MY OVERALL VIEW

Dear likely reader(s),

I would like to drop a line as a summary of the year we have just finished. 

We all have become aware of the fact that acquiring the C1 level in English turns out to be a demanding but, at the same time, worthwhile experience, which my twelve classmates and I are hopefully able to attain either this month or in September.

For English teachers registering in the C1 course is, to my view, conditio sine qua non. I must raise the merit of those mates who do not teach English for they have overcome difficulties with hard work and enthusiasm. We have been exposed to a number of strategies, displayed by our teacher, who has meant to develop our communicative competence. The range of activities and approaches to the language will definitely be useful for our lessons.

We have mastered both oral and written skills for a variety of purposes. A quotation I have learned and will always recall is one by Confucius, "The educated man is able to see a problem from another point of view." That day Emilio made me go beyond knowledge to move on to the integral growth of the person, that third scope of the subject matter, represented by that circle drawn on the introduction day, that remote 19th September, 2013.

As a final remark, which I probably should not include but I will write though, I would like to express the fact that the exam has not been prepared by the teacher may have been quite unfair for both Emilio and the students.

I look forward to your reading this post and the drink after the oral exam.

I hope to see you all next Wednesday.

SELF-PORTRAIT IN THE MIRROR

Whenever, by chance, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I usually scowl: a high brow merges with a receding hairline; short, spikey, brown hair which, two weeks after having had it cut, becomes mousy and grows tangled strands as though my pillow meant to snatch them from me; asymmetrical, hazel eyes topped by bushy eyebrows and a one-centimetre scar on the bottom left eyelid, caused by a concussion at the soft-hearted age of three; a Roman nose featured by wide, maternal-grandmother-inherited nostrils; both temples filled with dimples, which do not represent but the mark of teenage spots; gradually bigger ears (whether I like it or not); medium-length sideboards which lead into an everlastingly ill-shaven, four-day beard, which covers a double chin and a square jaw; thick lips that enclose big, crooked incisors; a rather dark complexion that suggests a resemblance to a regular Arab’s appearance – hence purchasing some silver bracelets in Tanger turns out to be truly economical for me.

INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE

Last Tuesday, 6th May, we attended a lecture by Professor Richard Harvey, of University of New Mexico.

The topic of "Intercultural Competence" was broached, alluding directly to those people who do not intend to travel or meet new people. When communicating, people must make a great effort to understand "the other" showing, in this way, not only empathy, but also tolerance and non-judgmentalism. As a matter of fact, the key of two people with different backgrounds to come across each other's messages surpasses the mere boundaries of language proficiency, merging into cross-cultural competence and religious expertise. He stated that interaction was an instance of the Iceberg model, in that it doesn't usually show values, beliefs or preferences of the people who take part in it.

Professor Harvey raised the importance of history as an ultimate conditioning for the individuals' conscience of the population of a country. He also exposed the D.I.E. exercise (Describe-Evaluate-Inform) and exemplified it superbly.

In conclusion, we had the opportunity to know about an interesting topic in a relaxed fashion, as Professor Harvey arranged the lecture as an exchange of impressions and made everyone present spend a nice evening.