Week #20: Review and retrospective

Ideas para el nuevo tópico de aprendizaje: Hiking

• Principios de aprendizaje:
• "Me ayuda más si experimento primero antes de que me expliquen cómo hacerlo."
• "A veces aprendo mejor tropezando un poco." 
• "Aprendemos haciendo… y repitiendo lo que hacemos."
• Sobre mis objetivos
• Estos tres próximos meses quiero reforzar mis conocimientos en el uso de los 5 tiempos verbales más comunes (Simple Present, Present Continuous, Simple Past, Past Continuous, and Present Perfect), sin descuidar las habilidades de Speaking y Listening. 
• No es necesario profundizar en los conceptos gramaticales. Lo que necesito es dominar lo fundamental para seguir avanzando con el idioma. Me gustaría que los 5 tiempos verbales más comunes fluyan de manera natural cuando hablo en inglés. 
• Sobre como llevar las clases usando el libro “Hiking” by Donna B. McKinney. La propuesta es desarrollar un capítulo en 2 clases:
• Primera clase:
• Antes: Primera lectura del artículo por mi cuenta, resaltar palabras o expresiones que llaman mi atención. Normalmente suelo usar la IA para escuchar como se pronuncian las palabras. Es en este momento donde puedo tomar notas de mis dudas para la clase. 
• Durante: Como siempre, podríamos analizar el artículo (lectura y preguntas), revisar mis dudas respecto al vocabulario y expresiones nuevas.  La conversación es importante durante esta clase. 
• Segunda clase:
• Antes: Con un mejor entendimiento del texto, me animaría a explorar el artículo desde un punto de vista gramatical, identificar los tiempos usados, crear mis propias oraciones o mini-historias basadas en mis experiencias de hiking. Es en este momento donde puedo tomar notas de mis dudas para la clase. 
• Durante: En este momento creo que sí sería muy valiosa la guía del profesor sobre como usar adecuadamente los tiempos verbales, corrigiendo mis errores. 
• Identifying the verb tenses
• Knowing how and when to use them
• Putting into practice

Week #1: Let's go hiking

Reed Gjonnes started hiking with her dad when she was just four years old. Reed’s dad is a skilled long-distance hiker. So at the start, hiking was just family fun for Reed. 

“Hiking has been part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Reed said in 2013, when she was in eighth grade. “When I was a little kid, it was because I wanted to spend time with my dad and go camping. Now I love everything about it—the beautiful scenery, the wild animals, and meeting other people on the trail. It’s all pretty great.” 

Reed began looking for longer, more challenging hikes. She asked her dad if they could hike the Pacific Crest Trail. It runs a length of 2,650 miles (4,265 km), stretching from Mexico to Canada. That was just the start of a big adventure. 

Before she turned 14, Reed and her dad had hiked the three longest trails in the United States. She hiked the Pacific Crest Trail at age 11. Next, she hiked the 2,192 miles (3,528 km) of the Appalachian Trail at age 12. And at age 13, she hiked the Continental Divide Trail, which covers 3,100 miles (4,989 km). Hiking all of these three trails is called the " Triple Crown " of hiking. Through 2018, only approximately 400 people had achieved the Triple Crown. And Reed was the youngest person known to have hiked all three trails. The Triple Crown totals 7,942 miles (12,781 km). To complete the Triple Crown with her dad, Reed hiked in 22 states and wore out six pairs of shoes. 

Reed's hikes are amazing. But a new hiker can learn the basics, starting with short, simple day hikes. As hikers gain skill, they can tackle longer trails. Hiking is a sport in which age and athletic ability do not matter so much. Hikers can choose trails ranging from a flat path through the woods to mountain climbing. 

People can choose a hike that suits their ability and build from there to more difficult hikes. 

HEALTHY ACTIVITY FOR YOUNG AND OLD 

Hiking is both fun and good for a person. With hiking comes the fun of being outdoors and enjoying the scenery. But there are many health benefits with hiking too. Hiking helps improve cardiovascular health while strengthening hip and leg muscles. The core muscles around the middle of the body are strengthened by hiking too. A person's balance is improved by hiking . And hiking is good for the mind , helping to boost a person's mood and ease stress. 

Some people enjoy solo hiking. But it is more fun, and safer, to hike with others. That makes hiking a great activity for family members and friends to do together. And because athletic ability is not as important as in some other sports, people of different ages can enjoy hiking together. 

For some sports, people need to buy a lot of costly gear just to get started. But for hiking, a person can begin with just a sturdy pair of sneakers and some comfortable clothes. Hikers can always add other gear later. But a lack of hiking gear should not stop a person from just going on a hike right now. So lace up a pair of sneakers and hit the trails! 

Week #19: Destinations - Cusco

Reading

Facts and tips about cusco

Source: https://www.willkatravel.com/facts-and-tips-about-cusco/

Cusco (Spelled Qosqo in Quechua and translates to the “belly button of the world”) is a welcoming and charming city. In 1983, Cusco has declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Cusco is located at 3400m (11200 feet) above sea level and has a relatively dry and temperate climate. There are many interesting tourist sites to visit and it is the gateway to Machu Picchu, which was declared in 2007 as one on the seven wonders of the modern world.

Altitude Sickness

Visitors often talk about the altitude sickness they experience. When you travel to places located at a high altitude, like Cusco, there is less oxygen in the air and your body needs to work harder to get air. Every person reacts differently to the change in altitude. If your body does not adapt quickly, you may experience headaches, nausea, stomach pain, and/or shortness of breath your first day. If you feel these symptoms, take it easy, and try not to exert a lot of energy. Eat light meals and drink coca leaf tea or muña which can help you adjust to the altitude and alleviate these symptoms.

Temperature

Always bring a coat. Even in the summer, the mornings and evenings can get very cold. The weather might be beautiful and very sunny, but it can suddenly change to be very cloudy and windy. Wherever you go, always have layers to put on or take off for the sudden change in weather.

Peruvian Handicraft

Colorful blankets, paintings, sweaters, scarves, chullos (traditional hats) are everywhere. There are street venders that sell them in the Plaza De Armas (the main square), in San Pedro Market, and in the various fairs, markets, and shops throughout the city. There are also many amazing artisanal markets located in the places you will visit on the tours offered through our agency.

Restaurants

In Cusco it is possible to eat very well and spend very little money. In Cusco, you will find a little bit of all types of food. No matter what type of food you like, you will feel at home because there is such a wide variety of restaurants. Near the Plaza de Armas there are excellent restaurants with beautiful views, but they are a little more expensive because it is such a touristy area. If you want to experience a local restaurant, walk through the small stone streets as you walk up to the San Blas neighborhood or around San Pedro Market. Around these areas, you will find restaurants that Cusqueñans frequently eat in and the food there is very cheap. At many restaurants, you will find “tourist menus” for less than $10. These menus often include soup or another appetizer, the main course (called “Segundo” here), and a drink. In the more touristy restaurants, the portions are usually smaller, but in the local restaurants, the portions are very large. In most restaurants in Cusco, the tip is not added to the bill. If you want, you can leave a tip that you think is fair for the service, usually around 10% (the Spanish word for tip is propane, pronounced propene).

Meat

Alpaca and Cuy (our pig from India) are the traditional meats eaten in Cusco and you will find many different dishes in restaurants with them. Chicken is also eaten frequently here and there are many delicious chicken dishes as well. However, if you are a vegetarian do not worry! There are many vegetarian restaurants throughout the city that serve delicious food and even most regular restaurants have a large variety of vegetarian dishes.

Money exchange

It is very easy to find places to exchange your money in Cusco. In Spanish, they are called “Casas de Cambio”. You can find many places located on Avenida El Sol, in the Plaza de Armas, and on Avenida Santa Catalina. You do not need to worry about finding places to exchange money because there are a ton. There are usually 3-13 cent differences in exchange rates between places.

Tourist Ticket (Boleta touristica)

Also known as BTC, this ticket allows you to enter some of the tourist places in the city. There are two different types of tourist tickets: the full ticket (integral) and a partial ticket (parcial).

The full tourist ticket costs 130 soles and is valid for 10 days and allows you to enter 16 archeological and cultural sites in Cusco, including Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park, the South Valley of Cusco, and the many ruins sites located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The partial tourist ticket costs 70 soles. It is valid for one day and based on your interests, you can choose between the three available circuit options. If you are only in Cusco for a short time, the partial ticket is a good alternative.