#englishb

Hello beautiful people. I'm here again to give you some tips about how to write a good article. It could be useful for you if you want to begin on this stuff.

The recommendation for this week is:

 Just The Two Of Us by Kevin Cohen. I liked this song, it is kind of jazz, it has a  great piano riff. I hope you enjoy it.

To write a good blog is necessary to structure it, I mean, you have to know what you are going to write or what you want to write. It is important to do a reflection about the work you have been doing.

It is too important that you catch the attention of the readers, it needs to have an attractive title to get more readers. The main idea that you want to express needs to be in the first paragraph because this is the second thing that readers are going to read, the first is your interesting title. You could write about some reflection of what you've been doing past weeks, recommendations of books, movies, restaurants, etc. useful tips, etc.

I take English B HL which is in group 2 – Language Acquisition, which is basically English as a second language. I have lived my whole life in Sweden and never studied anything in English (Except for the subject English) before I  started the IB program, so choosing EngB felt just right for me since it is English as a second language and I didn’t feel confident enough in the language to choose EngA.

The main focus in the EngB course is on achieving an increased knowledge about the language and how to use it in a range of different contexts and purposes, but also create an understanding of another culture through study of its language. I feel like the course is very centered around the exams since everything we do might pop up there, but it might also be because my teacher have structured it that way. I really enjoy it because it helps the students get a hum about how the exams will be at the same time as we expand our knowledge in the subject.

Many IB students look down on EngB. They believe that since you study everything else in the IB program in English it is a clear choice to study English at a native language level, however I disagree with that. Since English is my second language I personally felt like I did not have enough foundation to take the English course on a native level and instead wanted to take it as a second language. In the EngB course I get the opportunity to focus on developing my language of course, but most of all my vocabulary and how to use different words in different contexts. Just like Linn I have only been taking my course since August, but I can already see an improvement in my confidence when it comes to English. Since English is not my mother tongue and I have gone to Swedish schools my whole life, starting the IB felt like a bold move and EngB have been reassuring and helping though vocabulary and grammar exercises, but also through the discussions on various topics.

Besides the exams which will be on reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and written work there will also be an individual and interactive oral where you will be able to show off your English through communicating with either fellow students or the teacher who will ask questions after a short presentation.

I hope this gives you a clearer view of the English B course and my opinion on it.

The instructor said,

Go home and write a page tonight. And let that page come out of you— Then, it will be true.

I wonder if it's that simple? I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem. I went to school there, then Durham, then here to this college on the hill above Harlem. I am the only colored student in my class. The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem through a park, then I cross St. Nicholas, Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I come to the Y, the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the elevator up to my room, sit down, and write this page:

It's not easy to know what is true for you or me at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I'm what I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you: hear you, hear me—we two—you, me, talk on this page. (I hear New York too.) Me—who? Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love. I like to work, read, learn, and understand life. I like a pipe for a Christmas present, or records—Bessie, bop, or Bach. I guess being colored doesn't make me NOT like the same things other folks like who are other races. So will my page be colored that I write? Being me, it will not be white. But it will be a part of you, instructor. You are white— yet a part of me, as I am a part of you. That's American. Sometimes perhaps you don't want to be a part of me. Nor do I often want to be a part of you. But we are, that's true! As I learn from you, I guess you learn from me— although you're older—and white— and somewhat more free.

This is my page for English B.