INFORMAL LETTER REWRITING

21 Saint Peterson

Edinburgh G6 3FE

6 October 1997

Dear Anna,

Thank you very much for your letter, which I got yesterday. I was happy to hear from you.

The news about your interview is very interesting. You didn’t say if you got the job. I hope so.

I was sorry to hear that you have been burgled again. How many times has this happened to you? Five hundred pounds is a lot of money! Does the police know who did it?

You asked me what I’m doing and how my life is here in Edinburgh. Well, at the moment, I’m enjoying this experience very much.

Although the course is good, it’s harder than I had thought. At first, I hadn’t any friend but soon, I met the people who are in my department. In fact, I spend all the time trying to buy the books which I need for my course and I have to recognise that I don’t have them yet. They’re very difficult to find, but I’m sure that I’ll get them soon and, then, I’ll be very busy!

Well, I really must go now because I promised my friend to help him to write a letter in French. I can’t wait to hear from you!

If you come to Scotland, you have to visit me but you should remember to take warm clothes with you because of the Scottish cold weather!

Best wishes,

Serge.

ORAL PRESENTATION OF A BOOK OR A FILM: "Three Steps Above Heaven"

Google Docs Link: Three Steps Above Heaven

WRITING 3: MOVIES AND TELEVISION INFLUENCE PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOUR

Since TV’s advent at the end of nineteenth century, this set has got so much relevance that, nowadays, it has become a new member of many families. Although almost everyone enjoys with it, most of those who use it are youngsters and that’s the reason why many experts are worried because TV’s didactic aim is getting lower. Therefore, as a study shows, 80% of our daily learning comes from our visual capacity and that is why I think TV is able to influence people’s behaviour because of its visual and auditory stimuli combination.

First of all, in my view, cinema hasn’t got as much importance as TV as it doesn’t offer audience the comfort and the accessibility does. In fact, we only have to press a knob to turn it on so it’s not strange that changes in society depend on what is shown on the screen, because since our birth, we have been perfect imitators as we’ve learnt the vast majority of actions and behaviours, such as eating or drinking from those who are around us.

However, this doesn’t only refer to children but also, nowadays, it’s common to walk down the street and see teenagers who seem to follow a unique model. In my opinion, this loss of diversity is sad because the difference which exist among people make the world not so boring.

Secondly, although imitating isn’t negative because it’s the way that we can learn new things and consolidate our identity, this can become harmful when it deals which violent situations, sex, drugs…

A study has proved that a high and constant exposure to TV and cinema causes that a large children and teenager’s percentage solve their conflicts with violence. Consequently, I believe it’s very important that consumers and media consider the situation and try to recover their originals purposes: reporting and educating.

As I see it, TV and cinema have become the most influential entertainment media and even if they allow us an approximation to what’s happening around the world, they are also the mainly responsible of changes in society. I strongly believe it’s important to make people aware the benefits of being disconnect.

Summary about "Every kid needs a champion" video

This video is about Rita Pierson speech, who following her parents and maternal grandparents’, she has been an educator for forty years. For this reason, she could see the different reforms which have occurred over the years in education.

The aim of her conference is raising public awareness that even if knowing the academic failure’s causes, such as poverty, there is something that is never discussed: human relationships. Rita Pierson considers very important the communication between a teacher and a student, because the link established between them must be solid. Moreover, one of the main teacher’s concerns should be to motivate students to become what they want to be.

Although the most important teachers’ task is teaching, their work isn’t only limited to that, a teacher must know how to apologize to their students, to understand them, to pretend in front of those who they may not like, to try to strengthen their academic self-confidence and above all, make them feel someone.

Pierson wants to follow her mother’s steps who became a clear example of communication with her students because she achieved to become a reference for many of them who even went to say goodbye to her at her funeral.

I’ve gathered some phrases which Rita Pierson have been quoting during the video for three different reasons:

·         First of all, they summarize the speech.

·         Secondly, I really like them and, obviously, they caught my attention. From my point of view, Rita Pierson has a great communication quality. Due to her apparent self-confidence, everything is being announced by her is full of energy and, probably, this is one of the reasons why the speech is very enjoyable.

·         Finally, they make us reconsider if the current education system is good enough.

“Teaching and learning should bring joy.”

“How powerful what our world be if we had kids who weren’t afraid to take risks.”

“Don’t give up.”

“Understand and you will be understood.”

“Try to found a champion in every child who also deserve an adult who never give up on them who understand the power of connection and insist that they’ll become the best that they can possibly be.”

“It’s not impossible. Educators can make the difference.”