My MixBook

http://www.mixbook.com/photo-books/family/a-year-in-review-5263296

Modern IT (Internet Technologies) in EFL teaching

Internet technologies play a vital role in people everyday life and education. While the development of the modern technology our lives have changed a lot. The high developed technology has made the learning more quickly and people have the ability to achieve more information. Different technologies serve different purposes in the classroom and therefore play different roles in a students learning. For example, word processing and e-mail promote communication skills; database and spreadsheet programs promote organizational skills; modeling software promotes the understanding of science and math concepts etc.  But what are the most important internet technologies for educators to be aware of, and informed about? This is a very important question for everyone.  So that is why, I have selected the following technologies and I think that they are very effective.

1)      Video and Podcasting - One of the most widely adopted internet technologies for use in instructional settings is video streaming. Between Youtube, TeacherTube, EduTube, and many other video hosting sites, there are an abundance of lectures and supporting materials for education. Podcasting has also been used to provide similar offerings of audio materials through popular sites like iTunes.

2)      Presentation Tools - This category is vast and rich.There are hundreds (perhaps thousands) of tools on the Internet that can be used to create and share presentations. These tools can be used to support classroom teaching or distance learning, or for student reports and presentations.

3)      Collaboration & Brainstorming Tools - This is another wide ranging category, including thought-organizing tools like mindmap and bubbl.us, and collaborative tools like web based interactive whiteboards and Google Documents. Additionally, some of the other tools in this list, such as wikis and virtual worlds, also serve as collaboration tools.

4)      Blogs & Blogging – Bloggers and many other regular Internet users are well aware of blogs and blogging. In addition to a basic familiarity with this technology, educators should be aware of sites like Blogger and WordPress, where users can quickly and easily create their own blogs for free.

5)      IM (Instant messaging) - A large percentage of students use IM regularly. It helps teachers and educators to be aware of different this, and within the classroom setting.

6)      Discrete educational Software (DES) is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions telling a computer what to do and how to do it. Nowadays exist a great variety of the educational software which are very important for modern educational process.

So, I think that these technologies are very important for education and every modern user should know about them.

My own tradition

Nowadays exist a lot of traditions which arose when St. Valentine left a farewell note for the Jailer’s daughter, signed  “From Your Valentine” and so began a new tradition of sanding a card from a secret admirer.    I think that this tradition will live forever, because those different love spoons, cards and spells are very important for us even today.  As for me I appreciate this day very much because it gives you one more rise to say “I love you!” On this day I always give a present to my sweetheart. It can be a small souvenir or a Cupid or even a toy and it is my small tradition. Maybe it is a trite one but so dear and pleasant.

Today people believe and follow different traditions and superstitions connected with St. Valentine’s Day. It is your choice to believe or not. Some people said if you found a glove on the road on St. Valentine’s Day, your future beloved will have the other missing glove, another believed the first man’s name you read in the paper or hear will be the name of the man you will marry. Sometimes it is not a real truth, but if you believe everything is possible.  For example, in some countries, a young woman may receive a gift of clothing from a young man. If she keeps the gift, it means she will marry him.  So, I hope this holiday and its traditions will survive during the centuries.

I was a witness of this event.

It was many years ago.  I was a witness of this event. I was in a room. The space of it was not very big but there was a vast wardrobe, a small sofa and two armchairs.   I was sitting in the corner between the wardrobe and the wall and thinking about my life, my problems and my future.  I didn’t want to speak about it and I didn’t want to see someone because everyone asked me “Why are you so sad? Today is a St. Valentine’s Day. You should be happy”.  So I did not want to hear such words.  But suddenly I heard the steps. In the room appeared two people. They didn’t saw me. They spoke about nothing and I didn’t listen to them but unexpectedly the girl said:

“I'm always here for you”. The boy answered lifelessness

 “I know”
Girl: What's wrong?
Boy: I like her so much.- I caught my breath. I was afraid that they would find me.

Girl: Talk to her.
Boy: I don't know. She won't ever like me.
Girl: Don't say that...you're amazing.
Boy: I just want her to know how I feel.
Girl: Then tell her.
Boy: She won't like me.

I didn’t feel my lags, but I was afraid to move a little. Oh, I wanted satisfy my curiosity so much. Actually, I thought that boys are not speaking about their feelings with girls.    
Girl: How do you know that?
Boy: I can just tell her...
Girl: Well just tell her.
Boy: What should I say?
Girl: Tell her how much you like her.
Boy: I tell her daily.
Girl: What do you mean?
Boy: I'm always with her...I love her.
Girl: I know how you feel. I have the same problem...but he'll never like me.
Boy: Wait. Who do you like?
Girl: Oh, some boy.
Boy: Oh, she won't like me either.
Girl: She does.
Boy: How do you know?
Girl: Because who wouldn't like you?
Boy: You.
Girl: You're wrong. I love you.
Boy: I love you too.
Girl: So are you going to talk to her?
Boy: I just did.

They started kissing. I was crying. Their love was so easy, touching and at the same way so difficult. There are so many people who just afraid to tell the truth. And they are living with different people without emotions and love.  And the reason is so painful, the unrequited love is cruel.