PLE2

Hello everyone!

Here I am again...in this post I'll reflect on whether or not something has changed during the second semester in the organization of my English learning...and yet, the answer is YES!

I've always thought that grammar exercises, theory, rules and writing are in importan part of the learning process but as I pointed out in the post on the PLE I think there are many other different ways that help us improve a language, some ways are more serious and require a bigger effort, some ways are funnier and stimulate improvements in an "easier"way.
During the second semester the main tool we used for our learning has been Skype. This tool gave us the chance to communicate, exchange thoughts and learn new things from our new American friends. It has been a really nice experience doing the exchange with them...and the exchange is not over because we still skype and write to each other..that's cool!

I would keep the mindmap I did in the first semester like it was before, but I shall definitely add the skype tool which was missing and underline the importance of the web tools in general.

Thanks to everyone for this wonderful experience..
Keep in touch in the web!
Bye!

Intercultural Competence

Hello everyone!!!
In this post, I'm going to reflect on the questionnaires I did about my Intercultural Competence.
During this year we did so many activities and I think it's all been very useful, especially the last few months when we started the Exchange with the American peers.
Answering the questionnaire and reflecting on the self-assessment I realised I made many improvements and this made me very happy and satisfied.
First of all I had the chance to learn some more about American culture, but also, as I pointed out in the questionnaires, about my own culture; I learned how to deal with foreign people and how to discuss with them the main differences and attitudes of our cultures; I realised that sometimes understanding each other may be very difficult, especially at the beginning, but also that after a while everything becomes easier.
It's been a very nice experience and hopefully we'll be able to keep in contact with the America peers!
See u guys!!!

thinking about the final project...

Hello everyone!!!
This course is nearly finished and now we need to concentrate on our final projects.
I really like the idea of discussing a topic concerning the differences between Italian and American culture...Unfortunately we haven't decided the subject yet.
As a group we are thinking about the following subjects:
1. Religion
2. Sport
3. Death penalty
We agreed on the fact that they are equally interesting...now we are only waiting for Ugo's opinion, and then we'll start working hard on the project!!
We reckon the easier way to communicate between us and Ugo will be skype and e-mails, whilst between the three of us it will be talking face to face.
We will know how to build our project only when we'll know the subject so...the next time u'll find out what it will be!!!
See u!!!

Hello!!
This week activity on skype was very interesting as we discussed on a very important and current topic: elections and politics in general.
Me, Laura and Martina talked with Alyson about the three videos we watched on youtube : Meno male che Silvio c'è, I'm PD and the song sang by Obama Girl...I had never seen something like that before..I really think we live in a strange strange world!
Anyway it was very interesting to listen to Alyson while she explained to us in a clear way how it works in America, how the parties make the propaganda and try to gain voters. Unlike me, she was very informed about the topic...I don't know much about politics and if I have to be honest I lost interest on it because I don't see any good way out of this situation...I mean we are all tired of hearing the same promises all the time...I would like to believe in politicians, I really do, they are the one in charge to govern our country..but now I'm hopeless!
I think skype classes are very useful as I always learn something new about American culture and I learn it directly, and if I have any curiosity I can always ask some questions...this is really good!!
I'm looking forward to next lesson...see you soon guys!!

yoga

hellooo!
Unfortunately last week I couldn't attend my skype class...so I'll catch up with the American guys next week after some relaxing days of spring holiday!
And by the way...Happy spring time!
What's a yoga form?!
Well I thought it was something concerning relaxing techniques...eheh!
But I found out that a yoga form is a very interesting and innovative way to become aware of our own knowledge on a particular subject. All those questions about my own culture compared to other different cultures were very useful and they made me think about something that at the end is very important when you study a foreign language, its culture and way of living.
It took quite a while to get through that big list of questions...and it wasn't that easy, because for each question I had to think of an example, to think about real life and my attitudes towards that subject...but at the end it was worthwhile as now I feel I know what I need to focus on, I know which are the mistakes I have to avoid and I am aware of my knowledge.
Having said that..now I can work hard on those aspects I don't know and which are important when facing another culture!
See u in class..hope u all spent amazing Easter holidays!

Terrorism

The discussion on the wiki was very interesting as we had to consider important subjects and think about a problem that is unfortunately becoming more and more commonplace: terrorism.
Whilst I am glad the days of domestic political terrorism are behind us it really made me, and probably everyone else, think how strange it is that there could be a serious attack anytime and there is not a great deal we could do about it.

In my opinion the only choice we have is to make the best of it and try and laugh at ourselves as much as possible in the meantime. Enjoy the video, hope it cheers everyone up after such a serious subject!

As I can't upload the video, if you are interested click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnYB_Q6RtGI&feature=related

Welcome back everyone!!!

The new semester started very well and I am so positive about the exchange with the guys from the University of Dickinson.

On tuesday I spoke -together with Anna- for the first time with Ugo, our exchange partner; we introduced each other and had a general chat about Universiy-life, our own countries and cities, families and so on. It was good and exciting also because we could see him and so we could feel that, even though through the screen of a computer the conversation was real.

Overall it has been a new and nice experience, the only "less positive" aspect is the fact that the conversation is between the 3 of us...and I found it difficult to "control" the turn of the conversation. Moreover, being the first time we all had so many things to say!! Anyway we'll try to make it work better next time!

I'm so curious and there are so many things I'd like to know about Americans and their culture so I'm really looking forward to next skype talk!

See you!