Unit 6: Giving to others: Why Do We Do It?

Essence of the Human Being

Human beings are the only living being capable of reasoning, devise and be creative, but often we use these qualities to use them in our own lives aside others and wasting the essence of being human. Today we live in a world selfish, proud, ego centrist, where charity, kindness and even values ​​are to one side, where there are few who practice them. 

The world system increasingly alienates us of empathy and be humane, we see suffering, hunger and pain and often seems negligible. We are privileged among many around the world but there millions of people without these privileges, that's where every one of us should come from the heart to help the needy. Many times even with a simple friendly gesture, we can change the day to a person, then why not do it?. Yet also beyond gestures and favors we find donations, poor families, hungry people in need. Just because you dress or feed the needy is a great act of charity, we should make it work more often and make it an everyday event in our lives. There is a saying that is more than true: hands giving, never be empty.

Vocabulary

Cause: a principle or aim that a group of people support or fight for.
Moral: related to principles of what is right and wrong.
Anonymously: doing something without letting anyone know your name.
Motivated: very ager to do or achieve something.
Donation: a gift
Contribute: to give money, help, or ideas.
Inherit: to receive something from someone who has died.
Passion: a strongly felt emotion.
Mandatory: something that is required or that must be done.
Generosity: an attitude or behavior of giving things to others, or of helping others.
Fundraiser: a principle or aim that a group of people support or fight for.
Appeals: request, often for money or help.
Charity: the giving of help.
Wealthy: possessive of wealth.
Catastrophe: a extensive or notable disaster or misfotune.
Appeal: a rquest for relief.
Benefactors: a person who supports or helps a person.
Freelance: a writer or artist, who is not employed continously but hired to do differents assignments.
Rewarding: giving personal satisfaction.

Grammar: Relative Pronouns in adjective clauses.

Adjectives Clauses (also called relative clauses) are used to identify or add information about nouns. Usually, the adjectiveclause directly follows the noun it refers to. These clauses are introduced by a relative pronoun, such as who, that, whose, where or when.

Who refers to people. It can be the subject or the object of an adjective clause.
Who is usually used instead of the more formal Whom.
Example:
Sting is a musican who is concerned about the enviroment.

That or which refer to places and things. They can be the subject or object of an adjective clause.
Example:
The Rainforest Foundation is a group that | which he founded to protect the world's natural resources.

That cannot be used in a nonidentifying adjective clause (somethimes called a nonrestrictive clause) or after a preposition. You most use which.
Example:
This is an organization that many young people are interested in.

Whose refers to people's possetions. It can be the subject or object of an adjective clause.
Example:
People living in the area are those whose lives are most affected.

Where refers to a place, when refers to a time. They can be the object of an adjective clause.
Example:
Brazil is one of the countries where the foundation;s efforts have been successful.
The foundation was started at a time when many people were unaware of the enviromental problems we face.

Video: Relative Pronouns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBLqiYTf7qY

Unit 5: Longevity: Refusing to Be invisible.

Elderly people in Costa Rica

Like all countries in the world, Costa Rica has a high rate of elderly people which exceed 63 years. Many of them are in good health conditions and many others do not, or do not receive decent treatment. By their vulnerability, this group of people needs special care both physically, mentally and emotionally.

In our country, we find a growing number of seniors abandoned, abused and not sheltered by society; this is due to the lack of national education in protecting the elderly. Every day hundreds of public reports of abuse reported to them ending in negligence from the state, many are abandoned elderly in nursing homes where these institutions can barely keep and the state and society don’t help them. Beyond that, problems are also presented with transportation, physical and verbal abuse.

This is a reality that occurs every day of our lives, often we ignore or simply do not give importance but we must remember that they are human like us and not just for older age is a reason to treat this form, rather we venerate them for their wisdom and experience as does the eastern culture, that culture should adapt and make rows in our lives.

Do not abandon them, and we are considered love with them, many are fathers, mothers who invested his life in us and building a better future for us so that we begin to honor them.

Vocabulary

Go in for: want to do, do something with pleasure.
Bold: brave, courageous.
Bitterness: resentment, anger.
Solidarity: support, agreement.
Ensemble: outfit (clothing).
Chapter: local group of an organization.
Gorgeous: beautiful, attractive.
Flamboyant: showy, loud, colorful.
Brag: boast, show off.
Assisted living facility: a place where seniors sometimes live, similar to a nursing home.
Self-improvement: working hard to become better.
Nurturing: offering kind, supportive care.
Anxious: worried and tense becouse of possible misfourtune.
Generation: the act or process of bringing into being,production or reproduction.
Elderly: quite old.
Senior: older in years.
Hotspot: an area of potential violence or political unrest.
Facility: ease of action or performance, freedom for difficulty.
Citizen: a native registered or naturalized member of the state.
Physician: a penson legally qualified to prectice medicine.

Grammar: Tag Questions.

In spoken English, people commonly end sentences with tag questions.
There are two types:
                          Question Type
                          Comment Type

Question Type:

• Asks for information or seeks to confirm information the questioner is not sure about.
• Uses rising intonation.

Comment Type: 

• Makes a comment
• Is used when the questioner assumes the listener agrees.
• Uses falling intonation.

Examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKf2GcwFywc

Unit 4: Animal Intelligence

Animal Intelligence vr Human intelligence

            Commonly we hear about human intelligence but we ignore certain individuals who also have their dowries. The animal intelligence is also important in everyday life. But which of these two species would be in some way better?.

            Human intelligence for millions of years has been evolving and developing each looking better, apart involve human reasoning we have always known as the one provided between all living species. We have made technological advances, increased population growth but also have brought him disaster, overconsumption, deforestation, waste, among others. If we start to analyze human evolution remained stagnant in many years, but rather we have lost skills and the only thing is we have advanced in technology.

On the other hand we have the intelligence animal species not endowed with reasoning out but if with knowledge. The animals in their natural habitats commonly tend not to exploit, but man has taken some of them and have tamed or trained. It is simply amazing the knowledge you can achieve these animals get to the point that have been helpful for the human. They help in the home, blind, firefighters, experiments, business, therapies and many other things. These creatures in recent years scientists have succeeded in proving small positive changes without affecting the environment in any way. 

            In personal opinion, this shows that the reasoning does not make us smarter, but this has led us to our own funeral. The human being has been characterized as a cruel and harmful species somehow have forgotten that all life is valuable. Instead the species remains in balance and without damage, we have to see cases as they show their feelings and knowledge. Analyzing we can prove that we are more than anyone, but there are species that are somehow smarter than us. The intelligencia is not how much we do but how we do it.

Vocabulary

Socialized: trained to behave in a way that is acceptable to others in your group.
Deceive: make someone believe something that is not true.
Spontaneously: in a way that is not planned.
Intriguing: interesting bacouse its unusual or unexpected.
Vocalize: make a sound with the voice.
Rote memorization: learned from repeating and not from thinking.
Categorize: put objects into groups according to what kind, color, size, etc. they are.
Figure out: conclude, realize.
Context: the situation, events, or information related to something.
Pest: animals that createa disturbance or bother people.
Unethical: inmoral
Compassion: Kindness
(Give someone) the floor: allow someone to speak.
Off the top of (someones) head: sicknesses
Nuisance: something that bothers or annoys.
Get it: understand.
Diseases: without thinking about it in advance.
Hazard: danger.
Humane: Kind, gentle.
Superior: better than.
Endangered: threatened with extiction.
Push the envelope: go beyond accepted boundaries. 


Grammar: Common verb changes.

Change present tense to past tense:
DireCt Speech: I am doing research on their use of tools.
Indirect Speech: The zoologist said (that) she was doing research on their use of tools.

Change present progressive tense to progressive tense.
Direct Speech: I am conducting an experiment on crows.
Indirect Speech: She said (that) was conducting an experiment on  crows.

Change past tense and present perfect tense to past perfect tense.
Direct Speech: The crows made a hook to get food from a tree.
Indirect Speech: The researcher reported (that) the crows hade made a hook to get food from a tree.

The modals will, can and may change from in indirect speech.
Direct form: I wont be at the meeting.
I can ask my colleague to take notes.
I may be able to send my secretary.

Indirect Speech: She explained (that) she wouldnt be at the meaning.
She said (that) se could ask her colleague to take notes.
She mentioned (that) she might be able to send her secretary.

Change must to had to.
Direct: I must find a way to repeat my experiment.
Indirect: She said (that) she had to find a way to repeat her experiment.

Change the pronouns, progressive and time words to keep the original meaning.
Direct Speech: I can not access my computer becouse it broke down yesterday.
Indirect Speech: The student claimed (that) she could not access her computer because it had broken down the day before.

Unit 3: Early to bed, Early to rice...

Causes and effects of the sleep deprivation

Compared to past centuries, human beings every day live in a fast and full working life. Currently we are the people who suffer most sleep disorders sleep less time as compared to the ideal time and spent more time awake. But why we developed this disorder and how this problem can harm us?.

Among the causes of sleep deprivation found bad habits or sleep disorders, which can be caused by chronic problems, depression, heart problems, medications or stress which is the main cause. The work, family or social stress is a problem for many people since at bedtime does not relax the body and mind is busy so does not sleep. 

The impact on the body not sleep can bring with it many consequences and symptoms such as impaired cognitive ability and memory, double risk of occupational injury, auditory and olfactory errors, high blood pleasure, heart attack, sexual problems and obesity.

I think anyone want this, for this reason we need to care our body and within steps we can take into account is try a lifestyle change, visiting a doctor, eat natural pills, avoid the T.V, cellphone, exercise and eating before to sleep.

Vocabulary

Chronically: permanently, constantly.
Droop: hang or bend down.
Dim: low, not bright.
Waves of sleepiness: strong feelings of fatigue or tiredness.
Blinking: Closing and opening the eyes quickly.
Surge: a boost, increase.
Out of sync: on a completely different schedule.
Alert: able to think clearly.
Captivating: very interesting.
Irritable: easily and quickly to annoyed.
Hormones: chemical substances in the body.
Agressive:
Snore: breathe noisily while sleeping
Confused: Feeling or exhibiting and inability to undertand, bewildered or perplexed.
Playful: full or high spirits and fun.
Spontaneous: happening without planning.
Miserable: very unhappy
Shocked: a sudden and violent jarring blow or impact.
Unhappy: not joyful, sad or depressed.
Naps: short periods of sleep

Grammar: Present Unreal Conditionals

Exist two clases: If- clause and result clause. Use the present unreal contional to talk about something that is untrue, impossible or imagined.

Uses:
1. Use would + base form of the verb in the main clause to describe a definite result.
2. Use might or could to describe a possible result.
3. To make a question order in the main clause.
4. The if-clause is not needed if the condition is understood by the listener.
5. For the verb be, use were for all subjects.
6. You can beign the sentence with either the if-clause or the main clause. When writing, put a comma between the clauses in sentences that start with the if-clause.

Examples:

If I didnt workat night, I could go to bed early.
Iwork at night, so I cant go to bed early.

References

http://www.wordreference.com/definition/unhappy

Unit 2: The Achilles Heel

All we Can!

Normally in our lives we have come to see a disabled person and have seen many of them have managed to do things that would never have believed that they could do and many times we wonder what was their secret ?.

The key to success is to believe in yourself and not in our limitations , having perseverance, faith and giving our best . Also remember that things are not given the overnight but everything in life is a process that often tends to be fast or slow.

All our lives we have had to overcome obstacles tiny compared with those who suffer a disability and there is no better example to learn from them . Most of the time we see the biggest problems are and what we live in a nursing ourselves and these are the first steps we need to erase before a problem.

We must always keep dreaming mind and seek to go beyond the limitations that are based on trust and faith in himself and an attitude that despite the fall re- raise to keep going.

Vocabulary

Collapsed: fell down suddenly.
Crushed: pressed something so hard it broke.
Crutches: special sticks used under the arms to help a person walk.
In store for: planned for.
Landscape: a view across an area of land.
Limitations: things that keep you from going beyond certain boundaries.
Overcome: succed in controlling a problem.
Proof: facts or evidence that prove that something is true.
Revelation: insight, sudden realization.
Scars: marks left on skin from a cut or wound.
Soared: flew very high or fast.
Scattered: to cause to seperate and go in different direction.
Inspiration: the condition of being so stimulated.
Recognition: an awareness that something perceived has been perceived before.
Courageous: brave
Perseverance: Steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a pourpose.
Ramp: An inclined surface or roadway connecting different levels.
Proof: the evidence or argument that compels the mind to acept an assertion as true.
Empowerment: the giving of an ability, enablement or permission.
Altitude: a high location or area.

Grammar: Gerounds and infinitives

Gerounds: To form gerunds add -ing to the base form of the verb.

Uses:
1. As the subject of a sentence
2. The gerund after a preposition, such as for, in, of and about.

Examples:

Getting to the top of the mountain was a great achievement for the athletes.
Troughout his childhood, Richard throught about walking again.

Infinitives: To form use to and the base form of the verb.

Uses:
1. Use the infinitive after a be + adjective combination such as easy, difficult, hard, happy, possible, willing and prepared.
2. Use the infinitive after certain verbs, including agree, decide, expect, hope, learn, mange, need, try and want.

Examples:

It was very hard for the Achilles Track Club to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
One of the Achilles athletes did not expect to reach the summit and almost turned back several times.

Video: Gerunds and infinitives

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoSx7wxIkWs

Referencias

The free dictionary by farlex. Consulted the date november 28.  http://www.thefreedictionary.com/empowerment.

Unit 1: Information Overload

Sensationalism in Costa Rica

       Sensationalism is a method of manipulation used by reporters to cause a sensation, emotion or impression public.In Costa Rica this is not an unfamiliar term, is something that has become very common. Instead of talking about the news, I am going to speak about two media that have changed the course of journalism in Costa Rica. 

       Country a few years ago started to present several newspapers as "la extra" and " la teja" which are sold at low prices and showing something beyond normal so far, for its affordable price people buy them more quantity, but the price is not the problem, but of their contents. They are noted for their news with false, cruel images, news only about events, sports and publications with scantily clad women.

       Here they call this journalism but in reality it is not, because they do not take the time to research and ask their jobs better, many say they are based on deception and mediocrity, but the question arises: Why are the newspapers biggest sellers?.

In my opinion I feel that we have been slowly losing our feelings, we are filled with images of cruel and misinformation that we are creating and increasing inhumanity, a feeling of coldness that is killing our empathy. We must learn to choose the means and the information of what we consume to avoid being victims of sensationalism.

Vocabulary

Intake: consumptionPerspective: Sensible point of view.Newsworthy: worthy of the media`s attention.
Repetitive: repeating the same thing over and over.
Bias: consideration of an issue from only one side, often with a certain prejucide.
Inconsequential: without importance.
Despair: feeling of depression and sadness.
Remedies: solucitions
Barrage: Constant attack, in large amounts.
Immobilized: unable to move or act.
Disengage from: lose interest in something.
Underlyng: basic, fundamental.
Perspective: a way of regarding situations, facts,etc., and judging their relative importance.
Remedy: to restore to the proper condition, put right.
Regardless of: in spite of.
Evading: to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing.
Coverage: the extent or degree to which something is observed, analyzed, and reported.
Focus: to converge on or toward  a central point of focus, be focused.
Lethal: capable of causing death.
Addictted: to occupy with or involve in something habitually or compulsively.

Grammar

Passive Voice

To form the passive you need to use:

                                     Correct form of be + the past participle.
When use it:

1. To shift focus from the agent of the action to the person or thing being described.
2. Dont know the agent of the action, or when the agent is not important.
3. Use when you dont want to mention the agent, particularly to avoid blaming the agent.

Examples:

Active: Too much news distracts you from the things you really need to do.
Passive: You are distracted from the things you really need to do.

Active: The reporter discussed the upcoming election.
Passive: The upcomming election was discussed by the reporter.

Video:

This video about a class of Passive Voice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxbQ2U3Uuv0

References

Wikipedia. Free Encyclopedia, definition of sensationalism. Consulted on sunday september 22. http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensacionalismo