My English competence in 2013

NOTE: I know the title should be "My English competence in 2012", but I think it's a mistake ._.

Well, it's easy to choose what is my best writing. Due to the continuous and great improvement I made while writing in English, I think my last composition, "Discussion: Prenup' arrangements are a good idea?", is the perfect example of my evolution. It shows that I improved a lot in my expression, grammar and vocabulary, making my compositions understandable and less childish. Also, it's a good example of well-structured writing.

I said this before, but I think that my compositions seem to be better due to the use of connectors, which  provide texts comprehension and fluency.

"Discussion: Prenup' arrangements are a good idea?": http://firstbtxblog.blogspot.com.es/2013/05/discussion-prenup-arrangements-are-good.html

Talking about my orals, I have to say that all my oral presentations don't seem "adequate" for me because of nervousness, so I chose my "less-nervous" podcast, "Short joke". I'll keep thinking that I have to improve at orals; my pronunciation is awful sometimes.

"Short joke": http://firstbtxblog.blogspot.com.es/2012/11/podcast-short-joke.html

There aren't any personal reasons to choose them... But if I have to choose a writing and an oral project that have a meaning for me, I would choose "What is best, to be thin or chubby?" for a composition, and "Bullying" and "Ikebana" for orals. These 3 projects show (more or less) what kind of person I am in essence, so I remember them in a especial way (even if they're not my best works, talking objectively).

"Opinion: What is best, to be thin or chubby?"http://firstbtxblog.blogspot.com.es/2011/10/opinion-what-is-best-being-thin-or.html
"Oral presentation: Ikebana":
"Oral presentation: Bullying": http://firstbtxblog.blogspot.com.es/2012/06/oral-presentation-bullying.html

My English progress from 2011-2013

Comparing my first composition, "Presentation mail", and the last one, "Discussion: prenup' arrangements are a good idea?", I see I improved a lot expressing myself in English, although there's a lot of things that I don't master yet. My vocabulary, grammar and comprehension is widely improved now, specially linking words; I didn't know how to use them when I wrote the letter. Additionally, I can see I changed as a person, so it greatly affects my compositions: I express myself more directly and I try to be more logic than before, even if I can't do that sometimes.

My first composition: http://firstbtxblog.blogspot.com.es/2011/10/presentation-mail.html

My last composition: http://firstbtxblog.blogspot.com.es/2013/05/discussion-prenup-arrangements-are-good.html

Talking about my first and last oral presentations ("Ikebana" and "My research paper"), I think that I didn't improve very much on pronunciation and fluency... But I improved in language, related to my writing improvement. Maybe I'm too nervous in front of people... There isn't much to comment about this, because there's only two changes between the first and the last oral presentation: vocabulary and grammar.

My first oral presentation: http://firstbtxblog.blogspot.com.es/2011/11/oral-presentation-ikebana.html

My last oral presentation: http://firstbtxblog.blogspot.com.es/2013/03/oral-presentation-my-research-paper.html

As a conclusion, I have to say that I see a great improvement on writing skills, while I keep being kinda nervous in front of people (the main characteristic of oral presentations is that you have to talk directly to people, and that didn't improve).

Discussion: "Prenup' arrangements are a good idea?"

Due to the recent increase of prenuptial arrangements, people sometimes tend to think about it, like all new stuff that go against old values.

On one hand, the arrangement finishes off all the romantic atmosphere that usually leads to a marriage. No one can deny that when you are in love with someone you feel a lot of sensations, nullified by "burocracy" in arrangements.

But on the other hand, as a result of an arranged marriage, you can live with a balance, making easy to control your life; furthermore, that arrangement can help you whereas a marriage with a loved person can turn you into an slave.

In other words, it's up to everybody to choose between the strong love feelings that lead to a marriage or the balance that an arranged one provides, Of course, I'm talking about common things: it's obviously possible to fall in love even after having married by an arrangement.

Fictional formal letter to Mr. Rajoy

I.d.k. Street, nº 18

91648, London

11th May, 2013 

Hypocrite Street, nº 16
18972, Spain


Dear Mr. Rajoy;

I am writing to you in order to express my opinion - I am just an ordinary citizen - about the problems my generation faces because of your "argueable adequate" politics.

Besides the massive discouragement of young people about politicians, there is the belief that some day the country's situation will change thanks to a better management. In spite of being that optimistic, I think that your way of dealing with society's problems increases them in fact. It smashes people rights even if they spend their whole lives working and trying to be happier. Your politics focus on privatizing and cutting worker's rights, in order to fix a great problem. I see this as complete nonsense, as if people can not buy, sellers can not sell, and trading gets stuck, dumping the welfare state.

So, in order to make this situation suitable for almost everyone, I would like to suggest to change the country's organization model to a federal one: there is too much administrative employers earning an incredible amount of money per month, while ordinary people get less than a half of it, making the model unsustainable.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Yours sincerely,

Luchi

SAO (Sword Art Online)

Sword Art Online, also known as "SAO", is an animated Japanese series. The story is developed between the real world and the digital world, where various games take place; SAO, the first massive multiplayer online role playable game where players can play introducing their consciousness in the game (virtual reality), is one of them. When the game came out, 10000 players bought all the unities of the game, and started the game. It begins like a normal game, but all turns suspicious when players can't disconnect. Then, the player creator, Akayaba Akihiko, informed them that they won't be able to abandon the game until they complete the 100 floors of Aincrad, the great castle where they are in.

What's more... If they die in the game, they will die in the real world too. Like this, the game of the death begin. Kazuto Kirigaya, a boy who played the beta of the game, decided to complete the game alone.

What to say? It's such a wonderful story! It has a lot of references about self-overcoming, and also it has a lot of emotional parts. I strongly recommend it for all kinds of people, but specially for teenagers that like some action with love.


Image source: http://blogs.gamefilia.com/files/imce/u500479/53473-sword-art-online-sao_0.jpg

Allegories: a great project?

I was wondering about what I can do to entertain myself and also express my opinions or doubts about the world. Through some talks on psychology class, I've decided to make use of Youtube for this. But then, I realized that I didn't have any idea of what kind of videos I'm going to do.

So, various ideas came to my mind: what about origami? What about original creations with pc, like animated little films or something? What about some "rhythms" with my synthesizer? Well, that wasn't going to help me with my previous objectives, but still I was going to have some fun, so I decided to carry on.

Finally, I had an idea, from all those videos that draw something explaining that: I can do "allegories"! I can draw something metaphoric, that can make you think, or at least have a visible meaning. It can help me to improve my drawings, which are completely awful.

I post here my channel; sometimes I will put there some things to entertain everybody -^^-


URL: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCggPOYC-Cwb-kovPo04dWmQ

Phoenix - "Lasso"

Where would you go? Not long ago // On aniràs? No fa tantI've been thinking out loud why so suddenly? // He estat pensant en veu alta "per què tant de sobte?"Don't you know? Don't do it // No ho saps? No ho fagisWhat you do, oh what you do to me  // Què fas, oh que em fas

Forever is a long, long time when you've lost your way // Sempre és molt molt de temps quan has perdut el teu camí (*quan no saps què fer ja)Trying to follow your ideal // Intentant seguir el teu idealOh sorry but your so called life it is such a waste // Oh ho sento però el que tu anomenes vida és una pèrdua (*de temps)

Wear your real eyes // Vesteix-te amb els teus ulls realsNo, you don't realize // No, no et dones compteWhat you say yes to // Al que dius que síBut you say yes to // Però ho dius de tota manera

Where would you go // On aniràsWhere would you go with a lasso? // On aniràs amb un llaç?Could you run into, could you run into // Pots "entrar-li" a, pots "entrar-li" a Could you go and run into me? // Pots anar i "entrar-me"?

Where would you go // On aniràsWhere would you go tied up to a lasso? // On aniràs lligat amb un llaç?Could you run into, could you run into // Pots "entrar-li" a, pots "entrar-li" a Could you go and run into me? // Pots anar i "entrar-me"?

So lonely, so pretty such a lack of diplomacy // Tan sol, tan bell però amb falta de diplomaciaYou can't get out // No pots sortir-neDon't you know, don't do it // No ho saps, no ho fagisWhat you do, well you should do to me // Què fas, bé hauries de fer-m'ho

Far out, so far out, such a fallout // Lluny, tan lluny, semblant pols radiactiu (?)Not only that you're lonely // No només que estàs solDon't matter if you're not so well // No importa si no estàs béNo, you're not so well // No, tu no estàs bé
Where would you go // On aniràsWhere would you go with a lasso? // On aniràs amb un llaç?Could you run into, could you run into // Pots "entrar-li" a, pots "entrar-li" a Could you go and run into me? // Pots anar i "entrar-me"?

Where would you go // On aniràsWhere would you go tied up to a lasso? // On aniràs lligat amb un llaç?Could you run into, could you run into // Pots "entrar-li" a, pots "entrar-li" a Could you go and run into me? // Pots anar i "entrar-me"?
Wear your real eyes // Vesteix-te amb els teus ulls realsNo, you don't realize // No, no et dones compteWhat you say yes to // Al que dius que síBut you say yes to // Però ho dius de tota manera

Forever is a long, long time when you've lost your way // Sempre és molt molt de temps quan has perdut el teu camí (*quan no saps què fer ja)Forever is a long, long time when you've lost your way // Sempre és molt molt de temps quan has perdut el teu camí (*quan no saps què fer ja)

NOTE: The format went mad -.- I can't fix iiiiiit!

Dalas Review

Dalas Review is a Youtube channel, managed by Dalas, an Spanish boy that usually records himself talking about various stuff. He is also uploading some animated creations, made entirely by him, but the topic is most times the same: criticize things that he doesn't like about our world. They're argumentated critics, that make you think about some stuff that we're, as teenagers, used to it, like the recent Youtuber trend, that claims that "it's cool to be a Youtuber and to have a lot of followers" (a real cheap summary), for example. Dalas tries to be clear and direct, to not be misinterpreted, and he usually achieves that goal, through a strong, uninterrupted voice, that also seem completely spontaneous.

But, even if he's criticizing some "trending topics", I think that the image of Dalas can act as a model for those that doesn't like the same things as him, and they can try to imitate him, falling to an obvious cynicism, because the boy speech always feel that way, even if it's not really intended: he only tries to give his opinion about some stuff, and then, give a "free space" to think about it.


Photo source: http://i4.ytimg.com/i/gRr2pZaGeaZVN6LfbvQk9w/1.jpg?v=4fe574cf (Youtube account)

Animal appareances on videogames

On that saga, you can have a pet: a cute little pig. You can dress him with various costumes, namely the one you can see in the photo, a bee dress, and a sheep one, for example. You can cuddle him for a great effect, which consists on increasing the possibilities of carving uncommon items during the next mission. There's also the possibility to carry him around the village, like a baby.

Also the players of this saga know about the Felyne system, which consists on carrying a Felyne partner with you on mission to help you defeat monsters. They can attack small or big ones, with sword, hammers, big or small bombs, or a boomerang. Well, there are Felyne around all places in the game; they're even sellers, cookers, or enemies.

Image source: http://www.koi-nya.net/img/subidos_posts/2013/01/Los-compa%C3%B1eros-felyne-de-Monster-Hunter-4-ser%C3%A1n-totalmente-personalizables.jpg

Gestaltism

The Geltastism or Gestalt ("form" on German) psychology is a relatively new psychological school (S.XX) that claims that the brain processes "the whole" before "the parts" (holistic), suggesting the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Gestalt psychologists tries to understand how we can acquire and maintain stable precepts in this world. This way for understanding how our perception work is ruled by some principles, like the Principle of Totality and the Principle of psycho-physical isomorphism, which I'm not sure to understand really well...

I'll have to search more information of it, but I don't see the connection between perception and phobics, for example, if there's any. This kind of stuff is kinda complicated, but maybe is difficult due to the language or because I'm sleepy. Whatever, it seems interesting to learn about it, but that's only my subjective view... But every time I search for new information about psychological school, I realize that there are a lot of things in our daily routine that are product of psychological discovering  even though it's already obvious that we're surrounded by a large amount of things that we invented or produced thanks to investigation.

News: "Quarter of adults walk just an hour a week"

A poll for the walking charity the Ramblers suggests 25% of adults walk for no more than one hour each week. The survey asked people about the total amount of walking they did, including trips to school, work or the shops, and the results were that. Despite the low levels of walking reported, nearly all of those surveyed - 93% - agreed walking was a good form of exercise.

Opinion

Oh, seriously. What did the authorities expect if they provide people with so many entertainment that doesn't need any exercise? Although there are a lot of projects that claim for a change, it won't be easy to achieve that goal, providing that people enjoy to stay at home because it's usually cheaper (I saw a lot of people that buy something when they go walking) and can be more amusing. It doesn't affect me because I'm not an adult and I usually walk once per day, and I'm not likely to stay at home continously.

Photo and new source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22401589

News: "Diabetes warning over soft drinks"

Drinking one or more cans of sugary soft drinks a day can lead to a greater risk of diabetes, according to a research made in the UK, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Sweden, France and the Netherlands. However, it seems that the risk it's not solely incremented by the presence of extra calories.

"It is not definitive evidence that sugar-sweetened soft drinks increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes, other than through their effect on body weight" - Dr Matthew Hobbs, head of research at Diabetes UK

All of this leads to link the weight gain that drinking sugary soft drinks provides with the apparition of diabetes.

Photo: http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/67222000/jpg/_67222837_h1102563-fizzy_soft_drinks.jpg


Opinion

I knew that people can get diabetic if they are over-weight; furthermore, it's one of the main causes. So if sugary soft drinks doesn't lead to a diabetes associated with the weight gain that they suppose, I assume that the only point of this research is to demostrate that these kind of drinks can "help you" to get fatter. It doesn't really affects me because I never drink any of sugary soft drinks, but I know a lot of people who drinks them like I drink water. In other words, maybe this kind of evidences can help them to get more conscienciated about their health.

But, you know? I'm kinda sick of this society and their dissimulated hate of all that doesn't follow the canonical beauty rules. All of this massive amount of messages can be easily interpretated (maybe unconsciencious) by over-weight people as something like: "I'm a monster", "I'm not handsome", "I will feel better if I'm fitter because people will treat me as I deserve",... I think that someone can have the body he or she wants (if possible) and he/she shouldn't be despised. Is it so difficult to accept the others?


News & photo source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22280297

CHALLENGE: Can we make Humans rights more relevant in the world today?

Well, if the human rights are often overlooked is because a lot of people thinks that some people groups are better than others. With a proper education in home, maybe these rights will gain more importance.

But, focusing on today, what can we do each one to change this situation with social networks? It will be great to say "Oh, if we share more solidary messages or something like that people will be more serious about these things!". I think that if people doesn't help each other it will be impossible to do it; furthermore, there are some human rights that will be unrespected, no matter what. Some people will continue with their racist / homophobic mentality because it can't change so easily. You can't change your values each day. But well, if we show more catastrophic issues or things that really affect people, maybe we can make them doubt. Just kidding: I think that social networks don't play a major role in this issue.

In other words, the human rights problem must be dealed by the parents. Obviously, if your parents educate you well but you expend your time with untolerant friends that influenciate you, that will turn uneffective. So, we're going to be responsibles of the human rights next generation.

News: "Brighton fans report homophobic abuse to FA"

Brighton fans have been subjected to homophobic insults by rival supporters in over half of the club's games this season.Hove Albion Supporters' Club has spent over 15 years trying to get the authorities to take this regular abuse of one club's fans seriously, so people could go to the games with their children or their grandparents.

Seriously. I can't believe it. I'm not very surprised, but insulting another football club - not depending in the reasons - it's absolutely childish and immature. And if they are insulting each other because of sexual orientation, I don't know exactly how to describe those people. Did you go to see people playing football, or you go to see straight people playing football? Oh, jeez.
Anyway, this kind of situation can be seen worldwide, although maybe it's not reported. I think the football world can be sometimes intolerant, as shown on the news. I don't know if I can do anything as an individual to help to fix this situation, but I'll keep supporting the people who deserves to be supported, no matter who is.

News & photo source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21988433

HUMAN RIGHTS

1. What are human rights? They are rights we have simply for being human.
2. Why were they created? To preserve our natural rights (because of the barbaric acts of World War II).
3. How many human rights are there? There are thirty articles.
4. Which human right were you not familiar with? Mention an example where this human right is respected and where it is not respected. The right to have water to drink; it's respected when you go on a restaurant and you ask for a free glass of water, and it's not respected when you don't have any water to drink or the resources to access to it.

Answers source: http://wiki.answers.com/

Oral presentation: "My research paper"

http://youtu.be/bGw3S66yd1Y



Valoration

Presentation (10%) - 9%
Body language & eye contact (10%) - 9%
Structure (10%) - 10%
Content (40%) - 30%
Language (20%) - 14%
Pronunciation & intonation (10%) - 8%

Self-evaluation --> 8,0 (80%)

Well, I've been on a hurry, so I can't be more optimistic.

Summary of my research paper: "Study of geomorfologies and geological outcrops in Sant Miquel de Fluvià zone"

This research paper is oriented to expand the knowledge about the geological environment of Sant Miquel de Fluvià. It's focused on the study of three zones: an ancient watercourse, the confirmation of some fossil zones and a river meander. There was a rock classification on each zone, such as the fossil species that were found; also, all the fossil zones that were found were correctly located on maps and some outlines were made of the meander, to collect information for the construction of a model.

NOTE: I'm thinking on uploading my research paper.

News: " 'Weight is healthy' study criticised"

A study which suggests being overweight can lead to a longer life has caused controversy among obesity experts. That study points that a Body Mass Index between 25 and 35 (which includes overweight and midly obese people) makes people to life longer, saying that said being "overweight was associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality". However, being underweight or really obese did cut life expectancy. This study makes the Royal College of Physicians called for the UK to rethink the way it tackles obesity.

This doesn't myself, but it affects me in the way that there are people that I'm related to that are on that condition. They often think about being more thin but even if they try it harder, they can't reach their objective.

New words:

Tackles: Taclejar, placar
Expectancy: El que s'espera
Treatment:  Tractament

News & photo source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20889381
Translation source: http://www.wordreference.com/es/

News: "Mental health medication concern"

It's found that many people with severe mental health problems miss out on the care they should receive for physical illnesses. It's said that patients' physical health was "often overlooked". It was found that patients with severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, received lower than expected prescriptions for essential drugs. After all, experts often didn't care what they should about physical concerns related to mental illnesses.

I'm not under treatment of anything, but I know people that they are under a treatment. These "illnesses" aren't so agressive as schizophrenia, but that's not a reason to avoid the treatment only for lazyness. It's also true that some diseases need a psychological treatment with the drugs, but this is also often forgotten.

New words:

Campaigners: Els que fan una campanya
Overlooked: Oblidat
Schizophrenia: Esquizofrènia

News & photo source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20539159
Traduction source: http://www.wordreference.com/es/

News: "Quitting smoking 'reduces anxiety' "

It has found out by a British Journal of Psychiatry study that there is a "significant" decrease in anxiety levels among smokers who had quit after six months. The effect was greater among those who had mood and anxiety disorders than those that smoked for pleasure. However, the study did suggest that a failed attempt to seemed to increase anxiety levels by a modest degree among those who had mood disorders. For those who smoked for pleasure a relapse did not alter anxiety levels.

This doesn't affects me, but I have to say that I could see that people without smoking for a long time seem "more happy". It's good to make increase my knowledge about this kind of stuff that affects so much people worldwide.

New words:

Anxiety: Ansietat
Among: Sobre (algú o alguna cosa)
Suggest: Proposa

News & photo source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20875453 
Traduction source: http://www.wordreference.com/es/