Christmas Wishlist

Christmas is almost there and it’s time to start thinking about what to offer. Books make perfect gifts and there are books suitable to every taste and pocket as well! Either with bookstore gift certificates, or taking advantage of book fairs, book sales, discounts or even second-hand books, there are no possible excuses for not choosing at least a book for yourself and/or for a Christmas gift.

Now, what books have caught your eye during 2012? Which ones are in your Christmas wishlist, either for you to buy / read or would like to get as a Christmas present? What book(s) are you most looking forward to reading on your upcoming days off?

My challenge and request would be for YOU to visit this  new wallwisher and simply write down what your choice(s) is/are. You just have to double click to add a new post-it or drag a file from your computer; If you wish to add any kind of multimedia file, at the bottom of the post, there are options to add a link, upload a file, or take a picture from webcam.

Why Wallwisher? Well, because it is so simple and allows you to publish anonymously. Experience tells me that many people visit this blog and one of the reasons some readers don’t leave a comment is to avoid being identified… That’s ok, I understand that - and exactly to try and persuade more people to collaborate and share their preferences, I’ve created this wallwisher. Nevertheless, if you lack ideas and/or have read a book recently, why not pay here a visit and (also) leave your recommendation(s)? 

Brace yourselves! Christmas is coming... and so (hopefully) are books!
Happy Wishing :=)

Thanksgiving 2012

Prior to this blogpost, I've already left here, here and here a lot of info as well as loads of resources for teachers with different age groups and levels. This year, and because I'm teaching adult beginners' courses, I felt I had to prepare something based on visuals, yes, but not childish...
Observed annually on the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving is one of the most celebrated holidays in the US. As it is so often broadcast in the news, even the president pardoning a turkey, I think we can and should use the holiday as a teaching moment: an interesting way of bringing in some cultural content, some history, the concepts of sharing and gratitude, of being thankful for something, ...
Here is the PPt presentation I'll be showing next Thursday:

Open publication - Free publishing - More give thanks

I also browsed a bit, trying to find some books and reading for and about Thanksgiving, but the truth is that I basically found children's books. Anyway, here they go:
You can find some info here

You can also find info about the one below here.

Hope you can make good use of these resources and ideas! I'll be waiting for some kind of feedback via mail or blog.

In any case, a happy day, a happy Thanksgiving day.                                                                  

International Day for Tolerance

A quote...
"We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race" 

KOFI ANNAN,  former UN Secretary-General

A poem...

CELEBR8

WE SHOULD CELEBR8

NOT DISCRIMIN8

LEARN TO APPRECIATE

DON'T PLAYER HATE

BECAUSE THERE'S ROOM FOR YOU

AND THERE'S SPACE FOR ME

LIVING IN THIS WORLD OF DIVERSITY

LET'S CELEBR8 DIVERSITY

Nature has dressed us up

in many shades of skin 

the variety of tone we display

is the result of melanin

if you hate your neighbour

becaus of their skin colour

you really hate yourself´

as we are all versions of each other.

People embrace religion 

but still they fuss and fight

many believe in one God

so why on earth don't they unite

there are many different faiths

we have lots of beliefs

so let's celebr8 our differences

instead of crying out in grief

WE SHOULD CELEBR8
NOT DISCRIMIN8
LEARN TO APPRECIATE
DON'T PLAYER HATE
BECAUSE THERE'S ROOM FOR YOU
AND THERE'S SPACE FOR ME
LIVING IN THIS WORLD OF DIVERSITY
LET'S CELEBR8 DIVERSITY

Battle of the sexes
the competition is rigid and strong
women cry out for equality 
as men treat them wrong 
society creates roles
for the genders to define
I know we are the yin and yang
but we could be floating on cloud nine.
The elders in our communities 
they still have a lot to give
you don't reach  that golden gate
by being stupid
so let's respect our elders
to lift their spirit higher 
as everyday we're getting older
like them one day we'll all retire.


WE SHOULD CELEBR8
NOT DISCRIMIN8
LEARN TO APPRECIATE
DON'T PLAYER HATE
BECAUSE THERE'S ROOM FOR YOU
AND THERE'S SPACE FOR ME
LIVING IN THIS WORLD OF DIVERSITY
LET'S CELEBR8 DIVERSITY

When it comes to sexuality

there is true diversity

now a days sexual expression

is red hot and spicy

some people abstain

while others are down right kinky

STRAIGHT, GAY, A OR BISEXUAL

which is your category?

Being Trans

is not about sex or sexuality

the Trans of this world

need to define their own identity

Trans just want the right

to a little privacy

the right to protection

in this society.

WE SHOULD CELEBR8

NOT DISCRIMIN8

LEARN TO APPRECIATE

DON'T PLAYER HATE

BECAUSE THERE'S ROOM FOR YOU

AND THERE'S SPACE FOR ME

LIVING IN THIS WORLD OF DIVERSITY

LET'S CELEBR8 DIVERSITY

Now disabilities they vary

society has a long, long way to go

people exclude disable people

as if they are really slow

equal opportunities are vital

for disabled people to succeed

your disability is not the problem

it’s the world that doesn’t cater to your needs.

Refugees are really suffering

Who really knows their plight?

refugees are fleeing persecution

in the middle of the night

dressed in desperation

where do they go from here?

We all need somewhere to live

Free to live without living in fear.

WE SHOULD CELEBR8

NOT DISCRIMIN8

LEARN TO APPRECIATE

DON'T PLAYER HATE

BECAUSE THERE'S ROOM FOR YOU

AND THERE'S SPACE FOR ME

LIVING IN THIS WORLD OF DIVERSITY

LET'S CELEBR8 DIVERSITY

LEVI TAFARI, 2006

http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/britlit/celebr8-levi-tafari