LEVEL 4 & 5 Projects for May

LEVEL 5 - Click here to see Rules and details.

LEVEL 4 - Click here to see what you will do.

TED talks for the week

This week you'll be watching some TED Talks to answer the material for pages 115 to 118. You will answer these pages on your book, then transfer them to your notebook. 

How Food Shapes Our Cities

The other links are here to help you with your essay which is to be turned in on Monday (March 5th) to my brother Federico, no later than 7 AM.

• "Free is not sustainable. The funny thing about sustainability, you have to sustain it." A Guerilla Gardner in South Central LA (I really like this one.)
• "We are all part of the local food jigsaw. We are all part of a solution". "If you eat, you're in". How Can We Eat Our Landscapes.
• Window farms have been evolving. A Garden In My Apartment. 
• My plots are about creation and openness. In fact my plot can only work if I share it with as many people as possible. Subversive (garden) Plot. 
• The western diet and the environment. "Back in those days there was no philosophy of food. You just ate. You didn't claim to be anything." What's Wrong With What We Eat.
• "I believe that power of food has a primal place in our homes that binds us to the best bits of life. Teach Every Child About Food. 
• 
  

Coloring your diet

For this session we are going to look at nutition. 

Your first assignment, before class is to find the names of all the vegetables in the picture both in English and Spanish. You need to do this before class.

You need go to Fitness Magazine to read the article THEN you have to print this PDF, to bring to class. This document will be used during class.

BONO gives us some good news

This is BONO, singer of the Irish band U2, giving us some good news about poverty. Watch his TED Talk and answer all the pages in your book.

PROPS in Presentations

As you know, this time we are giving presentations with the help of props. I am including a post from IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING. Read the blog carefully and consider your options. You can also watch Davis Hynder to get tips.
I am also including the TED talks by JJ ABRAMS and Hans Roslin so you can revisit them and get some ideas for your presentation, 

Who Has Time to Read?

I certainly hope you do. Technology has brought on different ways to have access to story telling. I must admit that I was a critic of reading from an iPad, or a Kindle; however I have come to embrace it. I still prefer paper, traditional books. Romantic reasons I suppose. Audio Books came about years ago to help people with poor eyesight, or people looking to beat the stress of traffic jams. Now we have podcasts. Here is a podcast from The New Yorker. The Burglar was written by Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum, and it is here read by her. The audio 40 minutes long, including the interview, so take your time.  

Young Zaphod Plays It Safe

It is time to read a bit of science fiction. This is a short story by the great Douglas Adams. Click HERE to download the seven-page PDF.

GIVING A PRESENTATION - TIPS, BODY LANGUAGE AND GESTURES

A Few Tips on Public Speaking.

1. Practice. Many people fail at speaking in public because they don't practice before. Make sure that you know when you are going to use gestures.
2. KNOW what you are talking about. Study the material and write it yourself, use your words.
3. Introduce yourself and classmates.
4. State your topic, and the main parts of your presentations. If necessary, state the purpose of your talk; persuade, inform, etc. 
5. Make eye contact. It helps connect with your audience. Look at the audience, NOT at the presentation or the teacher. PowerPoint is a tool, NOT the center of your presentation.
6. Control mannerisms. Your body language is very important. Don't put your hands in your pockets, or cross your arms... watch this video. 
7. Enunciate. Speak clearly. NEVER worry about your accent; embrace it.
8. DON'T read your presentation. That is sure way to lose the interest of your audience.
9. Enjoy it. If you enjoy your presentation, your audience will too.

TOO FEW WOMEN LEADERS

Watch the complete TED Talk by Sheryl Sandberg. This the complete transcript. You can download it or read along as you watch.

PowerPoint and putting people to sleep.

When was the last time you saw or did an interesting or exciting presentation? Was it creative? Are you creative? You are about to do your first real presentation in class. 

There is a certain level of expectations, after all, you are an Advanced English Student. However there are a few things that you have to take into account: 

When you do a presentation in PowerPoint, take this into account. There are so many PowerPoint presentations that are just absolutely boring. 

1. So don't be boring. Here is a fun video that you can watch to get an idea of what to avoid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbSPPFYxx3o 

SUCCESS IS YOURS!!

End of the Cassini Explorer

Read this, watch the videos and pictures. On your notebook, you will write a 300-word essay detailing your impression of this event based on what we saw in Brian Cox's TEDtalk, which I have included in full. 

I have also included his TEDtalk on CERN's Supercollider, which will definitely help you have a larger understanding of his passion for curiosity driven science and exploration.

WRITE CLEARLY AND NEATLY.

The Final Stretch

Well we are getting near the end. So we need to sharpen our skills. I have been asking you to open your mind to new possibilities. To begin with, I need you to read this article and take some notes. Where do you agree? Where do you disagree? Tell me.

Once you have done that go here and find out what you need to make awesome presentations. pay attention, there are some tactical tips as well. Then, tell me which slide & tactical tips you find most challenging and why. Remember that the idea is for you to take a chance on creativity.

Here are some more ideas to enhance your presentations.

As you know, your assignment was to go to the MAC (Museo de Arte Contemporaneo) and take extensive notes on your impressions, and how you feel about what you saw. We do not need a list of what they are showing there, or the history of the museum. We need you to open, both, your heart and mind. Your presentation will be precisely about that. I will need to see your notes. Remember that you can NOT type your notes into your phone so as not to get distracted. Again, this presentation is a VERY PERSONAL deal.Don't be afraid! Don't cheat yourself out of this experience. Avoid short cuts.

From the Journals of Keith Haring.

"I don't think art is propaganda; it should be something that liberates the soul, provokes the imagination and encourages people to go further. It celebrates humanity instead of manipulating it." -Keith Haring

Now that you have read the post, and reviewed the links you will go to the comment section and leave an extensive comment on each question answering what has been asked.

One of a kind museums

"Arte es la actividad mediante la cual puede reconstruirse el mundo, cuando el mundo ha desaparecido."

 -César Aira, Fragmentos de un diario en Los Alpes.

There are museums in nearly every city in the world. In such a wide range of offers, it is only natural to find unique museums and galleries dedicated to unusual subject matter. Wax Museums are a clear example of this. They have become a chain, and quite the tourist attraction. You can read a bit how Madame Marie Tussaud came to be known for her wax figures.

There are some museums that are far from being average; they are truly one-of-a-kind. These places can either represent a community, or cater to special interests.. 

For example, we have the MOBA. Read and find out about its origins and philosophy; then, look at their collection. 

Why do you think we need places that are so unique?

With the idea of the Techno Museum coming to Frankfurt, your assignment is an easy one today. Go on line, and find a one-of-a-kind museum that you would like us to know about. 

• You will give your presentations in pairs. 
• ONE more time I am asking you to be as unconventional as possible. 
• Ask yourself how you can incorporate the subject matter of the museum into the dynamic of your presentation.
• Presentations are to be mailed in before 6P.M. on Sunday.

Success is yours.

Accents are nothing to be ashamed of

So much to do

Read this article, then write a 150-180 word paper on what you understood, which you will turn in when you give your presentation on Monday.

For your presentation go to the DoctorRalf Homework page.

Thinking out side the box.

You and I know that here are no formulas to becoming more creative. I really want to get you to think outside the norm. 
Here is a brief list of tips to help you be a better observer. 
After that, I want you to watch and I listen to some people and try to look inside your life perhaps change your perspective.

Being yourself
Goldie.
Passion
Change. 
Steal.

Why should people go to museums?

As you get ready to present your projects, it is important that you get more experience in the world of museums. These are some links to some museums which I love. Also some explanations on how culture is accessed and used in Mexico. Visit every link, take a tour, watch videos, look at pictures, read the posts... and do some serious research.

1. http://sic.conaculta.gob.mx/estadistica.php
2. http://www.mna.inah.gob.mx/index.html
3. http://www.smb.museum/smb/standorte/index.php?lang=en&objID=27
4. http://www.guggenheim.org/
5. http://www.gugghttp://www.guggenheim-bilbao.es/en/enheim-bilbao.es/en/ 
6. http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/
7. http://www.moma.org/
8. http://americanart.si.edu/
9. http://www.londonart.co.uk/website/dictionary.asp
10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU9oaD0e7uU
11. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvT9gl5Gh_Y
12. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUnNJY7GEag

As you take tours of the museum sites: 

1. Take notes.
2. Come to your own conclusions. 
3. Remember that the objective of your visits and these links is to inspire you to understand the importance of art and museums, and the joy of visiting museums. 
4. The objective of the presentations is not to describe museums. 

Projects will be presented on September 21, under these rules: 

• You may present with any means you want.
• You will turn in the evidence of your visit to the museums, and a written presentation. 
• You can not read your presentation.
• Executive uniforms must be worn when you present.

EUROPE! Countries, Cities, Nationalities and Dishes

Welcome, San Pablo high school. 
Vocabulary is very important. In this activity we are going to learn vocabulary for counties and languages IN ENGLISH. 
How many countries in Europe can you name? What is the capital of Denmark? What is the official currency in Turkey? What is the official language of Finland? You may, or may not agree with me, but there things you (we) have to know. I know some people feel that learning a lot of information might actually be useless. Knowledge can never be useless.

• You will first test your memory by taking a quiz on Europe and its geography, just for fun.
• After that, complete this chart in English. 
• When you finish, email the document to ralfortiz@gmail.com; The subject and the name of the attachment should be YOUR_NAME_Europe.
• All the information you gather you will use in another project. 
• And that is all for San Pablo.
• In addition, you will go to this link after class and study the parts of speech. This information is VERY important for you to understand how English works; http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/parts-of-speech.html

Have fun!

Final Presentations

For your final project you have to convince people your age, people like you to visit, and continue visiting, museums. For your presentation think about these questions:

• Did you find beauty in museums and art?
• Would you go back?
• Can you attract people to experiment the sensation of going to museums?
• Can you really capture a young person's attention?
• Can you be convincing?
• Can you be AUTHENTIC, HONEST and ORIGINAL?

You might want to write some more questions for yourself.

Also, remember that it is very important for you to express your well thought out ideas. Do not just go to the cliches, the empty words that everyone repeats. Speak from your heart. Go back to the previous posts and look at the speaking an presentation tips. Be yourself. Use different intonations, use your body, look at people in the eye. Show everybody that you know what you are talking about.

1. BE PROFESSIONAL. 
2. You can present in anyway you like; PowerPoint or with other material.
3. Executive uniforms must be worn as specified in your rule book.
4. Use example and arguments that are clear. 
5. There is NO reading.
6. If you present in a team (pairs), BOTH member must speak equally.
7. Projects will be presented on Tuesday, June 2nd. The class starts at 7 and you are expected to be there, fully prepared. ON TIME!
8. Late arrivals will be counted as absences, and may lose points if they are disruptive.
9. If i call your team and you or your partner are not there, you lose your opportunity.
10. You must turn in a written document containing the detailed arguments and points of you presentation. If the material has been copied and pasted and/or translated literally your grade will be severely affected. If you do not turn in a document you will not be allowed to present.

Success is yours

An Artist Like Me

We all have, or have had, an artistic vein. Your job for your last presentation before the final project, is to find an artist like you.
Yes. You read right, an artist like you. (1) Go the entry on museum virtual tours. (2) Choose an artist, and (3) make a 6-slide PowerPoint presentation about how YOU and the artist are similar and two ways in which you are different. (4) Include specific examples of the painting or scupture or photograph that highlight these similarities or differences. 
(5) You will also read this and PAY ATTENTION. You might also want to watch the video I had shared with you, in order to organize your presentation as I broke it down for you last Monday. Finally (6) you must include notes in the presentation so that I may see them as you are presenting without reading.
THIS presentation, as well as last week's MAC presentation are the most important ones.
Presentations MUST BE sent to my email (ralfortiz@gmail.com) by today at midnight.