2012 highlights

We are just 4 days to end 2012 and what a year! So much has happened. Some things have been breathtaking, others have made me cry, but all in all I am thankful for each and every day, every moment, every memory, as this has made me who I am.

Looking back, I remember more than once thinking to myself: “What the hell am I doing?” Am I taking the right decision? Have I said “I love you” today? Should I stay at the desk or should I go to bed? Have I done good today? Do my children know how much I love them? Am I being to picky with the “toilette rules”? Does it really matter? Have I been a good teacher today? Did they understand? Have I been patient? Am I a terrible daughter? I miss my brothers, I should call them more often. I have a wonderful husband.

I love my children. I adore my 2 boys and am so very proud of them but sometimes it’s not enough to say I care. In fact, as a mom having one of my sons in the USA (Hector) and the other one (Ernesto) immersed in a PhD; I had to get a grasp of whatsapp, skype, chat, messenger, you name it! and learn to actually schedule time with my sons to make it happen. Summer was great for me! I saw my beloved uncle and his wife in Palamos, my niece Alexia from London, my oldest son graduated in Economics and my youngest son spent summer in Barcelona, so both my children were under the same roof with me to say the least! I know they are exactly where they want to be, they are both in love, happy and healthy. No drugs, they both study, work hard and love me; can’t ask for more.

My husband, I am so lucky to have him in my life. He is my pillar, he knows me and loves me with all my flaws. He makes me feel so young and beautiful. At my age, you know that this only happens once in a lifetime, and well, this is it! It’s never too late to be happy in that department.

As a teacher, I couldn’t have asked for more. I have had the most wonderful, interesting and motivated students you can ask for; and for that I am so very grateful. I am so happy to have been part of their projects to learn and/or improve their language skills during this year. You have all taught me about life, culture and love.

E-teaching has been quite interesting this year, as students from all over the world have given me the opportunity to “reach out” to them. I have to also thank those students, who in spite of not being a traditional way of learning for them, took their courses online.

I was happy and relieved when Obama won! Mortified by all the violence and killings, homesick at times and always following what’s going on in NYC through the news, family and friends.

I saw Leonard Cohen perform for the first time in my life, extraordinary! Making time for the gym; reading more, writing again, stopped worrying so much, dance while cooking, laugh at myself and as my grandma used to say, look at the bright side of life!

My family, friends, students and even those who don’t like me, have inspired me and helped me throughout this year to grow and be a better person, mom, wife, sis, daughter, niece and teacher.

THANK YOU all for such a wonderful year 2012!

Culture Shock: “Hola!” “Hola!”

You might wonder, what the hell is a New Yorker doing here when she could be in NYC! Well, it all started with love! And 6 years later, here I am happily married and still in love!

It hasn’t been easy though, the culture shock is striking, but as my grandma  from Puerto Rico used to say: “always look at the bright side”. Intelligent woman she was.

This is what this section (Culture Shock) will be all about. The day-to-day incidents that can, and actually do happen to a person who moves abroad or overseas. This person could be you, your partner, a relative, a friend, your neighbor, you name it!

All in all, I promise to make it entertaining… 🙂 Ready? I’ll start by sharing with you: “Hola!” “Hola!”

“Hola!” “Hola”!

It took me almost a year to get it! I just couldn’t understand what I was doing wrong, and why the heck people kept hanging up the phone on me! My husband would explain it over and over, but it didn’t get through to me. You see, when I called someone on the phone, the first thing I did after singing “Holaaaaaa”, was to introduce myself. What else?!

As you know, in English when you call somebody, you say: Hi! This is Delia (in third person). The thing is, when I translated it literally into Spanish it came out like this: “Hola! Es Delia” (singing of course). But people would answer: “No, wrong number!” and would hang on me! I would then call back, saying: “Hey, you just hung up on me! And they would simply reply: “I just told you, you had the wrong number, stop bothering me!!!”

Aggggh! It was so frustrating!

I do it much better now, but sometimes I still make the same mistake, and they hang up the phone! hahaha! The difference is that I laugh now. In other words: I look at the bright side of life (singing).

Thank you grandma!

 

 

 

“THINK BIG, ACT SMALL

“Think BIG, act small”. A dear student shared this quote with me last week. She mentioned I was going in the right direction with this little project of mine: delia teacher online. I loved her for saying so.

I think that keeping small can actually be incredibly effective when you begin a project and have the patience and discipline to take one step at a time.  As long as you have a plan of course! When you know where you’re going, it is  a matter of time to get to your aim, even if it’s against all odds.

So sail my friends, with or against the wind, slowly… as long as you know where you’re heading, you’ll get there.

 

 

What motivates you?

Why do you want to study English?

I always ask this question to my students to be and even to those who have been with me for some time to refresh our goals. And take note that I’ve said “our goals”, because I get truly involved and walk by your side ALL the way till you achieve them.

Is it to pass an exam? To enter university? To get a promotion? To please your parents? As a personal challenge? For the fun of learning? Or simply because you LIKE ENGLISH? (this last one is my favorite!!!)

It’s a simple question, but to be taken  very seriously, as the source and strength of your motivation is one of the main factors to determine the method and dynamics teachers should use to help you achieve your goals.

So ask yourself once in a while, why am I studying English? Am I really getting what I want? Am I getting what I need?

Would love to hear from you. Share your motivation with us at: info@delia-teacheronline.com

 

 

 

Is it Possible to Learn English through Music?

So where were we? Right! Looking for different fun ways to learn English, but most of all speak

Question: Is it possible to learn English through music?  I believe so!

Music makes wonders when you want to improve your listening and reading skills in English, but mostly when you want to work on your SPEAKING SKILLS.

Improving pronunciation through songs could also be one of the methods to expand your abilities in speaking. Songs can motivate you to learn

pronunciation like a native speaker. It’s also lot’s of fun!

I invite you to try learning English through music. Let me know your current -can’t stop listen to- song here as a comment, or send it to: info@delia-teacheronline.com

For lyrics, idioms and videos on my facebook page: http://www.facebook,com/deliateacheronline

“If music be the food of love, play on”

 

We have “the” perfect place for our music workshop!!!

It’s a studio in Barcelona, full of light and spacious. You will love it just like I did. It happens to be in Poble Sec. I will give you the exact address with the pics in no time; THANK YOU Monica!!!!! Keep posted…. 🙂

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Content

I started this blog to share my impressions with you on why students do not speak English in spite of having studied the language for ages :S and together find different ways to change this! Because you know what? It just drives me nuts!  Let me guess. You have been studying English in different Language Centers for years, and you still can’t SPEAK FLUENTLY in English. Not to say you can’t answer the phone without feeling nervous. I’m from NYC and have lived in Barcelona for 5 years. Sadly, I have observed that language centers “create” endless courses to keep students “learning” English practically forever. Classes are run in Spanish or Catalan to say the least and the syllabus… well; you keep studying the same thing over and over. But what about speaking? What about communicating in real life situations? What about actually giving students the necessary tools to set them free? That’s when I come into action! Yeap! Your English teacher to the rescue!  I have so many ideas!  Such as practicing English through music, movies, commercials, you name it! Follow me, I won’t dissapoint you. ” important things: I won’t make you waste your time nor your money. So keep posted, this is just the begining of a great adventure!

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