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Esther
Jan 29, 2015 10:42:20 GMT 9
Post by Admin on Jan 29, 2015 10:42:20 GMT 9
Please introduce yourself.
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Esther
Feb 3, 2015 3:59:00 GMT 9
Post by Esther on Feb 3, 2015 3:59:00 GMT 9
Hi everyone!
My name is Esther and I'm Brazilian. I am so looking forward to studying at Soka University of Japan and meet you all!
I feel fortunate to have graduated at Soka School of Brazil in 2010 and be part of the 2nd batch. At Soka School I had learned three important lessons of life: cherish each person, the importance of having good friendships and cultivate great dreams. Mr. Daisaku Ikeda, the Soka School and Soka University founder, once has encouraged us to be global citizens. Inspired by his words I decided to study English at home and it was the first time I dreamed about studying at Soka University. At that time I was 8 years old. And now, 10 years later, this dream is coming true! I couldn't be happier!
Believe or not, I have always loved studying English and music. I am member of a march band (fife-drums corp) called "Nova Era Kotekitai" in which I have been playing flute for eight years. Unfortunately, I have never taken professional classes and learned by my own. In my free-time I enjoy taking pictures and sharing them in Instagram. Personally I think that it's important to have a hobby and exercise other skills apart from those related to academic aspects.
I am eager to breaking new ground together with you guys!
Best wishes,
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Esther
Feb 8, 2015 1:32:07 GMT 9
Post by Esther on Feb 8, 2015 1:32:07 GMT 9
Hi guys!
Firstly, please apologize me for the delay in reporting my weekly report. Yesterday, here in Sao Paulo (Brazil) rained a lot and my neighborhood lost internet connection, thus I wasn't able to post here. I'm sorry.
Vocabulary: This week I learned 53 words and practiced 33 words from videos, texts and the word list. eg.: Unabated - adjective, formal - unable to be stopped or controlled.
Reading: I have started reading the Odyssey. I haven't read enough of it, but as most of you may know, this one of the epic poems written by Homero in Ancient Greece. I really appreciate Ancient Greek stories because their are full of mythology and sometimes contains conundrums.
Listening: This week I have watched about five TED videos. However, one of them I found particularly interesting. Richard St. John talks about the "8 secrets to achieve success", which are passion, work, focus, persistence, ideas, be good at something, be pushed and serve. The video shows in a humorous way how not difficult is to achieve success and that everyone is able to be successful.
Writing: This week I wrote five Quick Writes, one per day. I feel that I need to improve exactly what this activity demands of me: write quickly. Therefore, I tried to do my best. My writings ranged from 138 words to 191 words. I believe that's a good start but I want to do better! So here we go on to week 2!
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Esther
Feb 8, 2015 21:47:39 GMT 9
Post by malcolm on Feb 8, 2015 21:47:39 GMT 9
Hi Esther!
This is Malcolm, one of the FILA English teachers.
Vocabulary: The rain fell unabated for for hours yesterday. Do you see what I did there? Try using the new words that you learn each week when you write posts on this board or any time you speak or write in daily life. It may seem strange at first, but it does help you remember them. Maybe you have heard the phrase, "Use it or lose it." Using the words regularly with help you to remember them and keep them in your long-term memory. Then you can say, with certainty, that you have learned them. Good job this week. Keep it up!
Reading: "The Odyssey" is quite an undertaking. I like the mythology of different cultures. Which god or goddess would you like to meet? Keep us informed of the story as you read! Remember, this reading should be for fun. If it is too difficult try something a little easier.
Listening: Richard St. John is inspirational and entertaining! We hope that all our students in FILA will take those 8 secrets to success to heart. Which one is the most challenging for you?
Writing: Good job with the writing this week. Writing is a skill, which develops with consistent practice. Remember, Quick Writes are to develop speed and the ability to think and write quickly about a topic. Read the topic and then think about it for one minute, then write. All the topics are different. Some will be easier to write about than others, this is normal. Don't worry. You will get faster with practice. Strengthen your "writing muscles!"
Keep up the good work.
Malcolm
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Esther
Feb 14, 2015 5:54:16 GMT 9
Post by Esther on Feb 14, 2015 5:54:16 GMT 9
Hellooo!
Malcolm, thank you for the feedback!! And nice to meet you!
Okay! I got it! I'll try to use as much as possible the vocabulary learned.
Well.. This week was particularly busy... I couldn't study much of the pre-entry material. I was enrolled at an English Holiday Course which finished yesterday, thus I decided to focus more on it.
Vocabulary: This week I've learned 26 words. It is reasonably less than last week, but I am bent* on improving my results next week! *new word learned. 'Bent on (~ing verb) something' means to be very determined to achieve something.
Reading: Yeah, Malcolm you're right... I found "The Odyssey" very challenging. I've tried to ready it but I was spending more time searching for the meaning of unknown words than reading the book itself. Next week I will start a new book then I'll come here to share with you guys!
Listening: This week I watched three TED talks: "The shared experience of absurdity" by Charlie Todd, "Building a museum of museums on the web" by Amit Sood, And "How books can open your mind" by Lisa Bu, which I found extremely interesting. I totally agree when she says that the "coming true" is not the most important part of a dream, but to get in touch with where the dreams come true. It's fantastic that books made her think like that.
Writing: This week I managed to write 4 quick writes. In general I kept the same record of around 190 words. However, one of them I wrote 312 words!!! It was the "Write about your experience studying for the university entrance examinations".This was a very important moment of my life, I believe that I've never struggled so much.
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Esther
Feb 18, 2015 12:35:52 GMT 9
Post by malcolm on Feb 18, 2015 12:35:52 GMT 9
Hi Esther!
It is OK. You were still studying! You should focus on your course!
Twenty-six words, great! Using the words consistently will help you remember them, so they will become automatic and you won't have to think about them when you are using them. A synonym for 'bent on' is 'determined'. Look for other vocabulary that are synonyms of your new vocabulary. You are doing great!
Find something fun to read!
Could you give me an example of what you mean by "get in touch with where the dreams come true?" How does this apply to your life?
Great job with the writing! Little by little! That struggle is just the beginning of the rest of your life. Look forward to obstacles and embrace them because they will make you stronger.
Never give up!
Malcolm
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Esther
Feb 21, 2015 6:42:19 GMT 9
Post by Esther on Feb 21, 2015 6:42:19 GMT 9
Hi!
Thank you!
This week Brazilians celebrated Carnival. The holiday itself it is was on Tuesday, although many people tradicionally extend the holiday from Saturday to Tuesday. Taking advantage from the 4-days holiday, me and familiy reunited one last time before I travel to Japan. Therefore, I enjoyed as much as I could, considering that I won't be able to see most of my relatives for a long time... =)
Next week I will probably have more time to dedicate to self-study program! I'll do my best to study more.
Vocabulary:This week I learned 28 words. One interesting word was 'daunting' which is something that makes you worried because you think that it will be very difficult or dangerous to do. I have a close friend who is afraid of heights. When she traveled with her family two years ago, her uncle decided to climb. She at least tried once, but in the end she found climbing very daunting.
Reading: I've started reading 'Portions from a Wine-Stained Notebook' from Charles Bukowski. This book reunites lots of his works that were originally published in magazines. I particularly liked his humorous and sarcastic style. The first chronicle talks about rejection and it is illustrated by how the character cannot deal with the fact of been rejected by a publisher.
Listening: I like watching TV series and during this holiday I've watched several episodes of 'The Big Bang Theory'. However unlikely it may seem, I've learned good vocabulary ans expression from this TV series (especially from Sheldon, lol). This week I've watched 'The Theory of Everything' which talks about the personal life of Stephen Hawkings. What amazed me is the fact that even though he suffers from the disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, he doesn't stop his researches about time related to universe.
Writing: I could only write 3 'quick writes'. Next week I intend to recover the ones that I couldn't do in the last weeks. This week I could write around 200 to 300 words per task. It was vey good to write about tasks 11 and 12, which contains topics that I have been thinking a lot!
Answering your question: I believe that is vital to know exactly the reasons of your dreams. Once you know, it is easier to achieve them, instead of just undertake efforts without any bases. Moreover, knowing them leads you to an process of great self-development.
Sure! Never will I give up!
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Esther
Feb 22, 2015 5:35:27 GMT 9
Post by malcolm on Feb 22, 2015 5:35:27 GMT 9
Hi Esther!
Malcolm again.
I'm glad you got to spend time with your family> It is a long way between Japan and Brazil. You will literally be on the opposite side of the earth from them. I'm visiting my parents and brothers'and sisters in Pennsylvania, USA at the moment. It is cold (-6C) and snowing outside. I love it! I'm actually closer to you than to Japan right now.
Vocabulary: It must be a daunting undertaking to move halfway around the world.
It is also very important to review the vocabulary you are learning. Keep using them as often as you can and in as many different situations as possible. Don't forget to study related words, or other meanings for the words. Using the words consistently will help you remember them, so they will become automatic and you won't have to think about them when you are using them. What was the most interesting word that you have studied so far?
Reading: That sounds like something I would like to read. I will put it on my very long "To-Read List." Rejection is very difficult to deal with. When was a time that you were rejected for something and how do you handle the situation?
Listening: I love "The Big Bang Theory!" Current TV shows are very good for language that is in fashion. In "TBBT," they also use vocabulary that is more academic because the characters are super-intelligent. I have "The Theory of Everything" on my list of movies I want to see.
Writing: If you didn't have much time this week, then do what you can and do more next week. We are only asking you to be as consistent as possible in your pre-study for FILA. We don't want English to be a burden or a frustration for you. We just want to help prepare you as much as possible for your entrance into FILA. Take a deep breath and relax. Little by little!
Keep up the great Work!
Malcolm
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Esther
Feb 28, 2015 12:08:18 GMT 9
Post by Esther on Feb 28, 2015 12:08:18 GMT 9
Good night!
So are you from Pennsylvania? Cool! Thus, how long have you been living in Japan? Yeah, it is freezing there!! As I have always been living in a tropical country, I have never faced a really cold weather. Here in Brazil it is extremely hot (30ÂșC)!!! And due to the high temperatures, the rain is inevitable in the end of the day.
Vocabulary: I have learned 10 words and practiced 12. I have learned two words that had no idea they're possible variations: anew and adjoin. 'Anew' means to happen again, often in a new or different way. And 'adjoin' means to be next to and connected to another buildings, rooms, areas and etc. These words are pretty much basic, but fundamental when it comes to describe a place or situation. Gladly I got to know them on time, otherwise it would be strange not to know these words. Now I can say that my bedroom is adjoin to my parent's bedroom. And that my English school is adjoin to a parking. It doesn't matter how many times do I read a book, it is always an anew experience.
Reading: The next chronicle was '20 tanks from Kasseldown' which is a reflection of man in prison who is in a deep reflection of things that he could do, but he has never done none of them or did the exactly opposite. I found a little confusing, maybe because the way the story is narrated.. It doesn't begin in the beginning, chronologically speaking, if you know what I mean.
Writing: This week I could write all 5 Quick writes, and improved to 320 words! I'm very happy! Before starting this activity I found quick writing quite challenging as I have difficulty to deal with quick decisions and actions. And now, this activity is helping me in others personal aspects =)
Listening: I couldn't manage to listen/watch anything apart from TBBT... It has been a very busy week - I am coordinating a presentation of the drum corps band that I am member of. This musical presentation will involve girls from all over Sao Paulo State. Therefore, every detail is important considering that we should assure that everything happens as planned.
Have a great weekend!
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Esther
Mar 5, 2015 12:26:51 GMT 9
Post by Admin on Mar 5, 2015 12:26:51 GMT 9
Great work Esther!
Miyagi H
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