Appreciating Chaos, really?

The book "Seven Life Lessons Of Chaos" by John Briggs and F. David Peat claims that life is "chaos", according to science. I am not one to believe in the new era of scientific medleys or revolutions. I lack certain spirituality, but I can certainly agree that life is a complete chaos. As always its unsaid but evident of a God vs. Science, and this is somewhat interesting. It is amazing that life is so spontaneous and that we are clueless as to what will come next. To me chaos is nothing more than a crisis that leads to overwhelming situations in which you often find yourself at the end of the rope. Christians believe that God has the control of our lives, I believe that I am the only person able to control what happens with my life. Yet, according to these authors...chaos is what controls my life and yours as well. This does not sound far from the truth, though it has not convinced me entirely. It states that linear time concepts do not really exist, time is but a limit we tend to put before us. Life will happen whether we are ready or not. No one can really ever truly predict what will happen, not even our beloved weather forecasters, that in many occasions have predicted sunshine and warm weather and when we least expect it...it pours. We are often found unprepared, and this is an ongoing reality. Relativism is put to question in this book, is there an end to things or do they just begin all over again. I have not read it but I can tell you I am amused to learn more about these theories and perhaps overcome my unwilling nature and even put them into practice. Only time will tell. If you have read this book, let me know your thoughts regarding its content.

Millie's Blog: CEF Guide

Millie's Blog: CEF Guide

This opens up a whole new perspective not only of the way we speak English, yet also with regards to how it's being taught. The descriptions are simply an excellent way to graph the differences held between a basic level all the way up to a native or native like resemblance. I see this as an advance in the world of teaching not only English, but also other languages like French and German. The importance also establishes the level ELT instructors should have. Although in the Costa Rican educational system, some instructors do not necessarily achieve these standards. In order to come in accordance with the CEFR, the Ministry of Education has established an exam to categorize innstructors and according to the MEP in order to pass they must assert with a B2 minimum. A B2 suggests that the person is able to make clear ideas and transmit them correctly, and speaks with fluency and is somewhat spontaneous. By watching this slide presentation you can visualize and differentiate between an A1 speaker all the way up to a C2 speaker. This is a vibrant and new wave idea that will assure us as learners and assist those who teach as well. In the past many high-intermediate learners were given the opportunity to teach English in Costa Rica, due to the lack of professors in this area. This has eventually showered students with many mishaps because of the lack of knowledge on behave of these "instructors". Now a days, language teachers must go through certain tasks and exams in order to qualify and begin teaching. This implies a teacher must never stop their learning process and therefore continue to adjust to the changes imposed in this area of acquisition. The Common European Framework of Reference is an innovative and ongoing process that must be followed through in order to have it function in our society. In my personal opinion a minimum requirement should be to be a C1, students should not pay for our mispronunciations, nor lack of fluency. An English teacher should be able to carry out advanced conversations, and speak with barely any errors. Unfortunately, I have seen some of my collegues graduate even when their speaking skills are far from decent. Just because you earn excellent grades in grammar does not mean you have the ability of speaking correctly. The fact that I am a native speaker allows me to distinguish between having a heavy accent and miscommunicating ideas. Costa Ricans are of the few second language speakers that can acquire a high-level without their accent dismembering their words. The Costa Rican accent is fairly neutral compared to the accent heard throughout countries in South America. This is why many international companies have settled here in order to establish their businesses. The CEFR is not only applied in the teaching of another language. Yet it is also being implemented in these companies during the recruitment process. In the end I believe that it will succeed in helping people know how well and how much they know, and then supply them with the things they lack and need to improve.

CEF Guide

THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK CEF

Changing the way the world learns English Michael McCarthy introduces t...

Que esta pasando con nuestros estudiantes?

Educar a nuestros hijos siempre ha sido nuestra prioridad, pero es eso lo que en realidad estamos haciendo? Lo sucedido el primero de julio a la directora del colegio privado Montebello, es un resultado de la negligencia en la que se esta ocultando nuestra sociedad. La directora Nancy Chaverri, probablemente se desperto pensando en que este seria un dia mas haciendo lo que mas le apasionaba, educar. Jamas paso por su mente que un joven planeara su muerte horas despues. Porque me van a disculpar, pero esto no surgio por ira del momento, esto fue planeado desde el instante en que toma el arma que su padre guardo quiza con pocas precauciones. Este joven no solo le arrebato la vida a esta educadora, esposa y madre, sino que tambien destrozo la de los familiares de ella y los suyos tambien. Que pasara por la mente de un adolescente para tomar una desicion tan atroz. No logro entender como hemos llegado al punto en que todo lo que un alumno hace esta en su derecho. Me pregunto donde estan los derechos nuestros, como educadores? Que leyes nos amparan? Que haran para asegurar que no vuelva a suceder? Son muchas las preguntas y al pasar de los dias y del boom de la terrible noticia, la atencion se opaca y las preguntas quedan sin respuestas.

Me entristece pensar en los hijos que creceran sin su madre, en el esposo que perdio al amor de su vida, y el los alumnos y colegas que no tendran la oportunidad de verla sonreir, y aprender mas de ella. Y que sera del adolescente que perdio mas que su inocencia al disparar el arma y asesinar a sangre fria a una persona solo porque lo reprendio. Los alumnos ahora son rebeldes, muchas veces a causa de lo permisivos que son sus padres. Ahora es el educador que no entiende al alumno, que al imponer limites, lo lastima. Me parece patetico que un padre no entienda que los limites son un beneficio y no simple impedimento. Solo espero que algun dia muestren la cara de este joven para que nosotros podamos ver a un adolescente visiblemente normal, privilegiado, con padres educados...podria ser cualquiera...que podemos hacer para que no nos pase lo mismo. Pienso en los padres del joven, especialmente en el padre que el un conocido psicologo/ psicopedagogo. Lo envisiono cuestionandose a cada minuto...que hice mal? La pregunta que deberiamos de hacernos no es si sabemos en donde o en que andan nuestros hijos, sino en que estaran pensando? Sino dedicamos tiempo para conocer a nuestros hijos, tampoco podemos criticar los malos pasos que estos tomen. Lamento muchisimo la muerte de esta mente brillante, de esta directora emprendedora y de una mujer que lucho por lograr sus metas como educador. Que Dios nos ilumine y nos guie como educadores, y que este acontecimiento despierte a los padres de familia que se ausentan no solo de sus hogares, sino de la vida de sus hijos. Como educadores formamos a seres para que logren emprender una vida de exito y de bien. Pero como padres debemos insistir en los valores desde que nacen, y no solo esperar que otros los escarmienten. Luchemos juntos para que esto solo sea un triste recuerdo y porque no vuelva a suceder.

Ever had a "bad" teacher?

I certainly do not consider myself an expert in the art of teaching, however, I am aware of the effect I produce over my students. I can say that I have had excellent professors and also those that should have never been provided with a teaching degree. You see, the art of teaching is not simply having all the knowledge in the world, it actually involves human-like qualities which will enrich the classroom and your students. Many teachers are on the right path; which is to have your students' interests in mind, not to display your so called intellectual persona and leave an empty slate through the learning process. As a teacher, your primary goal is to "teach", not to sit back and critize the wrongdoings of your students, when you haven't actually taught them how to correctly apply the aspect in question. I deeply critize this approach some of my collegues are using when they teach, if you can call it that. It is extremely offensive to walk into a classroom with a brilliant mind that knows not how to transmit his or her knowledge. It is offensive, because it is a waste of talent that could be passed on to others in order to create a more successful environment. It is shame that many classrooms are filled with these intelligent, yet soulless professionals. Why soulless? Well the answer is quite simple, if you diminish someone's ability and talent because they do not meet your exact expectations, you are exactly that... soulless. You cannot expect, nor suggest that a student will relate to you when you are disrespectful and practice the art or demoralizing others. A teacher that knows absolutely nothing, but loves children is not adequate, but neither is a brilliant person that does not love to teach. A real and successful teacher is that person that knows a bit of everything and loves what they do. What is life without the passion of living it? What is a so-called teacher without the aspiration to see his or her pupils shine? A life without passion is just another empty tomb, that lays unvisited. A teacher that does not want to see his or her students succeed is a egocentric. Knowledge and information were meant to be shared and explored not locked up and ignored. I can only say that I am certainly glad the "bad" professors came later on in my already established career, and though they have disappointed me, they did not have a say in who I am today.