SUZANNE BORETZ

 http://www.suzanneboretz.com/

 

A vindeira semana remata o curso para a nosa Auxiliar de Conversa, Suz. Temos moita pena xa que tivemos moita sorte con ela: traballadora, resolutiva, entusiasta, encantadora e responsable….e máis que podería dicir. Fixémoslle unha breve entrevista:

1.      DEFINE IN A FEW WORDS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE IES CABO ORTEGAL.

·         In one word, my experience here has been warm. I am so grateful for the kindness of the teachers, who have been willing to help me with everything from Spanish to lesson planning to getting to Cariño each day. And the students have made me feel very welcome and appreciated—thanks, guys!

2.      HOW DO YOU FIND THE STUDENTS ENGLISH LEVEL?

·         Excellent! Both in the way they write and the way they speak.

3.      DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE IMPROVED YOUR SPANISH LEVEL?

·         I think I have improved my Spanish a lot this year—and even picked up some words in Gallego!

4.      WHAT WAS THE MOST SURPRISING THING FOR YOU ABOUT GALICIA?

·         The beaches are incredibly beautiful. I'm from California, and I thought I knew beautiful beaches, but they do not compare to the cliffs, rocks, and water on the coast here.

5.      AFTER LEAVING SPAIN, WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE?

·         I will go back to California to live close to my parents and sister. I will hopefully find work again as a graphic designer, which was my work before I came to Spain.

6.      DO YOU OFTEN GO TO LIBRARIES, OR DO YOU PREFER TO BUY BOOKS?

·         I like to read books from the library first, and then, if I really like them, I buy them from a book shop. I love having books I enjoyed to lend to friends.

7.      DO YOU ENJOY READING?

·         YES. I love reading so much that sometimes I cancel plans because I need to finish a book. Is that bad…?

8.      HOW OFTEN DO YOU READ? HOW MANY BOOKS DO YOU READ A YEAR?

·         I am always reading something. Usually I spend about two weeks on a book, so I read about twenty books a year.

9.      WHAT KIND OF BOOKS DO YOU READ?

·         All kinds! Usually I prefer fiction, but I also like reading memoirs and historical nonfiction. This year I have read everything from science fiction to Don Quixote.

10.  WHAT ARE YOU READING NOW?

·         Right now I am finishing a book called Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie.

11.  WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK? AND WHY?

·         My favorite book is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It has everything I love: history, lovable characters, romance, and writing that flows. AND it's about books!

12.  COUlD YOU RECOMMEND US A BOOK FOR TEENAGERS?

·         In high school I read To Kill a Mockingbird, which I think everyone in the world should read! It is a beautifully told story with important themes, and of course you will fall in love with all the characters.

13.   DO YOU OFTEN BORROW BOOKS IN LIBRARIES OR DO YOU PREFER TO BUY THEM?

·         I like to buy my favorite books after I have borrowed them from the library, to be sure I like them first, and to be able to share them with my friends and family.

14.  WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE READING HABITS OF AMERICAN TEENAGERS?

·         Because English classes in the US always assign reading to students, I think most teenagers read for school during the school year and for pleasure in the summer. In the summer time, many libraries have contests for who can read the most pages, and my mom always made me and my sister enter the contests, which gave me a love of reading from an early age!

15.  DO YOU PREFER TO READ WITH EBOOKS OR WITH PAPER BOOKS?

·         In general, I prefer paper books because I love how they feel and smell. But because it is hard to find English books here in Spain, this year I have made a habit of reading eBooks, and I like them more than I expected! 

Esperando que sempre se lembre deste pequeno, marabilloso e carismático recuncho de Galicia, desexámoslle o mellor no seu prometedor futuro!!! GRAZASSS!!

 O MELLOR AUXILIAR DE CONVERSA IN THE WORLD

Devon Medlin foi o noso “auxiliar de conversa” este curso 2014-15. É dos Estados Unidos e vive en (Herndon, VA) alrededores de Washington, DC; estudou Marketing e Dirección na Universidade de Virginia Tech., e agora vai estudar Business Analytics en Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute en Troy, Nova York. Gústalle ver a TV, xogar aos videoxogos, o fútbol, o fútbol americano, esquiar, viaxar e ir a praia.

Falamos con el das bibliotecas escolares e dos gustos de lectura dos teenagers do seu país e del mesmo:

1-      HOW DOES A HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY WORK IN THE UNITED STATES?

The same as the library here in Cariño.

2-      WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE READING HABITS OF AMERICAN TEENAGERS?

It really depends on the teenager.  Some teens read for leisure and school, some read just for school, and some don´t read at all.

3-      DO YOU OFTEN BORROW BOOKS IN LIBRARIES OR DO YOU PREFER TO BUY THEM?

I prefer to buy books because I like to write notes in them while reading.

4-      DO YOU ENJOY READING?

Yes I really enjoy reading!

5-      HOW OFTEN DO YOU READ? HOW MANY BOOKS DO YOU READ A YEAR?

I read a book for at least 1 hour/day for 4 days of the week but I try to find time to read everyday.  I´m not sure how many books I read a year but I´d say around 12.

6-      WHAT KIND OF BOOKS DO YOU READ?

My favorite genres are non-fiction, business/self-improvement/psychology books, but I also read books of other genres because I think it´s good to explore different topics.

7-      WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK AND WHY?

“Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill is my favorite book.  It´s a novel of anecdotes that help the reader devise a plan to find and achieve their goals in life.

8-      DO YOU FIND INTERESTING/APPROPIATE THE ENGLISH BOOKS WE HAVE IN OUR LIBRARY?

Yes, I think the English books are great, especially for students learning English as a foreign language.

9-      COULD YOU RECOMMEND US A BOOK? AND WHY THAT BOOK?

I´d reccomend the book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie.  It´s a fun read, self-help novel that focuses on interacting with people, making people like you, convinicing people to your way of thinking, and being a leader.  I think the book is great for teenagers and young adults but it´s applicable to people of all ages.

1-   ARE EXTRA/COMPLEMENTARIES ACTIVITIES DONE IN THE UNITED STATES HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARIES?

Teaching students how to do research was the only extra activity done in my high school. 

Hoxe é o seu último día neste IES e xa o estamos a botar de menos!!!! Foi un gran compañeiro, traballador, amable, simpático, empático cos alumnos e os compañeir@s e implicouse e interesouse pola cultura galega. Eu non vou esquecer cando no xantar do Entroido díxome: “what if I try the pork nose?” e eu disenlle adiante e colleu o garfo e o coitelo e enfilou the “nose”!! Unha mágoa que se vaia!!