A sample text

A number of theories have arisen regarding the learning of a second language. However, most studies in this area have been carried out in contexts of English as a second language (Norton, 2000, Bernstein, 1993) ( e,g Puerto Rico) and not  English as a foreign language (Chile) .

 Interestingly, Chile has had an important influx of immigrants, among them, some coming from countries in which Spanish is not spoken and whose first language is Creole (a mix between French and African language) and some whose first language is Arabic, which does not only sound very different but is written differently. Additionally, many of these people have arrived with their whole family. Today, there are more than 50,000 foreign people under 18 years old.

This study seeks to explore the perception foreign children coming from considerably different backgrounds feel about learning English in a country where English is not spoken.

What evidence is there of how these children are “invested” (Norton, 2000) in learning the English language? How is their identity affected learning a foreign language?

With regards to methodology, this research will use mixed methods and will have participant observation over 10 sessions (10 weeks). Data will be collected via semi-structured interviews to the children, teacher and one of the parents, and surveys that will be administered after classes on the premises of the school.

Monday 28

On this day we worked on finishing the texts and also improve them to make them more academic :)

For more info, check post Monday 21

About the future

My piece of research

Dear all,
Please remember that in academic writing, there are different genres (jounal, essay, letter, etc.) and some of them can be more impersonal. When you write about a research project, even though you can use "I" sometimes through the text, passive voice and reference by nominalization are more common.

There are a number of issues with immigration worldwide. Chile has received (has been host to) a great number of migrants.  A great number of migrants has arrived in Chile in the past few years...

Remember it is important to include more formal discourse markers

Furthermore, in addition, moreover
In contrast, in spite of, although
whereas, while, etc.
To conclude

Let's finish the task for Monday 21

Today the idea is to write about a piece of research you would like to carry out.

First of all you could present the background info. Context

Secondly the actual problem you want to investigate

Then you could refer to other authors who have addressed this topic elsewhere

What typer of research would you carry out? How?

Remember to try to incorporeate discourse markers. 

200 words minimum :=

Below you can see a sample of an essay (another form of academic writing) Notice the distance between writer and reader.

It is true that all of the major systems around the world, whether they are to do with government, welfare or education, are based and reliant on computers. I do not, however, believe that this has created excessive risks.
Before the advent of computers, human society survived very well. It is true that if all computers crashed, this would cause huge problems but it would only mean that we would go back to the situation that we had before. People would suffer, maybe I would too, but the world would not end. Reliance on certain systems is the price that we pay for progress.
The very idea that all computers could crash is ludicrous anyway. All places which deal in life and death situations have back up generators that can provide power in the event of a power cut. Power cuts are only temporary and if something happened that completely destroyed the electrical systems of a country, such as nuclear war, people would have far more important things to worry about. Computers are now reliable and we have armies of technicians who can repair or replace faulty systems. Things can and will go wrong but this would happen whether we were reliant on computer systems or on humans. The difference is that computers will make fewer mistakes from day to day!
In conclusion I would therefore say that I disagree with the idea that our reliance on computer technology has created a dangerous situation. I believe our lives are better and safer because of this reliance. 

Some practice for starts

Cultural differences can be striking. Unlike in Latin America, in the UK most people leave home when they go to university. Do you have headphones? Watch a couple of chapters of this university series.

Click on a new tab and open a dictionary

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/english-at-university

Too easy? Do you think you should work at intermediate level?

Watch sessions 1 & 2 and write what you think

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/intermediate

Some extra practice

https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/intermediate3/grammar/file02/nef_int_grammar02_a01?cc=cl&selLanguage=en

A game

https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/intermediate3/games/theanteatergame/games_ant01?cc=cl&selLanguage=en

Practice some pronunciation. Decide on the level

https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/intermediate3/c_pronunciation/ef_stressgame?cc=cl&selLanguage=en

Some more practice

https://elt.oup.com/student/headway/preint4/grammar/unit09/hwy_preint_unit09_1?cc=cl&selLanguage=en

Listen and put the conversation in order

https://elt.oup.com/student/headway/preint4/everydayenglish/hwy_preint_dialogue05?cc=cl&selLanguage=en

Do we have good manners in Chile?

http://people.howstuffworks.com/13-examples-of-good-and-bad-manners-around-the-world.htm

Check your vocab

https://elt.oup.com/student/headway/int/vocabulary/unit02/hwy_int_unit02_5?cc=cl&selLanguage=en

Visit this listening site and choose a  minimum of 3 activites.

http://www.esl-lab.com/