QUOTE OF THE DAY

"I DON'T DO THE GOOD I WANT, BUT THE EVIL I DON'T WANT IS WHAT I DO!"
Saint Paul

FABULOUS FABLES

THE FOX AND THE GRAPES

A hungry fox was, one day, passing a garden wall, over which hung some very fine, ripe grapes.

- How good those grapes look! They make my mouth water! I'll have some.

Nonetheless, the grapes were so high that the fox couldn't reach them.

She began to jump, but even then, she couldn't reach the grapes. She jumped and jumped, and still, couldn't make it. At last, she had a fall.

Then, she ran away and said:

- Those grapes don't look ripe to me. I don't care. They must be sour. I don't like sour grapes, anyway

Teaching Tips & Ideas

PREPOSITIONS

BEFORE – Antes de. Perante. Diante. Ante. Indica posição em frente a um objeto. Indica também prioridade, precedência em classe, ordem ou sucessão.

e.g.: - I shall be there before 6 o’clock.

The holiday season starts a fortnight before May 1st.

You must mail this letter before that package.

“I’ll have these players play something like the murder of my father before mine uncle”. (Hamlet, Act II. Scene II.)


BEHIND – Atrás. Indica a posição do objeto atrás do outro ou seguindo um outro. Indica que um objeto fica após a remoção de um outro.

e.g.: - He died leaving a glorious name behind him.
I keep leaving my umbrella behind me.


BELOW - Abaixo de. Indica inferioridade de classe, de dignidade etc.

e.g.: - When the Sun sets it goes below the horizon.
An Earl is below a Marquis in rank.
Should I sign my name below the dotted line ?
The city of Recife, people say, is below the sea level.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Never be afraid to try something new just remember that a lone amateur built the Ark and a large group of professionals built the Titanic.

19 POINTS THAT TOOK ME ALMOST 50 YEARS TO LEARN

WHO'S WHO?

David Barry, Jr. (born July 3, 1947) is a bestselling American author and Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist who wrote a nationally syndicated column for the The Miami Herald from 1983 to 2005.

Barry was born in Armonk, New York. He was educated at Pleasantville High School where he was elected class clown in 1965. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Haverford College in 1969.

As the son of a minister and an alumnus of a Quaker-affiliated college, Barry avoided military service during the Vietnam War by registering as a religious conscientious objector.

19 POINTS THAT TOOK ME ALMOST 50 YEARS ...


By DAVE BARRY

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

2. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings."

3. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

4. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.

5. And when God, who created the entire universe with all of its glories, decides to deliver a message to humanity, HE WILL NOT use, as His messenger, a person on cable TV with a bad hairstyle.

6. You should not confuse your career with your life.

7. No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too
seriously.

8. When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that individual is crazy.

9. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

10. Never lick a steak knife.

11. Take out the fortune before you eat the cookie.

12. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.

13. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.

14. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

15. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.

16. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.

17. The main accomplishment of almost all organized protests is to annoy people who are not in them.

18. A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.)

19. Your friends love you anyway.

Congo Fighting Threatens Mountain Gorillas

Fierce fighting around the Congo's Virunga National Park has increased concerns for the safety of the park's rare mountain gorillas.

There are an estimated 700 wild mountain gorillas remaining worldwide, with 150 living in the park. 9 gorillas living in the troubled park have been killed this year.

Last week, the gorillas were left unprotected as rangers were forced to evacuate their posts due to the fighting. People fleeing from the conflict are now setting up camps inside or next to the park, placing the gorillas under further pressure. The situation is critical. You can help the gorillas if you act today

excerpet from WWF

Teaching Tips & Ideas

All right everyboby. I have just received the message below. Somebody asks me to send it ahead. That's what I'm doing. H.C.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ana Falcon
Date: 07/09/2007 12:55
Subject: [braztesolpe] September Teaching Sparklers: 21/09/2007 - ELC
To: BRAZTESOLPE


Dear All. Please find below information about September Teaching Sparklers.
We would be grateful if you could forward this message onto your colleagues.
Thank you. And hope to see you there!

BRAZTESOL Team
btesolpe@gmail.com

Poster available from http://groups.yahoo.com/group/braztesolpe/ under FILES > Teaching Sparklers posters
--------------
21 September 2007

1400 1430 | Welcome comments
1430-1530 | Workshop I: How to maximise the use of English in class and still keep our students at ease
1530-1600 | Coffee break
1600-1700 | Workshop II: Differentiated instruction in the English Language classroom

FEES: R$5 (members) $10 (non-members)

ELC | Rua Sá e Souza 655
Boa Viagem Setubal
(opp. the American School)
Tel 3341-0888

How to maximise the use of English in class and still keep our students at ease
PRESENTER | Najin Lima
ABSTRACT | Why do our students fall back on Portuguese? Is it simply laziness? To what extent are we, teachers, responsible for the use of mother tongue in class? Is that legitimate at all? During this workshop we'll try to come up with some answers
for these questions, drawing from research as well as teachers' experience. The aim is to show that simple actions taken in class can give students the support they need to maximise their use of English in class without frustration. If a word were to be chosen to summarise this workshop, that would be strategies! Your own experience in class is more than welcome, therefore join us!
BIODATA | After graduating in languages (Portuguese/English) from UFPE, Najin Lima took CPE. He then took a Master's in Linguistics. He has taught English for 13 years. He worked for Culturas Inglesas in Recife teaching different groups of all ages and levels including Cambridge preparation courses. He has also taught ESP in colleges. He currently works for Pearson Longman as an ELT academic consultant

Differentiated instruction in the English Language classroom
PRESENTERS | Scott Heald and Virginia Sivini
ABSTRACT | This presentation examines the use of differentiated instruction in the classroom as a recognition of the variety of students' needs, abilities or prior knowledge. It is important to understand and apply the principles and practices
of differentiated instruction where students work toward the same ends, but use differentiated content, processes and products to get there.
BIODATA | Virginia is an EFL teacher. She is experienced in teaching young learners. She holds a post-graduate degree in Applied Linguistics.
BIODATA | Scott is a native English speaker with four years of teaching experience in the EFL field. Both teach at ELC and are working on a Master's Degree in International Education. (Framingham State University)

This kind of misdeed can happen to the most respectable families

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

CLICK GREAT MOMENTS IN PRESIDENTIAL SPEECHES

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE - PART TWO

DEFINITIONS

ACCIDENT: Where presence of mind is good but absence of body is better!

ADAM: A self-maid man!

ALTRUISM: The art of doing unselfish things for selfish reasons!

ALIMONY: The high cost of loving!

AGITATOR: A man who spouts about Capital & Labor but who never has any capital and never does any labor!

JAIL: The best place to find men with convictions!

JOKEBOOK: A jest seller!

JUDGE: A lawyer who knew a politician!

JANITOR: The only man who can make a quick clean-up in Wall Street and get away with it!

TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR: A misprint that can turn a hat into a cat and a baby sitter into a baby sister!

PRAYER: A message to Heaven, usually sent at night to get the low rate!

ADDRESSEE: The last person to read a post-card!

ALARM-CLOCK: An invention used to awake adults who have no babies!

- From Evan Esar's Comic Dictionary, Bramhall House, New York, 1960 -

This kind of mischief can happen to the most respectable families

AP Associated Press

Sen. CRAIG RESIGNS OVER SEX STING

By JOHN MILLER, Associated Press Sun Sep 2, 6:17 AM ET BOISE, Idaho - USA

- In a subdued ending to a week of startling political theater, Sen. Larry Craig announced his resignation Saturday, bowing to pressure from fellow Republicans worried about damage from his arrest and guilty plea in a gay sex sting.

"I apologize for what I have caused," Craig said, his wife Suzanne and two of their three children at his side with a historic Boise train station as backdrop. "I am deeply sorry."
Craig, 62, said he would resign effective Sept. 30, ending a career in Congress spanning a quarter-century.

Teaching Tips & Ideas

PRONUNCIATION OF VOWEL CLUSTERS

1 - OU

AU - Sour - Azedo
AU - Mount - Montanha
AU - County - Municipio, Condado

à - Journalist - Jornalista
à - Country - Campo, País
à - Harbour - Porto

U - Group - Grupo
U - Youth - Juventude
U - Rouge - Ruge

OU - Soul - Alma
OU - Although - Embora
OU - Dough-nut - Rosquinha

ÓA - Pour - Despejar, Entornar
ÓA - Court - Quadra, Corte

2 - OO

à - Flood - Inundação
à - Blood - Sangue

ÓA - Door - Porta
ÓA - Floor - Assoalho, andar

U - Shoot - Atirar
U - Booth - Cabine telefônica

UA - Poor - Pobre
UA - Moor - Mouro, ancorar

OU - Brooch - Broche

3 - EA

ÉA - Pear - Pera
ÉA - Bear - Urso

IA - Idea - Ideia
IA - Fear - Medo, temor

I - Neat - Limpo, impecável
I - Retreat - Retirar

EI - Steak - Bife, filé
EI - Break - Quebrar, romper

à - Pearl - Pérola
à - Early - Cedo

GREAT LIFE TRUTHS

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptise cats.
2) When your Mum is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.

STUPID QUOTES OF THE DAY

“It’s no exaggeration to say that the undecided could go one way or another.”

“I have opinions of my own – strong opinions – but I don’t always agree with them.”



George Bush, US President

HERE'S THE DEAL

We would particularly like to acknowledge the valuable contribution sent by
Prof. Roberto Lamenha.

"Following you will find a few easy sentences for you to "Check Your English". Answers will be given somewhere in this issue."

1 - A bebida é por conta da casa. _____________________________________
2 - A blusa combina com a saia. ______________________________________
3 - De nada adiantará. _____________________________________________
4 - Dei uma indireta. ______________________________________________
5 - Desculpe-me a franqueza. ________________________________________
6 - É ele mesmo (apontando). _______________________________________
7 - Ele substituiu um colega doente. ___________________________________
8 - Ele substituiu o professor efetivo. __________________________________
9 - Li por alto. ___________________________________________________

10 - Mas, claro. _________________________________________________

11 - Não é bem isso o que eu quis dizer. _______________________________

JOKES OF THE DAY

PNEUMONIA
A man went to see his doctor because he was suffering from a miserable cold. His doctor prescribed some pills, but they didn't help. On his next visit the doctor gave him a shot, but that didn't do any good. On his third visit the doctor told the man to go home and take a hot bath. As soon as he was finished bathing he was to throw open all the windows and stand in the draft.
"But doc," protested the patient, "if I do that, I'll get pneumonia."
"Well, I can cure pneumonia."

THE DIET
A woman was terribly overweight, so her doctor put her on a diet. "I want you to eat regularly for 2 days, then skip a day, and repeat this procedure for 2 weeks. The next time I see you, you'll have lost at least 5 pounds.

"When the woman returned, she shocked the doctor by losing nearly 20 pounds.
"Why, that's amazing!" the doctor said, "Did you follow my instructions?" The woman nodded. "I'll tell you, I thought I was going to drop dead that third day." "From hunger, you mean?"
"No, from skipping

IT DOESN’T PAY…
A good man passed away and went to heaven. He was greeted by St. Peter, who congratulated him and said he could have anything he wished. The fellow requested something to eat and a telescope so that he could look around. While eating the sandwich he peered through the telescope down at the folks in hell and saw that they were feasting on lobster, filet mignon and caviar. “How come people down there are eating gourmet food?” he asked St. Peter.

“I earned a place in heaven, but you gave me only a tuna-fish sandwich!
”Well, replied St Peter, “it doesn’t pay to cook for just the two of us.”

RULES OF THUMB

The word "thankful" comes from the noun "thanks."
- I'd like to say thank you.
- I'm am very thankful.

Here are some more adjectives that end in FUL:

helpful - someone who helps others
cheerful - someone who feels happy, or full of cheer
tearful - someone who is sad or their eyes are full of tears
powerful - having a lot of power
painful - causing pain
colorful - having many colors; full of colors

ANSWERS TO THE PUZZLE:

1 - The drinks are on the house.
2 - The blouse and the skirt go together.
3 - It won't do any good.
4 - I hinted at it.
5 - Forgive me for saying so.
6 - It's him all right.
7 - He filled in for a sick colleague.
8 - He substituted for the regular teacher.
9 - I glanced over it.
10 - Why, of course!
11 - That's not quite what I meant.

VARIATIONS ON MURPHY'S LAW

1. Law of Mechanical Repair: After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch or you'll have to pee.

2. Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

3. Law of Probability: The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

This kind of misdeed can happen to the most respectable families

A YANKEE IN QUEEN ELIZABETH'S COURT

The Air Force One arrives at Heathrow Airport and President Bush strides to a warm and dignified reception from the Queen.

They are driven in a 1934 Bentley to the edge of central London where they change to a magnificent 17th century carriage hitched to six white horses.

They continue on towards Buckingham Palace waving to the thousands of cheering Britons; all is going well.

Suddenly the right rear horse lets fly with the most horrendous earth shattering fart ever heard in the British Empire. The smell is atrocious and both passengers in the carriage must use handkerchiefs over their noses.

The fart shakes the coach, but the two dignitaries of State do their best to ignore the incident.

The Queen turns to President Bush, "Mr. President please accept my regrets... I am sure you understand there are some things that even a Queen cannot control."

George Bush, always trying to be "Presidential," replied: "Your Majesty, do not give the matter another thought... Until you mentioned it, I thought it was one of the horses."