FINAL REFLECTION OF THE SEMESTER

At last, the end of the semester is coming and a final reflection is necessary. 

Along with my classmates, I have done a lot of work in this course during this semester. We were trying to improve our pronunciation, our vocabulary and our fluency while speaking. And I believe we accomplished most of these goals. In my experience, I am very flattered to have obtained an acknowledgement for my effort.

The assignments for the class were very innovative, forcing ourselves to awaken the creative side of our minds. Nevertheless, many activities were time consuming and perhaps that is why many of my classmates didn’t hand in some of them. In a certain way and for the same reason, I also struggled a little bit to finish my other subject’s homework and this course’s activities. 

I would suggest that a significant number of assignments were planned to be done during the time of the class, taking more into consideration how much time it gets us to finish a particular activity.  

I enjoyed some activities and I really found them highly interactive; but our group was difficult and sometimes an atmosphere of “I don’t want to do anything” reigned the class; therefore, my advice is to plan a strategy to catch more the attention of a group when it turns out to be problematic. 

On the other hand, I really appreciate how much effort was put into using as many tools as possible, providing us with apps, tips, formats and programs that helped us improve our English, our efficiency, our way of learning and relating to others, specially to foreigners.

 

Mrs. Toledo, thank you for your enthusiasm.

WRITING 2: BUSINESS REPORT

Policies to avoid discrimination

Introduction

The purpose of this proposal is to establish 3 main policies to avoid discrimination in our company. The team has already suggested 3 policies:

Flexibility

One of our main aims is to be an inclusive company. Therefore, we will have flexible schedules for our personnel, considering their special needs. For example: maternity and paternity leave for parents, religious commands, etc. The objective is to create a balance between their personal and working life.

Human Resources

The company will not make any difference between hiring women or men. The job interviews will go through a deeper process, not focusing on prejudices, but on academic level and job experience. Also, the salary amount will be equal for same level positions, not making distinctions between gender, age, religious beliefs and sexual preferences.

Titles

All members of the company will be addressed by name, and not by title, to build a working environment where everyone feels they are as important as anyone.

Conclusion

To sum up, in order to avoid discrimination, we have to make our employees feel as a crucial part of the company.

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I enjoyed writing this report because it was a topic which I like to talk about: avoiding discrimination and seeking for equity. I had some knowledge about writing reports, but I must admit that I needed reinforcing the structure. However, the practice is the key.

COLLAGE ABOUT FOOD

This collage is a compilation which emphasizes the importance of food represented in 8 different categories.

The first category was “Performing arts”. We chose the poem called “The Walrus and the Baker's Man” -by Lewis Carroll because it illustrates in a funny manner the joy of eating and the food required.

On the other hand, for the Music category, we selected a rap about ordering food at McDonald’s. We considered it a very creative way to include all the dishes of this restaurant in one song.

Next, for Architecture, there is a picture of a Stadium made with processed meats, cheese and sandwiches. We believe it is a piece of art as a result of the detail with which it was made, as well as the imagination to get together all the ingredients to build it.

Then, for the Literature category, we picked the book “Like water for chocolate” by Laura Esquivel because the plot is a love story, influenced by the magic of the recipes of the woman.

Later, we chose the video of the decomposition of fruits for the Photography section, since we agree that there is also beauty in letting time pass and watching the results of it, like a metaphor of aging.

Also, we thought that the movie Ratatouille is the perfect example of how food can mean joy of living and treasuring the small things. For that, we considered it for the Cinematography category.

However, for the Painting section, we selected a still-life piece of art called “Portrait of Rodolfo II” by Arcimboldo. We liked it becaus it represents with a lot of fruit the gestures and muscles of the human body.

And the last, but not the least, we found the swan out of cut apples appropriate for the Sculpture category. Maybe it is smaller than other sculptures, but that doesn’t mean it is not a piece of art for the originality it projects. 

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Personally, food is my weakness. Therefore, it was a pleasure for me to search for artistic ways of representing food. Also, I liked the app ThingLink to make our collage more interactive. I consider it a very interesting tool to give our work another perspective.

LIFE STAGES AND GENERATIONS

Good night, Internet surfers! Today I will post a Draw my life explaining the principal stages of my life.

It was a little hard for me to do this project because I’ve always had trouble thinking about my past. But I can consider it as a reflection of what has happened to me that made me what I am today. And actually, I feel a lot better about myself today than before. Therefore, it is a huge progress.

Consequently, I will get better as I grow older. 

DESCRIBING GRAPHS

Today we will be describing pie graphs. Check the image of the pie graph below and its description on SoundCloud. 

I don't like very much describing graphs. Nevertheless, I found it useful, especially if our career or work is related to business. I chose a pet graph because I considered it funny to describe a non serious topic in a more formal way.

FIRST WRITING: ESSAY

Influence of cultural icons on teenagers

Culture differentiates people from all around the world, because it states how to perceive and act in a certain situation, so it becomes a pattern of behavior among the people that integrate that culture. Therefore, cultural icons determine mostly how people from a country are acting nowadays, especially teenagers.

During adolescence, teenagers start looking for their identity, trying to get to know what they like or what they want, seeking for experiences that will reveal their true essence. As a result, they are susceptible to be influenced by their friends, people they care about and famous people, who are sometimes considered as cultural icons. And they become their role models.

Some cultural icons are used to living a life of excess, enjoying their fame and wealth. Also, to keep their popularity, they fall into scandals and behave in an immoral way. For that reason, they are not a good influence for teenagers.

It is true that cultural icons can be an influence on teenagers, but they are not responsible for their acts and points of view. The people who look after teenagers should take into consideration the importance of helping them get through this stage of their lives, giving them support and advice on how to deal with the struggle of searching for their identity. Also, it is crucial to keep an eye on what they read, who they establish as their role model and whom they relate with; and not leaving them alone.

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In this first essay, I felt identified with what I was talking about. It hasn't been long since I went through that lifestage. I really consider it important to take care of the children and teenagers; because along with us, they are the future of the world.

SOUTH KOREA NATIONAL IDENTITY

Yesterday, I presented to my classmates the National Identity of South Korea.

First, I gave a brief explanation of its culture, its food, traditions and how we are in daily contact with many of the well-known brands.

Then, I talked about my experience with two Korean women: one living in Korea and the other in Mexico; and how they feel about their national identity.


 

SOUTH KOREA NATIONAL IDENTITY from Ana Roldán

INTERVIEW TO A FOREIGNER LIVING IN MEXICO

Last Friday I met a young Korean student, whose name is Jung Suk Park. I interviewed him for approximately 5 minutes. I had some questions about his feelings about living in Mexico for a long time and I asked him if he had experienced culture shock.

I believe we were both a little nervous for the interview, because I changed some verb tenses and he had some trouble understanding a few questions, so I needed to repeat them with further explanation.

Jung started living in Mexico when he was only 3 years old. Therefore, there was not much difference in his activities, because he grew up in here. Also, he didn’t experience culture shock as if he had lived more time in Korea. 

He is very kind to Mexicans, except when they tell him offensive words or phrases about his culture. Sometimes he answers back, but not that often. He avoids conflict by going back home.

The only thing that keeps being shocking for him is the way most people drive: fast and too close. Still, he feels very comfortable living here.

Jung likes the Mexican food, especially tortas and tacos, even more than the Korean food. He is aware Mexicans prefer closer personal space; but he is not offended by it, it is the opposite, he considers they are just being friendly. Additionally, he said celebrations around death were similar in both countries.

The interview was a nice experience and I was glad to find out he is very pleased to be here. I believe I found a friend.

KOREAN CULTURE SHOCK

When I was talking to my Korean friend, Summer, she told me about several culture shocks she has suffered from since she started living here in Mexico. But I was impressed by two in specific.  

Korean girls are not supposed to go out with their friends or to other houses so often. There’s a famous phrase in Korea that says: “Neither the plates or girls should be outside.” Like when you lend your plates to others, you don’t know if they are going to return them, or if your plates will be damaged, because others don’t take much care about them since they are not theirs. The same applies to women. They feel at risk of dangerous situations, considering that other families won't be looking after them the same way their own family would do.

Also, in Korea, people are used to having, in their whole life, only one relationship with someone who is usually the one they are going to marry. 

For those reasons, it was a culture shock for Summer the way we socialize in Mexico. At first, she felt like a fish out of water; but now that she is an expat, she is starting to feel more comfortable. She believes that it wasn't difficult for her to familiarize with the Mexican culture, even though it was all Greek to her at the beginning. 

In the comic, it was shown the Hostility Stage of this specific culture shock, because Summer was disoriented and easily irritated by these differences between Korea and Mexico and she began to think of going back home.

I believe it's relevant to understand the points of view and the way of thinking of people from other cultures, in order to have better relationships with them and not to make a false statement or be rude.The key is: "When in Rome, do as Romans do."