"Education in Crisis". Discuss

Normal 4 Primary School - 6th Form - Gym class

By definition a crisis is a condition of instability or danger, as in social, economic, political, or international affairs, leading to a decisive action. Besides these crises now I will focus our attention on one that Argentina is suffering: crisis in education. To my way of thinking, there are three main reasons for this: the infrastructure problem, low salaries and the fact that for political leaders education is not a priority.

Firstly, schools do no meet the minimum standards of insfrastructure. Old buildings are in need of urgent repair. There is no water in the toilets, no gas for heating purposes; blackboards are so cracked that no type of chalk will write on them. Window panes are non-existent so students freeze in the colder months and boil in the hotter ones as no fans or any other form of cooling system is available. The poor condition of buildings is a clear reflectin of the lack of interest in education on the part of the authorities.

Secondly, teachers in Argentina receive very low salaries when compared with their European counterparts. The job teachers do is fundamental because without them our country would not have a chance to progress. Therefore, they ought to be paid according to their value. In many cases teachers' poor incomes result in their lack of motivation, so their lessons are unprepared or extremely boring. The effect on students is their denial to learn or show interest in the subjects they are taught. Besides, such low salaries mean that teachers need to work long hours to make ends meet, which only worsens the whole situation.

Thirdly, the crisis can only end provided education becomes a priority for the government. Politicians' attitude has put our nation into a hole that no quick fix or miracle pill will get us out of. Sporadic initiatives to improve the system of education have attempted to solve the difficulty but a more comprehensive plan is definitely required. Objectives have to be changed and the right steps need to be taken, for instance, the government should make the best use of resources and complete budget for education.

To sum up, the crisis education is undergoing is due mainly to the appalling state of the buildings assigned as teaching institutions, low salaries and the lack of interest on the part of the authorities. Argentina has the tools to improve the educational system; it just needs to use them properly so as to give a solution for today's emergency

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Self corrections and After writing reflections:https://docs.google.com/document/d/12TwCCYsZnKbb1zn80hT2MB6u__58aAnw7HOAghwm8zw/edit?hl=es#

Argentina, a dream country

Have you ever thought of travelling to Argentina? If you haven't, what follows will definitely persuade you to do so. Because of its geographical position, Argentina offers diverse landscapes, different attractions and a wide range of activities. Argentine culture is as varid as the country's geography. Make sure you have plenty of time to visit different areas so that you will get a more precise idea of what it is really like.

It may be a good idea - considering that planes from abroad all land in Buenos Aires - to start in this city, which is the capital of the country. The general landscapes and the entertainment the city offers are worth a visit. Make sure you don't miss a 'tango' show. Tango is a dance that originated in Buenos Aires in the late nineteenth century and has nowadays become very popular around the world. You can even take some classes to learn this legendary dance! Buenos Aires displays beautiful architectural styles mostly imposted from Europe, impressive old buildings, some of which are extremely well preserved and are national monuments, all strangely mingled with some modern, state of the art flats and offices.

After Buenos Aires, you may wish to visit the Iguazú Falls, which is undoubtedly one of the most imposing natural attractions in Argentina. The Falls are situatd in Iguazú National Park in the province of Misiones. In Guaraní language "Iguazú" means "great waters". Various tour companies in Argentina offer trips for you to enjoy this astonishing treasure of nature. Besides the majestic falls, the jungle offer a wide variety of native animals such as the "tapir" and some luxuriant vegetation.

If you love adventure, mountaineering, rafting, horse riding or just hiking by lakes or through forests, Mendoza and Córdoba will provide you with what you are looking for. You will also be able to experience the pleasure of eating the succulent, tender beef and other tasty treasts during the famous "asados" (barbecues) and you will be able to drink the best wines Argentina produces. You may also want to visit some of the 632 vineyards in Mendoza, especially one called Trapiche, which is the world's most renowed wine producer.

There is no way you can give Patagonia (in the south of Argentina) a miss. In the Lake Region you will be able to admire crystalline and transparent lakes sorrounded by impressive mountains: The Andes. You will be able to enjoy the marvellous experience of walking through the 'Arrayanes', a unique formation with tree specimens centuries old, the bark of which is cold and smooth to the touch and the colour of cinnamon. This fairy-tale wood inspired Walt Disney for his movies. If you decide to travel across Patagonia towards the Atlantic Coast you will be able to appreciate the beauty of two sea creatures: the Magellanic penguin and the Southern Right whale.

There is no denying that Argentina is a great country which offers tourists diversity, tradition, great scenery and fascinating fauna. Give Argentina a try! You will not regret it!

Self correction chard and After writing reflections: https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=15XbYh7tSP0-7_gG0tbUpHht7Yilz6rLrv6vN3uSmeaQ&hl=es##

"Technological resources offer innovative teachers exciting ways to enhance their pedagogy". Discuss

Ever since the Industrial Revolution there has been constant technological progress in the world. Newer and better machinery has helped people improve their quality of life in different aspects such as transport and education. In my opinion, today's teachers should profit from technology since it offers several benefits.


To begin with, plenty of teachers' resources are very easily downloaded from the Internet free of charge. Teachers just have to google "teachers' resources" or whatever they are in need of, and several hits will appear instantly. A very well-known site is the "Learning Page" where teachers may find lesson plans, free printable workssheets, activities, and so on.
Secondly, by making use of computers and the Internet in class, teachers can approach different kinds of learners at the same time. This is possible thanks to what is known as "multimedia", which combines text, images and sound to reach the receiver from several angles. Examples of this are Power Point presentations, online games and encyclopedias.


Thirdly, teachers cannot deny the fact that these days most students are fond of technology and know how to use it. Sometimes, learners handle computers much better than educators do. Therefore, if teachers are willing to capture their students' attention, a very good way for them to do so is allowing pupils to work in the computer laboratory. Doing this will increase their interest in the subject.


In contrast, some experienced teachers sustain that learning how to use a computer at their age is an arduous task and that they have been teaching for many years without what they consider to be an unnecessary resource. However, this belief is not totally valid since there are several computing and Internet courses especially designed for teachers.


All things considered, I firmly think that even though these technological tools might be slightly difficult to incorporate (both for personal and professional use), they give us creative ways to teach and work. Finally, I would like to quote Brock Brady's words: "in the 21st century computers and the Internet offer innovative teachers exciting ways to enhance their pedagogy and capture their students' attention".


Self correction chard and After writing reflection: https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1OKypLM12hmtibTb0f8aaJHqw57JuiK4I7xU1gAF6dCY&hl=es&pli=1##