Friday 30 March 2012

Article Rendering Sample: The Right For Personal Space

The article under consideration is headlined "The Right For Personal Space". In the current article the author speaks at length about a burning issue of all times which is a problem of discrimination. It is the descrimination against men, to be precise, that is touched upon by the author who lays stress on the oppression of inviolability as well as indispensibility of a person's private space.

The article opens in a brief description of the way of living in a society of former USSR when people even though were used to being deprived of their rights were still longing to get appartments of their own, so that they could feel safe in a so-called "personal space" of theirs. Afterwards the author moves on to defining the term "personal space" in odrer to provide the readers with the information necessary to get involved in further reading. He difines the term-in-question as a part of a territory that "belongs" to one definite owner and essentially enables one to stay there on one's own with no fear of a suddent intrusion of "aliens". According to the author's point of view, it is not only the chattels to be termed as a private or personal space, but clothes even. To put it in shorter words, one must not trespass on anyone's private zone without asking in advance.

Further on the author reminds his readers of some historic examples of the oppression of people's rights for their intimate areas. He starts with describing different attidute towards some areas of men-women's employment, goes on giving examples of high fences around people's houses, and ends up with the issue of public baths. The author claims that these aspects led to a resolution to create segregated lavatory rooms, single-sex saunas and changing-rooms, which depicted the progress towards equal rights in the USSR.

However, in the next passage the author points out the idea that all those restrictions placed were actually to guard women, rather than men. Holding on to the matter of man's rights, the author cites an example of "lovely" female janitors and maids occuring in men's toilets or baths with men inside! Similar situation can hardly take place in a ladies' WC. To contine the author tells a story of an American woman winning a right to use a gents' WC, whilst there's hardly any man to gain such a right. Being put under arrest is what he is more likely to achieve even if seen near the ladies' refreshroom, since it's against the law in the US. The author gives more examples, such as female teachers entering boys toilets in search of smokers, female doctors examining 18-year-old future soldiers and so on. These examples lay stress on the ideas of  the article.

The author draws conclusion by saying that the only way to advance the case of equal rights for a safe personal space is to teach boys just as well as girls to value their intimacy. So, to sum up the ideas mentioned I personally agree that the issue of men's deprivation of private place without a shadow of doubt is a subject for discussion. Yet, I still see no sence in putting this idea into such a exaggerated manner as the author did. What we all need to remember is that every one and all deserve a right for safety, comfort and ease of existance, no matter if one's a male or a female. My space is my space.
.... ... ...
This rendering was done by me several ears ago, when Iwas a 4th year studend. Now that you have read this article could you share your views on:
- the topic of man's/women's descrimination in terms of personal space
- style of the rendering

I would also like you to take a glimse at the languageof this rendering so that you could
- make a ist of words that one can use to talk about descrimination
- write out the basic clichès for writing a rendering

After having done all the tasks and taking part in the discussion in comments TRY AND WRITE YOR OWN rendering of any article on any subject you're interesed in and POST it in the blog (you can use Engloholics OR create your own blog on Edublogs.org or Blogger.com


The post is illustrated with the pictures taken from:
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Monday 26 March 2012

Who Said Vampires Exist Not? (Blurbs on Stocker's "Dracula")

Death scary charachters and events together with the magnificent plot and brilliant use of English language makes Bram Stocker's "Vampire" (Dracula) a scandallous, yet an enthrolling blockbaster of its time.
~ ~ ~
Forget the overrated hackneyed "boo" stories as well as their clumsy plots to make even an infrequent reader laugh! Get transported into some other most mysterious though true-to-life world of fear !
~ ~ ~
This most mesmerising masterpiece of gothic genre is the first book ever to keep you reading desperately to last page with constant shivers runinning down your spine. Who said vampires did not exist?
~ ~ ~
These were my three short blurbs of a famous book written by an American novellist Bram Stocker.
Which one of the blurbs did you like most?
Which blurb could make you buy a book? Why?
Which of the blurbs would not be as successful and perlocutive as planned? Why?
What is the role of word choice in these blurbs? What other synonims would be apropriate?


If you have read the book, too, what blurb could you offer?

If you haven't read the book yet, you can easily read it online on Literature.org by clicking on Dracula by Bram Stocker

Best regards,
Wee Teacher keen on Dracula
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Why students do not visit lessons???
















Have you ever felt offenсe for acts of other people? I have!
Unfortunatly, I can't do another way. It's just the person I am. This feeling is especially strong, when teacher is very kind to you. If teacher's lesson is useless, then I have no reasons for offence. But then I start thinking about other people who suffer from these actions. And belive me there are such kind of people! There always are.
So what do we have in the end? An enormous number of problems for person who didn't come to class, for people who owed to make the person come (and it is not only one person but about 10 or 15 people if not more). Though, all began with words "I don't want. I'm lazy." Very simple phrase but far too more serious consequences.
Thus, tell me please WHY? Why are people are so selfish? Where is the finish of that? What should we do?
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Wednesday 14 March 2012

Teach and Reflect

Hello, dear fellow Engloholics.
I'm writing to inform you about a rather exciting piece of news - your crazy wee teacher alyona has created a new blog Teach - taught - taught via Edublogs.org (a free educational platform).

What will the blog be about?
The blog is to be dedicated to teaching English as a Foreign Language. If you teach, or used to teach, or only plans on becoming a teacher, then the blog is for you!
These are some of the topics I would like to cover in the blog:

  • Reflecting upon our teaching experience (both successful or a complete failure)
  • Discussing the DOs and DON'Ts in classroom
  • Learning the classroom cliches (e.g. Cliches to Start a Lesson)
  • Sharing tips on how to be a good EFL teacher
  • Speculating about ways to motivate stidents
  • Discovering traditional and state-of-art methods and technologies in teaching, etc.
If you have more ideas on what you personally would like to find on the Blog, we are open to your suggestions and propositions!

Forever yours, 
Wee Teacher and Engloholic
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Wednesday 7 March 2012

How Green Are You, Consumer?

Before coming to the discussion of how "green"  and environmentally-friendly we consumers are, I'd like you to answer this short and easy-to-complete Green Quiz:


Say Yes or No to the following statements:
1) I seldom turn my computer off.
2) I cover myself with anti-mosquito sprays every time I go camping / fishing/ to the forest.
3) I throw rubbish in plastic bags.
4) I never check if the products I buy are eco-friendly.

If you said "yes" to most of the statements, then you are far from being green. 
Said "no" to all of the above? Well, my congratualations! You seem to be as green as a X-mas tree!
But do not preach your naighbour in case he's greener than you are! Let's just read this first (taken from an article by Bill Ryan)

...traditional consumer values. These include:
· Price­ - Few will pay extra for greener products
· Quality -­ Many think green products will be less
effective than existing brands
· Convenience – only minimal inconvenience will be
tolerated by consumers of green products
· Availability – very few customers will go out of their
way to purchase green products


So, who are Green consumers? Are you one of them? 
Here are severeal more links for you to study so that to get inspired to answer the question.
There is also a very interesting Green Revolution research made. Have a look at the statictics to find out more:
How green are you? 
Why is the issue of Green Consumers been discussed here and there? 
What makes the Green question be a burning issue of today?

Looking forward to your ideas!


Best regards, 
your far from being green Wee Teacher

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