Final grades

Hello, my students.

I have not been too available in these past three days because I haven't been feeling good. Grading your exams was a little hard. I was sick in bed for most of the day today. This explains why I could not correct yesterday and why I have been so slow today.

But I am done now! I have just published the final grades. Please take a look at the corresponding file on the list on the right column.

I know that some students have been waiting for an answer from me either by email or by cell phone. However, I decided to solve the majority's grades first and then deal with special cases. So, if you are waiting for my reply to your messages, don't think that I have forgotten. I will get in touch with you soon. Maybe even tonight.

I will be going to the USB tomorrow to fill out the actas. If you are around, please go check them in the afternoon after 1 pm.

After Friday, you can visit your class page to see all of your quiz results with some feedback that I have written for some of the questions.

It's been a pleasure to work with all of you this term. Please don't forget to continue building up your vocabulary. That is something simple to do which pays enormous dividends.

Gilberto

Reading Quiz 3 available

I have just sent everybody an e-mail with the link to the third (and last) reading quiz. I had experienced technical problems which prevented me from posting the quiz before.

Here's the link, in case you are ready to take the quiz: http://www.quia.com/quiz/1193664.html

I'll repeat my conditions here:

1. You can use both bilingual and monolingual dictionaries, your Focus on Reading book, and your Reading Selections book.

2. The exam will be available until Tuesday at 3:00 pm. It takes 1 hour and 20 minutes. So take this into account. Do not log in on Tuesday at 2:30 to take it!

3. You will have two chances to take this exam. For example, you can take it the first time and write down your grade and those things that you know you have to improve. Then you can study or discuss these things with classmates. When you are ready, you can take the exam again. I will take the best grade of the two. If you just want to take the exam once, that's OK, too.

4. Turn this exam into a learning opportunity: if you decide to discuss the exam with classmates, make sure to learn something from the discussion (a word, an expression, a reading strategy, etc.). And learn it not only for the exam, but for the rest of your life! (Please do not bother your classmates or friends just to ask them for the answer to a question. I am NOT encouraging cheating.)

Do your best and good luck!

Departmental Exam Make-Up

The Make-Up Departmental Exam will be tomorrow (Friday, December 7) at 11:30, EGE second floor, Big Lab (go towards the restrooms then turn right).

This exam is only for those students who missed the Second Departmental on November 23 and got an authorization to make up from the Coordinación de Ciclo Básico (MEM first floor, Decanato de Estudios Generales)

Quizzes and classes

This weekend was exhausting for everyone in Venezuela, but especially for those people who were fulfilling civil duty as members of a mesa de votación and also for those who stayed around to witness the referendum results. Congratulations to everyone for a well-done job!

As I let you know in my e-mail message of today, the link for your last vocabulary quiz (Vocabulary Quiz 3) is on the Quia page for your section. Remember that the resolutions from the Consejo Directivo do not allow me to give you a quiz until Wednesday. I will send you a link later this week to your last reading quiz.

I will see you in our classroom as usual: section 10 on Wednesday, section 25 on Thursday. There we will have our last regular class.

Be well.

Common verbs in EST

I have placed an activity in my Quia pages so you can practice with verbs that are common in English for Science and Technology. Just in case you didn't get my e-mail, here's a direct link:

http://www.quia.com/cm/164862.html

Extract from Consejo Directivo message

Dear students,

I just posted the most recent version of my grade files for each section. Please consult your grade (including that for the departmental exam last Friday) by clicking on the appropriate link on the right.

I also thought it would be useful to copy here an extract of the message issued by the Consejo Directivo. I have added my comments in square brackets ([]).

**************
El Consejo Directivo, actuando en concordancia con su resolución de fecha 7 de noviembre de 2007, y en base a los acontecimientos que se han sucedido desde esta fecha así como la extraordinaria trascendencia de la decisión que el pueblo venezolano debe expresar este domingo 2 de diciembre en relación a la propuesta de reforma constitucional y los requerimientos de traslado que algunos miembros de nuestra comunidad requieren hacer para ejercer su derecho al sufragio en su centro de votación, acuerda en sesión ordinaria de fecha 28 de noviembre 2007: [Please go and vote. Exercise your right!]
...
5.- Prorrogar el período de clases del trimestre septiembre-diciembre 2007 hasta el viernes 14 de diciembre de 2007 inclusive; [This will make it possible to make up for necessary classes, although I think that we are almost finished with the program.]

6.- Respecto a las evaluaciones programadas en el período comprendido entre el lunes 26 de noviembre y el martes 4 de diciembre: [Last week I announced we would not meet in class this week and that we would keep in touch via the Internet.]

a. Garantizar a todo estudiante que no haya podido o no pueda presentar alguna evaluación, su derecho a ser evaluado antes de la finalización del período de clases de este trimestre, de mutuo acuerdo con el profesor, [I understand that this week has been and will be very difficult for everyone, so if you are one of my students with pending evaluations, you may take them next week instead.]

b. Suspender las evaluaciones programadas para los días jueves 29 y viernes 30 de noviembre, lunes 3 y martes 4 de diciembre del presente año, salvo en aquellos cursos en que la totalidad de los estudiantes y el profesor logren consenso en la realización de las mismas; [I will post my Third Vocabulary Quiz and my Third Reading Quiz after December 4. Before that, I will only send you teaching materials, such as exercise answers.]

7.- Fijar como fecha límite para la entrega de actas de los cursos el día 17 de diciembre hasta el mediodía, en el entendido que las mismas podrán ser entregadas previamente al completarse los objetivos de las asignaturas y culminarse las actividades de evaluación; [I plan to be done with all grading before December 12. Of course, I remain open to the national events and circumstances.]
...
9.- Exhortar al personal académico a mantener una actitud de comprensión hacia nuestros estudiantes, flexibilizando las actividades docentes ante los efectos de las restricciones a la circulación vial impuestas por los cuerpos de seguridad o producto de las manifestaciones en apoyo o en disenso de la propuesta de reforma constitucional y los necesarios traslados hacia y desde los centros de votación más alejados de la región capital; [Next week we will probably be able to meet in our classrooms. I will let you know in advance.]

10.- Exhortar a la comunidad estudiantil a mantener una actitud pacífica, de tolerancia, reconciliación y prudencia en sus manifestaciones y a tener presentes las responsabilidades académicas que le son propias; [If you participate in any march, please do so as a responsible citizen: express you opinions and respect other people's opinions.]
...
************

Keep working for your studies. Keep working for your country. And don't forget to eat and sleep, my friends.

May the Force be with us all.

Gilberto

A message from DIDE

I am copying here a message from DIDE in case you haven't seen it.

Gilberto

*******
Apreciados Estudiantes:

Una vez verificada la información con el Director de Seguridad Integral, Ing. Marcos Gómez, cumplo con informarles que ya se recibió la comunicación de los responsables del Plan República confirmando su próxima llegada a las instalaciones de la Casa del Estudiante y a la Unidad Esducativa. De acuerdo a dicha comunicación, su llegada estaba prevista para el día de ayer (martes 27/11) y su retiro para el próximo miércoles (05/12). Sin embargo, al momento de escribir este mensaje no tengo conocimiento de que ya hayan llegado.

Agradecemos toda la colaboración que puedan prestar, en el sentido de respetar las instrucciones que nos dé la Dirección de Seguridad Integral, una vez que los efectivos estén en nuestras instalaciones. Ni los miembros de la Organizaciones Estudiantiles que tienen sus sedes en esos espacios ni los demás miembros de la comunidad que laboran o realizan actividad regular en esos espacios podrán ingresar a los mismos a partir del sábado -día de instalación de las máquinas de votación- y hasta que nos lo indique la Dirección de Seguridad. Agradecemos igualmente estar atentos a nuevas informaciones al respecto.

Saludos cordiales,
Prof. Beatriz Girón
Directora de Desarrollo Estudiantil

Grades over 58%

Hello, everybody. If you look under the Some useful links sidebar, you will find a link to your section's grades so far.

Gilberto

Message to Section 25 students

Hello. If you have classes with me on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30, this message is for you.

1. I have set up this blog to keep in touch with you for the remainder of the term. In it I will post messages that everybody can read, comment on or ask about. This will be especially convenient in case we cannot meet in the regular classroom the following weeks.
2. Last week you took the FIRST departmental exam in the regular classroom with me. The SECOND departmental exam will be this Friday, November 23, at 11:30 in MYS-112. Please remember that you are only allowed an English-English dictionary. Also don't forget your USB ID (carnet) in case I'm not there.
3. Please check this blog everyday and help spread my messages among your classmates.
   

A little extra effort from everybody will help us to end this term successfully.

Gilberto

Message to Section 10 students

Hello. If you have classes with me on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:40, this message is for you.

1. I have set up this blog to keep in touch with you for the remainder of the term. In it I will post messages that everybody can read, comment on or ask about. This will be especially convenient in case we cannot meet in the regular classroom the following weeks.
2. If you are reading this, it is because I sent you an e-mail about our FIRST departmental exam. In that message, there was a link to it. I have also enclosed the link here: http://www.quia.com/quiz/1181951.html. In case you want to link to the exam from here, you don't have to go back to your e-mail. Remember, in order to take the test, you must be ready to spend one hour and a half online and you must have your English-English dictionary with you.
3. Regarding the SECOND departmental exam, it will be this Friday, November 23, at 11:30 in MYS-112. Please remember that you are only allowed an English-English dictionary. Also don't forget your USB ID (carnet) in case I'm not there.
4. Please check this blog everyday and help spread my messages among your classmates.
   

With your understanding and a little extra effort we will be able to finish this term successfully.

Gilberto