ALUMNI LIBRARIES

AUTHORS - John Grisham

noreply@blogger.com (ALUMNI LIBRARIES) — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:12:00 +0000

John Ray Grisham, Jr. (born February 8, 1955) is an American author, best known for his popular legal thrillers. Before becoming a writer, he was a successful lawyer working 60-70 hours a week at a small Southaven, Mississippi law practice, squeezing in time before going to the office and during courtroom recesses to work on his hobby—writing his first novel, A Time to Kill.

Last semester the book The Client by John Grisham was chosen for the reading project called ONE BOOK, ONE SCHOOL. You can read the book, watch the movie on DVD and do exercices on the Alumni site - Practice Plus.

At the Alumni Libraries there are 19 titles by John Grisham.

AUTHORS - Stephenie Meyer

noreply@blogger.com (ALUMNI LIBRARIES) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:33:00 +0000

Stephenie Meyer (born December 24, 1973), is an American author best known for her vampire romance series Twilight. The Twilight novels have gained worldwide recognition and sold over 100 million copies globally, with translations into 37 different languages.

The Alumni Libraries have all the Twilight novels: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, as books and audiobooks. Meyer also wrote The Host, a science fiction novel.

English Tips - Prepositions to show location

noreply@blogger.com (ALUMNI LIBRARIES) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:14:00 +0000

In Portuguese we have just one preposition (em) to express many meanings. But in English, for every situation there is a proper preposition. Don’t worry. Read some tips and practice a lot. Your English will be sharp.

AT denotes specific locations

The women are at the supermarket.

She lives at 3757 North 52^nd Street, apartment 10.

IN indicates geographical areas: city, continent, country, state, town

He lives in Seattle, Washington, in the USA.

ON is used before names of streets, avenues, etc.

Her house is on Paulista Avenue.

You can borrow these books from the Alumni library.

LIBRARY NEWS - Learning Center – Audio lab and Comlab

noreply@blogger.com (ALUMNI LIBRARIES) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 19:48:00 +0000

TOEFL test

For those going to do the TOEFL test, having fluency and speaking words correctly are some of the requirements for obtaining a good score on the test.

The Alumni Association offers great resources in its Audio and Com Lab for students interested in preparing for the TOEFL test.

There are CD-ROMs from many publishers, such as Longman, Kaplan, and Thomson, with the simulated tests, through which you can prepare for some of the difficulties you face, like the tension of answering the questions in the required time. You can use the TOEFL test software 5 days a week in the four Alumni units. Go for it!

PRONUNCIATION

Saying the words correctly and placing the right intonation is important to communicate without misunderstandings and without making a fool of yourself. This requires practice.

In the Alumni Learning Centers students find pronunciation materials from basic to advanced levels. The Audio Lab Program was especially designed for lower levels, while Pronunciation Practice is geared towards students from Level 5 and up who want to work on specific sounds and suprasegmental features. Com Lab materials include Pronunciation Power and English Plus Millennium.

There's no excuse not to use these resources! The labs are open from early morning to late evening, in all the branches. All you have to do is ask the attendant for the materials suitable for your level.

ENJOY IT! - Ozzy Osbourne in São Paulo

noreply@blogger.com (ALUMNI LIBRARIES) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:45:00 +0000

This tip is for fans of classic Heavy Metal genre. "The Prince of Darkness," Ozzy Osbourne, returns to Brazil for a series of concerts in five cities. The concerts are part of the promotional tour of the singer's latest album, Scream (Epic Records) and his latest single "Live Will Not Wait."

The concerts will be held in São Paulo Anhembi Arena on April 2 at 21:30.

On the site www.vagalume.com.br you have lyrics, music, chords and much more.

Enjoy it!

TRAVEL GUIDE - New York

noreply@blogger.com (ALUMNI LIBRARIES) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:36:00 +0000

Every month we choose a country, city and give travel tips, its cooking, what's more interesting to do and see and who wants to improve your English, tips of where to study.

First destination will be New York City.

When to go?

The best time of year to travel to New York City is from late spring to early summer (June to mid July) and late summer to early fall (September to mid October).

In these months the weather is more pleasant, neither too hot nor too cold.

Another advantage is that the cost of travel is much smaller for both hosting and airfare.

And the city is beautiful with many flowers in spring and autum with yellow and red leaves, because New York is a heavily forested.

Where to go? What to do there?

Prepare an agenda with main events, fairs, exhibitions coming up in New York, is a clever tip for your trip. See the schedule of events on the official tourism website of New York, www.nycvisit.com/calendar-of-events. And in Portuguese this site is wonderful, www.vamosparanovayork.com/passeios.htm.

AUTHORS - Elizabeth Bishop (08/02/1911 - 2011)

noreply@blogger.com (ALUMNI LIBRARIES) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:51:00 +0000

This year, American poet Elizabeth Bishop would be celebrating her 100th birthday (08/02/1911- 1979).

She is considered one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century. She won many awards and toured the world. She lived for 20 years here in Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.
The Alumni Libraries have the complete works of collected poems and prose. We also have a play about the poet: A Port for Elizabeth Bishop.

HOLIDAYS - ST. Patrick’s Day!

noreply@blogger.com (ALUMNI LIBRARIES) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:03:00 +0000

In the United States and Great Britain, the Irish communities celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. The Irish community in the United States is very big.
Who was St. Patrick and why is he important to the Irish?

Patrick was born in Britain in 389 AD. When he was 16 years old he was captured and taken to Ireland. He became a slave. After 6 years Patrick escaped to France by ship. There he became a priest. He returned to Ireland as a bishop in 432 AD. He converted most of the Irish to Christianity. There are legends about St. Patrick. One legend says that he banished all the serpents from Ireland. Another legend says that he used a shamrock to teach the Irish about the Trinity. Today the shamrock is still a symbol of Ireland and the Irish. On March 17 there are big parades in most American cities in honor of the Irish. Many shops and restaurants are decorated with green shamrocks.

ENGLISH TIPS - STEAL X ROB

noreply@blogger.com (ALUMNI LIBRARIES) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:43:00 +0000

You steal things but you rob people, places

HOLIDAYS - Carnival around the world

noreply@blogger.com (ALUMNI LIBRARIES) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:59:00 +0000

Brazil: The celebration is supposed to go on from the Saturday before Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) until Mardi Gras Day, but in some Brazilian cities the celebration can last seven or eight days. People celebrate on the street, dancing with samba schools, or in ballrooms.

Bolivia: Bolivia has carnival parades for children and adults in the streets. Most everyone gets wet from water balloons and water buckets.

Caribbean Islands: There are multiple carnival celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti, like marching bands, crowning a Calypso King or Monarch and "Playing Mas"/Masquerade, a masquerade ball.

Venice, Italy: Many events are held in the canals, including shows, concerts, dances and water processions with masked rowers and decorated boats.

Cadiz, Spain: They celebrate with papier mâché figures and satirical songs copied from Venice’s celebration.

Germany: Carnival is called as "Fastnacht". There is a big parade through the main street.

New Orleans, USA: Celebrations are concentrated for about two weeks before and through Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras in French). Usually there is one major parade and several large parades each day. The parades in New Orleans are organized by Carnival krewes. Krewe float riders toss throws to the crowds; the most common throws are strings of plastic colorful beads.

Audiobooks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 May 2010 20:33:00 +0000

If you want to improve your fluency in English language, Audiobooks are a great tip.

Audiobooks are audio-CDs from which you can listen to an actor or the author him/herself read a book. Sometimes there are even multiple voices and sound effects.

At the Alumni Libraries you have many genres to choose from: comedy, short stories, poem, history, detective and mystery stories. Most of them are accompanied by the corresponding book.

English Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 May 2010 20:41:00 +0000

Hello everybody!

Every day we’re gonna make an English Tip available to you. The tips are on the right side on this blog. Follow the example below:

Choose one of the tips available and click on the picture. Another site page will open and the slide tip will be there.

Preposition of time

Oneself and each other

To or for

Magazines

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 May 2010 19:40:00 +0000

At the Alumni Libraries there are 39 titles of magazines that you can borrow for one week.

Music, sport, art, English language, fashion are some of the subjects these magazines bring to you. Enjoy them and improve your English.

DVD collection

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:02:00 +0000

The Alumni Libraries offer students a large collection of DVDs. There is a variety of genres: comedy, cartoon, drama, thriller, romance, scientific fiction and documentary. The DVDs are meant for educational use. The students can improve their listening as well as have fun.

The libraries have most of their DVD titles in book versions. Go to the libraries and ask for information about the You Can Read, You Can Watch project.

Easy Reader Books

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 12 May 2010 16:45:00 +0000

The Easy Reader Books are written for learners of English. They have simplified texts and most of their titles are adapted from original texts, movies and tv series.

The Easy Readers are published at levels Starter/ Beginner/ Elementary/ Pre-intermediate/ Intermediate/ Upper Intermediate and Advanced. This structure in levels allows beginner and advanced learners to read them and profit from the language they are exposed to. Most of these books are also accompanied by an audio CD or a CD-ROM which contains the complete audio recording and activities. This extra resource helps learners to improve their listening as well as their reading skills.

The Alumni Libraries have a large collection of Easy Reader Books. The librarians have classified them according to Alumni levels, so that the students can easily be aware of which book is recomended for their level.

Go to the libraries and check them out.

English Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 11 May 2010 07:00:00 +0000

If you get confused when using TO or FOR, take a look at English Tips on the right side on this Blog.

Click on view in fullscreen to see the full document.

Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 09 May 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Mother’s Day is celebrated in the world most commonly on the 2nd Sunday in May.

This celebration is very old, dating back to the ancient Greeks, who worshipped Cybele (mother of the Gods). In the United States it was nationally recognized as a holiday in 1914. People gave flowers, (especially white carnations) and they prepared special cakes as a gift for their mothers.
Today Mother’s Day is celebrated with flowers, gifts and cards to mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and anyone who takes care of you like mother.

Source: Myers, Robert J. Celebrations: the complete book of American holidays. Doubleday & Company, Inc. New York, 1972.

Schaun, George; Schaun Virginia. American holidays and special days. Maryland Historical Press, Maryland, 1986

English proverbs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:48:00 +0000

Do you know any American English proverbs?
Some of them are very similar to Brazilian proverbs.

Look at the American proverbs below and try to find out if they sound like the Brazilian ones that you know.

Where there's smoke, there's fire.
A man is known by the company he keeps.
Do as I say, not as I do.
Don't judge a book by its cover.
Don't cry over spilt milk.
Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

If you know a different one share it with us. Leave your comment.

You can find some materials at the libraries on this subject. Go to the libraries and check them out.

You can read, You can watch

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:53:00 +0000

We selected some books and their movie versions. Then you can experiment reading in many ways. Both books and DVDs are available at the library. Some titles are available in easy reader versions and as Audiobooks.

One Book, One School

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 May 2010 16:24:00 +0000

One Book, One School is the new reading project at Alumni. Every semester, one book is selected and everyone is encouraged to read it.
Reading is a great way to improve your vocabulary and your grammar. And bestsellers (as opposed to classics) expose you to modern, everyday language.

The books are available in an easy reader version and as well as the full text at the library.

There are some online activities in the Practice Plus area of Alumni site. Click on this area e choose Readers.

Welcome

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 03 May 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Hello, everybody!

The Alumni Libraries Blog has the objective of creating a way to keep in touch with Alumni students, teachers, employees and people who are interested in our services. Here, you’ll find information about:

Libraries services and projects
New acquisitions
English tips
Advice about the Library and Learning Center collections

The Library staff hopes that through this blog you can let us know what you need and want from our services, so that we can improve them to better suit the needs of the Alumni community.