English Language Challenges

I always have thought that to learn a new language is a great opportunity to exercise our brain and increase our knowledge. But if you really want to learn a new language you have to practice a lot, most of all you have to talk and write, because talking and writing you learn to think in that language. 

In that sense, I think that this course is a great opportunity to practice our English, loose the shame and realize that we can speak in other language! However, I think that this courses of English are not enough to say "I talk in a second language", because there are people who start with English I and they pass the courses, but when they reach the last course of English they don't really know all the things that know the people who start with English IV and talking is more difficult to them. So I think that in the first case you learn English, but not enough, and in the second case you don't really learn English so much, but you can practice all that you actually know. 

I personally need to improve my fluency when i'm talking, because it is easier to me writing than talking. Also I have to practice my comprehension when others are talking. I'm going to practice this last point listening music and watching videos without subtitles. The first point is more difficult, I'll look for places where I can talk with others in English and I'll try to speak more with my boyfriend.  

Actually I watch TV programs in English, with subtitles, I listen to music and I read jokes in Internet. The next link is a page of jokes and funny images in English: http://9gag.com/

2013 almost has gone...

First of all I have to say that is difficult to me think about bad and good things of a year, because I see the good part of everything, although it has been painful. Also I don't used to do a balance of the year, because I used to do that every week or month haha.

Well, first, the good things of this year: a lot of things! In my interpersonal relationships, the relationship with my boyfriend has gone so well, we will reach two years together next January and I didn't have fights with my mom or my sister. In my studies, I have had good marks, I am part of a research team at University and I have been teaching assistant in three courses. Also I taught basic English to people who want to finish their basic studies, I began to play tennis and I am founding an Association of memory and Human Rights, and I am very happy with that.

But I have had bad experiences too: An aunt was very sick, she was during 3 months in the hospital and that was very sad, most of all to my mom. Also I have moved away from a couple of friends, because of fights or time and physical distance. 

My principal achievement is the Association, but I think that we have little achievements among the year and we can't remember it despite its importance at the moment. 

I would like to continue with the activities of this year in 2014: English classes, tennis, working in the Association, doing research and doing assistanships. Also I would like to take a course of singing and keep on dancing "cueca brava".

Tattoos

The history of tattoos began in the Polynesia. The polynesian were the first to engrave their bodies, the men cover them at all. In fact, the word "tattoo" cames from a polynesian word: ta (hit), tau-tau (phrase used to talk about bones crash). 

There are many cultures where a tattoo was a signal of the status or social role, for example, the "Maoris" tattoos their faces and the design of the tattoo was making more sophisticated if you were high in the social scale. Also for this people, if you don't have a tattoo you couldn' t find the way to immortality: the tattoos were an armor of spiritual and physical protection.

On the other hand, evidence suggests that, in ancient Egypt, tattoos were restricted to the priestesses. And in some tribes from New Zeland, the tattoos are sign of maturity and bravery until today. Other examples of cultures where tattoos are part of them: "Tarokos" in Japan and "Chin" in China.

In Occident, the tattoo was reintroduced by explorers, directed by Captain Cook. This sailors extend the tattoos and began the tradition of sea men tattooed. Also, tattoos were and are a very popular practice in the jail, as a sign of rebellion or as a symbol of covenants between prison lodges.

In the 1960s and 1970s, emerging urban tribes adopted the tattoos as part of their culture: bikers, punks and hippies, all of them with own designs that define theirselves. 

Actually the tattoos are a common practice and many people want to get a tattoo like a way to show their personality or tastes, their identity, so the designs are about dreams, favourite things/colors, important people, beliefs, etc.

Personally I would like to get a tattoo behind my ear, in my neck, a red star with black edge. The star is a historic symbol of left-wing and this is my ideology, so I think that it (red star) identifies me.

Resources:

http://www.tattoo-odin.com/historia_tatuaje.asp

http://www.elcuerpo.es/los-tatuajes-historia-simbologia-y-tradiciones-item16.php 

http://www.publispain.com/tatuajes/Historia_de_los_Tatuajes.html