Monthly Archives: April 2024

AUDIO UPLOAD 17: “Keep on the ‘Sunny Side’”

Script
Eggs. People all around the world eat eggs. You can cook them in many different ways!

My favorite way to eat eggs is sunny side up. You heat up a pan, add some oil or butter and crack an egg into it. One side of the egg cooks until the white part becomes solid. The yellow part of the egg — the yolk — stays yellow. It looks like a happy sun on a plate. That is why we call it “sunny side up.”

The adjective “sunny” is also used to describe people.

A very happy person can be described as sunny. We often pair “sunny” with two other words: disposition and personality. Generally speaking, these are the ways that people behave.
Let’s listen to some examples using these common word pairs.

My co-worker Pete is known for his sunny personality. Anyone who meets him likes him. He has a really sunny disposition and is always smiling. Pete always seems in a good mood.

We can also call a very happy person a “ray of sunshine.” In nature, a ray of sunshine is the light from the sun. It cuts through clouds and darkness to brighten the day.

People who are rays of sunshine do the same. They lift your spirits, or make you feel happy. They bring joy into the lives of others.

But sometimes we use this expression in a sarcastic way. In other words, I might call someone “a ray of sunshine” if they are acting unhappy or even angry.

Let’s say my friend is in a bad mood. There is nothing especially wrong, but nothing seems to make her happy. I could say to her: “Well, aren’t you a ray of sunshine today.”

Now, just so you know … this comment probably would make her even LESS happy! Sarcasm can easily make people angry. So, if people are mad or sad for a good reason, it may not a good idea to say something sarcastic like this.

Of course, no one is happy all the time. But some people are able to think about the good things in life more than the bad. In other words, they choose to look on the sunny side of life.

On other programs, we have talked about this kind of person. People who see the good in nearly every situation are optimistic. They are hopeful. They see the glass as half full, not half empty.

The next time you run into a bump in the road — which is another way to say a little problem — try your best to see the sunny side.

And that’s all the time we have. Join us again next week for another Words and Their Stories!

Curriculum and planning task: Learning theories presentations

My group’s presentation was “The Multiple Intelligences.”

Behaviorism

  • Explanation: It focuses on observable behaviors rather than internal mental processes such as thoughts and emotions.
  • Author(s): Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson and Frederic Skinner
  • Teachers role: Design environments that elicit desired behaviors and reinforce those behaviors through rewards or punishments.
  • Students role: Expected to demonstrate observable behaviors in response to specific stimuli.
  • Examples/Activities that show learning theory: Reward good actions with extra points.

Humanism

  • Explanation: Educational philosophy seeks the integral formation of the human being.
  • Author(s): Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers and James F. T. Bugental
  • Teachers role: Supporting, creating a safe space, and guiding their students.
  • Students role: Developing themselves and their learning journey instead of just receiving information.
  • Examples/Activities that show learning theory: Include encouraging teamwork and collaboration between students (visiting museums).

Social cognitive

  • Explanation: It’s based on learning new behaviors by observing the behavior of others and their consequences.
  • Author(s): Albert Bandura, Walter Mischel, Richard Lazarus and Julian Rotter.
  • Teachers role: Modeling Behavior and facililating social interactions.
  • Students role: Observing, modeling behavior and seeking feedback.
  • Examples/Activities that show learning theory: Learning in any activity by observing others.

Socio cultural

  • Explanation: Defends the idea that human learning and cognitive development happen through social and cultural interaction.
  • Author(s): Lev Vygotsky
  • Teachers role: To give the students the tools to develop in a certain culture and region.
  • Students role: To pay attention to their surroundings and cultures to learn and acquire knowledge
  • Examples/Activities that show learning theory: Growth by mentors. (When someone lives in a criminal environment where some acts, which may be questionable to some people, are seen as normal.)

Conectivism

  • Explanation: The concept of learning through technology and forming connections with others offers us a chance to gain knowledge.
  • Author(s): George Siemens and Stephen Downes
  • Teachers role: Facilitators of networked learning.
  • Students role: Importance of skills such as autonomy, critical thinking and adaptability in the modern learning environment.
  • Examples/Activities that show learning theory: Connect with diverse sources of information.

Constructivism

  • Explanation: It based on the idea that students build their own knowledge by interacting with their environment.
  • Author(s): Jean Piaget, Maria Montessori, Paulo Freire, Rudolf Steiner, etc.
  • Teachers role: Design learning experiences that engage students in activities to foster deep understanding and meaningful learning.
  • Students role: To be active learners, reflective thinkers, and to develop research and exploration skills.
  • Examples/Activities that show learning theory: Include fostering active learning, critical thinking, and problem solving.

WRITING TASK: My favorite singer

The best singer in the pop industry

Adele is one of the most important musicians in the world. First of all, she’s a big model for many people. Since she started her career, she has received many comments questioning her vocal talent based on her physical appearance, which led many people to identify with her. In addition, Adele has a very good song list. Her songs are based on personal experiences, mostly linked to different sentimental situations, which makes her songs feel more personal, making many people love her lyrics. Finally, she has a very personal relationship with her fans. At her concert in Las Vegas, Adele stopped the show to defend a fan who was being harassed by security guards. For these reasons and many more, Adele has become one of the greatest musical exponents in the world, generating admiration in people who follow her.