ESLTalk - NA2 - WEEK27 - Communication

Good afternoon everyone,

For this week, our dicussion is about communication.

Communication is a really interesting topic as it is always consistanly evolving.  The methods in which we communicate, but even with all the 100s ways too communicate, one thing isn't lost, the desire to communicate with others.

Since I travel a lot, I have to use more non-traditional methods of communication, especially when talking to my friends and family in Hawaii, California or anywhere in the world.

 

CLICK HERE for this week's lesson.

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

ESLTalk - NA2 - WEEK26 - Tourism

This week we talked about the implications of tourism.  

Coming from a place where annual tourists outnumber the local population by 450 percent, it is nearly impossible to say that tourism has little to no impact on Hawaii.

Well, there are many published authors that research exactly this, from the environmental, cultural and economic impact of tourism... so I'll just leave that to the pros.

CLICK HERE for this week's lesson

 Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

ESLTalk - NA2 - WEEK25 - Gun Control

This week we had a fierce debate about gun control.

While we can agree to disagree, I still firmly believe in the right to bear arms.

I think one of the major drawback of guns is the fact when someone dies, it is a considered to be a very gruesome death. As I have included in my lesson, 11,101 people died from firearms in the United States in 2011. Yes, this is unfortunate, but it is the deaths that are NOT gruesome that we should be more focused on. For example, an article published last month in the New Scientist, reported that,"Sugary drinks may kill 184,000 people each year. Overconsumption of sweetened beverages is associated with deaths from metabolic diseases". 

Global issues (CLICK HERE) published than 21,000 children die DAILY due to "poverty, hunger, easily preventable diseases and illnesses, and other related causes." which equates to 7,665,000 children annually.

The point of this week's lesson is to be able to debate and argue your point of view. I am not asking you to agree with me, I am merely asking for you to understand my point of view. Once people no longer listen and debate is when catastrophe's happen.

People can debate all day long about what is right and wrong, but it is your actions that determines your impact in the world. I've participated in many races and raised over $40,000 for various non profit organizations and lent over $13,000 to various small business around the world.

CLICK HERE to make a difference.

CLICK HERE for this week's lesson

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

EslTalk - NA2 - WEEK24 - Internet

This week we continue our discussion of technology, focusing on the internet and debate topics about bullying in the digital age.

It is unfortunate that many teenagers and kids feel like they have no where to turn.

One interesting question for debate this week was 

"Who should be held accountable for cyberbullying?"

All of the students (for obvious reasons) blamed the bully themselves; however, I tend to believe that bullies are also a product of our society.  We allow bullies to be bullies.  There is not enough repercussions for this type of behavior; in fact, most negative behaviors online probably get some sort of positive reinforcement (whether it is from an increased amount of likes, or forwards).

CLICK HERE for this week's lesson.

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

EslTalk - NA2 - WEEK23 - Technology

 For this week, we will be covering or rather debating certain aspects of technology.

Technology has permiated every aspect of our lives.

For better or for worst.

CLICK HERE for this week's lesson.

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

ESLTalk - NA2 - Workplace Safety

This week we covered workplace safety.  Not to be confused with work satisfaction.

To view all the Advanced 2 lessons, just click NA2 under "tags".

Click here for this week's lesson.

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

ESLTalk - NA2 - WEEK21 - Medicine

For this week the lesson is regarding medicine.

As someone who was debating between a Masters in Medical Anthropology and Public Health, the issue between conventional and traditional medicine is a big deal to me.

One particular issue which has been completely institutionalized by medicine is the birthing process.

In the United States, Cesarean sections (C-sections) are performed nearly 1 in 3 births (CDC, 2013).  This is particularly disturbing to me as the process of birthing is becoming less and less natural.  

For example, it is not beneficial for hospitals to have someone in labor for an extended period of time, therefore medication is given to induce labor (pitocin).  One of the side effects, is that the contractions become very painful, then they have to give you another drug to take away the pain - causing numbness and doesn't give the woman the energy to push.  

Needless to say, C-section has become big business in the United States - more money for hospitals, more money for the insurance company [medication, procedure, anesthesiologist].  No where else in the world (including developed countries) has 1/5 of the rate of C-sections that are performed in the United States.

Sad thing is the United States has a very high IMR (infant mortality rate) in relation to other developed countries.  50 countries rank in front of the United States in regards to IMR - CLICK HERE.

This is just 1 issue that I have with the conventional medicine.

CLICK HERE for this week's lesson

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

EslTalk - SpainTalk - Week 19 - NA2 - Job Interview

Aloha!  woot. finally have some time to blog...

Here is the NA2 lesson for this past week - Job Interview

As we discussed in class, job interviews doesn't determine the best of the best.  Job interviews requires a combination of talent, experience, social skills and the ability to sell one's self.

I've been on multiple job interviews, and to be honest I've obtained every single job - even my two interviews here in Spain (in Spanish).  Luck? Perhaps, but I think it boils down to confidence and being aware of what the other person wants to hear... =]

CLICK HERE for this week's lesson!

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

SpainTalk - ESLTalk - NA2 - WEEK17 - Phobia

Aloha everyone!

Well... I´m a little behind on blogging - so I´ll be blogging like a madman today... since the week will just get more hectic!  hahaha... Besides getting my new phone(s), I plan on finishing my letter of intent, preparing for cultural week and yeah watching RuPaul´s Drag Race! woot.

haha.  It´s great to see everyone after a long holiday... 

CLICK HERE for this week´s lesson... (well... last week´s!)

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

SpainTalk - ESLTalk - NA2 - WEEK15 - ROAD RAGE

Well, since I don´t drive here in Spain - road rage doesn´t apply.

Actually, living in Hawaii, I don´t really find myself angry either.

Something about California - southern - Los Angeles to be exact. HAHAHA.

This week´s lesson includes listening activities, a video, discussion and even a practice test.

CLICK HERE for this week´s lesson

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

SpainTalk - ESLTalk - NA2 - WEEK14 - Environment

 meh.  -___-

CLICK HERE for this weeks lesson.

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

SpainTalk - ESLTalk - NA2 - WEEK13 - Stress

 This week the conversation lesson is regarding stress.

What is stress?  Why do some people tend to have it more than others?

Why is Hawaii the least stressed state?

(Seriously) CLICK HERE for news article.

Maybe it´s our calming warm waters.  =]

CLICK HERE for this week´s lesson

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

SpainTalk - ESLTalk - NA2 - WEEK11 - Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!

This week's were primarily based on Christmas topics.

For Advanced 2 students - sorry for the surprise test this week, but I think its great practice in strategizing and learning to understand the instructions and format of the test.

Some of you have asked for some things to read, so I'll be posting some of my previous papers with various topics ranging from Public Health to Environmental Issues.

CLICK HERE for this week's lesson.

CLICK HERE for a paper on Kyoto Protocol.

CLICK HERE for a paper on Polio Vaccination. 

CLICK HERE for a paper on Medicare and Aging Population.

CLICK HERE for a paper on NGO networking in Guatemala.

UPDATE: Including a paper I wrote over the holidays - thanks to my school semester actually ending on 12/30!  Received a 98%  =]

CLICK HERE for a paper on HIV infected individuals on ADAP waiting list.

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

SpainTalk - ESLTalk - NA2 - WEEK10 - Poverty Part II

This week our lessons is a continuation of our discussion regarding poverty.  

While we can probably discuss the issue of poverty around the world and its cause for hours on end, I wanted to focus on the positive things we can do to combat poverty.

Poverty exists around the world and also here in Ferrol.  

How can we help?  Its really easy.  It can be something small; such as, asking the person begging for money outside of the grocery store if they are hungry and buying them something when you're shopping - such as a loaf of bread or a bag of rice, neither costs more than .75 Euros.

While giving material things may not be your cup of tea, you have your health and perhaps free time.  Volunteering is a great way to help those in need.  There are countless NGOs around the world and here in Ferrol that could use the help.

NGOs are not perfect, one of the problems I see with NGOs is the lack of communication between them, duplicating services is common within an area.

There are NGOs that I completely believe in and support, such as Kiva.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Kiva (if you would like an invitation, send me an email)

CLICK HERE for my report in NGOs in Guatemala - in Spanish

CLICK HERE for my report on NGOs in Guatemala - in English

CLICK HERE for this week's lesson

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

SpainTalk - ESLTalk - NA2 - WEEK9 - Poverty

With the holiday looming around the corner, this is a perfect opportunity to appreciate the things we have and to even help those that are less fortunate.

The lesson for this week is poverty.

There are many ways to support individuals and marginalized groups in poverty-stricken countries, but I have found that Kiva, a non-profit organization has created a system of helping those in need help themselves.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Kiva.

CLICK HERE for this week's lesson.

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

SpainTalk - ESLTalk - NA2 - WEEK8 - Fame

The subject for this week is about the world of celebrities.

>>Why is the guy below not a celebrity?

=]

CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK´S LESSON

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

SpainTalk - ESLTalk - NA2 - WEEK 7 - Thanksgiving

This week's lesson is related to Thanksgiving.

What are you thankful for?!

I am thankful for so many things.  Thankful for the support of my family and friends.  Thankful for my health which allows me to share the aloha spirit.  Thankful for Ferrol and my students and their desire to learn English - for without which, I may not be in Spain.  

In addition to the Thanksgiving activity, there is a related activity about food to tie into last week's lesson as well as a quick introduction about Black Friday (my 3rd favorite day of the year).

See you in class.

CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK'S LESSON.

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

SpainTalk - ESLTalk - EOI de Ferrol - NA2 - WEEK5 - Music

Aloha all,

Small snafu with the lessons.  Sorry I forgot to post last week's!

The lesson for the previous week is music.

This is one my favorite songs and guess what?! It was filmed in Hawaii!  =]

CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK'S LESSON

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

SpainTalk - ESLTalk - EOI de Ferrol - NA2 - WEEK 6 - FOOD

Wow, another week already!  How quickly time flies by.

This week the lesson will be about food.

I have a major craving for sashimi right now (YUM).

Speaking of English and Food, you may want to check out http://ferroldinner.com 

It is a monthly dining club, I am starting where you can practice English in a non-school setting.

See you in class. Link to lesson below!

CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK'S LESSON

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

SpainTalk - ESLTalk - EOI de Ferrol - NA2 - WEEK 2 - AGEISM

Aloha everyone,

Here is the lesson for Advance level 2 discussing AGEISM (LINK BELOW).

My favorite part is this clip with the Golden Girls!

CLICK HERE FOR LESSON

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.