Texto para Prova Mensal de Inglês - Março - 3º Médio

Internet “disconnects” people to the world

November 10, 2011

   A few weeks ago I read Elvira Lindo’s column about real communication between people and how people use new technology to express loving “empty” messages.

   According to her, technology has widespread the language of romantic postcards. In other words, nowadays people write deep and affectionate messages by email, Facebook, WhatsApp and so on, in a banal and easy way.

   In fact, she tells that when she meets some friend in a restaurant, many times he is more interested in the “sonorous interruptions” caused by his mobile or blackberry, instead of having a conversation with her. As a result, in these conditions, the feedback is missing, and then, communication has been broken.

   This article made me reflect in what real ways technology help people to communicate. We live immersed in “The Global Village”. Indeed, Internet is one of the best inventions of the last century. Besides, it has changed our life in many positive ways. For instance, making the world smaller by bringing people together. In fact, you can reach out and get to know people you might never meet in person and also you can do an endless list of actions, just a click away. Nevertheless, why does the situation described by Elvira Lindo in her article happen so often?

   Perhaps, the uncontrollable need of using internet has developed in the society the need for permanently being in touch with other people online. Probably, it is most exciting and liberating way to have invisible relationships instead of speaking face to face. However, is it real communication?

To sum up, the ways of communication have changed and Internet has helped us to have an easy life in many aspects. Sometimes, the Internet gives us what we need in communication, speed, reliability and convenient time and place. Moreover, it keeps us close to our loved ones. However, as in everything, it is necessary not to go to the extremes and to keep the real and true communication, that is, in my opinion: “face to face”. Therefore, “If you communicate, you exist in the real world”.

Texto para Prova Mensal de Inglês - Março - 2º Médio

REWARDS OF LEARNING

   Experts in the field of education like to tell the story of an old man who was bothered by the noise of boys playing in his neighbourhood. He offered to pay each boy a dollar to shout louder. The boys were delighted. But on the second day the man said that his limited resources meant that he could pay the boys only 80 cents. And on each successive day, he paid them less, until he finally didn’t pay them anything. The boys got angry and stopped playing near his house. “We’re not going to make noise for nothing!” they said.

   This story demonstrated an important point. When we reward children for doing something they enjoy, like playing a game, we destroy their natural desire to do that thing. This is particularly clear in the field of education. If we want our children to learn, we kill their natural curiosity and desire to learn when we offer them a reward.

   Yet both parents and teachers often “bribe” children to learn by offering rewards. A mother may offer her ten-year-old daughter sweets if she finishes reading a library book or a film for doing all her homework. In goal, not the learning. The greater the emphasis on marks – by teachers, the schools and the universities – the harder the student will work to get the “right answer”. But a lot of strategies for getting the right high school, the reward is the mark. In such a system, according to psychologists, the mark becomes the answer aren’t good strategies for learning – like studying only the material you need for tests.

   Educational experts have recommended changing the system of rewards, so that every student can excel.

FROM: http://tx.english-ch.com/teacher/jocelyn/others/the-rewards-of-learning/ ACCESSED: 29 October, 2011

Texto para Prova Mensal de Inglês - Março - 1º Médio

Student Exchange

   Becoming an exchange student is an exciting way to enhance your life by living in another country. Being an exchange student does not require your family to host a student in your house while you are away.

  Student exchange with WEP Australia can open your eyes to the opportunities and wonders of the world. Support is provided to students throughout the entirety of their programs. Right from the start, when we first receive an enquiry, all the way to program completion, WEP answers questions from students and parents, maintains contact with students while they are overseas, and facilitates communication between our international partner organizations, coordinators, host families, host schools and exchange students. This ensures you will have the best possible student exchange experience.

  All over the world, WEP host families are interviewed and screened to ensure they will provide safe and caring home environments for our exchange students. Your host family will select you, will be welcoming and probably impatient for your arrival, and will be interested in learning about you and your life in Australia. Before you depart from Australia, you will also be advised about the host school that has accepted you. Students and teachers in host country schools are always interested in hearing about life from our unique part of the world. If you choose a non-English speaking country you will have the fantastic opportunity to learn a new language and speak it every day. While this can be a daunting prospect initially, the long term benefits of being able to speak another language will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Available at: http://wep.org.au/info/student-exchange-intro. Access on: Sep. 06th, 2012.