Chinita's Visit to URBE

Edward's Free hugs video!

Well, this is what our partner Edward Garcia put together in a wonderful video. The music is great, too. I loved it. Please, visit Edward-s blog and leave a comment on his great video!

You can visit his blog here: http://angraxedward.blogspot.com/2007/11/free-hugs_1218.html

Free hugs at urbe Edward garcia
Uploaded by doris3m

"Will You Be There"

Hold Me
Like The River Jordan
And I Will Then Say To Thee
You Are My Friend

Carry Me
Like You Are My Brother
Love Me Like A Mother
Will You Be There?

Weary
Tell Me Will You Hold Me
When Wrong, Will You Skold Me
When Lost Will You Find Me?

But They Told Me
A Man Should Be Faithful
And Walk When Not Able
And Fight Till The End
But I'm Only Human

Everyone's Taking Control Of Me
Seems That The World's
Got A Role For Me
I'm So Confused
Will You Show To Me
You'll Be There For Me
And Care Enough To Bear Me

Hold Me
Lay Your Head Lowly
Softly Then Boldly
Carry Me There

Lead Me
Love Me And Feed Me
Kiss Me And Free Me
I Will Feel Blessed

Carry
Carry Me Boldly
Lift Me Up Slowly
Carry Me There

Save Me
Heal Me And Bathe Me
Softly You Say To Me
I Will Be There

Lift Me
Lift Me Up Slowly
Carry Me Boldly
Show Me You Care

Hold Me
Lay Your Head Lowly
Softly Then Boldly
Carry Me There

Need Me
Love Me And Feed Me
Kiss Me And Free Me
I Will Feel Blessed

[Spoken]
In Our Darkest Hour
In My Deepest Despair
Will You Still Care?
Will You Be There?
In My Trials
And My Tripulations
Through Our Doubts
And Frustrations
In My Violence
In My Turbulence
Through My Fear
And My Confessions
In My Anguish And My Pain
Through My Joy And My Sorrow
In The Promise Of Another Tomorrow
I'll Never Let You Part
For You're Always In My Heart.

Study skills!

Here you have some tips to help you study and get better grades in all your subjects. This list of tips was published by Julia G Jhonson at The Apple


1. Learn to focus while you work. Turn off the phone, music, and other distractions.
2. Use your class time wisely so that you will not have as much work to do at home.
3. Always do your homework. Record the assignments you have before you leave class.
4. Write it down! Take notes in class and as you read.
5. Do not delay learning. Learn the material the first time you see it.
6. Get in the habit of quizzing yourself as you study.
7. Don’t try to cram. Keeping up is far easier than frantically trying to catch up.
8. Make and use flashcards.
9. Get organized and stay that way.
10. Believe in yourself. Have confidence that you can achieve your dreams.
11. Review your class notes within 24 hours.
12. Use colors to help you learn. Write on colored paper or use a bright ink or highlighter.
13. “Looking it over” is a waste of time. Write it down, call it out to a friend, sing it, say it over and over…don’t just stare at the page and daydream.
14. Use your biological clock to your advantage. Study when you are most alert.
15. Plan your work and work your plan.
16. Pay attention when your teacher talks.
17. Make up your work right away when you have been absent.
18. Ask for help when you need it.
19. Take good notes in class and while you read. Then, study those notes.
20. When you study notes, mark them up. Underline or circle key points. Draw arrows to connect facts…whatever works for you.

Chinita's Day!

Today is Chinita's day! What a Day! Let's celebrate our lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquira and visit her at her house La Basilica. Let's adore her and ask her to protect us and look after us.

November 18th is a very important day in our state. Today there will be many activities all around the state and specially here in Maracaibo. People will remember and rejoice in Chinita's honor.

Reading on wikipedia, we can find her story:

An old lady made a living by washing other people's clothes, a job she did every morning at the shores of the lake. On November 18th 1709 she took a bulk of clothes, and as usual, went to the lake to start washing them. This old lady was at her chores when she saw a wooden board floating towards her. She picked it up thinking that it might be of some use. When she finished her work, she went home carrying the clothes, the board and a small vase with fresh water. She then placed the board on top of the vase. Then, she noticed a small figure in the board but couldn't tell what it was.She fell asleep, and when she áwoke up it was already late and dark. She decided to go to a local grocery store to buy some candles. On her way back a small gathering of people had formed outside her house, and after coming closer she noted that her home was filled with light. After entering she and some of the neighbors witnessed the small wooden board floating in the air surrounded by light with a bright crisp image of the Virgin Mary. At this, everyone was amazed and called the event a miracle.

Since that day the street where she lived was renamed "El Milagro" which means Miracle in Spanish, and to this day it is one of the most important streets in the neighborhood of "El Saladillo" in the city of Maracaibo. To this day the wood with the image on it can still be seen in the Basilica in Maracaibo.Legend has it that the government decided that the wood with the image belonged in the capital city, Caracas. So they ordered it moved. As the soldiers following the order carried the image away from Maracaibo it got heavier and heavier until finally no one could lift it. They returned it to the basilica in Maracaibo where it has remained with the belief that no one can remove it.

The people of Maracaibo celebrate the Festival of La Chinita in November with an all night party. One of the main city streets, Bella Vista, is closed for several blocks and the city puts lights along the whole street. The lights stay up for months, until after Christmas. There are stages set up, sponsored by the government and businesses around the city. There are firework shows and street vendors, and hundreds of thousands of people line the streets and celebrate all night.

"Our Lady of Rosario of Chiquinquirá." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 2007. Answers.com 18 Nov. 2007. http://www.answers.com/topic/our-lady-of-rosario-of-chiquinquir

Also, one important part of the celebration is selecting a beauty queen for the fair. Here you can see the candidates of this year. This year's winner was Leilany Nava.

Of course, sports are present in the celebration. There is one important game today. EL juego de Baseball de la Chinita. Last year we won... let's pray our lady to help us today... Chinita hacenos el milagrito de que ganen las Aguilas otra vez..... God bless our Chinita and our baseball team Aguilas del Zulia. Go team!!!!

Another big thing in the Feria is the bull fight (La Corrida de Toros)... I personally don't like it but a lot of people like going to the bullfight ring and yell "Ole". This is a tradition that comes from Spain and in my opinion it is horrible... I'm against torture and violence. But that's just me.

Now, what's your opinion about our fair? Did you enjoy our fair this year? Tell us what you did to enferiarte? Where did you go? how was it? What did you like the most? What you didn't like... if there's something you didn't like...

Looking forward to reading all the stories from this year celebration.

And Chinita....... Gloria a ti casta Señora! Happy Day!

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed working on this posting in honor to my chinita!

XV CAMINATA URBE 2007.

“SUMANDO PASOS PARA TU VIDA” Adding steps to you life!!!

Last October 24th (Rafael Urdaneta's birthday) 800 students from Urbe walked for two hours and ten minutes a distance of 8 kilometers to participate in the XV Urbe 2007 Marathon. Students walked on Delicias Ave., Universidad Ave., Bella Vista Ave. and Circunvalación No. 2 to finish back in URBE 2 hours later. The idea is to support health and the practice of sports. This activity was promoted by Direccion de Deportes. We want to thank you guys for helping our students and personnel at URBE to stay healthy.

Checking the Dirección de Deportes site I found out that in URBE we have different sport clubs: dancing therapy or bailoterapia, aikido, basketball, ping pong, softball, volleyball, baseball, soccer, taebox, chess, and kicking ball. Visit their site and find out when those clubs get to together and join them.

Here you can see a slide show of the activity.

Now, what about you? Do you play any sports? what sports do you like or don't like? Do you watch sports on TV?

Announcing leveling and Intensive courses!

Hi, there!
This is to let you know that the dates to register for the Leveling test (pruebas extraordinarias) and the Intensive courses (cursos intensivos) are already posted at URBE's ESL page, if you are interested in taking these exams or registering to the intensive course go there and get all the info you need.

Improve your Communication Skills!!

Hi, there! I found this wonderfull powerpoint presentation and wanted to share it with you... It's full of great tips to improve your communication skills in English.



Enjoy and if you have any comments.....

Velvet Revolution... a little bit of History!

A little bit of History.... to inspire people who love freedom, pluralism and living in peace! Read the following entrance and check on the new vocabulary. I took this from Answers.com, a great source of information... it's like an encyclopedia that get references from several encyclopedias...

The "Velvet Revolution" (Czech: sametová revoluce, Slovak: nežná revolúcia) (November 16 – December 29 1989) refers to a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that saw the overthrow of the Marxist-Leninist government there.[1]
On November 17, 1989, a peaceful student demonstration in Prague was suppressed by riot police. That event sparked a series of popular demonstrations from November 19 to late December. By November 20 the number of peaceful protesters assembled in Prague had swelled from 200,000 the previous day to an estimated half-million. A two hour general strike, involving all citizens of Czechoslovakia, was held on November 27.

With the collapse of other Communist governments, and increasing street protests, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia announced on November 28 that it would relinquish power and dismantle the single-party state. Barbed wire and other obstructions were removed from the border with West Germany and Austria in early December. On December 10, President Gustáv Husák appointed the first largely non-Communist government in Czechoslovakia since 1948, and resigned. Alexander Dubček was elected speaker of the federal parliament on December 28 and Václav Havel the President of Czechoslovakia on December 29 1989.
In June 1990 the first democratic elections since 1946 were held in Czechoslovakia, resulting in the country's first completely non-Communist government in over forty years.

Well.... do we have any questions or comments... let's us know...the usual way!

Keep on shining and blogging!

"Velvet Revolution." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 2007. Answers.com 17 Nov. 2007. http://www.answers.com/topic/velvet-revolution

Free Writing Course!

Hello, my dear students! I got this Invitation from Ruth Vilmi, an excellent teacher who dedicates to help students with their writing. If your level of English is upper-intermediate or advanced English, you are invited to join!

This is what she wrote......

English course starting now - free for this round

Hi Online Colleagues and Friends!

My online IWE English course is starting right now, this week, and lasting six weeks. If you are interested in joining for free and writing with Japanese, French and possibly some Argentinian and German students, please register http://www.writeit.fi/sys/ and join Round 55. Try the test section first, and then write an introduction telling about yourself.

I've started a forum with a message called 'Finnish and international students write your introductions here'. You simply reply to my message. Others have started so you get get ideas from them.

I can discuss this more later, but please send an introduction this week if you wish to join. We're a bit short of European partners for the Japanese now.

If you have a class of students with upper-intermediate or advanced English skills they can join too free-of-charge for this round - but everyone who registers must be committed to doing the tasks for six weeks..

See you online soon!
Ruth

Ruth Vilmi
Ruth Vilmi Online Education Ltd
E-learning, language checking and translation services
Company Web page: www.writeit.to
Ruth's Blog: www.writeit.to/ruth
Art gallery: www.writeit.to/ruth/gallery
Email: ruth.vilmi@writeit.to

Free hugs at urbe_0003

Free hugs at urbe_0003
Video sent by doris3m

EFL Fun at URBE... Free hugs for the world!

Last thurdsday 8th of November we had our free hugs fun. This is the video.. it's a little long but we didn't want to leave anybody out. What do you think of the video? For those who were there with us... Did you like giving hugs and getting hugs back? Would you do it next semester? For the ones who weren't there.... close your eyes and now imagine the people in the video hugging you.... a Virtual hug is better than nothing.. it isn't as powerful as the real hug but ........ for sure it made you smile. A warm hug for everybody.... this video is dedicated to all of us... we need more hugs in our lives.

Remenber you don't have to wait for a teacher to tell you about all of this... go ahead go find someone to hug!

November 14th ... World Diabetes Day!

Celebrate the first United Nations observed World Diabetes Day

On December 20 2006, the General Assembly of the United Nations passed a landmark Resolution recognizing diabetes as a chronic, debilitating and costly disease. The Resolution designates World Diabetes Day as a United Nations Day to be observed every year starting in 2007.

The UN Resolution makes World Diabetes Day stronger than ever and provides the opportunity for a significant increase in the visibility of the campaign and an increase in government and media participation on or around November 14. The Resolution will ensure even greater reach for awareness-raising activities throughout the diabetes world.

The theme of this year's World Diabetes Day campaign is Diabetes in Children and Adolescents.Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. It can strike children at any age, including pre-school children and even toddlers. Yet diabetes in children is often diagnosed late, when the child has diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), or it is misdiagnosed completely. In many parts of the world, insulin, the main life-saving medication that children with diabetes need to survive, is not available (or is available but remains inaccessible for reasons of economy, geography or constraints on supply). As a consequence, many children die of diabetes, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Those closest to the child - family, school staff, family doctor - may not be aware of the ominous signs. The World Diabetes Day 2007 and 2008 campaigns set out to challenge this and firmly establish the message that ‘no child should die of diabetes'.

Venezuela is also participating in this world campaign. On November 14, a lot of buildings around the world are going to be lighten up with blue lights and the logo of the campaign to raise awareness on this terrible disease.
Those are the buildings or landmarks that are getting blue next wednesday. Also, Hospital Tower at the Centro Medico Docente la Trinidad, in Caracas

What do you know about diabetes? do you or any member of your family have it? Is this campaign important?

Free hugs...

Student Blogs Sept-Dec 2007

Teacher Sasha asked where our blogs are.... so here we are....

Level 6 Students



Alejandro Araujo http://portumaracucho.blogspot.com/
Cristina Velasco: http://tinavelasco.blogspot.com/
Rs.Ellasalvatore: http://ellasalvatore.blogspot.com/
Johann Nuñez: http://federer-johann.blogspot.com/
Anabell Ayala: http://anabell5ayala.blogspot.com/
Eric Sanchez: http://cirewhite.blogspot.com/
Roberto Roman: http://robblog12.blogspot.com/
Ludim Pereira: http://ludimpereira.blogspot.com/
Deyjos Carruci: my blog http://deyjos13.blogspot.com/
Maria Zerpa Blanco: http://mariandres2901.blogspot.com/
Manuel Hidalgo: http://motoman21.blogspot.com/
Luis Enrique Govea Diaz: http://kikegovea.blogspot.com/
Ileana Yoris: http://ileana85.blogspot.com/
Anna Perdomo http://www.gothladyanna.blogspot.com/
Luis Barroso http://www.luisitobarroso.blogspot.com/
Angela fernandez http://www.angela-lalablog.blogspot.com/
Melvin Jhonson http://www.butofoot07.blogspot.com/
Ileana Yoris http://www.ileana85.blogspot.com/
Anna http://www.ileana85.blogspot.com/


Level 4 Students
D422

Cindy Vilchez http://bellebrune14.blogspot.com/
Carlos Montiel http://carloscesarmontiel.blogspot.com/
Alfonso Moreno http://www.v3ruz.blogspot.com/
Hilmary Briceño http://www.hilmary.blogspot.com/
Gianni leal http://www.gianni-leal.blogspot.com/
Andrea Arteaga http://www.andrearteaga.blogspot.com/
Edurdo Rumbos http://www.walorumbos.blogspot.com/
Oscar Herrera http://www.oscarh18.blogspot.com/
Zara Parra http://www.sary-sarha.blogspot.com/
Yubisay Roa http://www.yubisayroa.blogspot.com/
Carlos Atencio http://carlosalbertoatencionava.blogspot.com/
Argilio Torbello http://argilio.blogspot.com/
Danny Rodriguez http://danny-just-th3-b3st.blogspot.com/
Roxeli Mejia http://kaprishor.blogspot.com/
Maryori Quintero http://maryorie28.blogspot.com/
Frank Campos http://frank-kimg.blogspot.com/
Paul Mejia http://paulmejia7.blogspot.com/

N421
Julio Coronado http://www.jacu1406.blogspot.com/
Andres serrudo http://www.andresserrudo.blogspot.com/
Maria Araque http://www.maria7araq.blogspot.com/
Gerald Prado http://www.geraldprado.blogspot.com/
Kurt Ocken http://www.milan4ever9.blogspot.com/
Silvia Nuñez http://www.silviax17.blogspot.com/
Freddy Gonzalez http://www.gonzalezfreddy.blogspot.com/
Eric Rodriguez http://www.ericrod23.blogspot.com/
Hadi Kanafani http://www.hadik2.blogspot.com/
Luis Martinez http://www.luisfelipe366.blogspot.com/
Daniel Ocando http://www.danielocando17.blogspot.com/
yanina alvillar: http://www.ninax25.blogspot.com/
Daniela Carvajal http://www.danielacc.blogspot.com/
Jose Revilla http://www.joserevilla23.blogspot.com/
Jesus Rincon http://www.jesus-enrique-urbe.blogspot.com/
Alirio Rincon http://ajru0404.blogspot.com/
Pedro Luzardo http://www.pedroluzardo.blogspot.com/
Hector fuenmayor http://www.hec-barca.blogspot.com/
Joel Fuenmayor http://www.joelhfuenmayor.blogspot.com/

R411
Yelitza Ortiz http://www.yeorle.blogspot.com/
Fabiola Mejias http://fabi88-fabi.blogspot.com/
Michelle Morales http://michimamg2.blogspot.com/
Susana Nieto http://chikie-susana.blogspot.com/
Yenifer Paz http://yenifer2704englishiv.blogspot.com/
Janice Haynes http://urbeinglesnivel4.blogspot.com/
Karisol Arrieta http://karisolarrieta.blogspot.com/
Angel Parra http://jeter0222.blogspot.com/
Aldrey Lopez http://aldrey-aj1111.blogspot.com/
Luis Aguilar http://luisxaguilar.blogspot.com/
Liliana Marcano http://lilianamarcano.blogspot.com/
Viviana Villalobos http://viviana89villalobos.blogspot.com/
Georgina Sanchez http://gjsv.blogspot.com/
Patricia Urdaneta http://patriciacarolina3107.blogspot.com/
Angela Serrano http://www.angela2406.blogspot.com/
Rene Lovera http://www.renelovera.blogspot.com/
Maria Rodriguez http://www.maripaorodri.blogspot.com/
Daniel Harris http://www.danielharris7.blogspot.com/
Kenneth Muñoz http://www.allankene.blogspot.com/
Gustavo Valecillos http://www.gustavovalecillos.blogspot.com/
Greysi Morales http://www.greysi-morales.blogspot.com/
Alejandro Quintero http://gnial1.blogspot.com/

D2A2
Daine Chavez http://www.dainesitas.blog.blogspot.com/

H221
Gabriela Melendez http://www.gabrielamelendez.blogspot.com/
Olena Martinez http://www.olena1005.blogspot.com/
Adrian Pirela http://www.adnfx2.blogspot.com/
Ernesto Rincon http://www.ernestoblogingles.blogspot.com/
Juan Estrada http://www.juanvi1989.blogspot.com/
Rafael Martinez http://www.rafael19890.blogspot.com/
Julia Acosta http://www.julitaacosta.blogspot.com/
Jose Abreu http://www.joseeabreu.blogspot.com/
Rony Villalobos http://www.ronyvillalobos.blogspot.com/
Henry Morillo http://www.henrybacho.blogspot.com/

M201
Ormary Oria http://www.ormary.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Torres http://www.jennifertorres.blogspot.com/
Maria Agreda http://www.maria8805.blogspot.com/
Leonardo Añez http://www.leo061.blogspot.com/
Simon Mendoza http://www.x-joey-x.blogspot.com/
Marylian Echeverria http://www.maryecheverria1007.blogspot.com/
Desiree Rivas http://www.rivasdesiree0110.blogspot.com/
Christian Solis http://www.cristiansolis.blogspot.com/
Edmar Gonzalez http://www.edmargonzalez.blogspot.com/

D522
Jacqueline Urdaneta www.jackieurdaneta.blogspot.com
Maria Aranguibel www.mariaaranguibel.blogspot.com
Duverley Rodriguez www.duverleyrodriguez-522.blogspot.com
Juan Acosta www.juancarlos1985.blogspot.com
Gianni Lombardi www.giannilombardi.blogspot.com
Orianna Gonzalez www.origonzalez2000.blogspot.com
Jose Marcano www.josemarcano4.blogspot.com
Ronald Gelvez www.ronaldgelvez.blogspot.com
Edinson Talavera www.edinsonkorn.blogspot.com
Andreina di Giovanni www.andreinadigiovanni.blogspot.com
Sergio Fuenmayor www.sergiofuenmayor.blogspot.com
Fiorella Rojas www.fiorellarojasrivadeneira.blogspot.com
Yuglenis Cardenas www.yuglenisc.blogspot.com

Abrazo en Familia WeeK!

People, people! We are celebrating hugs this week! Abrazo en Familia is a tradition in Venezuela that takes place during the second week of November. Catholic schools all over the country celebrate this wonderful festivity talking about the meaning of living in a FAMILY!

This is a great opportunity to hug everybody. Here, in URBE! This week students and teachers from the ESL Center will be emulating Juan Mann and his brighten a day campaign of FREE HUGS! Get ready to hug each other and celebrate Abrazo en Familia Week.

All you have to do is to stand up with arms wide open and hug or hug back members of this family.... URBE Family! Happy Free Hug Week to everybody! We are going to make a video and take lots of photos to post here. Hope to see you around! Everybody is invited! Bring your FREE HUGS sign!

Here is Juan Mann's story! To read more go to his website


Brighten Up A Strangers Day 'Free Hugs'. - Click here for the funniest movie of the week

All The Same lyrics
by Sick Puppies.

I don't mind where you come from
As long as you come to me
I don't like illusions I can't see
Them clearly

I don't care no I wouldn't dare
To fix the twist in you
You've shown me eventually
What you'll do

I don't mind...
I don't care...
As long as you're here

Go ahead tell me you'll leave again
You'll just come back running
Holding your scarred heart in hand
It's all the same
And I'll take you for who you are
If you take me for everything
Do it all over again
It's all the same

Hours slide and days go by
Till you decide to come
And in between it always seems too long
All of a sudden

And I have the skill, yeah I have the will
To breathe you in while I can
However long you stay
Is all that I am
[ All The Same lyrics found on http://www.completealbumlyrics.com/ ]

I don't mind...
I don't care...
As long as you're here

Go ahead tell me you'll leave again
You'll just come back running
Holding your scarred heart in hand
It's all the same
And I'll take you for who you are
If you take me for everything
Do it all over again
It's always the same

Wrong or right
Black or white
If I close my eyes
It's all the same

In my life
The compromise
I close my eyes
It's all the same

Go ahead say it you're leaving
You'll just come back running
Holding your scarred heart in hand
It's all the same
And I'll take you for who you are
If you take me for everything
Do it all over again
It's all the same

Here, we have another great video... so we get inspired

FREE HUGS - Brisbane 13-April-2007 - These bloopers are hilarious

This is another personality test!!!!

I got this by visiting Bili's blog. Bili is one of Sasha's student.

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Well, there it is... now it's your turn...

Well, and what about Teacher's Nelba's students!!!

Here, they are.... Teacher Nelba's students from the writingmatrix project...

Barbara`s blog
Share-the-net
Matias Basilico
Rosaura
Marueugeo
The TIC world
JOVENES 4MA
ENGLISH NOWHERE
RusLat