Virtual pals 'soar in importance' دوستان و ارتباطات مجازی زیاد می شوند

Virtual communities are as important as their real-world counterparts, many members of online communities believe.A survey found 43% of online networkers from the US felt "as strongly" about their web community as they did about their real-world friends. It also found 40% of net-users were using the web to stay in contact with people, and 37.7% believed the internet was enabling them to communicate more with friends and family.
Since its beginning, the web has often been used as a tool to meet new people, but in recent years the interaction between web-users has grown dramatically, spawning a new generation of networking sites.

Dan Greenpeace: "I use Myspace primarily for networking,"It's a much more personal and interactive way of communicating with people out there who are actually interested in what you're doing."

Mr Cole added: "The internet has become an essential source of entertainment, information and communication... However, in 2006, we are beginning to measure real growth and discover new directions for the internet as a comprehensive tool that Americans are using to touch the world."

دیگر نیازی به ارتباط با دیگران نیست. اینترنت دوستان مجازی برای ما انتخاب می کند. با آنها گفتگو می کنیم. با اقوام و بستگان خود چت می کنیم و از مشکلاتمان برایشان حرف می زنیم و درددل می کنیم. نیازی به دید و بازدید نیست. اصلا این ارتباطات چه فایده ای دارند؟ شما حتی اگر وقت ندارید می توانیدبا پدر و مادر خود هم ارتباط اینترنتی داشته باشید و مشکلاتشان را اینترنتی حل کنید. دیگر نیازی به حضور استاد و دانشجو در کلاس نیست و اصلا درک حضور استاد و نگاه و کلام او چه معنایی دارد. همه چیز مجازی و اینترنتی می شود. وای بشرامروزی فقط همین را کم داشت. آفرین بر تکنولوژی. زنده باد تفکر نو امروزی. آیاآرامش و صفا و دوستی و لذت دید و بازدید در گذشته می توانستند امروز را تصور کنند؟ هرگز!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟

Happy thanksgiving عید شکرگزاری مبارک باد

Thanksgiving Day in America is a time to offer thanks, of family gatherings and holiday meals. A time of turkeys, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. A time for Indian corn, holiday parades and giant balloons.Thanksgiving is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November, which this year (2006) is November 23rd.
Before the establishment of formal religions many ancient farmers believed that their crops contained spirits which caused the crops to grow and die. Many believed that these spirits would be released when the crops were harvested and they had to be destroyed or they would take revenge on the farmers who harvested them. Some of the harvest festivals celebrated the defeat of these spirits.
Harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations were held by the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Hebrews, the Chinese, and the Egyptians.
The Pilgrims were early settlers on the east coast of North America. They had to work hard to find or grow their own food. At harvest time in autumn, the Pilgrims were very thankful that they had a good crop of food to eat during the coming winter. They thanked God and they also thanked the native Americans for helping them learn how to grow food. So they invited their two key Native American helpers, Squanto, Samoset, plus Chief Massasoit, to share in their Thanksgiving feast. The Native Americans brought their families, numbering over 90 people. The Pilgrims were overwhelmed, and didn´t have enough food, so the Native Americans brought along their own supplies for the feast. The Wampanoags brought turkey, deer, berries, squash, cornbread, and beans--things that they'd farmed and that they'd shown the Pilgrims how to care for.
Thanksgiving is traditionally a celebration of a good harvest or a good year, the health of our family and friends, the many blessings we have been granted and the promise of the days of thankfulness ahead. It is a time to be at one with our roots and our most basic beliefs in human goodness and kindness.

Sir John Templeton: "How wonderful it would be if we could help our children and grandchildren to learn thanksgiving at an early age. Thanksgiving opens the doors. It changes a child's personality. A child is resentful, negative—or thankful. Thankful children want to give, they radiate happiness, they draw people."

Beating of Iranian student by US police ضرب و شتم دانشجوی ایرانی دانشگاه کالیفرنیا توسط پلیس؟چرا؟؟؟؟

Everbody believes that such a treatment is not tolerable with an Iranian student who was studying at the university library.

This act has been done by the police of a country which claims to be supporter of freedom, human rights and democracy for other countries and which is trying to rule the entire world, he added.

We all teachers and students condemn the savage and inhuman act of the US police, calling for following up the case.

welcome package بسته ی پستی از تایوان برای کلاس اولیها

How marvellous it was! All my students were so pleased tthat they received the welcome package from Taiwan as part of their iearn project, and they were so excited when seeing all the package contents including postal cards, a letter form Lishan Highschool students along with their signatures, and one CD whcih introduced the highschool and the class to us. The whole class read the friendly letter with great eagerness.
In reaction to this gift, my students are gathering some pictures and useful information about Kashan, Highschool and our women' traditional clothes (hijab).They are supposed to write them a letter of thanks.So enjoyable, isn't it?
Thanks so much for the joy and happiness you brought to my class.

چقدر باور داریم که کانون تابش و بازتابش تمام افکار و اعمال خود هستیم؟

A MATTER OF TRUST
A young boy knocked on the door of a lady's house and asked if she wanted to buy some of the berries he had just picked. "Yes," she said, "and I'll take your pail into the kitchen and measure out two quarts."
The boy stood outside and played with the dog. "Why don't you come in and see that I measure your berries right?" asked the lady. "How do you know that I may not cheat you?"

"I am not afraid," replied the boy", for you would get the worst of it."
"Get the worst of it?" replied the lady, "What do you mean by that?"
"Why," said the boy, "I'd only lose the berries; you would be a thief !"
چقدر باور داریم که نتایج کارها و فعالیتهای مثبت ما دوباره به خود ما بر میگردد؟ اگر قرار بود منتظر تشویق و تمجید عده ای ! .......باشیم موفق به انجام هیچ کار متبتی نمی شدیم ولی ای کاش می فهمیدند؟

Happy Veteran's Day یاد شهیدان گرامی باد

Veterans Day is an American holiday for honoring war veterans.It's the time for honoring living veterans who have served in the military during wartime or peacetime, partially to complement Memorial Day, which primarily honors the dead. It falls on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I. All major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.
In Iran we also pay tribute to the veterans.We also honor the courage of those who were lost in war, we think of their families who lost a loved one, and pray for their comfort.
Veterans have placed the nation's security before their own lives. Their sacrifice creates a debt that we can never fully repay.
Iran owes its calm and security to the selfless endeavors of the gallant combatants who created momentous epics in Islamic Revolution in 1979 and Sacred Defense (the 1980-88 Iraq-imposed war) and defeated aggressors on various fronts.
Safeguarding the lofty status of martyrs and respecting their families, as well as protecting the rights of war veterans, is a national duty which must become the top priority of all proponents of the Islamic Revolution.

What a ..............class!! !چه کلاس ضد حالی

Today I was not happy with my class. Having took part in Aban 13th rallies, the students were very tired and impatient. (Aban 13 marks three important events: the anniversary of the takeover of the former US embassy in Tehran by the Muslim Students Following the Imam's Line (1979), the anniversary of the exile of the late Founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini by the ex-shah (1964), and the Students Day (marking the day in 1978 in which several of the students taking part in a protest rally against the former shah were martyred)).
Students full of energy and great eagerness is something that a teacher is seeking, at least in Farzanegan Highschool, something that is missing among some students of mine!

Happy Guy Fawkes Day آتش بازی در انگلیس :چهارشنبه سوری ایرانیان

In England, fireworks are used to celebrate November 5 - the anniversary of Guy Fawkes' failed attempt to blow up the houses of Parliament.
Other countries use fireworks to mark the anniversary of different events. Here are a few of them:
The signing of the US Declaration of Independence on July 4
The start of the French Revolution on July 14
The Chinese New Year, which is about a month after Jan 1.
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at the end of October or beginning of November
The Jewish festival of Hanukkah, around December or January.
Canada Day on July 1
Last Wednesday of the year (Chahar Shanbeh Suri) in Iran : On the eve of last Wednesday of the year, bonfires are lit in public places with the help of fire and light, it is hoped for enlightenment and happiness throughout the coming year. People leap over the flames, shouting:
Give me your beautiful red color And take back my sickly pallor!

Wishing you a day that' s sparkling with fun,
bursting with joy,
And crackling with laughter!
Have a blast this Guy Fawke's Day!

A memorable day full of learning!روزی به یاد ماندنی در جلسه سخنرانی استاد عزیز

Spending 8 hours on bus to attend a 2 hour lecture by my Great Professor Dr. Atai at Tarbiat Modarres Univesrsity really worth it.It was not just "NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN ESAP : PUTTING LEARNER IN THE PERSPECTIVE" which taught me alot, but it was my honor to have the presence of some M.A and PhD students as well as three great professors, Dr.Atai, Dr. Kiani, and Dr. Ziaei.I taped the whole speech although the quality is not good enough.Fortunately, the next day Ms. Hemmati forwarded the whole article to TELLSI members.
I never allow those pleasurable and memorable days of learning escape my mind as I have paid alot for them.I wish I were a univesrsity student once more, God willing(Amin).

Happy Halloween to all

We Iranians do not have such a nice festival. I wish I could have the chance to watch it closely. What follows are history and facts of Halloween.

Halloween is a holiday of costumes, pumpkins, witches, ghosts, and haunted houses.

Halloween is always celebrated on 31 October.
Halloween is one of the oldest celebrations in the world, dating back over 2000 years to the time of the Celts who lived in Britain. The Celts believed that evil spirits came with the long hours of winter darkness. They believed that on that night the barriers between our world and the spirit world were at their weakest and therefore spirits were most likely to be seen on earth.
The Celts built bonfires to frighten the spirits away, and feasted and danced around the fires. The Halloween fires brought comfort to the souls in purgatory and people prayed for them.
It is also a Christian festival where people or children make house calls begging for soul cakes. It was believed that even strangers could help a soul's journey to heaven by saying prayers, so, in exchange for a cake they promised to pray for the donors' deceased relatives. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. Today, people light candles in pumpkin lanterns and then put them outside their homes to frighten away witches and ghosts.
Halloween is also know by other names: All Hallows, Eve Samhain,All Hallowtide,The Feast of the Dead,The Day of the Dead.
It is thought that the colours orange and black became Halloween colours because orange is associated with harvests (Halloween marks the end of harvest) and black is associated with death.
Black cats were originally believed to protect witches' powers from negative forces.
Ringing a bell scares evil spirits away.

An interesting discussion among science students بحثی شنیدنی و جالب در کلاس سوم تجربی

The same as Math students,science students were asked to provide me with their ideas about this sentence: "Education is not an end but a means to an end. What is the end for life?"What follows are my students' responses. SOOOOOOOOO Wonderfullllllllllllllllll!

Fatemeh: For me the end of education is reaching God. For reaching God I need to know Him and to know him I need to know His creatures and education helps me in this way.

Hanieh: I want to know God and education can help me to reach to my end but education is not enough. I want to reach to top levels to be able to realize who I am and why I am.

Shima: My goal is having enough time to spend it on the way I like.Something like inventing ways to be lucky is what I decide to write about. Good life and luck is when you feel that having no common thing doesn't make you feel down. Wanna know why life has been created.

Motahhareh:The end is to get to know God and myself and by understanding his glory I can give real thanks to Him.

Roya: My end in life is to be successful in my life and be a good servant for God.

Fereshteh:Education helps me to know myself, and my God , to have a better life, and tobe a helpful person in the world.

Parisa:I think God doesn't want us to sit in a place and think about Him. We should reach God by education. When we get a new thing we can know God with it.

Rezvan:I want to know myself to reach God and I want to be God's servant for reaching Him.

Mina: I want to be a doctor to cure the poor who cannot afford the fees of their cure.

Hanieh: The end of education can be to help people and have a good life. It can grow our thinking about why God created the world and all the things in it.

Mahsa: I want to know God in a best way and do things that God asked me and have a good life. I want to thank God for many blessings.

Motahhareh. S :I think the end for our life is that God be happy with us. I think with education we can earn this end better. The best end is that we know God and ourselves. Every science can help us in it.

Elnaz: I like education to have a logical manner to persuade people why we must worship God, to find the reasons and to do the best to be perfect, to improve and advance, and to reach our real creator.

Maryam K: Education helps me to understand the best way to manage my life.

Mina Z:End of education is using it in a good way and reaching your idea and beliefs.

Farzaneh: It helps me to have an ideal life, to use from blessings that God gave us and thank God.

Marzieh: Einstein says: I found God in atom.So I think I can know God easier by education.and a person who doesnot have education should look at the world carefully.

Fatemeh:We can improve our life to have better life;wecan know nature and use it better;we can advance in our job and use science to have better life and to thank God.

Maryam Z: I need education to improve my life and to understand what happen in this world.

Maryam M:I think good end for our life is to reach God. Now it is by education or without it???

TO BE COUNTINUED.........

Where are we heading ?انسان به کجا می رود؟؟تناقض های زندگی

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more but enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgement; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; We've added years to life, not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less; we plan more, but accomplish less.
We've learned to rush, but not to wait; we have higher incomes, but, lower morals.
We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication; We've become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are the days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw away morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. Where are we heading ....?.........
So what is the morale of the story????

Hot discussion in class بحثی داغ در کلاس سوم ریاضی

O.K. lesson two: Reading (The value of education)
Maryam reads out: Education is not an end but a means to an end. Stop Maryam. O.K. What is the end in your life.mm..she says something....... Other students one by one answer this question. So surprising!!!For all the students, except those who didn't have an end or at least haven't thought of it yet!!, being a UNIVERSITY student and getting a good job in future was an end. Being at the service of community was the end for some students. Being a university professor at M.I.T was a great dream of one student. It's wonderful. I do believe we all should follow our dreams and we shouldn't let obstacles hinder us since" great men are great dreamers" ;However, dreams are means to an END not an end by themselves. What is the purpose of education and the end for our life? I do recommentd you to read " Missing piece meets the big O" by Silverstein. I reckon our missing pieces are not university or M.S ,or PhD, or an important, knowledgable, famous person in society. It is something within us which can be nurtured by education but not necessarily found.
Any way, an attractive discussion!
What do you think?

The Missing Piece Meets the Big O آشنايي قطعة گمشده با دايره

The missing piece sat alone waiting for someone to come along and take it somewhere.

Some fit?but could not roll. Others could roll? but did not fit. One didn't know a thing about fitting. And another didn't know a thing about anything. Some looked too closely. Others rolled right by without noticing. The missing piece tried to make itself more attractive,
but it didn't help. It tried being flashy, but that just frightened away the shy ones.

And then one day, one came along who looked different.Missing Piece (MP): Who are you?Reply: I am the Big O (BO)

MP: I think you are the one I have been waiting for, maybe I am your missing piece.

BO: But I am not missing a piece. There is no place you would fit.

MP: That is too bad. I was hoping that perhaps I could roll with you...

BO: You cannot roll with me, but perhaps you can roll by yourself.

MP: By myself? A missing piece cannot roll by itself.

BO: Have you ever tried?

MP: But I have sharp corners. I am not shaped for rolling.

BO: Corners wear off and shapes change. Anyhow, I must say good-bye. Perhaps we will meet again? And away it rolled.

The missing piece was alone again. For a long time it just sat there. Then? slowly? it lifted itself up? flopped over? began to move forward... and soon its edges began to wear off? its shape began to change? and then it was bumping instead of flopping? and then it was bouncing instead of bumping? and then it was rolling instead of bouncing?and then? it was rolling!

قطعه ی گمشده تنها نشسته بود... منتظر کسی بود که بیاید و او را با خودش ببرد.
بعضی ها با او جور می شدند...
اما نمی تونستند قل بخورند.
بعضی ها می تونستند قل بخورند اما با او جور نبودند.
یکی چیزی از جور درآمدن نمی دونست.
و دیگری اصلاً چیزی نمی دونست...
یکی خیلی نازک بود................ و ترکید......
یکی او را روی چهارپایه گذاشت........... و پی کارش رفت.
بعضی ها هم، خیلی قطعه گم شده داشتند.
بعضی لبریز از قطعه بودند...... پرِ پر ! ....
بعضی ها خیلی نکته سنج بودند.
بعضی ها آنقدر در عالم خودشان غرق بودند که بدون توجه به او، از کنارش می گذشتند.
سعی کرد خوش را جذابتر نشان دهد.................. اما فایده ای نداشت....
آخر سر یکی آمد که با او کاملاً جور بود.
اما ناگهان......... قطعه ی گمشده رشد کرد.... !
و باز هم رشد کرد....
- « فکر نمیکردم تو رشد میکنی »
قطعه گمشده گفت :« خودم هم نمی دانستم ! »
- « من بدنبال قطعه ی گمشده ی خودم میگردم، یکی که بزرگ نشود...... خداحافظ...»
....
....
....
تا یکروز که یکی آمد که با همه فرق داشت.
قطعه ی گمشده پرسید :« از من چه می خواهی ؟»
- « هیچ چیز. »
- « از من چه انتظاری داری ؟»
- « هیچ. »
- « اصلاً تو کی هستی ؟ »
دایره بزرگ گفت :« من دایره بزرگ هستم.»
قطعه گفت :« فکر کنم تو همانی که مدتهاست بدنبالش میگردم. شاید من گمشده ی تو باشم.»
دایره گفت :« اما من قطعه ی گمشده ای ندارم. اصلاً جایی ندارم که تو با آن جور شوی. »
قطعه ی گمشده گفت :« چه بد ! .... ای کاش می توانستم با تو قل بخورم....»
دایره ی بزرگ گفت :« نمی توانی با من قل بخوری. اما شاید بتوانی خودت به تنهایی قل بخوری. »
- « تنهایی ؟؟؟.... قطعه ی گمشده که تنهایی نمی تواند قل بخورد. »
دایره ی بزرگ پرسید :« تا حالا سعی کرده ای ؟»
قطعه ی گمشده گفت :« اما من گوشه های تیزی دارم. اصلاً برای قل خوردن ساخته نشده ام.»
دایره بزرگ گفت :« گوشه ها ساییده می شوند و شکلها تغییر میکنند. دیگر باید بروم خداحافظ.... شاید باز هم همدیگر را ببینیم......»
و قل خورد و رفت....
قطعه ی گمشده باز هم تنها شد.... مدتها یکجا نشست.... بعد..... آهسته، آهسته.... از یکطرف خود را بالا کشید......
تالاپ !
دوباره خود را بالا کشید.... باز هم افتاد..... همینطور به جلو رفت.... بلند شد، افتاد.... بلند شد، افتاد.... تا گوشه هایش شروع کردند به ساییده شدن........................... و کم کم شکلش عوض شد.....
حالا بجای اینکه تالاپی بیفتد، تلپی میفتاد... بجای اینکه بالا پایین بپرد، جست و خیز می کرد... و بعد بجای جست و خیز کردن، قل می خورد......... می رفت.... اما نمی دانست به کجا... اهمیتی هم نمی داد...... همینطور قل می خورد.....

Are we all missing pieces? What are our missing pieces?????????Do we need any big O?

Prayer دعا

Prayer Is

Prayer brings peace to the restless,
It changes things you know.
The more you pray, the more your faith,
Will grow and grow and grow.

Prayer is sweet communion,
With a friend who really cares.
No matter what the problem is,
No matter when or where.

Prayer is like food to the hungry,
It fills an empty soul.
And then when the prayers are answered,
Your faith in God will grow.

Prayer is the key to Heaven,
Where the angels sing each day.
And when the door is open,
God is listening while we pray.

Sand and Stone شن و سنگ

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE."

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one, who had been slapped, got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After the friend recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE."

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"

The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND, AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE

Happy Eid ul-Fitr عید فطر مبارک باد

Wish you all teachers and students a joyous Eid celebration.May you be blessed with peace on Eid and always.

Farewell Ramadan رمضان خداحافظ

Ramadan a “month of blessing” marked by prayer, fasting, and charity is passing its final days and Eid al-Fitr, which in 2006 occurs on Oct. 24,“Festival of Breaking the Fast,” is coming. Although charity and good deeds are always important in Islam, they have special significance at the end of Ramadan and we are obligated to share our blessings by feeding the poor.Although I had a hard time teaching while fasting but it surely has had great impacts on my body and mind.

So Challenging! ایجاد انگیزه! چه کار دشواری

Some students are to be pushed to do something or work on an assignment. This weblog hopes to creat a learning environment for all my students and since sometimes a bit force is required to move some students forward, I asked them to write comments on news and stories in http://fantasticpupils.blogspot.com. as their homework. Some have had great contributions but some are still to be forced to learn!!!!!(Can we call this "learning"?!!Maybe if there is S-R-R principle).

Think Thoroughly

These inspirational cards sounds wonderful to me. What about you?

TOURIST IN CLASS توریست فرانسوی در کلاس 101 و 102 فرزانگان

Last year, my students had the chance to meet a French Tourist, Pascale. During the 2 hour discussion, they exchanged a great deal of ideas. It was a great, unforgettable, and memorable experience for all of us!

updating به روز رسانی این سایت

This weblog is more educational rather than personal, but I do put some personal experiences or memories in here.The great links provided are first strides that can be taken to empower your knowledge and enter you into the world of learning English.It is updated biweekly but not just through entries but adding new links and extending the "READ STORY OF THE WEEK" section. Don't miss it; it's worth visiting.......I'm waiting for your comments on news and links.

HONOR افتخار

My weblog had the honor to be visited and renewed by all my great students at high school computer site for the first time.I'm impatiently waiting for their wonderful comments.



Best wishes

What great students! !چه دانش آموزانی

A gift for you all.

These two days were such busy days of my teaching and learning. Being among all decent and hopefully active students of mine enhances my spirit of endeavour and learning. Surely better future is waiting for me and my students.
Best of all,
Nikui Nezhad

Work (to be continued)

I'mnot finished with the links list. I have entered some stories and news extracts in "fantastic pupils" weblog linked to this blog. I will put each interesting and proper pieces of news I come across into this weblog. Surely this weblog is waiting for my students to be updated, renewed, and extended soon.

Born to succeed,
Nikui Nezhad