Let's learn how to make delicious (and beautiful) cupcakes?

Cupcakes are a cultural icon and my students know how much I love them. Every time I find a place that also shares this “cupcake passion”, I like to comment about it.
So, this post is to inform you about this charming site that offers courses about how to make cakes and cupcakes. It could be like any other place, but it is not. There is some points that I loved about their courses. The course for the Christmas cupcakes will be held in September, October and December, which give us plenty of time to be prepared for the most festive period of the year.
On the course about Naked Cake, you will be able to set you own cake and guess what? You can take it home with you and impress friends and family. It is a good reason to throw a family party! This course will be held once a month, from August to December.
Keep on talking about Christmas, there is a third option, the Panettone Decoration course, held on October and November. It will be a great opportunity to learn the basics of fondant, besides the design and the 3D modeling. You will decorate three models of mini panettone and take them home to enjoy them later! Maybe it is not enough for a party but it will be nice enough to have an afternoon tea with you a good company and your cooking creation! It is cooking with new perspectives! I myself want to participate at least in one of them; in fact, I’d like to attend all the courses. Maybe we can meet there! See you.

 

Post Question: What's your favorite cupcake? Do you know how to make a delicious cupcake? Would you like to learn it? If you don't have time to bake your cupcakes, where do you usually eat/buy them?

 

Tip: If you would like to learn the art of baking cupcakes, don't miss this opportunity! Check the courses and the dates on the website "the cake is on the table". They have already programmed the dates of their courses untill the end of this year. Enjoy it!



Translation is a "Problemation"!

      Language is the very important instrument we use to communicate to each other. Gestures, facial expressions and other factors also influence the way we communicate. However if you are in a situation where only language can be used, it must be the most accurate possible, or there will be the risk that a miscommunication will lead to troubles which could have been avoided.                  '

      A good example of that can be found at the departure area of Brasília, International Airport. The signposts confuse foreigners with poorly prepared translations.
The traveler who does not understand Portuguese at all and want to find the gates B, C, D, E, F and G wing domestic shipment may get confused. The signage indicates: "The gates A and H", (OK...where are the gates B to G?) It should be written: "The gates A to H", according to its translation in Portuguese.

      July is a period of vacation and not only many people from Brazil get the opportunity to visit and know the country capital but also many foreigners come to visit us. In this case, such mistake can be considered even a lack of respect to these people. Tourist must be the most welcomed possible because it is exactly that we do when we receive visitors in our home. And our country is our home. Let’s hope some good souls can be there to help the tourist when they approached them to ask for information…because unfortunately, they will!

Post Question: Have you ever been misled due to a misunderstanding? When and where were you? Have you ever helped some foreigners to get around the city? Where were they from? Where would they like to go?

 

Tip: If you don't want to be misunderstood, get some minutes and take a look at these 100 words most commonly misspelled, just click here and do the right thing. 

Tea - for all occasions!

              When do you like to have a cup of tea? Or better asking, when do you need a cup of tea?

I would say anytime, anywhere! Mainly from now on, as we are about to have our winter season (from June 21st to September 20th). How delicious it is! So many flavours to enjoy...and also the possibility of a nice gourmet combination with cakes, pies, bread (I prefer the sweet ones), cookies, etc. 

Ok, you may say that it's because I do love tea so much, but apparently, it's not only me. In a more poetic way, literally, Mr. William Ewart Gladstone, the Britain's oldest Prime Minister, agrees with me:

"If you are cold, tea will warm you,
If you are too heated, it will cool you,
If you are depressed, it will cheer you,
If you are exhausted, it will calm you."
I couldn't agree more!

However, as anything that someone does with all their heart and passion, make a cup of tea (as simple as it sounds) can be a piece of art.

To learn more about that exquisite art, take a look at the link below (tip). You will find two different ways to make your cup of tea, a very nice video from Cindy Bigelow herself (I loved that), useful tips and warnings, a checklist of all you need for your tea moment, related articles about it, sources, citations and article information.

Why don't you get your favorite cup of tea, browse the website and enjoy it! It's Always a good time to pamper yourself!

Post Question: What's your favorite tea flavour? What's your favorite tea brand? What's the most popular t4a brand in your state/country? (Answer the two questions on the post too)

 

Tip: Here you are, a nice website about tea- learn how to make a good cup of tea. You can even add some extra information you may think it's relevant.

"The Allegory of the Cave" got English, Literature and Philosophy together!

      According to our successful experience during the first quarter of the year, using two subjects in the same test, we have decided not only  keep doing it but also improve it by inviting another teacher to share it with us. And we got very thankful to our Philosophy teacher that promptly accept our proposal and contributed to a meaningful work. The test involved concepts of Philosophy that are also presented in Literature, displayed in a foreign language (in this case, English) and the result was a test whose subject just flows through it.

You learned that for a philosopher it is much more important to know oneself than to know the Works of others.

You could also learn that Philosophy is everywhere, including the Harry Potter books collection. According to Dumbledore, "it's our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

As we wrote on the test, teachers Ingrid, Renato and I wish that your learning could be effectively. May it be the light that guides you and that will guide you throughout your life. May you can learn what pleases you most and mainly what you really need to.

Post Question: What's your opinion about the test? Was it more difficult or easier than a split version (separated test)? What subjects do you think it would be a good combination to participate in this Project? What theme would you like to have in your next test? Would like to be a philosopher? Do you think you know yourself?

 

Tip: To consolidate the discussion and all the work done about this theme, take a few minutes to watch this video. You can add English subtitles to it.

It's a dog day! The guide dog day!

Human beings and dogs have made one of the most memorable partnership in history.
Dogs are loyal, friendly and a very good company.
Besides all that, they are wonderful to help us in many different ways, from the high altitude in the Swiss Alps to the subways stations. They are true lifesavers!
And we dedicate one day to honor these dogs, which work all days to assure you know exactly where you are going to: the guide dogs. And according to the poster, if you see one guide dog in any subway station, do not play or cherish it. They are cute and adorable, but they are working. If you play or cherish it, you may distract it and at that moment, do not forget, it must conduct blind or visually impaired people around obstacles safely.
The first guide dog training schools were established in Germany during World War I, to enhance the mobility of returning veterans who were blinded in combat and the first guide dogs in Great Britain were German shepherds. Today, Golden Retrievers, Labradors, and German Shepherds are most likely to be chosen by guide dog facilities. Even with more and more electronic gadgets and technology, nothing can replace the efficiency of a guide dog. And the most important detail, hug them is much more nice than any gadgets.

Post Question: Do you have a pet? What's its name? How old is it? How did you get it? Have you ever seen a guide dog around our city?

Tip: If you want to know how to help the institutions that trained the guide dogs, just click here. Let's help who has always helped us!