Have a great summer everyone!

freedom wrighters Monday, June 1, 2009

1.Describe a scene in the movie Freedom Writers that you remember well. Explain why you picked it.?
I love the seen when the teatcher reeds what everyone has written in their diarys .
I think that part goes strait to your heart, when you hear them tell whats going on in their lives and the teatcher sitts there helpless. I picked that part because i relly think that it was a beautiful seen if i can say so. You relly feel their pain and suffer.

2. Compare your reading experience to your viewing experience. What are the differences and similarities between reading the Freedom Writers diaries and watching the movie Freedom Writers, in your opinion
I really dont remenber so much of the diarys we read it wasent the same as the move, the move sticks. In the book there were a lot of feelings . I liked the move better because you can se who the characters is you understand everything more.

3. Evaluate the movie and the book (state your own personal opinion about them) OR discuss the overall message of the diaries and the movie
I think that the move and the book whants to teach us than people are the same, it dosent matter where you come from or what you skin type is. People are the same some are poor and some are homeless. And that everybody has a drem we just need to find it in our own way!

freedom writers

FREEDOM WRITERS

1.ANSWER: When the students were mad that their teachers would not continue with the next year. They waited for an amendment to it while their teacher was in meeting with the Principal and all other teachers. They were so happy because they had not expected a change and their teachers did everything to continue next year with them. I chose this scene because it was both sad and happy scene, their teachers were more than a mother for them, the sins evident in this scene.

2.ANSWER: When I read the book, I was very contained in the book I hung with great care and I had a good imagination of how they looked and how their personality was, but in the movie it was more interesting when I saw how they were and how their teachers were. Therefore, to read is not like to see. It was more funnier to see the movie than to read that. Because when I read a book so it takes a bit until I have a fantasy about how it looks then I get tired of the book and continue to read it later or the next day. But in the movie, I quickly and is fully concentrated.

3.ANSWER: The book was very interesting and fun but it was so complicated I hung with really good last bit of the book. The movie was a very good film, it showed how it is in reality and there is really like in, steam lives of violence, crime and racism, but then a change happens suddenly. Thus for me was the movie better than the book. The movie was also very sad. I would like to see the movie again and I will do..... :)


Sorry for I could not do homework on the time because my computer start hacking and I had to restart it many times. :)

Posted by Potential Dreamer

Questions on the freedom writers:

1. I remember when Eva told Mrs. G about her situation with the consequences of her actions in court. How she was forced to go and live with her aunt and how it would affect her school work. I felt that it was really touching and I saw Eva growing as a character when she confided in someone. Anyone really. In the beginning of the movie I would never have taught that she would have the courage and the strength to cheer her problems with anyone at all. I also think that it’s a moment were Eva and Mrs. G connect and bond and it’s a beautiful moment.

2. The biggest different between reading the book and watching the movie is that when I reed the book the characters came to life in my mind. But then when I saw the movie my thoughts and opinions changed completely but it doesn’t have to mean that it’s a bad thing. I saw some similarities and some scenes was exactly as I had imagined.

3. I loved the book and the movie. It was one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time. I can’t really state a correct and fully explained opinion on the book since I have only reed parts of it. But the pieces that I’ve reed I have loved. It’s very dark but at the same time it gives you a feeling of hope. You learn to sympathize whit the kids and you come to love their characters. I will watch this movie many times again. It’s great.

Posted by Gjejlan

Freedom Writers

1) Describe a scene in the movie that you remember well. Explain.

- One of the scenes that i really remember is the one where the teacher is reading out loud what all of the students had written earlier, and I was amazed by how they wrote all of it. The way they described everything they went through, their feelings, the difficulties, the heartache and sorrow. i couldn't believe half of what they had been through, beeing so young and all, but it still helped me connect and relate to some of the diaries. The diaries really opened my mind about being strong and never losing faith and to countinue fighting, which the students really did. This scene touched me so much and even made me release a few tears.

- Another scene that I also remembered was the one where it showed all of the students in different places, reading Anne Franks journal. I was surprised that there were so many people that were interested in the book, that so many people wanted to read it, when they were all teenagers who hated school. I was surprised by seeing them behave so good, and wanting to read. And I was really happy, cause we got to se the good side of all these students, thats when the movie became interesting to me.

2) Compare your reading experience to your viewing experience.

- I want to start this by saying that it was both fun and interesting reading the diarys and seeing the movie. Reading the diarys was fun, but sometimes I felt that it was a bit too much to read. But watching the movie was more interesting to me, mostly cause it wasn't as boring as the diary could be sometimes, but also cause I got a better picture on what really happened, which I didn't get when I read the diarys, and that makes it boring to countinue to read.

3) Discuss the message of this story/movie.

- I think that the message of this movie is that they want to show people that there are alot of people that have problems at home, in school and everywhere else, and that it is not only for example black people, but everybody. That you shouldn't hate eachother for you background, and that you should respect others just like you want to get respect. That there is something good in everybody, and that you shouldn't look down on yourself and think that you don't know a thing, which the pupils did. Cause when they realised that they have something good in themselves too, then they started fighting. And everybody who feels the same way they did can do the same thing. Thats what I think the message of this movie was.

1. Describe a scene in the movie Freedom Writers that you remember well. Explain why you picked it.

A scene from freedom writers that I especially remember is when a guy read a chapter from his own diary for the whole class. The text was especially meant for the teacher. He told her how a such of big difference she had made in his life and how she had taught him to belive in hope and faith. I was really touched by this scene because it shows a lot on the movie's message. You should dare to believe in yourself and feel satisfied with who you are. The teacher's purpose was to give the students self-esteem and community, this scene shows that she actually managed to do it.

2. Compare your reading experience to your viewing experience. What are the differences and similarities between reading the Freedom Writers diaries and watching the movie Freedom Writers, in your opinion?

In the diaries that we read, the characters life and feelings are more clearly explained. The movie hasn't all of the details that makes the whole story such a great one, but since the movie was very gripping and the scenes captured my interest, I prefer to watch the movie. In the movie you get a greater insight of how it really looked like and how tough the students were living. How much bias there is in our people and how much we hate each other just because we don't look the same or have the same blood. In the movie you get a clear picture of how the teacher reinforces each student's self-esteem. To previously been reading the diaries made it easier to better understand the students' and teachers' feelings during the film.

3. Evaluate the movie and the book (state your own personal opinion about them) OR discuss the overall message of the diaries and the movie.

I never expected that this movie would be as good as it was. It was above my expectations and managed to capture my interest. The main message of the book and the movie is that you should dream and believe in yourself, and that you should have respect for all your fellow human beings, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background. No matter how we look or how we act, we deserve to be treated with respect. We should not be divided into ethnic groups and start wars witch each other, we are all human beeings.

Last class

Hi everyone!
Tomorrow we will wrap up the discussion on Freedom Writers and I will also let you know your grade in this course. Tomorrow is our last class for this term. Please return your English books tomorrow. See you then!

Freedom Writers

1) The scene that I picked was when Ms. Gruwell read the diaries where the students told her about how they grew up and how it has been a struggle for them to survive in the cruel society that they lived in since they were kids. It was so sad to hear what they've been through and it actually made me cry but I tried as hard as I could to hold back the tears. It was very, very emotional for me because I could understand some of the situtations the students were in. It's just a scene that you will absolutely never forget.

2) The difference between reading the book and watching the movie is that in the book, when you read, you see pictures in your mind of how things and people might look like. And when you watch the movie, some things are exactly like you pictured it in your head while some things, ofcourse, aren't. When you read the book, the feelings that the students describe are stronger and you can actually feel them yourself. It's as if you really are that person for the moment. And in the movie it's like that too except that when you watch, everything happens so fast but in the book, since you're reading it's a slower process and you get a chance to just take everything in and you feel it more than in the movie.

3) I thought that the movie was great. It was very good and so emotional. You could just feel what they were going through and I think that one of the main messages in the movie was that no matter where you live, how you look like and etc, stay in school and get an education so that you can make something out of yourself, because knowledge is power and if you have a good education you can achive greatness.
The book was also great, but I think that the book was a lot darker and more sad than the movie. When you read the book, you kind of got depressed yourself just by reading what the students were going through. But besides that, it was a very good book. And I strongly recommend everyone to either read the book or watch the movie. Or do as I sometimes do, first read the book and then watch the movie.

Posted by Lamiso

We must start to think before we talk about things that we don't understand. I actually picket up tow scenes!

The most finest, bravest, and justice situation in the scene was when (Eva) told the truth behind the event and faced Asian and do not own people, and this was evidence for justice and that all are equal regardless of skin color, where you came from or how you look like. She did just because she felt it is wrong to lie face to face and when she looked at the little girl that made her to be more sure, comfortable and stronger.I think she was a good person inside but her own people made her to be a bad person, because she didn't really know how the other people around her.

An other favourite scen: was when a student draw a picture of (Jamal) who he looked like Jew who called( holocaust and racial divisions) it was so degrading.I picked up this scene because the student didn't know about holocust and he just draw up but it's mean a lot of things teacher told to the students what it's meant.

2. This is almost my favorite movie. because of it I am writing stories, that don't sound like I wrote them.This movie almost made me cry, it was very emotional.I think the moive was one of the best that ever had been made,but i think that they should have put every thing on the movie that was in the book. The book is much better than anything that was told on the movie.The book has always have the little details than the movie. The movie have always the important parts or scen to show the people we must have the respect to eachother.

All stories in books does not of course to make the film on. But sometimes when you read a book so one can really see the images before them. It can even live up in the book. One can even imagine that this would make good on film.

As demonstrated for the first time the audience reacted very strongly and emontionelly.Ongood and evil, we have created a protective wall between us and the movie. We know that it can not affect us physically. But the mental image nonetheless penetrates into our consciousness.

3. When i saw the movie I cried a lot and at the same time i listened to the song of the movie. The song discribes that everybody has a dream.

I have a dream that one day the nation will rise up and understand ... that all people are created equal ... I have a dream that one day my four little children live in a nation where they will not be judged by their color, but in the content of their character. (Martin Luther King)

This really show us that we are all not just a WHITE MAN, or a BLACK MAN, we are all just HUMANS, we all deserve RESPECT each and everyone of us. Nice movie and amazing message of hope!

freedom writers

I liked the scen where someone in the class draws a picture of an african american boy in the class. The drawing was racist aginst African american people, and mrs gruwell made a comparence to the holocaust were they drew pictures of jewish people. The students defended themselfs by saying their life was hard. Mrs gruwell starts talking about respect and its true meaning, and that the color of the skin doesnt relly mather. I think this scen was very strong it almost made me cry and I dont use to cry for movies.

I liked both. When you read, you imagin all the scens, and the book have scens that the movie dosent have, and other details. If i had to pick i would pick the book because it has more information and emotion, even thoug the movie was vary good.

I think the message of the movie was that the color of your skin doesnt matter because you still deserve and and have to give respect, we are all human beings and we shouldnt be deviding us into groups.

Homework

• I liked the scene when the teacher reads the diaries. All the stories they have written are amazing. All of them have only bad memories and they have only experienced bad events. Their stories were so touching and it made me feel compassion for this them.

• I think watching the move is better of course. The move gives you the picture to explain
  even more and to make you understand and feel the movie more. The bad thing with the movie is that it didn’t have all the scenes that the book had. For me it obviously that I rather like the book then the movie, because the book have so many unnecessary details. The book can take you quiet a while to read but the movie takes you just a couple of hour. But the only thing freedom writers both the book and the movie have uncomment is that they are really good and explains filing and situations so goo that you really can feel their pain.

• I think the message is to show people that every body has problems and really hard situations to deal with and feeling bad for you or blaming somebody else is not the solution. Instead you have to accept the past, move on and do something useful with your life and your future.

I love the movie it was great.

Questions for Freedom Writers

I would start to say that the movie Freedom Writers was really, really good! I liked it because I have never seen a movie like that before.

1. I especially remember a scene in the movie when the teacher started a new project in the class which was to write your own diary. She really wanted to help her students feel happy and secure. I think that the teacher wasn't prepared for all students to take it so seriously. She gave them each block with blank papers and told them to write whatever is on their mind, whatever they were thinking about. The teacher told the class that if they wanted her to read their diary they could leave it on her desk, but they didn't have to if they didn't want to. When she opened her desk the next day she saw their diaries. She was really surprised. Instantly she started to read diary after diary. She noticed that all of the students lived very hard lifes and they just have negative things to write about. I can honestly say that I got Goosebumps when I saw that scene because it was painful to see how some young people can feel. I noticed that the students had just shown their tough side but when they wrote the diary they felt like they didn't have to do that anymore. For the first time they showed that they had a weak and sensitive side. They had so much faith in their teacher that they finally told their story. I really think that the teacher was wounderful and one of a kind. She cared about her student so much.

2. I think it was a really big difference between the diary I read and the movie I saw. In the movie they didn't show all the things and feelings like they desribe in the diary. But I still like the movie more than the diary because the movie was really interesting and exciting and it was high tension through the whole movie whichI liked much.

3. I think that the message of the movie Freedom Writers was to show young people how it can be to live hard lifes without no one who cares about you and see if you feel good. The movie wants to show how hard it could be to live in a dangerous area there you can't be safe because suddenly you can ending up in a dangerous sitation alone. In the movie they showed how it could be in school for some young people who didn't care about anything except troubles. At the end I think the movie was well done and I would obviously see it again!

/Nadja

The Freedom Writers!!!

1) The scene I remember well is when they toast for changed and a guy in class wanted to tell his story. Everybody waited silently and listened. He told about his worse summer in life. He talked about his mother who couldn't pay the rent and she tried to help him as much as she could. She had know one to lean on and no money comming in. He said that it all started with a phonecall, the sheriff rang and he heard his mother beging for more time. His mother cried and kept apollogizing. He had no home, no safety and no help from nobody. Now he feel like he have someone who can make a difference in his life. His teacher gave him hope for a better future and maked him feel better. He said the most touching words who really touched my heart. I am home he said. That is the part were I started to cry.

I picked it because it touched my heart.

2) Between reading and watching Freedom writers it is a big difference. Because when you read you'll get more details and it is more interesting with it. The film is constructed with exitement on one thing like in the film on Eva. Some parts that happen in the book are not in the film. The similar is that the main point is in the film and the book.

3)The message from the film and the book is that everybody can change if they want to. You know that if you don't want someting you won't do it. For example if you are smoking and you are saying that you can't stop it is because you don't want to quite. In this film there is many persons in the class who changed and they changed because they wanted to. The teacher said in the end that it is not her success it is yours and shes right. The keys to this success is beliveing, hope and have this thought "I can make it".

Freedom Writers.

1.
At court when the latina girl was telling her view from the shop.There were 3 latino guys sitting in the court to see that she was going to tell exactly from the lie and that was that african guy shot 2 persons in the shop.As well when she was telling the story she got guilty for not telling what really happened and stopped speaking the 3 latino guys was starring at her because she's one of them and shouldn't care about the other ones.But anyhow she did tell the truth and after that she was in a serious trouble.They found her in her alley living for school and attacked her but only just for warning.

I picked this scene from the movie because there is a "war" between the africans,latinos,asians and whites.It's a silly "war" and by my opinion they should talk over why all this is as it is and find a solution about it.And why should every one suffer because of it and they shouldn't !

2.
The movie was all great but in the diaries you could feel all the pain they were going throw even the white kid too.All the kids thought they were going throw different things but they all had the similar pain and family troubles. In the movie you only saw some of the parts from the diaries and everything wasn't included even the most juicy,if I had to say like that.

3.
I thought the movie was great because you could see all the things you imaginated in front of you but in the book I read what the kids thought and most of them thought they wasn't worthy enough.The movie diractors should have included everything and I know that the movie would have been longer but I think that it would have been better than a short movie because it is a great truthfully-strory behind it.

Freedom Writers Sunday, May 31, 2009

In the first task, I try to give 2 complex, important scenes which interested me.
1.
• Life was a crisis for many people, witch made that life be very difficult for everyone living in the society. The people were divided into groups and it was not a good environment for all especially those who have different backgrounds, where they felt threatened. Which lead to young people affected by hopeless. So it was also difficult to find someone that comfort and support you, when you are in bad situations. Erin, she I want to write about she did that was very interesting and gave the movie a nice picture. Because I believe that she is a strong woman, not many can have the great responsibility to educate more students who were ungrateful at the beginning if it was another teacher, it is possible that she would give up and not care about them. But Erin tried to change that by giving the hope that tomorrow will be better than today and where we wish us to die to protect our own, then we can die with respect, clearly it can not help that you can forgotten and life continues on, but if we would have strong will, our lives changed, and make that others respect us as we are. Erin is trying to have understanding for their students' situations by encouraging them to write about their own lives in a small booklet, which she bought for them. Then each student could write about their day, the book can contain everything that happens, sad and happy moments.

• It was a student she had in class that was real mad at everyone around her, especially a specific group. Her name is Eva, she had lived difficult life when she was just a small child. She saw her brother pushed to death in front of his eyes and was also his father is attacked by white policemen. Then she could not see than that she has great hatred for all those who have white skin color. So hate has growth with her. I think it brought many emotions in Eva. It must take a long time to process it. Her biggest problem was her own people, who tried to steer her by thinking instead of her. As it happened a once that they wanted from her that she should lie so that protect his people despite the fact that they were wrong, but when she met Erin was her outlook on life changed, and she could live safely in herself. Finally she refused and wanted to show that she can speak the truth without being afraid. I find it was very difficult decision that not everyone can take. That is why I think he was a strong woman and she can live life with great ability to take care of people and their rights in the future.

2.
When I saw the movie it felt as if I had seen it before because I have read the book's diaries. Both the movie and the book were powerful and poignant, but the movie has affected me more because the movie could show me the parts that were very complex and poignant. That story could hold me beside its recordings, though they have not take addressed all of the detailed elements which we have read about in the book. Without the film, we see that they focus on the important parts, I think the purpose of this was that they did not want to make the viewer is tired of the movie, to where if they have done so may lead to that time in the film can be extended, and some parts of the film can be easily boring. A result of which may be poor judgment of most that see the movie, it wanted the does not have because it could affect sales of the film.

3.
The film was educational and it gave me great advantage to be able to see the outside world, and by adding in other situations can all be facilitated to be able life. The purpose of the film was to explore the daily violence that the majority of students have grown up with. The movie really shows us that we are all not just a white or a black man, we are all just people and we all deserve respect and therefore should give it to each other. And it has more purpose that we must to have a little of hope because if we lose it than we don’t feel the joy I our life. The film also tries to show that people who bear the responsibility should fight for the rights of others to a good life. Because that life may be more world if we are to learn to live and be enjoy with each other.

3)the book was really good and it was interesting to read every time it was finished with a chapter wanted to just go on and read and know what happens. and in the book they write a lot that will not in the movie but I think most people like to see the movie instead of reading the book. but both the movie and the book was good

part of the movie was really good and that I remember most was when the guy came up and read what he had written. he tell how she had changed their lives and helped to become better.while I saw those I thought of many things the way others do. there are many who have the bad and live a bad life. 2)difference between the movie and the reading was that when you read .fantasize how things were going, and given how they had while it was difficult to know whether it was he. but in the movie had to know if it was the guy or girl and it was interesting to see the movie if you had read the book because they saw parts which had been read.

Homework for June 1st Thursday, May 28, 2009

Here are the questions that I want you to answer by Monday June 1st:

1. Describe a scene in the movie Freedom Writers that you remember well. Explain why you picked it.

2. Compare your reading experience to your viewing experience. What are the differences and similarities between reading the Freedom Writers diaries and watching the movie Freedom Writers, in your opinion?

3. Evaluate the movie and the book (state your own personal opinion about them) OR discuss the overall message of the diaries and the movie.

Post your answers on the blog no later than Monday June 1st at 10 pm (22:00). If you can't access the blog please e-mail me your answers.

Technical issues Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Today we had some serious technical issues in class. The computer we used to play the movie was one of the slowest computers EVER. The movie kept freezing up too. I hate it when that happens!

Thanks a lot for your patience and for staying to watch the end of the movie this afternoon.

I think the Freedom Writers is such a good movie. Hope you liked it as well.

On Thursday you will get some questions to answer. The answers to those questions will be due on Monday evening. That's the final assignment in this course. On Thursday you will also get your results of the national test back.

Movie time Monday, May 25, 2009

Tomorrow we will watch the movie Freedom Writers in class. Class starts at 11:30. Please note the time. We will finish at 1:30 pm as we normally do. Be there. Freedom Writers is a great movie, in my opinion.

Follow-up on today's homework Tuesday, May 19, 2009

For today I asked you to read the final diaries of The Freedom Writers Diary.

In class I divided you into four groups where you had to come up with four questions each on the diaries that you were assigned. The questions were then passed on for another group to answer.

We were a bit short of time for the presentation, but here are some of the discussion questions and answers that the groups came up with:

Diaries 82, 92 and 102:
What made the student in diary 102 realize that his/her mother only wanted the best for her children? - He/she realized that the mother wanted the children to have a future, and the student realized that while reading the book The Joy Luck Club.

Why did the student feel that standing outside the monument was a special moment? - Because it was the same place where Martin Luther King had stood and made a wish that black and white kids would be able to stand as one and be friends. The Freedom Writers made his wish come true when they held each other's hands at that very same place.

Diary 132:
The student in diary 132 has a dilemma about signing or not signing up to be able to play baseball. To sign or not to sign, what do you think? - Since it is a once in a life time opportunity, he will regret not signing the contract. If he takes the chance to play baseball, but fails, at least he tried and can say "I did it and I don't regret my decision".

Diaries 141 and 142:
Why do you think that the Freedom Writers did not give up on themselves? - Because they were inspired by their teacher.

If you had a disease like the student who had Cystic Fibrosis, would you have done the same thing that he/she did? - Yes, it's the right thing to do to have a successful future.

___________________________________

On Tuesday May 26th we will watch the movie Freedom Writers in class. Since you have a test that morning and will finish after the test, English class will start at 11:30, after you have had lunch. The movie is about 2 hours and we will finish around 1:30 pm like we normally do.

There will be a final written assignment where you will be asked to compare the diaries that we have read to the movie.

No English class on Thursday Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Remember there is no English class on Thursday May 14th. Instead you will do the homework for Tuesday and I will see all of you then!

Reading and listening is over Thursday, May 7, 2009

Today you did the reading and listening parts of the national test. Some of you thought that the word definitions on the first page of the reading comprehension were tricky.

Good thing though that we have talked about Elvis in class since the singer Wanda Jackson who was interviewed in the listening part had worked with Elvis and she was inspired by him. I'm also happy that both of the long interviews were in American English since I believe that is easier for you.

Check out this video by Wanda Jackson from a 1960s TV-show... The moves!



I handed out your homework for May 19th as well today. I will see some of you on Tuesday for the final speaking test!

Tomorrow Wednesday, May 6, 2009

See you in the classroom at 8:30 sharp for the test.

8:30 - 9:50 Reading

9:50 - 10:10 Break

10:10 - 11:00 Listening

Regular classes in the afternoon. I will give you homework for Tuesday May 19 tomorrow as well. It will be the last part of the Freedom Writers Diaries.

More practise Saturday, May 2, 2009

Check out this link for some English exercises:

http://www.ur.se/Ung/Amnen/Sprak/Engelska/

Yesterday's class Friday, May 1, 2009

In yesterday's class we read the text "The Last Expedition" and we answered the questions to that one. We also finished the text "Washington Expert" where you needed to fill in one missing word in each gap. If you want to take another look at those and other assignments in preparation for the upcoming test, please see the link in my previous posts.

Today I have spent a couple of hours reading your essays. You will receive your final grade for the national test once all of the parts are completed.

I will see some of you on Tuesday and all of you on Thursday (at 8:30 sharp). Have a nice weekend!

Group presentations + upcoming classes Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Today I divided the class into four groups. In the groups you agreed on 3-4 quotes from today's homework that you wanted to comment on in class. Then you did a presentation of your quotes and your comments. You all did a good job today with the presentations, I think! :)

On Thursday we will do a couple of more reading comprehensions to practise for the reading part of the national test.

This is the schedule for the upcoming classes:

Thursday April 30: Practise reading

Tuesday May 5: National Test: Speaking (see schedule in my post below)

Thursday May 7: National Test: Reading + Listening (8:30 - 9:50 + 10:10 - 11:00) Regular classes in the afternoon. Be on time! The test starts at 8:30 sharp. I will open the door once at 8:40, that's it.

Tuesday May 12: National test: Speaking (see schedule in my post below)

Thursday May 14: No English class (homework for May 19 instead)

Today's writing test Friday, April 24, 2009

Today the students did the first part of the national test: writing. The topics were "Me and My Computer - Pros and Cons" or "Computers in Society - Possibilities and Dangers". In a way it was a great topic for you since we have used this blog in our course, and that is one way to use computers, obviously.

I browsed through some of the essays quickly and it seems that all of you had some thoughts on the topic. It's interesting that many of you seem to have listed more negative aspects than positive ones about our use of computers and the Internet. Why, do you think? That is something I'd like to discuss in class on Tuesday. Be prepared.

Have a nice weekend and don't forget about the homework for Tuesday. See my previous posts for instructions.

Today's class Thursday, April 23, 2009

Today we read diary 50 in Freedom Writers Diary in class. It was about a girl who was unable to keep up with the rest of the students in their change for the better. She felt really guilty about that. Despite feeling guilty she was not ready to change her life just yet.

We also did one of the reading comprehension tests "From One Life To Another". You can find the test plus the correct answers in the link I posted earlier.

See you tomorrow at 8:30 for the first part of the National Test.

Don't forget to read diaries 57-67 for Tuesday and bring three topics of discussion to class.

Today's class + homework for Tuesday Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Today we did the listening comprehension "A Canadian Holiday" in class. If you want to listen to it again, click here: http://www.ipd.gu.se/enheter/sol/nafs/exempel_provuppgifter/engelska_a_exempeluppg/

I also showed you a sample of a writing assignment and a text that was graded as an MVG. Click the link above to find that one + other examples of texts from the national test of English.

Your homework for Tuesday April 28 is to read diaries 57-67 in Freedom Writers Diary that I handed out today. Find three different parts/ideas/thoughts in those diaries that you would like to discuss in class. Bring your ideas to class on Tuesday.

Please rememeber: On Thursday April 23 English class starts at 9:50 am and finishes at 10:50 am.

On Friday April 24 at 8:30 - 9:50 am you will do the writing part of the national test. Be there and be on time. No second chances will be given.

Schedule for the National Test: Speaking

Tuesday, May 5

12:10 – 12:40 Aynas, Marlin, Layla

12:40 – 13:10 Gjejlan, Jemma, Jenny

13:10 – 13:40 Donna, Maria, Gjulsha

Tuesday, May 12

12:10 – 12:40 Sandra, Zyrie, Emma

12:40 – 13:10 Jennifer, Nadja, Sara F

13:10 – 13:45 Sara E, Seham, Faiza, Michelle


Please note: Be on time! If you miss your scheduled time, you miss the test. No second chances will be given.

Links to practise for the National Test Friday, April 17, 2009

Here are three links for you to use for practise. The first one is to practise listening. It's Swedish news broadcast in English. Just click on "senaste program" and listen.

http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/International/nyhetssidor/index.asp?nyheter=1&ProgramID=2054

This one is a British magazine for young people, to practise reading.
http://www.dazeddigital.com/Default.aspx

Here is the site that has examples of tasks from old National Tests of English.
http://www.ipd.gu.se/enheter/sol/nafs/exempel_provuppgifter/engelska_a_exempeluppg/

On Tuesday we will do some of these exercises in class. See you then!

The Freedom Writers Diary Wednesday, April 15, 2009

"That night before I went to bed, I made a promise to myself that I will never steal anything else or do anything stupid like that ever again. Not only did I cause my parents pain, but I also threw away my own pride and good judgement trying to be someone I'm not."

I think she really understood here that doing something stupid like stealing was not going to make her cool at all. Sometimes you feel that you have to do something "cool" in order for other "cool" people to think that you are cool, but sometimes that can't always turn out to be something good. And I found this part interesting because I myself have been in the same situation. And I, like this girl, realized at last that it didn't work out at all to do stupid things for others to think you're somebody.

" Zlata and I lost our childhood innocence because we were denied the right to do childlike things, like go to school, talk on the phone, and just play outside. The buildings were burning and people got beaten up just because the color of their skin, their religion, or ethnicity. Unfortunately, we both had to suffer because of others people's ignorance and destruction."

This part actually spoke to me because my parents have been in that situation a long time ago when the Serbs occupied Kosovo and didn't let the Albanians do a lot of things. At that time they weren't aloud to go out without an ID-card on them or passport. If they were caught without an ID-card or passport, they would get beaten up by the Serbs. So I can actually relate to this situation. And it's really sad that some people can't get along at all because of silly things like the color of their skin or ethnicity. You should be able to accept everybody because we're all human after all.

"His history was written to expose the war in Bosnia and its similarity to the Holocaust. Knowing that people are getting murdered and that thousands of women were being raped is shocking. It makes me both sad and angry because history is indeed repeating itself."

I thought this part was very interesting because it's so true, what this person says. No matter how many times we get to hear that things like this happen in wars or on the whole, some never learn. People tend to make the same mistakes over and over again no matter how bad the consequences are. Why? Maybe because it lies in the human nature? Or because that some people never learn from their mistakes. However, it's really upsetting that bad things like murder and rape still occur in the world.

The fredom writers.

"I wondered how they could be so different. My mother is mexican and this woman black, yet the same emotions that made them cry came from a heart that was tearing apart the same way."

I think this part is cuite interesting because she tries to find some kind of reason to how to diffrent people can feel the same thing. When really, they arent all that diffrent. The only diffrence is theire skin color, that doesnt mean that they are from to diffrent planets. But I think that because of the way she was raised, she doesnt really know taht this is true. She tells us that she was raised to always stand up for her own people. And by that I think she means latinos. So therefor I think that she was raised to belive that latinos is in one way, black in one and americans in one. and that couldn´t be more wrong. In the botom line we are all the same. It´s only the outside that makes us diffrent.

"After reading this book, I realized how teens are very gullible; getting tricked into doing things against their will because they want to fit in and be popular."

This part is so true. Some kids and teens would do anything just to fitt in and to be respected by the popular. It´s sad but it´s true. And the popular ones who does nothing but uses thees people is not the kind of group you would want to be a part of. I think that they are so unsecure in them selfs that they seek verification and finds it in the people that are affraid of them. That´s is not a life I would want for myself.

"I was only six when a friend of my father´s molested me in his home. Yet to this day, I haven´t told my parents. Keeping this secret inside was very hard for me."

I find this part very sad and heartbreaking. Because no one should have to go through this. No less a six year old child. And then not to have the curridge to talk aboute it, and just letting it grow inside is just terrible. I´m glad to say that I can´t even start to understand what she has gone trough, but I can say that I can almost imagine how horrable it must be. It´s deffinutley not something I would even wish upon my worst enemy.

~Emma*

The freedom writers diary "you can go against your own people your own blood" whatever happens you can never deny his own blood, family, siblings or brothers,you can become enemies hate each other but never dare to kill or be proud of their own family's death. there is always something that binds us to other, people we know this is not necessarily the family it might be the closest friends also. "i tried to ignore the little voice, but then the voice spoke louder. it told me thet this women was my mother, and that little girl was me " her voice was so annurlunda so that she recognized that while she had not heard the för.alla memories came back and all certain it is that she recognized her own mother who can not let her forget the world's sweetest voice

After reading this book, i realized how teens are very gullible; getting tricked into doing things against their will because they want to fit in and be popular .

this is the reality we live in the poor that no one tries to change. the truth behind every child who has gone through very .all trying to be the person who directs or fit. to do everything up to start drugging and robbing. world does not work the way we think everything is very much worse no wish good luck to others not want others to feel good and succeed

My 3 important parts in the text are:


“You can’t go against your own people, your own blood!”

I picked this part because I feel familiar with it. I don’t think I can go against my own people, my own blood just when I have to. When they have done something really bad and I know that they are not going to change at all if I stand by them and if they go against me. I don’t think I am alone having those thoughts about ones own blood, I know many people feels this way. I wouldn’t give up my own people for nothing and I don’t think anybody would do that for me.

“I realized how teens are very gullible: getting tricked into doing things against their will because they want to fit in and be popular.”

I have noticed it too. I think the problem is that they have no one to look up to and no good role models. Now days teens are cool if they don go to school, if they don’t listen to anybody and if they are criminal. And it feels like money takes a larger part of people’s lives year by year and its making life harder and worse.

“Keeping this secret inside was very hard for me.”

I think keeping any secret is hard especially when it’s something big or embarrassing, something about you or ones you care about. You hardly feel safe to tell anybody and you don’t know who the right one to talk to is. To hold BIG secrets inside can even be painfully. Talking to someone you trusts is a good idea. If you secret is a bad event, try to get over it and start over. Don’t let something bad bother you forever.

by: gjulsha :)

The Freedom Writer Diary

" How does it feel to be sending an innocent person to prison? You probably feel like that man sent your father to prison knowing he was innocent, you know, he was only protecting his own, too.

I think if she tell the tru, Paco gonne faght with her father and brother in prison because she didn't has onther choice she had to dicide lie for cuort of law. That's because she thinking to pretect her family and the people and her self to. After that she let him to live his life as uselly, because when she was a little girl she lived the same situation like the little girl has right now.She didn't want to let the girl live her life without a father like she did.At the same time she want to protect her self from the whole gang.

" I sometimes feel like a bird in cage and just want to fly away"

when she read the book about Anna Frank, she compared her own life with Anna's life and the same situation who Anna had that's because both had go thruogh much in their's life. Because she lives with the gang and Anne Frank lives with the war.I think she choice the right book that she didn't liked to read book, becuase she is not alone she has one to compare her life like Anne Frank.

"I guess I'll have to wait for the war to end like Anne and Zlata did, except I won.t die or get taken advantge of. I'm going to be strong".

Every day she look at the Anne and Zlata's and her parents life, she being more stonger and stonger. She thinking a lot about own life and said to her self that "I'm never will be like their life and the same situation, because she thinks that it's wrong when somone puts hand on somebody else. She's ready to fight for her own life, when she going have to the same situation and future to be ready how to hanle it.
She has experience a lot, and maybe she going fight for the human rights after all the problems.

The Freedom Writers Diary

I found this three parts of the text most interesting;

"How does it feel to be sending an innocent person to prison? You probably feel like that man that sent your father to prison knowing he was innocent, you know, he was only protecting his own, too."And for the first time in my life, the image of my mother made me believe that i could change the way things were."

I chose this part of the text because I think that she acted very mature in this situation. Although she grew up and learned that you should protect your own flesh and blood no matter what. I think she is acting right. When she saw the mother and daughter, who reminded her of her self and her own mother, she started to think diffrently. She had been in the same situation herself, she knew exactly how they felt. The words her mother once have told her starting to make a difference in her mind, is it right to send a innocent person into prison? Once, her own father were sent into prison even though he was innocent. But why? He was sending to prison because of someone who didn't dare to tell the truth just to protect his own.

"It's so hard for me to change because I fear that people will not like the sober me."

I think this girl in some way feel bad about herself and her surroundings. She is very unsure of herself, unhappy and she feels excluded. She drinks alcohol because she's afraid of showing the real her, she is afraid of not being accepted for the one she really is and want to be. I think it's rather sad to resort alcohol to feel better and to be able to open up yourself. We all have high expectations of the way we look and our personality. I think it has gone over the limit. Why should you have to pretend to be some else to become accepted and popular? Why can't you be exactly the way you are?

"I kept asking myself, "Why am I so stupid that I stooped this low to impress my so-called friends? They're not even here with me to help me out of this mess. My parents will probably never forgive me, or ever trust me ever again."

More or less, this has always been a bad habit. You do things that you don't really want to just to impress your "friends". If you want to get higher status and belong to the toughest guys in school, you do this stupid things to get all of theirs attention. Sometimes your not even think about the consequences before doing something stupid.

Freedom writers

"How does it feel to be sending an innocent person to prison? You probably feel like that man that sent your father to prson knowing he was innocent, you know, he was only protecting his own, too."And for the first time in my life, the image of my mother made me believe that i could change the way things were.

I think she is very brave, she told the truth infront of the jury despite that she went against her own family and firends. She knew she had to do the right thing because her father was in a similar incident, and he went to prison being inocent. She grew up in a society where they learn that you can´t go against your own people and blood. And nobody doubted it. So telling the jury that her boyfriend was guilty you can see she isn´t like everyone else, she has a mind of her own.


It´s so hard for me to change because i fear that people will not like the sober me. I´ve been doing it for so long...

I feel soory for her because she obviously has self-confidence issues, she does´t want people to see who she really is, she is afraid they won´t like her and because of that she started to drink. I think she wants to stop becuase first step to stop drinking is to admit you are an alcoholic. Maybe when she was little she had low confidence and later as a teenager she developt a drinking habit to ease the pain she was feeling.



I will never steal anything else or do anything stupid like that ever again. Not only did i couse my parents pain, but i also threw my own pride and good judgment trying to be someone i´m not.

I think she learned a valuable lesson not to be someone you´r not and trying to impress others. People sometimes get in to truble because they do as their friends.

Freedom Writers !

The teacher Mrs Grunwell wrote a diary every day about the class and how it went from the day she began to teach them.She even thought that she was to young to involving with teaching at a high school but anyway she loves to teach young students about literature,but the whole class was unteachable.She kept pushing them to learn in any kind of ways.



The three most important in the diary was:



She really wanted to help them even though everyone stood out after a week or so,but the thing was they all say her as a wealthy women and wanted a good conscience.She took good tricks how to bond the class mates by learning stuffs that all of them is similare to them.



If you were latino,afro-american,white or asian there was a war between them all and kept shooting at each other on the streets.There were only one white boy int that class everyone thought what in the hell is he doing in this class because every white students are smart and goes for their selves in a class of their own.



The latina girl found herself similare to Juliet because her loves story is the one she got and her parents didn't approve the relationship between them.As she wondered more about the story about Juliet and Romeo,she wanted more details for exampel how her parents reacted and how she responded to them unlikely for her she didnt saw anything to the parents and got curfew and no outside communication.



The three intressenting parts in the story was:



The teacher never gave up on them and now got them a idé about writing a journal/diary and no one in the class could read it besides herself if they wanted to,they could write everything from musik to their onwn lifestyles and how the experiance the "ghetto".After a while she read awful things they got throw by themselves and thought no one could understand how they felt/feels but they wrong and she planned to have some games with them and talk serious with them.



She took the whole class for a field trip to Schindler's List and saw how the people looked strangely at her and took their purses in fear of the colored young "gangsters".One even had the nerv to tell her "if you love black people so much why don't you just marry a monkey".That is the most awful thing she ever heard I belive but that is just my opinion.But luckily the proffessors read all that on a article in a newspaper and invited the class to a seminar to see the author of Schindler's List Thomas Keneally.Even himself he got impressed of them and invited them to meet Steven Spielberg at University Studios.When they returned from the University the head of the English department "You are making us look bad" !
Her bubble burst their but she wanted to keep her job and make a diffrence to the students.

There were a reputation about Sharaud threatened his last english teacher with a fake gun and was the clown of the entire class.But it took a month for her to win over Sharaud and by time got exicted for her lessons to learn more about literature.Mrs Grunwell or as "mrs G" as they called her for wondered how long it would take forthe other ones to be as Sharaud.

(This is an incredible story and even true,I've seen the movie and I just wanted to saw I loved with my entire heart.They spoke like it really was real but the "ghetto" they speak of know I can't understand because it's much better now than ever before.)

Freedom Writers Diary

I found three interesting parts.

1. "It's so hard for me to change because I fear that people will not like the sober me."
I think that she is afraid to show her real personality and because of that she drinks more alcohol so she can dare to be someone. I also think that she is a shy girl who doesn't talk as much and then people think she is boring. She knows that she can't be without alcohol because then no one want to be with her. She wants to change herself and her life, she doesn't want to be that kind of girl who drinks alcohol, steal and not give a shit about important things like school. She knows that she is going to regret all she have done when she went older because then she have no education, no job and no money.

2. "Not only did I cause my parents pain, but I also threw away my own pride and good judgement trying to be someone I'm not."
Now she really regret what she have done. She steal make-up from a shop and a security officer have seen her do that so she have to go to a smal store with him and shows all that she have steal. Her parents went angry and they don't know what to say because they don't thought their daughter would do a thing like that. She have never feel so ashamed before and she doesn't want to look at her parents. She tought they were going to kill her. Now she doesn't feel any pride of herself, she feels like she has destroy her own judgement.

3. "I'm going to be strong." I like this when I read it. In spite of all she have done and her big mistakes she knows that she could change herself if she really wants to. She is a strong girl with a strong will and she is ready to give all she can to make the situation become better. Even if her parents is angry, I think they would be very proud of their daughter if she wants to change her life. They care about her so much so they are overprotective of her and then she thinks that they don't love her, but it's just what they do!

Reminder of the homework due on Wednesday Sunday, April 12, 2009

This is to remind you of your homework that is due on Wednesday April 15. Don't forget, since I want to use some of your writing in class on Thursday! Hope you have all had a nice holiday. I had a great time in Spain. I especially loved the city of Granada.

Here is a link to old national tests that you can use for practise. We will do some of them in class, but it's a good idea to try to do the tests at home as well: http://www.ipd.gu.se/enheter/sol/nafs/exempel_provuppgifter/engelska_a_exempeluppg/

hi :) Saturday, April 11, 2009

I found some interesting parts and motivated my choice.

“I am going to protect my own”Why I chose to write about this was because of that I saw that the truth may ultimately find their way, although it was difficult to reveal. so when she said the most important for her it is protect hers own because she has no choice so she had forced to lie for thing she believe for, even if it was wrong. Which can be effected us badly, to feel bad for it because our conscience reprimand ourselves and so often the truth win than the wrong because it has more capacity to be stronger.

“It is so hard for me to change because I fear that people will not like the sober me”What I can not understand sometimes is that we judge ourselves by others' thoughts because we think through this we can adapt to their lives, but it totally wrong.
Or sometimes it happens that we convince our self to the problem we had, certainly the most we know have it. Then it may suffer a major problem as we have difficulty we take away from us, or to take control of it.
What I think that sometimes man deceive yourself not others. That you can not change their fate, so has more self determination and a strong will can change everything we want to be, and it is your life not others so live for you not to other.
“Why should I read books about people that don’t look like me? People that I don’t even know and that I am not going to understand because they don’t understand me”
what I think when I read the quotes and the rest of her text, so can we see that she discovered herself that she was wrong, so there should be always daring to look at the whole of the thing if we initially show disinterest can lead to that we cant understand view of the different things that can happen every day.

“The buildings were burning and people got beaten up just because of the color of their skin their religion or ethnicity”I like this little text because before so were, many people beaten and killing in a tragic way just because they have a different skin color or religion and I think it was wrong.
All of us have the same value and nobody is better than the other.
And whatever man is so should all accept the person as the other and here in Sweden all accept you whatever you are from.

“I believe we should all be aware of and also to realize that we are not alone”
I think it is a good quote because if I have problem so I am not alone for there are many people who feel the same sense for example if I am bored and just want to take a suicide but I know I am not lonely because there are many people in the world who feel the same feeling as me so I should always be happy because for every problem so there are a solution.

Freedom writers... Sunday, April 5, 2009

I pictured her waiting for her father to come home, knowing he wasn't. I pictured her visiting him, and not being abel to touch him because of an unbreakable window, and I imagined her wanting to unlock his cage, knowing she could't.

I got pictures in my mind when she were telling about one day in her life. She were a member of a gang who pushed her at the wrong way and made her lie in front of everybody. When she saw a mother cry with a little girl in her knees, it reaminds her about her mother when her father and brother got into prison. She has this memories when she were waiting for her father to come home but he never came and she pictured herself visiting her father but were not be abel to touch him because of a unbreakable window. This sentences gave me very strong feelings because I can imagine myself in that kind of situation.


The momentous for a child is to have parents who can be there for them and to be loved of parents is every childs dream in my opinion. I choose this part because it affected me emotional. It is very hard to lose someone, you don't want to belive that the person is gone and you are waiting and wating. I know that waiting is waste of time because if you know for sure that you can't or that it will not happen then it is waste of time. Sometimes you want to help people around you because they are hurt, or need your help in someway but sometimes you can't help them because they have to go through things for learning. It maybe sound very hard like I am a cold person but if you think twice you will see that it is right. This girl hid her feelings very early because they took her father from her. If something bad happen in our life, the first thing we do is to hide our feelings and close our door to our heart. This girl has done that, she don't wanted to admit that her english teacher were right but later she opened her door again because she felt that someone cared about her.


I was talked into doing things I knew were wrong.

This sentence is very powerfull, this things happen all the time and everywere. When I saw this sentence I saw myself :O people around you always affect you no matter if you like it or not. It could be something good or bad and the choice is ours. We often put our burden on someone else. If someone tell something for us we belive it but whos responsibility is it to find out if it is true or not?

for exemple if your mother are saying: your father is stupid and he doesn't understand how I feel, he is not a good father and he doesn't care. Then you start to thing if she's right, she is your mother and we always learn to listen to our mothers. Soner or later you will think that she's right. But you forgot the most important thing, everything has to sides and I mean that you have to listen to the both sides. When you have listened then you got your own opinion.

People you look up to has big power on you. We listen to much to people instead of turning inside in ourselfs and listen to our inside voice. 3 years ago I was a very naive little girl who belived everything and I let myself influence by others. I learn to listen to both sides and then decide my own opinion. But this is just the begining. Every people changes and be wiser but you have to open your doors.


If they only knew that on the inside I am just barley keeping it together.

When you see a person, you see a face and you maybe see feelings in the eyes. Every person has a shell in the beginning or maybe the hole time. You may think that you know a person and you are sure about it but every person change and has their dark sides. You know a girl who is very happy and she always smiling. People thinks that she is pretty, have nice hair and a nice body. People think that she has everything but they are wrong. You see a face you don't know what that person are feeling or thinking.

Homework due April 15 at 9 pm Thursday, April 2, 2009

Today time flew in class and before I knew it it was just 10 minutes left! You worked with the questions that I posted below and we had time to answer some of them, but not all. Please finish answering the questions at home and also check the links that I have added to some of them.

Please note that on Tuesday April 14 there will be no English class in the afternoon. However, there will be another class instead (medicinsk grundkurs). Instead I want you to read Diary 33-40 from Freedom Writers Diary that I handed out today. Find 3 quotes/parts in those diaries that interest you or that you reacted to in some way. Write a blog post about your reactions.
Your post is due no later than 9 pm (21:00) Wednesday April 15.

Freedom Writers
Part 1
Questions:

1. Describe the teacher Ms Gruwell’s thoughts about her new job.
2. Ms Gruwell mentions “The Rodney King Riots”. Find out what happened.
3. Why did the drawing that was passed around amongst the students affect Ms Gruwell so much and what did she compare it to?
4. What seemed to be the students’ first impression of their new teacher and the class?
5. Describe some of the students’ backgrounds and their experiences in life.
6. How do you think the students’ backgrounds affected them? Try to see both positive and negative aspects.
7. Why do you think Ms Gruwell made her students read Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet?
8. In what ways could the students relate to Romeo and Juliet?
9. Explain what happened at Pearl Harbor during the Second World War. Also explain how one of the students could relate to reading about it.
10. Try to find out more about the people Ms Gruwell invited to the panel discussion on diversity: Danny Haro, Edward James Olmos, Lisa Ramirez, Bob Gentry, Mas Okui, Renee Firestone.

Today's class Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Today we reviewed the correct answers of the interview with Lorraine Monroe once again. We also did another listening comprehension where nine people talked about their jobs, or their professions.

We started reading the first two diary entries from the book The Freedom Writers. It's the true story about students and their new teacher in Long Beach, Los Angeles. The book contains their own journals and their story was made into a movie starring Hilary Swank as the teacher. Check out the Freedom Writers' own website here.

Here is a trailer from the movie Freedom Writers that we will be watching in class later this term.



Your homework for Thursday is to finish reading the diary entries that I handed out today. Please come prepared to English class on Thursday even though you have a math test that day.

The Freedom Writers Diary and preparations for the national test Monday, March 30, 2009

The upcoming weeks we will primarily be doing two things in English class: we will read, discuss and write about selected parts of the book The Freedom Writers Diary and we will practice for the upcoming national test of English. Tomorrow I will introduce the reading schedule and we will do another listening comprehension. See you then!

Class summary + Interview with Lorraine Monroe Thursday, March 26, 2009

Today we summarized the story about Keisha. We came up with the following:

• Keisha was a strong girl that did not give up despite the problems she faced.
• She did what she wanted to do. She pursued her dream.
• Keisha's mother supported her kids. She tried to keep them away from trouble.
• It does not matter where you live or where you come from. It's the person that makes the difference.

After that we listened to an interview with Lorraine Monroe, the principal of a school in Harlem, New York. The interview comes from a national test of English A. Watch a video of Lorraine Monroe here: http://www.aeispeakers.com/video.php?SpeakerID=702

Here are the answers, as promised:

1. The school was in chaos.

2. There were burnt out rooms/burnt bulletin boards/lots of graffiti on the walls. (One of these is enough).

3. It was a mixed area.

4. Because she loved yellow.

5. All of the graffiti.

6. The children started to behave.

7. Because it was economical/cheaper.

8. Everybody thought the school was nice/a good school.

9. They had to wear their uniforms. Come to class. Bring their equipment. (One of these)

10. They couldn't bring weapons/drugs/fight. (One of these)

11. If children didn't do their homework they had to stay in school after class and do it.

12. The school received funds/money.

13. The children loved them.

14. Because they had a tennis court next door/close to the school.

15. For the weak children/for those who did not know how to read and write properly.

16. In reading and math.

17. 20% were latino, and 65% were from single-parent homes.

18. A much larger proportion of the class went to college.

19. She had fun/she had good teachers.

20. They should use their power and regard their job as a mission.

Please note that your answers may be correct even though they are not worded exactly like mine. Ask me next time if you have questions about your answers.

Next week I will give you a written individual summary of your performance so far in this course and also some advice on what you need to practise.

Keisha Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Today I showed you a picture of a girl and asked you to speculate about who she is and what her life is like. We collected some of the ideas on the board. Then we read the story "Keisha" in your book Toolbox. I stopped reading after each paragraph and asked you to summarize what I had just read in 1-2 sentences. That way you practised listening, reading, thinking, writing and summarizing your thoughts at the same time. It turned out that some of your predictions and guesses about the picture of the girl were right.

Your homework for Thursday March 26 is to read the story "Keisha" again. Also write down your answers to the following questions:

1. What parts of the story do you find most important?
2. What would you have done if you were in Keisha's position?
3. Describe Keisha's life 10 years from now.

Please bring your answers to class on Thursday. See you then!

Sample argumentative writing Sunday, March 22, 2009

In class on Thursday we decided to argue the point that vegetables are good for you. Here is our text, as promised:

Vegetables are Good for You
Introduction + background
One of the most important things in life is to stay healthy. Health issues are being discussed on TV, in magazines and online. People's lives are affected by what we eat and how we act when it comes to food. Research shows that .... (here it's a good idea to state some facts or statistics that will support our case)

Thesis
One way to become more healthy is to increase your daily intake of vegetables.

3 arguments
By eating more vegetables your immune system will improve, and you will therefore be less susceptible to infections. You will also be more energetic and feel better in general. Eating vegetables will help you keep your ideal weight and you will not risk obesity in the future. Furthermore, you can make tasty, inexpensive dishes out of almost any vegetables. Some vegetables are even cheaper than meat.

Conclusion
Our conclusion is that eating more vegetables will serve you well. There are no good excuses not to increase your daily intake because there are plenty of vegetables to choose from.

Better grades give you security. Saturday, March 21, 2009

Better grades give you security.

One of the most important things in life is to have good marks. It helps you to be that you want to ask. It can happen any obstacles in your educational journey but it is smart to not give up. And trying to make their mistakes at a point that it can start from. Rating has a great importance to have a happy life.


But in order to invest in higher grades, it means that you should strive to acquire knowledge. For that sometimes when you only have good grades, it would not give others need from you but the key is often very different things. It may be, for example, that you must have some experience which may be supplemented by your high ratings. Where is affecting more and others is can benefit the work experience you have in the workplace.


The main thing is what you need to know to be developed, it is necessary to have knowledge that would make itself relevant or appropriate to move forward in life. We can get through that we deepen us in a direction that will help us to get any benefit from it in the longer term.
The person who has taken the exam have more rights and the opportunity to develop their lives to live, which be different among them who be without that. They have few opportunities in life.


Only want good education, it can help many people, you can feel happy and make others to be proud.



In addition, you can support yourself and you can even take care of others, so that they would not be dependent on anyone else.
Finally, I would say, if you are trained, you can deal with different situations and to handle most problems, when that is, you encounter any problems, you can treat it when it delayed a short time when instead know that difficulties can be resolved and it will take over and life continues.

Grades are important to have. And finally, I want to say something to my dear readers, if you were a teenager and read this letter so you know you are the hope for this country, through you to get developing country, or even if you were a grown man should know you can get the country flourish.

Writing class Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Today I gave you a few different topics to write about. I asked you to pick ONE topic and the idea was to write an argumentative text using the guidelines we have talked about in class.

The topics were:

Money makes you happy
Money does not make you happy

Teenagers need rules
Teenagers do not need rules

Sweden is a great country
Sweden is not a great country

Grades are important
Grades are not important.

The structure you needed to use was:

Introduction
Background
Thesis (main point)
Argument 1
Argument 2
Argument 3
Conclusion

It seemed to me that some of you thought this was a difficult task. We probably need to spend Thursday's class on argumentative writing as well. Be there!

Arguments for, against or in-between? Thursday, March 12, 2009

Today we reviewed the structure of an argumentative text. We also tried to find as many arguments as possible for the following opinions:

Money makes you happy
Money doesn't make you happy

The way you look and the way you dress is very important
The way you look and the way you dress doesn't matter

Being on time is very important
Being on time is not important

We came to the conclusion that arguing for something you don't really believe in is quite difficult.
It's also true that our opinions on certain issues are not necessarily "black or white". Usually we are somewhere in between the two statements like: "Having money won't hurt you, but it doesn't necessarily make you happy in the long run" or that "the way you look and the way you dress is important to a certain extent, but other qualities are important as well". Time is sometimes looked upon differently depending on the context or the culture.

However, we managed to come up with plenty of ideas supporting each opinion and we had an interesting discussion.

Expressing your opinion Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Today we practised expressing opinions in English by discussing different issues. First I gave you some phrases to use when you agree, disagree, when you ask questions or when you want to interrupt an ongoing conversation. Remember to always be polite in English, especially when you disagree.

We also studied the structure of an argumentative piece of writing on the movie Brokeback Mountain. An argumentative essay is usually structured like this:

• Introduction
• Background
• Thesis (main idea/main point)
• Argument 1
• Argument 2
• Argument 3
• Conclusion

Here is a trailer for Brokeback Mountain.

Summary of today's class Thursday, March 5, 2009

The hardest thing about writing a news story is to avoid just "telling a story". Your news story needs to be exciting, unusual or dramatic to be a news story. Make sure these questions are answered early in your news story:
Who?
When?
Where?
What?
How?
Why?

Spend some time on the headline. Your headline needs to make the reader want to read your news story. It also needs to sum up what the news item is all about. Here are some examples of headlines:
Woman forgets life savings on Gothenburg tram
Well-endowed thief in late night condom raid
Woman baffled by 10 billion kronor banking mistake

You also need to condense the information in a news story. You normally need to get as much information as possible in a few lines. Here is an analysis of the news story we read in class. I have highlighted my comments in bold writing. I have also marked all of the verbs in the past tense.

Woman forgets life savings on Gothenburg tram
Published: 1 Mar 09 12:05 CETOnline: http://www.thelocal.se/17918/20090301/

An elderly Swedish woman lost her 500,000 kronor ($56,000) life savings when she left them on a Gothenburg tram on the way to the bank. (This part answers the questions: who = an elderly Swedish woman, what= lost her life savings, where = on a Gothenburg tram, how= she left the savings on the tram.)

The 83-year-old retired seamstress, identified only as Birgitta, had for years kept her savings in a desk in her home in Gothenburg in western Sweden.The elderly woman finally decided it would be safer to put the cash in a bank account, the Aftonbladet daily reported. (This part answers the question: why=she was 83 years old. Why=she thought it would be safer to put the money in the bank. It explains what happened before the incident. It also provides more background information to what happened. It also states the source of the information = Aftonbladet daily)

On February 19th, she filled a paper bag to the brim with 10,000-kronor piles of bank notes before taking a tram to the centre of town."I was going to the bank to deposit the money," she told the paper. (This part answers when it happened = On February 19th. It also answers the questions what and how = she filled a paper bag with money and took the tram. Where? = to town. It also has a quote from the woman. She was probably asked what she was going to do with the money.)

But when she got to her stop, she forgot the bag and got off leaving her life savings behind. Birgitta was too embarrassed to tell her family what had happened at first, and when they finally contacted the tram operator the money was long gone. (This part provides more details of what happened and how it happened. Who else was involved is also answered here: her family + the tram operator.)

"I don't think there is a chance I'll get the money back, but if someone does return it they will of course receive a finder's fee," she told Aftonbladet. (This part is a quote. It makes the article come alive and provides information about the woman's thoughts after the incident. It also states the source once more.)

Gothenburg police were more optimistic however, pointing out that surveillance cameras on the tram could help them identify who had taken the bag of money. (This part brings an optimistic touch that points to a possible solution. It answers the question: what will happen next? = the police will investigate the theft with the help of the surveillance cameras on the tram)

_______________________________

In class we read two more news stories to practise pronunciation and to study the structure of a news story a bit more.

In class next week we will go back to argumentative writing.

Please note: I am quite disappointed, and surprised, that some of you still choose (beacuse it IS a choice) to be late for class - or not show up at all. I really don't get it. Like I said last time: I have had it with excuses. The truth is: You are missing out on A LOT!!! Ultimately it will affect your grade in this course.

Individual comments Wednesday, March 4, 2009

I have now commented on your news stories. Please make sure you read them. See you in class tomorrow morning at 8:30.

News stories - a summary Monday, March 2, 2009

I will comment on your news stories individually, but here is a summary:

You have all picked interesting topics for your news stories. They work well in this context.

It is obvious that some of you have paid attention to the news story we wrote together and that you have used the ideas and the special news language in your own news stories. This is something you should all do! Try to see the difference between a newspaper article and "story-telling" in general.

A news story is always told in the past. This means you have to be sure of the verbs in the past tense, verbs like: went (gick), said (sa), came (kom), drove (körde) etc.

A grammatical construction often used in news stories is the passive. For example: han hittades = he was found. This is a very effective way of re-telling what happened "newspaper style".


Tomorrow in class we will take another look at verbs and how to use them more effectively in writing. We will also keep talking about how to argue a point in English.

Barack Obama about the war in Iraq ! Saturday, February 28, 2009

Finally the Iraqien people sees a end to the war !

Barack Obama promised in friday at north carolina that the US forces are living Iraq 31 August 2010, but not all of them because some of them will stay and educate the Iraqi army. They think that the Iraqien pepole need support to the parliamentary elaction that's in December this year. If the violence continues then there is a plan B says Barack Obama.

As now there is 142 000 soilders in Iraq and approx 35 000- 50 000 is going to stay. Barack Obama talked to the American soilders about the situation in Iraq and the words was meeting by tremendous applause from them. Some of the words was that thanks to your sacrifice the situation has changed in Iraq to the better. You have suffered for your friends and fight for a more light future for the Iraqi people and that is thanks for your work. But Barack says that Iraqi is not safe yet that worse days will come and that the violence will be among to the ordinarydays. A agreement between George W bush and the Iraqi prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki says that all of the soilders will be home at 2011/2012. John McHugh said that this plan can change if it needs he even said that they will change the plan if the violence will be worse.

I know that this task is late and Iam sorry. I fall asleep very early yesterday and forgot about it :(. It want happen again.




Source: http://sydsvenskan.se/varlden/article416566/Klart-slut-for-USAs-krig-i-Irak.html

Tupac dies in shootingdrama

Rapper Tupac Shakur was on the way home with Suge Knight, the record producer of Death Row Records, from a boxing match in Las Vegas, Nevada when a white Cadillac pulled up beside them and started to fire shots at Tupac and Suge. A total of 13 shots were fired, of which 4 of them hit Tupac.
An ambulance was called but Tupac died six days later from respiratory failor and cardiac arrest.
There is a theory that Notorious B.I.G. may have hired someone to shoot Tupac, but there are no evidence of that theory being true.

On 7 September 1996 at 11 p.m., Tupac Amaru Shakur or best known as Tupac, was shot in the car on the way home from a boxing match between Mike Tyson and Bruce Seldon at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Tupac and Suge Knight, the record producer of Death Row Records, were in a black BMW driving home when all the sudden a white Cadillac pulls up beside them. Tupac usually wore a bulletproof vest and had a gun with him wherever he went, but this time he didn't have any of it with him. He got shot by someone in the Cadillac 13 times but only 4 actually hit him.

The car drove away and ambulance was called. The ambulance took Tupac to the hospital where he was treated, but after six days, he was pronounced dead at 4.03 p.m. What caused his death was respiratory failor and cardiac arrest. The doctors tried to revive him, but failed.

Nobody knows exactly why he was shot but some claim that Notorius B.I.G., who was Tupacs best friend until he joined another crew and then became his enemy, hired somebody to shoot him. Some say that it was because of jealousy that Tupac was the most famous and best rapper at the time, but since there are no evidence of it being true, nobody knows exactly why.

Picture: www.images.allmoviephoto.com

Marilyn Monroe´s death Friday, February 27, 2009

Maryin Monroe found dead, possible suicide.

On august the 5th, 1962 Marilyn Monroe got into a coma caused by an overdose of sleeping pills. She would never regain consciousness. The world could not belive it, Americas sweetheart was gone. The body was discovered early in the morning by two doctors who were called to her Brentwood home by a scared housekeeper. According to the police it all indicated a suicide. Her deth is one of the most debated conspiricy theories. Many of those theories involve the F.B.I and that they had something to do with it, she had an affier with the president John F Kennedy so she would jeopardized the presidential department. But there are no proofs.
Norma Jean Baker who was her real name was buried at Westwood Memorial Park in Los
Angeles. She was more than just a movie star and glamour queen, she was and is a legend.