The Problems of Young

Youth! What a great time! It seems all roads of live give you green light. It is time for choosing, discovering, and learning. But these “choosing», «discovering” and “learning” are always accompanied with some problems. Youth is the time for "struggling" to fit into society.

Perhaps not many people think how many problems young people have. Adults think that in time of adolescence people simply enjoy life and nothing matters. That’s not exactly the truth. And what is the nature of those problems? Being still at the range of young people I would try to list some the main problems which to my mind are common for people of different countries.

So one of the most spread and ever-lasting problem is so called generation gap. Misunderstanding between parents and children makes life of both parties harder. And the only remedy for that is live through this period, be more patient and tolerant towards each other.

Besides having problems with parents young people also face with problem of relationship among their peers. First love, first fight, first fail in relationship stress people a lot and if adults are used to solve such problems then young generation has no experience in it and therefore it makes a huge stress.

Youth is the time when you put first bricks for your future career, profession, skills and so on.  You face the need of choosing profession, you need to figure out what you want to do for your future. Besides those not easy questions you need to become independent. Independent from parents morally and financially both. And this is not so easy. Young people even if they want to work they cannot find appropriate job in our country. Especially in small towns. So unemployment is one of the most serious problems young people have.

And even if they get job still their incomes are too low to be really independent from everybody. Very often it leads to a problem of “separating or living with parents”. Many young people want to live alone in this age but not many have such possibility so they keep living with their parents or relatives and this fact cause a lot of troubles too )))

To my mind the word “youth” is synonym to word “trouble” ))) Very often young people put themselves into risk by trying new things. Unfortunately not everything new is useful, interesting and efficient. For example drug-addiction. It is very hard to be young and try to stay away from trying any sorts of drugs. Why? I cannot explain. It is something to deal on psychological, emotional and social levels. Teenagers drug-addiction is great problem for whole world. This problem is not close to be solved. More than that, such problems become “younger” year by year.

I didn’t picture all problems that people face with. I only present some highlights. But even that was enough to expose the topic. Well at least I hope so. And maybe for some adults it would be useful to know that not only they have troubles and problems and headaches in live. We, young people, also have many humps on our way. The only thing is when we stumble and fall, it is more painful for us.

People that leave a mark on our heart and mind are outstanding ones

Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek (July 17, 1990 – June 22, 2004), known as Mattie Stepanek, was an American poet, who had six books of poetry and one book of essays all reach The New York Times bestsellers list. He became a peace advocate and motivational speaker, and lobbied on Capitol Hill on behalf of peace, people with disabilities, and children with life-threatening conditions.
Stepanek suffered from a rare form of muscular dystrophy, dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy that resulted in his death a month before his 14th birthday. His sister and two brothers also died from the disease during early childhood, and his mother has the adult form, diagnosed only after all four of her children were born.

I decided to share this story with you because I find it very touchy. Small talented child with such tragedy in  life. I always admired people who can live and enjoy life, create something, make the whole world be astonished. Especialy when such people are disable or have serious problems. I don't think that someone can stay indifferent after watching this video and listening to the story.

IT for Teaching and Learning English

As you know numerous articles have been written about the role of technology in education in the 21st century. Although the potential of the Internet for educational use has not been fully explored yet and the average school still makes limited use of computers, it is obvious that we have entered a new information age in which the links between technology and Teaching ESL have already been established.

I tried to classified somehow  Internet tool that can be used in ESL class. 

1.Home pages (e.gWiki is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any Web browser.)

2. Chatting (e.g ICQ, different sites such as www.englishbaby.com)

3.Newsgroups/discussion groups (forums and blogs)

4. Online audio/video conferences (Skype, MSN, ooVoo)

5. Dictionaries and other language aids (Wikipedia, ABBYY onlie,YouTube)

6. Social Networks (Facebook, Schoolmates, Myspace)

But I want to tell about Skype which I succesfuly use both for my private and educational needs.

Skype has some advanced features that make it useful for teaching English and very important for teachers is Skype’s simplicity and completely free Skype-to-Skype usage. 

 

Audio calls

It is possible to talk to anyone in the world by taking Skype-to-Skype calls or conference calls with more people on one call to practice speaking. Skype also has a fee-based service for computer-to-land-line service both for local and international calls.

 

Video calls

It has a video possibility with web camera, while users can see each other throughout the call and group videos to get three or more students on the same video call for the feedback you need right there and then, or to share, celebrate and collaborate from anywhere in the world by seeing and talking. For the best quality, it is recommended calls with up to five people, but it can be between ten people maximum. If the connection is slow or if users do not have a web cameras, it is still possible to make voice calls.

 

Instant messaging and file sharing

By instant messaging it is easy to chat by writing messages, send photos, documents and presentations of any size for free. Teachers can use this feature to share activities or resources with students during a lesson.

 

Screen sharing

Screen share is a great way for users to share some of their screen or entire screen, share files, photos or anything else in one user’s computer without having to send it or it is even possible to teach how to use some program by showing the moves on one user’s screen. Screen sharing requires practice, and it is a powerful feature for learning.

 

Ten ideas how to use Skype in the classroom

 

1. Interview authors, astronauts and other amazing individuals from around the world. 

2. Collaborate with classrooms, businesses and more in multi-disciplinary projects. 

3. Explore a volcano, rainforest, or history museum in virtual field trips with experts in

the field or even share your field trip experiences with others. 

4. Practice conversational foreign languages with native speakers. 

5. Provide additional support for students needing extra attention or unable to come to

class. 

6. Invite a guest lecturer from leading educators and experts from anywhere in the

world. 

7. Explore foreign cultures first hand with classroom to classroom video conferencing. 

8. Broadcast a performance or project to parents and families unable to make it to

school. 

9. Access and share professional development opportunities with educators on the go. 

10. Collaboratewithinnovativeeducatorstoplanunits,lessons,andmore.

Fashion. Is it Good to Be on the Peak?

"Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.” - Oscar Wilde

Fashion: a prevailing custom or style of dress, etiquette, socializing, etc. This is the dictionary definition of the word fashion. What first comes to your mind when you say word “fashion”? For many people fashion means “style”. There is nothing bad in having style, right? But what does mean “to be on the peak of fashion”?

It means to follow the latest tendency, to listen to what the trend pages say, to wear what world-famous designers offer you. Actually they don’t offer, they insist on wearing what they produce…they say “If you wear what we design then you are fashionable”. And who doesn’t want to be fashionable! So to be on a peak of fashion means to follow style which actually is imposed. If you accept the fact that designers foist their own taste then my congratulations, you are so called “fashslave”.

Some people say that fashionable look gives the confidence. Ok. But how about cases when up-to-day clothes simply don’t suit person or even look funny on him/her? Have you seen our teenagers? How could a young boy get confidence wearing tight jeans where upper part of it hanging between his legs almost up to ground? Or how can a young girl feel attractive wearing free size boots  a’la “valenki” and begin being club-footed? Yes, those people are on the peak of fashion )

People who want to be on a peak of fashion spend lot of money… simply throwing money in order to buy new raggery. For some people it becomes a sense of life. They get excited about Fall and Spring but not because of good weather :) And for what? What do they get in return? Agree with me that one more piece of clothes is not the most important thing in life. Will you remember that blue D&G t-shirt and extremely expansive LV purse you bought few years ago? No. Will you remember the trip to ..I don’t know..to some warm country let’s say same year you bought purse and t-shirt? Definitely YES! Because memories and impressions are what brings real pleasure. What will you chose: to get new impressions, discover something new, spread your outlook or to buy new piece of clothes just to be “on peak of fashion”? You won’t believe but many people chose the last….

Many people say that fashion is the way they express themselves. Now imagine…EVERYBODY follows fashion and EVERYBODY is on the peak of it. People start look alike. They look like clones in their similar clothes and colors. You become a part of crowd. There is nothing outstanding in wearing what all people do. And therefore person just loses his/her personality.

When person follows fashion like a blind he/she doesn’t realize that it is kind of artificial thing which is created for making money. Fashion industry is huge world and it depends on our demands. So to keep it going people who work in this industry create new tendencies, new trends, describe it in the best way and make us buy it. So simple :)

So it’s up to you whether to accept it or not. Person who wants to be the only one out of many instead of being one of many follows his/her own style. There is huge difference between being fashionable and being stylish. Being stylish means YOU make fashion but not FASHION makes you.  You can have your own style and still be on the peak…the peak of popularity and appeal. But there is a doubt if you get all these being on the peak of fashion…

New Traditions for St.Valentine's Day

Everybody knows that 14^th of Februaly is special day for those who is in love.
The most romantic day in a year so the traditions should be also very romantic.
So I suggest new traditions to make this day even brighter.

Person who is in love (boy or girl) should  make a declaration of love not just with Valentine’s card or paper heart. Let it be cup of hot chokolate with heart-shaped marshmellow in it or with a chokolate writing on a plate ))) Just imagine you meet in café, make order and someone you or your soul mate tells waiter to make such St.Valentine’s chokolate. No need words. She or he will understand what you wanted to tell. )

Also you can make kind of fortune-telling. When you go out this day make attention on the first person with flowers who will be on your way. What color of flowers in his/her hands? If its red – then great love is waiting for you, yellow – you will go through parting (or separating), pink – you will feel tenderness of your parter, white – soon you will get married, orange – joy of your love will be
endless.

Why do we orginise firework on New Year’s day and on St.Valentine’s Day we don’t? We need to
correct this ) Ok..let it be not firework. As for me I like those kind of  Japanese lantern which you light and send up to sky. Just imagine if all people will go out in the night and do this. What a spectacular view it will be! And what a romantic atmosphere! Don’t have such thing? Ok. You can place  lightening candle on your window – a symbol of eternal love and watch  others do the same. And your city will shine with 1000s of lights at night. I bet it will be more spectacular than fireworks)))))

What do you think a bout my invention ?

For St.Valentine's Day....

Composed by Olga Prokopalo

Stay with me and hold me tight
Wanna be with you tonight
Now I know and I have trust
There's nothing else but US.

 Wanna share love with you
Begging, make my dreams come true
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever known.

You have come and set me free
Now I know what love can be
All I want is you to know
I will never let you go.

For days, mothns,years
Our love will shine
I will always be yours
And you always will be mine

And now more advanced poem )

Come back at midnight - I dream about you,

Come back at sunset - the time when so much I miss,

Come back  when the sun rises touching morning dew...

Wake me up with your kiss, please...

You taught me to love and feel the ease,

The childish happiness and cheer!

You taught me to see that nobody sees - 

You taught me everything my dear!

I learnt to breathe with you, my darling,

I breathe you and I feel aroma of your skin!

I love your eyes, so smart and smiling!

I am happy with you like a teen!