2021 ISSUE #98 APRIL A Mechatronics Major Will Soon Be Offered At UTN

Are You Superstitious?

In Memory Of Joaquín Salvador Lavado Tejón, Quino, Creator Of INSIDE COVER PAGE

2 EDITORIAL This month our cover page is dedicated to Mafalda, a cartoon girl who cared UTN NEWS about humanity and world peace and, 3 CONARE Interuniversity Campus Will in her own way, struggled against the Move to The UTN Facilities In Alajuela problems she saw around her. If you have 4 A Mechatronics Major Will Soon Be an awesome picture you think could be on Offered At UTN the cover of one of The ILE Post editions, AROUND THE GLOBE send it to [email protected]. So far several readers have sent amazing pictures 5 China Cut “Carbon Intensity” 18.8% that we will be sharing with you soon. In Past Five Years, In Effort To Rein In If you want to know what is happening Emissions in ILE, follow us on FACEBOOK. 5 Bill Gates Denies Conspiracy Theories He Created Virus Outbrake Photo Credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Mafalda_(15843372432).jpg 6 Live Animal Markets Should Be Closed This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

To Prevent the Next Pandemic All materials used and produced by The ILE Post are for educational purposes. They can be used THE ILE ETHOS and reproduced for educational purposes as long as you credit you for the original creation. 7 Are You Superstitious? 9 Technology Enhances Language Acquisition ACADEMICS AND MORE 10 Thought Experiment On Post-COVID CONTRIBUTORS Jenaro Diaz-Ducca English For You Cambridge Suggests That For Universities, Blending Is A New Beginning Eugenia González Essay Writer 12 VOX POPULI Clare Goodman Academic Editor THE STUDENTS’ VOICE Christian Moya Essay Writer 13 Fast Food Consumption Xinia Nagygéller Essay Writer 14 Technology Now And Then Izabella Sepúlveda News Translator POP WORLD 15 Is There Truth In The Psychology Of Jose Soto Editorial Colour Or Is It Simply Down to Personal Alejandra Villalobos Essay Writer Taste? DID YOU KNOW...? 16 What Would Happen If Earth Stopped Orbiting The Sun? TECHNOLOGY BITS 17 Using Wakelet Collections And Spaces To Curate Personal And Collaborative Compilations LANGUAGE CORNER 19 In Memory Of Joaquín Salvador Lavado Tejón, Quino, Creator Of Mafalda 20 English For You 21 LOUDER THAN WORDS www.facebook.com/TheILEPost?fref=ts

1 EDITORIAL Reflections On The Student And The Teacher In Times Of Remote And Virtual Learning

by Jose Soto (ILE Director) After a year of working online with students, major has its particularities. A student’s success in a remote and vir- we have gained a lot of experience regard- tual learning modality will depend on a high commitment to his or ing how a language is learned. Remote and her own learning. This implies that they will need to be constantly virtual teaching of English for teachers has measuring their acquired skills and knowledge with real-world tasks. gone from being a challenge to an uncertain This also requires that they know how to deal with the process of trial process that depends on several factors. One and error that is the cornerstone of language skill formation. Among of these is the student factor. In-situ teaching many other factors, it also implies that the learner must know very kept us comfortable in our classrooms perform- well the objectives achieved and how to modify his process in order ing the pedagogical mediation that we know to modify his or her learning path. These are many responsibilities for thanks to our professional training. The student vs. methodological a person without a fundamental guide. The fundamental premise factor gives us quite a different picture if the process is face-to-face will always lead us to an important conclusion: the student will re- or virtual. In the end, a decisive factor will always be the human quire another person to be successful in his or her learning. An edu- teaching factor. cational professional will always be important. Paulo Freire has insisted that each person receives education differ- All these reflections can be compared to many others that could ently depending on his or her context and experience. Therefore, tip the balance towards the student, the process, or the teacher. what the student already knows must be incorporated. In addition, However, the human factor will remain if technologies do not solve the student not only has a learning style, but also has many ways of the permanent paradox of flesh and blood education. Artificial -in learning. In a virtual and remote learning environment, the question telligence has not yet crossed the line of completely autonomous arises as to how much these two premises can really be considered teaching mechanisms, or not that we know of yet. for successful learning and teaching. On the shoulders of the teach- Learning a language requires motivation from the learner. Part of er lies the responsibility to make it happen. that motivation is the experience with the object of learning and its Some authors, such as Sciacca, visualize education as a process guidance. It is not the same to learn a language in a face-to-face that is carried out from the person; teaching does not have an ed- environment with someone or sitting in front of a screen for three ucational character in itself, but in an instrumental function with re- hours a day. In today’s remote and virtual context, we need to un- spect to learning (1976), says the author. Could it be then that the derstand that the student will remain active in his learning as long as student has more responsibility for learning? It cannot be so from the teacher knows how to diversify the online and real-world experi- a literal point of view since the person will always look for a way to ences. More than ever, the need for a teacher has been required. find a guide to learn. This guide has lost its physical definition today At the UTN, the learning of different competencies and knowledge and has become omnipresent. If a person needs to learn, he or she depends on how teachers promote this process. Therefore, it is nec- will look for a way to do so, and today virtual environments have essary to understand that the teacher is the main factor in our insti- provided the answer. Does this mean that teachers are no longer tutional pedagogical context of 2021. Listening to the student in his necessary? or her difficulties in learning also means listening to the teacher in his Far from reaching that conclusion, it is necessary to analyze many or her difficulties in teaching. There is someone who needs to learn important aspects. A person’s responsibility to provide effective first, and then someone who must be well equipped and informed learning implies that he or she will search for the most appropriate on how to do this. way. This search starts from a need for a professional-based training Finally, lack of resources, time and space are as much of a chal- to one of a technical or immediate . Training in a specific pro- lenge for the student as they are for the teacher. Each has a share fession is not the same as looking for online tutorials on how to build of responsibility in the educational function, and it is the responsibility a table, for example. The focus here is on the first element, a student of proper administration to provide enough for both. If one is not does not learn a profession just by watching online tutorials. The stu- fine, the other will not be. Investment in teacher welfare is as neces- dent requires a guide based on a previously defined pedagogical sary as investment in student welfare. Reaching a balance remains process. The human factor will always be needed to elaborate such a constant challenge, and it requires a great deal a guide. This applies to language teaching as well. of wisdom and judgment as when one requires The case of language learners in an English as a Foreign Language more attention than the other. 2 UTN NEWS

CONARE Interuniversity Campus Will Move to The UTN Facilities In Alajuela

Translated By Izabela Sepúlveda (ILE Professor) plan of the campus, which requires architectural analysis and feasibility to define if some of the existing modules 1, 2, 3 and / or 4 are intervened or if empty land is used. This solution is projected for a period of 2 to 3 years.

To implement it, a work commission was formed, made up of: Gustavo Otáro- la Vega, Director of the Administrative Area of CONARE, Gastón Baudrit Ruíz, Director of CONARE’s Legal Counsel, William Rojas Meléndez, Dean of the Headquarters of the UTN, Oscar Quirós phase involved the transfer to Morera, Academic of the UTN, Noelia th On March 8 , members of the Univer- Soto González, Administrative Head of sity Council of the Universidad Técnica the UTN of 23 courses taught the SIAU, Adriana Brenes Porras of the Nacional and the National Council of at the current Headquarters, Engineering and Architecture Unit of Deans (CONARE), held a meeting to however, due to the health the UTN and Jonathan Morales Arias, initiate the execution of the agreement emergency caused by the Director of Legal Affairs of the UTN; who to transfer the Interuniversity Campus pandemic, remote teaching have already started their coordination of Alajuela (SIAU) to the facilities of the was maintained and students work. It is expected that the building will UTN campus, located in Villa Bonita, in did not need to use the be available next year and the trans- Alajuela. planned classrooms. fer of the SIAU will be completed in the This proposal, initially promoted by the 2. The second stage is projected year 2023. dean of the UTN and supported by the in the medium term and Commission of Academic Coordinators consists of three specific 3. The third stage is long-term of the SIAU, aims to join efforts towards actions: and consists, in addition to the the better use of university budgetary •Remodeling of the second aforementioned, in the resources, to strengthen the develop- floor of module 9 (building of construction of its own ment of joint substantive teaching ac- the Center for Technological University Campus, which tivities, research, extension and social Development in Engineering), houses the Interuniversity action. which has the civil and Campus of Alajuela, at This initiative looks for a viable solution mechanical works to build 6 Finca González in the Atenas to infrastructure limitations. In the first laboratories / classrooms. Campus, linked to the project instance, it seeks to solve the problem These spaces would be used of the UNED campus, in that in the occupational health conditions by both the SIAU and the UTN canton. of the SIAU facilities, according to the and could be executed within studies presented by the occupational 6 months. This strategy, which has already health commissions of the universities. •Construction of a building been initiated, will make it possible to These studies have determined serious with 24 classrooms planned for strengthen the link, articulation and inconsistencies in the infrastructure, module 7, which is the same as management among state universities which has put the university community the building of module 6, to maximize resources and the promo- lives at risk if faced by natural disasters. currently the land is being reserved tion of the integral development of the Likewise, the building presents a limita- for that purpose, with its country. tion in installed capacity, as a result of respective construction This is one more example of the interest the increased number of students en- services. This work requires a that state universities and, of course, rolled in the SIAU and, in addition, with complete design process, the UTN have, to strengthen articulat- the strengthening of this Headquarters, generation of construction ed regional management to contribute the needs of university regionalization plans, construction permits, to the democratization of knowledge will continue to be met. bidding and construction, and the social, cultural, environmental The proposal consists of three stages: which could be ready in and economic growth of the country, approximately 15 months. through the teaching, research, exten- 1. The first, short-term, began in •Construction of a new building sion and social action. the first cycle of 2021. This is not foreseen in the master 3 To read original news in Spanish, go to: https://www.utn.ac.cr/content/sede-interuniversitaria-de-conare-se-trasladará-las-instalaciones-de-la-utn-en-alajuela UTN NEWS

A Mechatronics Major Will Soon Be Offered At UTN Translated By Izabela Sepúlveda (ILE Professor) As a result of the initiative of the Rectory of the Universidad Técnica Nacional, on Monday, March 8th, a meeting was held between members of the University Council of the UTN and the National Council of Rectors (CONARE) to publicize the endorsement to give the pilot plan of the new Mechatronics Major that raises a paradigm break with a new Academic Innovation Plan that satisfies all the pedagogical and meth- odological aspects of the Educational Model of the UTN, fully aligned with the National Framework of Qualifications (MNC) and the Central American Higher Education Qualifications Framework (MCESCA). Emmanuel González Alvarado, Dean of the UTN indicated that the project also contemplates that by virtue of CONARE’s approval of the Mechatronics Major from the UTN and due to its modular design, this can become a joint offer of the Public Universities, which have careers related, in the Interuniversity Campus of Alajuela and in this way, to be a model of inter- Results. university articulation for “The framework of Qualifications of • Continuous evaluation, through diagnostic, formative Technical Education”. and term evaluation techniques. The evolution of “We are giving an example as a university, to function as a learning is measured through learning indicators. single system with the other sister universities so that career is • Academic management linked to the productive likely to be offered with funds from FEES, which would reduce sector. Learning techniques in real contexts that the costs of laboratories and equipment. On the other hand, provide solutions to productive needs through public this career is approved with a vision of a new educational and public-private partnerships. model and academic innovation, which is a significant ad- • Insertion of the Professional Certification Program in vance in university education”. González mentioned. Industry 4.0, under the UTN-SACA alliance. The agreement for the approval of the Major was taken by • Academic dynamics based on learning cells (CA) CONARE in session 7-2021, held on March 2nd, 2021. accompanied by a learning mediation team (EMA). • Transformation of the classroom concept by the Academic Innovation Project in Mechatronics concept of Techno-environmental Habitat (HTA). Major Pilot Plan, under a disruptive and innovative • Integrating project of the entire study plan. pedagogical approach In addition, it is intended to centralize all academic man- The objective of implementing this pilot plan is to evaluate agement through the use of advanced communication and the performance of an innovative process of University ed- information technologies through a learning management ucation at the undergraduate level, focused on the forma- computer platform (PGA), which facilitates personalized tion of the whole human being, oriented to technical training monitoring of the meaningful learning of each student, to that maximizes efficiency and effectiveness in Meaningful take timely corrective actions and at the same time allows Learning. All this, in response to the demands of Costa Rican for mixed activities, both face-to-face and virtual (inside and society in accordance with technological evolution and outside the university campus) in a context of Educational competitiveness in a globalized world. Technology and Intelligent University. The main characteristics of Academic Innovation, proposed For its part, the study plan will have a generic approach in in the study plan are: the context of Mechatronics, reinforcing the theme corre- Active and Metacognitive Learning centered on the student. sponding to Industry 4.0, to facilitate the graduate’s perfor- It is an autonomous learning with pedagogical mediation, mance in different fields of the labor market. based on challenges and challenges. The Pilot Plan for the Diploma in Mechatronics will be of 5 years with three cohorts, so that it allows three evaluations of • Inter and transdisciplinarity of Knowledge, based on their performance (one for each cohort). challenges The UTN projects the beginning of the academic offer from • Inter and transdisciplinarity of Knowledge evolves from the 1st semester of 2022, with the opening of three groups a fractional knowledge per year, for three years, each with a maximum capacity of • The curricular structure transcends the traditional model 25 students, for a total of 75 students per year and one total based on thematic courses to a model based on population of 225 students. modules made up of thematic nuclei. • The learning process focuses on the development of Professional Competences managed by Learning

To read original news in Spanish, go to: https://www.utn.ac.cr/content/conare-da-aval-para-que-la-utn-imparta-la-carrera-de-diplomado-en-mecatrónica-bajo-un-modelo 4 AROUND THE GLOBE

China Cut “Carbon Intensity” 18.8% In Past Five Years, In Effort To Rein In Emissions China, the world’s biggest emitter of the Paris Agreement, China has been greenhouse gases, succeeded in low- boosting renewable energy consump- ering “carbon intensity” by 18.8% in the tion and curbing coal burning to re- five years through 2020, a Ministry of duce carbon dioxide emissions. Ecology and Environment (MEE) report China will have to improve energy ef- said, showing the economy’s reduced ficiency and further reduce its use of reliance on fossil fuels. coal to meet Xi’s goal. The decline in “carbon intensity” — the A new carbon intensity target is expect- amount of carbon dioxide emissions ed to be contained, along with other the country produces per unit of GDP climate-related targets such as ener- — beat the official target for an 18% gy consumption control, in a five year reduction. During the five-year period, plan for 2021-2025 that is due to be pre- China’s GDP increased to 101.6 trillion sented to China’s parliament later this yuan ($15.71 trillion), from 68.9 trillion month. yuan in 2015, Reuters reorted. The ministry’s statement said heavy For 2020 alone, carbon intensity fell metals, in particular cadmium, were 1% from a year earlier, according to a major pollutants endangering the quali- statement issued by the National Bu- ty of China’s farmland, while also saying reau of Statistic. that more than 90% of the total con- year in the offshore marine areas near President Xi Jinping has pledged to taminated arable land last year was Shanghai and the eastern province of cap carbon emissions before 2030 and safe for agriculture. Jiangsu. achieve the carbon neutrality by 2060. The ministry also warned that the wa- To meet commitments made under ter quality had deteriorated in the past Information taken from; https://irandaily.ir/News/281303.html Image taken from: www.pixabay.com

Bill Gates Denies Conspiracy Theories He Created Virus Outbrake

Doctored photos and fabricated news generate “vaccine hesitancy.” articles crafted by conspiracy theorists — shared thousands of times on social Since the start of the crisis, AFP Fact media platforms and messaging apps, Check has debunked dozens of an- in various languages — targeting Gates ti-Gates rumors circulating on platforms have gained traction online since the like Facebook, WhatsApp and Insta- start of the pandemic. gram in languages including English, A video accusing Gates of wanting “to French, Spanish, Polish and Czech. eliminate 15 percent of the population” A number of accusations, including through vaccination and electronic mi- posts claiming that the FBI arrested crochips has racked up millions of views Gates for biological terrorism or that he on YouTube. supports a Western plot to poison Afri- “Our foundation has given more mon- cans, share a common thread. ey to buy vaccines to save lives than They accuse the tycoon of exploiting any group,” Gates said, referring to his the crisis, whether it is to “control peo- eponymous foundation. ple” or make money from selling vac- He has pledged $250 million in efforts cines. to fight the pandemic, and his founda- “I’m a big believer in getting the truth Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates tion has spent billions of dollars improv- out,” Gates told CNN. pushed back against some of the con- ing health care in developing countries It is not the first time Gates has found spiracy theories spreading online ac- over the past 20 years. himself targeted by conspiracy theo- cusing him of creating the coronavirus “So you just turn that around. You say, rists. When Zika virus broke out in 2015 outbreak. ok, we’re making money and we’re try- in Brazil, he was one of several powerful “It’s a bad combination of pandemic ing to kill people with vaccines or by in- Western figures blamed for the disease. and social media and people looking venting something,” Gates continued. Other rumors claim he is secretly a liz- for a very simple explanation,” the Mic- “And at least it’s true, we’re associated ard, an old favorite among online trolls. rosoft founder said during a CNN Town with vaccines, but you actually have Hall interview on Thursday, AFP report- sort of flipped the connection,” he said, ed. adding he hopes the conspiracies don’t 5 Information taken from: https://irandaily.ir/News/271917.html Image taken from: www.pixabay.com AROUND THE GLOBE

Live Animal Markets Should Be Closed To Prevent the Next Pandemic By Reynard Loki (April 1st, 2021) The exact origin of the coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, which started the COVID-19 pandemic, is still unclear. Early reports sug- gested that the virus jumped from an ani- mal to a human at Wuhan’s Huanan Sea- food Wholesale Market, a “wet market” that sells live animals. On March 30th, the international team of scientists assembled by the World Health Organization (WHO) published a report of their recent visit to Wuhan to investigate the source of the vi- rus and confirmed the “zoonotic source of mechanisms such as genetic reassort- robust, bipartisan support the bill received SARS-CoV-2.” ment, recombination and mutation,” ac- last year and we’re committed to building “Evidence from surveys and targeted stud- cording to a paper written by a team of on that momentum to see this bill become ies so far have shown that the coronavirus- microbiologists from the University of Hong law.” es most highly related to SARS-CoV-2 are Kong and published in the journal Current In addition to their threat to public health, found in bats and pangolins, suggesting Opinion in Infectious Diseases in 2006. They wet markets are sites of extreme pain that these mammals may be the reservoir add that these markets, “at closer prox- and suffering for so many animals. “Wild of the virus that causes COVID-19,” the imity to humans, with high viral burden or animals sold in commercial wildlife mar- WHO report states. “In addition to these strains of higher transmission efficiency, kets endure extreme stress and unsanitary findings, the high susceptibility of mink facilitate transmission of the viruses to hu- conditions before being slaughtered,” and cats to SARS-CoV- 2 suggests that mans.” according to the Animal Legal Defense additional species of animals may act as “Once you walk into one of these plac- Fund, a nonprofit based in Cotati, Cali- a potential reservoir. … Several samples es, it’s quite obvious why they’re called fornia, that works to pass state and fed- from patients with exposure to the Hua- wet markets,” said Jason Beaubien, NPR’s eral legislation supporting animal rights. nan market had identical virus genomes, global health and development corre- “As the world continues to grapple with suggesting that they may have been part spondent, on the radio station’s “Morning COVID-19, our continued exploitation of of a cluster.” Edition” show last year. “Live fish in open animals and our environment is fueling the Virologists believe that these sites, which tubs are splashing water all over the place. next pandemic. Shutting down commer- bring together a variety of live animals The countertops of the stalls are red with cial wildlife markets—and the internation- into close contact with humans, are ide- blood as fish are gutted and filleted right al wildlife trade—is critical both to reduc- al places for this sort of interspecies viral in front of the customers’ eyes. There are ing the risk of novel zoonotic disease and transmission. In 2002, for example, scien- live turtles and crustaceans climbing over animal suffering.” “We must acknowledge the basic tenet tists identified the severe acute respirato- each other in boxes. Melting ice adds to that the more we destroy and intrude on ry syndrome (SARS) coronavirus in Hima- the slush on the floor. So things are wet.” nature, the more likely zoonotic spillovers layan palm civets, a small mammal, in wet In January, Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) and will occur,” markets in Shenzhen in southern China. Fred Upton (R-MI) reintroduced bipartisan said Dr. Walzer. “Zoonotic spill- SARS-CoV-2 is a strain of SARS. legislation to address the public health over events and subsequent outbreaks “While there remains a need for more in- risks posed by wildlife markets, called the are inevitable, as the interfaces between vestigation, we are not surprised about Preventing Future Pandemics Act (H.R. wildlife and humans increase, primarily the wildlife origin referenced in the report 151). The bill “prohibits importing, export- due to deforestation and agricultural ex- and we know enough to act now to re- ing, purchasing, or selling live wild animals pansion.” duce risks of future zoonotic pandemics,” in the United States for human consump- The cruelty to animals witnessed at wet said Dr. Christian Walzer, chief global tion as food or medicine.” markets points to a deeper, ethical con- veterinarian of the Wildlife Conservation It also directs the Department of the In- cern about how we view and treat oth- Society, in a press statement. “Some 60 terior to “hire, train, and deploy at least er species. In November 2020, during an percent of emerging infectious diseases 50 new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service law interview with Euronews, Jane Goodall, reported globally are zoonoses, causing enforcement attachés around the world.” the renowned British primatologist and about 1 billion cases of human illness and Additionally, the bill obliges the United ethologist, said that “we, in part, brought millions of deaths every year. Of the more States to work with other members of the [COVID-19] on ourselves by our disrespect than 30 new human pathogens detect- United Nations toward instituting a global of nature and our disrespect of animals.” ed in the last three decades, 75 percent ban on commercial wildlife markets and She added, “We push animals into closer have originated in animals. Important- enforcement of wildlife trafficking laws. A contact with humans. We hunt them, eat ly, research has shown zoonotic-origin companion bill, S. 37, was introduced into them, traffic them, sell them as exotic pets pathogens increase along the supply the Senate by Senators Cory Booker (D- around the world, we put them in factory chain from source to market.” NJ) and John Cornyn (R-TX). farms in terrible close conditions and all Wet markets are “unique epicenters for “For the sake of our health, our economy, these situations can lead to an environ- transmission of potential viral pathogens, and our livelihoods, preventing the next ment where a pathogen, like a virus, can [where] new genes may be acquired or pandemic before it starts is perhaps the jump from an animal to a person, where it existing genes modified through various most important thing we must do,” said may cause a new disease like COVID-19.” Rep. Quigley. “We were thrilled with the This article was produced byEarth | Food | Life, a project of the Independent Media Institute. 6

Information taken from: https://citizentruth.org/live-animal-markets-should-be-closed-to-prevent-the-next-pandemic/ Image taken from: www.pixabay.com THE ILE ETHOS

Are You Superstitious? Written by Xinia Nagygéller (ILE Professor)

that idea. For example, take the American belief Very superstitious, or superstition that number 13 is really bad luck. This is reflected in the fact that many buildings Writing’s on the wall, in the US do not have a thirteenth floor, or in the Very superstitious, case of many people who will not go to work or Ladders bout’ to fall, do anything considered risky on the thirteenth Thirteen month old baby, day of the month. By the way, the series of movies titled Friday the 13th is based on this belief: that Broke the lookin’ glass because it is the thirteenth day and it falls on a Seven years of bad luck, Friday, creepy and scary things may happen, es- The good things in your past pecially to those who wander around at night! Another irrational belief that is mentioned in the When you believe in things Wonder’s song is the fear of walking under lad- That you don’t understand, ders, a belief that we have in our Costa Rican Then you suffer, culture too. Can this action really bring you bad Superstition ain’t the way luck? I do not know, but I would not risk it. A lad- der may be leaning against the wall in a very un- The lyrics above come from Stevie Wonder’s 1974 safe position so that if I touch it, it may fall on me song “Superstition” (Superstition). In this verse, the or something. Also, what about black cats? Why songwriter mentions a few very common supersti- is it bad luck in the American culture if a black tions in the American culture. But, what is a super- cat crosses your path? Isn’t the cat just going stition, really? somewhere and meeting you by chance? Relat- The Merriam-Webster dictionary online defines su- ed to this idea, did you know that in Las Vegas perstition /soo-per-stish-uhn/ as “a belief or prac- gamblers will not play games if a black cat cross- tice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, es their path before going into a casino in fear trust in magic or chance, or a false conception this will bring them terrible bad luck? I think that of causation”, and it goes further to assert that it would be a great way to convince someone the term also refers to “an irrational abject atti- not to waste their money gambling there! Leav- tude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or ing jokes aside, it is crazy to learn that the belief God resulting from superstition”. Whichever of the in this superstition is so strong that black cats are two definitions presented you like better, it is clear that superstition refers mainly to a belief or a set of beliefs that a person or a group of people have which they cannot prove, test of trust. However, we all know about superstitions in our immediate surroundings, in our culture or in others. Hence, superstitions exist all over the world. Now, the in- teresting thing about superstition is that it may be a window into the beliefs of a culture we want to learn about and take part in. In our case as ILE students and teachers, this would be the English- speaking culture. At this point, it is also important to define the word belief. According to Cambridge Dictionary online, a belief is “the feeling of being certain that something exists or is true” (Belief). Hence, if you have the belief that something is true, your thoughts and actions will be in accordance with 7 THE ILE ETHOS

usually the last felines adopted in established shel- When asked about his intentions with his song, ters across the United States (Black cats, 2018). As Stevie Wonder said the owner of a beautiful 4-year-old black cat, I cannot understand how this can happen. Max, “I think that the reason that I talked about my kitty, is a bit grumpy and bites me from time being superstitious is because I really to time, but I love him, and let me be sincere: a didn’t believe in it. I didn’t believe in the witch like me would not be complete without a different things that people say about small black critter like him! breaking glasses or the number 13 is bad Talking about how and why these beliefs are held luck, and all those various things. And to and permuted through time, well, it seems that those, I said, ‘When you believe in things this kind of old-wives’ tales are passed from one you don’t understand, then you suffer.’” generation to the next one, without giving a lot of (Superstition) thought to why they exist, how irrational they may be, and how they influence and affect our ideas Hence, believing in superstitions or events you and actions. In the different occasions I have dis- cannot support or explain may not be a positive cussed the topic with my ILE students, many of thing, since, in a way, they make us worry and them have expressed the idea that beliefs like even suffer. Nevertheless, the richness of a culture the ones mentioned above may have appeared and the world views of its people can be reflect- when something similar to the basic elements in ed in the beliefs they hold, and this is the idea a superstition happened to somebody in real life, that I think should be rescued in the case of su- and then the tale spread and was adorned with perstitions, whether you believe in them or not. new, magical or paranormal details. However, As a result, I would suggest that when you study a this does not mean that because something bad language, English in our case, go ahead and find (or good!) happened to someone in the past and out what kind of superstitions the native speakers a number, a ladder or a black cat was involved of the language have, and discuss these beliefs in the story, the same outcome will be true to an- with some of them. You may discover many in- other person if he or she happens to experience teresting things, develop your vocabulary about the same or similar events. Therefore, justifying some specific topics, create real life connections our actions on unfounded beliefs coming from with those people, and have fun together. old tales and past events may only create fear and prevent us from enjoying our daily activities as they are.

References Cambridge Dictionary. Belief. Retrieved from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/engli sh/belief D’Andrea, A. (2018). Black cats: the good, the bad, and the misunderstood. Retrieved from https://animalfoundation.com/whats-going-on/blog/black-cats-good-bad-and-misunderstood Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Superstition. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/ dictionary/superstition Superstition. Retrieved from https://genius.com/Stevie-wonder-superstition-lyrics

8 THE ILE ETHOS

Technology Enhances Language Acquisition Written by Eugenia González (ILE Professor)

Remembering an anecdote my cises online to practice grammar, reading com- grandma used to tell me about prehension, listening and writing. These sources her father’s death, I can’t avoid help learners and professors to access countless being surprised by the way resources to improve the learning process. One communication has changed example of this is the use of videos that give clear our lifestyles in the last few years. explanations of different topics and let students In 1935 my grandma lived in improve their communication skills. San Ramón and her parents in Furthermore, technology and the Internet give barrio San José, Alajuela. With foreign language students the chance to prac- grief, she always remembered tice with native speakers. Many students have the the way her father died, and possibility to communicate with others through how she received a telegram with the bad news email or using Facebook, WhatsApp or any other three days after his death. At that time, riders on application where they have the opportunity of horseback were in charge of delivering the mail interacting in a written and oral way with foreign- and giving important news to people. However, ers. This is essential since this allows the learners to she never even knew her father had gotten sick. practice with native people in real everyday sit- She always regretted not having the chance to uations. This interaction lets learners improve their stay with him in the last moments of his life. This confidence in their performance since they know event somehow illustrates how technology has a foreigner is able to understand them, and they changed the world in the last few years. Com- can get the message the others want to transmit. munication has made the world a smaller place As a consequence of interacting with foreigners since everybody is constantly connected, and many people undoubtedly experience a cultur- information flows easily. People can know what al interchange. Many cultural elements such as is happening in any place worldwide just by click- ideas, concepts, and beliefs are learned when ing a bottom or turning on a TV set, for example. being in contact with natives. Also, there is a pos- Any event that occurs in any part of the world sibility of developing soft skills such as respect to- can be heard about immediately through the wards others’ behaviors and lifestyles. In this way, use of the Internet, cell phones, etc. This has defi- they can understand the way people from differ- nitely affected the way we relate, see the world ent cultures behave and see the world. Empathy, and learn. For instance, technology provides a values and respect are elements that help indi- variety of useful tools for people who want to be viduals perceive the world when communicating competent in a foreign language. Technological and interacting with foreigners. tools are a key element to enhance the neces- Technology has changed our lifestyles a lot in sary skills to communicate properly with others. the last few years. Communication is now much Technology has changed especially the way more effective in terms of how we access infor- people learn and study. Today, for instance, the mation today. It is relevant to identify the use of use of cellphones makes it easier to learn a for- different tools to enrich the learning process of eign language. Learning a language and using people who want to learn a new language. Hav- an application on the phone has made it some- ing the possibility of practicing different topics on- thing simpler since people can practice through line, using videos and exercises to acquire new their cell phone any time, and decide how much communicative skills will definitely improve their time they want to invest in this learning process. language performance. Besides that, having the Besides that, people interested in learning any chance of relating in authentic contexts with na- language have the possibility to study online the tive people allows the learners to enhance their pronunciation of new words through the use of language competencies and also learn how to dictionaries that provide not only the definition of respect other individuals’ values and beliefs. words but also their pronunciation and phonetic transcription. Moreover, there are too many exer- 9 ACADEMICS AND MORE

Thought Experiment On Post-COVID Cam- bridge Suggests That For Universities, Blend- ing Is A New Beginning

A research project which asked University of Cambridge staff and students to describe their biggest hopes – and darkest fears – for post-pandemic higher education has found that many would support a permanent, but partial, shift to online learning. able, and to strengthen their relationships within wider society. The study was carried out by Simone Eringfeld, a grad- uate student at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge. She said: “The project deliberately asked people to speculate about what might happen to uni- versity education, basing their answers on trends that we are already seeing in the sector today. At a time when universities are having to change very quickly, an exercise like this can give us a clearer picture of the kind of university we want to emerge from that trans- formation, as well as what we don’t want.” Eringfeld began the study when a planned research project in refugee camps in Uganda was cancelled due to COVID-related travel restrictions. Confined to Cambridge, she decided to research the ‘post-coro- The finding comes from a study which began when nial’ future of universities instead. This emerging field the UK first went into lockdown in March 2020, forcing of academic enquiry is examining how the changes universities to move some teaching online. Ten months prompted by COVID-19 might offer an opportunity to on, it suggests that academics and students would fa- re-evaluate what universities are for, to whom they be- vour more ‘blended’ learning – a balance between long and how they can become more inclusive. virtual and face-to-face education – even when the She devised an action-research project built around pandemic is over. a podcast, Cambridge Quaranchats, in which she in- Many are concerned, however, that some univer- terviewed academics, students and other staff, about sities will be tempted to take courses fully online – a life and work in Cambridge during the pandemic. She move they worry would kill off the traditional student then carried out detailed, private interviews with an- experience of living and learning away from home. other 10 staff and students. These participants were During the study, participants were asked to describe asked to listen to clips from the podcast and to imag- the most dystopian near-future for university teaching ine how online teaching might transform post-coronial that they could imagine. In terms that sometimes read higher education – for better, or worse. like a lost script from the fiction series Black Their biggest fear was that institutions might decide Mirror, they responded with visions of students ‘attend- to move all teaching online. Some envisaged that ing’ Cambridge through VR headsets, while courses universities might then seek to increase revenues by are cut up and sold off in highly-marketable, bite-sized breaking up these online courses and selling individu- components. al lectures or classes to mass audiences in ‘bite-sized’ Despite this, the research found that many staff and form. At its most bleak, the research suggests, online students regard the rapid adoption of new, online learning threatens to turn universities into ‘placeless’ learning methods during the pandemic as an oppor- institutions, where students no longer enjoy social ac- tunity: to make universities more accessible, afford- tivities, or encounter a healthy mix of people, cultures 10 ACADEMICS AND MORE

and ideas. itations of physical campuses, such as departmental Asked to describe his not-too-distant dystopian vision, divisions, participants also saw the potential to design one student said: “Imagine virtual reality has gotten new interdisciplinary courses; or to blend academic better and better. We can now host the entire experi- courses with vocational training by joining forces with ence online, so you wake up in the morning, put your further education colleges and other training bodies. headset on and go to lectures. You sort of simulate life. For some students, this represents an opportunity to I think that’s the worst-case scenario… the University of ensure that higher education produces not just aca- Cambridge would be like a network or file. It wouldn’t demically-accomplished graduates, but rounded citi- even be a place anymore.” zens. “It’s not that I hope that we produce fewer Nobel Perhaps surprisingly after months of remote learning, Prize-winners,” one undergraduate told Eringfeld, “but however, all of the interviewees saw opportunities I would hope that we would be more concerned with in moving at least some university education online. producing people… I would hope that the process of Many felt this would give academics and students education makes people more human.” greater flexibility in their working lives, reduce stress, Whether or not such ideas are realised, Eringfeld con- and provide them with more time to explore other in- cludes that post-coronial universities will need to de- terests. vise ways to combine virtual and face-to-face teach- The study also suggests that this could conceivably ing safely and flexibly. help to make university more affordable. Institutions “Neither a fully online university, nor a complete return could, for instance, repackage courses so that stu- to face-to-face higher education, will be desirable in dents are not necessarily obliged to live on campus the post-COVID era,” she said. “People genuinely fear for as much of the year, thus reducing living costs. the possibility that we will lose the more embodied, A number of staff and students also viewed the wid- communal aspects of being at university. At the same er availability of online learning as an opportunity to time, they realise that online teaching makes it more remodel university education in other, fundamen- accessible. The challenge for post-coronial universities tal ways. Many, for example, favour making some will be to encourage new forms of ‘belonging’ so that streamed lectures widely available for free. And be- even with more blended learning, higher education cause online learning removes some infrastructural lim- remains a connected and meaningful experience.” The research is published in Studies in Higher Education

11 Information taken from: https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/thought-experiment-on-post-covid-cambridge-suggests-that-for-universities-blending-is-a-new Photo credit: https://pixabay.com VOX POPULI

The UTN community includes professors, administrative staff and students. Each individual has something to say about everything. In this section, we give the university community the opportunity to express what they feel about different school, country and world issues that in one or another way affect or impact our lives, feelings and opinions. What are some thoughtless phrases politicians have said? (I)

Former President Laura Chinchil- la Miranda after she signed the House Repre- Former President José María (Pepe) Figueres Olsen Cyber-Crimes Law, known as the Former Pre-Candidate sentative Melvin during a hearing before the House of Representatives global gag rule in 2013. This law for the Presidency Ro- Nuñez in his about his implications in the Alcatel case in 2011. In condemns journalist who unduly dolfo Emilio Francisco defense of the this case, several people were accused of an improper get political information which is Manuel de Jesús Piza de environmental handling of money for the award of specific grants upon considered classified. Rocafort during a presi- impact from a telecommunications equipment. “My government was never warned dential debate in 2018. tropical shrimp “I do not recall it; I do not remember it.” about any problems of interpreta- “Here I brought you trawling project tion emerging from the global gag (addressing his opponent in 2020. rule.” Antonio Álvarez Desanti) “Maritime fauna some mouthwash for caught during you to rinse your mouth trawler fishery before you talk about me can be used to again.” produce cro- quettes for cats.”

Former Pre-Candidate for the Presidency Luis Fishman Zonz- inski in 2010 used as the slogan Former President Abel Pacheco de la Espriella trying to avoid mak- Former Pre-Candidate for the of his campaign the phrase: ing the decision whether to approve or not the free trade agreement Presidency Johnny Francisco Araya “I ask for your vote today with the United States during his precedential term (2002-2006). Monge in 2014 after finding out because the least worst is the “I am going to appoint a group of notables that last around four there was little chance of winning best.” years to study if the free trade agreement with the United States is the second round of the presidential something positive or negative for Costa Rica. In this way, I can election. wash my hands of any responsibility with regards to this matter “Good sense suggests, now more and use all my capability for some more important issues.” than ever, I need to make consider- ations about this reality; therefore, I will let you know that I am concluding my running campaign for the presidency.”

Former President Oscar Arias Sánchez during one of his speeches in the run up to approve the free trade agreement with the United States in 2007. “With the free trade agreement the ones that today ride a bike will soon ride a motorcycle, the ones who ride a motorcycle today will drive a BMW car, and the ones who drive a Hyundai will drive a Mercedes Benz.” As we know, this never happened, and people still do not understand this com- ment.

12 THE STUDENTS’ VOICE

Fast Food Consumption

By Alejandra Villalobos (ILE Student)

The consumption of fast food has increased drastically in the last twenty years as well as the increase of diseases as a result of this type of food. Although the negative effects of consuming these foods are many and affect everyone, banning them completely would not be the best solution. On one hand, the junk food industry contributes significantly to the global economy and pro- vides millions of jobs and different job opportunities around the world. Consequently, if this sector is eliminated, it would cause a rise in world unemployment. Furthermore, due to these times of globalization where people have less time, they decide to consume fast food be- cause it is what is most convenient for them when it comes to time and money. On the other hand, fast food has increased the development of diseases as it contains high levels of sugar, salt, and saturated fat that alter health causing people to become overweight, cholesterol problems, gastric and heart diseases, etc. Therefore, it is important to know the health risks that these foods can cause in our health to make decisions, reduce consumption, and eat more healthier options especially when this industry creates advertising aimed at the younger generation. To conclude, eliminating and banning fast food completely is not the most appropriate deci- sion since it would affect many economic and social aspects. Nevertheless, part of the search for a better solution is to obtain appropriate information on how to handle these foods by hav- ing a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals and reducing the amount of junk food you eat.

13 THE STUDENTS’ VOICE

Technology Now And Then

By Christian Moya (ILE Student)

Technology affects most things people do in life. There is no way to deny even the tiniest existence of technology lives among humankind. Its revolutionary inventions have certainly shifted how people perform their tasks throughout the years. The educational sector has greatly benefited from the alliance of educa- tion with technology all along with the COVID-19 pandemic. To strengthen the learning process, teaching methodolo- gies have opted to adapt and lead its strategies to what technological tools offer to bring out the best of a class. Virtuality during the sanitary crisis is the clear proof education cannot stand by itself without technology by its side. Virtual companion has given people the chance to access didactic material content and keep studying from the comfort of their own home. Platforms such as WhatsApp, Zoom, Drive, among others supported by real-time technology, allow learners to keep in touch with classmates to work as a collective without the necessity of meeting in person. Technologies assuredly enhances the educational productivity by offering virtual resources that are just one click away. It is out of discussion technology has reshaped the average workplace environments. Mod- ern technology programs facilitate the accuracy of developing duties. Due to the benefits technology offers, people can feel motivated as they can optimize their daily tasks and keep every single assignment on track. People can easily connect with their coworkers, leaders, or any contact anytime making the collaboration and work efficiently. From another point of view, thanks to technology, people can work from home creating their own effective and comfortable workspace. There is no need to travel long distances spending valuable time commuting to get to the office, school, or company. Technology has become so advanced that nowadays work can be done within a blink of an eye. Information is just one click away from reaching your knowledge. Technologies undoubtedly serve as a complement that helps solving problems and making the pace of life easier to live in. Technology is an essential tool humankind cannot simply avoid.

14 POP WORLD

Is There Truth In The Psychology Of Color Or Is It Simply Down to Personal Taste?

BY Sue Beckingham (October 20th, 2014 ) your first base colour and then- aco GREEN lour harmony. The colour harmonies to Qualities: natural, organic, youth, nur- select from are: turing, instructional, education, adven- •Complementary turous, ecological, calming, nature •Monchromatic Best for: medicine, science, govern- •Analogous ment, recruitment, ecological-business, •Split Complimentary tourism, human resources •Triadic BLUE •Tetradic Qualities: credibility, calming, clean, fo- The colour calculator then displays the cused, medical, professional, judicial, results! The site also provides a mini re- power, business like port of the hex, RGB, and CMYK colour Best for: medical, scientific, utilities, values. government, health care, high-tech, Colour Psychology recruitment, tradesmen, legal, informa- “The term colour psychology, often tion technology, dental, corporate used interchangeably with ‘‘the psy- ORANGE chological effects of color’’ as sug- Qualities: creative, dynamic, energetic, gested by Van Wagner, tends to refer youthfulness, expressive, child-like, fruit- to a range of affective, cognitive, and ful, innocence, enthusiasm behavioral responses and associations Best for: recruitment, food and drink, linked to specific colours.” entertainment, education, sports, hu- O’Connor goes on in her paper to issue man resources, childcare a ‘caveat emptor’ (Latin for buyer be- YELLOW How we use any of these colours in our ware) with regard to this work. Howev- Qualities: energy, drive, dynamic, en- lives can be very personal. From the er whilst the following list from the Logo couraging, design, ideas, youth, inven- way we dress, decorate our homes or Company does not come with any di- tion, bright, positive even prepare food; we each may have rect signposts to cite the theory behind Best for: childcare, food and drink, en- different preferences to colour combi- their colour and emotion associations tertainment, new technology, automo- nations. What pleases one person’s it would seem enough has been writ- tive, signs and banners, ecommerce eyes can be a total turn off for another! ten about the topic to make it worth PURPLE The Logo Company have put together considering how colours make you feel Qualities:spiritual, mysterious, magical, an infographic on the emotions colours personally. Are there certain colour arcane, religiousness, evocative, sensu- convey and aligned these with famous schemes that would detract you from al, well being, occult, loving brands and the design of their logos. engaging with a website? See what Best for: body, mind and soul, astrology, They say: you make of these: tarot, aromatherapy, massage, yoga, •yellow = optimism BLACK arcane, healing, spiritual, occult •orange = friendly Qualities: definite, credible, strength, BROWN •red = excitement powerful, precise, professional, direct, Qualities: earthly, nurturing, historical, •purple = creative accuracy safe, financial, tradition, conservative, •blue = trust Best for: construction, corporate, oil, reliable, retrospect, steady •green = peaceful financial, fashion, manufacturing, - cos Best for: construction, animals, mining, Colour Calculator metics, mining, marketing, tradesmen veterinary, finance, real estate, ecology How does this then translate into the de- RED WHITE sign of blogs or the creation of visuals as Qualities: hungry, exciting, urgent, dan- Qualities: clinical, clean, medical, clear, banners for social sites and profiles? Do gerous, sexy, evocative, romantic, de- purity, spacious, simple, easy, fresh you consider the combinations of the sign, warm, fast Best for: medical, science, high-tech, colours you use? Best for: food, clothing, fashion, apparel dental Session College offer a free interactive cosmetics, sports, real estate, entertain- Colour Calculator to help you select the ment, health care, caring, emergency optimum colour combinations for any services, hospitality, marketing, public design project. You begin by choosing relations, advertising

References Logo Company, Logo Design Color, Business Types & Qualities – The Science Behind Colors Session College Colour Calculator Zena O’Connor, Z. (2009) Colour Psychology and Colour Therapy: Caveat Emptor

15 Information takenfion from:https://socialmediaforlearning.com/2014/10/20/is-there-truth-in-the-psychology-of-colour-or-is-it-simply-down-to-personal-taste/ Phot Credit: https://pixabay.com DID YOU KNOW...? What Would Happen If Earth Stopped Orbiting The Sun? experience weeks of permanent night and then weeks of perma- nent day. But imagine 6 months of night, followed by 6 months of day. The Earth would become a per- fect sphere This might seem minor compared to the other catastrophes, but the Earth would become an al- most perfect sphere. The Earth is currently rotating on its axis, com- pleting one turn approximately every 24 hours. This rotational ve- locity causes the Earth to bulge out around its equator, turning our planet into an oblate spher- oid (a flattened ball). Without this damage as everything flew in a spin, gravity would be able to As you probably know, the Earth ballistic trajectory sideways. Imag- pull the Earth into a nice perfect is rotating on its axis. This gives us ine the oceans sloshing sideways sphere. This sounds interesting and day and night. Of course it’s im- at 1,600 km/hour. probably harmless, but it’s ac- possible, but what would happen The rotational velocity of the Earth tually a *big* problem. Because if the Earth stopped spinning? Re- decreases as you head away from of the Earth’s bulge in the mid- member, this isn’t possible, it can’t the equator, towards the poles. So dle, the oceans are held out at happen, so don’t worry. as you got further away from the the equator by 8 km. On perfect Everything would be launched in equator, your speed would de- sphere Earth, the world’s oceans a ballistic trajectory sideways crease. If you were standing right would redistribute, flooding many The first thing to think about is the on the north or south pole, you’d regions of the planet with an im- momentum of everything on the barely even feel it. mense volume of water. We’d surface of the Earth. You’re held A day would last 365 days end up with a single continent down by gravity and you’re whiz- The next problem is that day and around the middle of the planet, zing through space at a rotation- night wouldn’t work the same any with oceans surrounding the north al velocity of 1,674.4 km/h (at the more. Right now the Earth is rotat- and south poles. equator). You can’t feel it be- ing on its axis, returning the Sun to The Earth would no longer be tilted cause of momentum. Just like how the same position every 24 hours. The Earth’s tilt is defined by how you can’t feel that you’re moving But if the Earth stopped spinning, it the planet is rotating compared in a car going down the highway. would then take 365 days for the to the Sun. This axis of rotation But you feel the effects when you Sun to move through the sky and defines the Earth’s seasons. But stop, or get into an accident. And return to the same position. Half without any rotation, the concept so, if the Earth suddenly stopped of the Earth would be baked for doesn’t make sense any more. spinning, everything on the sur- half a year, while the other hemi- There’s still a north pole of the face of the Earth at the equator sphere was in darkness. It would planet, where the radiation from would suddenly be moving at get very hot on the sunny side, the Sun is at its lowest angle, and more than 1,600 km/hour side- and very cold in the shadowed an equator, where the light hits ways. The escape velocity of Earth side. You can imagine how that most directly. But there would no is about 40,000 km/hour, so that would be devastating to plants longer be seasons. isn’t enough to fly off into space; and animals. We get a hint of but it would cause some horrible this at the poles, where you can

Information adapted from: https://www.universetoday.com/66570/what-would-happen-if-the-earth-stopped-spinning/ 16 Photo credit: https://pixabay.com TECHNOLOGY BITS

Using Wakelet Collections And Spaces To Curate Personal And Collaborative

Compilations

by Sue Beckingham (August 31st, 2020) Wakelet is a free tool that enables the user to curate information from social networks to build social stories, bringing together a variety of dif- ferent media that is scattered across the Web. It provides a space to then add an additional lay- er by adding a narrative and enables the user to create a multimedia digital narrative that is inter- active and social. By using Wakelet, it’s possible to cite content from others who are part of an online discussion or at the spot of an actual event while adding further text to provide clarifications and context from your end. Essentially there are three key steps to create a Wakelet Collection: Search Select a social network and search for social me- dia content. Add content Drag the best elements into your story and add your own narrative. Share 2. Choose a name for your space and an Via your chosen social networks or by sharing the image. You can choose to set your space as URL or as a PDF. public or private by clicking Profile Visibility. A new feature just released is Wakelet Spaces: 3. Now it’s time to populate it with collections. 1. On the left side of your homepage, you can You can either: find the small ‘+’ icon. Click this to add a a.) Create a brand new collection from new space! within the space. 17 TECHNOLOGY BITS

Using Wakelet to capture events •Curate tweets shared during a conference •Aggregate a timeline of events •Reactions to important stories and breaking news •Live tweeting and eye witness reports •Gather social media responses about an event •Curate the history of a given event as a timeline •Create a narrative that can help readers makes sense of an event

Here’s one of my favourites examples where Wakelet was used to capture tweets celebrating Professor Phil Race’s retirement and 75th Birthday at the 2019 SOLSTICE Conference at Edge Hill Uni- b.) Transfer a collection from your home versity. profile to your new space. To do This is your Life Professor Phil Race (PDF) or via this, go to where your collection Wakelet https://wke.lt/w/s/8F40h1 currently is, click the three dots ‘…’, click ‘Move collection’, and Student uses for Wakelet select which space you want to Curate resources for a research project. move it to. Develop an annotated bibliography. 4. Invite collaborators to your space. Once Capture key points from a lecture by note taking you’ve created your space, click Members using Twitter and gathering as a story. on the side-panel on the left side of your Build a digital CV. home screen. From here you can access Use Spaces with peers to create a shared collab- an invite code and QR code to share with orative set of collections. your chosen invitees. They can use the code to access your space, by clicking ‘Got a Teacher uses for Wakelet code? Join a space‘, which appears once •Create a digital hand-out of readings or videos they’ve clicked the ‘+’ button mentioned with questions to respond to. in step one. •Curate a collection of videos you want to play during a class. Benefits of using Wakelet •Raise a question on Twitter and curate the re- Each story can be shared as a URL link sponses as a story. Each element of the story can also be individually •Hold a Q&A tweetchat and curate the dialogue. shared •Develop a class plan. It is a useful way to amplify the voices of the orig- •Create multimedia how to guides. inators Helps develop better web searching skills Wakelet resources Incorporate multimedia (video, photos, tweets, How to videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/wakelet online sources) with original writing Supprt: https://wakelet.com/@wakeletsupport Blog: https://blog.wakelet.com/ Here are some examples of how you can use Wakelet:

Information takenfion from:https://socialmediaforlearning.com/2020/08/31/using-wakelet-collections-and-spaces-to-curate-personal-and-collaborative-compilations/ Phot Credit: https://pixabay.com/es/ 18 LANGUAGE FOCUS

In Memory Of Joaquín Salvador Lavado Tejón,

Quino, Creator Of Mafalda By Carolina Parodi (October 6th, 2020)

revolution, corruption, environmental Libertad (‘freedom’ in Spanish), Mi- destruction and more. At this point, guelito and Mafalda’s baby brother reading Mafalda might sound like a Guille. The richness in characters flows dull endeavour, but it’s also full of frank- seamlessly into an astute and effective ness and a tenderness that comes from humour that makes it impossible for the children discussing as adults would (or reader to not fall madly in love with Ma- actually as adults wouldn’t most times), falda and her friends. unflinchingly and with a plainness that Quino’s legacy leaves us with not only is difficult to disregard. Quino’s cartoons a curious, loving Mafalda, but also with and humour shine in their simplicity and a crowd of characters that fill our heart timeless relatability. We’re shown the with a bittersweet joy. He’s also had a world as it’s seen through the eyes of a definite influence on ’s Span- little girl who often condemns the old- ish, introducing phrases that are now er generation, her parents’ generation, part of everyday speech such as “otra for not doing enough and worries that vez sopa!” (not soup again!) to express they’re all fritos or ‘fried’, ruined if that’s frustration when a situation repeats what they’ll become when they grow itself. If you hear of someone being up – cue her hatred for soup, which ac- described as a Susanita, that’s some- cording to adults will help her grow up. one whose aspirations stop at getting First published at a time when a coup married and becoming a mother – al- d’état and increasing military violence though, thankfully, Susanita is falling into Joaquín Salvador Lavado Tejón, Quino, threatened Argentina, the issues Mafal- disuse. was born in 1932 in Mendoza, Argenti- da spent many sleepless nights mulling The 1970s for the rest of the world might na. Mafalda was born also in Argentina, over are not very different to the issues seem like an era when things were get- but is now a citizen of the world, wide- of the country and world in recent ting better, when we could hope for a ly read from Argentina to Italy to Spain years. Mafalda’s favourite ‘toy’ is her better world, but in Argentina – a coun- and beyond – as far as the language globe, which she cares for just as much try where abortion still isn’t legal, where barriers allow her to travel. as Susanita cares for her doll who shouts girls are murdered and raped all too Mafalda. Introducing Mafalda, think- ‘Mamá’ when pressing her belly. Susan- regularly and the ever-present corrup- ing about how to put her into words ita, like all of Mafalda’s friends, symbo- tion and capitalism spread as fast as that will do her, and her creator, justice lises different attitudes. Susanita is gov- wildfire in the Amazon – the 1970s- po isn’t easy. Yet immediately, just think- erned by her desires to have children, litical landscape and military violence ing about her puts a smile on my face. Felipe is clever, a fan of technology and stopped Quino’s creations: “If I had Mafalda is arguably one of the most comic books, and dreams of becoming continued drawing [Mafalda], they recognisable and iconic cartoons, the an engineer. Manolito, son of Spanish would have shot me.” Luckily for us, Ma- of the Spanish-speaking world. immigrants, is perhaps the most differ- falda is eternal, and someone we will She’s a little girl, of about five years old ent to Mafalda – commercially-mind- introduce and read to younger gener- when first introduced to the printed ed, slightly dumb and careless when it ations with half a tear in our eyes and world, who has a wonderful head of comes to real-life issues. To these, the big hopes that they will be as touched black hair, full of ideas and worries. Ma- original characters, Quino later adds by her courage as our generation was. falda loathes militarism, corruption and also soup (among many other things). She adores her friends and parents yet maintains a contemptuous disdain for her mother’s lack of profession and for her father’s lack of passion for real-life matters and an abundance of it for his houseplants. Mafalda and her friends also adore and playing games such as the Government, where Mafalda, of course, plays the role of the president. Mafalda, the comic strip, discusses and traverses issues of the world via means of Mafalda and her friends who debate themes including poverty, international relations, technological and industrial 19 Information taken from: https://soundsandcolours.com/articles/argentina/in-memory-of-joaquin-salvador-lavado-tejon-quino-creator-of-the-world-of-mafalda-54732/ Photo Credit: https://pixabay.com/es/ LANGUAGE CORNERFOCUS

“English For You CR” Presents, Tearing Down The Myths #4: Children Learn English Better than Adults For today, we want to address a myth that sorrounds the age at which you can or should learn a second lan- guage: Myth #4: Children learn a second language better than adults. As you have heard multiple times, parents like to send their children to “bilingual” schools so boys and girls can learn a second language as young as possible. Although this should be seen as a wise investment for the future since speaking two or three languages will open lots of doors for these kids, there’s also the common myth that if you didn’t learn English when you were a child, it will be impossible or more difficult to do so after a certain age. This is only partially true. It is evident that children can absorb vocabulary, phonetics, and grammar at a faster pace than adults (due to elements like the plasticity of their brain, their playful and unhibited attitudes, etc.), adults can also learn a second language and become proficient speakers. Besides, comparing learning your mother tongue and learning a second language is false: the human brain learns differently, and in the few cases of truly bilingual children, they have learned both languages almost like a “dual” native language. Thus, although children may initially pick up sounds, words, and grammar patterns faster than adults, focused attention and perserverance in adult education (often limited by life’s obligations and duties) pay off in the long term: adults will be as good speakers as children in general. Granted, they may fall behind in very specific areas like pronunciation, but as we have discussed elsewhere, this is of secondary importance. Finally, learning a new language is a great way of stimulating the brain and preventing neuro-degenerative diseases. Make it fun, make it useful, make it meaningful!

Questions, suggestions or comments? Write to us at: [email protected]. You can listen to our podcast including this section, music in English, and more in: www.EnglishforYouCR.com and www.facebook.com/english.foryoucr effulgent

adjective [ih-fuhl-juhnt, ih-fool-]

-shining forth brilliantly; radiant. EXAMPLE: -As the bride walked down the aisle, she looked effulgent in her sparkling gown. -In our neighborhood, many homes are decorated with effulgent holiday lights.. 20 www.dictionary.com LOUDER THAN WORDS

Chernobyl Disaster The meltdown at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is one of the worst environmental disasters to befall hu- manity. The disaster negatively altered animal, plant and human life in the area.

On April 26th, 1986, Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant’s fourth reactor exploded during a mandatory test, releas- ing large amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere. An unexpected power surge led to a “break in one of the reactors, causing air to reach the graphite moderator, resulting in the ignition of the entire reactor.” This resulted in a radioactive jet emission of Iodine-131, followed by Cesium-137.2 Most of the fallout occurred in what was at the time the western edge of the USSR and central Europe. The amount of radiation released during the Chernobyl meltdown was “100 times as much radiation as the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs together.”This new radioactive area was subsequently referred to as “the zone.”

One effect of the fallout was how it affected the plant and animal life in the surrounding area. Without animals to pollinate flowers and disperse seeds through fruit consumption, plant communities suffer. A study conduct- ed in 2012 examined which pollinating butterflies and bumblebees were dispersed throughout the vicinity of Chernobyl.

The city of Pripyat prior to the reactor explosion was home to 49,400 people. The levels of radiation were so high in the area surrounding the power plant that it became completely unlivable. Within a few days the entire population was forced to relocate. Pripyat is now a ghost town. People still cannot live near Chernobyl and will not be able to settle the area for hundreds of years.

In conclusion, the Chernobyl disaster altered the lives of many different animals, plants, and humans living in the area. Although, some animals in the area are thriving, primarily the grey wolf, the delicate balance of the ecosystem will forever be marred by the radioactive material. The disaster serves as a grim reminder of the ter- rible effects that radiation can have on human populations. May the abandoned city of Pripyat always serve as a reminder of the consequences of a nuclear disaster. On 8th December 2016 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 26th April as International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day. Information taken and adapted from: https://ohiostate.pressbooks.pub/sciencebites/chapter/the-lingering-effects-of-the-chernobyl-disaster/ Photo Credit: https://pixabay.com 21