UNIT 10. NO TECHNOLOGY? NO WAY!

NO TECHNOLOGY? NO WAY!

Although many people blame technology for destroying nature and causing pollution, and say that it is the worst evil in the world , I still believe that it has greatly changed our lives for the better as we hardly imagine what would happen if we went for a day without technology.

Technology is very popular in our daily life thanks to its advantages. As we know, firstly, technology in household helps people do the housework. For example, housewives do not need to wash manually, but they can use washing machine.

Another reason why I advocate the viewpoint that technology has made the world a better place to live is that it makes the world smaller. Nowadays people can travel faster and easier to other places by car, bus and air-plane, and see many new interesting things around the world. In addition, they communicate with people in different countries through the Internet and phones, which saves them lots of time and money.

But the most worthwhile benefit technology has brought to us is that it makes us healthier and happier. Clear progress in medicine, use new technologies to diagnose and combat diseases make therapy more effective. It allows us to cure serious diseases such as cancer and cardiopathy.



VOCABULARY FROM UNIT 10

1. SONIC: of, involving, or producing sound
2. ANNOYING:to disturb or bother (a person) in a way that displeases
3. RETALIATORY: to return like for like, especially evil for evil
4. VIGILANTE:any person who takes the law into his or her own hands
5. JOLTED: to bring to a desired state sharply or abruptly:
6. SHATTERED: to damage, as by breaking or crushing:
7. TOWED: something, as a boat or truck, that tows.
8. WAIL: to utter a prolonged, inarticulate
9. SIREN:an acoustical instrument for producing musical tones
10. BANNED: to prohibit, forbid, or bar
11. PROMPTED: ready in action; quick to act as occasion demands.
12. VIBRATIONS: the state of being vibrated.
13. STARTLING: creating sudden alarm, surprise, or wonder; astonishing.
14. JOLTS: push or shake (someone or something) abruptly and roughly
15. DEFECTIVE: characterized by subnormal intelligence or behavior.
16. LOUD: having exceptional volume or intensity
17. PAY A FINE:a sum of money paid as the settlement of a claim
18. OFFENSE: a violation or breaking of a social or moral rule; transgression; sin.
19. AWFUL: extremely bad; unpleasant; ugly: awful paintings; an awful job.
20. SHRILL: betraying some strong emotion or attitude in an exaggerated amount, as antagonism ordefensiveness.

GRAMMAR: FUTURE PERFECT AND FUTURE PROGRESSIVE

They are used to talk about event in the future

future perfect example:
By the monday I will have done my homewoks
                                                   
                                                      Future Progressive example: 
                                                      The next year, she will be studying Portuguesse
More information at this video below:

UNIT 9: FINDING A NICHE: THE CHALLENGE FOR YOUNG IMMIGRANTS

AMERICAN DREAM: WHAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FACE CROSSING THE BORDERS.

An American ideal of a happy and successful life. A life of personal happiness and material comfort as traditionally sought by individuals in the U.S. It seems United States as a land of opportunities, abundance and as a perfect destiny. But sometimes it is a hard reality for the people that wanted so much to reach this dream and they had passed a several terrible experiences that in cases had changed their lives forever.

Illegal people go to the United States to take jobs that offer them greater opportunity, and they are often welcomed by U.S. employers who are able to hire them for wages lower than they would have to pay to hire U.S. workers. also crossing the borders many illegal immigrants face extremely dangerous situations elsewhere along the journey, particularly when riding freight trains. kidnapping, murder, and rape at the hands of violent drug cartels and ever more ruthless human smugglers.

VOCABULARY FROM UNIT 9

1. Unique: special; individual
2. Native Tongue: first language
3. Flourishing: growing and developing well
4. mainstream: the common way of thinking or acting
5. Tight-knit: close; connected
6. Assimilate: adapt and adjust
7. Suppressed: not allowed to express
8. Relieved: happy that you dont have to worry about something
9. Bone up on: review; study again
10. Intimidating: frightening
11. Uprooted: removed from; torn from
12. Set apart: make someone or something different
13. Niche: a position particularly suitable for a person occupaying it.

GRAMMAR: PRESENT AND PAST-CONTRASTING VERB TENSES

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/601/01/

UNIT 8: GOODBYE TO THE SIT-DOWN MEAL

Food Trends in Costa Rica 

Trends really do affect our lifestyles; we may not know it, but it’s true. Anywhere from our living room décor or how we chose our school supplies. It seems to me we all must all have what other people have. Well at least from afar that’s what I’ve noticed. What if just for one year we were secluded from one another. Still able to communicate, but not able to see each others clothes, cell phones, make-up, hair, food or music. I’d do it just to see the effect.

It is very important to stay on top of the present and future trends in the food. From the last years, food trends have been influenced by the cultures of other countries. Some factor that is influencing these changes is the globalization. Nowadays, many cultures have arrived to Costa Rica and there are many different restaurants. There are Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Lebanese, French and Costarican restaurants. Also including fast food like Burger King, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut or KFC, they all have changed the national habits and trends in the costarican society. International restaurants have changed the nutrition of the people, and are increasing the lost of the importance of the preservation the national food.

To conclude, the food trends have being changing our life style too, because some of us like to go out and eat the most fast food to go to our jobs, and that how are acting the costarricans nowadays; but it is curious to see that when people go to vacations they prefire the traditional food. I think that it is just a trend that only happens when we do our duty like working or study.

VOCABULARY FROM UNIT 8

1. delicacies: luxuries
2. Witnessing: seeing
3. Stacked: full
4. Shift: change
5. Workforce: labor force
6. Phenomenon: development
7. Overrun: changed
8. Core: valuable
9. Intimate: close
10. Sit-down: relaxed
11. Breadwinners: salary earners
12. Bring home the bacon: gave me a negative feeling
13. Dough: money
14. Get cooking: start working
15. There´s trouble brewing: problems are developing
16. Put it on the black burner: leave something until later; treat as less urgent
17. Stirs up: creates
18. Food for thought: something to think about
19. The salt of the earth: a really good person
20. take it with a grain of salt: be skeptical about what you hear

GRAMMAR: PHRASAL VERBS

 Is a verb plus a preposition or adverb which creates a meaning different from the original verb.

EXAMPLE:

I need to sort out the garbage

UNIT 7. WHAT´S THE USE OF HOMEWORK?

WHY HOMEWORK?

There are several advantages to homework, if it is given in the correct amounts and at the right time. First of all, students do need some practice of new material learned in school. They need to sit quietly at home and find out how well they understand the new information and ideas. Secondly, homework helps the teacher to know what the students have or have not learned.The teacher can then change the next lessons to match.A third point is that homework can involve parents in the education of the child. Family members can encourage the child and see his or her progress.

However, too often there are negative aspects to homework.Many teachers give too much homework, and often teachers do not coordinate the quantity given. The children do not have free time to relax or play sports. A further point is that unnecessary assignments raise the stress level of the student. This can actually lower productivity and performance, instead of raising it. However, the main argument against homework is that most of it is just boring practice.The students learn nothing new – the teachers just give it because they are expected to. I agree that some practice is good, but endless practice of the same material does not lead to improvement.

In conclusion, the need to give homework must be considered carefully. It can be helpful in certain circumstances, but students and teachers must understand the value and importance of homework. In my opinion, finding the balance between free time and homework will lead to a happy and successful school experience for our children.

VOCABULARY FROM UNIT 7

1. Ritual: something you do on a regular basis
2. Advocates: supportes believers of one sid of a controversy
3. Foundation: basis; an idea from which a system develops
4. Fluctuated: changed from one level to another
5. Tangible: real; something that can be measured
6. Self-esteem: feeling good about yourself
7. Sacrifice: give up something you want or enjoy
8. Duty: something you must do
9. Demanding: difficult; challenging
10. Monitor: carefully check or examine
11. Accountable: considered responsible
12. Distraught: very upset
13. Obedient: willing to do what is asked
14. Outlawed: made illegal
15. Held accountable for: held responsible for
16. Bucle down: concentrate and do your work
17. Came to mind: ocurred to (me)
18. count on: depend on, rely on
19. Hopping mad: really angry
20. Pays off: leads to good results

GRAMMAR: MAKE, LET, HELP, and GET

Are used to talk about things that someone can allow another person to do, here´s an example:

We got them to clean our house

UNIT 6: GIVING TO OTHERS

PHILANTHROPY

There are many different forms of philanthropy and a large variety of different ways todo it. When people think of philanthropy, they usually think of donating to a charity or someother non-profit philanthropy based organization. However, you can do philanthropy in moreways than that. You can do anything from participating in/making an organization for homelessor needy people to participating in any form of community service that helps people somehow.There is a seemingly infinite amount of ways you can demonstrate philanthropy.

Philanthropy is very, very, important. It is not only important for what you are doing itfor, but for you, and those around you. There are three reasons why it is important. One is that itimproves your character if you know that you can make a difference in peoples lives and youwant to do just that. Philanthropy is not just a good thing to do; it is a virtue that is important tohave to have good character. 

Despite what a lot of people think, there are lots of ways to demonstrate philanthropy inyour community. Most people think the only way to demonstrate philanthropyis by donating. However you can do other things such as do community service (such as working at a homeless shelter, doing a highway cleanup, etc.), give to people less fortunate, provide for people or animals, of course donating, etc

VOCABULARY FROM UNIT 6

1. Charity: something given to a person or persons in need
2. Donation: a gift, as to a fund; contribution.
3. Appeal:an earnest request for aid, support, sympathy, mercy
4. Anonymity:the state or quality of being anonymous.
5. Morality: moral quality or character.
6. Passion:any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate.
7. Wealth: a great quantity or store of money, valuable possessions, property, or other riches 
8. Inheritance: something that is or may be inherited
9. Freelance: rather than working on a regular salary basis for one employer.
10. Contribution: the act of contributing.
11. Benefactor: a person who confers a benefit; kindly helper.
12. Rewarding: affording satisfaction, valuable experience, or the like; worthwhile.
13. Motivation:the state or condition of being motivated
14. Fundraiser: a person who solicits contributions or pledges.
15. Generosity: a generous act
16. Donor: a person who gives or donates.
17. Catastrophe: a sudden and widespread disaster: the catastrophe of war.
18. Passionate: ruled by intense emotion or strong feeling

GRAMMAR: RELATIVE PRONOUNS IN ADJECTIVE CLAUSES

Is a group of words that works like an adjective to modify a noun.

EXAMPLE:

Chewing with her mouth open is one reason why Fred cannot stand sitting across from his sister Melanie.

UNIT 5: LONGEVITY: REFUSING TO BE INVISIBLE

CHALLANGES THAT ELDERLY PEOPLE FACE NOWADAYS IN COSTA RICA

If we could list the challenges that the elderly have today, it would be a long list, since the Costa Rican people has become more away from the term solidarity and collaboration. Because now with so many problems in certain subjects that have already affected a lot of these folks and converts them into isolated beings, distrustful by so much news in the newspapers, both event and crime in the streets, it is clear that has affected their behavior and habits. We have lost many values, such as the good treatment that you must give the older person, as well as the respect it deserves and meet their needs; I think that's why the name comes from a citizen of gold. 

Is an important citizen and valuable in our society, we must not forget that they gave an important contribution to our country in the time that were more young people. Now they pay the price of their former neglect of the old. They themselves are neglected and unappreciated in turn.

The less fortunate ones may have to pine their lives away in an old-folk home or in their empty house that once was filled with the sound of children’s laughter. This neglect is a very real problem in our society and it is what the old dread the most – being unwanted and uncared for in the time of need.There are other problems old folks face, but none can be as bad as the indifference and neglect of the young. The young have no time for the old even though the old have virtually no time left. Soon they will die and the young will take their place.

VOCABULARY FROM UNIT 5

1. Go in for: want to, do something with pleasure 
2. Bold: brave, courageous 
3. Bitterness: resetment, anger 
4. Solidarity: support, agreement 
5. Ensemble: outfit (clothing) 
6. Chapter: local group of an organization 
7. Gorgeous: beautiful, attractive 
8. Flamboyant: showy, loud, colorful 
9. Brag: boasst, show off 
10. Assited living facility: a place where seniors sometimes live, similar to a nursing home 
11. Self-improvement: working hard to become better 
12. Nurturing: Offering kind, supportive care 
13. Brunch of: a lot of something 
14. Face: o turn toward someone or something, or to acknowledge and confront. 
15. Physician: a person who is licensed to practice medicine, or a person who is skilled in healing. 
16. Pass away: to die 
17. Widow: a woman who is alive after her husband’s death 
18. Keep an eye on: see have one's eye on 
19. The ripe old age of: a very old age 
20. Senior: to behave for a short time as though you are old/silly

GRAMMAR: TAG QUESTIONS

A tag question is a special construction in English. It is a statement followed by a mini-question. The whole sentence is a "tag question", and the mini-question at the end is called a "question tag".

statement	question tag
+ Positive statement,	- negative tag?
Snow is white,	isn't it?
- Negative statement,	+ positive tag?
You don't like me,	do you?

UNIT 4: ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE

ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE: DOGS

Dog intelligence is the ability of a dog to learn, think, and solve problems. Dog trainers, owners, and researchers have as much difficulty agreeing on a method for testing canine intelligence, as they do for human intelligence. This kind of animal is known as the best friend of the man; and it is. It really is because it adapts easily to humans´s life, and help them, are their company, some of them understands their owners like no one, they are really smart.

Dogs are pack animals, meaning that they understand social structure and obligations and are capable of learning how to behave around other members of the pack. Adult canines train their young by correcting them when they behave in an unacceptable manner (biting too hard, eating out of turn, and so on) and reward them for acceptable behavior (by playing with them, feeding them, cleaning them, and so on).They are also den animals. This means that they can easily learn behavior related to keeping the den clean (such as housebreaking) and relaxing in an enclosed area (such as a crate during travel or for training).

To conclude, the dogs are such a smarts animals, in the other hand there aren´t the smart ones of the list of animals, but they are one of the perfect company to have and even that many people think the opposite because they are animals, and they are dirty and doesnt now how to act like a human because the aren´t.  However they are easily domesticated.





Bibliography

Dog intelligence. http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/d/dog_intelligence.htm. Science Daily. science reference. december 9th,2013.

VOCABULARY FROM UNIT 4

1. Socialized: trained to behace in a way that is acceptable to others in your group
2. Deceive: make someone believe something that is not true
3. Spontaneosly: in a way that is not planned
4. Intriguing: interesting because it´s inusual or unexpected
5. Vocalize: make a sound with the voice
6. Rote memorization: learned from repeating and not from thinking
7. Categorize: put objects into groups according to what kind, color, size, etc. they are
8. Figure out: conclude, realize
9. Context: the situation, events, or information related to something
10. Pest: animals that create a disturbance or bother people
11. Unethical: immoral
12. Compassion: kindness
13. (give someone) the floor: allow someone to speak
14. Off the top of (someone´s) head: without thinking about it in advance
15. Nuisance: something that bothers or annoys
16. Get it: understand
17. Deseases: sicknesses
18. Hazard: danger
19. Humane: kind; gentle
20. Superior: better than

GRAMMAR: REPORTED SPEECH

It reports what the emisor said without using the exact word, for exemple:

Original: I'm going to a party today!
Reported: The girl said that she was going to a party today