Des del meu balcó

Música

2008-04-02T08:29:00.003+02:00

El passat dissabte 29 de març, vam assistir a la celebració al Palau Sant Jordi del 15è aniversari de l'ACEM (Associació Catalana d'Escoles de Mùsica): 4000 nens i nenes cantant i tocant instruments de corda, vent i percussió... impressionant! La Clara va participar-hi. Encara és petita per anar com a instrumentista (malgrat li agrada molt la flauta), però va gaudir molt cantant (els de blau). Confio que no calgui esperar 15 anys més per veure un esdeveniment tan bonic! FELICITATS ACEM!

Molt cert!

2008-03-13T09:49:00.003+01:00

És ben cert que això que mostra el video s'ha de prendre molt seriosament. Molts dels probemes de conducat que observem avui en dia en els nostres fills no son més que un cals de les nostres maneres d'actuar.

Si fos cert!

2008-02-07T13:19:00.000+01:00

Solament que un 10 % del que es posa aquí en les seves boques es pogués dur a terme, el món seria molt, molt millor!

Jogo bonito

2008-01-22T11:58:00.000+01:00

Un joc molt, molt agradable a internet: Quest for the Rest. Aquest joc en línia ja estat fet per Amanita, i és intuitiu i amb molt bon gust. A la pàgina d'Amanita podeu trobar-ne d'altres fets amb la mateixa sensibilitat.

Joia

2008-01-11T10:41:00.001+01:00

Això em fa llevar-me cada dia amb ganes de viure!

2007-12-03T11:07:00.000+01:00

Els amics de L'Avenc han publicat un Diari de Natura!. Un diari maquíssim i sense any fixe. El podem usar l'any que vulguem. Conté textes, fotografies i dibuixos sobre la relació entre l'home i la natura, mostrant que pot haver una relació propera i més directa. És un llibre ple de sensibilitat i bon gust. Us l'aconsello!

Filles virtuals

2007-11-23T17:51:00.000+01:00

Hola, us presento la Mònica...

Get a Voki now!

...i la Clara

Get a Voki now!

Quines filles més virtuoses, oi? O virtuals?

Tardor a la fageda

2007-11-10T22:00:00.000+01:00

4 meravellosos dies al bell mig de la fageda d'en Jordà, a Mas Palleu, una magnífica casa rural acabada d'obrir i portada amb molta atenció per la Roser Pararols.

Un cel blau cobalt ens ha acompanyat cada dia tot passejant per la bonica fageda. Colors tardorencs, castanyes, panellets i jocs de taula amb en Jorge, la Mar i família.

Els tons dels verds i els grocs, els iogurts de la cooperativa, i el silenci de la nit ens han prooprcionat uns dies veritablement terapèutics, guaridors de l'estrès que portem sempre dins.

BubbleShare: Share photos - Thanksgivingtime!

Els més intel·ligents?

2007-11-06T11:44:00.000+01:00

La gent de PETA ha penjat a la seva web petatv un video sobre el comerç de pells d'animals a la Xina. Cal dir que s'ha de tenir molt d'estómac per veure'l. Jo de vosaltres faria un esforç. Cal veure que veritablement hi ha persones que demostren que l'home no és únicament l'animal més intel·ligent. També és el més cruel. Més que fàstic, el video fa posar trist.

Culpa de quí?

2007-10-30T12:09:00.000+01:00

La meva germana va passar el passat divendres quatre hores i mitja per desplaçar-se entre casa seva i la feina. Això és molt de temps.
Barcelona, el territori (paraula en vogue) i la vida de molts ciutadans i ciutadanes estan potes amunt. Els despropòsits de tant de temps ens han abocat a una situació que ha portat el caos al dia a dia de molta gent. Un AVE (tren d'alta velocitat) que no arriba mai, unes rodalies obsoletes... dos conflictes que durant molt de temps han anat per separat: l'AVE perquè no es tirava endavant, les rodalies perquè no rebien ni un cèntim. Ara s'han unit en un embut en arribar a Barcelona. Resultat: l'Ave segueix sense arribar i algunes línies de rodalies han deixat de funcionar. Preses en fer les coses? Pegats per tot arreu? Les víctimes són sempre les mateixes. La dreta s'ho està passant pipa. L'esquerra es treu les culpes de sobre. Tot plegat, únicament ens aporta una cosa clara: És una espècie a preservar la dels polítics honestos que posen per sobre de tot l'interès de tots els ciutadans. La gran majoria posen per davant l'interès dels seus partits en preservar-se com a grup, d'assegurar uns vots que els mantinguin en els seus escons, i que cobrin les subvencions en relació a aquells vots. Aquestes subvencions serveixen per llogar un espai a València per 6 milions d'euros per a un congrés del PP, o per publicitat de qualsevol altre partit. Però seguim sense tren.
Potser l'espècie del polític honest o coherent no està en perill, potser ja està extinta!
Què ens quedarà fer quan ja no confiem en ningú? Votar el menys dolent? Quina tristor social!

ELT goes away

2007-10-19T15:00:00.000+02:00

Dear friends... dear teachers. From now on, those posts devoted to ELT won't be here anymore. This blog will remain as my personal blog for other affairs (family, world...)
If you want to track new posts on ELT, go to ELT Blog
, you'll find me there.

All the best,

Ricard

Real?

2007-10-03T15:10:00.000+02:00

Here's a movie trailer from Robert Zemeckis' new film, Beowulf. Those who had to go through the story in English Literature at the University or at school will soon realize how the darkness that stands from the story is so well depicted.
It stars famous actors and actresses like Anthony Hopkins, Robin Wright Penn, John Malkovich or Angelina Jolie, or their avatars?
Have a look and see how virtual reality has mingled with real life to create perfect replicas of out favorite film stars. What will be next? Awesome!

Lights and Shades

2007-09-26T14:55:00.000+02:00

This website is extraordinary! An activity site from the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie in Paris where you can play different activities with light, shades and sound... and in English. It's worth a visit, believe me!

Taga

2007-09-17T23:11:00.000+02:00

Edmund Hillary and friends.

Last Saturday we climbed up the Taga, a well-known mountain for low-profile mountaineers like me. We went together with the the Fontanals, the Llopart and the Navarro family from school. And the boys and the girls... wow! They really had a very good time! For me, satisfaction came from reaching the summit and as much as that, fom seeing my daughter and her friends laughing and playing all full of beans. That gives you strength to carry on, indeed (you see, I'm getting sentimental... time to go).
And a couple of extra pics from home... well, from Emma at home!

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Why so fast?

2007-08-30T23:14:00.000+02:00

Back to work. It's been a wondeful time. Beach, hills and daughters!
After 10 days in Llançà, where our Clara and Mònica learnt to dance in front of an audience (and I learnt to hide away).

First days on the beach for Emma. No fear! sitting by the waterline and splashing on the rocking waves like a little mermaid.

After a few days at my in laws, we headed for Collsacabra, and we stayed for 9 days at the beautiful house of l'Avenc, run by Belinda and her husband Quim.

It's been an unforgettable experience. 9 quiet days surrounded by nature, good warm people and vultures above us... books and games, nothing else... and nothing else we needed indeed.

Visit l'Avenc if you have the chance. You won't regret it, and I would also recommend you to read Matthew (Belinda's brother) Parris' book "A Castle in Spain", telling the story of how l'Avenc originated and later it was purchased by this friendly and charming family. Belinda and her 81- year-old mother are both English teachers.

Here are some pics from these wonderful summer holidays:

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Summertime... chill out

2007-07-19T20:23:00.000+02:00

No time for serious things... holidays!!!
I'll try to post some fresh things along these holidays... I hope the world won't make me talk about something sad!

Here's a fresh start:

Future or present?

2007-07-11T11:09:00.000+02:00

This cartoon is just a way to see how we teachers have to change our scope on our job!

The Cost of Life

2007-07-11T09:58:00.000+02:00

A very good game to play and learn. Students must make sure they understand how difficult life is in Haiti. Very flexible and at the same time demanding. It comes from the Unicef website. A good chance for students of secondary education to practise negotiation and English vocabulary. They become members of a caribbean family from Haiti. Life is hard, really hard!

Worthwhile

2007-07-09T10:30:00.000+02:00

Have a look at this video. It will probably make you think that sometimes, thousands of signatures will make a difference.

New hopes... welcome aboard!

2007-06-26T08:17:00.001+02:00

Today, Josep, Pepón and Ricard will start their own company... Triple Mortal. We hope to start a new scenario in our lives, something parallel to what we have been doing so far. Even though your life can be as sweet as a cake, sometimes you need some extra topping. This is the time!

Good journey, mates, and thanks!

Back and kicking

2007-06-24T22:56:00.000+02:00

I'm back at work... and I don't know who my boss will be! I hope he can let me work the way I like. I've got so many projects!
Here are some pics from late spring. There's a slide show, but I have posted one on its own... you can see why:

And here's the show!

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And something else... I got this from YouTube: A cut from a fallen creature (they call it "fallen angel"), not 150 kms from home. These things tend to turn up fake stupid videos, but this one gives me the creeps, believe me!

Hard life.... joking!!!

2007-05-31T22:47:00.000+02:00

I've been out of the blog for several days. I changed into New Blogger, and:

1. No time to get used to it.
2. I had to find my way through it once I could get rid of difficulty 1

Now, I'm at home, on a fatherhood leave until June the 21st... wow, it feels like heaven, if there's one!
Emma the Third is an easy sweetheart who only complains when she needs some sleep.

I'll try to post interesting things these days, I promise.

Cheers to all

Sometimes I see strange people!

2007-05-24T13:09:00.000+02:00

I have always thought I could be taken as an honest, straight and formal person. And here come my friend Virginia with a picture she took of me when we were having a party with our children on a weekend outing in the mountains. The thing is ... I was sober!!

A glass of milk is good for a break!

2007-05-08T16:34:00.001+02:00

Here's a very good website from the California Milk Processor Board

Interesting for intermediate/advanced secondary students once they've done their tasks. It contains some facts about milk, but it is basically a fun game. But it's worth a try! Interaction and animations are extremely good, and it is in English!

New pics of the big-eyed girl!

2007-05-03T12:02:00.000+02:00

Here she comes again!
3 months old, and already laughing and giggling!
Joy and bliss for all of us at home.

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Two in One

2007-04-30T13:31:00.000+02:00

Short of time as I am, I'm posting two interesting sites for you in one single post.

The first one is held and kept by a New Zealand ELT teacher. Sarah Lilburn posts her videocasts on ELT in a website where students can watch her as she talks about Hamlet, explains the present perfect or teaches you how to greet the Queen!

I think it is a very original way to ensnare students! In just a few years' time we'll see this will not be so unusual. New ideas are welcome! and this one is solid! Congratulations, Sarah!

If what you need is an online dictionary, here's a website with hundreds!
YouDictionary.com offers definitions, thesaurus entries, spelling, pronunciation, and etymology... and many languages!

It's worth having a look. You can even have your name in Egyptian hieroglyphics!

L'Estartit

2007-04-12T00:09:00.000+02:00

Rain, rain and rain... but also fun, boardgames, short walks along shopping street and lots of brunyols. Therapeutic stay at Pere and Tere's apartment at L'Estartit: Thanks a lot, my friends!

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What a disaster!

2007-04-11T12:47:00.000+02:00

Interesting website from ISDR (International Strategy for Disaster Reduction), a United Nations organisation caring about the natural disasters and its effects on the world's population.

It contains a link to a game about disaster control, where students can deal with different threats in different parts of the world: Tsunamis, fires, earthquakes...

The game gives a lot of information through documents, images and charts about different natural disasters. It is very easy to implement in the classroom, as all is presented in a very easy and clear way.
Once students start playing the game, they must control the risks of an eventual disaster, by means of building defences and developing structures to avoid future dangers. The interface is very catchy, and students have always the feeling of being in the middle of a very interesting computer game. It is very good for practising English, both vocabulary and oral production, as there's a constant need to negotiate about what decisions to take. So... a good cocktail: Fun, group work, projects, and English!

ICT and Videogames: Tim Rylands

2007-03-30T13:11:00.000+02:00

For those interested in videogames in education, here's a very interesting site from Tim Rylands, a Primary teacher from the UK who is now using videogames at a cutting edge stage. The use of a game such as Myst in the classroom provides with a wide variety of exploitation possibilities. Don't miss the video about some of his techniques, and visit his site. It will be rewarding, believe me!

Thinkingworlds Training in Barcelona 15/16 march 2007

2007-03-19T11:02:00.000+01:00

We made it!
The training's over, and the sensations are great!
Our colleagues saw the potential of the tool, and, even though some trimming or tuning might be needed, I'm sure will come out with a very successful project. We have been able to create simple and solid assets covering different areas. Our goal is to be able to create a set of materials suitable for our schools, and to be able to disseminate the potential of this application so that more teachers can feel engaged to this common project. I want to thank Duncan and Rob for their patience and kindness. Added value was their skill to show the potential of Thinkingworlds.

Here are some pictures for you!

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Guess Who?

2007-03-16T08:36:00.000+01:00

It's a pity I can't put the Stevie Wonder song here, because she deserves it!

Whole bunch: First shot

2007-03-11T12:11:00.000+01:00

Here's a first picture of the whole family: As you can see, the elder ones were not in the mood for interviews, so we leave it just like that!

Games in education

2007-02-28T08:34:00.000+01:00

As you probably know, I'm deeply involved in digging into the possibilities of 3D virtual games (Caspian Learning)...

...and virtual worlds (Second Life) in education.

We are going to hold a training session with catalan teachers and people from Caspian Learning in Barcelona in march. I'm sure we will end up with a highly successful outcome, and that will lead the way to a great number of 3D activities created by our teachers for our schools.

I also find amazing the massive amount of possibilities for education that Second Life contains, although it gives a different approach from Thinkingworlds: Secondlife is an open field of possibilities and variations. Too open I would say if there is not enough control or training for/from the teachers. Caspian Learning's Thinkingworlds is an environment that provides teachers with the possibility to create closed assets with no interference from the www.

Two lawns with different grass to tread... and believe me, both tempt you to walk barefoot!

Here's a video clip about games in education by the Orange County Department of Education's Educational Technology Group. They have given permission to post.

One of the interesting things commented in the video is the fact that educational institutions don't usually have cutting edge technology that allows end users (schools and students) to use cutting edge software. That would imply a drawback from the game designers' point of view, who are not very keen on stepping back in order to create software with a less sophisticated technology than the one used in commercial products. But the actual truth should make them consider the possibility of stepping back a little in order to create these products. Probably the great leap forward would come in no time, once they found out there's a market for that kind of materials.

Vampires and fairies

2007-02-25T09:02:00.000+01:00

Clara and Mònica had their Carnival party at school. They chose to represent the two sides of the force: Clara was dressed as a vampire, and Mònica as a fairy.

First bath in the Royal Spa

2007-02-25T08:44:00.000+01:00

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Emma had her first bath a few days ago at the Royal Spa (AKA home). Her sisters gaver her the best possible assitastance, and since that day, she enjoys diving into the depths of her little bathtub!

Some are lucky...

2007-02-16T14:44:00.001+01:00

Time for carnival! just a tie, but enough to strike a pose in front of an old Mavica and portrait these people that make my job easy. The smiles are not just for the pose... they are there everyday!

Can anyone spot my boss?

Emma the Third

2007-02-11T08:33:00.000+01:00

And here she comes!

Our third daughter Emma arrived on the 2nd of february, at 6:40 am. I apologise for the delay in posting the news, but the week has been pretty busy, as you can imagine. She's a lovely girl with a lot of dark hair, likely to fall in summer, as it happened with Mònica the Second. We all take turns to cuddle her, and we do argue to be first!

Back to work on monday... I'll go back to post ESL links for my colleagues... and I'll miss her!

I'll keep you up to date with her progress, and I will bother you with loads of bubbleshare slideshows. Here's the first:

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Thursday, 1st

2007-01-30T10:07:00.001+01:00

On thursday the 1st, we are called to turn our lights off for five minutes, to be cut off from the world of power from 19:55 to 20:00. When I read about it, it shocked me a bit, indeed, but as I reflected on the idea, I saw that it was not meant to change the world, but to help us see how much energy we would save if we were a bit more sensible.

We are going to join the initiative (provided we are not in the middle of our third daughter's birth, due for that very same day), and I encourage you to do the same!

Cheers!

Cashback

2007-01-25T11:03:00.000+01:00

A very witty short film. 17 minutes of intelligence and sensitivity awarded at Sundance festival. Take your time and watch it!

Shivers...

2007-01-25T08:38:00.001+01:00

I'm reading a book by Frank Schätzing... The Swarm (El Quinto Dia in Spanish). It is a very good book, indeed. Long as it is, you never find the time to put it down.

It deals with the fight of makind to survive a global threat coming up from the deep, and it covers computer science, ecology, biology andp politics, all perfectly threaded in a thrilling mess all through 881 pages (mind you, I'm right through two thirds of the novel, and how am I enjoying it!).

Yesterday I watched a piece of news on the telly about a creature from the deep that came up to the surface in Japan... a frilled shark... It looked like a monster to me. It is a very old species, and just the look of it made me think of the lurking dangers from Schätzing's book. The truth is that now I'm aware of the fact that the unknown mysteries are not so far... just 10.000 metres below!

A Good Game

2007-01-23T16:40:00.001+01:00

Something I forgot about last Holidays: The Three Wise Men brought me a very good present... a bord game called Carcassonne. It consists on laying tiles which develop into a medieval landscape you must conquer.

A very nice and catchy layout. If there's someone willing to play.. I'd like to find some friends to play with me once in a while (not far from home, of course.. three children make things difficult, you know).

Performancing

2007-01-23T11:58:00.001+01:00

A very interesting tool for us bloggers: A Mozilla add-on that lets you publish posts directly into your blog! You only have to go to the add-on page of Mozilla at https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/extensions/ and search for Performancing:

Once you restart Mozilla Firefox you wil see a small icon on the lower right corner with a small clipboard... just set up your blog there and get started!

Back after a long while!

2007-01-18T10:18:00.000+01:00

Here I am back from holidays... an later! It's been pretty busy at home, with lots of things to do because of Emma's arrival. She's expected by late january, but she'll probably be with us before. Clara and Mònica are really excited, and they keep calling Emma in her mummy's bossom: "C'mon, Emma, time to come!".
Back at work, I'm completely engaged in Caspian's project. It is really rich and motivating, and I hope we will come out with very good results.
Hey, I forgot: 5 in the family... need for more room... need for a bigger car. Those who want to collaborate.. It's a new 7 seater C4 Picasso... we accept donations!

Anyway, back to work. Here's a very interesting website where you can have your students in a chat room where you can recreate different simulated situations in different sceneries. You can even create your private island, which is good if you want to have a controlled chat in a closed environment. Just don't buy any gadget, they are not necessary, and have fun...very catchy, my colleagues, believe me!

Visit the website and have a try... you won't regret it!

http://www.boombang.tv/

Up here with some Geordie lads

2006-12-13T17:16:00.000+01:00

I'm here in Newcastle upon Tyne at Caspian Learning in a two-day training session. we are setting up a project together. They have produced some fantastic stuff for education: 3D educational assets which can be used in different subjects. They are very motivating and catchy. I'm here to learn how to deal with some of the assets, how to deal with the authoring tool, and also to to talk about the joint project. I'm leaving tomorrow, but I've got the feeling that I could have stayed for some more days: there is so much to learn... and I feel like getting into it straight away. We are going to have some training sessions in Barcelona with people from Caspian together with a group of teachers who are eager to learn how to exploit the possibilities of thinkingworlds.

Thanks to you, Chris, Duncan, David, Rob, and to all of you up here at Caspian, mates. I hope we can come up with a rewarding and long-lasting experience.

Engaging tools

2006-11-30T09:46:00.000+01:00

Here's a group of interesting tools for you:

Heromachine. Draw your own hero: http://www.ugo.com/channels/comics/heroMachine/classic.asp

Decorate your Room. Practise vocabulary and have fun: http://www.studio2b.org/lounge/games/decorate_room/default_popup.html

Create films in a very catchy interface at DFilm Moviemaker: http://www.dfilm.com/index_movie_start.html

Slide: A tool for pictures

2006-11-21T17:02:00.000+01:00

Check this free tool available on line at SLIDE.

Slightly different from Bubbleshare, navigation is not so easy, but the outcome can also be of your interest.

Bork

Collaborative environments

2006-11-10T11:09:00.000+01:00

I've come across a couple of very interesting online tools: They offer a free and common space where people can communicate in real time. In the first one, THINKATURE, we can draw, insert links and images as our colleagues are watching our performance in another computer. They can also add their observations, pictures and texts. It's like a digital board shared by a group.

The second website offers a more graphic interface. It is called IMAGINATION CUBED, and it is a sponsored website by General Electric. You can add a background, stamp drawings and write down with a pen. It does not support links or image uploading. It is much more suitable for primary schools.

Two very good ways to get in touch with colleagues and share our ideas. They are worth a try, believe me.

Free Mindmaps

2006-11-08T14:50:00.000+01:00

A nice website providing an on-line mindmapping tool.

http://interactives.mped.org/view_interactive.aspx?id=127&title=

A Link to BBC

2006-11-08T14:40:00.000+01:00

This link takes you to a game called "State of Debate". It is an interactive game where students have to act in a made-up world of the future. It fosters communicative expression. And it is very catchy!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/games/

For those who teach!

2006-11-07T12:07:00.000+01:00

Don't miss this. It's good to have a laugh when it comes to ELT!

Bork

The sad thing is that some peole still think that teaching English is not so far from these methods!

If it's true!

2006-10-30T08:21:00.000+01:00

Watch this video and think... If the audience votes out of good will, trying to help the participant... that is a serious matter. We should think there's a cultural problem in our society. If they voted trying to tease him... bloody hell!... I don't know what is worse.

QUI VEUT PERDRE DES MILLIONS
Uploaded by ledruide

Interesting Slang

2006-10-27T12:35:00.000+02:00

This is a good website for those who want to keep up to date with English and learn about slang. It can be syndicated and the number of words is massive!

http://www.urbandictionary.com/

13

2006-10-24T10:18:00.000+02:00

13 years of bliss, laughter, love, arguments, tears... two presents from paradise, one more on her way... Our wedding anniversary!!
Anna took me out for the weekend, and we went to Olot, and had an unforgettable lunch at Les Cols (don't miss it, at least for once).

Then we spent the night at a cozy hotel in Girona and then we spent a quiet and relaxed sunday in that wonderful city. We read the newspaper from beginning to end, strolled along its alleys and had a nice lunch too! Here are some pics and my deepest thanks to my wife!

Bork

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BfB

2006-09-25T23:16:00.000+02:00

BfB!!
Back from break! We've just landed in El Prat Airport from Fiumicino in Rome. What a wonderful experience!! (Not the flight). I had never been to Rome before, and I must confess that it has snared me with its combination of light, water and decadence.. The children had a lot of fun together ...and so had we! Good atmosphere, lots of pizza and pasta (the cheapest way to eat there) This city breathes out history. Have a look at the pictures if you like. They are just a pick. Thanks to my fellow travellers (Berenguer, Mora and Ortiz families) for the wonderful time we have shared!

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The Pope and his fellow comrades

2006-09-19T09:38:00.000+02:00

After these glorious words in his speech in Regensburg , the Pope has aroused the wildest and most vicious protests in the world of islam. The faces of the people filled with rage protesting all over the world leave me a deep feeling of fear. They could do anything to quench this rage, and that gives me the creeps... but they could do no more than what christian fanatics used to do in past as well, and that's where the Pope's mistake comes from, apart from his lack of respect towards other religious sensitivities. He shouldn't forget that christianity also used the sword and other weapons to disseminate God's word. That doesn't keep me away from the feeling of repulse towards such signs of fanatism shown by people who still think in such a primitive way... I repeat, and quote my words: "primitive way". The world of the Crusades and Saladdin is long gone, but, even though I have shown my criticism against such mediaeval or even prehistoric behaviour, I can't help to express my rejection for the words of a man such as Benedict XVI, who has had the opportunity to be raised in western schools, not in Koranic schools, and can be theoretically considered an educated person with an open view of the world. He should know what can be said and what cannot. Those protesters in Islamabad or Kandahar didn't probably have the chance to see the world in any other way than the one of the Koran.

Pictures from BBC news

Good links

2006-09-19T09:22:00.000+02:00

Here are two good links for my colleagues: The BBC site for education offers us a couple of extremely interesting interactive activities on the web: one related to Shakespeare and a mysterious story and another related to the world of detectives. Fun and learning in ELT together, believe me. Be sure to check up these two sites!

Back again... and some news

2006-09-19T08:56:00.000+02:00

After a long while... I'm back. I'll try to fill you with my thoughts and feelings again, and also with some tips and links for my fellow teachers.
These up here are my daughters... my two eldest ones, considering the next one will be another GIRL!!! Coming in february, and all of us eager to see her among us (well, in fact, she's already "among" my wife Anna).

Voice and guitar...

2006-08-04T12:18:00.000+02:00

Back to our dreamworld after some reality bits... here's a video of Katie Melua, that girl I said that sang like angels. Just voice and guitar... enough to make you shiver.
Enjoy it!

Bork

I can't avoid it!

2006-08-03T13:50:00.000+02:00

In spite all the bliss and happiness of our holidays, there are things that make my guts flip over. I mentioned something like this before, probably about Irak. But it comes over again. The war in Lebanon does not make out between soldiers and civilians, and innocent children are right in the eye of the hurricane.

How can a single father (I'm sure some of those who shot the rockets have their own children) think this cannot stop? Victims in Qana or in the other towns in Lebanon are dying like insects because Israel claims its right to defend from the threat of Hezbolla. That does NOT justify its cruel actions. We parents should stand and shout against these murders, but how can we?

So far, only tears of rage show our disapproval. I humbly think the state of Israel is digging its own grave; a grave in the land they had a right to claim.

Photographs taken from 11alive, truthdig and decaturdaily

Stage1: Segovia

2006-08-03T10:18:00.000+02:00

Back from stage 1!!
Lots of children. Good temperature (thin coat at night, sleeping under your sheets). Lots of places to see: castles, palaces, gardens... and very nice people we've met. Best regards to M. Carmen, Carlos, Alberto, Jesús, Carmen, Bárbara, Joan Carles, Loli, Lara, Hugo, Javier, Luisa, Celia, Jorge and Javier Jr. We've had a very good time up there. It's been good to relax and to drowse through the afternoon, and read a good book (hard as it is during the year). Now it's a week's work at the office and then off to La Cerdanya. Anna seems to feel better about her pregnancy. Our third offspring seems to start behaving properly.
Here's a bubbleshare for you if you want to have a look. The swimming pool shower was freezing!

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Bye for now!

Steep climb, indeed!

2006-07-10T08:59:00.000+02:00

We did it!
A nice bunch of people (a big hug for Albert, Amàlia, Antonio, Glòria, Jorge & Lluís) got together last weekend to climb the Canigó, one of the sacred mountains of the catalans. The first stages were really pleasant, flowing streams and meadows, birds singing, and Antonio making fun. As we got to the "Tartera" (scree in English)... oh, that was tough!! Stepping on rocks and sliding pebbles makes the climb really exhausting. There was Glòria going up the slope like a goat (very good, Glòria). Right at the end of the tartera we sat for a snack to gain some strength, and there was the final climb. A steep path of rock where you had to hold on big boulders and rocks with both hands in order to get some control and go up to the top.
When I finally got to the sumit, Antonio, Glòria, Jorge and Lluís were already there... with another pack of 15 more people barbecueing some sausages together with their 6-7-year old children!! That was depressing: The children were wearing rubber sandals,and I was there with my boots and half fainted! It turned out that they had climbed from the other side, on a much gentler slope.
After Amàlia and Albert got to the top (that was a very brave climb... congratulations, Amàlia), we had something to eat and took some pictures (aren't we cute?).

Bork

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We began the descent, much harder than we expected. The view of the empty fall in front of you made you think carefully where to put your hands and feet, but it was fun, believe me.
We got to the starting point completely exhausted, but very happy after having achieved our goal.
The stakes were high, the aim was tough, but the company paid for everything. It has been a real pleasure to meet such nice people as Albert, Glòria and Lluís (the others were old acquaintances). I want to thank Jorge for putting us together on this wonderful excursion.
Today is monday... my legs are a bit stiff, but my memories are splendid!
It's worth having a look at the pics, they are nice!

Briefing...

2006-07-05T13:46:00.000+02:00

Hi there... sorry about the delay. We've been pretty hectic at home... but results have been very fruitful. Anna (wife) has passed her competition to become a state teacher for vocational education. That is good news, isn't it? But wait, still more coming up... she's pregnant!!!! Third one coming! The family will be enlarged with another crawling creature ready to suck our stamina. That makes me RRRReally happy, believe me. I'll keep you up to date with that.
Maybe these oncoming days I'm going to spend sometime trying to refurbish the blogsite (colours, links...) I'll come back with more posts ASAP.
Take care all of you, will you?

Referendum on Sunday

2006-06-16T13:12:00.000+02:00

The weather forecasts are very promising: Gloomy skies slightly overcast with chances of rain... that means no beach = high participation in the referendum. The estimations say the Yes is going to win. Spain-biased conservatives and Independentists are for the No. Too much for the former, too little for the latter. None of them will ever be happy with any negotiated outcome, I guess.
So, let us see what will come out. What I always like to hear is the comments of the politicians after the results are given... All of them win!!

Local heroes

2006-06-14T09:10:00.000+02:00

We always tend to see our heroes as strong, famous people... remarkable actors or actresses, singers, sportspeople, or even politicians!( I don't believe people see us teachers as heroes, do they?).
Real heroes live around the corner... in our neighbourhood, in our school, or next to our office table.
This is my first local hero in the series: Àlex, my neighbour. he plays football, and at the end of the season he's been appointed best colleague in the team. Congratulations, Àlex! Fairplay is as important as championships.

So... there I was

2006-06-14T08:52:00.000+02:00

Yesterday, it was the time for Emmylou's concert in Barcelona. She was together with an english guy... I think his name was Knopfler, or something like that. He was fantastic as well, but that's not the point here. She played and sang like an angel, and at 59, she moves like she did years ago.
I was there together with my lifetime friend Jorge (the guy with the specs in the pictures), he was the one who introduced me to Emmylou's music. Thanks, Jorge!
Her music and her songs sound like heaven, and I felt like heaven! by the end of the concert, she sang "From Boulder to Bimingham", that made me feel younger, about twenty years, more or less.
I don't know if I will ever see her again, but yesterday's concert will be permanently fresh in my memory... a part of the soundtrack of my life.
I've pasted a BubbleShare presentation in large size, I hope the guys at blogger won't go mad at it, but she deserves it!!
I love you girl!!

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TAFL

2006-06-08T09:08:00.000+02:00

This stands for Teaching of Andaluz as a Foreign Language. Watch this "Folou mí" course and you'll be able to speak andalú in a few days. I advise you all language teachers to watch carefully and take notes. It's a bit long, but it pays, indeed.

By the way...

2006-06-08T08:50:00.000+02:00

By the way, Current TV seems to be a different way to make television. Interesting documentaries and interviews about everyday life and hot issues, from the watchers' point of view (for a change).

Immigrants!!

2006-06-08T08:41:00.000+02:00

After all the hassle produced by the immigration issue, both in Europe and in the States, I think it is worth having a look at this video from Current TV. They gives a comic approach of the problem, and make us see that we are all immigrants some time!

Bork

Here's the second!

2006-05-19T08:09:00.000+02:00

2 hours of nerve-wrecking wait. No voice at all in the end. Eyes wide open, mouth gaping, sweat. We finally got to the end of the match one goal ahead, which was scored just 10 minutes before the end. The game was tight and difficult. Arsenal scored in the first half after having their goallie sent out. That left a 10 aginst 11 match which wasn't easy at all. When many of us thought that the cup would be lost, Eto'o and Belleti moved the balance for Barça in just 4 minutes. Unbelievable!!
Second European Champions Cup, and the feeling that the team has a promising future ahead. How far will they get?

Just feelings

2006-05-17T13:25:00.000+02:00

No pictures, no links... just feelings. Tonight Barça are playing their Champions League Final in Paris against Arsenal. I'll be watching it at a friend's together with a bunch of people and Clara, my eldest daughter (she does like football, indeed!). If they win, the blog will have a colourful post tomorrow. If they lose, never mind, there much more important things in life than a simple football match... but this isn't a simple one, by no means! Funny how we tend to be mesmerized by such vacuous things.

Goosepimples

2006-05-10T14:13:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I happened to listen to a song... goosepimples!! It was a cry of sensitivity, of tenderness and lyricism. Katie Melua, a young singer of georgian roots sings a beautiful song called "I Cried for You"... amazing how I was moved by her voice! I think I will definitely have a look at her other songs... and so should you; but first visit her website and watch the video of this song. My colleagues might even find the video interesting as an activity in the classroom. Her voice is crystal clear, the tempo is good, ans the movie can be very helpful to practise parts of the human face. Don't miss it!

President of my country... tough job, indeed!

2006-05-09T18:13:00.000+02:00

Pasqual Maragall, my president, must be really having a bad time. His colleagues at power fom ERC (independentists), say they will foster their voters' "NO" at the referendum for our new "Estatut" (something like an autonoumous set of laws and rules to govern Catalonia). They claim the Estatut is short of power for Catalonia and still depends too much on Madrid. That leaves Maragall in a very uncomfortable position. Part of his ministers (those from ERC) will probably say NO in the referendum whereas he and his sidekicks (PSC, the socialists and IC, the ecosocialists) will ask for the voters' support with a YES. The spanish nationalist conservatives (PP) also stand for a NO, but for the opposite reasons of ERC. PP claims that too much autonomy will finally break Spain into pieces, trying to cause fear in the more moderate voters. This tug of war will probably benefit Convergència i Unió, the catalan conservative nationalist party who was in the government for 23 years. Wrapped in a patriotic flag, they ruled the country with a full right-wing bias. This present catalan government, made up of the three left-wing catalan parties, raised many people's hopes for a more equalitarian country. This conflict may cause the government's downfall and subsequently new elections will be held. That would mena that many projects would be held at a standstill or, depending on the next government, probably put off.

May the 17th.... mmmmm!

2006-04-28T14:46:00.000+02:00

Barça made it! They defeated Milan in the two-match semifinal with a total score of 1-0. Poor as it may look. Not many teams can really boast to have beaten the italians.
And now the final! Arsenal are waiting for us in Paris... Henry, Fàbregas, Reyes... It's going to be a beatiful tug of war, I'm sure. I won't be there, but I'll be on my sofa watching it. Next champs... us... I'm sure.

Sowing the seeds of love... green love

2006-04-28T14:34:00.000+02:00

Last tuesday we were having dinner at home and Mònica (5) took a green bean seed from the plate and asked my wife Anna if she would have a baby if dad put one of those in her belly... so... vegetarians beware!!

Good news... fears away

2006-04-28T14:19:00.000+02:00

A brief note: I've just been through a couple of bothering things... I had to undergo a gastroscopy and an endoscopy because of different reasons. My family has a history of intestine polyps (my mother and my grandmother Petra). Some were good, some were bad. After 40, you must get a check up in order to prevent polyp development. No polyps in the end!
I also had a gastroscopy because of some swallowing problems... that gave me the creeps! I didn't know what could be wrong with my swallowing. In the end, it has turned up that I have a moderate hiatal hernia... NOTHING SERIOUS!!!! These days I have thought about my daughters and my wife, about many things... I was afraid, but finally I can look at the future again with the same strength and optimism!

An oasis for teachers... and speakers

2006-04-20T10:29:00.000+02:00

I've been told a new café has opened up in Barcelona: The English Oasis Café. There you can have a drink and speak English. There are activities and even learning modules of spoken English for low-stage learners, and different topics for everyone to choose. Magazines, boardgames... anything that might help you feel in comfortable in an English speaking atmosphere.

Back from the hills!

2006-04-18T14:00:00.000+02:00

So we are back. We had a great time there, in spite of the dangers you'll see later on this post. The house was cute and tidy, and there wasn't many people around, we met a family next to our place, but we didn't see much of each other.

On our arrival, we had the opportunity to celebrate Clara's birthday, and we took advantage of the present she got... a Monopoly!! We played and played, and she got used to winning pretty quickly.

The weather was fine, we had some fog (really thick), and sunshine, but scarcely any rain, so we managed to do some walks in the area.
We went into a vegetarian diet of barbecued ribs and spiced pork meat... together with boiled vegetables to compensate.
We met a very interesting man and his family. Mr Valentí Garrigasait, the owner of the place where we were staying. He is a very trustworthy man, always ready to help you and give any assistance you need. A man with a solid background and sympathy that make of him an outstanding character. He was the one who restored Hotel Sant Roc in Solsona, a beautiful art noveau building of 1929, and turned it into a fashionable hotel worth visiting run by his efficient daughter Dolors. On our way back, we stopped by and had lunch there, and were welcome by the staff with such kindness that my daughters behaved like sheep (easy joke... they usually do). Dolors showed us the newly decorated rooms, some of them painted by Tate, another one of Valentí's daughters. Really astounding!! I really encourage you to pay a visit to this nice hotel in Solsona.

Here's a little show of the things we had to endure up there in the wilderness!!

Bork

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...and the prince will come

2006-04-07T11:53:00.000+02:00

...and there will come a time when the prince will come, and he will take away my two princesses. Oh, god, how hard it must to be the king in your palace and see your beautiful daughters part!
Fathers and mothers rule in their palaces of bliss... but their kindred goes away when the time comes. That is something I will have to endure. But as I look at them now, I see how strong I will have to be... to see my daughters flee!

Up to the hills!!

2006-04-06T14:14:00.000+02:00

Saturday... two days and we are out on holiday!!!
The four of us (my two little carrion-eating sparrows, Anna and I) are going to a nice country house in Canalda, a nice little village in the Pyrenees, or pre-Pyrenees. We have booked a little cozy place probably surrounded by cow dung and swarms of insects. We'll probably hear the bleeting mountain goats, and taste the delicious ingredients of catalan cuisine.

My daughter Clara doesn't know, bus she's getting a Monopoly game for her birthday on the 8th -yes, the very same day we are setting out-. That means that evening activities will be probably based on playing board games and eating sunflower seeds. I'll be peeling off Mònica's, probably; my wife can manage an Clara too.

I'm looking forward to some days of relax, good reading, good walking, good eating and... ey, you dirty reader don't think any further... and good sleeping.
You'll have a proper report in due course.

2006-03-28T12:25:00.000+02:00

Two very outstanding people. If you ever met them, it would be difficult to find two adjectives to describe them out of: sympathetic, friendly, helpful, humble, honest, hard-working, cultivated, resourceful, sociable... and others. Here's a little homage to them, Toni and Mercè.

Got it!!

2006-03-23T13:52:00.000+01:00

Row 19, seat 6.... I'll be there, Emmylou!

She's coming... and it's for real!!

2006-03-22T12:22:00.000+01:00

I was in my teens. I loved music (I still do), and I loved her. I was crazy for Emmylou Harris. Together with my friend Jorge, we used to listen to her warm sweet songs. Her songs were the soundtracks of my love affairs. We wrote a letter to her fan club in the States... and we received a hand written reply!! I still remember, she said: "For Richard, all the best". And she signed it!

I have never forgotten her songs. In fact, I've never stopped listening to them. One of my biggest disappointments in life was when, years ago, one day I got a call from Jorge saying that she was giving a concert in Barcelona. But, just my luck! I was flying to England that very same day with some students from my school... no escape! I felt down in the lumps, but there was nothing I could do... and now she's coming back! I just read it in the newspaper this morning. She will be at Palau Sant Jordi on the 13th of june, together with Mark Knopfler. I've just learned they are about to publish a new record of duets. And they'll be on a tour... and in Barcelona. I'll run for a ticket. And I'll see her on stage. I'm not a teen anymore, but she still makes me tremble like a leave when she sings.

BETT Prizes

2006-03-16T14:09:00.000+01:00

The 2006 BETT prizes put their stress on the use of ICT in Education. Here's a link to the winners list. It is worth a visit, believe me.
Click on http://www.becta.org.uk/corporate/display.cfm?section=21&id=4978 and go!

Grief... or rage?

2006-03-16T13:39:00.000+01:00

I was going to edit a post about my daughters skiing in the Pyrenees, but I don't have the guts. I've just read the paper and I've come across a piece of news about an american attack. American troops were trying to capture an Al Qaeda member in a town north of Bagdad. All they got was 11 people killed, 5 children amongst them.
Just look at the picture and tell me if all this is worth. Innocent children dead because of political interests.. who is the criminal?
I can only think of my daughters... and the picture. And you?

The photograph belongs to REUTERS Agency

Beware!!

2006-03-14T16:08:00.000+01:00

I've just sent an invitation to visit this blog. Don't be afraid to leave your imprint! The only thing that could happen was that I could set Mònica loose... she's wild!!

On to the next!!

2006-03-08T08:24:00.000+01:00

I was there... not a hairpin could fit into the stadium. And it was worth! Barça played a serious and intelligent game against a team who wasn't able to carry out his role: Chelsea didn't know how to take up their task; they had to create and attack... but there was no siege in Valdez's area, no missed chances. They show the way they can only play... hidden behind the midfield line, waiting for a mistake. But theirs was the mistake. Football must be something else, and the red and blue in front tried to show that... and Ronaldinho took over Messi and succeeded. Football at its best. So... now on to the next match!

Do they really know?... or don't they?

2006-03-06T14:35:00.000+01:00

I'm having a bad time lately. Everything's fine at home, at work, even at my wednesday's football matches ( I even get to score!) The thing is... there's some people who are trying to make a fuss of my little country. We catalans want to be ourselves. That could mean different things: Some would like to live on their own, out of spanish bonds and with Catalonia's own State system. In other words: They want to be independent. Some others want to show that, even though they might feel Catalonia is a part of Spain, they want to make sure they are not left aside as a simple outer satellite of Madrid. They claim for recognition of their own identity within a multilingual and multicultural country like Spain. That takes money, and money is what catalans give to the state every year. But they want to see some more of it reinvested in their own territory, and they want to decide what they are going to give to the Spanish government in order to contribute to the future of Spain. These two options might be right or wrong, but they are legitimate.
Last september, the autonomous catalan government voted a new legislation to administrate the territory in terms of economy, society and all aspects of the country: a new "Estatut". This law is being negotiated in Madrid now, and the spanish conservative party PP is trying to make a benefit out of that. Their aim is to defeat Zapatero's socialist government. In order to achieve that goal, they claim that the negotiations for the catalan "Estatut" will lead to the disappearance of Spain as a national entity. Former Prime Minister José Maria Aznar says Spain will enter a process of "Balkanisation" that will lead to the destruction of Spain. Conservative radio stations and newspapers are giving out biased comments trying to make the rest of the country believe all catalans want to destroy Spain, that spanish is an endangered language within Catalonia (more than 98% of catalans speak it, in front of the scarce 70% of catalan bilingual speakers). This strategy of constant attack and confrontation will achieve nothing but the creation of a crack between Catalonia and the rest of Spain. Many spaniards will not fall for that, but a large number of people are beginning to believe that Catalonia is at the verge of a conflict where Spanish speakers will be taken to concentration camps.
Is the victory in the elections and the fight for the power worth the division of a country?
I know it isn't, but I want to feel comfortable in the big home of Spain, not like an alien. If catalans are treated like enemies, they will probably decide to leave the big family alone.

Gorgeous

2006-02-23T11:56:00.000+01:00

There was a football match yesterday... but it was more than that. We had been waiting for this day, a day of glory for those who like football. We Barça fans witnessed the victory of art and poetry in motion in front of sheer strength and power. Barça defeated Chelsea F.C. at Stamford Bridge in a match full of images to remember. Players fought bravely in a muddy potato field. The pitch was awful!! Barça played and Chelsea ran. Two different views of football met in London last night: No one can criticize Chelsea for the way they play. They fight for every single ball and pass it with a swift kick to their forward players who run like arrows towards the goal. No one does it better than Chelsea, and this is why they are on top of the Premiere League. But they met something different. Barça offers constant struggle to recover the ball as well, but there is something else... art! The Catalans are constantly trying to dribble and pass the ball through the most unbelievable space. Their most outstanding sample is Ronaldinho... or at least he was, now there's another one. Lionel Messi. English spectators could witness yesterday the rise of a new star. He drove Del Horno mad (he got a well deserved red card for his tackle), and later all the other defenders. Don't miss the wise comments on the independent page.

Poor Prophet

2006-02-14T14:49:00.000+01:00

It is something that can't be avoided: Prophets are always misunderstood. Name it Jesus, name it Mahoma, or even Pelé. Messages of peace, righteousness and ethics are always misinterpreted and turned into moralistic girdles used to enslave people's minds and life. I'm not very sure those gentlemen would be very glad to see the way women were, or are treated because of the laws put in their mouths by their biographers. They wouldn't be very happy either if they saw how their messages of peace are turned into missiles or stones, thrown into those (mostly innocent) who happen to be out of the likes of the prophet's admirers.
I don't think it is wise to insult the religious beliefs (irrational as they can be) of any community; but it is also unwise to stand up with rage against a stupid joke: Ignore it, that is the best that can be done.
Draw a prophet, burn a flag, what's next? These deeds speak for themselves... Machiavelo and the cavemen joined together in marriage of dreadful fear!

Love thy neighbour... even at distance!

Bloody Boring Day!

2006-02-10T14:45:00.000+01:00

The internal network is down, no mail, no files, no server. Only internet. I can't see how people think civil servants spend their whole working days basking in the sun! I would die of boredom! My lesson for today is: "It's better to be hectic than to be idle". I have experienced a bit of that today, believe me.
By the way, being idle at work is not exactly like staring at the open landscape like the wanderer in the painting. That is a nice painting!

Hectic

2006-02-02T14:49:00.000+01:00

Working in the Catalan Department of Education is hectic!
You are always doing something urgent. It's very difficult to get some time in order to set you mind to work on more creative things in our professional field. I've got many things in my head that I want to develop. I'm sure I'll find the time, but it's hard.

I've come across a very interesting website: http://www.cooeey.com
A very nice tool to create your own blog.... don't you worry! it's different to blogger! It's very good for students, because it allows you to create your own "notebook", where you have your own blog and your photo album. You can customise everything with a very cool layout.

Interesting Link

2005-12-27T12:36:00.000+01:00

To all English Teachers who might be interested in putting some literature in the life of your pupils: Visit this site. An interesting work on the story written by C.S. Lewis and the film based upon the book. Enjoy it!

Elearning Awards

2005-12-13T08:56:00.000+01:00

Here's the list with the 2005 elearning awards:

http://www.xtec.es/~jjordan/tecno/cts/daring/index.htm (IES Ronda Lleida)
http://www.videodigitaleducativo.com/ (País Basc)
http://demons.english.cam.ac.uk/book_cover_content.html (UK)
http://matoumatheux.free.fr/accueil.htm (França. Premi especial de matemàtiques)
http://www.linet-pro.net/nodeweb.asp?t=24775 (Israel. Premi menció especial “culture”).

1 & 3 are very advisable for English teachers... don't miss them!!

Tribute

2005-11-25T14:24:00.000+01:00

In one of my previous postings I mentioned two main reasons for being always hectic and busy. Here they are!!
This is to you, Clara and Mònica... my reasons to live

New Challenges... no rest!!

2005-11-25T14:00:00.000+01:00

Every day there's something new here at work. You start up in the morning carrying out a task you had been assigned some days before... and there you are!! Something else popping up from behind the smile of someone at the team. New layouts for the old didactical units, brainstorming meetings for future exploitations, revision of new materials... but it's worth the effort! People here like to hold onto new challenges... they grumble, I do, but we take it and we get through it. It's very encouraging to see that your job usually ends up with useful achievements for students and other colleagues. Or at least I do my best to get there.
NO PAIN..NO GAIN!!!
By the way, that's a picture of mine.

Back here... and everyhting is different!!

2005-09-22T09:08:00.000+02:00

Back again after a long time... too busy and too lazy...bad combination.
My professional life has made a very important change. I had to take my time to make up my mind, to make sure the decission was the correct one.
I received a proposal...honest and appealing. It was very catchy, but it meant a dramatic change in my job. I was asked to take up a position as a pedagogycal consultant for ICT in the Catalan Department of Education. It is a very different job, away from the classrooms. Creativity, interaction, team work. I think I'm going to learn a massive amount of things. It was the second time I was offered that position, and I didn't think It was going to happen again for a third time.
I knew I was going to miss students, and my colleagues at school... for 16 years!! But I accepted. I hope it will be a rewarding experience.
And here I am, at the SGTI of the Departament d'Educació, in charge of the English section of www.edu365.com, a catalan web for students, teachers and parents with lots of information and resources. I started lon september 1st, and it's been pretty busy so far: Lots of tasks to complete, assignments to start, and also hours and hours in front of the screen. But it pays!! Time really flies here at the office, and there's always something to do. But the atmosphere is friendly, and people are always ready to give a hand whenever I ask for help or assistance.
I'm going to try to keep you up to date with my new job and my new everyday life.
I will also post interesting websites for you English teachers, so... welcome back!

Back from the NederIands

2005-04-28T23:20:00.000+02:00

I'm back!!!
I meant to upload some of my impressions while I was in Nijmegen, but I couldn't find the right time for that. I was delighted to see how things went. My students had a very good time, and they could practice a lot of English. They got on very well with the dutch girls, who really treated them very kindly. They really felt like home. It has been a very deep and valuable experience for them, I'm sure. Besides, they gave me a very good lesson of how to behave when you are abroad. My congratulations to them!
I would also like to thank Ana, my colleague who came along, after Toni's misfortunate visit to Hospital. She has been a very good friend these days, as well as my colleagues Corie and Fred, the teachers in charge of the interchange programme in Nijmegen.

Outing for a change

2005-04-12T08:14:00.000+02:00

El proper dissabte 16 marxem a Nimega (Holanda) amb 13 alumnes de l'institut. És una experiència molt enriquidora per ells, i un xic terapèutica per nosaltres. És una 24-hour-watch, però si les coses van bé, et serveix per descansar de les classes i la necessitat contínua de mantenir l'atenció en una aula amb totes les estratègies possibles. espero que no plogui molt, i la veritat, que passi ràpid, perquè estic segur que notaré a faltar la meva família!!!
Fins la tornada.

2005-04-06T14:11:00.000+02:00

Em presentaré: Em dic Ricard Garcia; visc a Molins de Rei des de fa 4 anys, i treballo a l'IES Secretari Coloma des de fa 16. Tinc dues filles que es diuen Clara i Mònica i una dona que es diu Anna; la pobra també és professora. Soc professor d'anglès i alemany, i m'encanta moure'm pel món de les TIC. Us seguiré explicant coses; a reveure!

Welcome!!!

2005-04-05T17:47:00.000+02:00

Benvinguts al meu web log!!!
Espero tenir temps suficient per poder posar totes les coses que tinc al cap. És difícil; dues filles em posen les coses difícils (però són maquíssimes).