without learning its culture is a great way to make a fluent fool of yourself.” (Milton Bennett, cross-cultural researcher)
Then Write
Put the quote on the top of the page for the title. Explain what the quote means. Agree or disagree with the statement. Give reasons and examples to support your point of view.
Quite often when people are goiing on a long trip they study the language and/or carry a phrase book so they can communicate with the "natives." While this is a step in the right durection, is it enough? How important is language to culture and how important is culture to language?
That leads us to this question:
Title: Fluent Fools
Think First
Think about the following quotation. What do you think it means? Do you agree with it? Why or why not? You can ask your friends for ideas also.
“To study a language without learning its culture is a great way to make a fluent fool of yourself.” (Milton Bennett, cross-cultural researcher)
Then Write
Put the quote on the top of the page for the title. Explain what the quote means. Agree or disagree with the statement. Give reasons and examples to support your point of view.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
sacrifice
In the previous post I asked you about peace. I gave a quote from Aristotle.
This post is connected with that one. In class this week we will watch a 7 min video from the BMW series. The question I want you to think about is from the video "Ticker."
"What would you fall on your sword for?"
In other words for what would you sacrifice yourself. For what would you put yourself on the line? What would you stand up for no matter the cost to yourself?
Heavy, but interesting and important.
This post is connected with that one. In class this week we will watch a 7 min video from the BMW series. The question I want you to think about is from the video "Ticker."
"What would you fall on your sword for?"
In other words for what would you sacrifice yourself. For what would you put yourself on the line? What would you stand up for no matter the cost to yourself?
Heavy, but interesting and important.
PEACE!!
Peace, EIPHNH (Greek), Fandriampahalemana (Malagasy), Heiwa (Japanese) …
Think First
What does “peace” mean? Do you think there will ever be peace in every country of the world? Why or why not?
Then Write
Agree or disagree with the following statement. Give reasons and examples to support your point of view.
“Peace is more difficult than war”- Aristotle (384 – 322 B.C.) Greek philosopher
Think First
What does “peace” mean? Do you think there will ever be peace in every country of the world? Why or why not?
Then Write
Agree or disagree with the following statement. Give reasons and examples to support your point of view.
“Peace is more difficult than war”- Aristotle (384 – 322 B.C.) Greek philosopher
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Playing Hooky! an Expression of Free Will (?!)
OK. Fess up. Almost everyone has at some time skipped school.
When I was in high school I used to skip school one time each semester. I would go to a nearby museum and explore it and the grounds. The museum was really cool and old fashioned -very different from museums now. The new ones all look alike to me and show the same stuff. This one was filled with all sorts of things local people had donated and it had a room at the top of the one building set up as if it were the captain's room on a ship complete with a telescope! I would go to that room, look out over the river and pretend I was one of the first explorers.
There was something fun about skipping out. It felt liberating. I had to be in high school and learn because it was the law. But, when I skipped out, I was learning because I wanted to! And, if I went bowling or did something else it still felt great because I did it of my own free will. Plus, doing something different from everyone else also felt neat. It gave the illusion of freedom.
Did you ever skip out? If so, why? What did you do? Do you think everyone should skip out at least once in their life?
Did you ever watch Ferris Beuller's Day Off? If not, I recommend it - the best school skipping movie ever!
When I was in high school I used to skip school one time each semester. I would go to a nearby museum and explore it and the grounds. The museum was really cool and old fashioned -very different from museums now. The new ones all look alike to me and show the same stuff. This one was filled with all sorts of things local people had donated and it had a room at the top of the one building set up as if it were the captain's room on a ship complete with a telescope! I would go to that room, look out over the river and pretend I was one of the first explorers.
There was something fun about skipping out. It felt liberating. I had to be in high school and learn because it was the law. But, when I skipped out, I was learning because I wanted to! And, if I went bowling or did something else it still felt great because I did it of my own free will. Plus, doing something different from everyone else also felt neat. It gave the illusion of freedom.
Did you ever skip out? If so, why? What did you do? Do you think everyone should skip out at least once in their life?
Did you ever watch Ferris Beuller's Day Off? If not, I recommend it - the best school skipping movie ever!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
A Surprising Question
"When you go for a long walk, what do you think about?" I was standing at the skytrain when a stranger asked me this question. I was a little surprised but interested at the same time.
So, I started to think. This is what I realized. Some days I think about nothing (brain is dead or taking a break). Some days I just like to listen to music and get into the lyrics. Some days I walk and enjoy the scenery. Other days I think about what I have read. But, I would say that most of the time-whether I am listening to music or not- I make up stories in my head. Maybe I am a hero. Maybe I meet a famous person. Maybe I create a story about the person walking in front of me or that I just passed. . . .I make up stories about any and everything.
So, now I am asking you to think about the question "When you go for a long walk, what do you think about?"
So, I started to think. This is what I realized. Some days I think about nothing (brain is dead or taking a break). Some days I just like to listen to music and get into the lyrics. Some days I walk and enjoy the scenery. Other days I think about what I have read. But, I would say that most of the time-whether I am listening to music or not- I make up stories in my head. Maybe I am a hero. Maybe I meet a famous person. Maybe I create a story about the person walking in front of me or that I just passed. . . .I make up stories about any and everything.
So, now I am asking you to think about the question "When you go for a long walk, what do you think about?"
Assignment # 2
Hi Guys!
Well, here is assignment # 2
Title: What it means to be a citizen of ___________
Think First
What makes your culture unique or different than other cultures? What are some symbols of your culture? What makes your culture part of your identity (who you are)?
Then Write
Show 15 things/ ideas which explain what it means to be a citizen of your country. You can use pictures and sketches to support the English words that you have.
Well, here is assignment # 2
Title: What it means to be a citizen of ___________
Think First
What makes your culture unique or different than other cultures? What are some symbols of your culture? What makes your culture part of your identity (who you are)?
Then Write
Show 15 things/ ideas which explain what it means to be a citizen of your country. You can use pictures and sketches to support the English words that you have.
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