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LANGUAGE TEST
LANGUAGE TEST
1 Circle the correct word.
0 My father’s / parents’ / mother’s names are Brian and Celia.
1 My uncle’s wife is my aunt / son / daughter.
2 This is my son and this is my child / daughter / housewife.
3 This is my brother / uncle / sister. Her name’s Sonia.
4 My brothers / brother’s / brother girlfriend is French.
5 Is / Am / Are your son small?
6 My husband / husbands / husband’s brother is a doctor.
2 Complete the conversation with one word in each gap.
A: Excuse me. Where’s the post 0_office_?
B: It’s in the town 1_______________, next 2_______________ the museum.3_______________ the left. It’s not 4_______________. There’s5_______________ good burger 6_______________ opposite the museum.
A: Great. Thanks.
3 Complete the word. The first letter is given.
0 It’s not new. It’s old.
1 She’s not pretty. She’s u__________.
2 There isn’t one child. There are two c__________.
3 There are two w__________ here. One woman is my mother and one is my aunt.
4 Is the pub big? No, it’s very s__________.
5 Are you happy? No, I’m not. I’m s__________.
6 Is the shop on the left? No, it isn’t. It’s on the r__________.
4 Circle the correct answer.
My name is Jenny and 0_____ brother’s name is Liam. 1_____ parents are doctors.2_____ are short but my mother is very 3_____. Our grandparents 4_____ here. They are in Newcastle
0 a) his b) her c) my
1 a) Your b) Our c) Their
2 a) They b) Their c) Our
3 a) tall b) pretty c) small
4 a) not b) isn’t c) aren’t
5 a) He b) I c) We
6 a) our b) their c) your
5 Complete the text with the correct form of there is / there are. Use one word in each gap.
6. Complete the family members.
Man Woman
0 __father__ __mother__
1 __________ sister
2 uncle __________
3 son __________
4 __________ wife
7. Complete the text with a possessive pronoun in each gap.
A: Hello.
B: Hello. What are 0__your__ names?
A: 1_______________ name is Steve. 2_______________ name is Jane.
B: Where are 3_______________ parents from?
A: They are English. 4_______________ names are Kelly and Donald.
8. Write the plural form of the words.
0 son _sons_____
1 woman _______________
2 uncle _______________
3 child _______________
9 Rewrite one word in each sentence with a singular genitive ’s or plural genitive s’in the correct place.
0 My sisters friend is Polish. sister’s__
1 My uncles wife is tall. _______________
2 Our sons names are Colin and Chris. _______________
3 My brothers girlfriend is Italian. _______________
4 The mens jobs are boring. _______________
10. Complete the sentences with the correct form of There is/There are.
0 (+) There is a theatre.
1 (+) _______________ some Internet cafés.
2 (+) _______________ a telephone.
3 (–) _______________ any people here.
4 (–) _______________ a park.
5 (–) _______________ any toilets.
11. Match the questions (1–4) to the correct answers (a–d).
0 Is there a park here? Yes, e
1 Are there any hotels? No, c
2 Is there a record shop here? No, c
3 Is there a theatre in town? Yes, c
4 Are there any children here? Yes, c
a there is.
b there are.
c there isn’t.
d there aren’t.
e there is.
12 Complete the conversations with the words from the box.
A: 0_Excuse_ me. Are 1__________ any toilets 2__________ here?
B: Yes, there 3__________ some over there on the 4__________.
A: Thank you.
A: Excuse me. Where’s the university?
B: It’s not 5__________. It’s 6__________
Thames Street
.
LEARNING A SECOND LANGUAGE IN COLOMBIA
Learning a second language at school before, it
looked like an obligation for the student, because there was no reason why
learn it. Now; although we do not know whether to say "in consequence
of" or "thanks to" the globalization of economic, technological,
social and cultural process; learning a second language went from being an
obligation, to a need.
In order to not go so far back in history;
where the divisions of social class were so marked and there were two different
types of bilingualism in Colombia as the so-called "elite
bilingualism"[1]
aimed at the elite class of this time who needed to learn another language
besides of Spanish like English, French or German for being socially accepted
and Bilingualism of the indigenous communities considering their native
language (Creole), needed first, learn the Spanish language itself, even after
the constitution of 1991 in its Article 10 recognizes the languages and
dialects of ethnic groups as official in their territories and the education
provided in communities with their own linguistic traditions will be bilingual[2];
we can say that the development of bilingualism in Colombia occurred since the
creation of the National Bilingual Program stipulated by the Ministry of
National Education of Colombia in 2004.
It is noteworthy that this Bilingualism program
was established to give a focus of the
law 115 of February the 8th, 1994 known as the General Law of Education which
has one of the specific objectives set out in Article 21: "The acquisition
of elements of conversation and reading at least one foreign language"[3]
and in Article 22: "the understanding and ability to speak a foreign
language"[4]
as well as Article 5 that talks about the purpose of education in Colombia,
among theseone which says: "The study and critical understanding of
national culture and ethnic and cultural diversity of the country, as the basis
of national unity and its identity"[5].
In his time, Juan Carlos Grimaldo, Bilingualism
Program Manager in 2004 proposed to strengthen the teaching of English as a
foreign language in preschool, elementary, secondary, University programs for
work and human development, he also wanted strengthen the English language as a
second language in bilingual schools and finally he was looking to innovate in
ethnic education and ethnic communities establishing Spanish as their second
language.
As a result of this program two documents that
have a bit more contextualized the program goals established during the period
2004-2019 emerged.
One of these important documents was the series
of "curriculum guidelines for Foreign Languages", headed by the then
Minister of Education German Alberto Bula Escobar was looking raise the basic
ideas that would serve as guidance and support for teachers of second languages
(foreign) in their definitions relating to curriculum development within the institutional
school projects[6].
Also in 2005, along with her team, the Minister
of Education Cecilia Maria Velez White, within the "Education Revolution
-Colombia Learn" program, created the Guide No. 22 which establishes the
"Basic Standards of competence in foreign languages English, "that in
order to improve the quality of the education system and in order to adapt to
current and future requirements of the country so that all the purposes of the
education system are unified in a coherent way, reason why these standards are
coupled to the "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages:
Learning, Teaching and Assessment." describing the gradual scale of
Language levels is managing by the student. Now although the decision to learn a second
language can be very ambiguous because the reasons for the person want to
learn, it depends solely of him, There are several general reasons why so.
According to statistics of the previous year,
one in ten Colombians speak English and it was confirmed that 7.2% of students
have the opportunity to access the english, basic language[7].
Perhaps one of the most common reasons why
people learn English, is the necessity to increase employment opportunities, to
be more competent, enhance their professional profile or simply as a personal
growth. People who know two languages have many chances to be elected in a
process of recruitment of a company, irrespective the economic sector where it
is performed, and much more if you want to have an executive or senior rank in
multinational companies.
Last year, the President of the Republic of
Colombia Juan Manuel Santos and former Minister of Education María Fernanda
Campo, giving continuity to the Bilingual Program created in 2004, they
explained to the whole country The "National English Program 2015 -2025 -
COLOMBIA VERY WELL "an integrated, intersectoral and long term project
which is looking for students can use English as a tool to communicate with the
world and improve their employment opportunities[8].
Currently, the Minister of National Education
Gina Parody, presented to the country the strategies implemented by the
Ministry, through the Project for Strengthening Skills Development in Foreign
Languages, and the recent enactment of the Law of Bilingualism (Law 1651 of
2013).
It is important to know each of the policies
and conditions that govern the teaching and learning of English as a second
language in Colombia since they are the basis and basis for analyzing the needs
and characteristics of this process likewise to propose innovative strategies
to improve language teaching as future teachers in the country.
[1] De Mejia Anne- Marie, The National Bilingual Programme
in Colombia: Imposition or opportunity?, 2011
[2]
Article 10 Constitución Política de Colombia de 1991
[3] Article 21 The General Law of
Education of Colombia (law 115 of February the 8th, 1994)
[4] Article 22 The General Law of
Education of Colombia (law 115 of February the 8th, 1994)
[5] Article 5 The General Law of
Education of Colombia (law 115 of February the 8th, 1994)
[6]
MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA, Lineamientos Curriculares para
Idiomas Extranjeros, 2005.
[7]
http://blog.zonajobs.com/postulantes/la-importancia-de-saber-un-segundo-idioma-en-colombia/
[8]
http://www.mineducacion.gov.co/cvn/1665/w3-article-343476.html
"EDUCATION" SYNONYM OF DEVELOPMENT
Education is the most important factor
in the development of a country. Besides providing knowledge, education and
culture, education enriches the spirit, values and everything that defines us
as human beings. Education gives the skills and cognitive competences so that
human beings can improve their quality of life and likewise improve levels of
social welfare and economic development of the society. Recognizing the necessity
of a good quality education, the government has determined to establish policies to solve each of the necessary
aspects to improve education in Colombia.
In
recent days, the Minister of Education solved the wage problem that faced with
teachers in Colombia. What they have done is that she increases the disgruntled of society
not only by the policies imposed, but also for the damage they do to the
country and the future of it. Talking about discontent in society in general, it is being
talked about of the main actors within the educational context of the country,
starting with learning providers: our teachers, the people most affected:
students and people who demands a good quality education: parents. Perhaps the
government sees education as a cost and not as an investment. Perhaps the
government has not realized that knowledge constitutes a very productive and strategic
investment to improve the social and economic development of the Country.
But not all policies are bad news. The
President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos with ICETEX approved a student loan
system that will offer five types of financing, including those who do not have
the support of a co-signer may choose to make an additional payment of 2% of
the total registration, to access a guarantee fund covering credits. ICETEX
Formerly covered only 75% of the value of studies at the University. Now this
institute has the modality to provide 100% of full value. The possibility is
for all young Colombians, but also the awarding for that. Student must have at
least 280 or higher on the “Pruebas Saber 11”
There are many benefits that brings the
strengthening of education in Colombia. Education can get to set and level the economic and social inequalities.
Education can also achieve social mobility of people and gives people the
access of higher levels of employment and at the same time it can expand
opportunities for young people. One of the most important benefits of the
Education is the strengthening of the relations of societies; for democratic
development and strengthening the rule of law; for the promotion of science,
technology and innovation. Education contributes to more equitable, productive
and equitable societies. It is a social good that makes freer to humans
LEARNING ABOUT LIFE
Definitely the best way to learn about life is through the experience.
Unfortunately we ignore suggestions from our parents or people with more
experience and they have absolutely right. When we are young, most of the times
we are faced with a situation, for more suggestions and recommendations
received, the instinct of curiosity and often rebellious, makes us the person
who makes wrong decisions. Although the answer may be very ambiguous between
the affirmations of what is the best way to learn about life, you can make a
simple comparison between the affirmation that experience is the best way or
listen to the advice of our family and friends. Perhaps this decision often
depends on the context in which the question is.
In matters of love, definitely the advice, warnings and experiences that
our parents lived, are useless because even though they tell us every day,
every hour, every minute, we always fall into a bad experience. And who has not
suffered for love, in the world there is not anyone who has not had a bad
experience in love. But in this specific case it is important to have the
experience. By having several bad experiences finally everyone finds the right
person with whom you share a whole life. Although there are many cases
where, despite having so many years of bad experience, still suffering for
love.
A very delicate case is the use of drugs or hallucinogenic substances.
This is a moment where the suggestions of our parents are very important in our
lives. Perhaps these are the wisest words we can hear. In youth, the person
receives suggestions of good friends, bad friends, but the most important words
are those of our parents. Although many people do not follow this advice and
prefer to live the experience, unfortunately those people that try it for the
first time will consume for life.
So to affirm what is the best way to learn about life can be very
trivial. What I can say is that the best option depends on the context in which
the situation is facing. In most of the time, people are carried away by their
own intuition and prefer to live their own experiences. It is clear that for
more mature person is to face situations when we have a bad experience, always
came to our heads the wise words of our mom replies, "I told you so"
jueves, 21 de mayo de 2015
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