Hello everyone! How did your weekend go?
Well, if you remember, last Friday, my students had to perform the song "When you're Gone" from Avrile Lavigne at School "Paula Domínguez de Bazán".
The idea was for them to perform at around 10:30 in the morning. So, I decided to go to school earlier (even though I do not work on Fridays, but, it was a special occasion). I arrived at school at 9 a.m. and checked the Hall where students had to sing and tried to see which devices and elements I could count on for the performance. Fortunately, there were two microphones and the Projector so as to display the Power Point Presentation with the lyrics of the song.
Since one of the girls didn't want to sing, I gave her the task to be my assitant and to push play on the track when the girls sang, along with the Power Point Presentation. I looked for that girl for both of us to have everything ready for later in that morning. She had to find another computer to be able to display the PPP. In the meantime, I went upstairs and practised the song with the rest of my students for about twice or three times and then, I told them to go downstairs and get ready.
The Hall was full, a lot of students and teachers were there so as to see the different presentations carried out there. After about 20 minutes, it was my students' turn to sing. I had to introduce them and introduce myself as well. So I grabbed the microphone and I don't know how, but I could speak without being scared. Then, I called my students. They were all nervous and didn't want to go inside the Hall. Once they did and saw how many people there were there, they got even more nervous.
I could finally manage to make them go upstage and separated them a little bit because otherwise the PPP was not going to be seen by the audience.
Finally, the lights were switched off and the song started. Some students were demotivated because the students who were in the Hall were talking and the acoustics got lost because of it. But I encouraged them to continue singing.
The Final Outcome:
My students' performance was great!! I felt really proud of them! They followed all my guidelines and they sounded perfectly tuned! They didn't make any mistakes and even though their voices were a little bit low, they were homogeneous!! Some teachers told me that they sounded beautifully!!
But... The story does not end there...
After they finished singing and after the people's applause, my students didn't want to go downstage. I didn't know what was going on with them. They stood still were they were. And then, after a minute or two, to my surprise, the student who was my assitant went upstage and gave me a gorgeous bouquet representing the entire course!! I was astonished!! But I loved their gesture!! They were happy and I was happy as well!!
Here I share with you the picture that I took with my students and a picture of the beautiful bouquet they gave me!!
Hi everyone!! How are you??? Happy Spring's Day and Student's Day to all of you!!! =)
As many of you know, I'm working as an English Teacher at Paula Domínguez de Bazán School, Secondary School, in two courses, both are 5th Year. In this school they have a week (actually, three days) in which the different teachers of the three languages taught (English, Italian, French) present something with their students related to the languages studied. You can choose many of your courses to present something, or you can choose just one. In my case, I chose just one course and my idea was to present a song, since the theme this year is "Music Through Time".
Well, the song I chose is "When you're Gone" (actually, students chose it) from Avril Lavigne. It is a beautiful song and it is not that difficult. I taught my students the pronunciation of the words and we changed the pitch of the song since it was way too high for them. We've been rehearsing these weeks because we are presenting it with just the music, which is more challenging, since they have to know when to start singing. It sounds really well, so far.
But, here's the thing: last Thursday, after classes, I started to get a little nervous! We have to present the song next Friday to the whole school and people in general who go to the school and see the students' presentations. I became nervous and anxious because I am the one who has to be even more aware of when the students have to start singing and I have to direct them and even though it's a nice thing we are doing, it is also a little bit overwhelming, haha!!
So, wish me luck for next Friday and, if you're interested, I will tell you about the outcome of the Performance!!!
Here I publish the song, for you to listen to it!! =)
Someone We Should All Learn From...
Today I want to talk about a story I read the other day.
It is amazing how much time we all spend complaining about life and what we go through.
It is really common to see, at least here in San Luis, many people in the street begging for money. Sometimes they even expose their children so as to show pity and be given what they ask for. Or what is worse. Parents make their children get used to being beggars instead of teaching them how to knock on every door asking for a job, no matter how insignificant that job may be. It is at least a job and not being given money just because.
The worst thing of it all is that, when those children are not given any money when begging in the street or even when knocking on doors so to beg for it (money, I mean), those children's parents punish them really harshly.
All of this brought me back to the story I mentioned before. This story is about a Bulgarian man (Dobri Dobrev) who fought during the Second World War and, nowadays, lives in terrible conditions. But, everyday he does his best to ask for money in the street. This is not the amazing thing. The extraordinary thing about this man is that he donates ALL the money he gets from the people in the street and keeps NOT even a CENT for himself. He just manages to live with the small amount of money the Government gives him per month for having been a soldier during the War.
Isn't it amazing how we can all make a difference, dispite our social or economical situation? It is something to reflect upon. But mostly, this man, Dobri, is someone to be looked up to and to take as an inspiration so as to change the world and the world's mentality, somehow. Don't you think? =)
P.S.: Here I share with you the link so that you can read the story for yourselves ;)
http://www.periodicocentral.mx/absurdos/mendigo-que-dono-40-mil-euros-a-la-caridad
Staying in love is not a XXI Century thing...
Have you ever had the feeling that falling in love and staying in love is something very hard to do nowadays??? And, when I say the word "love", I mean the love between a man and a woman. I am not actually saying that love is not present and that people do not fall in love, what I complain about is that keeping that love on is what has become so difficult and something that we do not see every day.
It looked easier before. Or maybe I'm wrong. Many decades ago, people used to get married due to arranged marriages. That still happens in some parts of the world, such as in India. But, most countries, over the years, changed that conception of arranged marriages and accepted people getting married because they were in love.
Years ago, the people who we now know as our grandparents, got married because they were in love and, they didn't get divorced. Maybe their love was not the same but their union lasted for good. It was really strange to see a couple separated.
Now, for me, love is underestimated. The meaning of the word "love" has changed for today's society. I do not know if people really know the great significance that word implies. I think that the "love" we know today is not actually love, but, somehow (and I'm not saying that I am absolutely right) lust. It seems to me that people get together for mere selfish reasons and only to have some sorts of need satisfied.
Anyway, this idea came to my mind when I recalled the lyrics of a song from my favourite band (though some of you may laugh at who they are, but, well, it's what I like, he!) "The Backstreet Boys". In their song "I promise you", sang by one of the memebers who gives love a lot of credit, says the following in this song: "Seems like everyone we know is breaking up... Does anybody ever stay in love anymore?" I have to say that I agree with him. I do not have a boyfriend and I am not in love but, I have friends who have had boyfriends and I've seen how love, in a way, took a second place (or a third) and obsession, loneliness, lust, etc., were given a greater importance and value.
Love shouldn't be so difficult, or at least admitting that one's in love shouldn't be as hard as it seems to be. And it shouldn't be something people have to be afraid of. =)
Here I share the song with you... Enjoy it!!! =)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C96dZPUnc8
