A SO NICE STORY

Teddy Stoddard (author unknown)

There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher. Her name was Mrs. Thompson. And as she stood in front of her 5th grade class on her very first day of school, she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around." His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle." His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present which was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left she cried for at least an hour.

On that very day, she quit teaching reading, and writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one her "teacher's pets."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life. Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer-the letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.

The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference." Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

A IMPORTANCIA DO APRENDIZADO DO INGLES

Bem... apesar de este blog ser utilizado para a divulgação do idioma inglês, de vez em quando escreveremos alguns artigos em português correlacionados à língua inglesa.


Hoje falaremos a respeito da importância do aprendizado do inglês no mundo. Poderíamos falar à exaustão da importância do inglês em apenas uma área, mas gostaríamos de focalizar esta importância como um todo.


O idioma inglês em primeiro lugar, foi eleito o idioma número 01 do mundo. TODOS os povos devem saber utilizá-lo, de outra forma estará fora do mercado mundial.

As empresas se tornaram multinacionais, tendo sua matriz nos seus países de origem e se espalhando com filiais por todo o mundo. Podemos então dizer que vivemos um mercado globalizado e adivinha qual a língua da globalização? Acho que agora não preciso repetir não é mesmo?

Por serem multinacionais, as empresas começaram a exigir o conhecimento num segundo idioma (o inglês) para que a comunicação com as matrizes se tornem mais eficientes. Então saber falar inglês já é diferencial competitivo nos processos seletivos.

Com o advento da internet, o inglês se tornou ainda mais disseminado, pois grande parte dos conteúdos divulgados na WEB são conteúdos em inglês, e para que qualquer pesquisador realize uma boa pesquisa online, é importante saber utilizá-lo de forma correta, pois desta forma terá sucesso num universo infindável de pesquisas.

Gostaríamos de lembrar a todos, que os brasileiros não dão a devida importância ao estudo de um segundo idioma, tanto que nem as escolas primárias e de segundo grau tem um bom ensino da língua. Os alunos aprendem inglês a vida toda - por volta de 6/7 anos - e quando entram numa escola de inglês não sabem nem mesmo utilizar o verbo to be. Nem na escrita, nem na fala.

Nós professores de inglês, como língua globalizada, queremos mudar esta realidade e demonstrar que este idioma que amamos é um idioma necessário em todas as circunstâncias de nossas vidas, tanto no trabalho, quanto na Web, quanto nos relacionamentos em geral.

Esperamos que todos desfrutem do artido em questão, e que tentem mudar a mentalidade de que o inglês é somente um componente curricular nas escolas, mas sim uma necessidade para TODA a vida.

Personal English - Professores Particulares de Inglês
Rua Barão da Bocaína, 09 - Centro - Lorena - SP
e-mail: personal1_english@yahoo.com.br
Andréa Ribeiro/Rômulo Couto/Audrey Caldas
(012) 9125-2460/9733-5936/9198-6896

Hello everyone,

Here we have some curiosities about the English Language. Let`s have a look in some of them?

- In Portuguese we use the tittle "sr" before first name. Although in English we use "mr" before full names or last names.

- Most Students Don`t know there differences about some vocabularies of American English and British English, example: The word "pants" in American english and "trousers" in British English.

- "O dia dos namorados" in Brazil is comemorated on June 12th, but in the U.S.A. it`s on February 14th, and it`s is named "Valentine`s Day".

That`s all for today, have a nice study!

Personal English - Professores Particulares de Inglês
Rua Barão da Bocaína, 09 - Sl 3 - Lorena - SP
Andréa Ribeiro/Rômulo Couto/Audrey Caldas
(012) 9125 - 2460 / 9733-5936/9198 - 6896
personal1_english@yahoo.com.br


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DITADOS E PROVÉRBIOS EM INGLÊS

Hello People,

Here there are some new tips in English as it was promised on Friday. Yesterday, we didn't access the internet so, we didn't write anything new to you. But it is time to give you some new tips again...

Well how can I say some "ditados e provérbios" that we have in Portuguese and we don't know how o say in English?

- Antes tarde do que nunca. - Better late than never.
- Faça o que eu digo e não o que eu faço. - Do as I say, not as I do.
- Não deixe para amanhã o que você pode fazer hoje. - Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
- O sucesso depende de 10% de inspiração e 90% de transpiração. Success depends on ten percent inspiration and ninety percent perspiration.

That's it for now, we hope you continue enjoying our blog. And please coment our ads, give new suggestions, and so on...

Personal English - Professores Particulares de Inglês
Rua Barão da Bocaína, 09 - Sl 3 - Lorena - SP
Andréa Ribeiro/Rômulo Couto/Audrey Caldas
(012) 9125 - 2460 / 9733-5936/9198 - 6896
personal1_english@yahoo.com.br

HOW DO YOU SAY IN ENGLISH?!?

Hello friends and students,

Today we are going to know some expressions very much used in English, and sometimes even experienced teachers forget. These expressions are for basic/intermediate and advanced levels.

- How can I say?
==========================================

Hoje nós vamos conhecer algumas expressões muito usuais no inglês e que algumas vezes mesmo professores experientes se esquecem. Estas expressões são para todos os estudantes que vão do básico ao intermediário.

Então como eu digo?

===========================================

- Estou morto (exausto)
I'm beat. I just want to go home and sleep.

- Mulherengo - Womanizer
Sally knows that her husband has always been a womanizer and that he has weakness for blondes.

- Amaciar sapatos - To break in shoes
Mike always wears his new shoes at home first to break them in.

- Alma Gêmea - Soul Mate/Twin Soul
Jack says Linda is his soul mate and that they were made for each other.

- Com certeza - Definitely! Absolutely!
- Desculpe foi engano (telefonando) - Sorry, wrong number!
- Com o passar do tempo - as time goes by...
- Sei lá - Beats me!!!

Tomorrow we are going to see more expressions in English, and you are going to learn a lot of new expressions and words.

See you there!

Personal English - Professores Particulares de Inglês
Andréa Ribeiro/Rômulo Couto
Endereço: Rua Barão da Bocaína, 09 - Sl 3 - Centro Lorena
Tel: (012) 9125-2460 / 9733-5936
E-mail: personal1_english@yahoo.com.br

GRAMMAR TIPS

As we promised before, we'd like to start giving you some tips about grammar!

A/AN - Indefinite Pronouns

Well first of all I'd like you to know the meaning of "A/AN" - both of them are: um/uma in Portuguese.

- They are usually used with countable nouns... nouns that you can count: 1/2/3/4...
For example: I have a car. You can count 1 car/2 cars/three cars.

- They are obliged to be used when you use the verb be + a profession:
For example: I am a teacher. He is an engineer.

But when verb to be is in the plural you can't use a/an: We are students.

- And now the most important rule about it:
A - is used before consonant sounds: a car/a dog/a hotel
AN - is used before vowel sounds: an apple/an engineer/an hour

If you need more information, and exercises about the matter, please access: http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/artikel2.htm

We hope you enjoy our blog, please continue accessing us.

Personal English - Professores Particulares de Inglês
Andréa Ribeiro/Rômulo Couto
(012) 9125 - 2460/9733 - 5936
e-mail: personal1_english@yahoo.com.br
Rua: Barão da Bocaína, 09 - Sl. 3 - Centro - Lorena - SP

=============================================

Como prometido anteriormente, gostaríamos de começar a dar para vocês algumas dicas de gramática!!!

A/AN - Pronomes Indefinidos

- Antes de mais nada, eu gostaria que você soubesse o significado de A/AN - ambos são: um e uma em português.

- Eles são geralmente usados com substantivos contáveis... coisas que você pode contar: 1/2/3/4....
Por exemplo: Eu tenho um carro. Você pode contar: um carro/dois carros/três carros.

- Seu uso é obrigatório quando você usa o verbo to be + uma profissão.
Por exemplo: I am a teacher. He is an engineer.

Mas quando o verbo to be está no plural, você não pode usar A/AN.: We are students.

- E agora a regra mais importante sobre o assunto:
A - é usado somente antes de sons consoantes a car/a dog/ a hotel
AN - é usado somente antes de sons vogais: an apple/an engineer/an hour

If you need more information, and exercises about the matter, please access: http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/artikel2.htm

We hope you enjoy our blog, please continue accessing us.

Personal English - Professores Particulares de Inglês
Andréa Ribeiro/Rômulo Couto (012) 9125 - 2460/9733 - 5936
e-mail: personal1_english@yahoo.com.br
Rua: Barão da Bocaína, 09 - Sl. 3 - Centro - Lorena - SP

Motivational Quotations in English

Good morning everybody,

Today we are here to give you some motivational quotations in English... as they are small phrases, we are not going to translate, OK?!?

"Choosing to be positive and having a grateful atittude is going to determine how you are going to live your life".
Joel Osteen

"Don't waste your time and energy to erase the mistakes of the past. Make up your mind to erase your thinking that you can't correct in the present."
Tarkeshwar Prasad

We think these two quotations are very good for you to read... see more at: http://www.motivateus.com/rememb.htm - reading motivational things are a good way to learn English too...

See you tomorrow with some grammar tips.

Personal English - Professores Particulares de Inglês
Andréa Ribeiro/Rômulo Couto
(012) 9125-2460/9733-5936
personal1_english@yahoo.com.br

TIPS FOR LEARNING ENGLISH FASTER

Hello everybody!

Today we are going to present you some interesting tips for learning English faster. I hope it can help you with your studies.

- Enjoy every moment to speak English. If there is a foreigner in your city or company try to use your English with him. And if you are studying English with your teacher use every second from your class to speak only in English, even if your English is not the "best of all" ask your teacher's help.

- Read, read and again READ as much as you can. Through reading you can learn good and real vocabulary in the language. Nowadays there are many specialized magazines in English in Brazil. These magazines bring texts from basic to advanced level and they usually bring CDs for you to listen while you enjoy the reading.

- A very good strategy about reading is to read the same text at least three times:
*The first time just listen to the text you have chosen.
*Second time: listen to the text and follow with the reading.
*Third time: read and take the words you don't know.
And if you have time after it, listen and read again. At this way you can improve your speaking and vocabulary skills...

Personal English - Professores Particulares de Inglês´
Andréa Ribeiro/Rômulo Couto
(012) 9125-2469/9733-5936
e-mail: personal1_english@yahoo.com.br

========================================================

Hello everybody!

Hoje nós vamos apresentar algumas dicas interessantes para você aprender inglês mais rápido. Espero que isto possa ajudá-lo com seus estudos.

- Desfrute cada momento para falar inglês. Se tem um estrangeiro em sua cidade ou empresa tente usar seu inglês com ele. E se você está estudando inglês com um professor use cada segundo de sua classe para falar apenas em inglês, mesmo que o seu inglês não seja o melhor questione o seu professor.

- Leia, leia, e novamente LEIA tanto quanto você possa. Através da leitura você pode aprender vocabulário correto e real na língua. Atualmente há muitas revistas especializadas no aprendizado do inglês no Brasil. Estas revistas trazem textos do básico ao avançado e geralmente trazem CDs para você ouvir enquanto aprecia a leitura.

- Uma estratégia muito boa a respeito da leitura é ler o mesmo texto ao menos três vezes:
*Na primeira vez somente ouça o texto escolhido.
*Segunda vez: ouça o texto e siga a leitura.
*Terceira vez: leia e pegue as palavras que vc. não conhece.

E se você tiver tempo depois destas três leituras, ouça e leia novamente. Desta forma você pode melhorar suas habilidades de fala e vocabulário em inglês...

Personal English - Professores Particulares de Inglês´
Andréa Ribeiro/Rômulo Couto
(012) 9125-2469/9733-5936
e-mail: personal1_english@yahoo.com.br

THE OK HISTORY

As we told you yesterday, today we are going to have a Cultural Text, but I am not going to translate the text OK?



A long, long time ago during the World Wars time there was an everyday routine: when the soldiers were sent and turned back from the battle field, they were counted and checked if the number was the same.



So if the number was the same the commandants must put in the form: OK, which means Oh (zero) Killed.



We hope you have enjoyed your reading!!!!



"People who are in the starter level, please try to read and understand the text. If you have any doubt please contact us through our e-mail address or ask your teacher, all right?"



Personal English - Professores Particulares de Inglês
personal1_english@yahoo.com.br
Andréa Ribeiro/Rômulo Couto
(012) 9125-2460/9733-5936

New English Expressions

Hello everybody who accesses our blog.

Today we have more English expressions to show you. We hope you enjoy this kind of matter and if you think it is a good way to learn English, please invite your friends to join us in our simple blog.

We always need to greet people in our everyday routine, all right? So, here are some commom greetings for you to practice:

Hi!
Hello!

I THINK THESE TWO YOU ALREADY KNOW!!!

How are you?
How are things?
How's it going?
What's up?

AND ALL OF THESE MEAN THE SAME IN PORTUGUESE...

Then to answer:

Fine thanks, and you?
I'm very well...
I'm quite well...
I'm really well...
I'm OK.
I'm so, so
Not bad.

So that's all for now! Tomorrow we are going to have a cultural text for you... See you there!!!

Personal English - Professores Particulares de Inglês
Rua Barão da Bocaína, 09 - Sl 3 - Centro - Lorena - SP
Andréa Ribeiro/Rômulo Couto
(012) 9125-2460/9733-5936
e-mail: personal1_english@yahoo.com.br

==========================================

Olá pessoal que acessa nosso blog.

Hoje nós temos mais expressões em inglês para apresentar a vocês. Esperamos que vocês gostem deste tipo de assunto e se você acha que é uma boa forma de aprender inglês, por favor convite seus amigos para se juntar a nós em nosso simples blog.

Nós sempre precisamos cumprimentar as pessoas todos os dias. Então seguem aqui alguns cumprimentos comuns para você praticar:

Hi!
Hello!

ACREDITO QUE ESSES DOIS VOCÊ JÁ CONHECE!!!!

How are you?
How are things?
How's it going?
What's up?

E TODOS OS OUTROS SIGNIFICAM O MESMO EM PORTUGUÊS...

Para responder:

Fine thanks, and you?
I'm very well...
I'm quite well...
I'm really well...
I'm OK.
I'm so, so
Not bad.

Então... é isso por hora! Amanhã teremos um texto cultural para vocês... Até lá!!!

Personal English - Professores Particulares de Inglês
Rua Barão da Bocaína, 09 - Sl 3 - Centro - Lorena - SP
Andréa Ribeiro/Rômulo Couto
(012) 9125-2460/9733-5936
e-mail: personal1_english@yahoo.com.br