Catalina Gordillo Corrales Yachay Tech University English Language Program Yachay, Ecuador
Credits PERSPECTIVES: MY ENGLISH JOURNEY Catalina Gordillo Corrales English Language Program Yachay Tech University Level 6-001 Teacher: Matthew Craing Mackey January 9, 2016
Yachay, Ecuador
Table of Contents 1. Portfolio letter 2. Literary Analysis 3. Interpretation essay 4. Argumentation essay 5. Final research project essay 6. Thank you letter
Catalina Gordillo Universidad Yachay Tech Imbabura, Ecuador
December 9, 2016
Dear Portfolio Reader, My name is Catalina Gordillo. Thank you for reading my English Student Portfolio. This contains all the essays I have written during the semester, which were based on topics of great importance such as language, ethics and education. Two of them were written in class and the rest were assigned on a certain date. During this semester, I have experienced difficulties, challenges, but most importantly, the feeling of accomplishment after completing an assignment. At the beginning of the course, I was nervous and assumed that work would be more difficult. I quickly realized that all things are going well if you put forth your best effort. Also, I had many opportunities to lose my shyness because I shared with my classmates and my teacher. One of the things that I improved noticeably is my vocabulary because from the beginning the semester my goal was to improve my level of understanding and thus to be able to read and understand easily any type of text. I consider that now I am to understand more easily any reading.
I think my listening and speaking also improved a lot through direct contact with my teacher who is a native speaker of English. This was very beneficial because I could become more familiar with the pronunciation and intonation used in English. I am proud of my growth in these aspects. There are a lot of things that helped during the course of
this semester, my teacher who was my guide at all times and my friends, with whom I shared many rewarding experiences. I feel that I have advanced in my level of English and now I have more confidence in myself. However, my goal for the future is to improve every day, practicing, speaking, reading and listening. All these things will improve the use of the language. Thank you again for reading my portfolio, and I hope you liked it and that here you can see my growth from the first trial to the last. Sincerely, Catalina Gordillo
Literary Analysis
The meaning of the garage sale Catalina Gordillo. Yachay Tech University October 14, 2016
The meaning of the garage sale Sometimes there are things that can have much value for people. The story is focused in the man’s garage. It have a lot of things as furniture. For any reason the man put his thing outside in this yard. The presence of a couple here make him remember a lot of things of his past. In Why don’t you dance by Raymond Carver, the garage sale represents feelings that the man passed like separation, connection, acceptation among others. First, in the story the reader doesn’t know the reason why he decided to sell his things. The man tried to forget something that happened like the separation from his wife. He simply wanted to let behind all the pieces that remembered her. In the text, he remembered how they used to have their lamp in each side of their bed. When the couple arrive to the yard, they saw everything and they and they wanted to buy some things like TV. When the man saw them, he remembered all the experiences that he had during his relationship. For that reason, he decided to sell the things because in a beginning he didn’t plan to sell the furniture; he only want to change his home. Acceptation is other thing that represent the garage sale. The end of the relationship between the man and his wife is something that took place this fact. Also, the text showed that when he saw the couple watching his things and they ask him the prices, he accept the first amount that the girlfriend of Jack said to him. However, the man did that, because he felt the obligation to give us a better functionality of his things. That is, the things could be used for someone else, in that way, he give them a better use (Carver, 1981). There is much uncertainly at the end of the story. The things outside of the man’s yard are a mystery because in any moment in the story he said the reason of the garage sale. The readers only guess it. The couple also didn’t understand this fact because in the
moment that he ask them to dance here, it was something strange. However, at the end of story the narrator said that she was trying to get it talked out, after a time she quiet trying. It means that she understood the reason of the garage sale; he tried to forget the relationship and have a new beginning. That is, after a time she will have the same end like him. In conclusion, the garage sale represents the end of the relationship of the man and his wife involving al the experiences and things that he share with her. The man show the garage sale like a way to accept the separation of them. Also, like a way to forget his love and change his life. That is, start again.
References Carver, R. (1981). Why don’t you dance? In Caver. What we talk about the love. Vintage books: New York. Retrieved from: https: //www.greathill.com/blog/wpcontent/uploads/2011/01/Story-Carver-Why-Dont-You-Dance.pdf
Interpretation Essay
Opposing points of view related to each other Dalia Cabada, David Altamirano, Juan Laglaguano & Catalina Gordillo. Yachay Tech University November 18, 2016
Opposing points of view related to each other “Art is the mediator of the inexpressible”. Wolfgang Von Goethe. Art is a way that artists use to express their emotions, their vision, and ideas about the world. There are many kinds of art. One of these kind of art is abstract art. This is one of the most free and beautiful art forms because it does not force the painter to represent something that already exists, but rather something that comes out from the inside. Therefore, viewers of this kind of art also have to connect with themselves to give an interpretation about an abstract painting. It means that abstract art gives them freedom of interpretation (La Galicia, 2016). Vasili Kandinsky, a painter of Russian origin, was the precursor of abstraction in painting. One of his famous painting is “Distinct Connection” Distinct refers to separate and connection means linking. Distinct Connection by Kandinsky give us the message that two contrary things can occur at the same time, it is order and disorder are really the same. First of all, “Distinct Connection” shows an order of the universe through geometric shapes. This painting is composed by geometric shapes like circles, squares, triangles, and others geometric elements such as curves and lines. All of these represent order. For example, circles mean perfection, stability, and equilibrium. Squares also represent perfection because they have the same angles and sides. Moreover, triangles means the connection between cosmos, God, and the being human (Bradley, 2010). The lines represent the uniformity and continuity of the universe. The horizontal lines represent security and support because we relate the horizontal structures with points of support. The vertical lines represent the ascendance which means the relationship between the sky and earth. All of these geometric elements show universe in an ordered way (Bradley, 2010).
Second of all, there are an ordered combination of colors used in the painting. The relationship among colors and the order is that colors help to make a concrete representation of shapes and feelings of author. The black color helps to highlight in a non-scandalous way the elements of painting, and it is related with order. The white color reflects purity, dignity, and unity. On the other side, the red color symbolizes power, action. It is a color associated with vitality, ambition, and passion. The blue represents the night. In antiquity, it was associated with infinity, immortality, royalty, and the sacred. Another color present in the painting is the yellow color (Olesen, 2016). This color has a curious meaning and symbolism, it is associated with happiness. This combination of colors present in the painting might produce in the viewers a sense of a quiet and ordered world. Finally, “Distinct Connection� shows that ordered things can be disordered. Disorder is expressed in many ways in the universe, in arts for example, it seeks to violate the forms of perception of the senses, stimulate them to a pleasurable visual orgasm. The picture "Distinct Connection, although this painting is composed by ordered things, it looks disordered because of the spatial distribution of the figures on the plane. On the one side, a white plane harmonizes this disorder and gives importance to the figures resulting in a radiant geometric arrangement. It looks like a solar system with satellites orbiting, space and planets that benefit from the light of the sun. The disorder is based on the fact that none of the figures present would make sense on their own, or a correct meaning would not be interpreted because they are placed without a specific pattern. There is a black circle on the upper left of the painting, in context with the painting this circle looks like a black hole. This in itself represents the chaos of the universe because it does not radiate light. And in the painting this element breaks the order because it is the most striking detail that does not have the primary colors.
In the down part of the picture there is more black color contained in small stable squares that crosses like space debris, without order. In the planet instead there are curves lines that looks like a set of antennas, represent the freedom and chaos because it does not maintain the aesthetic geometry of the painting, it incites to break the system and go against. In conclusion, order and disorder are related to each other in order to give an ordered perception of the universe. The universe where we live is chaotic, every time becomes more disordered and takes an inexorable direction towards the chaos. However, nature fights with the hope to keep the order, and in a way, has achieved it, because even in the chaos we can find order, it is essence. The painting establishes a connection between order and disorder that is summarized in universal equilibrium. The equilibrium is something inherent in the universe, both order and disorder depend on each other, counteract each other. Therefore, the universe always tends to equilibrium. Moreover, the painting depends on the each one’s perception of order and disorder. It means that an ordered thing can be a disorder for another person who see it. In Kandinsky's painting, we can see that the disordered position of figures and colors form a relatively orderly, meaningful and agreeable picture. It shapes the beautiful disorder of the universe through figures and colors representing the ordered cosmos.
References Bradley, S. (2010, April 5). The Meaning of Shapes: Developing Visual Grammar. Retrieved from: http://vanseodesign.com/web-design/visual-grammar-shapes/ Galicia, L. (2016). Wassily Kandinsky. El artista que creo la abstracción lírica en la pintura.
[Online]
La
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http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/informacion/2014/12/15/wassilykandinsky-artista-creo-abstraccion-liricapintura/00031418644201785445423.htm [Accessed 18 Nov.2016] Olesen, J. (2016). Color Meanings – Learn about Colors and Symbolism. Retrieved from: http://www.color-meanings.com/
Argumentation Essay
Bilingual Education at Early Age Catalina Gordillo Yachay Tech University November 22, 2016
Bilingual Education at Early Age “To speak a language is to take a world, a culture� Frantz Faco. Do you know how many children speak more than one language? Nowadays, parents and educators try to search the best way to provide good development for their children. For this reason, people think that a way to promote a good performance in the future is learning a foreign language. Children should learning more than one language because it will bring more benefits than drawbacks. One of the biggest benefits of learning English in childhood is that it will improve children’s cognitive skills. When children learn a new context, vocabulary, it makes the brains of children work, in that way they develop their skills such as flexibility of thinking. According to a study when people use a non-native language is cues our cognitive system to prepare for strenuous activity (Sedivy, 2016). It shows that children must learn English at early age because it increases their efficacy and it allows to have better development. Another benefit of learning a new language is that children will increase emotional and cultural understanding. It allows them think more deeply about the differences in the behavior between cultures. According to Janet Geipel our childhood languages vibrate with greater emotional intensity than do those learned in more academic settings. Moral judgments made in a foreign language are less laden with the emotional reactions that surface when use a language learned in childhood (Sedivy, 2016). It shows that the relationship between language and emotions must be connected since childhood, in that way children understand the behavior of others cultures. In addition, learning a foreign language allows children to have a better response of another academic areas and opportunities in the future. Learning a new language makes
people likely to make careless mistakes, for example, in a math problem. Also, memory intertwines the languages with the experiences and interactions through its learning process. That is, a bilingual person is more likely to recall experiences of prompted in the language in which that event occurred (Sevidy, 2016). It means that children, who learn a foreign language will have a good development in their academic areas and allows to have opportunities of job in the future. Many people think that learning a foreign language will have many disadvantages such as it can affect the native language. This fact, for example happen if someone live around of environment that only used the new language, it can change the way to express the ideas and thoughts. For this reason, people think that affect the native identity and cause that children think differently using other language. However, language is a world of possibilities because if children learn English to early age it will be a tool that they will have during their entire development. It doesn’t mean that they forget their identity or it affect how they think, it only a new way to communicate and understand the world. In conclusion, learning English form childhood will improve the development of children in many aspects. Children will increase the efficacy for doing things in their academic environment. They understand how language intertwine and development of many skills help them in their future. That is, children should learn English because it will give them many benefits.
References Sedivy, J. (2016).How Morality Changes in a Foreign Language. Scientific American. Retrieved from: https: // www.scietificamerican.com/article/how-moralitychanges-in-a-foreign-language.
Final Research Project Essay
Learning a Second Language is the Key to Success Catalina Gordillo. Yachay Tech University December 4, 2016
Abstract Language is fundamental in the life of human beings. Languages are a passport to another world. Passports and planes can take you to anywhere in the world, but can you really know a country without knowing the language? The purpose of this research is showing the importance of language at the academic, professional and personal level. Numerous studies around the world have contributed facts and proof that show that. The majority of investigations have focused on students. In particular, the methodology used to carry out the research was an analysis of all benefits that it provides students. The context is based on ď€ the idea that that learning a language helps develop strong cognitive skills, such as a better concept formation, mental flexibility and listening skills and it allows students to have good opportunities of job in the future because the ability to speak multiple languages makes people valuable employees. In addition, it gives the ability to communicate with more people and encouraging connection between different cultures. The research explains that second language study gives many benefits to students in terms of improved communication ability, cognitive development, cultural awareness, and job opportunities. The importance of language is often overlooked. For this reason, this research will show that languages are such a key aspect to success in the future.
Learning a second language is the key to success Do you know how many people in the world speak more than one language? According to the Center for Applied Linguistics, there are many more bilingual or multilingual individuals in the world than monolingual, which is around about 43 % of the world population. Nowadays, people live in a multilingual world that is becoming increasingly globalized, and it is, therefore, very important to know more than one language. Furthermore, students who understand the importance of learning a second language will find it very rewarding because there is a greater understanding of the academic, cognitive and personal benefits that it offers them. Learning a second language has many benefits for students, helping with their academic education, career opportunities, and personal development. The study of another language helps students in their academic education. In fact, some studies have found that students who learn foreign languages score statistically higher on standardized college entrance exams than those who do not (Ă‘anduti, 2016). In particular, a study conducted in Louisiana in the 1980s showed that regardless of race, sex, or academic level, students who received daily instruction in a foreign language outperformed those who were not taking foreign languages (Ă‘anduti, 2016). Besides medical studies have shown that learning a second language has positive effects on the brain, such as develop greater cognitive skills in such areas as mental flexibility, creativity, divergent thinking and it enhance listening skills and memory (Ă‘anduti, 2016). All of these results and studies show that second language study helps enhance academic skills. That is, it allows students have a better performance in their academic areas, and it provides development of cognitive skills. In addition, some students who learn a second language and have a good academic formation can have access to good career and job opportunities in the future.
Having a good knowledge of a second language help people to have career and job opportunities.
Language skills and cultural sensitivity are quickly becoming
important aspects of a growing number of careers as the need for multilingual employees increases. In fact, besides multi-lingualism's immense importance in the business world, there are many other career opportunities for people who can speak more than one language. For example: In the field of journalism, the ability to converse in more than one language will often provide the chance to travel to other countries while on an assignment (Ă‘anduti, 2016). In particular, according to Eton Institute’s Language Development in the Workforce survey (September 2014), 89% of their clients stated that multilingual employees add value to the workforce and 88% stated that recruiting team members with language skills is important to their organization. These examples and evidence show that people with the ability to speak a second language are more likely to find a job. That is, in today's business-dominated society, being bilingual can only be an advantage that allows people expand their career opportunities by preparing them to work in a variety of environments. Besides that learning a second language allows people to expand their opportunities of job, it is an achievement anyone can be proud of and it is extremely rewarding. Learning a second language allows students to explore and better understand another culture, in that way opening mind to new ideas and new challenges will lead to their personal growth (Oxford University Press, 2015). A new language is one of the most rewarding experiences for anyone. Knowing the same language connects people to one another. People use language to share information, thoughts and ideas, and these viewpoints have collectively created culture. According to Boroditsky (2009) “language is a uniquely human gift, central to our experience of being human. Appreciating its role in constructing our mental lives brings us one step closer to understanding the very nature
of humanity” (Borodistky, 2016). That is, learning a second language connects people to a whole new group of people and their culture. In fact, when people know how other people in the world think and what they value, it reduces the likelihood of cultural misunderstandings. On the other hand, learning another language opens new doors in life because makes it easier to learn a third language, which will certainly broaden people’s horizons. This allows students to approach the world with a more open mind, establish new relationships and increase their ability to successfully maneuver in an interconnected world (Oxford University Press, 2015). These facts show that learning a second language allows people open the door an exchange for cultural norms and practices, furthering one’s education in respect to life different than their own culture The benefits of acquiring a language are many. However, there are many people who think that learning a second language is not very beneficial. Some people think that learning a second language can affect their native language because when people are learning a new language, they are not simply learning a new way of talking, they are also inadvertently learning a new way of thinking (Boroditsky, 2016). Cognitive scientists have debated whether your native language shapes how you think since the 1940s. The idea has seen a revival in recent decades, as a growing number of studies suggested that language can prompt speakers to pay attention to certain features of the world. For example: Just think about somebody who learns a second language and lives immersed in an environment where he or she uses that language constantly in detriment of his or her native language which never uses at all; forgetting one's native language is possible. In a study, Boroditsky asked German and Spanish speakers to describe objects having opposite gender assignment in those two languages. They described "key", a word
that is masculine in German and feminine in Spanish. The German speakers used words like "hard," "heavy," and "useful," whereas Spanish speakers used words like "golden," "intricate," "little, “shiny," and "tiny". It shows that language can shape how people think: teaching English speakers new grammatical gender systems influences mental representations of objects in the same way it does with German and Spanish speakers. Apparently, even small flukes of grammar, like the seemingly arbitrary assignment of gender to a noun, can have an effect on people's ideas of concrete objects in the world (Boroditsky, 2016, p. 6). However, learning a second language improves your native language, as it teaches you the mechanics and structure behind any language, not just new languages. Learning a second language focuses your attention on the grammatical rules constructions of that language (Oxford University Press, 2015). That is, learning a second language can develop mother tongue skills. Generally, people do not much attention to the grammatical structures of our native language, but once people start to focus on the mechanics of a second language such as grammar, conjugations and sentence structure, our awareness of our mother tongue improves. Knowing the differences between languages help people focus on the ways we use language. For example a study revealed a statistically significant interaction in which English-Spanish bilinguals expressed more affect in their second language (Spanish) and Spanish-English bilinguals expressed more affect in their mother tongue (Spanish). That is, all bilingual speakers answered with a significantly greater effect on the Spanish language condition, and it allows people compare this to English, people can appreciate the subtleties of Spanish (Oxford University Press, 2015). These transferable skills give bilingual students a greater insight into their mother tongue, making them more effective
communicators. This experience gives people a new insight into their own language and ultimately leads to them improving their mother tongue. In such an interconnected world, it can only be an advantage to learn a second language. In the academic level learning a second language can benefit to students in various cognitive aspects and improve one's life. In the aspect of employment, a second language allows for new opportunities, experiences, and an edge when applying for jobs. Additionally, a second language allows people to personally see and experience many benefits such increase their understanding of other cultures and theirs and it is an achievement anyone can be proud of and is extremely satisfying. People need to realize how much of an impact a foreign language has upon someone, and how life-changing it can be. Research has shown that learning a second language offers many benefits to students in terms of improved communication ability, cognitive development, cultural awareness, and job opportunities. That is, learning a second language will be the key to people’s success in the future.
References Boroditsky, L. (2016). How does our language shape the way we think? Edge. Retrieved from:
https://www.edge.org/conversation/how-does-our-language-shape-the-
way-we-think. Ă‘anduti
(2016).
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Thank you for reading my portfolio. I hope you enjoyed reading my portfolio
Sincerely,
Catalina Gordillo Corrales