Song: The Boxer - Simon and Garfunkel

I´am just a poor boy and my story is seldom told
I´ve squandered my resistance for a pocketful of mumbles, such are promises
All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest, hmmmm
When I left my home and my family, I was no more than a boy
In the company of strangers
In the quiet of the railway station, runnin scared
Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters, where the ragged people go
Looking for the places only they would know
Li la li...
Asking only workmans wages, I come lookin for a job, but I get no offers
Just a comeon from the whores on 7th avenue
I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome
I took some comfort there
Now the years are rolling by me, they are rockin even me
I am older than I once was, and younger than Ill be, thats not unusual
No it isnt strange, after changes upon changes, we are more or less the same
After changes we are more or less the same
Li la li...
And Im laying out my winter clothes, wishing I was gone, goin home
Where the new york city winters arent bleedin me, leadin me to go home
In the clearing stands a boxer, and a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down or cut him
Til he cried out in his anger and his shame
I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains
Yes he still remains
Li la li...

The Boxer - Simon and Garfunkel = Journal

Last Clas, we listened a song, The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel. We did an exercise (Basic Deconstruction Questions) in groups. We answered the questions about the song.
It was an interesting song, which spoke about a guy who left his friends, family and home. He knew a different world on the streets.
The Choruses (Li La Li...) means Lie.

Characters of the song:
Family

Strangers

Whores

Ragged People

The practice of English Language = Writing

Written text has a number of conventions witch separate it out from speaking. We need to take care of some points in our texts: handwriting, spelling, layout, and punctuation.

Handwriting: The teacher may help the students how to improve their handwriting. The teacher can write sentences for students imitate that writing, but they will have a personal style.

Spelling: The students are used to write the way they speak. It’s a problem because in English we don’t write the same way. There is a difference between American English and British English, it can confuse the student. It’s necessary to focus on a particular variety of English.

Layout and Punctuation: Frequently the punctuation is a personal style of writing. As teachers we need to help them how to use the punctuation following the grammar rules. We can show them different types of letters, like: business letter, commercial letter, etc.

Different approaches to the practise of writing skills both in and outside the classroom:
* The student may write a draft first and then a final text after reviewing it.
* The student read an article and after write with their own words what they understood about it.
* Creative writing: poetry stories and plays. According to Gaffield - Vile, creative writing is a journey of self-discovery.
* Using the computer: e-mails, pen pals, etc.
* Writing lessons sequences: Students can look at the pictures and then write a story about it.
* Dictations

Journal = Practice of English Language Teaching

After learning about Parody and produce a parody, we make a debate involving Practice of English Language teaching.
Each group spoke about 4 topics: Speaking, Writing, Video in the classroom and Learners Autonomy


Video in the classroom: We talk about the advantages and disadvantages. There are people who use video and lyrics because the student can learn more. Sometimes, the use of video and the lyrics can be a disadvantage, because images work more than lyrics, when you talk about comprehision.

Learners Autonomy: In this topic, we talk about students who learn by themselves. These students, sometimes, can learn because they love the subject and want to learn more about it. If the teacher direct the students, they can create this autonomy. The idea of autonomy vary in each countries and cultures. We can relate autonomy to social behavior.

Speaking: In this topic, we talk a little about speaking. Students need to speak English to create a motivation, because if they do it, they can learn more. The movition is the result of the practice in class.

Writing: In this topic, we can see some rules which a teacher can use in class to teach how to write. As a teacher we can show to our students, these rules: Handwriting, Spelling (We have to take care about it), Layout and Punctuation, and Different approaches to the practice of writing skills.

Another Kid in the mall

We don't need no reputation
We are out of control
We don't want to stay in the bedroom
Parents, we don't need to stay home
Hey! Parents! We don't need to stay home
'Cause we are another kid in the mall
'Cause we are just another kid in the mall


We don't need no introductions
We are here to have control
You don't need to stay in the bedroom
Kids, you need to stay home
Hey! Kids! You need to stay home
'Cause you are another kid in the mall
'Cause you are just another kid in the mall

Parody Journal

In our last class, we produce a parody of the Pink Floyd song.
It was so interesting, because we have to use the same melody and the rhyme, but the parody needed to have humorous, satiric.
It was so difficult to find the rhyme of the words.
What we can rhyme with education, classroom, alone, brick and wall?
Can be reputation, presentation, bedroom, home, kid and mall.
And I use these words to produce my parody.
The theme of the parody was so complicated. Because it is so difficult to find an idea to satiric.
My theme was about kids.
The kids want to go to the mall. In their opion, they have to go every day.
The parents want that their children stay home with themon the weekend.
But the Kids don't want, they want to have fun and go out with their friends.
To produce this parody was so funny because I could learn more about parody and how to produce it.

Another Brick in the wall (Pt.2) = Pink Floyd

Another Brick in the wall (Pt.2) - Pink Floyd
We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall.

We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave those kids alone!
All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall.