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STORIES FROM A CULTURE WITHOUT STORIES FROM A CULTURE WITHOUT BORDERS BORDERS Lic. Mariana Porta Lic. Mariana Porta The teaching of foreign languages must be made relevant to social life, where people need to communicate with each other in order to set the stage for possible mutual understanding. Claire Kramsh,1993
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Stories From A Culture Without Borders

Dec 01, 2014

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Technology

Mariana Porta

A presentation on Language and Culture, and how new technologies have shaped the relationship. On how this new relationship gives birth to a "culture without borders"
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Page 1: Stories From A Culture Without Borders

STORIES FROM A CULTURE WITHOUT STORIES FROM A CULTURE WITHOUT BORDERSBORDERS

Lic. Mariana PortaLic. Mariana Porta

The teaching of foreign languages must be made relevant to social life, where people need to communicate with each other in order to set the stage for possible mutual understanding.

Claire Kramsh,1993

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Why is it relevant?Why is it relevant?

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The English Language on the The English Language on the Internet. Internet.

English: 31.25%

Chinese. 15.7%

Spanish.

8.7%

Millions of users

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It focuses on It focuses on the way a social group represents itselfthe way a social group represents itself and and others through its others through its material productions,material productions, be they works of be they works of art, literature, social institutions, or artifacts of everyday art, literature, social institutions, or artifacts of everyday life, and the mechanisms for their reproduction and life, and the mechanisms for their reproduction and preservation through history.preservation through history.

Throughout the years … Throughout the years … Language and CultureLanguage and Culture

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Throughout the years … Throughout the years … Language and CultureLanguage and Culture

The The attitudes and beliefs, ways of attitudes and beliefs, ways of thinking, behaving and thinking, behaving and rememberingremembering shared by members shared by members of that community (Nostrand, of that community (Nostrand, 1989: 51). 1989: 51).

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CultureCulture

Social Social construction of culture through construction of culture through languagelanguage has been researched by has been researched by sociolinguists and by scholars in the sociolinguists and by scholars in the general field of cultural studies. general field of cultural studies.

However, it is not a view that is familiar However, it is not a view that is familiar to language teachers, who tend to to language teachers, who tend to consider culture as composed of consider culture as composed of attitudes and ideas existing somewhere attitudes and ideas existing somewhere out there independent of language.out there independent of language.(Claire Kramsch, 1996)(Claire Kramsch, 1996)

through Languagethrough Language

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Culture through languageCulture through language

LANGUAGELANGUAGE

THE CONTEXTTHE CONTEXT THE MEDIUMTHE MEDIUM THE VEHICLETHE VEHICLE THE MATERIALTHE MATERIAL THE ENVIRONMENTTHE ENVIRONMENT

TEXTTEXT LINGUISTICLINGUISTIC VISUALVISUAL AUDIOVISUAL: AUDIOVISUAL:

VIDEOVIDEO

HYPERTEXT

To createTo create To transmitTo transmit To reproduce To reproduce

cultureculture

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HypertextHypertext

Text, pictures, video, Text, pictures, video, database, image.database, image.

The text and the ideas The text and the ideas within the textwithin the text

NonsequentialNonsequential Text, windows, linksText, windows, links Multiple points of accessMultiple points of access Multiple potential paths.Multiple potential paths.

InternetInternet

Within reachWithin reach Social contact without Social contact without

social presencesocial presence Cyber-communitiesCyber-communities Endless resourcesEndless resources An environment for An environment for

interactioninteraction

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Are New Technologies “New”?Are New Technologies “New”?In 1993, Claire Kramsch wrote:In 1993, Claire Kramsch wrote:

Multimedia technology affords the learner the Multimedia technology affords the learner the following ways of learning a language following ways of learning a language from real-from real-life material.life material. Students are given Students are given multiple points multiple points of accessof access to the same material and to the same material and mutiple mutiple potential pathspotential paths through the material through the material

Through a system of windows on the computer Through a system of windows on the computer screen and the screen and the user’s controluser’s control of speed, direction, of speed, direction, tracks, and scripts, learners can get as much tracks, and scripts, learners can get as much lexical, grammatical and informational help as lexical, grammatical and informational help as they need. … it is … they need. … it is … ‘query-driven’‘query-driven’

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Lucia, Paysandú

Raúl, Asunción

Abril, Solymar

Marcelo, Solymar

Mariana. Solymar.

Gladys, BA

Alejo, Sol.

Samit, Bangalore, India

Salvador, Andalucía

Jennifer, BA

Analía. Lagomar

Silvia, Mdeo

Richard, Massachusetts

Marian, Dallas

Alicia, Paysandú

Nicolás, BA

Martín, Mdeo

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•Informality

•Flexibility

•Emoticons, visual language

•Language use: dynamic

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http://www.doosesyndrome.com/index.html

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http://www.maxine.net/index.html

Marian Henley: comic creator

Richard Stallman, the guruRichard Stallman, the guruhttp://www.stallman.org/

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Ex Boyfriends ListFrom: Richard Stallman To: [email protected] Subject: Application for membership in Ex Boyfriends List

After reading what you've said about your Ex Boyfriends List, I wonder if you could tell me how to apply for a place in it? My motivation is not that I would like the cachet of being on the list. Rather I hope that the application process, of being judged for a place on the list, could be exciting or even joyous. If it takes you some time to decide whether I belong on the list, I won't mind waiting. I'm aware of the theoretical possibility that the process might not reach a conclusion, that I might remain permanently in limbo pending a decision about whether I am to become "ex". I know this is unlikely, and I'm willing to take the risk. For information about me, see my personal site, stallman.org. My work is described in www.gnu.org.

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Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2004 10:56:14 -0800 (PST)

Well, Richard, you are a real piece of work (as we Texas yokels are wont to say). The density of information on your personal website overwhelmed my brain circuits. I like your "power" tie. How did you find out about me? Marian

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Thank you! I wore that power tie on a cruise ship, where I was being paid to give speeches and teaching classes for techies. (I would not have gone to such a place otherwise.) One evening they said people were supposed to wear formal dress. As a matter of principle, I don't own a real tie, so the "power" tie was the closest thing I had! The organizers agreed to pay me because a trip on a cruise ship would not in itself be a reward, not for me. I expected to be there alone. However, amazingly, I then found a sweetheart. So she went there with me--and she hated the experience. Sad to say, she is now in my ex-girlfriends list, which means I can now apply for a place in your ex-boyfriends list.

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I read an interview with you in the Funny Times. You sound like fun. Aside from that, I like your cartoons. My favorite was the one where the couple get married with eyes closed, then say, "Who are you?" So, how do I go about applying?

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Well, I'm currently involved with a surgeon in Nashville. In the event of a romantic catastrophe, would you consider a spot on the Emergency Reserve Boyfriend list?

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I am honored! And experience suggests that starting a relationship in Emergency Mode is likely to speed the processing of my application--I might end up on the Ex Boyfriends List very soon, once the slot opens up. If you decide to maintain standards by waiting a little longer before considering my application, I'll understand. I'm also curious--how long have you been going out with him, and how did you meet him?

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We met seven years ago at a Brave Combo show in Austin (at a great old dive called Liberty Lunch, now bulldozed to make way for a nearly vacant "office park" - am I crazy, or is office park an oxymoron?) We danced a little. He was quite nice, but I assumed he wasn't my type: thirteen years younger, clean-cut and pretty innocent. I still suspect he isn't my type, but perhaps that IS my type... M.

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Have you been going out with him for seven years now? If so, that sounds like my emergency services are not likely to be needed soon. I am in Saigon, eating some aged Beemster cheese which I got a week ago in Amsterdam. It is midnight. I am supposed to go to sleep soon, since I have to wake up at 0730 to give a speech, but I don't feel sleepy yet. (I was awake till 3am!) This evening at dinner, eating some rice with chopped mussels, I had a cartoon idea for the first time in almost 2 years. I'm asking an artist who recently offered to draw for me if he wants to draw this. You might find it amusing.... [I'll publish the cartoon if it gets drawn]

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It looks like you won't have room in the foreseeable future to consider any applicants for your ex-boyfriends list. (By now I should know better than to feel hope, but I can't quite learn this lesson.) However, it occurred to me that our discussion could serve another purpose. Would you mind if I post the whole conversation on my website? I could leave out any specific parts, if some of them give personal information you'd rather not publish. I think people might enjoy it.

http://www.stallman.org/

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Hi, Richard Good to hear from you. Last night I was thinking about your email from Saigon and wondering what high tech mission impossible took you there. I can't remember anything too personal in our "conversations," and my God, I just submitted a memoir to my agent that strips me to the core (hence the title: STRIP SEARCH). Please feel free to use whatever you like for your website if you think it might serve the higher entertainment good.

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It's true that I seem to be slipping into a deeper commitment with my doc, although I'm having to control my claustrophobic reflex and keep my hand off the panic button. I'm just too old to keep repeating that tired pattern - although you seem like a remarkably intelligent, accomplished man and it's regrettable we can't get to know each other better at this point. Maybe we can meet on the coast of Portugal when we're eighty! Marian

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Cultural contents of this storyCultural contents of this story

Communication styleCommunication style: informality, : informality, colloquialism, proximity, humor.colloquialism, proximity, humor.

Norms of interaction:Norms of interaction: netiquette, respect, netiquette, respect, privacy and public exposure.privacy and public exposure.

Couples and datingCouples and dating: engagement and : engagement and commitment; gender, age and dating; commitment; gender, age and dating; flirtatious behaviorflirtatious behavior

““cyber world”:cyber world”: techies, hackers, “cyber techies, hackers, “cyber tribes,” open source softwaretribes,” open source software

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LanguageLanguage GenreGenre: emails, web sites, cartoons. Identifying : emails, web sites, cartoons. Identifying

the structure and text format of different genre.the structure and text format of different genre. Functional language useFunctional language use: requesting, describing : requesting, describing

people, making plans for the futurepeople, making plans for the future LexisLexis, idiomatic expressions., idiomatic expressions. NarratingNarrating past events: Ex. how you met past events: Ex. how you met

someonesomeone Reading skillsReading skills: understanding humorous : understanding humorous

language use, interpretations, reading between language use, interpretations, reading between the linesthe lines

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Alicia, free as a bird …Alicia, free as a bird …

I’ve always been passionate I’ve always been passionate about all the possibilities of the about all the possibilities of the ever-growing human being. The ever-growing human being. The first time I was in front of a first time I was in front of a computer was in IBM. My computer was in IBM. My boyfriend at that time was a boyfriend at that time was a manager at the company and I manager at the company and I thought it was kind of a thought it was kind of a scholarship for me. It was a huge scholarship for me. It was a huge machine that needed to be in an machine that needed to be in an enclosed room at a certain enclosed room at a certain temperature to work well. It was temperature to work well. It was far too much neatness for my far too much neatness for my young age, and I said bye to both young age, and I said bye to both experiences, boyfriend and IBM.experiences, boyfriend and IBM.

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Having retired I founded a Having retired I founded a consultancy firm with a friend and consultancy firm with a friend and we bought a last generation -2MB- we bought a last generation -2MB- computer. I got trapped. I started computer. I got trapped. I started keeping track of the different keeping track of the different models, fascinated by that power models, fascinated by that power at the tip of my fingers. So far, it at the tip of my fingers. So far, it was a technological challenge.was a technological challenge.

Some sad circumstance made me Some sad circumstance made me fall into a depression, and I found fall into a depression, and I found in the computer, my ideal partner. I in the computer, my ideal partner. I would tell her my things and she would tell her my things and she wouldn’t give an opinion. One day wouldn’t give an opinion. One day I started with the Internet. It was I started with the Internet. It was like opening Pandora box. like opening Pandora box. I I communicated, I got answerscommunicated, I got answers; I ; I felt free to read whatever I wanted felt free to read whatever I wanted and arrived to a selective and arrived to a selective exchange of experiences and exchange of experiences and feelings.feelings.

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Nowadays, at 67, it is the best means of Nowadays, at 67, it is the best means of communication that comprises radio, TV, communication that comprises radio, TV, music, reading, and above all, it has given music, reading, and above all, it has given me the chance to communicate with people me the chance to communicate with people from all over the world in what I call My from all over the world in what I call My Space. The cyber world is Space. The cyber world is mymy world, and world, and with it the people I love. I have them within with it the people I love. I have them within reach. Maybe my Linux friend gets mad at reach. Maybe my Linux friend gets mad at me, but I started with windows 3.1. From me, but I started with windows 3.1. From then on I have enjoyed the privilege of then on I have enjoyed the privilege of being one more in a world of charm and being one more in a world of charm and horror.horror.

The mind has its powers, sometimes for The mind has its powers, sometimes for good, other times not even closer. It has good, other times not even closer. It has taken my spirit into an international taken my spirit into an international environment. I invite everybody to join. My environment. I invite everybody to join. My old friends I used to dismantle to learn old friends I used to dismantle to learn where the different cards and chips fit, where the different cards and chips fit, forgive me for such pain, for I have learned forgive me for such pain, for I have learned the magic of communication is in the the magic of communication is in the complementary communion: myself and the complementary communion: myself and the machine. machine.

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CultureCulture

Cyber world: loneliness or Cyber world: loneliness or companionship?companionship?

Cyber communities.Cyber communities.Technology throughout the years.Technology throughout the years.Age groups and technological changeAge groups and technological change

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LanguageLanguage

Narrative: narrating, sequencing eventsNarrative: narrating, sequencing eventsGrammar: time and tense, past tensesGrammar: time and tense, past tensesReflective writing: expressing point of view Reflective writing: expressing point of view

and making a statement.and making a statement.

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Alejo’s drawings

http://artealejo.blogspot.com/

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Alejo and SalvadorAlejo and Salvador

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ALEJO.-Este pequeño gran artista tiene una natural intuición para la plástica. Secuencias. Esa magia de las hojitas minuciosas, miniadas, misteriosas, nos llevan alRenacimiento. Explorando límites, recorriendo fronteras, para luego borrarlas. Alejo, espejo de Óscar Torres y Mantegna. Alejo, tus hojas me recuerdan el verano, o el verano me recuerda tus hojas

¡LARGA VIDA AL BLOG DE ALEJO¡Venía el cielo con nubeshumeantes las libretasque quien el canto suscribetras coloquiar con poetasde ser mas joven quedara-cual mareado ovillejo,entre furioso y perplejo,tirado por la moqueta-.¡Dios, cuántas curvadasrecurvas, cuántas tangentes y rectas,cuánto mellado florete,cuántos dímes y diretes,cuanta inútil verbigraciaentre el lamento y la leydel reglamento a la acraciatras la obviedad disputando…¡

Querido amigo, a tu dibujo respondo con el comienzo de una historia que me hace pensarla y pesarla y pasarla en visual. Ahí va.Al prinipio de todos los tiempos siempre era primavera en luz, siempre había claridad en la tierra, porque la noche la tenia un guarao escondida dentro de una caja o cabeza de toro tejida con fibra de tirite...Kuai-MareRALMA

ralmablogarteSexo: Hombre País: ANDALUCIA : España Datos personalesVer todo el blog: creo que sabrás mas de mí que yo mismo. Y un deseo: simpatía y amistad.

Savador’s texts

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CultureCulture

The importance of visual language in the The importance of visual language in the internet: drawing, comics, painting, internet: drawing, comics, painting, photography.photography.

Cross-age communication.Cross-age communication.Maps: locating places in a map, Maps: locating places in a map, Blogs cyber galleries, blogs as journals, Blogs cyber galleries, blogs as journals,

blogs as meeting pointsblogs as meeting points

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LanguageLanguage

Describing a picture.Describing a picture.Reacting to visual art through writing: Reacting to visual art through writing:

poetry, artistic expression and criticism, poetry, artistic expression and criticism, writing commentswriting comments

Writing for different audiences: writing for Writing for different audiences: writing for children and writing for adults.children and writing for adults.

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AnalíaAnalía

For more than four years I’ve been hopping in and out of a For more than four years I’ve been hopping in and out of a parallel world which still remains unknown to many people. I’ve parallel world which still remains unknown to many people. I’ve learned how to live, survive, share and enjoy my life having one learned how to live, survive, share and enjoy my life having one foot on each side of this blurred border between here and there.foot on each side of this blurred border between here and there.

My personal life has been enriched in so many ways. I’ve My personal life has been enriched in so many ways. I’ve made great friends, I’ve touched other’s lives, I’ve learned and made great friends, I’ve touched other’s lives, I’ve learned and understood that there’s so much still to discover. I’ve found a understood that there’s so much still to discover. I’ve found a place where I can always BE just who I AM. I’ve found a place place where I can always BE just who I AM. I’ve found a place where no one will ever feel lonesome and where affections are where no one will ever feel lonesome and where affections are not ruled for what you have or what you look like but for what not ruled for what you have or what you look like but for what you really are inside.you really are inside.

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AnalíaAnalía

When it comes to my teaching experience, I do When it comes to my teaching experience, I do believe it’s been enhanced deeply by surfing the believe it’s been enhanced deeply by surfing the seas of this parallel world. Imagine a teacher’s seas of this parallel world. Imagine a teacher’s lounge with four or five colleagues discussing lounge with four or five colleagues discussing about a topic; now close your eyes and imagine about a topic; now close your eyes and imagine the same, but this time with thousands of the same, but this time with thousands of teachers from all walks of lives, with new ideas teachers from all walks of lives, with new ideas and tons of new material to share!! Everything is and tons of new material to share!! Everything is there at the reach of your hand and you can take there at the reach of your hand and you can take and provide, ask and answer, help and be and provide, ask and answer, help and be helped;. And grow … always grow as human helped;. And grow … always grow as human beings and as professionals. Analia beings and as professionals. Analia

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It focuses on It focuses on the way a social group represents itselfthe way a social group represents itself and and others through its others through its material productions,material productions, be they works of be they works of art, literature, social institutions, or artifacts of everyday art, literature, social institutions, or artifacts of everyday life, and the mechanisms for their reproduction and life, and the mechanisms for their reproduction and preservation through history.preservation through history.

Throughout the years … Throughout the years … Language and CultureLanguage and Culture

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Throughout the years … Throughout the years … Language and CultureLanguage and Culture

The The attitudes and beliefs, ways of attitudes and beliefs, ways of thinking, behaving and thinking, behaving and rememberingremembering shared by members shared by members of that community (Nostrand, of that community (Nostrand, 1989: 51). 1989: 51).

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A universal A universal cultureculture

50’s 60’s50’s 60’s

A national A national cultureculture

70’s70’s

A local cultureA local culture

Latin, Greek and HebrewLatin, Greek and Hebrew English, French, GermanEnglish, French, German English, French, GermanEnglish, French, German

exquisite attention to exquisite attention to shades of textual shades of textual meaningmeaning

The acquisition of skills, of The acquisition of skills, of automatic verbal behaviorautomatic verbal behavior

Words and actions of Words and actions of everyday speakers in everyday speakers in everyday life everyday life

““language use”language use”

Access to elite cultureAccess to elite culture

The “great works” and The “great works” and the knowledge of the knowledge of “universal culture”“universal culture”

Access to a national Access to a national literature with unique literature with unique cultural value. cultural value.

To meet the local needs To meet the local needs of local speakers and of local speakers and hearers in locally hearers in locally situated contexts situated contexts

Grammar Grammar translationtranslation

AudiolingualismAudiolingualism Functional-Functional-notionalnotional

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TODAYTODAY

interculturalisminterculturalism multiculturalismmulticulturalism "critical cross-cultural "critical cross-cultural

literacy".literacy".

EuropeanEuropean USAUSA

acquisition of information acquisition of information about the customs, about the customs, institutions and history of a institutions and history of a society other than one's ownsociety other than one's own

broaden and diversify broaden and diversify traditional views of culture traditional views of culture beyond nation states. beyond nation states.

the ability to understand other the ability to understand other cultures is itself mediated cultures is itself mediated through languagethrough language

AUTHENTIC TEXTS AND AUTHENTIC TEXTS AND HYPERTEXTSHYPERTEXTS

learners should be sent learners should be sent abroad to experience the abroad to experience the culture "on location"culture "on location"

"expand the traditional "expand the traditional curriculum by incorporating curriculum by incorporating issues of race, class, and issues of race, class, and gender”gender”

the language teacher as the the language teacher as the catalyst for an ever-widening catalyst for an ever-widening critical cultural competencecritical cultural competence

Immersion programsImmersion programs ESL and The expanded ESL and The expanded curriculumcurriculum

Discourse analysis, Discourse analysis, CLT, critical thinking CLT, critical thinking strat. strat.

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If you are afraid of making If you are afraid of making technology available to kids and technology available to kids and

teens think of this …teens think of this … ““Swimming pools can be dangerous for children. Swimming pools can be dangerous for children.

To protect them, one can install locks, put up To protect them, one can install locks, put up fences, and deploy pool alarms. All these fences, and deploy pool alarms. All these measures are helpful, but by far the most measures are helpful, but by far the most important thing that one can do for one’s important thing that one can do for one’s children is to teach them to swim.”children is to teach them to swim.”

(Claire Kramsch,1996)(Claire Kramsch,1996)

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All the pictures and texts used in the All the pictures and texts used in the presentation are either publicly available presentation are either publicly available on the Internet or have been used with on the Internet or have been used with

the owner/author’s permission.the owner/author’s permission.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Gilda, Martin, Alicia, I would like to thank Gilda, Martin, Alicia, Analía, Alejo, Salvador, Abril, Lucia and Analía, Alejo, Salvador, Abril, Lucia and Marcelo for their generous contributions to Marcelo for their generous contributions to this presentation.this presentation.

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http://eflprofessionals.blogspot.comhttp://[email protected][email protected]@[email protected]

Lic. Mariana PortaLic. Mariana Porta