And today she's 100 days old!

30 Oct 2008, 12:40

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My daughter's 100 days old today
Which in China is quite important
I'm told
She's growing so fast
Learning so fast
Changing so fast
Almost every day she seems to do something new
She has natural highlights in her hair
Gorgeous eyes
A wonderful smile
And she loves to walk
She made that clear almost from day 1
And she has to be talked to
Because she is the centre of attention
She has us know
A huge personality
For such a little thing

My daughter's now 3 months old

24 Oct 2008, 11:13

Edited by Jose Martel Penate, 24 Oct 2008, 11:14

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I've just been looking through my blog searching for stuff for the TMA01 essays, and I reread my first post. In that post I mention that my daughter is 2 months old. It suddenly struck me that I've been keeping this blog for only a month! It seems so much longer...

I think I've lost much of the energy I had when I started - or perhaps I should say that the energy has changed. There was a kind of fun naivety in some of my posts, and now I tend to doggedly stick to the topic; a curious, inquisitive step has turned into a determined trudge.

Am I learning to act my age? In some ways I hope not. But I do think I'm learning to give the answers that are expected of me - instead of the ones I'd want to give. Does this mean I'm becoming more of a professional??

My forum introduction (v1.1) (@19th Sep08)

29 Sep 2008, 05:00

Edited by Jose Martel Penate, 29 Sep 2008, 05:11

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From: José Martel Penate 19th Sep 08
Subject: Fwd: Jose's introduction v1.1
To: H808 08 ac_UNIT 1 INTRO


Hi all,

Firstly, apologies for my late arrival; hope I can catch up fairly soon.

And now the intro...

I'm Spanish, and grew up in England.

For the last couple of years I've been employed as an oral English teacher in China. Currently I "teach" 2nd year students at a university in Shanghai.

My doing a MAODE stems more from wanting to move onto a different, hopefully more satisfying career path here in China.

Why China in particular? Well, my wife is Chinese and we live in Shanghai with our lovely 8 week old, baby girl.

This is my first module of the MAODE. And my first time studying at this level. And my first online course.

I seem to be the least "professional" of my tutor group (Alan’s) which, initially, I find a little intimidating. However, this does mean I have a great opportunity to learn from my fellow members’ experience and expertise in related fields.

Some of you may have noticed that I'm having problems accessing messages on First Class. I'm not sure if this is because I'm (usually) using a Mac, coz I'm in China, both, or neither. But please bear with me while I try to sort out these problems.

By the way, you may already know that my being in China means I'm (usually) 8 hours ahead of UK time (GMT+8). This probably won't be too inconvenient for my tutor group and still allows for real-time IMing or talking over the internet at sociable hours if the need arose or the group decides it may be beneficial.

Over the next few months I hope we all have a stimulating, productive, and enjoyable time on this course together.

Jose

Ok, I've just read Alan's welcome and I think I need to expand this intro a bit.

Unlike most or all of you, I don't plan on using the knowledge and skills gained on the course at my current school/place of work. It's not that I think the kids wouldn't benefit from some sort of online support programme or PDPs, etc, or that my uni has any such programmes in operation or even planned (though a foreign oral English teacher is perhaps the last person to know about such things on a Chinese university campus, with any of the Chinese teachers coming in only slightly ahead). No, the kids would benefit from such programmes, and I might even say they (desperately) NEED them. The problem is that there would be no support from the administration on any level, and it goes without saying that the students would reject the slightest suggestion that they should take resonsibility for their own learning. And don't even mention the word "lifelong"!
So, at the moment I have a pleasant, vague sort of plan in which I hope that the MAODE can lead me away from state-run schools entrenched in their ways, while helping me steer clear of private schools obsessed with profit. Where I'll end up I'm not sure, but hopefully some place where learning is still or newly valued.

Belt and braces

26 Sep 2008, 04:12

Edited by Jose Martel Penate, 26 Sep 2008, 04:17

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A couple of days ago I learnt how to make notes on pdfs
Over the years I've come to gradually accept technology more and more in my learning

From outright hostility
To a willingness to at least try
Moving through trust and
Ultimately
Reliance on technology

When IT works it's great
When it doesn't work it's essential to have a backup
Of your both your info and
Of your study methods

I keep pen and paper handy

Why do mosquitos hate me so?

21 Sep 2008, 09:38

Edited by Jose Martel Penate, 26 Sep 2008, 00:14

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I must have been evil to them in a past life
Itch, itch (don’t scratch, don’t scratch)
Maybe I invented DDT
Itch, itch (don’t scratch, don’t scratch)
Or I was a fat, sticky-tonged lizard
Itch, itch (don’t scratch, don’t scratch)
Or…?
Well…better get back to eportfolios
Itch, itch (don’t scratch, don’t scratch)

If sleep is needed, why is it I can't?

21 Sep 2008, 00:09

Edited by Jose Martel Penate, 21 Sep 2008, 10:05

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I'm not sure how little sleep I've had in the last 2 months

And I'm even less sure of how little I've had in the last week or so

My beautiful little daughter is just 2 months old

I started this (little) OU course about a week ago

I'm surprised at how much I don't care that my daughter keeps me awake

I'm pleased that I'm quietly determind to catch up on my course

Ok, enough for now...