Charlie's thoughts

It was a bit strange talking to Lee on a computer when she is in another country, when she is so far away. But I think it is exciting and extrordinary to talk to someone in another country.

There were pictures and i needed to find out where they came from. Maybe South Africa or another country.

-Charlie

Pietermaritzburg city centre

Many of you have asked me to film different things in South Africa. I know it is difficult to picture a place you have never visited before, so I hope the series of videos to come will help to paint a picture for you of the many contrasts in South Africa.I know they are amateur, but I hope to learn from your developing ICT video skills!

Below is a video of Church street in Pietermaritzburg, it is the centre of the city and is loaded with different shops. It is not as busy as it used to be as shopping malls have popped up around the city and I filmed it on a quiet day too.

The reality of South Africa - The picture quiz!

Last week we completed the 'South Africa picture challenge' and on the whole your answers revealed that our knowledge about what you can possibly find in South Africa needs some attention! (Who is your teacher educating you anyway? I need to have a word!).

It turns out that Eustace got the most number of questions correct with a score of 9/11. Well done Eustace! The answer to the quiz was....

ALL THE PICTURES ARE TAKEN IN SOUTH AFRICA, EXCEPT THE LAST ONE... WE DON'T GET TIGERS IN AFRICA!


TASK A:
Choose one of the pictures from the 'picture quiz' that you really don't believe was taken in South Africa. Conduct some research into the facts behind the picture and write about what you have discovered. You need to save your findings (include pictures and clips if you like) then email it to me so I can post it on the blog.
Remember to:
- Quote the source of your findings and use your own words to write about it so you don't
plagiarise.
- Give your writing a relevant and interesting title.
- Pay attention to how you start your paragraphs.
- Consider 'purpose' and 'audience' for you piece (if we have discussed it in class).

BBC monkey documentary... well almost!

It has taken almost a week and I realise that documentary making is not my calling. I will stick to teaching as soon as I return to Red Balloon!

On the theme of wildlife, my cousin has just started working at a wildlife rehabilitation centre about 20 minutes from Pietermaritzburg. He has invited me (and you with the video camera!) to go to the centre to meet some of the animals they have in their care at the moment. Pretty exciting and does anyone know what a 'genet' is? I think we may get to hold one next week!

So here it is the full 'Monkey invasion video' let me know what you think!

-Lee

Harminder's blogging debut

School today or a snow day?

There was a small possibility of no school or teaching due to snow today even though it is 35C outside my window. It has rained for most of the time I have been home so the sunshine is greatHopefully you all have the chance to build a snowman outside.

I will keep it short today because you will add to the posts. I challenge someone to take a picture out the window so we can compare it with the one I just took below...

-Lee

Derek and Ruairi's first day....

Today we had our English lesson over skype to south Africa it was a bit strange to talk to a computer screen and not to someone in the flesh.
It is good how you can talk to someone who is so many miles away I am looking forward to learning a lot about south Africa and the different places and cultures.

-Derek and Ruairi