My experience learning English at the university: Is it possible to identify a real learning of English in our university?

There is no doubt that English is very important in these times, in fact, English is known as "the universal language". In this context, for any person in her personal and profession life is essential to understand and to communicate in this idiom. For that reason some years ago, University of Chile implemented English class of obligatory way for students of this university. The idea is that all students from University of Chile approve until level four of English when their career will finish. Nevertheless, it arises the following question: ¿Approval of these courses, means a real learning of English?

In general, I have observed that strategies of English teaching, used at the university haven´t been really effective. Throughout my years in this university I have taken three English courses, since level two until level four - where I am today, all curses has been different. However, thinking about this process in general, I can recognize positives and negatives elements about English classes at this university.

Respect to positives elements, I can say that It’s a huge advantage to have English classes one time a week and free of charge. Because to have classes regularly allows developing a progressive learning and more significant. Also, it's interesting for our career, to focus in improvement of our writing in English -throughout our personal blog-. And moreover, it's valuable that English classes focus in text compression, because in this way, psychology students can read updated papers about different topics related by behavior, which is very useful as future professionals.

Respect to negatives elements, is possible mention different aspects. For example, excessive number of students per class, monotony of teaching method, excessive interest in writing and compression- to leave aside oral aspects of English, such as: interaction, pronunciation or listening, etc.

Beyond the existence of these positive and negative elements in the method of teaching English, it exists a key aspect for understanding to difficulty in university students for learning of this idiom: low motivation for improve their English in this context. This last point is very important because explain why despite all English classes at the university, in the most of cases, English learning is much reduced. Because honestly, students come to university to learn about topics of different knowledge areas in psychology, such us: methods of qualitative investigation, transpersonal psychology or educational psychology. Moreover, inside expectative from students of this university are not considered learn English, less if this class is absolutely compulsory.

In conclusion, despite to admit that English is an essential tool in our professional development, my personal experience English learning - at my university- haven´t been very significant, because this learning has been crossed by many variables like my low motivation. Therefore, since my experience, to approve of these courses does not mean a real learning of English.

Different houses in my life

Well, in this opportunity I will talk about different places where I have lived. So far I have lived in 3 different places in Santiago. When I was born, I lived in Macul in my grandparent’s house. There we had a very little house in the backyard of the principal house, but despite the small size of this house, I had a very good time. I don’t remember exactly how many time I lived in this place however; I have many beautiful memories of my childhood there.

Then, we moved a new house in commune of Maipú. This house was bigger than the previous house and my parents fix it very well: they painted it, they put ceramic in the floor, etc. I lived there about seven years, but when my brother and I grew up we moved to another house.

The third house is in Peñalolen, near of our first house in Macul. In this house I live with my parents, my brother and my dog. It’s the biggest and most beautiful house of the all houses that I have lived. Also, in this house we are more comfortable with the space and the environment is very quiet. Although the greatest thing is the view of the Andes. It’s really great when it’s snowfall in the sunny day. I really love it!

This last house has two floors. In the first floor is the bedroom of my parents and in the second floor is the bedroom of my brother and mine.

Finally, respect my bedroom I can say that I like it, it’s has many cuddly toys, different pictures of travels and friends in the sky-blue walls and a huge mirror in the front of my bed. But the only thing that dislikes is that in the summer is very hot, because sun comes it directly all day. It’s so horrible!

What about your house?

Looking after environment

Week´s post is related to looking after the environment, especially through recycling. I think learn about environmentally friendly practices are a very important task, but unfortunately there are not many places or ways for learn about these practices. Maybe internet is the best way to get updated information about this subject.

I don’t have much information about recycling and I don’t have many habits about it. But if I’m walking for a place always I look for any trash can, where I can throw all the garbage that I have.Also, I always try to put papers, can of drink or fruit peel in the correct trash . In fact, I never throw papers on the floor; I keep it until to find a trash can.

I have never thought about this topic: looking after the environment. I feel very far from that in my daily life! For example: I've never used a bicycle to move around the city, in general I use public transport or car. But sometimes I prefer walking around parks or quiet places.
Moreover, I have never contributed in some kind of ecological organization, because I have not known any in depth. But If I would have more information for participating or helping somehow.

In spite of the importance of this issue, there is little information or awareness on the part of us all. For that reason I think is very important to bring people to have more knowledge about this topic. I think the most important thing it would be contribute through small and simple acts like to disconnect electronical appliances if you are not using
or turning off lights during the day.

Finally, it would be very useful to development different social level strategies that have impact on people. For example: TV commercials, documentary, psychosocial interventions, etc.

ART :)

Well, today I’m going to talk about art. I think art is really important because it help to us to express our feeling in a different, interesting and fun way. And I think is a way of relaxing, too.
I enjoy very much all types of art: sculpture, dance, music, photography, painting, etc, because I think through art you can think about in a different way, you can know the perspective of very special people, you can imagine many things and you can develop your creativity.
I don’t remember very well If I was interested in art when I was a kid, but I can say since my adolescence it has been a very attractive topic to me. In fact, I really like go to art museum and different kind of exhibitions. My favorite museums in Santiago are: Bellas Artes, MAVI and Museum of Contemporaneous Art.
When I was a child I participated in a art competition I was representing to my school. In this competition I won honorable mention award. It was fun! Always I have liked drawing but I’m not amazing in these things, I think I should practice more for to be really good. Also, I’d like paint pictures, but I have not learned that yet.
I think modern art is amazing, specially more abstract works, of artists like Matta or Miró. Picasso’s works are very great too! I like so much when pictures mix many different colors and form and the most weird works are my favorites.
Moreover, I love colors and graffiti! I think is very beautiful when in a city you can walk for different places and you find many graffiti like Valparaiso or Bellavista neighborhood in Santiago. I really admire graffiti art!
Like I said I love weird art and one of my favorite painters is known for to be weird, can you imagine who is he? This artist is Salvador Dalí, who is very famous around the world for painting surrealism. Some years ago I had the opportunity to go seeing some Dalí’s drawings in a exhibition in Santiago. I really was impressed by the amount of detail in his work! I love it!

Teenage depression

Hi everybody! Today I'm going to talk about an interesting article about psychology. This article named “The kids aren't all right”, talks about increase of depression in teenager.

In general, make a diagnosis of depression is a very hard work, because symptoms are varied and are not presented in the same way in different people. Also, in adolescence this diagnosis is more complicated.

Then, the question in this problem is why are children being diagnosed at ever younger ages? Is it that we are getting better at diagnosing depression in teens? Or is it, that doctors in the UK have followed those in the US and started to medicalise the normal ups and downs of adolescence?

To answer that question, this text describes different stories about teenagers. For example, talks about a girl of 13 years old, called Amy, who she was depressed. She tells about the beginnings of her depression, she says for example: “Everything started to feel meaningless… Before long, I started to self-harm." Moreover, the article shows the difficult of her parents for noticing this psychological problem and describes the consequences of prescribing antidepressants, too.

Anyway, the most important thing is that this trend is very concern, because teens are more vulnerable that adults and is very possible that a depression with an early beginning continues in the time if it is not treated.

Finally, If you are interested in this topic, you can visit: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/sep/18/children-depression-antidepressants. In this website you will find the complete article.

Going to the cinema

Well, today I’m going to talk about an interesting and fun activity: going to the cinema.
First, I have to say that I really like going to the cinema, because I think that to watch a film in this place is the ideal thing, you can see and hear in a very intense way. When I go I enjoy it very much, but not always I can go to the cinema. I think that is very expensive in the most of the cases!.

In general I prefer to spend my money in others things or to use different promotions when I go there. I think the most of times I stay at home watching the movie with my boyfriend. This way we can to save some money and have a good time together, too. Like I told you I don’t go very often at the cinema, however, since two weeks ago I’ve going more frequently, because my boyfriend has a card of Banco de Chile and with this card I can buy the tickets very cheap. It’s the best! And I think that promotion lasts until the summer! =). I’m very happy about that.

In one of these opportunities I watched a very interesting film called “Inception”, a movie about dreams. In this movie acts Leonardo Dicaprio and Marion Cotillard (the same actress of the Edith Piaf movie). I think that movie is the best that I’ve ever seen in the last time. I totally recommend it to you!

Another movie that I can recommend to you is a Spanish romantic movie. When I say that it’s a romantic movie I want to say that is a love story, but never a typical hollywood romantic movie. It’s really great!!!!!!!!!! It’s name is “Los amantes del círculo Polar Ártico” and It was directed by Julio Medem. The history of this movie is about two children: Otto and Ana. This kids fall in love but when they grow up, they separated for a long time.

Well, there are a lot of movies, but interesting or fun? I think that it’s depends of your taste…
What do you think? What is your favorite movie?

Panoramas and Places in Santiago City

Well, I live in Santiago since that I was born, my parents and my immediate family have living the most of their lives here in Santiago, too. For that reason I think that I can say many things about Santiago.

Really I think that Santiago is a very entertaining city, because always there is something to do . I understand some people say that Santiago is a stressing city, but I like live here and I like much when I have time for to visit different places and to do different activities.

Then, what places should a foreigner tourist visit in Stgo? and what things should a foreigner tourist do?
First I think that a tourist in Santiago should visit “ Parque Metropolitano”, because there you can be all day in different activities. For example: you can get a panoramic vision of the city, you can go to the zoo, you can make a picnic and when the sun is gone It is very pretty to down the hill in the cable car and to see all the lights in the city.

Later, you can go to drink something to “Barrio Bellavista”, in the middle of the capital. There you can find many different bars and restaurants or if you prefer something more typical, you cannot stop going to “La Piojera” and to try a “terremoto”. I think in those places you can have fun and it is very easy to get there, because is very near of subway stations. If you go at the day to Barrio Bellavista, you can visit “La Chascona” (Pablo Neruda’s house), where you will find unusual objects and you will know life of this famous Chilean poet.

Other interesting site that you can go is museum of ""Bellas Artes. This place is very important and it has a very attractive architecture. There you can find a static collection with works of art from prominent chilean artists like Nemesio Antunez. Moreover, in the environment of museum you can find a very long park called “Parque Forestal”. In this park you can walk, take pictures and take a gelato of exotic flavors in the “Emporio la Rosa”.

I could write more, but I think the most fun is when you go and ask people that is walking around ...