I've been asked to talk about if a criminal is born or made. It's a very difficult question because scientists (including psychologists) don't agree on this controversial issue.
To start with, an understanding of criminal behaviour has been attempted by psychologists mainly through three different theories, from this point of view the right question should be: Are criminals born, made or both?
The first theory suggests that it is very likely that genetic factors play a significant role in criminality due to the fact that criminal behaviour tends to run in individuals with a chromosomal abnormality associated with aggressive, antisocial and criminal behaviour. If we accept this theory, it makes no sense try to help criminals to reintegrate to society.
The second theory suggests that individual's environment is the most important factor. Children with criminal parents or who have other surrounding negative models are very likely to be motivated to copy criminal behaviour. It means, for instance, if the children watch lots of violence on tv they may show violent behaviour in the future.
The third theory is a combination of the two previous. Some experts believe that criminality has a multifactorial causation. They think that environment acts like a switch, depending on circumstances in your life this switch turns on one chromosome or another.
I agree with the last theory. I am a teacher and I can see that a good environment acts as a deterrent of criminality. On the other hand there are children who are very lucky in their lives and they end in the wrong way.
In conclusion, beyond the genetic predisposition it's a parental responsibility to show their children what is right and what is wrong. Also parents must provide a good environment to their children.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Monday, July 29, 2013
Monologue: Claim
I've been asked to talk about a claim that I would have had to make.
I've chosen one which happened a long time ago. It took place in my first travel to London. A group of friends and myself took a flight to London. We were very thrilled, and I can remember now that I could hardly asleep the night before.
We had a great flight, we spent all time speaking about what we would do when our plane landed in Heathrow. I was very surprised when we got off the plane and the day was cloudy and a little bit rainy, two hours before we were enjoying a sunny day in Almería.
We headed quickly to pick up our suitcases. All of us managed to collect luggage, except me. I was waiting at the baggage claim long to see that my luggage didn´t appear.
After that, I went to the Iberia counter and I explained to the clerk what had just happened. Fortunately he was a spaniard, and I could communicate with him in a very easy way (my english was in that time as bad as now).
The clerk was very polite and he helped me fill out a form claim. I explained him that I would be in London for four days and he told me that he would be watchful about my luggage. If my luggage arrived before, he would send me the luggage to my hotel and if not, then he would send me the luggage to my home in Almería.
Besides that, he gave me 50 pounds to buy some clothes. This money was given by a secure I had paid included in the price of the ticket. It was a very small quantity, but at least it was something.
We spent the afternoon buying basic clothes and my friends lent me something (not underwear). Despite this problem I spent four amazing days in London.
Eventually one week later I received my luggage in my home. Iberia also sent me an apology letter.
I've chosen one which happened a long time ago. It took place in my first travel to London. A group of friends and myself took a flight to London. We were very thrilled, and I can remember now that I could hardly asleep the night before.
We had a great flight, we spent all time speaking about what we would do when our plane landed in Heathrow. I was very surprised when we got off the plane and the day was cloudy and a little bit rainy, two hours before we were enjoying a sunny day in Almería.
We headed quickly to pick up our suitcases. All of us managed to collect luggage, except me. I was waiting at the baggage claim long to see that my luggage didn´t appear.
After that, I went to the Iberia counter and I explained to the clerk what had just happened. Fortunately he was a spaniard, and I could communicate with him in a very easy way (my english was in that time as bad as now).
The clerk was very polite and he helped me fill out a form claim. I explained him that I would be in London for four days and he told me that he would be watchful about my luggage. If my luggage arrived before, he would send me the luggage to my hotel and if not, then he would send me the luggage to my home in Almería.
Besides that, he gave me 50 pounds to buy some clothes. This money was given by a secure I had paid included in the price of the ticket. It was a very small quantity, but at least it was something.
We spent the afternoon buying basic clothes and my friends lent me something (not underwear). Despite this problem I spent four amazing days in London.
Eventually one week later I received my luggage in my home. Iberia also sent me an apology letter.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Monologue: Environment - What to do.
I have been asked to talk about environment and what to do.
This is a very complicated question because environment is a problem with lots of different aspects. In everything you do, you are affecting to the environment. Besides that, the humanity needs a clean environment to survive, it is evident that as humans we have a long way until we get to live in other planets.
In other words, it is very important to take care of our environment.
The problems we cope with respect this issue are very different depending on the country we are living. In Spain, the main environmental problems (at least from my point of view) we face are:
1.- Drought. Spain is a mediterranean country and it suffers frequent drought which makes forest disappear. Sometimes people can suffer cut water.
2.- Air pollution. This is one of the most important problems in developed countries and it's caused mainly by cars, industries and heating systems. Air pollution is in the origin of climatic change and many respiratory diseases.
3.- Climatic change. This issue is related to the other two I have mentioned before. The point is that it is a very serious problem because it can cause extreme weather and what is more important it can reduce our capacity of producing food.
There are three different levels in which can be acted in order to solve these problems: government, community and individual. In my opinion this three levels would have to work together.
2.- Air pollution. As individuals we have to reduce the use of the private car. The community has to support the use of alternative technologies to produce energy like wind power, solar power and so on. The government has to promote public transport and also they have to force the industry to use cleaner and more efficient technologies.
3.- Climatic change. The best way to prevent climatic change (It doesn't mind if you are a citizen, a community or the govern) is to lower energy consumption and products consumption. Any action taken in this way will help to reduce the effects of climatic change. Other way is to use alternative energies (they are non polluting energies) to generate electric current.
In conclusion, there are lots of things we can do in order to avoid environmental damages. For this reason and even though challenges are spectacular, I am optimistic and I believe that we have the tools to prevent an environmental disaster.
This is a very complicated question because environment is a problem with lots of different aspects. In everything you do, you are affecting to the environment. Besides that, the humanity needs a clean environment to survive, it is evident that as humans we have a long way until we get to live in other planets.
In other words, it is very important to take care of our environment.
The problems we cope with respect this issue are very different depending on the country we are living. In Spain, the main environmental problems (at least from my point of view) we face are:
1.- Drought. Spain is a mediterranean country and it suffers frequent drought which makes forest disappear. Sometimes people can suffer cut water.
2.- Air pollution. This is one of the most important problems in developed countries and it's caused mainly by cars, industries and heating systems. Air pollution is in the origin of climatic change and many respiratory diseases.
3.- Climatic change. This issue is related to the other two I have mentioned before. The point is that it is a very serious problem because it can cause extreme weather and what is more important it can reduce our capacity of producing food.
There are three different levels in which can be acted in order to solve these problems: government, community and individual. In my opinion this three levels would have to work together.
My proposals are the following:
1.- Drought. As individuals we can make different things to reduce our water consumption: using less the bathroom, turning off taps when we aren't using it and so on. As a community, we can plant trees because they keep humidity. And finally the government can force industries to investigate and to use new technologies in order to reduce water consumption.
2.- Air pollution. As individuals we have to reduce the use of the private car. The community has to support the use of alternative technologies to produce energy like wind power, solar power and so on. The government has to promote public transport and also they have to force the industry to use cleaner and more efficient technologies.
3.- Climatic change. The best way to prevent climatic change (It doesn't mind if you are a citizen, a community or the govern) is to lower energy consumption and products consumption. Any action taken in this way will help to reduce the effects of climatic change. Other way is to use alternative energies (they are non polluting energies) to generate electric current.
In conclusion, there are lots of things we can do in order to avoid environmental damages. For this reason and even though challenges are spectacular, I am optimistic and I believe that we have the tools to prevent an environmental disaster.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Monologue: a book's review - Mecanoscrit del segon origen.
I've been asked to talk about a book. I've chosen a book titled "Mecanoscrit del segon origen". It is a science fiction book originally written in catalan by Manuel de Pedrolo.
I read this book when I was studying catalan in the Benidorm official languages school. In that time I was living in Benidorm and I was working as a secondary school teacher and it was necessary to study catalan.
The english title for this book would be "typescript of the second origin". The novel is set in catalonia and there are two main characters: Alba, who is a 14 years old girl and Didac who is a 10 years old black boy.
The story starts when Alba and Didac manage to survive to an alien attack. They flee to the forest because everybody is dead and they want to begin a new life without getting sick. After that, they both move to Barcelona where they retrieve books to build a library with knowledge it is needed to start a new society.
Further on, looking for live people, they both begin a travel across the Mediterranean sea. During this trip they fall in love and in one summer night they start to have sex. Then they come back to Catalonia where Mar, name of the daughter of the new couple, is born.
Eventually and unfortunately Didac dies in an accident. Then Alba writes the book we are reading. In this book she says that she wants Mar to have children in order to start a new mankind.
The last chapter of the book is an article newspaper written seven thousand years later of the alien invasion. The article wonders if the text is authentic and if Alba is really the mankind's mother.
From my point of view it is a very interesting book because, even though it is a science fiction novel, the plot is innovative. It is difficult for me to judge how it is written, because I read it in catalan. You can read the spanish translation and I definitely recommend you.
I read this book when I was studying catalan in the Benidorm official languages school. In that time I was living in Benidorm and I was working as a secondary school teacher and it was necessary to study catalan.
The english title for this book would be "typescript of the second origin". The novel is set in catalonia and there are two main characters: Alba, who is a 14 years old girl and Didac who is a 10 years old black boy.
The story starts when Alba and Didac manage to survive to an alien attack. They flee to the forest because everybody is dead and they want to begin a new life without getting sick. After that, they both move to Barcelona where they retrieve books to build a library with knowledge it is needed to start a new society.
Further on, looking for live people, they both begin a travel across the Mediterranean sea. During this trip they fall in love and in one summer night they start to have sex. Then they come back to Catalonia where Mar, name of the daughter of the new couple, is born.
Eventually and unfortunately Didac dies in an accident. Then Alba writes the book we are reading. In this book she says that she wants Mar to have children in order to start a new mankind.
The last chapter of the book is an article newspaper written seven thousand years later of the alien invasion. The article wonders if the text is authentic and if Alba is really the mankind's mother.
From my point of view it is a very interesting book because, even though it is a science fiction novel, the plot is innovative. It is difficult for me to judge how it is written, because I read it in catalan. You can read the spanish translation and I definitely recommend you.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Monologue: Movie's review - Django unchained
I've been asked to talk about a film. I've choosen a film I like a lot, "Django unchained". It is an old movie but it is the last one I've seen, I have two children and I haven´t been in a cinema a long time ago.
The film is set in america in the previous years of the american civil war. There are two main characters in the film:
They find out that Broomhilda was sold to a plantation in Missisippi whose name is Candyland, but the problem is they simply can´t go there and try to buy Broomhilda. For this reason, they come up with a plan and in that way they manage to be received by the Candyland's owner into his house.
The candyland's butler (who is played by Samuel L. Jackson) suspects of them and eventually he stops their plan of buying Broomhilda. In that moment there is a lot of violence and the film ends with many people dead, even the dentist, but at least Django manages to free Broomhilda.
From my point of view this is a spectacular film of Quentin Tarantino. The film is a little bit violent, but if you go to see a Tarantino's film you have to be prepared for this. Also it is a little bit long, but this is offset with an intense plot.
In conclusion, I love it and I recommend it, it is a very thrilling and not predictable film.
The film is set in america in the previous years of the american civil war. There are two main characters in the film:
- A german dentist and a bounty hunter at once, I don't remember now who stars this character, even though the actor is brilliant in his performance.
- A black slave whose name is Django. Jamie Foxx is the actor who plays this character in a spectacular way.
They find out that Broomhilda was sold to a plantation in Missisippi whose name is Candyland, but the problem is they simply can´t go there and try to buy Broomhilda. For this reason, they come up with a plan and in that way they manage to be received by the Candyland's owner into his house.
The candyland's butler (who is played by Samuel L. Jackson) suspects of them and eventually he stops their plan of buying Broomhilda. In that moment there is a lot of violence and the film ends with many people dead, even the dentist, but at least Django manages to free Broomhilda.
From my point of view this is a spectacular film of Quentin Tarantino. The film is a little bit violent, but if you go to see a Tarantino's film you have to be prepared for this. Also it is a little bit long, but this is offset with an intense plot.
In conclusion, I love it and I recommend it, it is a very thrilling and not predictable film.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Monologue: Travel
Do you mind me talking about a monologue?
That is the first question I made to my english conversation teacher, yesterday. He, a very polite person, answered that it would be nice to hear it from me.
Next, I'll try to reproduce the monologue as I told my professor.
I have been asked to talk about a trip, and how it was, and anecdote, if I would recommend it, and so on.
I have chosen a trip I made with my wife to Ecuador. It was very special for me because I met my wife's family for the first time.
We took a flight in Almería which made a scale in Madrid and we landed in Guayaquil fifteen hours later. It is a very long journey.
When we arrived to Guayaquil my wife's family was waiting for us. My first impression was pleasant, Ecuadorians are a very polite people. On the other hand I suffered a lot with hot weather, even though I am from Almería which is a sunny city located in the south of Spain. Other thing I enjoyed a lot was the food, they have many different types of tasteful fruits.
We spent three weeks in Ecuador. We travelled around the country, I can remember now that we visited Quito (this city is the Ecuador's capital), Cuenca, Ambato and Baños. We stayed two or three days in each city.
But the most special was to visit Galapagos Islands. We took a flight from Guayaquil to Galapagos which lasted two hours. I really love Galapagos, the wildlife in these islands is simply amazing. I had the chance of swimming with sea lions, I saw the most big turtles I've ever seen, birds with blue legs, whales which were raising ...I really enjoyed this part of the trip.
An anecdote was that we could see a turtle unique, its name was "old George". It was living in the Darwin Center to help turtles. Old George was very special because it was different from other common turtles, it had a very long neck and its eyes were positioned in a different way, but for me it had a gentle look in its eyes. One or two months later this turtle died.
It is likely that I would commit lots of cultural gaffes, but as I said before Ecuadorians are a very kind people and they made me feel very comfortable. My main cultural gaffe was that I always tried to kiss women twice, and they didn't like it.
In conclusion, as you will suppose, I will come back to Ecuador because part of my wife's family lives there.
But the point is that Ecuador is a worth place to visit, it has lots of attractions, if you like beach you can find much in Ecuador, if you like wildlife, that is the best place in the world, if you like cultural tourism, you can find many interesting cities, and so on.
That is the first question I made to my english conversation teacher, yesterday. He, a very polite person, answered that it would be nice to hear it from me.
Next, I'll try to reproduce the monologue as I told my professor.
I have been asked to talk about a trip, and how it was, and anecdote, if I would recommend it, and so on.
I have chosen a trip I made with my wife to Ecuador. It was very special for me because I met my wife's family for the first time.
We took a flight in Almería which made a scale in Madrid and we landed in Guayaquil fifteen hours later. It is a very long journey.
When we arrived to Guayaquil my wife's family was waiting for us. My first impression was pleasant, Ecuadorians are a very polite people. On the other hand I suffered a lot with hot weather, even though I am from Almería which is a sunny city located in the south of Spain. Other thing I enjoyed a lot was the food, they have many different types of tasteful fruits.
We spent three weeks in Ecuador. We travelled around the country, I can remember now that we visited Quito (this city is the Ecuador's capital), Cuenca, Ambato and Baños. We stayed two or three days in each city.
But the most special was to visit Galapagos Islands. We took a flight from Guayaquil to Galapagos which lasted two hours. I really love Galapagos, the wildlife in these islands is simply amazing. I had the chance of swimming with sea lions, I saw the most big turtles I've ever seen, birds with blue legs, whales which were raising ...I really enjoyed this part of the trip.
An anecdote was that we could see a turtle unique, its name was "old George". It was living in the Darwin Center to help turtles. Old George was very special because it was different from other common turtles, it had a very long neck and its eyes were positioned in a different way, but for me it had a gentle look in its eyes. One or two months later this turtle died.
It is likely that I would commit lots of cultural gaffes, but as I said before Ecuadorians are a very kind people and they made me feel very comfortable. My main cultural gaffe was that I always tried to kiss women twice, and they didn't like it.
In conclusion, as you will suppose, I will come back to Ecuador because part of my wife's family lives there.
But the point is that Ecuador is a worth place to visit, it has lots of attractions, if you like beach you can find much in Ecuador, if you like wildlife, that is the best place in the world, if you like cultural tourism, you can find many interesting cities, and so on.
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