www.e-comentarios.com ... writing practice (B2)

15.2.2010 ( Independent user - B2) (Writing practice - index)

Yesterday we talked about the reason why women are so hard on themselves. I think one of the most important reasons is that they still have less self confidence than men and so that they always think what they do is worse. They have this feeling in their genes because of the human history, a history where men have dominated women. Although nowadays this situation has changed (at least in occidental countries), it is difficult for women to leave behind so many years of feeling inferior than men, of thinking that without a husband they were nothing.

Talking about male chauvinism, it is true that things have changed for women. Nevertheless, some families (maybe not consciously) still educate their children in a sexist manner. For instance, they permit boys not to make their bed, or not cleaning the table while this is inconceivable for girls in the same family. Another example of the machismo in this society is the drama when a thirty-year-old girl does not have a boyfriend. This does not happen with men. This covered male chauvinism makes women more difficult to reach the same position as men and that could be another reason why women are so hard on themselves: they have to fight more.

We have also talked about the cost of taking decisions, because having everything is impossible. This is specially hard for women with children: they must choose between being the best in their jobs or taking care of their children. I remember something a women has told me some time ago: “I prefer arriving home late because I can’t stand spending the whole afternoon with my children”. I felt so sorry for these children… But of course those women who give up a better position in favour of their children, have an internal contradiction, specially those who have always be the best at school and university. Now they have to leave the path they have always followed. Now they have to be the best mothers.

In conclusion, although it is hard renouncing a better position in favour of our own children, although we (women) are so hard on ourselves and because of that we feel so imperfect, despite everything we are lucky because we have one of the most important missions in the world: to sculpt a little person so he or she become a great man o women in the future.

My suggestions:

Yesterday we talked about why women are so hard on themselves. I think one of the most important reasons is that they still have less self-confidence than men and therefore they always think what they do is worse. They have this feeling in their genes because of human history, a history where men have dominated women. Although nowadays this situation has changed (at least in western countries), it is difficult for women to leave behind so many years of feeling inferior to men, of thinking that without a husband they were nothing.

Talking about male chauvinism, it is true that things have changed for women. Nevertheless, some families (maybe not consciously) still educate their children in a sexist manner. For instance, they permit boys not to make their beds, or not to clear (to lay the table /clear the table) the table while this is inconceivable for girls in the same family. Another example of the machismo in this society is the drama when a thirty-year-old girl does not have a boyfriend. This does not happen with men. This covert/indirect/unintentional/latent male chauvinism makes it more difficult for women to reach the same position as men and that could be another reason why women are so hard on themselves: they have to fight more.

We have also talked about the cost of taking decisions, because having everything is impossible. This is specially hard for women with children: they must choose between being the best in their jobs or taking care of their children. I remember something a woman told me some time ago: “I prefer arriving (to arrive) home late because I can’t stand spending the whole afternoon with my children”. I felt so sorry for those children… But of course those women who give up a better position in favour of their children, have an internal contradiction, specially those who have always been the best at school and university. Now they have to leave the path they have always followed. Now they have to be the best mothers.

In conclusion, although it is hard renouncing a better position in favour of our own children, and although we (women) are so hard on ourselves because we feel so imperfect, despite everything, we are lucky because we have one of the most important missions in the world: to sculpt (bring up) a little person so he or she (can become/becomes) a great man or woman in the future.

(further discussion documents provided)

Self assessment checklist B2

Writing

I can write clear and detailed texts (compositions, reports or texts of presentations) on various topics related to my field of interest.

I can write summaries of articles on topics of general interest.

I can summarise information from different sources and media.

I can discuss a topic in a composition or "letter to the editor", giving reasons for or against a specific point of view.

I can develop an argument systematically in a composition or report, emphasising decisive points and including supporting details.

I can write about events and real or fictional experiences in a detailed and easily readable way.

I can write a short review of a film or a book.

I can express in a personal letter different feelings and attitudes and can report the news of the day making clear what - in my opinion - are the important aspects of an event.