My experience learning English in the University

In the world there are a lot of countries, with different language. The main world’s language is English and you can hear it in United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Ireland, Scotland, etc.

We speak Spanish in Chile, but to learn English is very important, because there are jobs that require it. For example if you are a flight attendant, a business man or a translator, you must to speak English to communicate with people from other country.

When I was in the School, I always had to learn English. The first time that I had a subject called English was in first grade and I learned how to say the colors, the animals and the numbers in English. When I was in sixth grade I learned how to say the alphabet and exotic animals in English. Then, when I was in the High School, I learned how to make sentences and how to say the verbs in the past form and in the participle form in English.

I learned a lot of things in English in the school and I liked it. Then, I entered to the university and I took a subject called English 3. That subject was very interesting, but I felt that I didn’t learn new things. English 3 was a good subject to practice the English.

Finally, I took a subject called English 4 and it has been very important, because I have learned new things, new vocabulary, to listen a conversation in English and to understand what is it about. The most important thing that I have learned in English 4 is to think in English, because when I have to write the blogs I have to think in English first, and then I write.

In my opinion, to learn English is very important, because is a tool that will help you if you get a job like flight attendant or if you travel to other country.

English is essential in the world today, because the means of transport (airplanes, cruises, etc.) and the communication nets have neared the most remote places. Internet and satellite communication have made that English were very important in our lives.

~ Money ~

Money is very important in the world; Money gives you the opportunity to study in a good school, to study in the University, to have good clothes, to live in a good neighborhood, to travel to far countries, etc.
There are different types of money, for example: the coins, the bills, the checks or the plastic money (credit cards). The most usual kinds of money are the coins or the bills; you can see children with them, buying candies or cookies. Only adults can have checks or credit cards, because they have accounts in the banks and jobs with a salary.
I would like to be wealthy, because I think that is a very funny way of life. I would like to win the lottery or to inherit a lot of money. When I was a child I always watched the Donald Duck’s rich uncle in the TV and I always wanted to be like him. I also watched the movie called Richie Rich and I wanted to be rich and to have a mansion with an amusement park and a water park in the courtyard.
I would like to be rich and to have a big mansion, a lot of cars, a lot of clothes, the latest video games, a big room, the fastest PC, a lot of servants, a lot of yachts, a lot of jet skies, a lot of snowmobiles, a lot of motorbikes and a lot of houses on the beach, in the mountain and in the country.

A Green Planet

I think that there are few places where you can learn about environmentally friendly practices. There are organizations very active about the ecology issue, for example: Greenpeace. You can learn about the environmentally friendly practices if you join to the ecology organizations. You can learn about this issue searching information in Internet, for example, searching information in ecology web sites.
I haven’t incorporated recycling into my habits, because I don’t recycle anything, but I don’t throw the trash to the floor, I throw the trash to the trash can.
I don’t use a bike or a car, I just take the bus. I can’t go in bike to the University, because my house is very far from the there, and I can’t go in car, because I haven’t a car.
I haven’t joined or supported any ecology organisations, because I haven’t time and because is an issue that I don’t know very well. I help the ecology everyday, because I try to don’t contaminate it with trash.
I haven’t done anything else, but I would like to have more time to search information and to learn about this issue. I think that it is an interesting issue.
I don’t know what “carbon footprint” is, but I haven’t done anything, except what I have wrote before.
In our society is missing the conscience about this issue. If all people in Santiago didn’t contaminate or tried to contaminate less, Santiago would be a healthier city, with less pollution. I think that the government should be worried about the pollution, but it isn’t worry, I don’t know why. The government should make a lot of advertising about this issue. I think that the publicity is a good way to make people take conscience.
If the Santiago’s people were green people, Santiago would be a better place to live.

My High School Education

My high school education was very demanding, It helped me to confront the University difficulties. My High School is called Instituto Nacional and it is an emblematic School and High School. According to my opinion, my High School is the Best one in Chile.
In my High School I had a lot of different subjects, for example: Mathematics, Language, English, French, Science, Philosophy or Physical Education. I liked them, but my favorite ones were Mathematics, Language, English and French. The teachers were demanding, but they always were able to help me.
My High School’s Technology was very old, there weren’t Data Shows and the computers were very obsolete and old. I never saw a Power Point in class.
The level of education that I received in my High School was a very high one and it affected my decision in life later on. My High School gave me the tools to enter in the University and to be a good student.
I think that the current educational system is not good enough. I would like that the authorities don’t talk too much and that they make deep changes, because good Schools and High Schools are very expensive and poor people can’t access to them. There are few educational opportunities for poor people, but the opportunities exist.
I think that every person is responsible in his own education. The student is responsible for his own acts and if he doesn’t study, he won’t access to the University, or he won’t get a study grant.

Testing the limits of care for older people

In the website “The Guardian” (http://www.guardian.co.uk/) you can find a lot of pieces of news. I chose one of them, because it is connected to my future career. The headline of this piece of news says “Testing the limits of care for older people”.

Summary of the piece of news

Japan is the country with the oldest population. Japan people celebrate the Elderly Day on the third Monday each September. This is a national holiday to honour older citizens.
This Japanese celebration represents the stereotype of the positive Japanese tradition of family care for older people.
An official survey found that there is a high percent of old people who is maltreat or has relation to some form of abuse. In extreme cases, family "care" culminates in homicide.
Japan has neighbourhood mutual help associations (Jichikai). They have multiple functions to meet local needs. Among their functions we can find regular visits to older people living alone.
United Kingdom is interested in the use in Japan of care credits. This system is about earning credits by helping an older person in their neighbourhood. Credits can be exchanged for care of their own parents. This system is similar a voluntary mutual support system and it is operating in 30 Japan localities.
If you can read more about this piece of news, check the link below: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/sep/28/japan-elderly-care-mutual-support

“The Matrix Reloaded”, the best movie

When I was a child, I always saw Walt Disney’s movies and I liked them. With the time, my favorite movies were the action ones, for example the 007 agent’s movies, fast and furious, etc.
Although I watched a lot of movies, I didn’t love any in particular, until I saw “The Matrix”. I liked this movie so much and it became my favorite movie. This movie was the first of a trilogy that is composed by “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix Revolutions”. Then I saw “The Matrix Reloaded” and I liked it more than “The Matrix”.
The last movie of the trilogy, called “The Matrix Revolutions”, had its premiere after “The Matrix Reloaded” and I didn’t like it. I have always preferred the second movie of the trilogy.
The writers and the directors of this trilogy were the Wachowski brothers (Andy and Larry Wachowski). The main character in the three movies, was Keanu Reeves (Neo was his character).
The three movies had its premiere in 1999, 2003 and 2003, respectively. They were the most watched movies in their years.
“The Matrix Reloaded” is the best movie that I’ve seen, because it has a lot of action scenes and a lot of good battles. The effects and the music were amazing. The best three scenes, according to my opinion, were the fight against vampires scene, the road pursuit scene and the fight against Smith scene.
Actually we are in the year 2010 and I haven’t seen a movie as good as “The Matrix Reloaded”.

Visiting Santiago

Santiago is a beautiful city with a lot of interesting places. I can mention La Moneda, Saint Cristobal hill, a Chilean restaurant, Plaza de Armas, Parque forestal, etc.

La Moneda
La Moneda is the government palace where the president works. Actually you can enter to the La Moneda’s courtyards and enjoy taking photos or just watching them. There are two courtyards calling “El Patio de los Naranjos” and “El Patio de los cañones”. You can’t enter to La Moneda’s Halls because there are a lot of policemen watching the entrances.

Saint Cristobal Hill
Saint Cristobal hill is a place that you must visit. You can see it in every place of Santiago and you can see the statue of Virgin María on the top of it. A lot of people visit saint Cristobal hill to do exercise or just to walk. You can find the Metropolitan Zoo in the hill too.

Chilean Restaurant
You can visit a Chilean restaurant to taste the Chilean food. You can visit “El Chilenazo”, “La Piojera”, “El Quitapenas”, etc. There are different typical Chilean food such as “Pastel de Choclo”, “Cazuela”, “Empanada”, etc.

Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas is the principal square in Santiago, it shows the cero kilometer and is in middle of the Santiago. You can see the post office building, the cathedral, the municipality, etc.

Parque Forestal
The Parque Forestal is a long park that covers the side of the Mapocho River. It is a beautiful place that have a lot of grass and trees, is the perfect place to buy an ice cream and to have a good time.