My experience studying English at university

Learning English has always been one of my goals, since childhood. A language I find it very interesting, useful and practical for my future aspirations. Not for nothing is the international language we all speak and we should talk.

It is for this reason that when I finished school enters a school to improve my knowledge. I spent a whole year in that school, but then I had to leave because they enter college. The first year of college English courses had not, so my language learning period looked stalled for lack of time and opportunities. But by the second year of my career, we reported that impart compulsory English courses. The fact that they were required was not a problem for me because it's true that I really like the language.

We took a test at the beginning of that year so we know which level (there are levels I through IV). Actually I found that the test was complicated, the downside was that I ran out of time to respond. Anyway, the result was not bad. Left in level II, so the course would begin in August 2008.

At the beginning of level II, found that it was very easy, it must be because they still had some prior knowledge. But over time I realized that I knew so much, and it was complicating the course, although I must admit that the teacher was very unfair to the notes. But nevertheless I passed the course with an acceptable note. But I really liked it.

Even in first half of 2009 I studied English III and has been the best English course I did. Professor Laura Castillo, was a well motivated, enthusiastic and committed to their students. She managed the whole course was always attentive and happy to go to class.

In late 2009, I had to attend English IV, but I must admit I took it out of obligation since, on issues of time was not going to take another year.

As a conclusion could be said that English courses serve as the foundation for learning the language. But just that, not as you think the rest of the teachers who give us an advanced English papers, which do not possess and the university does not give us the opportunity to learn.

Faculty of Social Sciences

In the Faculty of Social Sciences, there are a lot of students, but very little infrastructure. There are about 2500 students, and only one library with nine computers and ten tables of study. Something unusual if we believe that our university is the best of the country.

Obviously we must improve the library, classrooms and the canteen (because is too small). Look, the canteen in a normal day, its impossible lunch in peace, when you have to wait for tables to become vacant.

Something good happened this year in our university; in the faculty was implementing an improved computer room, where now "almost" everybody can use computers without having to fight for one.

About sports, very interesting topic for me, I can say a lot of things that I believe could assist their improvement. For example, the basketball courts are made of cement, something, which is very dangerous if we consider that basketball is a physical contact sport.

I think the improvements are available to us, as students and as an institution. The only thing we need is better management of economic resources which have, thus we could improve what was mentioned above; the canteen, library, computer room and open spaces for sports.

But despite all this, I really like my faculty

FRIENDS

I've always been a person of few friends. It's hard for me to trust in other people. But I have a best friend. She is my younger sister, Tamara. She is always there when I need her, and she knows I'll always be there when she needs me too. She is younger than me by two years; she is three inches shorter than me and has very long blonde hair.

When we were little, we hated each other, we always fought for everything and we hit a few slaps. But when we finished school, we went fairly close due to separation from our parents. She is and always will be my best friend. It's like my diary

As I said before, I'm not a person with a lot of buddies, but that doesn’t mean it is something difficult for make friends. In fact, I am a very sociable person. But always put a limit to people trying to enter my life.

The characteristic that should have a friend, I think, are those who must have good people in the world: Be honest, sincere, empathetic, altruistic, and so on. These are the things that I value in a friend, but above all the sincerity and honesty. It infuriates me the lie, and if someone thinks it better not be my friend.

Actually, I've always tried to be a good friend, obviously, nobody's perfect, but I like the values that my friends must have. I think it is consequently not keep in touch with my childhood friends. We are different now, new world, and perhaps they do not like my way or I do not like theirs.

And of course, I have “on line friends”, but “friends friends” like true friends, no!
I think that is not possible for internet. I’m a very suspicious person.

But with mi BFF (best friend forever), my sister Tamara, I need no more :)

Suicide surge isn't on Wall Street

This story tells us the truth of the increase in suicides in the U.S. Most people believed that this increase took place on Wall Street.

But really, with recent studies, the Yankees have been able to realize that this is not true. And indeed the suicide rate has increased in the lower classes or as we are known in Chile, "working class". This is, perhaps they are more affected by the threat of unemployment. For example in the last year the number of suicides increased from 5 to 15 among housekeeping workers and 13 to 24 among transport workers.

The increase in suicides in general has increased this year, reached worrying figures, where the number of people who committed suicide at work increased by 28% to an all time high of 251 last year.

Returning to the belief that greater numbers of suicides were made on Wall Street, the statistics in U.S. continue to show the opposite: The number of people in "Management occupations" who killed themselves fell from 35 cases (2007) 34 cases (2008).

The article at the end tells us that the wounds by firearms suicides accounted for 130 of the U.S. work, plus 78-strangulation, 18 cases of poisoning and 3 cuts..

The link of my piece of news is:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/andrew-clark-on-america/2009/aug/24/mental-health-recession

PETS

When I was little I had a cat named "Mijo" ... he was our favorite and my sister and I took care of him always that he need. But one day “Mijo" had a fight with a stray cat and “Mijo” lost one eye and he died. After that I decided never to have pets again, but that changed when my aunt, who lives in the house next door, adopted one cat (a female cat) and then she give birth 4 cats more. Then she adopted two cats from the street. Now these seven cats practically live in my house.

I have not problem with cats, but seven cats!!! I think it is too much. It's so stressful to get to my room and they are there, messing around, eating my lunch and leaving "gifts" from all sides.

Personally I think it is not necessary to have pets, I think it is a "waste of time." But of course respect people who like to have them. While they take good care of animals and this animals do not suffer… this all ok. For the same reason I get upset about the fact that pets were left abandoned there in Chaiten. I find people trying their animals are inconsiderate. Anyway, I do not care to adopt an animal on the street ... I think they should be more places for animals that are abandoned.

With regard to the question “Is it important for children to take care of a pet?” I think that for some children that are most useful way to learn to be responsible. But everything depends on the teaching that has given their parents.

MUSIC

Actually I like every kind of music. My sister says that I am a melomaniac; this means that I’m fanatic for the music. That’s not so true, because, for example I don’t like techno. But I like everything else. Certainly the music that I love is RAP, especially Spanish rap. One day in 2005 my sister and her best friend came home talking about a Spanish rapper. Days passed and they still talking about him. So I decided to listen to him, and I really liked it. I loved the lyrics of his songs, and even today I still do. His real name is Christian, but all know him as PORTA.

A while after, Porta stopped singing new songs, and I was very disappointed, so I looked for other rappers Spanish and found one called Serpy. He sings the same type of music that Porta, but both are different. It is very difficult to explain to someone who does not about rap.

But something wonderful happened. On August 1st, Porta came to a concert here in Chile. And obviously, my sister, her friend and I were the first to buy the tickets. It was amazing. And he sang my favorite song call “Are Things in Life” (Son Cosas De La Vida, in Spanish).

Now I’m listening to both singers, but obviously, Porta will always be my favorite

A country I would like to visit

Actually, I’ve never answers that question….. Because, my biggest dream is visit all the word. But, the first place that comes to my mind is Spain… is funny … I love their accent. I think is very sexy. Besides, I believe that in Spain, people like me have many more opportunities. For example, basketball is better there, like most sports.

Once there, I have always wanted to go a football game, I don’t know, maybe Real Madrid against Barça …. I would also like visit some relatives who live there. Many years have passed since the last time I saw them. Maybe I stay at their house, thereby save money to spend on other things

Some times, especially this semester I’ve been thinking about going abroad to study. And what better to go to Spain, mainly because they speak Spanish (lol). I mean it… that's the biggest reason to go to study there. Moreover, go out to study give me the chance to obtain bonus to my academic curriculum.
But most importantly I like to travel, no matter where in the world, always accompanied by my family.