Reflection For this Year's Esol Class. Lvl 1 NCEA

 In my opinion, the best lessons we had for this year's Esol class is the games period when we had too much time for the year. This is because it was a good way to relieve the stress of subjects.

I enjoyed doing some grammar lessons and reading the book "The River" because Ongrammar was one of my biggest weaknesses and the book was interesting.

One thing that I am proud of was my speech assessment. This is because I am normally shy about public speaking.

A thing that I could do better next time is not to talk loudly and listen more to the teacher.

Overall, the Esol class was great this year.

Should the trip enjoyable or educational or both?

 Reasons why it should be just enjoyable:

This is our time to take some stress off school and some students don't have enough to go on family trips on their own time. Therefore, having an enjoyable will not just boost their component, it will relieve their life's stresses. Another good reason why it should just be enjoyable is that some educational trips make some students not wanting to learn because most of them find it boring. Furthermore, we hardworking students deserve to have an enjoyable trip because it is a time where students can hang out with all of their classmates at the same time. 

The place that I recommend going is to the Christchurch Gondola place or the Alpine Ice skating venue.

How did I feel during my arrival In New Zealand?

 It was about 5 years ago, I still remembered my first step out of the airport coming on this new profound island called New Zealand. *Swoosh~~~* as the strong breeze flies by. The weather was bad when I and my three brothers went out of the airport. Strong winds and a sky covered in clouds were present. Therefore, it was very cold for us and very unusual. My home country - which is the Philippines - is a tropical island, meaning it was primarily hot over there. But then, I had to travel across the world to live the rest of my life in this cold, freezing country. It was very different indeed! 

A week later, I’ve gotten used to the cold temperatures and settling in this country. Then, a shout from my mum was heard in the entire house telling me and my brothers that the next day would be the first. The first day of school. I was nervous as an ostrich, I wanted to bury my head onto the ground as well. Then, the next day came. Surprisingly, none of my brothers cried and our mum talked to one of the teachers. After that, the teacher told us that we would be okay. Slowly, the teacher opened the door. I caught a glimpse of wild kids running around and some of them sitting around a table. Then when I entered, the eyes of the room was on me. The sudden shake of my knees nearly put me down to my knees but I bravely held on.  *Stomp!*as a random kid ran towards me and introduce himself. He was of another ethnicity than me but after that first meeting, we became friends.

The next day, I was excited to bring one of the cultured dishes that my mum made for me. As I open my lid, the familiar aroma filled my nostrils with delight. But as I was about to take a spoon full, I turned around and saw others looking at my food. Their mouth opens… “Oi new kid, are you eating catfish? Eww,” I felt enraged because they disrespected my mother’s cooking but at the same time. I felt as if I was looking down on an edge of the cliff. As they talk more badly about my lunch, the ground under my feet started crumbling. Since then, I didn’t dare to bring any food that relates to my culture or any of my mum’s food.

A whole month passes by, I started becoming homesick. I missed my friends and family where I could just be comfortable and not be wary of my actions or what I do. I missed how I could play all day and not worrying about being judged. I missed home...

1 thing that will relieve stress.

 Today in Esol we talked about how stress can lead to terrible times. For instance, having too tired to do work or too panicked to do something. 

Therefore, to solve this problem we listed many ways to relieve stress.

My main assortment to relieve is through getting enough sleep. For example, I would need to sleep at 9Pm since I often get up at 6am in the morning. So I could get at least 8 hours or more sleep.

Another way of how to relieve stress is leisurement. For me, I would play games with my friends or just have fun doing something other than work.

Esol Goals

Term 2 - Year goals!

Goals:

- To achieve all of the upcoming assessments throughout the term.

- Confidently speak during the speech assessment.

- Write my best and well-written work during the writing assessment.

- Participate in every reading activity throughout the term.

- Able to understand from just listening to it.

How to achieve:

- Studying hard before all of the assessments.

- Participate during the group speaking.

- Practice writing at home.

- Not be able to be shy in front of the class.

- Practicing from differents listening websites.

The River- Reflection time (Learning)

Today In ESOL we are reflecting on what we like in learning during these past few weeks.

We are reflecting on how we learn about the book The River.

What I like:

- The thing that I like about it is whenever someone with a funny accent reads. 

- The cliffhangers of the book at the end of each chapter.

What I don't like about it.

- Whenever I read too much

- Whenever we have to do work

How you feel about the parallel learning of essay structure?

- I think it helps us a lot by going over the basics again. Reminding us that simple is better.

What would you like to do with this knowledge?

- For me, I would make a questionnaire, game, or Kahoot for my friends to do.

Music - Reflection of Song "Desperado" by, Eagles

 

Today in Esol, we looked into acting. We had this one scenario that we have to act the word "Desperado" during our acting. Desperado - meaning a desperate person.

Then our teaacher, played a song called Desperado by the Eagles and had us do what does Desperado means in the song. So this is what I think it means.

In the song Desperado, by Eagles. I think the desperado means, love someone before it's too late, riding out fences. Lastly, it's suggesting that, you need to do something in your youth before you're too old.

What three items would be best to have?

 Have you ever had to choose three things to help you survive in a cold winter forest? What would you bring? What would you do? What could you do…? In the made up story “Surviving in the forest In New Zealand during the winter” written by Reige Amarillo. We can see that the protagonist, Chandler, brought three important things with him. Throughout the story, the three choices that he made at the start helped him. This essay will be explaining why the three things he brought were important. Wondering in the woods with nowhere to go. A shelter is a must.

In his first option, he thinks that a hatchet is the most important thing to bring. So it helped him. During the story, he had to face a critical situation where he needed to make a shelter. The hatchet aided with such tremendous relief. With his brute strength and the amplifying strength unto the hatchet made it easier to cut trees. In a matter of time, he made a small shelter that saved him from the icy rain. However, he was still cold.

His second item was bringing a fire starter. He was in a camp with his friends but then got lost in the woods, only bringing three things. A firestarter, a hatchet, and a first aid kit. He then eventually falls into a quick running river. After waking up, he couldn’t stop shivering. Spine chilling snow, frozen ice hands and hair sticking icicles. He had no strength left to make a fire using sticks. Then it clicked him. Thankfully, he was wise to bring a fire starter.

The climax of the story is when a wild boar appeared and attacked him. A fight for survival started. After a barrage of attacks, he managed to kill the wild boar with his hatchet. He started a fire and cooked the boar. Some say he was eating like a dog, but I think it was normal since he hasn’t eaten in 2 days. He was dying to eat something. Then pain hit him. He soon realised that while he was fighting the boar, he got hit by a branch making a slight wound. He then realises the importance of the aid kit.

In conclusion, I think Chandler made a great choice to bring the items with him. If you were ever lost in the forest in a cold winter, what would you bring?

Blog - Entry 321 RIQ Strategy

Today for Esol, we are learning how to do the 321 IRQ strategy and doing an example about one of our previous lessons or activities.

3 Recalls - Think back 3 things that you've recollect.

2 Insights - List 2 things that you've learnt.

1 Question - Write down 1 question that has been troubling you throughout that assement.

321 RIQ - Example (Perks of Blogging)

The three things that I remember in this text is blogging helps the teacher indicate your learning, you can keep progress of your work and reflecting on your given feedbacks. Despite all that, I have learn't that  blogging has it's advantages and disadvantages. For instance, you can get feedbacks which is an advantage but you can also get anxiety, worriedness upon your work. Lastly, in this text I wonder that, is blogging really helping us for our year 11 course?

Reige's Effect of unfair trade on a community's/individual's hauora

 This past few weeks we have been looking at chocolate industries and studying them. We've also been watching documentaries that is around child labourer of cocoa and read a book about this boy going taken away from its family to a cocoa farm. This task results in the four wellbeing of Hauora.

Antarctic Centre Recount "Antarctic Centre Trip"

 Antarctic Centre Trip

Orientation: 

As a part of the Antarctic study topic, the 10 ESOL Class with Mrs Flores, Briggs and Handley went on a trip to the Antarctic Centre on Friday the 4th of September.

Arriving there with 2 taxi vans was horrific, since I wasn’t paired up with my friends. With the anticipation of excitement, the arrival of students was very noisy. When the last student got off the van, we had to wait for the instructor to arrive before we could begin our trip. 

After waiting for a couple of minutes, the instructor arrived! The presence of the instructor made us silent. She introduced herself as Jane and after a while she started talking about safety around Covid and the facility. She then finished with a welcoming mood.

As we walked into the building, my mind was in wonder, thinking what surprises there would be. Jane had instructed us to go upstairs into the workshop room where we then viewed a little slideshow about Antarctica’s history. One of the most memorable stories shown to us, was about Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott’s race to the South Pole. 

At about 10am, we began to go back outside again to ride one of the modern technological vehicles that is used in Antarctica, a Hagglund. Its other name is Bandvagn 206. It’s a tracked articulated, all-terrain carrier developed by Hägglunds for the Swedish Army. It consists of two units, with all four tracks powered. It can carry up to 17 people, and the trailer unit can be adapted for different uses. 

Just at the end of the introduction of the Hagglunds, the mood began to rise, from boredom to hearts filling up with excitement. As we set foot into the Hagglund, it had the same feeling of going into a tank, even though I haven’t been in one before. Suddenly, it started moving. The movement of the Hagglund was bumpy but with the sufficient number of hand straps we could keep ourselves safe. 

Finally, the whole part that we have been waiting for, the track. The track is an all built course to give the customers the experience of what it can be like riding one in the harsh conditions of Antarctica. Leaving the track felt as if we were leaving a roller coaster ride. We were exhausted from how fun, scary, and nerve-racking the ride was. 

To the next bit of the trip, the rescue animals; the penguins. One of the most treasured wildlife in the facility was the little blue penguin. It is the smallest penguin in the world. We were lucky that we arrived there at the exact time before it was feeding time. We watched as the penguins swam around elegantly through the waters. It is as if they were soaring through the beautiful night sky. 

Even with that experience, we still had enough excitement in reserve for the 4D movie. The movie was in 3D but with extra stuff like wind, sea spray, and snow. As we were watching the movie “The Voyage”, we all felt like we were there. Tingles rattled our spines throughout the whole movie. 

After that, we were given free time to eat and explore the facility. Me and some of my friends went into the cafe and we bought two things: A bowl of fries and a bowl of wedges. We all felt like we were scammed because of how small their servings were. With our bellies half full, we were called to meet outside the Storm room. 

The Storm Room was the most anticipated event that we were all looking forward to. However, before that, me and my friend “Daniel” did the “Cold Ice Challenge”. It is when you put your hands in the water, that is under 10° degrees for a minute.

At last, the long awaited event in the trip has come, going into the Storm Room. We waited for everyone to arrive. After that we were told to wear shoe covers; being technical, they are called surface shield shoe covers. This is so we wouldn’t slip on the slippery, icy, snow. As we got into the room, the sudden cold shocked us instantly with a slight breeze. After a moment of waiting, a siren started screaming. It was a warning that a storm was coming.

The room had suddenly gotten dark as if a real storm was coming. The room temperature suddenly dropped into negative 8° degrees. As our instincts reacted, our class formed into small groups. The rush of adrenaline made everyone think of how they could stay warm. Some people came rushing into the igloo and some huddled into a form of circle. The storm stopped. 

We all felt sadness since it was over but with a slight relief. With our hands cold, we took off our shoe covers and came into the next phase of the trip. 

At the start of the trip, we were each given a paper to fill out. We were given time to finish it as we wandered around looking for answers in the building. 

With exhaustion, I sighed with disappointment since the trip was ending so early. We got back into our vans and started to go back to school.

In the end, I enjoyed the entirety of the day. 

'Creative Writing - 1st person narrtive'

 We have been studying Antarctica. We listened to a story about Nanook, a husky who was sent to Antarctica on an expedition in 1901. We then wrote the next chapter of the story from Nanook’s ‘Point of View’.

“Going to the twin of Vastness”

I could smell the warmth of spring as it comes with the horizon. We are fed in the morning and put into our own individual leashes. As Mr William Weller told me that we are going to Antarctica, I felt the urge to chase my tail and play around. I was overjoyed with excitement. 

As we we’re nearing the harbour, I could smell the scent of smoke, the constant blow horns of ships coming in and birds soaring through the skies. I still couldn’t believe that me, Hector, Hercules, Granny, Nell, Wolf, and Fluff were going on a journey to a new cold land.

Save the Waikato River!

Save The Waikato River

Have you ever been to the Waikato River? If so, you would know that there are many tourist attractions to it. Including, cafe cruises, sightseeing and many other things. You might have also noticed that people don’t get close to the river nor swim. The Waikato Medical Officer of Health Dell Hood has decided! That the region’s famous river is unsafe and needs to be avoided. In my opinion we should save the Waikato river because it’s one of our native rivers, a nourishment from the past, and something to remember our ancestors.

Decades of rising pollution has been happening due to human activities. Tourists and including the community surrounding the river have been taking parts in the problem. We should save because it’s one of our native rivers.  Despite the past actions we humans did, we could still save it if we act now. We could start by telling people how the river tells us what we really are and how it resembles us. By telling these, we could persuade people to think about their life and get some help from them to stop polluting the river.

Many of our native people in New Zealand use this river as a sustenance of the past. For example, this river has helped many people for Maori living. Some believed that our ancestor’s spirits unites with the water in the Waikato River. Therefore, some people have done rituals in the past in the water of Waikato. The rituals that many people do in the past have been declined due to the river’s pollution. This was done to protect the people. This is exactly why we should clean the Waikato river. The rituals, the tradition and our people’s belief has been declined due to human’s activities.

One of the most important reasons why we should save this sacred river, is because this is something that we could remember our ancestors for. For instance, many of our ancestors use this river to dwell in by becoming one with the water. The river’s water could also be used as a nourishment for sea life. However this water is highly polluted so drinking the water from it is dangerous. Our ancestors used this river to provide their life in the past. They took care of it but now, us humans have done the opposite.

In conclusion, I think we should save this native, indiginous river of ours to be a keepsake from our ancestors. It is truly a wonderful river. However, our community has not been taken care of as well as our indiginous people. Therefore, by picking up your rubbish or volunteering/donating on the website below. You can save this river.

Website:

Indentifying an endangered animal.

Reige’s work

Animal: Amur Leopard

Physical characteristics: Muscular body, Yellow coloured fur with black spots, long tail, size = 40 - 75 in length.

Food: It preys on numerous types of deers, including Badgers and Hares.

Habitat: They live in the temperate forest of far Eastern Russia.

Predators: Human poaching and Siberean tigers.

How does it protect itself?

• By hunting in different times of their predators.
• They avoid massive fights by frequenting areas.

How could it be preserved?

• Breeding events
• Donation to wildlife parks that has them
• Don’t go to a career that involves killing them.

Why is it endangered?

• Their food supply is going down rapidly
• Their pelts are sold a thousand for each

Why should it be preserved?

• It is a shame to let a species die
• The lack of predators will get the population of Deers and Hare will go skyrocketing in the area of Eastern Russia.

Hottest and Coldest place - Comparison -

What is the hottest and coldest place on earth?  To find more information read the text below. 

Have you ever wondered about the differences and the comparison of the most extreme climates? From coldest to hottest, these two are the utmost opposite of each other. The hottest place on earth is the Death Valley or some might call it Hell. On the other side of this continuum is the coldest place on earth which is Vostok station.  

Hottest place on earth “Death Valley”. What does it look like? 

This place can be found in California, USA. Death Valley can be described in many ways. For instance, the Death Valley is surrounded by hills. Hills are one of the attractions of tourists around. One of the attractions is its driest dirt. Many tumbleweeds run around the area making the place more scenic. There are a small number of people living in this area. The hottest temperature is recorded here which is 134 degrees Fahrenheit. The reason they’re living there is they have work or just visiting. Many of the work you can get in this area are housekeeping, cleaning the national park, keeping the people safe and many other jobs that involve the hills. 

Hottest place on Earth “Death Valley”. Is there life in such a place?

Animal	Adaptation
Kit fox	Kitfox are able to survive without water. They can get water from their prey. They also have pads that are very hairy to protect them from the heat of the ground. The pads can be traction on sand.
Death Valley pupfish	These fish are so adapted to warm water. They burrow themselves in the mud when water becomes cold. Death Valley pupfish can survive a water that is 2 or 3 times saltier than sea salt.
Devils Hole pupfish	This fish is a picky environmental habitat. They are endangered… These fish need 90-degree water with a low oxygen and a shallow ledge on which to spawn.

Coldest place on Earth  “Vostok Station”. What does it look like?

Vostok station is one of a kind. It has many reasons why it is called the coldest place on earth.  This place can be found in Antarctica. Interestingly, people don’t live here for no reason. People who live in Vostok station live there indefinitely. Meaning, they live there for work purposes or scientific research. In this place, you can find that many carbon dioxide can be frozen which turns to Dry Ice. This place is covered with piles of snow. If you see a tree, consider yourself lucky because trees are rare to find in this place. 

Animal	Adaptation
Penguin	Penguins keep their body in a high temperature to keep warm in cold climates. They also have a thick blubber under their skin to keep them even warmer. They also have the mind to cooperate by huddling together to keep each other warm.
Seals	Their strong, loseley, interlocked vertebrates make them strong and flexible enough  to navigate through the ice. Like penguins, they also have a thick blubber to keep them warm.
Polar Bears	Many antarctic animals have thick blubber to keep them warm. However, not only polar bears have thick blubbers they also have thick fur to keep them warm.

Similarities and differences.

These two temperate climates are the utmost opposite of each other. However, they also have similarities. Similarities - These two places have extreme temperatures. They have animals living in their location. Humans work in the area. Differences - They are opposite of each other. Human’s work differently when living in both areas. Animals have different adaptations on which place they are in. Therefore, even though both places are opposite of each other, they can still have similarities.

A recent news item that interest me

The infamous coronavirus!

The world trembles with the entrance of coronavirus. This coronavirus is becoming an epidemic in China. The virus mainly causes respiratory illnesses similar to the common cold. It was first identified in the mid-1960's. Many Chinese like to eat exotics foods, including bats, snakes and other animals. Many people think that the disease originated from eating infected bats. The disease then became transmittable between humans.  A major number of scientists are trying to figure where this disease truly came from, through the knowledge of science. People all over the world wait for the research to be done.

This news spread alarmingly fast and eventually reached me. This report made me anxious and the community that surrounds me was impacted in the same way. It hooked me by its catastrophic after effects. Some people have already been in the hospital because of its symptoms.

Different kinds of news creates differents kinds of moods: worry, nervousness, fear etc. However, this particular news made me worried. This made me research its whereabouts and its symptoms, taking every bit of information so I would not be affected by it. Without any hesitation, I told my family about how to remain healthy and avoid this disease.

With the current situation, you can avoid this by washing your hands everyday and staying healthy.

How to make a hot chocolate.

The heaven-feel recipe for a
“Hot Chocolate”

Ingredients

• 1 and 1/2 of Tablespoon of the Dutch-process Cocoa.
• 350ml of  fresh milk.
• 2 teaspoon of sugar.
• 1000ml of hot water.
• 2 pieces of marshmallow.
• ⅕ of a cup of chocolate chips.

Equipment

• Any kind of kettle.
• A tablespoon.
• A measuring cup.
• Mug

Method:

1. Mix the sugar and cocoa in the mug carefully.
2. Boil the water in a kettle.
3. After the kettle is done, carefully pour the hot water into the mixed cocoa

and sugar.

4. Pour the hot water until it reaches almost the ¾ of a cup.

5. After that, pour the fresh milk into the mug and stir slowly.

6. Finally, add the marshmallow and chocolate chips at the top.

If the toppings are not what you prefer, you can add other toppings to your liking.

Enjoy!

My dream three-course meal

If you would have a chance to order anything you would like in a restaurant, what would it be?
The feeling of having a chance to order anything is like living in a dream.




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I've gotten the chance to dream about this sensation and write about this. If you would ask me, what would my starter meal would be, it would be probably.... The golden brown coloured of the "Bhuna Masala Chicken Wings" (fresh out of the kitchen) would leave my mouth drop. This dish has been my dearest chicken meal. Once you take a bite out of this chicken, it would leave you paralyzed as its flavour comes down your throat.


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Finally, my main course would be something that comes from the heaven itself. The shining golden pure "24 Carat Gold Steak" would take me to heaven with its exotic edible gold. This meal can only be prepared by a five-star chef or it would taste unnatural if an ordinary chef would cook it. This dish is one of the only meal that you can eat with gold. The gold would melt in your mouth leaving a sweet flavour behind. This steak would take you on a roller coaster ride with the battle of sweetness and sourness. This main-course is truly out of the ordinary.


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One of the traditional food of the Philippines is "Halo-Halo" meaning mix- mix in english. This is without no doubt to be one of the most delicious desserts I've ever had. As I start to remember the taste of this wonderful dish, the memory of having fun with my friends out in the woods came into my mind. I would recommend this to be your dream dessert with its pleasing taste of sweetness. As I take a huge gulp, the various fruits and flavours mixed in with the flow of water coming up the straw. Halo-Halo is my most recommended dessert in the list of desserts.