Gustavo

**T.D.C. 02** __ **Final version** __ Being fluent in English takes more than attending classes, and practicing must go beyond the walls of a classroom. You should not deny the massive influence that language presents nowadays. I, for one, did a lot of practicing subconsciously as a child by playing video games, watching television, and listening to music. In this article, I list and describe the steps young learners should take to consolidate, in their time of leisure, what is seen in a classroom.

In the early stages, you should try the most secure and entertaining way of practicing English: video games. With the controller in your hands, you will be able to pay attention to instructions and compare them to what is asked from you in class - depending on the game, of course. Nevertheless, there will always be cut-scenes and that is when you should absorb as much content as you can and improve your English lexis, for example. (At last)*, a tip for you all: the more obscure the better. (Now reading a second time, I think this paragraph could be further expanded if you explained the types of words that can be learned in video games, as you did with the other media.)

Furthermore, after getting used to the way language is usually presented in games, you should rely on the television. Cartoons are a constant in your teens and they are rather influential as well, since lots of your first heroes, idols, and role models probably come from this type of media. In between so many catchphrases, you should try your best to assimilate words learned in the classroom. For instance, when you heard Buzz Lightyear say "to infinity and beyond!" for the first time, you realized the meaning of the word "beyond" as the character demonstrated it on the screen. This way, the learning reached a subconscious level. Not to mention that other types of programs are also streamed on (the) television, such as movies, sitcoms, and many others, which might help in the same manner.

Finally, when you (fell) feel comfortable enough with the language, music is the last resort. Even though it might be a great fountain of misspellings and bad grammar, it is the best way, in my opinion, to practice not only slangs but also accents. Spotting and correcting the mistakes in the lyrics might be a good exercise for you in case you listen to Hip-Hop, for instance. The good aspect of music is that you can learn a lot by both memorizing famous lyrics and creating some of your own too. This exercise will certainly help your pronunciation and timing, both very important elements of fluency.

Thus, there are many ways of consolidating what is learned in the classroom during the time of leisure, but I believe the steps above are the most indicated. It all starts from very steady and controlled media to a freer, adventurous type s of communication. Once you get the hang of it in the early stages, English will not be the toughest boss around. Play on!

* At last means finally, but in the sense that something that you'd been waiting for for a long time finally happened. Example: He arrived at last.

These are definitely nice tips for learners seeking opportunities of language learning outside the classroom.

__ **Original version** __

Being fluent in English takes more than attending classes, and practicing must go beyond the walls of a classroom. You should not deny the massive influence that the language presents nowadays. I, for one, did a lot of practicing subconsciously as a child by playing videogames, watching television, and listening to music. In this article, I list and describe the steps young learners should take to consolidate, in their time of leisure, what is seen in a classroom.

In the early stages, you should try the most secure and entertaining way of practicing English: videogames. With the controller in your hands, you will be able to pay attention to instructions and compare them to what is asked from you in class - depending on the game, of course. Nevertheless, there will always be cut-scenes and that is when you should absorb as much content as you could and improve your English glossary, for example. Oh, a tip for you all: the more obscure the better.

Secondly, you should call on the television. Cartoons are a constant in your teens and they are rather influential as well, since lots of your first heroes, idols, and role models probably come from this type of media. In between so many catchphrases, you should try your best to assimilate words learned in the classroom. For instance, when you heard Buzz Lightyear say "to infinity and beyond!" for the first time, you realized the meaning of the word "beyond" as the character demonstrated it on the screen. This way, the learning reached a subconscious level. Not to mention that other types of programs are also streamed on the television, such as movies, sitcoms, and many others, which might help in the same manner.

Lastly, when you fell comfortable enough with the language, music is the last resort. Even though it might be a great fountain of misspellings and bad grammar, it is the best way, in my opinion, to practice not only slangs but also accents. Spotting and correcting the mistakes in the lyrics might be a good exercise for you in case you listen to Hip-Hop, for instance. The good aspect of music is that you can learn a lot not only by memorizing famous lyrics but also by creating some of your own, too. This exercise will certainly help your pronunciation and timing, both very important elements of fluency.

Thus, there are many ways of consolidating what is learned in classroom during the time of leisure, but I believe the steps above are the glibbest. It all starts from a very steady and controlled media to a freer, foolhardy type of communication. Once you the hang of it in the early stages, English will not be the toughest boss around. Play on! = = =_=

**Original version**  Undoubtedly, receiving the news that my family and I were moving to the United States of America was one of the apexes of 2008. Being the typical 17-year-old lad that I was, I never realized all those English classes would be really relevant to me someday. Well, guess what? They were not only relevant but essential for me and also for my other family members, who still cannot speak English very well, to understand what was going on around us. I think I can say it was one the biggest learning experiences of my life.

 Thanks to my mother, I have been in contact with the English language since I was a kid and, as I recall, I have always loved it. I was not the only one in the family that had a thing for English, though. I remember knocking on my sister’s bedroom door every now and then to check what she was up to and seeing her with a bunch of papers, folders, and pens. Yes, she was a teacher, but I never made good use of that. In my head, she was nothing more than a sister. Her English knowledge would be useful to me when I was playing video games or something. I knew she would be there for me if I really needed, though, and, oddly enough, that thought shaped me as a student.

 I was always the youngest in the classroom and this also went to my head pretty swiftly. I was not the brightest one, but never the most stupid either. As I became a teenager, I realized I was a mediocre student. I just could not help it, though. Chatting during classes, drawing, and other dispersive activities were more than attractive and I would catch myself doing it so very frequently. If those are the right words to define it, I think I was irresponsibly confident. I, deep inside, knew I could not be brilliant and still manage to do a better job than many people in the end.

 Then, suddenly, I see myself with a diploma in hands. Even though it was a delight, it was not enough; so, I decided to try the Cambridge exam. Since I kept the same kind of behavior, there was no surprise: I failed miserably. However,I was not about that. I was all about moving to the United States with my family! My sister, an adult living by herself then, was coming with us so there was no need to worry so much about the language. There would be plenty of time to learn it in a calm pace, without a rush. The next thing I remember is packing and getting in that plane in no time.

 The United States were astounding. We arrived and, by the end of our second day there, we were already visiting New York and the vicinity. The best of all is that I did not have to worry about check-ins or any of that. I would just have fun and that was how the next three months went. Life was pretty good, but sisters just have to be sisters, don’t they? In one sunny day, she decided she was returning to Brazil (talk about being irresponsibly confident), which made me realize all her responsibilities would pour all over me. <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> I bet there are some psychological reasons for why seeing her leave was a bit frightening. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I mean, it definitely meant that she would not be there in case I needed assistance. For the first time, I felt obligated to be great in English. Not good, great. Moreover, showing why I <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">got that diploma by having fluent social interactions was what my mother expected me to do anyway.

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">So, it began. From reading instructions to making complaints on the phone, I had to do it all. I was needed in different times, places, and situations. I could not help but feel like I was my own grandparents and I will tell you what: I do not know how I did not get those kids grounded. It was not natural. My temper was completely different and it was evident from the first time I had to say things I did not want to say in the first place. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">For example, the time I had to express my parents’ feelings through the phone when I could not be bothered.

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> It all started when the internet got slower than ever. As a matter of fact, it reached the level where we would spend hours without any access to it and that was too much to take. A technician was sent. Apparently, the weather had caused some damage somewhere and that was affecting the internet signal. We understood the situation and waited a few more days. Evidently, my paren<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">t’s patience decreased as the days passed by. Since a lot of things are dealt with through the internet, my parents had their reasons to be angry. I, on the other hand, used it for fun; so, my mood was nothing like theirs. I heard so many complaints that, by the time I called the company again, I knew what I had to say by heart. The whole process was very wearing and it reached the point where I had to say bad things about the attendant, the company, and peradventure the entire American system with the serene tone I am used to. I bet it would sound funny to an outsider. It was rather stressful, but situations like this put me in a position where I mentally had to choose words wisely and, believe me, that was quite the exercise.

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> I, for a long time, had to face those circumstances on a weekly basis. I eventually became used to it and decided I would take it as an exercise instead of a duty. When I had to translate something to my mother, for instance, I would try my best to express the exact meaning of those words. Obviously, there are expressions that cannot be translated; so, rephrasing some was also a huge exercise. From that, I went to applying slangs here and there, and it all became fluent in a blink of an eye.

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> Perhaps, all I ever needed to feel great was a bit of pressure. Surely, there was the tough bit as usual, but its relevance is null compared to what was taken from those experiences. After my first year as an amateur, unofficial private interpreter, the whole trip was outstandingly fun and the concept of confidence I got used to as a teen changed forever. Thanks, sis!

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> Undoubtedly, receiving the news that my family and I were moving to the United States of America was one of the apexes of 2008. Being the typical 17-year-old lad that I was, I never realized all those English classes would be really relevant to me someday. Well, guess what? They were not only relevant but essential for me and also for my other family members, who still cannot speak English very well, to understand what was going on around us. I think I can say it <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(I think this “it” is a bit vague) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">was one the biggest learning experiences of my life.
 * The feedback**

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> Thanks to my mother, I have been in contact with the English language since I was a kid and, as I recall, I have always loved it. I was not the only one in the family that had a thing for English, though. I remember knocking on my sister’s bedroom door every now and then to check what she was up to and seeing her with a bunch of papers, folders, and pens. Yes, she was a teacher, but I never made good use of that. In my head, she was nothing more than a sister. Her English knowledge would be <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(might be? Or was?) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> useful to me when I was playing videogames or something. I knew she would be there for me if I really needed <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(her/help) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">, <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> though, and, oddly enough, that thought shaped me as a student. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> I was always the youngest in the classroom and this also went to my head pretty swiftly. I was not the brightest one <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(student?), <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> but never the most stupid either. As I became a teenager, I realized I was a mediocre student. I just could not help it, though. Chatting during classes, drawing, and other dispersive activities were more than attractive and I would catch myself doing it <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(these activities/these things) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">so very frequently. If those are the right words to define it, I think I was irresponsibly confident <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(What do you think about inverting the order here?). <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I, deep inside, knew I could not be brilliant and still manage <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(d?) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">to do a better job than many people in the end.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> Then, suddenly, I see <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(saw?) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">myself with a diploma in hands. Even though it was a delight, it was not enough; so, I decided to try the Cambridge exam. Since I kept the same kind of behavior, there was no surprise: I failed miserably. However, I was not about that <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(not sure about how natural this sounds). <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I was all about moving to the United States with my family! My sister, an adult living by herself then, was coming with us so there was no need to worry so much about the language. There would be plenty of time to learn it in a calm pace, without a rush. The next thing I remember is packing and getting in that plane in no time.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> The United States were <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(was – it’s a singular noun) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> astounding. We arrived and, by the end of our second day there, we were already visiting New York and the vicinity. The best <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(thing?) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">of all is that I did not have to worry about check-ins or any of that. I would just have fun and that was how the next three months went. Life was pretty good, but sisters just have to be sisters, don’t they? In <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(on?) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">one sunny day, she decided she was returning to Brazil (talk about being irresponsibly confident), which made me realize all her responsibilities would pour all over me. I bet there are some psychological reasons for why seeing her leave was a bit frightening. I mean, it definitely meant that she would not be there in case I needed assistance. For the first time, I felt obligated to be great in English. Not good, <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">( - ?) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> great. Moreover, showing why I got that diploma by having fluent social interactions was what my mother expected me to do anyway.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> So, it began. From reading instructions to making complaints on the phone, I had to do it all. I was needed in different times, places, and situations. I could not help but feel like I was my own grandparents and I will tell you what: I do not know how I did not get those kids grounded <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(I think this part has been written in a confusing way). <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">It was not natural. My temper was completely different <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(from what?) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">and it was evident from the first time I had to say things I did not want to say in the first place. For example, the time I had to express my parents’ feelings through the phone when I could not be bothered.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> It all started when the internet got slower than ever. As a matter of fact, it reached the level where we would spend hours without any access to it and that was too much to take. A technician was sent. Apparently, the weather had caused some damage somewhere and that was affecting the internet signal. We understood the situation and waited a few more days. Evidently, my parent’s patience decreased as the days passed by. Since a lot of things are dealt with through the internet, my parents had their reasons to be angry. I, on the other hand, used it for fun; so, my mood was nothing like theirs. I heard so many complaints that, by the time I called the company again, I knew what I had to say by heart. The whole process was very wearing and it reached the point where I had to say bad things about the attendant, the company, and peradventure the entire American system with the serene tone I am used to. I bet it would sound <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(would have sounded?) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">funny to an outsider. It was rather stressful, but situations like this put me in a position where I mentally had to choose words wisely and, believe me, that was quite the exercise.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> I, for a long time, had to face those circumstances on a weekly basis. I eventually became used to it and decided I would take <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(see?) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">it as an exercise instead of a duty. When I had to translate something to <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(for?) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> my mother, for instance, I would try my best to express the exact meaning of those words. Obviously, there are expressions that cannot be translated; so, rephrasing some was also a huge exercise. From that <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(from then on?), <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I went <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(on?) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> to applying slangs here and there, and it all became fluent in a blink of an eye. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> Perhaps, all I ever needed to feel great was a bit of pressure. Surely, there was the tough bit as usual, but its relevance is null compared to what was taken <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(I took?) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">from those experiences. After my first year as an amateur, unofficial private interpreter, the whole trip was outstandingly fun and the concept of confidence I got used to as a teen changed forever. Thanks, sis!

<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12px;">Carolina: ** Hey! I… actually wrote some things I would change, in red, throughout the essay. Some things I "corrected" might make no sense and just be the ramblings of a crazy mind, but some I’m (almost?) sure are actual mistakes, such as using "were" for The USA as it is a singular noun, or using need without an object even though it’s transitive. I hope it’s okay.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">1) Overall, did I do a good job on this essay?

<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I believe so.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">2) Fill the gap if you dare: This was a _ reading.

<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(n) interesting read.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">3) How do you feel about the way the events that preceded the climax were presented?

<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">They made sense and were written in an order that was “natural”.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">4) Were there mistakes that appeared more than once along the way?

<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Not really. I think sometimes a few things are quite vague – an “it” here, a “one” there, where there might have been better terms.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">5) Is there any particular part or aspect that needs improvement? If yes, write about it.

<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I think some phrases seem to be written in the inverse order I expected somehow. I also think you mixed the past and present tenses a bit too much for my own personal taste and it left me confused about twice.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">6) Write a question you would love to answer. Then, answer it.

<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">This is hard, it seems more like an internet meme than a real question, ahahaha.

**<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12px;">Teacher: ** //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Though I enjoy your sense of humor and your stories a lot, considering that this is a narrative // //essay, not just any narrative, I believe you need to add a more formal tone to it. It’s too conversational in some points, very similar to how you would tell the story orally. You are very fluent in the language and have a great command of idiomatic expressions. However, you need to develop a more formal tone for your academic writing.//

<span style="color: #800059; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> //Also, regarding the content and organization, it takes you too long for you to get to your point. The three paragraphs that provide the background could be summarized into a single one and you could delete some details that, though very interesting, at times distract the reader from the point of your essay, which is to describe how your experience in the US helped you perfect the good English you had already acquired. I confess that at one point I had to go back and check what your thesis was because it felt like it was your English-learning experience in Brazil.//

<span style="color: #800059; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">//Mistakes: informality, W.W., conversational, W.F., fragment, and punctuation.//

__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Final version** __

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> Undoubtedly, receiving the news that my family and I were moving to the United States of America was one of the apexes of 2008. Being the typical 17-year-old lad that I was, I never realized all those English classes would be really relevant to me someday. To my surprise, they were not only relevant but essential for me and also for my other family members, who still cannot speak English very well, to understand what was going on around us. I think I can say that living in the U.S. was one of the biggest learning experiences of my life.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> Thanks to my mother, I have been in contact with the English language since I was a kid and, as I recall, I have always loved it. I was not the only one in the family that had a thing for English, though. My sister was a teacher, but I never made good use of that. Her English knowledge was useful to me when I was playing video games <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">or something. I knew she would be there for me if I really needed her, though, and, oddly enough, that thought shaped me as a student. I was always the youngest in the classroom and this also went to my head pretty swiftly. As I became a teenager, I realized I was a mediocre student. Chatting during classes, drawing, and other dispersive activities were more than attractive and I would catch myself doing these activities so very frequently. If those are the right words to define it, I think I was confidently irresponsible. I, deep inside, knew <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(Now that I'm reading it again, I think "I knew, deep inside, I ..." works better.) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">I could not be brilliant and still managed to do a better job than many people in the end. Then, suddenly, I saw myself with a diploma in hands. By that time, <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">I was all about moving to the United States with my family. My sister, an adult living by herself then, was coming with us <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">, <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> so there was no need to worry so much about the language. The next thing I remember is packing and getting on that plane in no time.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> The United States was astounding. We arrived and, by the end of our second day there, we were already visiting New York and the vicinity. The best thing of all is that I did not have to worry about check-ins or any of that. I would just have fun and that was how the next three months went. Life was pretty good, but sisters just have to be sisters… On one sunny day, she decided she was returning to Brazil (talk about being confidently irresponsible), which made me realize all her responsibilities would pour all over me.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> There must be some psychological reasons for why seeing her leave was a bit frightening. It definitely meant that she would not be there in case I needed assistance. For the first time, I realized I had to be great in English. Moreover, showing why I got that diploma by having fluent social interactions was what my mother expected me to do anyway. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> So, it began. From reading instructions to making complaints on the phone, I had to do it all. I was needed in different times, places, and situations. I could not help but feel like I was my own grandparent - responsible for parents. It was not natural. My temper was completely different from my parents’ and it was evident from the first time I had to say things I did not want to say in the first place, like the time I had to express my parents’ feelings <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">(through) on the phone <span style="color: #bc0000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">when I could not be bothered. (I didn't quite understand what you mean here)

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> It all started when the internet got slower than ever. As a matter of fact, it reached the level where we would spend hours without any access to it and that was too much to take. A technician was sent. Apparently, the weather had caused some damage somewhere and that was affecting the internet signal. We understood the situation and waited a few more days. Evidently, my parent’s patience decreased as the days passed by. Since a lot of things are dealt with through the internet, my parents had their reasons to be angry. I, on the other hand, used it for fun; so, my mood was nothing like theirs. I heard so many complaints that, by the time I called the company again, I knew what I had to say by heart. The whole process was very wearing and it reached the point where I had to say bad things about the attendant, the company, and peradventure the entire American system with the serene tone I am used to. Definitely, it would have sounded funny to an outsider. It was rather stressful, but situations like this put me in a position where I mentally had to choose words wisely and, believe me, that was quite <span style="color: #800000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">(the) an exercise.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> I, for a long time, had to face those circumstances on a weekly basis. I eventually became used to it and decided I would see it as an exercise instead of a duty. When I had to translate something for my mother, for instance, I would try my best to express the exact meaning of those words. Obviously, there are expressions that cannot be translated, and rephrasing them was also a huge exercise. From then on, I went on to applying slangs here and there, and it all became fluent in a blink of an eye.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"> Perhaps, all I ever needed to feel great was a bit of pressure. Surely, there was the tough bit as usual, but its relevance is null compared to what I took from those experiences. After my first year as an amateur, unofficial private interpreter, the whole trip was outstandingly fun and the concept of confidence I got used to as a teen changed forever. Thanks, sis!

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">**Comments:** <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">When I read the word “narrative”, I thought I could be really informal, but I was completely wrong. Moreover, I realized I must make everything clear to the reader. I can never assume they will get what I am thinking. The thing about the informality is that it is still an essay. Anyway, thanks for the heads up. Next time I teach this course, I'll be sure to make that more explicit. And yes, your write to a reader who doesn't usually know what's on your mind, so you do have to make your points and examples more explicit.

The fact that you made the contextualization part more concise and in just one paragraph certainly helped keep my focus on the topic of your essay. The expressions in green are ones that I still think are too informal for an essay. You certainly made all the confusing points clearer and the story flows well now. It's a great story and I can see how all this negotiation contributed to the advancement of your proficiency in the language. =___=


 * =**<span style="color: #cb0000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">NARRATIVE ESSAY OUTLINE: Topic 02 **=

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Setting:**
Brazil and the United States of America.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Main characters:**
My family and I.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Plot:**
When the news that we would move to the United States came, I was supposed to be a fluent English speaker... but I was not. My sister was, though, and the fact that she was coming with us made me feel comfortable. Everything went as expected for a couple of months: I would enjoy and she would do the hard work, which was helping our parents with the foreign language. However, everything changed as soon as she decided to return sooner than the rest of us.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Climax:**
My sister returned to Brazil and I, freaked out, realized I was the only English speaker left.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Ending:**
For more than two years, I was responsible for solving problems, asking questions, answering the phone, and making translations everywhere. Even though the first year was painful, had my sister decided to stay, I would never have practiced as much as I did. This made me confident enough to enjoy my second year in the United States even more, regardless of my responsibilities as a slave... I mean, interpreter.


 * =<span style="color: #cb0000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Peer Editing of Outlines, by Carol =


 * 1. Is there any aspect of the outline that looks unclear to you?**

Not really, it's well summarized in my opinion.


 * 2. Can you think of an area in the outline that needs more development? Do you have any specific suggestions?**

Maybe you could add a bit more of description to the outline, to give as a taste of what funny (or painful!) experiences you've been through while having to become fluent by force during your first year there. :)


 * 3. If you have any other ideas and suggestions, write them here.**

Your outline is better developed than mine. I wonder if it's because yours is about a much more recent experience and mine is half-forgotten - except for a few key events. Anyway, this is entirely random and has nothing to do with the structure, but I would rewrite this sentence to have less commas and more tense variation: "My sister returned to Brazil and I, freaked out, realized I was the only English speaker left." Maybe "My sister returned to Brazil and I, freaking out, realized I was the only English speaker left" or "My sister returned to Brazil and I freaked out, realizing I was the only English speaker left"? I just feel it sounds nicer somehow. Regarding the outline itself, I'd be happy if you added a bit more to the "climax". =___=


 * =**<span style="color: #cb0000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">ESSAY: What are the advantages of being bilingual in today's society? **=

__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**<span style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify;">Original version ** __

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Since the 90’s, the world seems to be more and more connected. Speaking to someone from another country is not very difficult nowadays and finding someone whose native language is different than yours is even less. Being bilingual helps quite a lot not only on those situations but also in job interviews and other events during one’s career. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It is known that competition is a big thing in modern society. Knowing a different language puts one ahead when trying to get a job for instance. Let’s face it, would a boss want someone limited in terms of language? This is why it is so important for kids to start as soon as possible so they can learn as much content and as many languages as they can, making them to stand out in middle of other people. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Not to mention that it, sooner or later, results in money. For instance, the next edition of the World Cup is going to be in Brazil and many taxi drivers are interested in this event. Apparently, the more languages they speak, the more passangers they can get, which leads towards profit in the end of the day. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Furthermore, once in a job, the amount of opportunities that appear throughout one’s career increases when one knows multiple languages. Knowing to speak French may take one to France, Italian to Italy and there forth. It doesn’t mean it is going to happen but it certainly makes it easier to happen.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Therefore, being bilingual is not only important on a social level but also on a professional one, making distinctive those who prepared themselves properly for today’s society. A very competitive one if you ask me.

= =

= =

__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Second version** __

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Compared to the last couple of decades, the world seems to be more connected. Having a conversation with someone from another country and meeting people that speak a different language are not difficult tasks nowadays. Throughout the years, this matter reached the professional level, where knowing a second language makes the difference. Being bilingual is, for today’s society, vital for social and professional reasons. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It is known that competition is a big deal in modern society. Knowing a different language is a nice card for one to have under the sleeve when trying to get a job for instance. Let us face it, in terms of language, would a boss choose someone limited over someone with certain abilities? Having the power to stand out is why it is so important for people to start learning as much and as soon as they can in their lives. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Not to mention that, sooner or later, being bilingual might result in more money. For instance, the next edition of the World Cup is going to be in Brazil and many taxi drivers are interested in this event. Why would that be? Apparently, the more languages they get to speak by then, the more foreigners they can get in their cars, which leads towards profit in the end of the day since the airports will be full of people for a great period of time. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Furthermore, once in a job, the amount of opportunities increases throughout one’s career when one knows multiple languages. Knowing to speak French may take one to France for example. While in there, one might meet a lot of people, become friends with some, need to talk business with others, and being bilingual will definitely help in those different types of social interactions. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Therefore, being bilingual is not only important socially but also professionally, making distinctive those who prepared themselves properly for the intense competition that today’s society faces each day.

__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Final version** __

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Compared to the last couple of decades, the world has become more connected. Having a conversation with someone from another country and meeting people who speak a different language are not difficult tasks nowadays. Throughout the years, this situation reached the professional level, where knowing a second language makes the difference. Being bilingual is, for today’s society, vital for social and professional reasons. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It is known that competition is a big deal in modern society. Knowing a different language is a nice card for one to have up the sleeve when trying to get a job, for instance. Let us face it, in terms of language, would a boss choose someone limited over someone with certain abilities? Having the power to stand out is the objective of many and the reason why it is so important for people to start learning as much and as soon as they can in their lives. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Besides, sooner or later, being bilingual might result in more money. For instance, the next edition of the World Cup is going to be in Brazil and many taxi drivers are interested in this event. Why would that be? Apparently, the more languages they get to speak by then, the more foreigners they can get in their cars, which leads towards profit at the end of the day, since the airports will be full of people for a great period of time. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Furthermore, once one is in a job, the amount of opportunities increases throughout one’s career when multiple languages are known. As a result of the current globalization, companies need someone to represent their motto and projects around the world more than ever. Being able to speak French may take one to France, for example, and the stay might last a lifetime. Thus, being bilingual does open several doors to those who seek professional experience abroad. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Finally, knowing a second language may boost one’s social life. The internet has great responsibility in that, since it facilitated the communication between people who would never get in touch otherwise. When traveling, one might meet lots of people and being bilingual will definitely help in many of the social interactions one might experience, such as hanging out with friends, giving information to strangers, and so forth. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Therefore, being bilingual is not only important socially but also professionally. Since it may ricochet to one’s life in society, being immune to today’s globalization (<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">became) has become something to be avoided, making distinct those who <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">have <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">prepared themselves for the intense competition the world faces each day. It may be too late, but... for those who have not heard, “foresight” is the word. Very nice job with this writing, Gustavo. The paragraph you added about the social aspect made the body consistent with the thesis. Your conclusion is much more interesting now.

** T.D.C. 01 ** =___=


 * =<span style="color: #cb0000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">VOICETHREAD: "Gonna" =

media type="custom" key="11552858" =___=


 * =**<span style="color: #cb0000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">TEACHING TECHNIQUE 06 **<span style="color: #cb0000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">: " **<span style="color: #cb0000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Help students sort out and then consolidate new grammar information" **=

It is normal for students to be confused with different grammar structures throughout their lives. For example, verb tenses are easy as long as there is no other similar one around to twist their minds up. There are, however, ways to organize those thoughts and help students to have a clear vision of the subject taught.

As suggested by the book, one should use techniques such as underlining the correct answers or writing them down to practice and, consequently, understand the information given by the teacher.

**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Example 01 - verb "play": **
//The boy// //(is going to play / is playing / played / plays) tennis last week.//

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Example 02 - verb "study":**
//She .................................... grammar now.// //They// ................................. //vocabulary last night.// //He always ....................... spelling.// //I .......................................// //grammar tomorrow.//

Finally, teachers must be aware that the second example requires more English proficiency than the first one.