Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Tagged again!!! 11 More facts about me!!!


Tagged once again by Pravita Indriati, a dedicated educator form Indonesia!
Being a part of 30 Goals has brought so many interesting people into my life!! I am really thankful for that!!

To Pravita's questions:
  1. What place do you really want to be at this moment? Why? I'd love to spend Christmas in New York some time!! I think that's where I would like to be right now!
  2. If you were reborn, what do you want to be? Myself!
  3.  Where did you travel the furthest? The furthest I have traveled is England.... No time and no money to go further I am afraid!
  4. If you have the chance to meet your favorite actor/actress/singer, who would that be and what will the first thing you say to him/her? I don't want to meet anyone particular. They are people like us, only they get more publicity and more money!
  5. What is the craziest thing you like to do? an extreme sport. Bungee jumping or paragliding maybe?
  6. What fruit do you like most and hate most? Why? Well, I am allergic to most fruit, so I cannot answer to this question!
  7. What is your favorite movie of all time? You've got mail with Tom Hanks!!! The ultimate romantic story!
  8.  What is the best book you read and recommend?It depends on what type of books you read! I love detective stories, so I'd recommend Sue Grafton's Alphabet series.
    9. What was your favorite childhood experience? Going to our beach house in the summer. We were about 10-15 children "discovering" something new every day!
    10. Appetizer, main course or dessert? I'd say dessert, but all is good!
    11. What is your typical Sunday morning? Sunday morning... Well... Wake up at seven, have coffee and go to my private student for a 2-hour-lesson!! If I don't work, I have breakfast with my family!

    Well, Thank you Pravita for the questions!!!

Xmas tag!!! 11 random facts about Christmas!!!


This time by Christina Chorianopoulou!!!
I have met Christina through the 30 Goals challenge and I think she is a wonderful educator! I hope to meet her in person some time soon! Maybe during the TESOL Greece Convention in March?

1. What’s the last thing you do before starting a lesson? Check on my notes and get coffee!!!
2. What’s the most difficult thing you’ve ever had to do? Attend my parents funerals. I don't think there is a worse thing than losing your own ...
3. Do you have a favourite quote? Which?

4. Which is your favourite city? My hometown Thessaloniki. Although I love traveling around other cities, I think my own town has a lot to offer!
5. How do you keep up-to-date with technology? Thank God we've got Shelly to inform us of what's new!
6. Dark or white chocolate? No chocolate at all! I am allergic to it!!!!
7. Who’s your favorite author(s)? I love Herman Hesse! His writing style is unique!
8. Which do you prefer, typing or handwriting? Why? My handwriting is illegible, so I'll go with typing!
9. Have you ever tried an extreme sport? No but I'd love to try bungee jumping one day!
10. What’s your first ever memory from your childhood? Meeting my dad for the first time in the age of 3 (he had been traveling because of his job). For me he was a strange man with a long beard! That's what happens is you have to be away from your kid for so long!!!! But I got used to the beard in no time!!! ha ha!
11. What do you wish for 2014? Health and personal fulfillment

And since it's Christmas today, I thought I should share 11 Xmas facts as well!!

  1. Santa Claus in Greece is not St Nick. He is Saint Vasilios and we celebrate his name on January the 1st 
  2. Children sing carols on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve in the morning! It's a custom that they get money for that (in the past people used to give them sweets and fruits instead)
  3. Christmas morning mass begins at 6 or in some places at 5 am.
  4. Some children also sing Carols before the Epiphany
  5. On the Epiphany day, a cross is being thrown into the water, to bless it purify it. A lot of people dive into the frozen sea to get the cross. It is considered good luck if they catch it! 
  6. Traditional Xmas sweets are Melomakarona and Kourabiedes 
  7. According to tradition, during the Greek 12 days of Christmas (December 25 to January 6), goblins come out to tease people and eat their food. This tradition is based on the legend that the "waters aren't christened" since Christ has not yet been baptized. The goblins are renowned for their ugliness and their impishness. They are not very intelligent and can't really hurt anybody. It is said that they enter houses through chimneys, and this is the reason people, especially in villages, keep the fireplace lit during the 12 days of Christmas.
  8.  Christopsomo is the bread that is made on Christmas Eve, which has a cross carved into the top crust before it is baked. On Christmas Day, the head of the household makes the sign of the cross above the loaf of bread, cuts it and gives a piece to each person at the dining table.
  9.  Vasilopita is a cake that is eaten on New Year's Day. Before the cake is baked, a coin covered in foil is placed in it. The New Year is written on top of the cake with almonds. The person who cuts the cake makes the sign of the cross three times above it and then starts serving the pieces, one to each person, the house, Christ, The Virgin Mary and Saint Vasileios. Whoever has the coin in his piece of cake will have luck for the rest of the year.


  10. The Christmas tree is an imported tradition. Traditionally Greeks would decorate a Christmas boat due to Greece's long marine history.
  11. Merry Christmas in Greek is "Kala Christoygenna"
Take Care everybody and have a wonderful Christmas holiday

Monday, December 23, 2013

11 more facts about me!!!!


Tagged by Ika Chieka Wibowo this time!! I just love doing this!!!
Ika is a wonderful and inspired educator from Indonesia  and I just love reading her posts and finding out about her ideas!

To Ika's questions:

  1. What’s your first word to describe LIFE ? Madness! In a good way! Life is crazy and we should enjoy it!
  2. What’s your hobby that really makes you ‘crazy’ doing it? Everybody knows that I just love the gym!! Sometimes I get crazy and do silly choreographies with my trainer and it is so much fun! I laugh  A LOT!
  3. Where did you go for your last holiday? the last place I went on holiday was a small island called Ammouliani. It is a very picturesque place with wonderful blue sea.
  4. Have you ever done ‘something funny’ in public? What’s that? Well, I was at the mall with my nephew a couple of years ago and there was a small step and I didn't see it. So.. I fell wide on the floor with a big bang! Some people laughed, some people screamed! It was very painful for me because I landed on the floor, but I ma sure it looked very funny!
  5. Are you allergic from some foods or other things? What’s that? I am allergic to almost everything. I eat very specific foods. this year alone I have been 6 times at the hospital for a cortisone shot!!!
  6. What makes you afraid of? I am afraid of everything new. I really hesitate doing new things but in the end I try to overcome my fear and give it a try!
  7. What’s the best movie you’ve ever watched? Why? "You've got mail" I just love the dialogues!
  8. Who’s your ‘idol’? Why do you like him/her? I admire a lot of people, but I wouldn't call them idols.  I admire people who fight for freedom and education!
  9. What colors do you like and why? I love black. I can combine this color with everything!
  10. When did you start your life as a teacher? Why do you want to be a teacher? I started teaching in 1992 while still a student. And before that I helped my friends at the university with their exams! I love teaching because I love learning new things and I love passing this knowledge to others!
  11. What things you haven’t done in 2013 and you will do in 2014? My dream is to attend a spinning instructor course in 2014. It combines my greatest loves. Movement, music and teaching!
 Well that's it for now!!! Thank you Ika for tagging me! I just love answering to questions!!

Sunday, December 22, 2013

11 Random Facts .... sequel


Oh yes, I was tagged again by the lovely Fabiana Casella. 
I met Fabiana through the #30GoalChallenge and she later helped me with my own "On the air project".  I believe she a great educator and a wonderful person and I hope we meet some time soon face to face!

Her questions:
1. What are three adjectives that describe you best? Passionate, energetic, commited
2. Who is someone you admire the most? Why? One of the people I admire the most is my teacher trainer Olha Madylus. Not only is she a very knowledgeable person, but she is also very energetic. She can motivate you do things you have never imagined!
3. What is your favorite color? Why? My favourite color is black!! It goes with everything!
4. Where would you like to spend your dream vacation? My dream vacation would be in New York! I am a city-kid and this is the ultimate city!
5. Are you a good cook? What is your "speciality"? I am a terrible cook!! I am not good at it at all no matter how hard I try!
6. Have you ever met a Hollywood star? Where? How? I have met some Greek actors - singers - models but not a Hollywood one!
7. The Beatles or The Rolling Stones? Tough one! Rolling stones I guess
8. Can you Tango? or better said: Can you dance Tango? I cannot dance at all! Rhythm is not my stuff either!
9. Have you ever eaten some exotic food? I am so allergic that I don't dare to try something new!
10.Do you think you are a connected educator? I think so, although there is a lot of stuff I should learn!
11. If you were ever offered to teach in a foreign country, which one would you choose? Argentina of course! I could practise my Spanish, get to know new hospitable people and learn all about this wonderful country!

Friday, December 20, 2013

ADVENTSBLOG DAY 20


It is always fun to make videos with my students.... It's a way to let them deal with the stress they get during oral practice. It can be something simple for a start, like this one!

TESOL Macedonia-Thrace Xmas Event - Evaluating and Choosing Edulactional Digital tools and apps. (by Sophia Mavridi)


Christmas is coming and what better way to end the first school term than listen to the wonderful Ms Sophia Mavridi talking about Educational Digital Tools and Apps.

Of course I am not going to write everything Sophia said, this is her project and her work, but I am going to mentions some of the facts that impressed me the most by her presentation.

The whole concept of the presentation was how to use technology in order to help our students learn.

"We need pedagogy and not just cool tools"


Digital tools and apps are really impressive, but what we as educators have to consider is: Do we really need them to achieve our goals? 
For example, we can use the interactive whiteboard to show our students the text from the book and do the exercises that follow, but can't we do that using the actual book and have the same result?

"Let's not impose tools to students. It's the learning that matters"

When we teach, it's not just the language skills our students have to learn.

Here are some of the skills we work on while on class:
  • High order thinking skills
  • Communication skills
  • Team work skills
  • Time management skills
  • Computer skills
  • Learning research skills
When we give assignments to  our students, team work is usually more effective, then they get to communicate with each other, do research, discover things on their own and this makes them remember.

"collaboration is the new competition"



We were also presented with some wonderful teaching tools:

In the end of our presentation we were given a task:
"You and your students are working on a class project. Your students need to collaborate outside the classroom. The project will then be posted and students will be asked to reflect on it"
Our task was to choose from the tools above and describe the activity.
 We had to choose among young learners, teens and adults.
My group chose young learners, which is a very difficult group in my opinion, since most of the children of age 6-11 do not have facebook or skype accounts.

We decided to have our students choose their favourite animal and describe it on kidblog.  They could also use Audioboo with a recording of their animals voice. The other students get to guess which animal it is.

Unfortunately, this task is as interactive as it could get, because students of that age cannot actually interact on the internet without a parent's help and supervision.

It was a real pleasure to be a part of this workshop and meet Sophia in person!

More about her work on Sophia's blog.

11 Random facts


This morning when I woke up, I came across this blog by Vicky Loras - another blog challenge! Not exactly something to do with education, but I think it can be fun to share somethings about you.  I wasn't tagged in this particular blog, but when I looked at my Twitter account, I noticed that dear Shelly Terrell thought it would be a great idea for me to take part! So here I am!

The mission:
1. Acknowledge the nominating blogger(s).
2. Share 11 random facts about yourself.
3. Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.
4. List 11 bloggers.
5. Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer, and let all the bloggers know they have been nominated. Don’t nominate a blogger who has nominated you.

First of all I would like to say that I really admire Shelly for all her energy! I really don't know how she does it... When I met her in Athens in my first TESOL Greece Conference, I knew she was a very enthusiastic person, but still.... how do you manage to keep up girl???

Anyway back to the challenge:

Shelly's questions

  1. What is a goal you hope to accomplish from your bucket list?  I hope I will be able to do something more professionally - my own language school or find a job at a school, because I do miss working in a class!
  2. What is one goal you hope to accomplish in 2014? I would like to take part in a Spinning instructor course. Not that I want to change jobs, It's just something I LOVE and I want to try it.
  3. If you could host a reality TV show, what would it be about? A teacher competition! Something like a day in a teacher's life!!
  4. How do you blow off steam? I go to the gym! Fit & Boxe is my madness this period!
  5. What is one of your personal theme songs? Sing - My Chemical Romance (great lyrics!)
  6. What are you incredibly proud of accomplishing? The fact that people got to know my work is a big accomplishment for me!
  7. What was one of your favorite gifts? My iPhone case!! Everybody looks at it! It's so funny!
  8. How have you dealt with a past failure? When I fail I just complain, I cry sometimes, I talk about it A LOT and then I guess I get over it!!! Failures do make us better people I think!
  9. What is one piece of advice that has helped you throughout life? "don't be emotional" - Not that I always follow it, it just makes me realize that people mind their own business and I shouldn't get too much involved.
  10. What was your favorite toy when you were a child? My barbies! I loved dressing them!
  11. What’s your favorite piece of art? I just love Degas' Dancers

11 Random facts about me:

  1. I cannot drive a car. I think that my visual / spatial intelligence comes to zero.... 
  2. I am allergic to almost everything. Last year I have been to hospital at least 6 times for a cortisone shot! I eat only specific foods just for fear
  3. I am a dog person. I don't like cats at all! I like looking at them, but I would never have a cat as a pet!
  4. I am terrible at cooking. People who eat my food are real heroes.
  5. I love being on a plane. I don't know why, I just do!
  6. When I am home alone, the TV is always on! I don't watch, I just want the noise.
  7. I hate summer because I don't have anything meaningful to do!
  8. I hate going to the beach. I really find it boring to lie around and do nothing
  9. I am a very kinesthetic person, I have to move all the time or else I become really nervous
  10. That's why I always spend 2 hours at the gym every single day
  11. I have always wanted to visit Berlin! I think there is no better place to find all about Germany's history!
My questions:
  1. How important is music to your life?
  2. How much time do you devote in your job?
  3. Share a funny thing that happened in class.
  4. What does the word "educator" mean in your opinion?
  5. If you could learn anything, what would that be?
  6. What is your favourite movie?
  7. What do you fear the most?
  8. If you could live anywhere, where would that be?
  9. What is your favourite word?
  10. What is your favourite digital app?
  11. Do you have any lucky items, objects or traditions?
My turn to tag:
  1.  Sophia Mavridi
  2. Sylvia Guinan
  3. David Kapuler
  4. Christina Chorianopoulou
  5. Maria Sachpazian
  6. Marisa Constantinides
  7. Kim Martin
  8. Roseli Sera
  9. Margarita Kosior
  10. Christina Markoulaki
  11. Rakesh Bhanot

Monday, December 9, 2013

Adventsblog Day 9

 

Glühbier???

Yes, to my surprise I found out that there is also Glühbier next to Glühwein.  
It tastes like cherry.... not to my taste
It is supposed to come from Belgium (not sure about that though)
Here's a blog with a recipe, but you can find them in some supermarkets as well!

 http://thebittenbullet.blogspot.de/2012/12/aventinus-gluhbier.html

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Adventsblog Day 8


I think that Jingle Bells is the mostly heard song during this season!
According to Wikipedia, it was composed by James Lord Pierpont, originally copyrighted as "One horse open sleigh" in 1857.

Original Lyrics:
Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O'er the hills we go
Laughing all the way.
Bells on bobtail ring
Making spirits bright
Oh what sport to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight.
|: chorus :|
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way!
O what joy it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.
A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride
And soon Miss Fannie Bright
Was seated by my side.
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
He got into a drifted bank
And we — we got upsot.
|: chorus :|
A day or two ago
The story I must tell
I went out on the snow
And on my back I fell;
A gent was riding by
In a one-horse open sleigh,
He laughed as there I sprawling lie,
But quickly drove away,
|: chorus :|
Now the ground is white
Go it while you're young,
Take the girls tonight
And sing this sleighing song:
Just get a bobtailed bay
Two forty is his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh
And crack! You'll take the lead.
|: chorus :|

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Adventsblog Day 7

Glühwein????

 Why not?
Here's a video with the recipe ( thought this guy was so funny!!)

Enjoy±

Adventsblog Day 6


What I have always wanted to try and never get down to actually making one is "eggnog"
Hopefully this year!






Thursday, December 5, 2013

Adventsblog Day 5- Xmas songs




Lesson idea:

Everybody is familiar with the Wham song, but now that a very similar video clip has come out, I thought it would be a good idea to use it in my lessons.

Have the students watch the videos, compare and contrast them and then say which one they like the best and why.

Are these images traditional Christmas images? How do we celebrate in our country, what is different?

Students can also guess what happens next in the stories, maybe combine the two songs together and create one story out of both songs!
Enjoy!!!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Adventsblog Day 4


One of my most favourite Xmas stories! I happened to find the whole film!
Enjoy!

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Adventsblog day 3: MELOMAKARONA



Lesson ideas with recipes:
  • For lower level students, cut the recipe into pieces and let them find the correct order
  • Why not a gap-fill exercise?
  • Another idea I will practise with my students this year is some kind of dictation. Read the recipe, have the students take notes and them have them re-write it ans why not try it at home and bring the "results" to class?
This is an oil-based cookie recipe that produces moist cake-like cookies flavored with orange and brandy that are bathed in a sweet honey syrup and topped with chopped walnuts.

  • For the cookies:
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • Zest of one orange
  • 3/4 cup orange juice
  • 1/4 cup brandy
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • Pinch of salt
  • 7 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup walnuts, ground coarsely
  • Ground cinnamon for sprinkling
  • For the syrup:
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3-4 whole cloves
  • 1-2-inch piece lemon rind
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a small bowl, using your fingers, combine the orange zest with the sugar – rubbing the grains as if you were playing with sand to release the orange oils into the sugar. Using an electric mixer, beat the oil with the orange sugar until well mixed. In a separate bowl, sift the flour with the baking powder, baking soda and salt.
Add the orange juice and brandy to mixer and mix well.
Slowly incorporate the flour cup by cup until the mixture forms a dough that is not too loose but not quite firm either. It will be dense and wet but not sticky. Once the flour is incorporated fully stop mixing.
To roll cookies, pinch a portion of dough off about the size of a walnut. Shape in your palms into a smooth oblong shape, almost like a small egg. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Shape and roll cookies until the sheet is filled.
Press the tines of a large fork in a crosshatch pattern in the center of each cookie. This will flatten them slightly in the center. The cookies should resemble lightly flattened ovals when they go in the oven.
Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 25 – 30 minutes until lightly browned. (The cookies will darken when submerged in syrup.)
While the cookies are baking, prepare the syrup.
In a saucepan, combine the honey, sugar, water, cinnamon, cloves, and lemon rind. Bring the mixture to a boil then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the cinnamon, cloves, and lemon rind and stir in lemon juice.
Place the ground walnuts in a shallow plate or bowl next to the stove top. When the cookies come out of the oven and while they are still very warm, carefully float the cookies in the syrup and allow the cookies to absorb syrup on both sides.
Using a fork or small spatula, remove the cookie from the syrup and place on a platter or plate. Press ground walnuts lightly into the tops of the cookies (syrup will help it adhere) and sprinkle lightly with ground cinnamon.
Do not refrigerate Melomakarona as they will harden. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Copied from: about.com

Monday, December 2, 2013

Adventsblog day 2

What I love about this time of the year is that I get to make stuff with my kids! Sometimes, the coursebook has ideas, sometimes we make things on our own! Today we started an "Adventskalender" out of carton. It was in the back of the coursebook, but we got to talk about the traditions in Germany!
A great Adventskalender with prices is what Hueber Verlag does every year:
Follow this link for more info!


Sunday, December 1, 2013

Adventsblog day 1

Today is December 1st and I thought I should stop posting "teaching" stuff and start doing something fun about Christmas.
For those who will get the TESOL Macedonia Christmas bulletin, you will see what I am talking about, for the rest.... let me explain!
This idea started about 5-6 years ago. I began posting Christmas ideas with my students for every single day until Christmas. This could be anything! Photos, stories, recipes, games. All ideas are welcome and you are welcome to contribute!
My first subject today is my favourite Christmas flower:
The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. The tale goes that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson "blossoms" sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations. The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.
Poinsettias are popular Christmas decorations in homes, churches, offices, and elsewhere across North America. They are available in large numbers from grocery, drug, and hardware stores. In the United States, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day.
(from Wikipedia)


For me this flower has a sentimental value, since it was my mum who brought to me a pot with poinsettias every year around Christmas.
I am terrible with plants and I couldn't keep it for more than a couple of months, and I got really angry when she brought me the flowers, because she knew I would never be able to take care of it. But she did... And now that my mum is not with us, whenever I see this flower, it brings a sweet memory....

Featured Post

Teaching online through Lockdown

Some months ago, when I wrote a blog on online Teaching for iTDi , I could never imagine that the teaching world would turn digital overn...