The self-evaluation of my oral presentation

In the oral presentation of my research project, I used a Powerpoint, almost the same as the one for my catalan presentation of the project. It was like a summary of the most important things and it helped me to not get lost. So of course it supported the presentation. The timing of my presentation was okay.
I looked at the audience and didn't read from notes (as I actually didn't have any), but from the Powerpoint. Ididn't get lost, because I had done that presentation before in catalan. Gestures and eye contact definitely got better than last year.
I believe I introduced new information to my audience, referring to my project and tree species. Some of my information was complicated (the different species), but I think I managed to explain it in an easy-to-understand way. The only source for my presentation was, of course, my research project.
The grammar was correct, I think I got confused once or twice and just repeated the sentence. Vocabulary was also okay, I tried to use scientific words, but easy to understand. I also used sentence linkers. My pronunciation was also allright, I think. I checked the pronunciation for words I didn't know, so I was prepared.
For my next presentation, I should work again on body language and eye contact. I would give myself a 7 or an 8.

My text was this one:

"Hello everyone. I want to present you my research project, which has the title 'botanical route through Castelló d'Empúries". I chose that topic because I got the interest in plants from my mother, she loves looking after her flowers in the garden. First, I'll explain what my objectives were. The first one was learn to classify different species of trees. then, I wanted to design a botanical route in a zone I chose first. Finally, i had the objective of checking the route by doing it with 1st ESO students. To accomplish that objectives, I followed the following methodology: First, search theoric information of the different trees I could find. Then, I had to search for books and maps of the zone I wanted to study, the 'Passeig de les Oques'. The practical part was aking photos of the trees in the zone, make dichotomous keys and design the route. The last would have been to check the route. I decided to divide the zone to study into two subzones. So, the first subzone would be between the 'Pont Vell' and the bridge of the Sant Clara street and the second one from that same bridge to the Castelló Nou bridge. I went to the zone and took photos of the different trees I found there, then I made an inventory. As you can see, each page of that inventory contained the scientific and popular names of the species, a short description and photos. The last parts of the research project were the ones I liked the most: designing the route, making the exercices and drawings and the dichotomous keys. Dichotomous keys are like questions where you have to choose from two or three possible answers and then continue with the question you are told, until they give you the name of the species you are looking for. After doing this, I also designed some exercises, which were basically to help the children to see what they had to focus on. They had some drawings to help them understand some words that could be difficult. After doing all the research project, I had the following conclusions: firstly, there are 11 different species which are typical river-side trees, although the 'Passeig de les Oques' is a zone that is influenced by humans. secondly, most of the species are represented by only one tree, but there are 3 that are very common: Platanus x hispanica, the banana tree, at zone one, and Populus alba and Populus nigra, which are called 'pollancres' in catalan, in zone 2. Due to a lack of time I couldn't check the route with 1st of ESO students, although I would have liked to do it. In general, I'm satisfied with my research project, but I would have liked to have the route ready earlier to be able to do it with the children. And that's the end of my presentation. Do you have any questions?"

Botanical route through castelló d‘empúries

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Podcast - Description of a friend

(It finally works!!! -.-)

One of the best inventions of 2010

In my opinion, one of the most useful inventions of 2010 was the "electric eye". It's still under development, but it supposed to allow blind people to recognise faces and go through a room without help, so they recover (or get, when they were blind from birth) parts of their sight! For it to work, the person must wear some special glasses that are supposed to stimulate the optical nerve.
In my opinion, it's very useful for those blind people, so they can have a more normal, easier life. I also think it deserves the title of "best invention of 2010" because it helps people and is not another of that unnecessary inventions some people seem to adore. It shows that there are still scientists willing to help ill, disabled or handicapped people.
moreover, it makes me think that, if there's a possibility to make blind people see, there may be cures for many other handicaps and diseases. Inventions like that one help us to be optimistic about our future development. And I think that optimism can be applied for every "category" of science.
For this particular invention, we only can wait for its development and see if it works how it should. Personally, I think we're in a period of great progress and I enjoy watching it. Hopefully we all can do our part to help that progress.

My frist day in Bremen - What it was like.

I know I've already talked a whole lot about my trip to Bremen, but it's a topic that's very important to me, so I'll leave it in my blog.
On Monday, the 27th December 2010 I was very nervous, because at 11 o'clock I would be driving to the airport of Girona. I was very, very excited about my trip there because my boyfriend (now ex-boyfriend, sadly..) lives there. It was the first time we actually met eachother and I would be staying at his house for 10 days!
So, at exactly 11 o'clock, a friend of my parents drove me to Girona. From there, I had to get into the plane alone. It was the first time I was at an airport alone, but it was easier than I thought, I found everything easily. As I was in the plane, I got a bit more relaxed. The worst was over. Now I only had to wait for the plane to arrive at Bremen and my boyfriend and his mother would be waiting for me at the airport.
Despite my expectations, the 2 hours on the plane went by quickly. I still can't explain with words what I felt when I got my first sight of the snow-covered Bremen through the window. I was close to crying. I had fought so much for that trip, to meet him, and now it would be less than 10 minutes. I couldn't believe my luck. As I got off the plane, I looked for my boyfriend, but I couldn't find him. Was he in the other terminal? It could also have been that they hadn't arrived yet. I decided to call him, so I searched for a phone cabin and entered his number. As he answered the call, I asked "Where are you?" to what he responded "Where do you think I am? Come on!". I explained where I was (the terminal was called terminal E, which is the one for Ryanair flights) and he said they would come. So I waited. 2 minutes passed and he arrived. I couldn't help but smile, I was so happy. I greeted him and his mom and then they brought me to the car. It really was a short trip from the airport to his house, more or less 15 minutes. As we arrived, I introduced myself to my boyfriend's father and grandmother, then we went to his room to have a rest. We spent the entire day talking about everything, making plans and so on. It was also the day we kissed the first time..

My first day in Bremen may seem boring to you, but for me it was a memorable day. I won't forget how we met the first time. Ever.

Dancing and Audition

Do you like dancing? Well, I do! I'd like to take dance lessons, but my reduced free time doesn't allow me to do it. Besides, I guess they're expensive and my parents wouldn't pay much for them. Anyway, as music is a very important thing in my life, I dance around with almost every sing I like (usually I don't do that in public, though, as I'm convinced that I absolutely CAN'T dance!).
I don't really have a favourite style, I like them all. But there's such a great diversity I can't even say how many there are I don't know! I enjoy watching people dance, like Arunas sometimes between classes or my ex-boyfriend, who dances jumpstyle.
I also like playing games with those dance mats. They're fun and you make a bit of exercise too. There's also a computer game about dancing I like: Audition Online. It has different game modes (the newest is a guitar mode, similar to Guitar Hero) where you compete with other players in so-called dance battles. Furhtermore, you can buy clothes for you character so it is prettier and different from the other ones. There are lots of songs from not so well-known bands, some of them really good ones. Of course, the songs have diofferent speeds and so some are easier than others. I've played that game now for more or less a year and I think I'm not really really good, but it's okay for my level, as I don't play much.

After all, of course that kind of games are nothing compared to lessons, but it's also a way of having fun with music.

Inline Skates and Tramuntana

Last week, I went to the supermarket Esclat with my mum because she needed to get some ingredients for lunch. I decided to go with her and take my inline skates. That's because I want to get used to them again. On Easter, I'll have a friend staying at my place and he'll bring his inline skates and he wants me to go with him. As I don't want to fall down when he's with me, I'm training now.
So, the way to the supermarket wasn't easy as we had Tramuntana blowing at our faces. Sometimes Mum had to drag me because otherwise I think I would have rolled backwards, unable to go on! As we made it there, I changed my inliner for some normal trainers and we went inside. Of course, as we hat everything and paid, I got outside and put them on again. The way back home was easier and a lot funnier! At some point of our way, the wind got stronger and pushed me forward at a considerable speed. I was a bit scared at first, but then I started laughing as I saw my mother running after me! As I managed to stop, First I had to laugh. It was so funny!
After that funny little surprise, the rest of the way back home went without greater anormalities.

Howerver, I'll train a bit more with my inliners, because the next day my legs hurt a bit. Butt until Easter I still have time!

Pokémon..

Red, blue, yellow, gold, silver, crystal, ruby, sapphire, emerald, fire red, leaf green, pearl, diamond, heart gold, soul silver and now black and white.. It really seems like the Pokémon series never end. But, surprisingly, it's still fun! At least I think that way.
The games may seem for little children, but there are many (hidden) strategical points that are interesting for older people. But my main occupation in Pokémon Pearl is searching for some extremely rare creatures with different colors, called shinies. So far, I've collected 10 of them and I'm working on more. There's a special method in the game to increase the probability of meeting one of those shinies, but it's hard, so I have to try several times before I succeed. The normal chance to find one is 1/8192. But after applying the method successfully, it's 1/47 or so. It's still small, but it really makes a difference.


The pictures are some of the shinies I've got. Aren't they pretty?

Something I need to tell him..

Hello my dear,
this is probably the last time I write a letter like this one to you. I know it's probably too late to tell you all that's spinning in my head now, but I'll do it anyway.
So, where to start.. maybe by saying sorry. I know I've made lots of mistakes, even if you say nothing is my fault. I know I got too angry too easily many, many times. Sorry aybout everything I said when I got annoyed about something. Sometimes it wasn't even related to you.. Sorry about crying twice when I was staying at your place, because I was afraid to go home, be without you and someday, losing you..
Secondly, I want to say thank you. Thank you for being with me when I had hard times, thank you for loving me even when I was so incredibly and stupidly angry at everything, thank you for the wonderful time I had in Germany with you..
What else to say? I don't know.. There are just so many things running through my head.. I don't really know exactly when things started to go wrong, but I sure know that we weren't able to do anything against it. I'm so sad about the way it ended, knowing that it possibly wouldn't if I hadn't been so stupid and stubborn.
You know, when I listen to the old songs, the ones that we were both listening to all the time when everything began, I can't help it but smile. Inside, it feels like something is breaking right now. I know it will probably get better with time, but I don't even know if I want it to be at the moment..

I just want you to know that even if we're not a couple anymore, I'll be there for you if you need me. Always.

God, I want you back so badly..