Self-evaluation Questions
Just add your answers (in complete sentences, please!) to your reflections posting.

1. Now that the semester has come to an end, look at your goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the semester. Which of the goals did you achieve? Why did you achieve them?

When the semester started, I did not have any expectation because I did not know what we were going to do. Right now, I am so happy becaouse I have learned so many things about writing, and I can use this type of writing not only when I have to write in English but in spanish too. I think I achieved that big goal because I did seriously all my essays and I put attention to all the explanations.

2. Which of the goals did you not achieve? What could you have done differently to achieve them?
I really feel that I have learned many things in this class. But I also fell that I could have achieved more things like improve my bussines vocabulary, use the conectors constantly, and improve even more my pronunciation. I should have practiced the vocabulary and the conectors. About the pronunciation, we should have done more exercises in class.

3. Read the competencies list for this level (you can find this in the syllabus on WebCT). Check which of them you could explain without difficulty today? How many did you check? Does this number satisfy your real goal for English?

After reading all the competencies, I can say that I have learned to make three kinds of essays: argumentative, narrative and cause- effect, as Americans do. I have learned some vocabulary and finally, I have learned about the American culture.

4. Do you feel you applied yourself to improving your English abilities? Why or why not?

I think I did beacuse I wanted to get a good grade not only in this class but in toefel too. I also wanted to learn more about the language, improve my writing, my listening and my speaking

5. Taking into account that at least 60% of our English courses will be content, what activities would you like to see happen with the other 40% of the time?

6. Overall, I think I deserve a 4.8 as my final note in this class because I did all my essays, my quices, I almost never missed classes, I put attention in class, I had my book and I was responsible with all my homeworks.

THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS

When people talk about Jesus and the Bible, there are always opposite opinions. There is a group that says that Jesus is not a saint as the Bible mentions him, and that he was a normal man who had wife and even a child. Other’s opinions say that Jesus is a saintly man and that he died because of the betrayal of one of his disciples, Judas. This man, as the Bible says, sold Jesus to the Roman Empire, let the Jewish sacrifice Jesus, and finally Judas, hung himself on a tree with a rope. The New Testament has four gospels which talk about the life, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus and they also talk about this man called Judas, who plays the “bad guy” role of the story. But nowadays, the story has changed because of the discovery of the gospel of Judas that talks about how this man was sent by Jesus to sacrifice him. In this gospel, Judas plays the “good guy” role and he seems to be the only one who understands the things that happen in the story. There are people who do not believe in the gospel and others who do. People might believe in the gospel of Judas for three reasons.

In the beginning, there were not just four gospels, but around thirty-five. These gospels (the ones that don’t appear in the Bible) are known as Gnostic gospels and are not accepted by the Vatican as a part of the Catholic religion. After Jesus died, the apostles began to tell the story about his miracles and confuse the firsts Christians because there were many different versions of the story. The apostles had their own point of view, but they also had different versions of the story and that is how the gospels were written. But the Christianity was in danger, so the man who represented the Pope in those day, decided to choose four gospels that represented the version of Jesus that people should hear or read, which means the version of Jesus as a saintly and pure man. This fact does not mean that the others gospels are not valid, too, because the people who wrote them also lived in the same time; the only difference between the ones in the New Testament and the others, is the good image that the Catholic church of the time, acquired (“The lost gospel”).

The Vatican is not an institution that people can trust in. The Vatican and the Catholic Church have hidden many documents that show another face of Jesus and the religion as a whole. Questions such as what is the "Index Librorum Prohibitorum" abound on the minds of the people and the researchers who study the secrets and the history of the Catholic Church. The Vatican is a big business and that it has to keep an image, which is the reason why they do not reveal all the files that they have hidden (“Secrets of the Vatican”).

The Catholic church explains that the gospel is just another Gnostic writing of the second century AD. They say that understanding the text as a Christian truth is like if in 2000 years time, people found The Da Vinci Code and they believe that the book was written by Christians because it talks about Jesus. If those people think that those were the beliefs of Christians in 2006, they would be far from truth. According to that, the opponents of the beliefs about Judas’s gospel would say that the text can be used just to understand the type of writing and Gnosticism of the second century after Christ instead of to reveal any Christian primitive secrets (“The Judas gospel”).

In conclusion, there are different points of view about the apparition of the gospel of Judas. Some of them defend it, like the ones who do not trust in the Vatican and think that the Bible is incomplete. On the other hand, there are the ones who believe in the authenticity of the text, but just as a guide about culture. But the main point is that the thing that matters to the people as believers, is the fact that a man called Jesus died for us, without mind if he was sold by Judas or if he looked for his own destiny.

WORKS CITED

“The lost gospel”. National Geographic page.<http://www9.nationalgeographic.com/lostgospel/document.html>


“The Judas gospel”. National Geographic page.<http://www9.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/gospel/index.htm>

"The Vatican secrets". the harrowing page.<http://www.theharrowing.com/vatican.html>

GOOGLE MORE THAN A FINDER…

GOOGLE MORE THAN A FINDER…

Have you ever heard that if you don’t find things in Google, you will find them nowhere? Well this is one of the phrases that have made Google the most-used search engine by all kind of people on the Internet. It’s not a secret that this is one of the most lucrative businesses of recent times, and you will be surprised if you know the owners of this great idea. They are Sergey Brin and Larry Page, a pair of 30 year old Russians who were born in U.S.A. They developed a operating system for searching on the net, just looking to make things easier in the world. Nevertheless, is important to know how this business was created and consequently became the most-used search engine on the Net, above the rest of them.

Sergey Brin and Larry Page knew each other while they were studying a PhD. in Information technologies at Stanford University. They began to create a search engine which was called "PageRank"; it was based on a series of algorithms to search data. Some years later, it was going to be the heart of Google finder. When these two men finished the software, they tried to sell it, but they couldn’t because of the low prices that people offered for it. That’s when they began to think about creating their own company, today known as Google, Inc.

What’s that thing that makes Google so special? Well, it’s not only one thing. This website offers all kind of options for searching and organizing documents and photos. Furthermore, they offer the recent news, in different languages and they also developed “Google Earth”, “Google Talk” and an account with their own e-mail system called “Gmail”. All these services have made this company the pioneer search engine on the web. The difference between Google and other search engines is that this company is always trying to innovate and give to the costumers what they need or wish. However, it’s important to say that the speed to find documents and the simple design of the page makes “Google” attractive to the eyes of the visitor because it’s easy to use but complete at the same time.
In conclusion, Sergey Brin and Larry Page reached the goal that they proposed themselves when they created a new way to find information and make the things easier for the entire world.

WHAT MARTYRDOM LEAVES BEHIND.

WHAT MARTYRDOM LEAVES BEHIND.

Nowadays, it is too difficult to understand the reaches of the religions, the beliefs and faith, but it is necessary, because these three elements have been one of the causes of terrorism the last few years around the world. For example, September 11 2001, in the United States, when two planes crushed into the world trade center in New York. This act was committed by Al Qaeda’s people just to defend what they believed was good, without thinking about the damage that could cause this act to the people in the United States and around the world too. Terrorism has many faces, but the most important thing is how the people are able to kill themselves just to defend what they believe. This act is called “suicide bombing” by Western people and “martyrdom” by the terrorists and it has had many effects on the life of the people, such as fear or insecurity, and in the most of cases, death and destruction of places.

Taking a bus, a train or being in a populated place in Jerusalem, New York or anywhere around the world is not safe right now because people do not know what could happen. For example, when martyrdom exploited inside a bus killing eight persons and leaving many others injured, the morning of February 22 in 2004. Ora Yairov, an eyewitness said "It was like an earthquake. The station was filled with shattered glass and pieces of flesh "(Suicide bombing hits Jerusalem bomb). Nobody saw it coming, but it happened; that’s the moment when people say that life can change or even end in one second just for being on the wrong place to the mistaken hour. It is called fear and that is the thought of everybody who has lived terrorism and who do not dare to go to new places because of fear to that something bad can happen to them. Life is just one and nobody wants to loose it. This is the premise of everyone who is not used to death and who sees it as something natural in life, and not like something which we can arrange when we want.

Many people know that life is the most important thing that people have, but there is also the quality of it. Martyrdom affects that, too, because it is not only the fear and insecurity it brings, but the physical damage it leaves behind. Dr. Michael Messing said in an article, “X-rays taken from victims of suicide bombings reveal pieces of metallic fragments embedded in their skin, muscles, organs and bones” ( Survivors face agony in suicide attacks). People also care about the buses, planes and buildings. Those surround them because they make their life possible. When a suicide bomber does his or her job, it is not only thinking about causing damage to people but to the physic infrastructure, too. Because of that, Houses or buildings are demolished, cars, buses or trains got damaged, people do not have a place to live, and many things more. People can not live in the appropriate psychological and physical conditions to grow or live healthy. Yousef Jaara said "I began my life in tents and now I've returned to living in tents - I hope for an independent Palestinian state but we can't solve this problem with bombs. We need to talk" (My son the suicide bomber).

All the facts mentioned before have made the suicide bombing or Martyrdom, one of the most feared actions against human life. The consequences that this fact brings, such as fear, insecurity and destruction of places leave tracks in the lives of people who experience it, which is very difficult to forget, and that changes their lives.

WORKS CITED.

Suicide bomber hits Jerusalem bus. BBC news page. 22 February
2004. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3510791.stm>

Survivors face agony in suicide attacks. World net daily page. 26 March
2006. <http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=27778>

My son the suicide bomber. BBC news page. March 2. 2004. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3491126.stm>

...HoW iS iT gOiNg...

In which areas of language use have you improved, in your opinion?

I have improved my vocabulary and my oral fluency. I learned how to make different kind of essays and to be concise on what I'm saying.

Which areas of langauge use are still a problem?

I still have problems with tecnic vocabulary and with the conectors because I'm not used tu use them so I forget them.

Which areas of language use do you want to spend the most time on during the rest of the semester?

I would like to work on my oral fluency, my pronunciation, I would like to make speaking activies too.

What type of classwork is most useful, in your opinion?

In my opinion, The games helps to improve the vocabulary and the fast thinking. Also the essays hepl to orginize my ideas and put them in order.

What can you personally do to increase your rate of progress?

I think that maybe I can read business articles or business cases to increase my vocabulary. I also think that I can keep on doing the essays on differents classes, to not forget the things I have learned on this class.

Do you have any other comments or suggestions about this class?

I have finished this course already but in future, It would be better have the class on mornings and make it more dynamic with games and things like that.

GAZA STRIP

The movie talks about the reality of the people who live in the Gaza strip. A boy of 13 years old, tell how he lives and all the things that his fellows, the Palestinians, had and have to live every day just for being a property of the Israeli people. Bombs, demolished houses and destruction are some of the thing that this people suffer every day without counting the oppression from the Israeli people who has kept an eye on the borders of the Gaza strip just to have the control over them.
People should not believe in everything that media says, but even if the situation seems worse than what is really happening, It is still the truth and images and the sadness on the eyes of people never lie. That is what they are really living without any doubt, the watcher can feel all the oppression and suffering of this innocents victims of an injustice war.

...BIASED LANGUAGE...

Rosalie Maggio, en her book "talking about people" talks about biased language and shows how the people is used to stereotype the use of the words. For example how people can be discriminatives with some kind of race or social condition just writing a sentence, creating bad feeling inside the person who was excluded of the phrase. Other example of stereotypes is the use of feminines and masculines context. In the most of cases and cheking all the american books, the author found that the masculine gender was used to describe both women and men, but when someone read the article, understood that it was talking just about men. In the other hand, she discovered that the masculine figure was always taken before the feminine figure, for example: Hansel and Gretel, boys and girls or Romeo and Juliet. The only thing thet were taken as oposit, were the things refered to the households like mom and dad, aunt and uncle, etc.

Rosalie also gives some suggestions to avoid biased lanuage. First, to use the plural on the sentences, that is the only way the sexist language. Second, to omit the use of the pronoun. Third, use the pronoun We. Fourth, use the second person, we could also use the pronoun They. If it's imposible to use one of this suggestions, people could use He or She but not in great proportions, also to alternate it.

In conclusion, the biased language can be avoided just "describing people as individuals, not as members of a sit" Maggio.

______________

Maggio, Rosalie, talking about people: A guide to fair & accurate language. Wesport, CT, USA: Greenwood publishing group, Incorporated, 1997. P 1- 15.

GOOGLE MORE THAN A FINDER...

Have you ever heard... if you don`t find things in Google, you will find them nowhere? Well this is one of the phrases that have made google the most-used finder by all kind of people on the internet. It`s not a secret that this is one of the most lucrative business of recent times, and you will get surprised if you know the owners of this great idea. They are Sergey Brin and Larry Page, a pair of 30 years old Russians been born in U.S.A. who developed a operating system of searching on the net, just looking to make things easier in the world. Along this essay I will explain how these men created and developed one of the most succesfull companies around the World.

Sergey Brin and Larry Page knew each other while they were studing a PHD. on Information tecnologies in Standford Universiy and they began to create A finder which was called "PageRank" and was based on a series of algorithms to search data. Some years later, It was going to be the heart of Google finder. When these two men finished the softwarem They tried to sale it, but They couldn`t because of the low prices that people offered for It; That`s when They began to think on creating Their own companie, Today known as Google.Inc

...MY FAVORITE CARNIVAL MEMORY...

I love carnivals, actually It´s the the festivity I enjoy the most! I don´t know if that happens because I´m from Barranquilla and I´ve always live here or because I really like to dance and have fun!!!!! but who cares! The point is that all the things related to carnival, brings great memories to my mind!

I don´t have a favorite memory about carnival, But I remember 2 many things of 2004 carnival!
Every year we make a carnival party on my residence building and I invite to all my friends so we have so much fun!. On that year (2004) I enjoyed the most because it was the last carnival I had with my classmates and with some friends that were going to study out of the city!!. I think it could be one of the greatest parties in my life, because I had all the people I wanted in my house, and some I didn´t, But It´s ok because it was my house, My party and I did whatever I wanted! they were in the wrong place so they felt bad... not me!

I also remember last year when I went to the orchestra festival with my sister, my cousing and some friends. It was really good because I could see Eddie Herrera! one of my favorite singers and i dindn´t have money to see him on prado´s hotel party!.

In conclusion, every year I live new experiences that makes me love carnival above all the parties and festivities in whole world. Like the refran says: " WHO LIVES IT, IS WHO ENJOYS IT"