Self-assessing

So this term is ending and I must say: thank God! This was a tiresome term, more than usual, and even if I enjoyed working in some tasks, I can not help to want some rest, to be completely fresh next term.
But besides all that, it was a good term. At least in my student view.

Comparing with the last months of 2009, I truly believe I worked better this time, maybe because I felt more used to the work methods and more comfortable in classes.
Of course, I had my moments of conversation when we where not supposed to, or just pure distraction, but that happens to all of us sometimes.
I think I was more in the mood for working, or I just enjoyed more the classes and my spirit was raised by them. Whatever it was, something happened.

I made an effort, that's for sure, to move on to the next level.

I'm no person to like self-assessements. Actually, I never liked them, since the time I started to make them. And it seem to be inevitable: every term every teacher asks us to say what we think about our work. That is a good thing, wanting to know our opinion, but, lets face it: every teacher has an idea of our work and consequent grade. But ok, we do it.

I evolved. I feel and evolution, in my speaking and writing, mostly. I still find some mistakes while doing both things - grammar, some construction... - but perfection is a hard thing to achieve.

So, I liked to cross the line between the good student and the outstanding student. Just a little step.
But that just what I liked. I like a lot of stuff...

Reading Log

Here it is: my reading log, all complete!

It is organised, but everything is said.

Reading Log

Writing - Narrative

-Rise and shine everyone! It’s 7 a.m and you are listening… - she turned off the radio and squeezed her head on her pillow.

Yes, it was 7 a.m and time to wake up, get dressed and take some breakfast (nothing too heavy, something low fat and healthy). The sun was bright and a clean sky so, after showering, she got that new suit and put it on.
She lived in the top floor of building and the journey on the elevator was quite long!

-I just hope no one takes the elevator while I’m here, I’m not in the mood for casual conversation… - she said to herself while pressing the button.

Too bad: a couple of floors later, some man enters with his little son. And he couldn’t be more different: while she was all fashionable, with her tiny skirt, high heels, make-up and suitcase in one hand, cellphone on the other (so he would think she was busy), he wore jeans, some t-shirt and all-star sneakers! And the kid with that bagpack and jacket…

-Good morning! – said the neighbor. She just nodded.

The time passed, and the music of the elevator was getting annoying. The child was sighing while looking at the little screen where the floor numbers’ appeared and his father was just looking at his feet. He ended up saying:

-So, what about this weather, hum? Yesterday I was afraid of a Madeira, part two, and now…

-Oh yes, really afraid… - “use small sentences”, she thought.

- More money we would have to raise! And what about us?

- Pretty bad…
- Yeah…

She took her phone and pretended to text someone. He just stared at his shoes, always with a confortable distance between them.

First floor. Finally!

-So, see you around. – The man said.

-Yes, yes. – she rushed to the door.

-Dad, what happened in Madeira?

Yes, they had nothing to say to each other.

Writing- What is Art?

The question is “What is Art?”. The answer… I have not found it yet.

Because Art can be everything or nothing, according with the person; if we are all different, our tastes will be different and our interpretation of what is so called Art will be different.

If we look at the picture, we can see that the girls have two moustaches added to the original figure, and we can find in the text the reason why: because «there is in all of us a compulsion to destroy the image». Maybe, the destruction of this so called «meaningful work» is the Art itself: to show our interpretation of what is show – a new look of a known figure.

Or, on the other hand, that was not Art at all and only an act of vandalism; because as stated in the beginning, different people have different visions.

All that can be said in conclusion of this reflection is that Art is everything: Art can be what we want it to be, of only it says something to us. Personally, I do not have any need to destroy the image; I just want to change it. Probably, for another person, it would be destroyed. For me was just as should it always have been in the first place.

Art is not measurable and not even possible to define, for I can find several definitions in this room only.

I am still seeking an answer.

Written tests

I'm no fan of written tests; I believe we can be evaluated by the same exercises with no need of such formality,though I understand that this is the way to trully find out if we are the ones writing and answering the question. But written test sound too formal...
Fortunally, the evaluation in the end of the term/year is through out the year, and not only the tests count. That would be worst. So, though I'm no fan, I understand why he have to do it.

About the last test in particular, I don't like to have some high/low expectations or the idea that all seemed right (which it didn't) - when that happens, I'm always suprised...
I'll just wait for the results, then I'll have something more to say...

Jim Jones and mass suicide

Shocking. A little disturbing. Maybe something like a good presentation. No, definetly a good presentation!
I trully enjoyed it. I didn't knew Jim Jones and his story raised a few questions.
Let's face it: how can't we question when we find out that a man (with an "a") took over thousand people to suicide? It's amazing in a horrible way!...

Although the brainwashing thing is quite similar, I don't think we can make a comparisson with Hitler and the growth of nazism. I mean, Jim Jones brainwashed people, but had some good intentions - he wanted to create the perfect society, equal and just; Hitler just wanted to kill the ones he thought didin't deserve to share the same world with him. But yes, they both lead a hole community to believe in them, and do horrible things.
However, you can't make me believe that all those people were totally 100% sane; even some germans, realising that the work camps were actually killing camps, changed their view about their believes. I am not saying that all the 900 people were mentally disable, but not the most critics and bright spirits.

The images were really well chosen, specially the ones after the cuicide. And it was well researched, too. We can get a new view of charisma...
Because Jim Jones was a charismatic person, and I don't deny that. Yes, it needs great charisma and abilities to make 900 kill themselves. More, make parents kill their children.



I've been listening to the last Jim Jones' speech, before the suicide. Yes, the man had talent.
And now I scared...