Have you ever wondered why some people always have a smile on their face and have a positive way to face life? I have known people who encourage themselves every day to get a fabulous life. It would be amazing whether we realize that simple thoughts and acts can positively change our daily existence. We could be like these people who drive or motivate by themselves. Undoubtedly, we can immediately start to be happier. The drivers of happiness are varied, but we can begin with the following ones.
Thinking positive is a good way to encourage us to be cheerful. If we think positively, we have the attitude to do and face things in the best way that we can. We are more optimistic about our problems and we eagerly persevere to get our goals in the present and future. We have confidence, commitment and motivation to overcome our daily challenges. We believe more in our capabilities. Therefore, there is higher self- esteem.
Friendship and communication are considerable factors of contentment. By nature, we are usually sociable, so we need other people to talk about our joys, sorrows and afflictions. It does not matter if we have a large numbers of friends; the most important issue is the quality inside any relationship. Good communication with our close friends and relatives brings us the opportunity to express our humanity. We can feel we are humans with troubles and virtues. Deep down, we realize that to be happy, we need other people to be close to us.
All people who aim to develop good virtues have found the correct way to be joyful. If we do that, our life will find its purpose, and we will know our feelings are real. Virtuous people develop amazing characteristics of goodwill, help and love for their fellow men. We feel great gladness because our virtues and strengths have a purpose greater than our own goals. From a religious perspective, we live according to the commandments of God, which were given us by Him to reach a happy life.
Through working out our body, we feel good and healthy. Our mood and mental well-being change, and all our life seems happier. We laugh and exude an exuberant energy. At the same time, this motivator supports and brings a physical characteristic (identifiable in the first time you see someone), which does not exist in the motivators mentioned above.
To conclude, we can say that there are different factors that propel happiness. In this sense, positive thinking, friendship and communication, development of virtues and exercise, are important drivers when people want to be happier. We cannot forget that all challenges begin inside us. Consequently, if we aim to reach our challenges and retain happiness, we must apply these motivators in our life. Through this way, our life will be wonderful every year, month and day of our existence.
By Rodolfo Mercado, ESL Writing 3
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Language Development
Speech or language is used to communicate and share thoughts, ideas and emotions. From the day they are born and all throughout their childhood, children are always adapting to the voice of their mother. Children begin to respond their name as they slowly realize it is unique to them. The stage of language development during childhood is the most important time for the infant because the more the child practices and is exposed to language, the better will be his ability to communicate with others. This can be divided into three stages: these are from birth to age 1, from age 1 to age 2, and from age 2 to 3 and 4 years old.
In the first stage, from birth to age one, the infant shows signs of the beginning of communication occurring during the first days of life when the infant learns that crying will bring food, comfort and companionship. The baby begins to recognize important sound in his environment. The voice of the father may be an important sound. As they grow, babies begin to classify the speech sound (phonemes) or other key elements that make up words of their language. At 6 months, the baby babbles generally "ba, ba, ba" or "ta, ta, ta." This babbling soon becomes a kind of nonsense talks that might sound like human speech but has no real word. Most children recognize the basic sound of their native language, and they are able to make the sounds.
In the second’s stage, from the end of the first year to age 2, most children have the ability to say a few simple words. Children do not know the meaning of these first words but they learn the power of those words in so far as the people around them respond to them. Within two years, most babies can form two words phrases such as "more milk." During this period, children rapidly learn that words symbolize or represent objects, actions and emotions. At this time the infant will be open to light songs, sounds and everything to help him communicate, but people cannot understand what he wants.
In the last stage when the child is between 3 and 4 years of age, through increased vocabulary, the child quickly begins to dominate the rules of languages. During this time, the child acquires more language skills that allow him to communicate with more complex structures, and he is more understandable. Language usage is more developed and the child uses it to converse with others or just to talk to himself. At this age the child virtually dominates the grammar, his vocabulary continues to develop, and he uses pronouns, verbs, and articles. This age is characterized by questions such as "what is it", and "why."
In conclusion, this is the normal process of languages development in children, but depending on the linguistic environment in which the child finds himself, there may be some differences. It is important to encourage children to communicate to give them the possibility to enrich their vocabulary and help them realize that talking is needed to communicate their needs and desires.
By Romina Owens, ESL Writing 3
In the first stage, from birth to age one, the infant shows signs of the beginning of communication occurring during the first days of life when the infant learns that crying will bring food, comfort and companionship. The baby begins to recognize important sound in his environment. The voice of the father may be an important sound. As they grow, babies begin to classify the speech sound (phonemes) or other key elements that make up words of their language. At 6 months, the baby babbles generally "ba, ba, ba" or "ta, ta, ta." This babbling soon becomes a kind of nonsense talks that might sound like human speech but has no real word. Most children recognize the basic sound of their native language, and they are able to make the sounds.
In the second’s stage, from the end of the first year to age 2, most children have the ability to say a few simple words. Children do not know the meaning of these first words but they learn the power of those words in so far as the people around them respond to them. Within two years, most babies can form two words phrases such as "more milk." During this period, children rapidly learn that words symbolize or represent objects, actions and emotions. At this time the infant will be open to light songs, sounds and everything to help him communicate, but people cannot understand what he wants.
In the last stage when the child is between 3 and 4 years of age, through increased vocabulary, the child quickly begins to dominate the rules of languages. During this time, the child acquires more language skills that allow him to communicate with more complex structures, and he is more understandable. Language usage is more developed and the child uses it to converse with others or just to talk to himself. At this age the child virtually dominates the grammar, his vocabulary continues to develop, and he uses pronouns, verbs, and articles. This age is characterized by questions such as "what is it", and "why."
In conclusion, this is the normal process of languages development in children, but depending on the linguistic environment in which the child finds himself, there may be some differences. It is important to encourage children to communicate to give them the possibility to enrich their vocabulary and help them realize that talking is needed to communicate their needs and desires.
By Romina Owens, ESL Writing 3
Monday, April 12, 2010
An Embarrassing Moment
I had started working on a new job. My boss was my sister in law Michele. She was my girlfriend's older brother Hugo. Since I was new on the job, Michele invited me to lunch with her because she wanted to show me a good place for lunch. Maybe if I liked the place we could have lunch together every day. I worked in the city of Curitiba, in a place very populous called Gren Green, and it was lunch time when we arrived at the restaurant. There were many people in the place and lunch was served buffet style.
After we got our dishes, we found a place to sit. We found a seemingly good place. She sat down I went to get drinks. When I returned, she had already started eating. I left the drink on the table and when I sat in my chair it could not stand my weight and broke. I fell in front of Michele and everybody. I got up fast, the misguided attempt to try to disguise my fall, but it was too late. Everyone had seen it, and when they realized that I was fine, some began to laugh. I was so embarrassed, my face turned red, but I started laughing too, to show that everything was fine and in some ways because it was funny to me too. I tried another chair and continued to have lunch together and although I had this incident, I had lunch at that restaurant for many years to come. And of course I have tested every chair before sit in it.
A Journal Assignment by Fabio Dias, Writing Level 2
After we got our dishes, we found a place to sit. We found a seemingly good place. She sat down I went to get drinks. When I returned, she had already started eating. I left the drink on the table and when I sat in my chair it could not stand my weight and broke. I fell in front of Michele and everybody. I got up fast, the misguided attempt to try to disguise my fall, but it was too late. Everyone had seen it, and when they realized that I was fine, some began to laugh. I was so embarrassed, my face turned red, but I started laughing too, to show that everything was fine and in some ways because it was funny to me too. I tried another chair and continued to have lunch together and although I had this incident, I had lunch at that restaurant for many years to come. And of course I have tested every chair before sit in it.
A Journal Assignment by Fabio Dias, Writing Level 2
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Amenian Water Festival (Vardevar)
Vardevar, also called Water Day, is an ancient traditional holiday that is very important to the Armenian people. Vardevar was originally a pagan celebration to worship Astgihk, the goddess of love and beauty, in which they offered her roses (vard means “rose” in Armenian) and doves. Also, they sprinkled water on one another.Now it is a Christian holiday, but we keep those same ancient traditions. This holiday is celebrated in the Armenian Apostolic Church on the third Sunday of July. On this day, people gather together in the church and learn about this holiday. We Armenians celebrate it today by splashing water on each other, partying and feasting with family and friends, and performing traditional dances.
Because water is a symbol of cleanliness, beauty, and fertility, everyone is excited to splash water on others and to be splashed until we are all wet, clean, and happy. Thus, in the morning when we wake up, we hurry outside to splash water on someone. We use buckets, bottles, and cups to gather water and toss on neighbors, friends, and even strangers. Some people even dump buckets of water from their balconies on everyone. Getting completely soaked is considered a sign of good luck and prosperity. Therefore, everyone is happy to be wet. Only the tourists or strangers who do not understand sometimes get offended.
After the Vardevar water celebration, people go home to spend time with family and friends and eat good food. Talking and telling stories, especially funny ones, bring Armenian families together. We also brag about how many people we got wet during the day. In addition, neighbors and relatives visit everyone they know from morning until late at night to celebrate together by playing games, eating, and relaxing. They prepare many tasty traditional Armenian foods. For example, we prepare a variety of fish and a delicious dish called Tolma, which is meat, rice, onions, and spices all wrapped up in grape leaves. After the food is ready, we start eating at lunch time, but many keep eating all day and late into the night.
Another very important part of celebrating Vardevar is participating in traditional Armenian dances. Most families gather to dance the kochary. Usually, some family members play instruments while others perform this circle dance, holding hands and singing. If there are no instruments, people use a CD player to play the music. Single people often go to restaurants to dance and sing the kochary. This dance is important as a symbol of joining together in love and goodness.Holding each other’s hands and dancing to a fast tempo brings joy and a bonding feeling to each family member.
I love to wake up on Vardevar and to go outside to splash water on my friends and family in the hot summer. I love to see them laugh and smile, knowing that we are really splashing each other with more than just water. The water really means love and good will. The delicious food and lively dancing brings Armenian families together to share this tradition and create memories and feelings of beautiful love.
By Tamara Harutyunova, Level 3 Writing
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