The Best Age

To those who change and
Have the opportunity of
Exploring while learning to become the
Best. To those who dream and
Enable the possitive
Side of life.
To those who love besides
All difficulties:
Girls & boys, the teenagers of today,
Enchant the world with their smiles every day.

By Daniela María Turrubiates Mireles.

Teenagers

TET Poetry Project: Teenagers.
Written by: Ilona Peeters

TEENAGERS

They arrive totally absorbed to class

Eagerly awaiting the first word to be said

Excited to interact and share with others

Nevertheless reserved when experiencing the unknown

Affection and understanding they seek

Going ahead of thoughts and questions still unasked

Encouraged by triumph in grades to pursue their goals

Reluctant to accept academic defeat

Souvenirs of bitter-sweet moments they leave

5 Teen's Things!

  5 Teens’ Things!

Impatient as they might be,

Being creative is in their list,

Character they never seemed to lack,

Also being technological is never hard.

Teens energetic way more than me,

Let them be as innovative as they can be!

José González!

To all my Shine students who always make me laugh and have a good time!

Acrostic Poem

Adjectives: Stubborn, Persistent, Noisy, Cheerful, Easily distracted

Teenagers

Thinking of teens as stubborn

Easily distracted individuals will

End up in an unfair opinion.

No other stage in life people are

As persistent as teens.

Giving them the adjective of noisy is

Equally unfair, one should

Rather see them as cheerful

Students energizing the class

 

Jorge Luis Mendoza Valladares

Teen Poem

They are enthusiastic,
They are moody,

They are noisy but

They are creative

They want to conquer the world

They are adventurous

Sometimes they don't even know 

What they want to do

They are teens

Teens

Too young to know

Too rough the road

Teens love a challenge

Fear is not their biggest talent

Jumping and running

Stomping and shouting

Teens love a problem

Don't solve it, don't try to hold them.

Freedom, their desire

No strings can tangle their inner star

A SONNET for TEENS

Oh teacher, needing a hero who cares indeed,
Nobody seems to understand my world;
Nobody seems to comprehend what I like or need,
Shall I listened to a boring word?
What about an enliven class, where I`m the center? 
Why not singing, playing what I like?
Shall ennui, hopelessly demotivate a teenager,
Making him feel down? What is all this about?
Remember, I might not be the smartest learner,
or most experienced one, just understand me more;
Remember you`re the responsible to treat me better
Oh don`t forget, I´m not a child anymore
   I am not an adult either, just do not tell me   
   everything to be done, and just let me be

                                              

                                                      Willmen Leonardo Blanco

                                                               April 2013

Teenagers

Teenager

Energetic, talented

Inspiring, motivating, understanding

Sweet, original, immature, sensitive

Daring, loving, exciting

Lovely, beautiful

Teen

 By Katherin Rodriguez, Panama

"Candy Hearts"

Souls
in bloom;
passionate
playful and true.
Yearning for respect
while drama knocks on door;
Is it wrong to be impressed?
Candy hearts get shattered by heat,
shaking laughter to the beat of tears
Awaiting for empowerment, for real.
Misunderstood like death or love
enthralling and magic, wonderful;
staring at the sun, confident.
Dramatic revolution
led by the moon phases;
Summoning Pitbulls.
Fashionable
masks of self
falling,
free.

By Hugo Maldonado Figueroa. Mexico.

Gilberto's poem

Teenagers.

Technologically advance creatures.

Eager human beings.

Energetic source of new ideas

Nice persons when they want.

Admirable individuals.

Giant children.

Enigmatic souls

Rebels with a hide cause.

Smart living creatures.

Gilberto Narvaez Llanes

5 Teens' Things!

 5 Teens’ Things!

Impatient as they might be,

Being creative is in their list,

Character they never seemed to lack,

Also being technological is never hard.

Teens energetic way more than me,

Let them be as innovative as they can be!

José González!

To all my Shine students who always make me laugh and have a good time!

A triad of poems.

Just 3 short poems that I wrote. Enjoy!

Diamond.

Kids

playful, naive

chuckling, yelling, drifting away,

dancing, smiling, inquiring, responding,

thinking, hiding, growing,

sincere, unaware,

teens.

Cinquain.

The young

Trapped between stages

Struggling to find themselves

While founding a brand new earth

Adolescents.

Limerick (It is supposed to be humorous, right?)

They are said to be very stubborn,

Moody, insolent; what a horror!

But I’m keeping my cool,

For when they finish school,

They´ll be running the show, and me, old!

TEEN POEM

MISUNDERSTOOD

My parents say I am dramatic.

My teachers think I am disrespectful.

Sometimes my friends tell me I am egocentric.

But I am really sarcastic whenever someone says something boring.

All I need is for you to listen and understand me.

I want to raise my voice and say out loud that I am amazing.

TRANSITION

A ring

Shy people in front of you,

Active people in front of you,

Teens class.

Lots of roads, lots of dreams, optimistic thoughts.

Tell me about your future?

A career, a family, a house, a car … death.

Tell me about you?

I’m not you.

A ring. Teens class tomorrow.

A ring

People in a circle,

People in a circle,

Class.

Lots of answers, lots of opinions, realistic thoughts.

Tell me about your future?

I can tell you about my hands.

Tell me about you?

I am.

A ring. Really?

 By John Alejandro Arias.

Colombia.

TET Poetry Project: To my A+ student

TET Poetry Project: To my A+ student: To my A+ student If I could only know what you think, I would learn from you too If I could only feel what you feel, I would understa...

To my A+ student

To my A+ student

If I could only know what you think, I would learn from you too

If I could only feel what you feel, I would understand you better

If you could only tell me your experiences, I would know you better

If you could only send that fear away, I would see the real you.

No matter the weather, there you are

Without having a book, you are excellent

Without interacting with others, you learn

When everyone else is upset, you are patient...

Without having an A, you are my best student.

by Miguel Flores

My Teen Poem

  my poem represents how teens are confused about life, they feel that they live in another world where nobody understands them.

It shows how they struggle for independence. It also highlights the emotional change and how they always rebel and don't conform parents

no one understand

It seems like no one understand
They try to control my life
I'll always rebel
I wish they understand
My life is my own to run
I am now 14 and they think I'm out of control
I am just trying my age,chill out,and be me
Trouble at school, trouble at home
I don't care of punishment
lets have a party lets calm down
be happy or be sad
Am I young to know my own feelings
They just simply don't understand

T E E N S

T otally energetic they usually arrive

E very single day with a big smile.

E ach of them with a unique singularity

N one of them is never the same.

A gainst all odds my friends they become

G iving me a different perspective of life.

E ndless hours of knowledge we share

R arely do we agree on everything.

S ome of them are sarcastic, others are happy and fun but without a doubt my heart they own

Carlos Gonzalez Franco.

Crucial Years

Dear teacher,

When it comes to teaching teenagers

Never deem them absurd or strangers

They are wandering at crossroads

And undergoing changing behaviors

To find themselves in their own sculptures



Dear teacher,

Adolescence is a developmental phase

Teens are vulnerable these crucial days

Busying themselves clearing up the haze

Relying on their own to elbow their ways

Be patient! it is but a temporarily craze



Dear Teacher,

Dealing with teens is ne’er humdrum

They are curious and adventuresome

They seek autonomy and freedom

In their kingdom you are welcome

If you understand their own anthem



Dear teacher,

Tailor your activities to engage them

Let them feel important and awesome

Evince interest in their lives and realm

Carefully, allow them to be at the helm

Together, you can indite a lovely poem

© Chaouki M’kaddem, Tunisia

January 12th, 2013

Final project on TET 2012!!!

Final Project on TET

Nepal is known as multicultural, multilingual, and multiracial country. Nepalese people respect all religion festivals heartily. Nepal is not only the land of mountains; it is also the land of festivals. There are more than 50 festivals celebrated in Nepal every year. While the national festivals have fixed dates, religious festivals are set by astrologers following the lunar calendar. The best part about the festivals in Nepal is that all the events are celebrated with the same enthusiasm and galore the way it used to be hundreds of years ago when people had no other means of entertainment. In this project work, I have tried to teach my students about Nepali festivals and English festivals. Students learn about the different Nepalese festivals, English Festivals and compare them too by watching film and visiting the field. It is believed to be integrated four language skills, and boost up some vocabulary related to festivals.

Title	Festivals
By	Mukti Prakash Thapaliya, Balaju-16, Kathmandu, Nepal
Class	Grade: English Access Microsholarship Program, Nepal Level: Beginner Age: 14- 16  Years old Number: 25 students
Target Language	Simple present, Present Progressive, Present Perfect , Past tense , and Four language skills
Content	-          Film watching -          Note taking -          Looking at pictures -          Field visit -          Discuss and list out the festivals -          Designing poster -          Making poster -          Writing a report -          Photo copy (About festivals)
Objectives	-          Tell  about (how to festivals celebrations) festivals -          Make a poster (festival) -          Prepare a report based on filed visit
Materials	-          Pictures about festivals -          Film about festivals (documentary) -          A4 size photo copy papers, -          Char papers -          Sign pens -          Markers -          Colour boxes -          Scissors -          Cameras -          (Audio /video recording devices) -          Reports -          Rulers, pencils, cutter , erasers, tapes
Procedures Anticipation Phase (35 Min) Pre-Project Work)  Time : (T/P/S) Think /Pair/Share Pens in the Middle	Lesson  1 Time: 1Hour 55M. Task 1 (20 Min) -          Shows the pictures about different festivals  and ask related questions such as, -          Have you ever attained any festivals? Where and when? -          What kinds of festivals are celebrating in Nepal? -          Think individually about it -          Share in the pair -          Share in the group Task 2: 10 Minutes -          Make a circle -          Ask students make one question and ask his/her pair and vice versa -          Take one information from his/her pair and give one to his/her pair Task 3 :  15 Min. -          Forms  five groups randomly according to Vowel alphabets (A,E,I,O and U) -          Select the group leader of each group -          Tells students think sometimes (3 min.) about festivals -          Share one information with the group by using “Pens in the Middle” technique -          Make a list about the festivals  and write in their note copy too -          Presents the group leader from each group -          (Note: Small presentation takes only 2 min for one group)
Building Knowledge Phase (While the Project Work) Time : 75 Min. Gallery Walk and Gallery Sharing	Task 1: 25 Min. -          Distribute photocopies which is related about English and Nepali festivals (see in appendix) -          Read silently and familiar with different festivals -          If they don’t get the main idea, teacher will explain -          Defines their duties and responsibilities -          Takes them in the auditorium hall -          Watch a documentary about Nepalese festivals and American festivals too -          Takes their copy, pencils, eraser, etc Task 2: 45 Min. -          Notes some important things while watching film -          Watch two films on their own and next American -          ((Come back to their own classroom) or sit on the auditorium hall)) Task 3: 30 Min. -          After watching film  : Gives chart papers, colour sign pens, marker, pencils, erasers and so on -          Asks them to make  two posters based on the documentaries for each group -          And asks them to discuss in the group before giving the final touch on it -          Compare and contrast between Nepalese festivals and American festivals too -          Paste their work  (posters) on the wall -          Other groups visit and comment on it by using their own sign pens (If they do not like it) (Note: Each group is given their own corporate sign pen)
Consolidation Phase Post –Report/Poster writing Time: 20 Min.	-          Group leader presents from the each group and other group give feedback -          Teacher summarizes and gives feedback if necessary
	Lesson Plan 2 Time : 3 hours
	Task 1: 2hours -          Tells their role, duties, responsibilities -          visit Thamel (a place/ tourist destination in Nepal) - on the occasion of the new year -          Take their pen, note copy, eraser and so on -          Write something if they think it is important -          Take some photographs -          See the festivals how English people celebrate in Nepal -          Record some response from the tourists -          Talk with them and share their own ideas -          Collect  some posters Task 2: 2 hours -          Return to the school -          Teacher distributes the sample reports -          Students look it -          Teacher gives mini-lecture on how to write a report -          Work in the same groups -          Collect the ideas from the group members -          Make their own report which includes, -          Title of the report -          Date -          Objectives -          Limitations of the report -          Activities -          Findings and conclusions -          After making the report, students discuss on their work -          Group leader presents report in front of the class and other groups comment on it (If necessary teacher also gives feedback ) -          Submit to the teacher

Appendix

Festivals in Nepal

Nepal is not only the land of mountains; it is also the land of festivals. There are more than 50 festivals celebrated in Nepal every year. While the national festivals have fixed dates, religious festivals are set by astrologers following the lunar calendar. The best part about the festivals in Nepal is that all the events are celebrated with the same enthusiasm and galore the way it used to be hundreds of years ago when people had no other means of entertainment.

New Year: It is known as “Navavarsha” in Nepal. Nepal has its official calendar that begins from the first day of the first month Baisakh. This very first day is observed as Nepali New Year which usually falls in the second week of April. People go for picnics, have get-togethers and celebrate the day socializing in various ways as this day is also a national holiday.

Lhosar (Tibetan New Year): This is the New Year of the Tibetans and Sherpas of Nepal which falls in February. The Buddhist monasteries in Kathmandu like Boudhanath and Swayambhunath are decorated with eye catching colorful prayer flags pulling the crowd. The people perform their traditional dances and welcome their New Year with feasts and family gatherings wearing all the new clothes and finest jewelries and exchanging gifts.

Saraswati Puja: Saraswati Puja or Shree Panchami is a day to celebrate the birthday of Saraswati – the Goddess of Learning. This is a day when people from school students to scholars worship their pens and books to please the Goddess and expect her favor in their studies so they become wise and knowledgeable. People also throng around the idol of Goddess Saraswati, especially in Swayambhunath and offer flowers, sweets, fruits, etc. On this day, small children are taught to read and write and people write on the stones and slabs with chalks and pencils. This day which falls between January/February is regarded as a very auspicious day for marriages too as it is believed that Goddess Saraswati herself blesses the couples. Normally it is the astrologers who fix the marriage date and time in Nepal.

Shivaratri (Maha Shivaratri): Shivaratri or the night of Lord Shiva that falls sometime between February/March is one of the major festivals of Nepal. This day is dedicated to the Lord of the Lords – Lord Shiva or Mahadev who lived in Mt. Kailash in the Himalayas. Lord Shiva is the most worshipped God in the Hindu religion. More than 100,000 of Hindu devotees from India and Southeast Asia throng weeks ahead of the festival and gather in and around Pashupatinath temple – one of the holiest shrines of the Hindus in Kathmandu to pay their homage to Lord Shiva on his birthday. “Pashupatinath” literally means “the Lord of animals” as Lord Shiva is considered as the guardian and protector of everything that exists in the Himalayan Kingdom. On this holy day, worshippers take dip and bath in the holy river at early dawn and fast for the whole day and stay around fire to keep them warm as it is still winter in Nepal. The devotees also freely indulge in using marijuana and other intoxicating substances as these things are believed to please Lord Shiva and marijuana use is legal only on this sacred day. More ...

Holi: This festival of water and colors that falls between February/March is also known as “Phagu” in Nepal. This day is observed to rejoice the extermination of female demon Holika who together with her King brother conspired to kill his son Pralhad, an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. This day, playful people especially the young ones wander through the streets in groups on foot or vehicles with various colors smeared all over them and the people in houses make merry throwing colors and water balloons at each other and also to these people on the streets.

Ghode Jatra (Festival of Horses): This festival takes place between March/April and a grand horse parade takes place at Tundikhel. Although this festival does not have much of religious aspects, a large number of people, even from outside Kathmandu flock around Kathmandu to witness the horse race and other exciting sports activities performed by the Army in the presence of the King and the Royal family.

Buddha Jayanti: Buddha’s birth anniversary is celebrated every year during May in Nepal. On this day people swarm in Swayambhunath and Boudhanath to pay homage to Lord Buddha and also visit Buddha’s birth place in Lumbini and chant prayers and burn butter lamps. Lord Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha Gautam but he abandoned his luxurious life when he realized the misery of mankind and went in search of enlightenment.

Gai Jatra (Cow Festival): This festival of cow is celebrated every year in August/September. This is one of the most popular festivals in Nepal as it is full of humor, satire, comedy, mockery and shades of sadness too at the same time. And on this day satires and jokes on anybody is legal. As per the tradition, the family who has lost a relative during the past one year must take part in a procession by sending young boys in cow like attire and walk through the streets of Kathmandu lead by a cow. Cow is regarded as a Goddess and it is also the national animal of Nepal. This festival also purges many who have lost their loved ones as they get to console themselves as to they are not the only ones who have been bereaved and it also teaches to accept death as a part of life.

Krishna Janmastami: The birth anniversary of Lord Sri Krishna, believed to be the 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu falls sometime in August/September. All the devotees assemble in Krishna Mandir, the ancient Krishna Temple in Patan Durbar Square and other temples with the idol of Sri Krishna and offer prayers, flowers, food, sweets and chant hymns too.

Teej: This is a Hindu married woman’s day for her man. This festival is celebrated in August/September. Women clad in beautiful red saris with shining potes (glass beads), singing and dancing is the sight almost everywhere in Nepal during the festival of Teej. On this day women observe a fast and pray Lord Shiva for the long, healthy and prosperous life of their husbands and their families. The unmarried women also observe this festival with unabated zeal with the hope that they will get to marry good husbands. From early dawn, women queue up in the multiple lines in Pashupatinath to offer their prayers to Lord Shiva.

Indra Jatra: This festival named after Lord Indra- the God of Rain and also the King of Heaven is celebrated by both the Buddhists and Hindus in Nepal in August/September. This festival lasts for eight days with singing, mask dancing and rejoicing. The chariot of Kumari – the Living Goddess is taken through the main streets of Kathmandu with much fanfare. On the first day, the King of Nepal also pays homage to Goddess Kumari. The crowd of excited people from performers to spectators engulfs the streets of Kathmandu during this festival. People get to enjoy various classical dances like elephant dance, lakhe – a very popular dance of a man with a mask.

Tihar: This festival of lights that falls between October/November is the second biggest festival after Dashain. This festival lasts for five days and people worship Laxmi – the Goddess of Wealth. All the houses are cleaned and decorated with the belief that Goddess Laxmi will enter the house that is the cleanest and people lit candles, oil lamps and other lights and the whole place looks illuminating. During the five days, crows, dogs and cows are worshipped and honored with vermilion, garland and delicious food for what they have done in the lives of humans. Crows are regarded as the messenger that brought news even during the times when there were no postmen and no postal services. Dogs are the most obedient animals and they guard our house as true guardians. Cow is also a symbol of wealth in Hinduism and she is also the national animal of Nepal. During Tihar, the Newari community in Nepal also observes Mha puja – a ritual of worshipping one’s own body and life. On this very day, the Newari New Year which is also known as Nepal Sambat begins. The festival ends with Bhai Tika – brothers’ day when his sisters worship him for his long and healthy life to safeguard the lives of his sisters. This is also a gambling time in Nepal as gambling is not illegal during this festival.

Dashain (Bijaya Dashami): During the month of Kartik (late September and early October), the Nepalese people indulge in the biggest festival of the year, Dashain. Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese of all caste and creed throughout the country. The fifteen days of celebration occurs during the bright lunar fortnight ending on the day of the full moon. Thorough out the kingdom of Nepal the goddess Durga in all her manifestations are worshiped with innumerable pujas, abundant offerings and thousands of animal sacrifices for the ritual holy bathing, thus drenching the goddess for days in blood. Read more about Dashain festival...  

-          cited from www.nepalese festivals.com

1. English festivals

• Christmas

Christmas seems to be the most important English festival of the year. On the Sunday before Christmas many churches hold a carol service. Houses tend to be decorated; in the corner of the living room the English have usually their Christmas tree. One of the most important traditions connected with Christmas is giving presents. Gifts are wrapped up; children leave a long sock at the end of their bed on Christmas Eve, hoping that Father Christmas will bring them some presents. On Christmas Day (25^th December) an English family has also special food.

• Boxing Day

26^th December is also a public holiday; it is the time to visit friends and relatives.

• New Year’s Eve

At midnight on 31^st December people celebrate the coming of the new year by singing songs (Auld Lang Syne, which means “in memory of past time”) and by dancing.

• St Valentine’s Day

St Valentine’s Day is on 14^th February and many people send a card, flowers or chocolates to the one they love.

• Ash Wednesday

It is the day in February when the Christian period of Lent begins although not many people actually give up eating during this period.

• Pancake Tuesday

It is the day before Ash Wednesday, people eat lots of pancakes.

• Easter

At Easter time the English celebrate the idea of new birth by giving each other chocolate Easter eggs which are opened and eaten on Easter Sunday. On Good Friday bakers sell hot cross-buns. Easter Monday is a holiday and many people travel to the seaside.

• April Fools Day

April begins with a day of fun and jokes.

• St George’s Day

23^rd April is the England’s national day.  St. George is a patron of England. His emblem, a red cross on a white background, is the flag of England. For most people this is just an ordinary day and they do not celebrate it.

• May Day

A celebration of the end of the winter, it is connected with dancing.

• Ascension Day

This day marks the last appearance of Jesus to the disciples after his resurrection at Easter. It is the 40^th day after Easter Sunday.

• Pentecost (Whitsunday)

It is 10 days after Ascension Day; it celebrates the coming of Holy Spirit.

• Harvest Festival

Thanksgiving ceremonies and celebrations for a successful harvest are very famous and ancient. People celebrate it by singing, praying and decorating churches with baskets of fruit and food. It is usually in September.

• Halloween

On 31^st October the English celebrate Halloween, which means “holly evening”. It is one of the oldest celebrations of the world. It is connected with witches and ghosts, people dress up in strange costumes. Children knock on doors and ask for a treat. Pumpkin lantern is one of the famous traditions of this festival. Halloween is followed by All Saints Day (1^st November) and All Souls Day (2^nd November).

• Bonfire Night (Guy Fawkes Night)

Every year on 5^th November, the anniversary of the Gunpowder plot, Guy Fawkes is remembered. Throughout England, towns and villages light huge fireworks, burn an effigy (made of straw and old clothes) and celebrate the fact the Parliament and James I were not blown sky by Guy Fawkes.

Thanksgiving Day

In the USA one of the most important festivals is Thanksgiving. This is a celebration of the first harvest of the English settlers in America nearly 400 years ago.

The first puritan settlers were known as the Pilgrim Fathers and they are honored as the founders of their nation.

The festival is celebrated by many families attending church. They bring gifts to share with those less fortunate to have a special meal. They eat turkey, sweet potato, sweet corn, cranberry sauce, followed by sweet pumpkin pie for dessert.

This festival is honored on the fourth Thursday in November.

The history of the first thanksgiving was that in 1620 a group of Dutch and English families sailed on the Mayflower from a place known as Plymouth. The reason why they were leaving was they wanted to be free to worship their own god and not the faith of the Church of England. The journey was known as a pilgrimage so this was the reason why they were known as the Pilgrim Fathers.

They were to set sail for the east-coast of America but ran into trouble instead landing on the Massachusetts coast.

Here they were forced to build shelters in spite of the fact that it was the middle of winter. The Indians who had been living in this part of the country tried to help them. Things did not go well as many of them died from diseases and the cold. In spite of this all, they fought on.

When spring came they were able to start sowing their crops which were believed to be wheat, rye, oats, beans, carrots and onions. The Indians also had their own crops which the Pilgrim Fathers had never seen the likes of before. There crops were maize which the settlers called Indian corn and potatoes. They also had good fishing as well as other meat such as deer and bison. There were also birds known as a turkey.

There was plenty of food for supplies for the next winter and most of all plenty of seed for sowing the crops. Because they were very religious they set aside a day to thank God for their good harvest. After they thanked God they cooked a special meal. They invited the Indians who had helped them to join in their feast.

– cited from www.englishfativals.com

References

www:nepalesefeativals.com.np

www.englishfestivals.com

Mukti Prakash Thapaliya

Balaju-16, Kathmandu

Nepal