My first PLN love!

My first PLN ♥love♥!

Earlier this month Brad Patterson @brad5patterson proposed a blog challenge on Twitter. I'm not a real blogger, the only blogging I do is adding some activities for my young learners here, but I liked the idea so much that I decided to take the plunge. So here is the outcome: 
                                An interview with Carla Arena @carlaarena

Some Background:

It was a Sunday, 14 November, 2010, when my life started to change. And it was all Carla's "fault"! Searching the net, I came across Carla’s blog post on elearning speedgeeking and that led me to her twitter account (or was it the other way around?) The truth is, it was then that I fell in love with Carla, who was the first member of my adorable PLN and to whom I owe having become a more engaged and techy teacher. Therefore, my interviewee couldn’t be anyone else, but her. Without further ado, I share, with enormous pleasure,  a bit more of this incredible human being with you.

About Carla

Besides her family, the trio teaching, cooking and photography are part of Carla’s true passions in life. They are all related to magic moments in life, alchemy, creativity. Carla was once  just another government worker working a long day. Her life really turned upside down when she taught her first class in a methodology class at Casa Thomas Jefferson, in Brasilia. From that day on, she became a teacher. And, what a great teacher! From the beginning, she found the power of technology as a connective and transformative tool in the classroom. Nowadays, more than tech in class, she’s excited about the new possibilities of its way beyond the four walls. That's why for the past years she has dedicated herself to the eLearning program at the Casa and to volunteer work in the Electronic Village Online (a TESOL-CALL-IS project) Coordinating Team and as an online moderator of free training sessions for educators.

Carla’s blog: http://collablogatorium.blogspot.com/

Carla’s wiki: http://brazilbridges.pbworks.com/

The 5 Standard Questions:

If your students were to label you with 3 adjectives, what might they be?
Geeky, loud and all smiley

What would we find in your refrigerator right now?
Juicy fruits, vegetables, cheese, ham, wine (always!), beer for my husband

If you weren’t a teacher, what might your profession be?
A National Geographic Photographer or a chef?

What has been your most difficult class as a teacher?
The most difficult class for me was when a very dear teenage student died in a car crash. I was devastated, but had the tough task to be the support for all those wonderful, helpless teenagers in class...It was one of the most demanding days in my teaching profession.

What was the last book/movie you read/saw, and what have you seen/read way too many times?
Books? I'm reading three now. Just finished Seth Godin's "Poke the Box". I'm finishing Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers' and just started "Digital Education. Opportunities for Social Collaboration", edited by Michael Thomas.

About my favorite movies of all times? "Cinema Paradiso". It is just a portrait of my own Sicilian family.

Extra Question:

How different is Carla, the mother from Carla, the teacher?
Carla, the mother, is very demanding, but caring. Always alert. Carla, the mother, is as close to her kids as one can be.

As for Carla, the teacher, she's softer, always cheerful, demanding, but not pushy. More understanding.

Both Carlas care for the other, are totally passionate about life, and try to inspire others to do their best, to pursue their dreams.

Ping Pong

Day or night? Both

Salt or sugar? Sugar

Air, fire, earth or water? Air

Hot or Cold? Hot

The city or the country? Urban

Modern or Classical? Modern

Film or book? Film and book

Say the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear these prompts:

My family: my balance, my passion

Favourite quote: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." Einstein

A role model: Dennis Oliver, an incredible friend and educator

A dream: democratizing access to education in Brazil

Brazilian Educational System: still has a long way to go. We need transformation.

I hate: injustice

I love: cooking, traveling and taking photos

My PLN: lifelong learning and connections

Other interviews in the challenge:

@Brad5Patterson         and          @CeciELT

don’t CC ceci, send ‘er a TO

@CeciELT       and      @Shellterrell

Getting to know a PLN star

@theteacherjames     and       @annamusielak

ELT Blog challenge interview with Anna

@seburnt           and       @vickyloras

Bookstores, Taxes, and Swiss PD with Vicky Loras

@bcnpaul1          and         @brad5patterson

ELT Blog challenge with Brad

@shellterrell     and      @seburnt

THE NAUGHTY DOGGY TALES (tails) and their PARENTS

@vladkaslniecko        and          @annamusielak

Vladimira, the Peaceful Ruler

@sandymillin      and       @naomishema

The eternal teacher:  interviewing Naomi

@davidwarr       and          @hoprea

Doing some work

 

@vladkaslniecko      and       @tarabenwell

Little Daisy PLN Challenge 

 

@abfromz          and       @evab2001

Collaboration and Fun

 

@vickyloras          and        @esolcourses

PLN Interview with Sue Lyon Jones