Post 3 - Heliene Silva

Once upon a time there was a lonly girl sitting by the edge of the Hudson Rive to watch the sunset; she used to go there every single day, she used to have some minutes on her own, she used to wonder about how could bridges conect so many places and people... that girl was me.
My favorite place the first time I came to NYC  was a bench by the Hudson, I couldn't stop stering at the Brooklin Bridge from down there, but I can't say now why I haven't  ever tried to cross that way.
This time was quite different: I finally have crossed the Brooklyn Bridge! It's winter, very windy and very cold, but the colors, lights, sounds and the whole moviment over there were so exciting that just after this view of the city I could really feel conected to the Big Apple.

Post 2 - Heliene Silva

I really believe that people must visit as much museums as it is possible in their lives. There's no doubt that a museum experience will teach you more than any lecture, movies or paper; it's a very effective way to learn anything you want. Museums inspire - they provide singular reinterpretations over time.
And if a person can ever have the thrill of a life inside a museum, it would be at the American Museum of Natural History, a magic place. We can see many differents exhibitions of a suite of subjects and from different pespectives. I particulary love the exhibition named PEOPLE OF THE WORLD, because I've always loved learning about where we've came from and where we are going - actually, it was exactly where I spend a long time of my visit at the AMNH.
All the animals I could see, the readings I could taste and the experience I had were fascinating. To visit AMNH was a pretty impressive moment here in NYC, and I would recommend everyone to visit it and have a very nice time in there.

POST 7 - Rosely Leite - VOLUNTEERING

Hello everybody!!!
Nice to be here again in this blog sharing the experiences we have had in New York City. I would like to thank all the PDPI staff which organized schedule program.The last one I participate was the volunteering work in Staten Island, in  City Harvest's Mobile Market, which distribute thousands of pounds of fresh food for hunger people in New York City.
There are millions of people in the USA who face hunger every year. City Harvest`s Mobile Market  collect food from  restaurants in New York City, receive donations from farmers, wholesalers, greenmarkets as well. Then they select the food and distribute to the community food programs in the city.
I am so proud of myself to make part of this great cause to help people. I could donate my time to those ones who sometimes don`t have a bread to eat. 

Post 4 - Miranda

Hi, PDPI folks!

Last week, I took part in a volunteering work group called Harvest Market, in Astoria, Queens. My colleagues from St John's University and I packed, weighed and distributed vegetables, fruits and potatoes to low income people of that neighborhood. It was such a rewarding experience. First, because you can help improve other people's lives, and secondly, because you can interact with students from other universities, from New York City and out of it. In my group I had students from different parts of the world: a Vietnamese, a Chinese, two American girls and a classmate guy from Brazil. Certainly, this kind of project help us to do group work and to more opened to others point of view and experiences of other people.  According to the volunteer leader, the main objective of the work is to provide healthy food for the population, including those suffering from chronic diseases; such as diabetes, high blood pressure. For most of them the daily processed and fast food meals can cause even more health problems. So, "the ultimate goal is to help develop healthy eating habits among the elderly and youngsters".          

Volunteering Post - Miranda

Hi, PDPI folks!

Last week, I took part in a volunteering work group called Harvest Market, in Astoria, Queens. My colleagues from St John's University and I packed, weighed and distributed vegetables, fruits and potatoes to low income people of that neighborhood. It was such a rewarding experience. First, because you can help improve other people's lives, and secondly, because you can interact with students from other universities, from New York City and out of it. In my group I had students from different parts of the world: a Vietnamese, a Chinese, two American girls and a classmate guy from Brazil. Certainly, this kind of project help us to do group work and to more opened to others point of view and experiences of other people.  According to the volunteer leader, the main objective of the work is to provide healthy food for the population, including those suffering from chronic diseases; such as diabetes, high blood pressure. For most of them the daily processed and fast food meals can cause even more health problems. So, "the ultimate goal is to help develop healthy eating habits among the elderly and youngsters".          

DEUS - Post 6

Hello Everyone,
It is time to thank all the PDPI professors and coordinators for everything they have done in order to give us support to teach our students in Brazil,which includes motivating them to learn English, as well as, give the students some tools to understand the process of learning a new language.
I would like to thank all the professors at ST. John's, specially Ann Marie Tamayo, who was my teacher in the English Refinement Classes during six weeks and gave me knowledge about the American culture and the English language itself.
Special thanks to professor Aaron Royer, who sent me hundreds of  Emails in the beginning of this program and gave all his best to make everything to be all right.
I would like to express my thankfulness for everyone who has made this program become a reality.

POST 5 Rosely Leite - The International High School at LaGuardia Community College

As an English teacher, I wish I could know the reality of a high school in the USA one day. I’ve already read about the American Educational System.  Fortunately this opportunity arrived in my life. St. John’s University, Language Connection Intensive English Program - Brazilian Teacher made my will come true. We went to visit on February 14^th, 2014, the International High School at LaGuardia Community College, in New York City. It was a great experience, maybe the best one.

The International High School at LaGuardia Community College has been known in New York as a Center of Excellence for their work in English communication arts. It  admitted students from different nationalities. In fact, the students who have been living in New York fewer than four years may have the opportunity to attend classes there. They must be limited English proficient as well.  I met students from many countries there. All mixed in the same classes. They are prepared to do the New York State ELA exam. At least four years they must stay attending classes in the school.

I loved what I see. A great school with great friendly teachers. All the Brazilian teachers could make an overview of the school and interact with the students in the classroom. We visited four classrooms.  I could observe the teachers’ methodology in each class and how the students are involved in their portfolio projects. We attended Game Design, Social Studies and Global Studies classes.