URBAN LEGENDS: THE WEREWOLF

Urban legends are mythological stories that are based on stories than allegedly happened. They are based on urban characters, as the name implies.

The most famous are the Werewolf, the Whiner and the Phantom of the Opera, among others. 

Today we will focus on the scary story of the Werewolf.

The Werewolf

The legend began in the north of Europe when the XVIth century started, and expanded over the continent orally. At that time, hungers were regular and the cattle were very important. Then, the legends started to grow because wolves also attacked woman and children.

The most famous case was in 1573 when the people said that they had frequently seen a wolf-man that had caught several children without seeing them again. 

On the 9th of November a farmer rescued a girl from the jaws of a werewolf. It escaped but some people thought they recognized Griller Gainer, a peasant, in the monster’s face. Six days after the disappearance of a 10 year old boy, Gainer was arrested for being a werewolf and put in prison because he had killed and devoured children. 

Gainer was burnt alive on the 18th of January, 1574.

The Werewolf in Argentina

In our country, this monster is famous in Entre Rios, Corrientes and Misiones. 

The story says that on Tuesdays or Fridays with full moon, the seventh male son transforms into a werewolf. 

With features of a dog and man, it starts with a bad felling, for example a headache. After that, the animal looks for loneliness, stays on the ground and rolls 3 times. He gets up with red eyes and big legs and arms and it doesn’t stop until daylight.

The werewolf is popular because it was the first urban legend that appeared. It became famous because it was used by parents to scare their children and convince them to behave correctly.

Nowadays, modern children are not scared of this legend. However, the idea of using a ‘horror story’ to change their bad attitudes is as old as the werewolf itself.

Camila Monteros, Micaela Cruz, Hans Fritzler and Pablo Contreras - 3rd Year

ELECTRONIC MUSIC: THE EXCITING 80s

The end of the 70’s brought the start of different music styles inside the electronic world. The outlook duplicated by the lower price of electronics like the synthesizer, that evolved from the analogue model to a digital one, and the Samplers. Electronic music became accessible to everyone, which made it a popular genre. 

If in the 70’s Roxy music, Jean Michell Jarre, Vangelis or Kraftwerk had represented the electronic genre, the 80’s were characterized by the number of bands that used the synthesizer, like Duran Duran.

                                   

In 1979, Synthpop was born with the first record of Orchestral Manouvres in the Dark “Electricity” and its first single with the same name. This inspired many groups. 

Despite the progress, some bands like Depeche Mode used a darker musical genre.

                                                                    

Electro music TODAY

Commonly, electronic music is labeled nowadays as “very good”. But as time goes by, the genre varies and can be misunderstood.

It lost some value on its name because, basically, almost all musical genres -like hip hop or pop- use electronic music, especially in songs released since 2011-2012 onwards

Also, we could say that electronic music can seem repetitive. Obviously, each song uses different types of sounds but most of them can be heard similar.

Today, electronic music has grown from an underground niche into one of the biggest genres in the world. Actually, electronic music festivals are now a new trend.

It all started with the Ultra Music Festival.

Since 1999, in March, Miami celebrates with the most prestigious and famous DJs.

But Tomorrowland might be the most popular one. The journey began on August 14th 2005 with the presence of Coone, Yves Deruyter, DJ Ghost, Cor Fijneman and Armin van Buuren. It is held in Summer every year, changing locations and bringing thousands of fans from all over the world together.

This journey is coming to an end. For you to fully enjoy electronic music, we have chosen five of the most popular songs. Jus press play...

                                                                

                                                              

                                                   

                                                     

                                                   

Federico Vargas, Kevin Vera and Magalí Nenezian - 3rd Year

ALL CHILDREN NEED A HOME!

Nowadays, children are living a particular situation. The most live with their family but many times it isn’t a home. Home isn’t only a brick structure with four walls; home is a circle of love between the person that takes care of the children and the children. 

Traditionally, in our country, a home is related to the idea of a fireplace. This represents the warmth that every home should give.

We talked to a psychologist, Susana Romero, about this issue and asked a few questions. Here’s what she said:

1. Is home an influence in a child’s personality?

Yes, it’s where children nurture themselves (symbolically and literally). When we are born, we are incapable of doing many things, so we need a parent to help us. Every child needs someone to help them with their routines; if that person isn’t at home, there should be someone else available for the child.

2. Why is home necessary for children to relate to society?

It’s necessary because it’s the internal womb, where we are born and that primary thing that makes us who we are as a consequence of our mother and father’s experiences. Then, it extends to the social field and we start to take referents from people around us: it’s not the same to be raised in Buenos Aires city and Jujuy.

The primary bonds develop under the mother’s bosom. For example: if a child needs to travel to a different speaking country, he will be able to learn that new language after having learnt his parents’ one.

3. Is home the affectionate center of a child? If so, why?

If there is no love; if there’s no place where people are waiting for you before you are born…a child cannot live without these basic conditions. That’s why, many times, experts talk about savage children, raised by monkeys, like the Tarzan myth. That example shows how much we need society and how children can develop properly when surrounded by human beings. It’s also very important to give LOVE to children, so they feel comforted.

4. Is home involved in the child’s future?

Certainly. Today we can find joined families, combined, founded on differences but sustained by love and care. At some point, the cultural influence makes the family give importance to several aspects, leaving others aside. We are talking about, for instance, the time we go to bed; this depends on every family and children grow up to be different persons according to their families’ customs.

5. Does the cultural level of the family influence the child?

From early education at home, the child is influenced by the cultural values held at home. Every household gives importance to studies or education according to their own level of education. Some families prioritize the idea of being successful through study and hard work, discipline and overcoming fears. Others prioritize the idea of being successful by ‘stepping on other people’s heads’, as we commonly say.

To every child, the main referent is an adult. At first, during childhood, this person is like a superhero. During teenage years, this role model disappears or is ignored by the ‘grown up’ child. This is perfectly normal, because when a child becomes a teenager is more vulnerable to social standards and ideas. It’s very important that the ‘former role models’ don’t get discouraged. It’s not the adult’s fault. It’s not the adolescent’s fault. It’s just a stage in which every human being needs to experience another kind of influences.

So, after talking to her, we think that this is what children need:

• Attention and quality time with their families; Attention is important because it is essential for the child to develop in the outside world. Seen from the aesthetic aspect, children should have access to medical care, healthy nutrition, clothing and so on. But you can also relate attention in an emotional way, necessary for future relationships and their feelings’ expression. For example, when we see a father playing with his child, that shared time will strengthen his or her emotional relationship and will cause the child to feel accompanied and loved.
• The family’s power to solve problems; all children need their parents when they suffer disappointments in the outside world and internally. Home should be the main support for children; there, they must take refuge in case of problems. Parents and all those who make up the home should be great counselors to guide them in their lives.
• Moral Norms; moral rules are necessary for the formation of the child's personality, leaving bad habits or behaviors aside. This is related to how children manage in a group of individuals, both at school, sports and others. They need a home that teaches them ethical and moral values. At home children are taught to live with other people. Many children copy actions and ways from their parents. Parents are role models. For example, children should be taught to say 'thank you' at home. 
• Many parents oblige children to do activities they do not like. For instance, parents often force their children to study a particular career as a family legacy, typical for families who want to maintain their ‘prestigious name’, as they say. Indeed often in everyday life, in different social classes, parents force their children, sentimentally and educationally. It’s not so different from ancient times, when marriage was for convenience and little girls were forced to marry older men. Children grow up with a greater pressure than the one that is needed for them to grow in a healthy way. A five year old child should worry about his games and toys. Some parents want their children to be someone they are not, which causes a deep depression and frustration, avoiding their fully development. This, sometimes, causes the child to have suicidal thoughts or even commit suicide.
• Family should transmit a feeling of safety; home must form a stable family, without serious conflicts that may harm the child physically and psychologically. It should be the focus of care and support, showing this through safety.
• Education is very important for children. This develops the intellect, culture and learning skills necessary to live their lives. Education defends children from external situations that may damage them and gives them a safe place to turn to in case they don’t have a loving home to support them. But education is not received only at school; it begins at home with care and dedication of time, in addition to teaching moral standards.
• Family should show affection through kisses, smiles, hugs and nice, good words. All affective actions taken by our parents are the ones that we develop later in life, when relating to our own children. Love is necessary for the child so he or she does not feel alone or that nobody appreciates them. When people doesn’t feel loved throughout childhood, they generally relate with other individuals badly as grown ups.

Having said this, here are some tips to make home a brighter place.

How to build a happy family in 6 steps:

1. Show unconditional love for each of your family members.

2. Set rules and limits, be clear and fair; Combine discipline with love.

3. An environment of communication, openness and joy at home promotes the healthy expression of feelings and emotions and avoids teasing, criticism and comparisons.

4. Mark family interests as a priority, spend time with your family and do something together at least once a day

5. Schedule a weekly family activity that motivates your loved ones; go for a walk, enjoy a board game, watch a film together, use creativity to escape from routine.

6. Older family members should be positive role models for children.

Throughout time, home is prioritized as a basic need for all children. It consists of the search of emotional support and welfare by people who care about them. The household conformations relate to various aspects, religion, customs with which we were raised, culture and also our own experiences. There is a famous saying that goes: ‘Family cannot be chosen’. Life is about learning something from each of the people who live at home. Families can be large or small, but –at the end of the day- the people we love (and loves us) is what counts.

Milagros Braña, Erica Fernández, Giuliana Pucciarelli - 4th Year

TEENAGERS AND FOOD

Adolescence is a difficult life stage, as it represents the transition between being a child and starting to feel like a ‘grown-up’.

In this period, nutrition also brings difficulties because personality tends to get independent but vulnerable to social standards, which sometimes leads to ignoring meals that shall be replaced by 'pecking' and fast food consumed outside home.

It deserves a special mention the concern that teenagers have with their body image and in which conditions they carry out restrictive diets to get closer to an ideal of beauty, influenced by the social standards of the time, because that can lead to serious eating disorders. Therefore, it is very important that family knows how to pass on to the children respect and love for their body, at the same time as healthy eating habits.

Teenagers have nutritional needs marked by sexual maturation processes: they increase size and weight, body mass and bone mass; so it requires a greater amount of energy and nutrients as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals, in a balanced way.

The needs are very different among adolescents and depend on their personal characteristics. This justifies the use of different types of diets, which cannot be generalized. Nevertheless, we do have a guide for a diet, indicated in the following Decalogue:

1. Your supply must be varied: our body needs different nutrients to be healthy, no food contains all the nutrients, so we should not always eat the same thing. Enjoy your meals in the company of family and friends, and see what others are eating, you may discover new food to give your body a greater amount of energy.

2. Consume fruits and vegetables: fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that help keep you healthy and are the ideal complement for breakfast, snack, lunch, and dinner.

3. Hygiene is essential for your health: you mustn’t touch food without washing your hands with soap and water first; brush your teeth after every meal and after brushing them at night, do not ingest food or drinks –except water-.

4. Drinking sufficient water is essential to keep the body well hydrated, since more than half of our weight is water. You should take at least 5 glasses of water per day. If it is very hot or you do an intense physical activity, you will have to increase fluid intake.

5. Make gradual changes: do not try to change your eating habits and behavior from one day to another. You'll find it easier to do it little by little, marking you concrete objectives every day, do not dispense with what you like, but try to make your diet balanced and containing all the nutrients.

 6. Consume food rich in carbohydrates: half of the calories in your diet should come from these nutrients, especially processed products made of wheat, cereals, potatoes, yucca and vegetables and not of sweet candies, chocolates and so on.

7. Maintain an appropriate weight for your age, according to your sex, height, body constitution, physical activity that you do, and hereditary factors.

8. Eat regularly: our body needs energy as vehicles need fuel to move. To get up after spending the night without eating, our energy level is very low, so you should have a good breakfast, take your snacks at mid-morning and mid afternoon. Also, your lunch should be full and your dinner should be satisfying.

9. Beam exercises: as a bicycle that is not used gets rusty, the same thing happens with muscles and bones, they must be kept active for them to work well. Try to do some exercise every day, for example take the stairs instead of using the elevator or, if you can, go walking to school. In your free time practice some physical activity.

10. Remember that there is no good or bad food. Avoid excesses: keep in mind that it is no good to eat too much or too little.

To sum up, balance and variety are the keys to make your diet healthy. This is the way to keep a good, strong figure to help you maintain a fine health and an enjoyable life.

Santiago Sevilla, Azul Melgarejo and Margarita Mercado – 5th Year

PIERCINGS AND TATTOOS: DETERMINING FACTOR?

There are plenty of misconceptions about people with piercings and tattoos. A lot of people think that everyone with them is less intelligent, dishonest, disrespectful, aggressive, unreliable and so on. Are they right? Do people with piercings and tattoos deserve to be judged just for having them?

We asked some people who have them to tell us about their experiences. 

First we interviewed someone with piercings and this is what she said: 

‘I have always liked them so I wanted to get a few. I started getting them seven years ago, when I was 21. At first, my mom didn’t approve them but after a couple of months she started to accept them. However, one of my aunts doesn’t like them, so she makes me take them off every time I see her. I’ve never had any problems finding a job because when it comes to graphic designers it’s very common to find people with piercings and tattoos. I have never felt rejected by society for having them, sometimes people stares at me but that’s okay. I understand them because I have piercings on my face’.

Then we talked to a girl who has a tattoo. She told us: 

‘I got it because I liked the design and it has a meaning for me (the balance between good and evil). I got it 8 (eight) months ago. My parents liked it, so they encouraged me to get it, and it was a present from them. I didn’t have any problems finding a job. I work with my mother in a bakery and they don’t have any issues because it’s in a place where is hard to see it'. 

Tattoos are a way to express yourself, they can be planned and have a meaning or be spontaneous and meaningless. As well as piercings, tattoos are a way to decorate your body but they don’t define your economic situation or your level of intelligence.So next time you see someone with piercings or tattoos, don’t judge them until you get to know them.

Florencia Tubío and Analía Yonamine- 4th Year

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF MUSIC: THE THRILLING 80'S

The 80's decade was very important because there were a lot of changes in music. The characteristic genre was the disco music. This type of music is just for dancing, quite opposite from classical music.

There were a lot of discos; friends and couples went dancing at night, having a lot of fun. The 80's are commonly remembered for an increase in the use of digital recording and also electronic genre with non-traditional instruments, like techno, electro and house, among others. Besides, the most outstanding musicians were Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Axl Rose, Aerosmith, Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, Whitney Houston, Queen, Depeche Mode, Billie Joe, Oasis, Pink Floyd and Bonnie Tyler, just to name a few.

Pop music also generated a great shaking in the world of music in that time. Pop it's a genre of popular music that originated in the late 1950's as an outgrowth of "Rock & Roll", in combination with other musical genres that were in vogue at the time.

In the 60's, the introduction of radios and portable receivers meant that teenagers could listen to music outside home. In the early 80's, the promotion of pop music nurtured the rise of programs and musical TV channels like MTV, which favored artists such as Michael Jackson and Madonna who had a strong visual appeal.

Speaking of controversial artists, we will talk about one of the most recognized over time: Michael Jackson.

The King of Pop

Michael Joseph Jackson (Gary, Indiana August 29, 1958 - Los Angeles, California, June 25, 2009) better known as Michael Jackson, was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, actor, producer and entrepreneur. Known as the ‘King of Pop’, his contributions to music and dance, as well as his publicized personal life, made him an international figure in popular culture for over four decades, being recognized as the star of the most successful pop music worldwide.

He began his artistic career in the mid 1960's in the musical group "The Jackson 5" with which he published with some of his siblings, ten albums until 1975. In 1971 he started his career as a soloist although he continued belonging to the group. Due to the success of his album "Thriller" (1982), the best-selling disco in history, he became the biggest star in pop music at the time.

Among his greatest hits are:

Billie Jean/Thriller · 1982

Beat It/Thriller · 1982 

Smooth Criminal/Bad · 1987 

The Way You Make Me Feel/Bad · 1987 

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough/Off the Wall · 1979 

Thriller/Thriller · 1982 

You Are Not Alone/ History: Past, Present and Future, Book I · 1995 

Black or White/Dangerous · 1991 

On the morning of June 25, 2009, Michael suffered from a cardiac arrest at his rented mansion in Holmby Hills. The public funeral was held on July 7, 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, before a memorial service for family and friends was held. The public ceremony was followed live by about 2,500 million people worldwide.

His death was very controversial. On February 8, 2010, the court charged Murray, his personal doctor with ‘involuntary manslaughter’. The accused, who pleaded ‘not guilty’ of all charges, paid a bail of $ 75,000 for not entering prison. In 2011, Murray was sentenced to serve four years in prison for the manslaughter of Jackson. The doctor only served half the time in prison and was released in 2013 as part of a state plan to reduce overcrowding in detention centers.

After his death, Michael Jackson became the biggest selling artist in 2009 in the US, where more than 8.2 million albums were sold, while in the rest of the world it sold more than 35 million albums during the twelve months after his death.

Although he may not be physically among us anymore, his legacy continues to grow and, -as many people commonly say- 'he sings better every day'. 

Stendler, Pensotti, Palaziol and Estaras - 4th Year

A HISTORY OF FASHION

A brief introduction to a long journey

To talk about the history of fashion, we need to focus on the work of the designers first.

With the purpose of creating a certain style, designers base on five basic elements: colour, shape, texture, the hang and balance of the line.

In ancient times the varieties of the weather defined the tools used, for example, Egyptians “folded” fabric to create pleated clothes.

Until the Industrial Revolution, fashion clothes were only worn by the nobility.

During the 19^th century, industries that dressed both rich and poor people appeared. Before the sewing machine was invented, the production of clothes was very expensive, and so were the clothes. After the machine, the production increased and clothes became much cheaper.

During the 1850’s, the first female fashion magazines were published; and for the first time a fashion show was organized to earn people’s attention towards clothes.

In the 20^th century, new synthetic fabrics were invented. Also, computer design made new style creations much easier.

It’s clear that fashion has changed throughout history. So, to begin this interesting journey, we must go back in time… to ancient civilizations.

 Ancient Fashion – Egypt

In Egypt, all clothes were thin, almost transparent due to the high temperatures of this place.The lower classes wore simple clothes like the schent: this consisted in a linen cloth or folded cotton around the waist. We can see the difference between the fabrics and the pleated of the same depending on the social status of the wearer.

The outfit worn by the higher class (pharaoh and his court) was called Kalasyris. This was a long tunic made of pleated, sheer linen, decorated in its outline with gold and precious stones. For women of the higher class, the suit was tied under the bust line leaving it exposed; in men, from the torso hanged some sort of triangular shape (neket), made of leather with precious stones.

Then we find items like the hosch, which is a short cape standing on the shoulders and chest.

The loriga was a female costume of roll-on design and close-fitting, made of fabrics similar to wire mesh; generally its length was at half of the leg or the ankle.

The basic footwear was sandals of papyrus fiber; however, poor people were barefooted.

Jewels play an important role at this time, as all bracelets, rings and necklaces.

This is just the beginning of a fashionable journey throughout time...next time we meet, we'll visit the magic of Greece and Rome.

Basili Julieta, Figueras Lucas, Verdile Florencia, Levato Bárbara and Torchia Camila - 4th Year

EL COMIENZO DE UN CAMINO

Cada vez que entramos al aula y vemos las caras de nuestros alumnos, pensamos dos cosas: ¿llegarán a fin de año habiendo aprendido algo? ¿Sentirán que este espacio está creado para su expresión personal?

Tenemos que admitir que, a veces, tenemos serias dudas acerca de las dos. Es claro que la primera pregunta depende de nosotros, pero también de los estudiantes. Pero ¿qué hay acerca del segundo pensamiento? ¿Realmente los docentes les dan la oportunidad a sus alumnos de expresarse libremente?

Desde que empecé a enseñar en la escuela secundaria, me pregunto lo mismo: ¿qué puedo hacer para ayudarlos a decir lo que quieren decir y que no se sientan juzgados por decirlo? ¿Cómo puedo ayudarlos a ser más creativos, usar su imaginación y descubrir sus talentos ocultos?

Cuando este año comenzó, me preguntaron si quería llevar a cabo un nuevo proyecto: nuestro propio periódico escolar. Parecía difícil al principio y mi cabeza nadaba en dudas y miedos. ¿Sería capaz de convertir esta idea en realidad? ¿Estaba lista para ayudar a mis estudiantes a superar SUS miedos y mostrarles el potencial que sabía que tenían? ¿Colaborarían?

A pesar de todo esto, pude superarlo y darles las buenas noticias. Para mi sorpresa, la mayoría reaccionó positivamente. Sintieron que este ‘espacio’ era verdaderamente de ellos, un lugar donde podían hablar de cosas que les interesaban y mostrarle al mundo que eran capaces de producir sus propios artículos. El entusiasmo de volverse escritores era ahora la razón para investigar, leer y aprender cosas que no hubiesen aprendido por sí solos.

Este es solo el primer paso de un largo camino por delante. Caminamos codo a codo y trabajamos perseverante y equitativamente para cumplir nuestras metas. La distancia impuesta entre alumnos y profesores empieza a disiparse. La confianza aumenta.

Aunque podemos cometer errores (y vamos a cometerlos definitivamente –porque los errores son hermosos-) estamos aprendiendo cómo ser responsables de nuestras palabras, cómo aceptar la crítica de una forma madura y cómo hacer que nuestros pensamientos valgan la pena.

Personalmente quiero agradecer a una de mis maestras, mi querida Silvia, que me dio esta misma oportunidad once años atrás. Su guía y pasión me ayudaron a encontrar mi propia voz y superar mis miedos. Sin ella, esto no habría sido posible. Donde sea que estés, fuiste y serás una de mis inspiraciones más grandes. GRACIAS.

Un gran GRACIAS a cada persona que ayudó a materializar este proyecto. Esto es para ustedes también.

Todo lo que resta ahora es leer y disfrutar.

¡Bienvenidos!

                                                                          Bárbara Toral – Editor/Profesora de Inglés

THE BEGINNING OF A JOURNEY

Every time we step into the classroom and we see our students’ faces, we think about two main things: will they get to the end of the year having learnt something? Will they feel this space is meant for their self expression?

We have to admit that, sometimes, we have serious doubts about both. It’s clear that our first thought depends on us, but also on them. But, what about the second thought? Do teachers actually give their students the opportunity to express freely?

Since I started teaching in secondary school, I ask myself the same thing: what can I do to help them say what they would like to say and not feel judged by saying it? How can I help them be more creative, use their imagination and discover their hidden talents?

When this year began, I was asked to start a new project: our own school newspaper. It seemed difficult at first, and my head was swimming in uncertainties and fears. Would I be able to make this idea come true? Was I ready to help my students overcome THEIR fears and show them the potential I knew they had? Would they be collaborative?

Despite all of this, I managed to pull it together and give them the good news. To my surprise, most of them reacted positively. They felt this ‘space’ was truly theirs, a place where they could talk about things they were interested in and show the world that they were capable of producing their own articles. The excitement of becoming writers was now their reason to investigate, to read and to learn about things they wouldn’t have learnt on their own.

This is just the first step of a long journey ahead. We stand side by side and work equally hard to fulfill our goals. The imposed distance between teachers and students starts fading. Trust increases.

Although we can make mistakes (and we definitely will –because mistakes are beautiful-) we are learning now how to be responsible for our own words, how to accept criticism in a mature way and how to make our thoughts count.

Personally I need to thank one of my teachers, my dearest Silvia, who gave me this very same opportunity eleven years ago. Her guidance and passion helped me find my true voice and overcome my fears. Without her, this couldn’t have been possible. Wherever you are, you were and are one of my greatest inspirations. Thank you.

A big 'thank you' to every person that has helped this project come true. This is for you too.

All you have to do now is read on and enjoy!

WELCOME!

Bárbara Toral – Editor/English Teacher