American English 5 - Unit 2 - The Nazca Lines, by Vitória Foigt

The Nazca Lines are giant geoglyphs created by the Nazca and Paracas cultures in southern Peru (between the towns of Nazca and Palpa)  between 500 BC and 500 AD. Formed by removing stones from the desert surface, they include hundreds of lines, geometric shapes, and figures of animals and plants. Due to their vast scale, they can only be properly viewed from above. Their preservation is the result of the region's extremely arid climate, characterized by little rainfall and constant winds.

The Nazca Lines were first systematically documented by the Peruvian archaeologist Toribio Mejía Xesspe in 1926. However, their true scale and intricate designs only became widely recognized in the 1930s, when commercial pilots flying over Peru observed them from the air.

The geoglyphs – or biomorphs – depict various stylized animals and plants. Some of the most famous shapes include:

 The Hummingbird: 360 feet long,                             The Astronaut: A peculiar humanoid figure                                                 precisely drawn with long tapering beaks.                   with large, round eyes etched into a hillside.

The Spider: 150 feet long,                                               The Monkey: 135 feet long representing a spider.                     with a characteristic coiled tail.

A massive technological breakthrough occurred when archaeologists used Artificial Intelligence and drones to discover 303 previously unknown geoglyphs in just six months. This nearly doubled the known number of Nazca Lines and revealed two distinct categories: massive animal shapes (for rituals) and smaller human/domestic scenes meant to be viewed from the ground.

The purpose of the Nazca Lines remains a mystery. Leading theories suggest they served as ceremonial pathways for religious rituals, astronomical calendars to track seasonal events, or markers connected to underground water sources and water-related worship practices.

American English 5 - Unit 2 - The Yonaguni Monument

The Yonaguni Monument is a submerged rock formation discovered in 1986 by Kihachiro Aratake, a local Japanese diver and tour operator, when he was searching for new dive sites near Yonaguni Island, the westernmost island of Japan, about 25 meters below sea level.

As soon as the formation was noticed, its unusual features sparked interest. It became famous because its large, flat terraces, sharp right angles, straight edges, steps, and structures resembling platforms and roads look like man-made architecture.

At that time, and later, some researchers began to argue that it could be the remains of an ancient, lost civilization. The most prominent supporter of this idea is Japanese marine geologist Masaaki Kimura, who suggests that the monument was carved by humans more than 10,000 years ago, before sea levels rose at the end of the last Ice Age. Back then, a long time ago, the site would have been above water. If this theory were correct, it would predate known civilizations in Japan and, as a result, radically alter our understanding of early human history.

Meanwhile, during ongoing geological studies, most geologists and archaeologists have argued the opposite, claiming that the monument is a natural formation created by tectonic activity, erosion, and the way sandstone fractures along straight planes, which can naturally produce angular shapes.

Until now, no tools, carvings, inscriptions, or artifacts have been conclusively found to prove human construction. Afterward, and even today, the site remains controversial; finally, it stands at the boundary between geology and archaeology, fascinating observers while still lacking definitive evidence of human involvement, making it one of the most debated underwater sites in the world.

Before its discovery, life on Yonaguni Island was quiet, isolated, and largely unchanged for generations. The island was known mainly for farming, with a strong sense of community shaped by geographic remoteness and frequent typhoons. Residents preserved local traditions, dialects, music, and rituals, while everyday life followed a steady rhythm. Diving existed at the same time, but only on a modest, recreational scale, and Yonaguni rarely appeared in national or international media. Then, after the monument was discovered, this calm rhythm changed dramatically. During the years that followed, scientists, divers, journalists, and tourists arrived, and later, Yonaguni was transformed from a little-known border island into a global subject of debate about ancient civilizations – something that profoundly changed its economy, visibility, and relationship with the outside world. 

My first video for English classes - Meu primeiro vídeo para as aulas de inglês

Foi em junho de 2011. Uma montagem vinda do coração.
It was in June 2011. An editing from the heart.

TRINTA VÍDEOS QUE PODEM MUDAR SUA VIDA – PARA MELHOR!

1. A carne é fraca
2. A dieta do palhaço
3. A engrenagem
4. A testemunha
5. Abra os olhos
6. Alimentos, S.A.
7. Aprenda a amá-los
8. As três razões para não se comer peixe
9. Canção da Floresta Tropical
10. Comerciais do PETA
11. Conheça sua carne
12. Da fazenda à geladeira
13. De onde vem a nossa comida
14. K-PAX
15. Misericórdia para os animais
16. Mitos veganos desmentidos
17. O pão nosso de cada dia
18. Palestra de Gary Yourofsky sobre veganismo
19. Paul McCcartney – Paredes de vidro
20. Por que nos obrigam a comer os animais
21. Por trás da máscara
22. Reino pacífico
23. Ser ou não ser vegetariano
24. Serj Tankian – Harakiri
25. Terráqueos
26. Terráqueos – Soluções
27. Uma verdade mais que inconveniente
28. Uma vida conectada
29. Vacas armadas
30. Weezer – Island in the sun

Podem ser encontrados na internet ou aqui em casa - é só trazer um DVD pra gravá-los! Enquanto a cópia é feita, a gente pode trovar, rir, ver Nação Fast Food ou até fazer um lanche vegano!



THIRTY VIDEOS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE – FOR BETTER!


1. The flesh is weak
2. Super size me
3. The gear
4. The witness
5. Open your eyes
6. Food, Inc.
7. Learn to love them
8. Three reasons why not to eat fish
9. Rainforest Song
10. PETA ads
11. Meet your meat
12. From farm to fridge
13. Where our food comes from
14. K-PAX
15. Mercy for animals
16. Vegan myths debunked
17. Our daily bread
18. Gary Yourofsky on veganism
19. Paul McCcartney – Glass walls
20. Why must we eat the animals
21. Behind the mask
22. Peaceful kingdom
23. To be or not to be vegetarian
24. Serj Tankian – Harakiri
25. Earthlings
26. Earthlings – Solutions
27. Meat the truth
28. A life connected
29. Cows with guns
30. Weezer – Island in the sun

They can be found online or here in my house - just bring a DVD to record them! While the copy is made, we can chat, laugh, watch Fast Food Nation or even have a vegan snack!

Countries for breakfast

This is my favourite song by Young Sawbones! I fell in love with the lyrics in 2010, then I finally listened to it this year, and I hyperloved it! I made this video for my students with my understanding of what the lyricist might have wanted to say.




Essa é minha música favorita do Young Sawbones! Apaixonei-me pela letra em 2010, daí finalmente a ouvi esse ano, e hiperamei-a! Fiz esse vídeo pros meus alunos com minha interpretação do que o letrista provavelmente quis dizer.

Esquadrão Classe A: Murdock, um dos melhores personagens de todos os tempos!

The A-Team: Murdock, one of the best characters ever!

Sobre alcoólatras e cães

No dia 1º de outubro de 2008, por volta das 22h, eu voltava pra casa do trabalho quando passei por uma pessoa na rua e na hora eu sabia que tinha que voltar pra ver aquele ser novamente!

Na época, aceitei o fato de que não havia nada que eu pudesse fazer por aquela alma, mas uma foto dela, com algum texto, talvez impedisse que outros trilhassem aquele mesmo caminho.





Vivi três casos graves de alcoolismo na minha família e achei que mostrando que só restam os cães para os alcoólatras eu estaria evitando um quarto, mas hoje sei que a gente só consegue melhorar as coisas com amor.





Mystic alcoholics' dogs river

On October 1, 2008, around 10 p.m.,  I was coming home from work when I passed by someone in the street and I instantly knew I had to go back to see that being again!

At that time, I accepted the fact there was nothing I could do for that soul, but a picture of it, with some text, could prevent others to walk that path.

I've lived three severe cases of alcoholism in my family and I thought showing only dogs are left for alcoholics I would be avoiding a fourth one, but now I know we can only improve things with love.