Module 1: France

Lets start out with some new videos

1) http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/places/countries-places/france/france-overview-dest/

Check of this link

2) http://www.ambafrance-us.org/spip.php?article502

Here is some French video for you:

3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1lreM8e6EM

In the next course discussion, I want you  to team with three other people and cover a topic of discussion.

1) Geography (i.e. Area, Terrain, and Weather).
2) Food ( i.e. Wine, Bread, Etiquette at Dinners, and Food favorites).
3) Government ( i.e.Who runs the government? What kind of governments did they have?)
4) Social Statistics (i.e. tell about the population groups, Does there have to be racism in the country?)
5) Work system. (i.e. What does the country strive on? What is a daily schedule like?).
6)  Governmental Relations (i.e. How does the government work? Who do they work with?).

Each member must describe in a section in three paragraphs. It would be best to keep it short and sweet. If you need any help, the tutor is available to edit your papers twenty four hours in advance.


Extra Credit Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFgXR60eIHI

Watch this video and write a short summary of the French Revolution. Also, add three questions you wish to learn more about.

WELCOME TO CLASS

Before we begin,

I would like for to all send me an e-mail by answering the following questions.

What is the European Union?
Who is apart of the European Union?
Why do people need the European Union?
How was the European Union created?

Watch this video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO75ZsvMkc8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O37yJBFRrfg

Make sure to take notes, they will come handy later in the course.

Also, take the time read about this website:

http://www.euintheus.org/who-we-are/what-is-the-european-union/
http://useu.usmission.gov/transatlantic_relations.html

After taking the time to read these assignments, I want you to write a short journal entry to this Scenario. Imagine you are speaking with friend and they have no idea What the point of European Union is or what it does? I want you to write about what you think someone should know about the European Union? Why do they need to know about it? What is the importance of the United States and European Union relations?

For extra credit, discuss some topics in the news (i.e. debatable items, politics, ideas).

English Translations

I have posted this on another blog, but found this to be fitting for the next topic.  

Scenario: Lola goes on vacation from Rome to New York City for the first time. Lola is a young bright girl who had studied English in Italy but has never really practiced until quite recently. She begins traveling around and she uses an expression to describe herself walking around but it doesn't make sense. She begins looking into her translator and realizes that it can't be explained in English or Italian. The expression can't be translated and she doesn't understand why?

Have no fear because there is a good reason for this.

There are over 250,000 words in the English Language that are changing every day. Many people presume that English being one the most spoken languages across the globe would have the ability to convey  human experiences. However, this is not true for any language. Some idioms and expressions have no translation. Therefore, it is easy to misinterpret information. When multilingual people refer to words that can't be translated into another language. This means the word can be lost from one culture to another.

This maybe unacceptable to some, but it occurs because different words and expressions are used differently in cultural contexts. This shapes the meaning of the word. Meanings of words are often lost through this change.

Take this into consideration:

One said, the difficult part about learning a new language isn't the vocabulary and different grammar forms, but creating an ability for one to develop an inner reflex that responds to words. When someone hears a word, they don't think of the dictionary definition, but rather the feeling of imagery that comes with it (Wire, 2010). Words that aren't translatable into our language shouldn't be unappreciated because of their lack of description, but for the sake of taste and text of the new language.  Understanding new language expressions or meaning is like fine dining. The joy doesn't come from a food taste but from the full experience of actually enjoying the whole meal all together--text and context.

Question to the class

For those of you who have had experience in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) or teaching in general.  Share one experience that you think a teacher must do in his/her career?

Introductions!

Hello Everyone! 

Welcome to European History! Let’s introduce ourselves and answer at least two icebreaker question. Feel free to answer more. 

1) What’s your favorite town/city in the world? Why?

2) Share with us a fun experience you've had recently.

3) Sing a few lines of a song you love. (Don't tell them the name; let them guess)

4) Tell us your earliest childhood memory.

5) What’s your favorite sport or physical activity?

6) What’s your favorite dish to cook for friends? For just you?

7) Describe the best museum/gig/play/game you've ever been to.

8) How do you like to spend a rainy day?

9) What is your favorite smell? What memory does it remind you of? 

10) What's one favorite thing you do by yourself? 

11) What's one favorite thing you do by yourself?

12) Describe your own outlook on life in six words?

13) What is your favorite book/or movie? Why? 

14) Share a quote or saying you love, that keeps you going in life? 

15) What would be a perfect afternoon for you? 

16)  Which person in your life do you most admire? Why?

(Larabie, 2012)