Intro: The Aftermath
I have fallen in love with him. He is nothing like my past, changes my present, and brightens my future. Brazil has taught me how to love a world that I didn't know existed.
After serving a mission in Rio de Janeiro, I have pondered much on what I have learned. The greatest opportunity I had was to learn to 'people.' For a businessman, the verb 'to people' means to schmooze, please, or persuade his/her customer, audience, co-worker, or boss. For a mother, the verb takes on a nurturing connotation meaning to stay connected in her child's life in all ways possible such as make friends with her child's friend's parents, attend PTA, lead the cheering squad at her child's soccer game, or spend over an hour at parent/teacher conferences. For an extrovert, 'peopling' is life's most refreshing recreation in which situation he/she never feels inferior or unwanted. For Jesus Christ, however, 'peopling' is the product of pure love and the paramount preoccupation of life. To people is to involve one's self in the affairs of another enough to change their world, so the degree of 'peopling' depends on the purity of one's sincere intentions. The Unites States is great, almost too great at times. Brazil allows others to develop talents and provide necessities in a way that the giver feels needed and the receiver feels grateful. In the words of Mr. Darcy in Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice, "It was for you. Surely, you must know it was all for you." I hope to find out when I die that the Brazilians I have loved and others I have yet to love never doubt my intentions to make their world a better place. |
What is this? This is the story of a girl who had never left the borders of her country. This is a story about how, through love, she learned not only a different language and a different culture, she learned to live a different life.
Brazil is a world that oscillates between sensory overload and . Colors, smells, and lights speed through the retina of an old lady who
Brazil is a world that oscillates between sensory overload and . Colors, smells, and lights speed through the retina of an old lady who
Cultural CompetenceCultural Products: Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of cultural products with thoughtful and thorough discussion of their historical, political, and/or social contexts. Gives attention to multiple possible perspectives or interpretations where appropriate.
Cultural Practices: Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of cultural practices, with thoughtful and thorough discussion of how practices may differ among groups within the target culture, where appropriate. Demonstrates considerable awareness of how practices reflect unique cultural perspectives, beliefs, and values, drawing insight comparisons with the student's own culture or other culture. Reflection on Cultural Competence: Thoughtfully and convincingly discusses rationale for including each artifact and how it reflects student's cultural competence. Demonstrates considerable self-awareness in terms of growth in cultural competence. Outlines specific and practical goals for continued development of cultural knowledge and skills. |
Language CompetenceLanguage Proficiency Rating: (to be listed on separate scoring sheet for each student.
Reflection on Language Competence: Offers convincing evidence of growth in language competence over time; demonstrates considerable self-awareness of specific strengths and weaknesses in all four skills; outlines precise and practical goals for continuing to develop language skills. |
Critical Thinking and ExpressionPersuasive Paper: Thesis is clear, focused, substantive, and original. Paper acknowledges opposing views and multiple perspectives, while clearly supporting the author's position with carefully-chosen evidence. Organization is readily transparent, with consistent coherence and flow and cohesive development of ideas. Register is consistently appropriate for academic writing, with consistently appropriate for academic writing, with precise vocabulary and few if any grammatical errors.
Research Paper: Synthesizes and integrates information from multiple sources, demonstrating exceptional rigor and depth of research. Sources are properly introduced, with appropriate credit given for sources. Paper is organized conceptually rather than formulaically, with consistent coherence and flow and cohesive development of ideas. Register is consistently appropriate for academic writing, with precise vocabulary and few if any grammatical errors. Reflection on Critical Thinking and Expression: Thoughtfully and convincingly discusses rationale for including each artifact and how it reflects student's skills in critical thinking and expression. Demonstrates considerable self-awareness in terms of growth in these skills, and outlines specific and practical goals for continued improvement. |
Connecting Learning to Life |
Personal Use of Language: (not rated; just list student's artifacts on separate scoring sheet)
Professional Use of Language: (not rated; just list student's artifacts on separate scoring sheet) Reflection on Connecting Learning to Life: Thoughtfully and convincingly discusses rationale for including each artifact and how it reflects student's personal or professional use of the language. Outlines specific plans and practical goals for continued use of language skills. |