SHARE
 
An Ideas Page by Omar Villarreal and Marina Kirac (c)
 
Year 2          Number 10      February 21st  2000
 
 
Dear SHARERS ,
 
Hello ! Another rainy Sunday afternoon here in Lomas .
As The Carpenters would say "rainy days and Sundays always get me down" or was it Mondays ? Never  mind, we are not feeling down. It feels great to be writing this for you today so that you can get it tomorrow morning !
 
(1) VALENTINE´S DAY
 
Thank you all for all cards . Gee ! It was great feeling so many wanted to be
our "Valentines" ! We were glad you liked our card.
NO it´s not Marina and me skating in Paris in 1930. To start with, because we cannot skate.
Secondly, because of the age issue. But better we´ll let two of our friends address the issue :
 
" Thank you for your warm message . I do not doubt for a second that you were both in Paris in 1930, though probably not dancing together yet " 
Have a Happy Valentine´s Day !
Love
Elida Messina ebmessi@overnet.com.ar
 
"Wow ! I am impressed at how wonderful you both still look if you were the skaters in 1930.!!
Thanks for the message and keep on skating for another 100 years.

With all my love to both
Mary Anne Warburton eltinfo@machelt.com.ar

(2) ST. VALENTINE
 
What do we celebrate on St. Valentine´s Day ?
Was there a real St. Valentine ? Why did he become the patron saint of those in love ? Find the answer to these questions in the following message we received from Lawrence Paros (this is a shortened version of the original posting) :
 
 
The first St. Valentine was a 3rd century Roman priest
who was jailed for tending aid to the persecuted Christians and later
converted to their faith.  He supposedly restored the sight of his jailer's daughter.  Unfortunately, his act of charity did him little good, the authorities ultimately choosing  to club him to death.
Church archives then show another  St. Valentine, this one the Bishop of Terni, who was also martyred for his beliefs,
Does this mean, when someone asks you to be their valentine, that
they're really asking you to be their martyr?  Hardly.  The day on which
we happen to honor St. Valentine is, indeed, February 14th, but the
"valentine," is only coincidentally related to the saint whoever he may be.
The saint's day also happened to fall on the start of the bird-mating season, all that wooing and cooing proving especially romantic, providing cause for celebration and an opportunity for lovers to exchange gifts.  Additional hype for the event came later when writers such as  Chaucer and Shakespeare promoted the occasion in their works.
A second factor  was a decision made centuries before  by Pope Gelasius, in  496 A. D.  As part of an ongoing church effort to christianize pagan festivals, he transferred an extremely popular holiday, held a day later, to February 14th so as to coincide with the celebration in honor of St. Valentine.
That festival was  the Lupercalia.  Held annually, in honor of  the Roman Gods, Juno and Pan, it featured sexuality and ceremonies intended to encourage  fertility and drive out evil.  For several years this celebration coexisted uneasily with that honoring St. Valentine until it was finally abolished in the sixth century.  It's sensual spirit lived on, however, as well as its association with that date.
Yet another relic of this event was the custom, whereby boys chose partners for the festival by drawing girls' names from an urn.  The couple would then exchange gifts on the festival day.
Hundreds of years later, a piece of folded paper, carrying the name of a boy or a girl, was drawn by lot at parties held on the eve of St.Valentine's Day.  The person so selected was designated as the "sweetheart" or "special friend" of the name-drawer for the  coming year.  The same held for the first person of the opposite gender you chanced to meet that day.  The prerogative granted you was to kiss the first-met, making him/her your special love or "valentine" for a year.
As we all know, the plainly folded piece of paper eventually evolved into a frilly card bedecked with ribbons and lace.  Someone added a few turtledoves, a bleeding heart, a cupid or two endowed with ample cellulite, and voilà!  we had our valentine.
                                         XXXXXXXXXXXX
                                            Lawrence
 
By the way, Lawrence Paros runs a daily electronic publication called  "A Word With You" . This is absolutely free. You only need to ask him to subscribe you. It will prove invaluable to the "Language-lover" or the "Word-collector" or the "Etimology fan". Imagine every day a different word or phrase or idiom is explained !  Very useful for us teachers of English too. Why don´t you visit him at "A Word with You"  http://www.wordwithyou.com
 

 
(3) THANK YOU FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE WEEK
 
I started my tour on Monday 14th in Mendoza, and moved on to Tucumán on
Tuesday, Córdoba on Wednesday, Santa Fé on Thursday and ended up in Rosario on Friday .Tired but very happy and proud to have shared the floor with a lovable and knowlegable Colin Granger, co-author of Macmillan Heinemann´s "YES" and "YES, PLEASE" and other distinguished lecturers from our country.
I lectured on TEENAGERS : A SURVIVAL KIT 2000 and presented book 3
of POLIMODAL ENGLISH ,the series I co-authored and coordinated. 
I want to thank my warm and friendly audiences for their unfailing support and Max López from Mendoza, Eugenia Bernasconi from Tucumán, Marianita Lascano from Córdoba and Lionel and Ileana from SBS Córdoba, Ursula de Vera Blanch from Santa Fé, Susana and Claudio Berutti from Advice in Santa Fé, Pierre and Feno from SBS Rosario and those two guardian angels of Marcela Marianelli and Martha Laborde, Educational Consultants for Macmillanm Heinemann who spoilt me as we went along and made me feel really AT HOME.   
 
 
(4) A HEART-WARMER FROM A FRIEND
 
Andrea Coviella acoviella@sion.com , a dear friend and co-worker at Instituto Nacional Superior del Profesorado Técnico de la UTN where she teaches Didactics II, wrote to us :
 
Dear Marina and Omar,
               
                                    Thanks a lot for SHARE No 8 ( though I'm still waiting for No 7). I'm sending you what I feel is a good message for a minute of reflection from  a card I found while spring-cleaning my room (I KNOW it´s summer !).
I bought it in a gift shop last May in Boston. I hope you and our fellow-SHARERS like it as much as I liked it :
 
Don't Ever...
 
Don't ever try to understand everything-
some things will just never make sense.
Don't ever be reluctant to show your feelings-
when you're happy, give into it!
When you're not, live with it.
Don't ever be afraid to try to make things better-
you might be surprised at the results.
Don't ever take the weight of the world
on your shoulders.
Don't ever be threatened by the future-
take life one day at a time.
Don't ever feel guilty about the past-
what's done is done. Learn from any mistakes
you might have made.
Don't ever feel that you are alone...
there is always somebody there for you
to reach out to.
Don't ever forget that you can achieve
so many of the things you can imagine-
imagine that! It's not as hard as it seems.
Don't ever stop loving.
Don't ever stop believing.
Don't ever stop dreaming your dreams.
 
Laine Parsons                
   
 
Thank you for your contribution , Andre. And don´t you ever stop being the enourmous human being you are !
 
(5) MAIL FROM URUGUAY
 
Our friend Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, gabo@multi.com.uy , one of the most renowned ELT specialists in Uruguay, wrote to us with a very pleasant surprise,  he  will be a plenarist at the  PRIMERAS JORNADAS INTERNACIONALES PARA PROFESORES DE INGLES DEL NOROESTE ARGENTINO organized by the Instituto de Enseñanza Superior "Lola Mora" to be held  June 16th, 17th and 18th 2000 in the city of San Miguel de Tucumán 
He also sent us these delicious ANSWERING MACHINE JOKES  :
 
These are actual answering machine greetings recorded and verified by the
world famous international IAMA (Institute of Answering Machine Answers).

1. A is for academics, B is for beer. One of those reasons is why we're
not here. So leave a message.
 
2.- Hi. This is John : If you are the phone company, I already sent the
money.  If you are my parents, please send money.  If you are my financial
aid institution, you didn't lend me enough money.  If you are my friends,
you owe me money.  If you are a female, don't worry I have plenty of 
money.
3. Hi, I'm not home right now but my answering machine is, so you can 
talk to it instead.  Wait for the beep.
 
4. Hello.  I am David's answering machine.  What are you?

5. (From Japanese friend): He-lo! This is Sa-to, If you leave message, I
call you soon.  If you leave "sexy" message I call sooner!

6. Hi. John's answering machine is broken.  This is the refrigerator.
Please speak very slowly, and I'll stick your message to myself with one 
of these magnets.
7. Hello, you are talking to a machine.  I am capable of receiving
messages. My owners do not need a new credit card , or a hot tub, and their
carpets are clean. They give to charity through their office and do not
need their picture taken.  If you're still with me, leave your name and
number and they will get back to you.

8. This is not an answering machine this is a telepathic thought recording
device.  After the tone, think about your name, your reason for calling 
and a number where I can reach you, and I'll think about returning your call.

9. Hi. I am probably home. I'm just avoiding someone I don't like. Leave
me a message, and if I don't call back, it's you.

10. If you are a burglar, then we're probably home cleaning our weapons
right now and can't come to the phone.  Otherwise, we probably aren't 
home and it's safe to leave a message.

11. Please leave a message.  However, you have the right to remain silent.
Everything you say will be recorded and will be used by us.

12. Hi. Now you say something.
 
Further information about the Congress ?   e-mail ( do not leve a recorded
 
(6) TEACHING TEENAGERS AND POLIMODAL ENGLISH
 
Here´s the list of my next academic presentations of my workshop on TEACHING TEENAGERS and the commercial presentations of POLIMODAL
ENGLISH .
When no contact phone numbers for enrolment are given, please contact Macmillan Heinemann´s office 011- 4797-9204 extension 101 eltinfo@machelt.com.ar   
 
Monday 21st Feb. LA PLATA with E. Cresta and Susana Garcia Cahuzac
Thursday 24th Feb RIO GALLEGOS 0291- 422318
Friday 25th Feb. BAHIA BLANCA 0291- 4562117 with Esteban Cresta and Susana Garcia Cahuzac
Saturday 26th Feb MAR DEL PLATA 0223-4946666
Tuesday 29th Feb. VILLA MERCEDES, SAN LUIS  02657- 423182
Tuesday 29th Feb SAN LUIS, CAPITAL 026352- 430072
Thursday 2nd March BERAZATEGUI
Thursday 2nd March QUILMES
Tuesday 7th March LOBOS
Tuesday 7th March SALADILLO
Thursday 9th March ZARATE  03487-439001
Thursday 9th March SAN NICOLAS 03461- 450164
Saturday 11th March PERGAMINO  02477- 429886
 
What a nice opportunity to meet and keep on SHARING ! Hope to see you there my dear SHARERS !!
 
 
(7) HAVE YOU HUGGED ANYONE THIS WEEK ?
 
A dear SHARER, Adriana Benvenuto, adrianabenvenuto@hotmail.com  sent us this beutiful short poem by Shel Silverstein, the author of "The Giving Tree" , the story that I use in my course on YOUR CLASSROOM PROJECT. Let´s enjoy it :
 
I will not play Tug O' War,
I'd rather play Hug O' War;
Where everyone hugs, instead of tugs,
And everyone giggles and rolls on the rug.
Where everyone kisses,
and everyone grins;
everyone cuddles,
and everyone wins.
Shel Silverstein
 
 
(8) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT SBS IN B.A.
 
Our unmistakable friend Oriel Villagarcia (don´t tell me you now realize that
Omar Villarreal and Oriel Villagarcia are two different persons ? ) has posted
this information about SBS´s professional development programme for the next
few weeks (there´s much more to come, Oriel says). For enrolment please phone
011-4780-1522 in Belgrano or 011 - 4637-8484 or e-mail belgrano@sbs.com.ar  or flores@sbs.com.ar according to where the lecture is
held.
 
24 February, 17:30-19:00, SBS Belgrano
University of London International Exams. A presentation
 
25 February, 17:30-19:00, SBS Belgrano
Pitman Qualifying Examinations. A presentation
 
29 February, 9:30-10:30 SBS Belgrano
Presentation of EXPLORER, A New Option for EGB 3
 
29 February, 16:30-17:30, SBS Flores - same as above
 
29 February, 17:30-19:00, SBS Belgrano
Secondary School Students, Unwiling to Learn? A talk by the OUP staff.
 
1 March, 9:30-12:30, SBS Belgrano
Multiple Intelligences - Cecilia A. R. de Ricci - Fee: $7
 
1 March, 17:00- 20:00, SBS Belgrano
Idioms at Work - Patricia Salvador and staff - Fee:$5
 
2 March, 17:00-20:00, SBS Belgrano
Humour in English - P.Stapley, Dennis Dunn and Oriel Villagarcia - Fee:$7
 
3 March, 9:00-12:30, SBS Belgrano 
A Delight in Words : Vocabulary at the advanced level- P. Stapley, Susan Hillyard and Oriel Villagarcía -                                                           
 
3 March, SBS Flores, 15:00-17:00                                                           
Forum Session:  Using learner's interests to teach language - Silvia Rinsky 
 
3 March, SBS Flores, 17:30-20:00 
It´s in your thoughts : An Introduction to Vulgar English
Pierre Stapley and Oriel Villagarcía . Fee: $5
 
 
(9) NEWS FROM SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO 
 
Our friends from ASICANA , Asociación Santiagueña de Intercambio Cultural
Argentino Norteamercano, have written to us to inform us and all our SHARERS of their new electronic address : asicana@tecnored.com.ar
Let´s keep in touch !
 
(10) OUP WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS  
 
Oxford University Press announces a series of workshops and presentations of
interest for the teacher of English. Unless otherwise stated please phone OUP 
office  011- 4312-5012 to enrol :
 
Tuesday 22nd Feb.       Flores. Brainwaves : pre-teens 
Tuesday 22nd Feb        Bahía Blanca. New options for Polimodal 0291-4553691
Tuesday 22nd Feb.       Pilar .ldeas and Resources for EGB .
Wednesday 23rd Feb.  Martinez. New Routes to FCE .
Wednesday 23rd Feb.  La Plata . New options for Polimodal.
Thursday 24th Feb.     Flores . New Options for Polimodal . 
Thursday 24th Feb.     Almagro. A Feast of Oxford Books .
Friday 25th Feb.         San Juan . New Options for Polimodal . 0264-4201366
Friday 25th Feb.         Lanús. Ideas and Resources for EGB
Monday 28th Feb .      San Miguel . New Options for Polimodal. 
Tuesday 29th Feb.      Villa Urquiza A Feast of Oxford Books 
Tuesday 29th Feb.      Ramos Mejia. Toddling into English  
Tuesday 29th Feb.      Monte Grande. New Options for Polimodal 4243- 1972
 
In our next issue we will list the March events of OUP´s extensive programme.
 
(11) PEARSON AUTHORS HIT THE ROAD
 
Pearson Education has sent us information of their author tours for the period
Februrary-March 2000. Let´s start with local talent :
 
Prof. Daniel Fernandez, consultor de la serie LONGMAN FOR POLIMODAL,
will be lecturing on "Methodology for Polimodal" in the following locations and
on the following dates :
 
Monday 21st Feb.        San Isidro  
Wednesday 23rd Feb.  Córdoba  03543-420387 .
Thursday 24th Feb.     Tucumán   0381-4222063 / 4212039 / 4217600 /
                                                  4228822 / 4321956 / 425-1920  
Tuesday 29th Feb.       Rosario    0341-4400417 / 4259352 / 4485378 /
                                                  4261276  
Tuesday 7th March      Mendoza   0261- 4201266 / 4202988  

Mario Herrera, author of BALLOONS and PARADE, will be visiting Argentina for a week. During that time he will give a number of presentations on the
"Teaching of English to Young Learners the Integral Way" . These are the cities
he will visit :  
 
Monday 21st Feb.       Capital.  
Tuesday 22nd Feb      Mendoza. same contact phones as above
Wednesday 23rd Feb. Córdoba.  same contact phones as above
Thursday 24th Feb.    Rosario . same contact phones as above
Friday 25th Feb.        Mar del Plata . 0223-4959524 / 4862269
Saturday 26th Feb.    San Isidro
 
More information ? Phone PEARSON EDUCATION
(011) 4309-6100 or e-mail them at info@pearsoned.com.ar
 
(12) MACMILLAN HEINEMANN TEACHING TRAINING PROGRAMME
 
Macmillan Heinemann ´s authors and ELT specialists will be conducting a number of workshops and presentations in different cities of the Provinces of Buenos Aires and Santa Fé within the framework of a very promising TEACHING TRAINING PROGRAMME for the year 2000 :
 
Tuesday 22nd Feb. Lomas de Zamora  Minipresentations
Saturday 26th Feb. San Miguel . Presentations of SHINE,   SMILE,PLEASE     and EXPLORER                                        
Monday 28th Feb. Tigre / Pilar Teaching in EGB 3
Tuesday 29th Feb Flores. Teaching in EGB 3 
Tuesday 29th Feb Belgrano. Teaching in EGB 3
Tuesday 29th Feb Ramos Mejia. Teaching Children
Thursday 2nd March Mar del Plata Presentation of SMILE,PLEASE
Friday 3rd March Santa Fé Presentation of SMILE,PLEASE
contact phone : 0342- 4533392
Friday 3rd March Rosario  Presentation of SMILE,PLEASE and SHINE
contact phone : 0341- 4498906 /5637

For enrolment , please phone Macmillan Heinemann´s office 011- 4797-9204 extension 101 eltinfo@machelt.com.ar  or the contact numbers given next to
each date and location.   
 
 
 
WOW!!! This has probably been our longest SHARE so far  AND NOW THAT WE ARE MORE THAN 900 SHARERS  we have to work double hard  ... but it´s so nice to write for you all and to know that you enjoy our page. We are happy to do it !
 
This week take advantage of the many courses and presentations offered (most
of them for free) and promise you will do your best to enjoy the last days of
your holidays with a big smile on your face
 
HAPPY WEEK TO YOU ALL !!

Omar and Marina

 
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