Bird attack - A Wild Day Behind the Lens: The Bird, the Valley, and the Perfect Shot

 

Bird attack

A Wild Day Behind the Lens: The Bird, the Valley, and the Perfect Shot

Today, I set out on a little adventure to test my photography skills—and I’ve got to say, not too bad! I ended up with some great shots that I turned into a short video. But wait until you hear how it all began...

The story kicks off in one of my favorite spots on campus: the South Valley. If you've never been there, you're missing out! It’s a peaceful slice of paradise, perfect for long walks and soaking in nature. But as serene as it looks, I discovered it can also be... wild.

While scouting for the perfect angle, I accidentally wandered too close to what I now believe was a bird's nest. Suddenly—whoosh!—a small but very determined bird dive-bombed me! I kid you not, it attacked me several times, like something straight out of an action movie (minus the soundtrack). I'm guessing it thought I was a threat to its nest, and honestly, it might have been right.

I didn’t back down, though. I managed to snap a photo of my feathered foe and even caught a few seconds of it flying straight at me! Word of advice: never turn your back on an angry bird—it will come for your head. Yes, it got me once. Yes, it hurt. And yes, it was totally worth it. That photo now opens my video—a battle scar turned memory.

The rest of the day was much calmer. I wandered through the South Valley, capturing flowers, tall grass, and the quiet charm of dusk. I stayed out so long, my final shots were taken just as night was falling.

Honestly, I think most students have no idea how stunning our university really is. I walk through South Valley pretty often, and it's usually just me and the birds (sometimes too close, as you’ve read). I hope this video inspires more people to explore this hidden gem on campus. Nature’s beauty is just a few steps away—you just have to be brave enough to face a tiny guardian bird to see it.

Bird Attack video - YouTube- YouKu

Article by Marcelo Gameiro

Published 04 May 2025

Sniffing Success: How a Flea Market Aromatherapy Project Turned Into a Fun Business Lesson. (Sort Of)

 

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy

Sniffing Success: How a Flea Market Aromatherapy Project Turned Into a Fun Business Lesson. (Sort Of)

Picture this: it's a lazy Saturday morning, birds are chirping, my bed feels like heaven, and I'm deep in my REM cycle dreaming of tacos. Suddenly—ding!—a message from an old university friend shatters the peace.

"Hey! Wanna join our school project today?"

Now, did I read that message when she sent it? Of course not. I saw it one hour later while still wrapped in my blanket like a human burrito. Luckily, fate was on my side—she hadn’t left yet, and within 30 minutes, I was showered, dressed, and ready to plunge into... the mysterious world of aromatherapy.

Plot Twist (#1) : This wasn't just sniffing flowers and chanting in a circle. It was a full-blown business project in the wild terrain of a downtown flea market. Picture the scene: ancient coins, questionable antiques, jade dragons, and amidst it all, our stall selling elegant little bags filled with dried flowers that smell better than your grandma's perfume drawer.

I was hooked. I hung out at the stall, made conversation, and then wandered around the market pretending to be a treasure hunter. I even bought a bunch of old coins to impress my family back in Brazil (they'll think I’m now Indiana Jones).

The first time we did it, things went okay—some people bought our flower pouches, some just sniffed and walked away like they were judging a perfume competition. Still, I had a spark of hope: “We could totally sell more... with a few tweaks.”

So, naturally, I pitched my genius ideas to the group like a startup CEO:

FREE eBook Alert! We create a mini guide to aromatherapy (with gorgeous pictures) and slap a QR code on our table. Customers scan it, boom—instant value.

Bonus Bonanza: Buy anything from us and get two more eBooks (written by yours truly, of course) absolutely free. It's like a flower-scented book buffet!

book 1 - The key to Learn English

book 2 - The World in your Hands

Conversation Starter: The free eBook? Just an excuse to talk to anyone who walks by. "Hey, want a free book?" Boom—ice broken, sale incoming.

Super Bargain: Our dried flower bags were cheap enough to make your wallet smile, and the added book bonus made the deal irresistible (in theory).

We even convinced the responsible teacher for this project to let us run the stall a second time just so we could implement our master plan. I was feeling like a marketing genius.

And then... plot twist (#2): Labor Day.
The market was basically a ghost town. I think I saw more pigeons than people. We sold three bags. Total. Not exactly the million-dollar day I envisioned.

But hey—was it a failure? Not at all.

We chatted with strangers (in English!),laughed with friends, and got to experience real-life business in action. Plus, we learned the most important entrepreneurial lesson of all:

Sometimes you win. Sometimes there’s a national holiday that ruins your sales. Either way—keep going.

So, dear student reader:
DO the weird project. / JOIN the market stall. / SELL the dried flowers.

You’ll practice English, learn real business tricks, build confidence, and maybe—just maybe—sell some flowery magic along the way.

And if all else fails... buy some coins and call yourself a collector.

#1 plot - youku

#2 Plot - YouKu - YouTube

My certificate for participating on this project

Article by Marcelo Gameiro

Published 02 May 2025

Recommendation Letters: Why Showing Up (and Speaking Up) Matters!

 

recommendation letter

🎓 Recommendation Letters: Why Showing Up (and Speaking Up) Matters! 📣

So... you need a recommendation letter. Maybe you're applying for a scholarship, a fancy internship, or even grad school. That’s great! But wait—cue dramatic music—what if your teacher doesn’t remember who you are?

“Uh-oh.”

Yep. That’s a real problem.

You see, when students ask for recommendation letters, we teachers go on a little mental journey. We ask ourselves:

“Who is this person?”

“Were they in my class?”

“Did they ever say anything during the semester besides 'Good morning, teacher' and ‘Can we finish early today?'”

If the answer is “no,” or even worse, “I have no clue who this student is,” then guess what? That letter might never get written.

Or it gets written like this:

“This student took my class. That’s all I remember. Best of luck!” 😬

💡 Why Does It Matter?

Here’s the deal: writing a recommendation letter is like vouching for someone’s future. It’s putting our name and reputation on the line. If we say you're a superstar and you turn out to be a shooting star (fast and gone),it reflects badly on us too. That’s why most responsible teachers won’t write glowing letters for students who didn’t make any effort in class.

But don’t worry—it’s not about being the smartest, or having perfect English, or sitting in the front row wearing a suit and tie. What really matters is engagement.

🧑‍🏫 What Teachers Remember

We remember students who:

Ask questions, even if they’re not perfect.

Show up on time and regularly.

Join discussions (even when they're shy).

Volunteer for presentations or help others.

Join campus events or clubs (like English corner).

Smile, say hello, or even just make us laugh!

Trust me, we don’t bite. We want to help. We want you to succeed. But we can’t write about your brilliance if we never saw it in action.

Let me tell you a story...

🌟 The Girl Who Wasn’t My Student

Today, I wrote a recommendation letter for a truly amazing student. But here’s the twist—she was never in any of my classes! 😮

So why did I write one for her?

Simple: I met her multiple times at our English Corner events. While some students just show up, write their name for attendance, and vanish faster than you can say “vocabulary,” she actually stayed, spoke, laughed, and practiced her English every time. I could see her passion and progress. She left a positive impression without ever being in my classroom.

She was in this picture below, from a blogpost about English Corner.

That’s the magic of participation. You don’t need to be the loudest or the best—you just need to show up and make an effort. Be someone your teacher will naturally remember.

✨ How to Stand Out (In a Good Way!)

If you want to be someone your teacher feels proud to recommend, try this:

Be visible: Attend regularly. Cameras on in Zoom classes if possible. Eye contact in person.

Be vocal: Ask questions. Share ideas. Show interest.

Be curious: Join extra events, clubs, or academic activities.

Be helpful: Offer to help classmates or the teacher when you can.

Be real: A genuine “thank you” or short conversation can go a long way.

🎁 Final Thought

One day, you might need someone to say something great about you. Start building that relationship now. You don’t need to be perfect—just present, proactive, and polite.

So… do you need a recommendation letter?

If not now, maybe someday.

And when that day comes, make sure your teacher's first thought is:
“Oh yes! I’d be happy to write one for that student!” ✍️💙

Article by Marcelo Gameiro

Published 10 Apr 2025

Camping - The Ultimate Crazy University Adventure!

 

Camping

🔥 The Ultimate Crazy University Adventure! 🔥

Camping without a tent ?

Hey everyone! University isn’t just about getting a degree—it’s about making unforgettable memories, meeting awesome people, and doing things that will make you laugh (or question your life choices) years from now! 😆

So… who’s up for a wild night in the University Forest? 🌲🌙

Here’s the plan:
1)🎲 Play games all night
2)🗣 Improve your English skills (without realizing it)
3)🍿 Munch on snacks and drinks all night!
4)💡 Sit in the dark like legends (bring a lamp, a power bank, seriously)
5)📸 Record it all for posting at YouTube fame or YouKu (or blackmail material)

6)📅 When? Saturday night (so you can recover on Sunday - you probably don't have classes on Sunday, right?) from saturday 22:00 pm until sunday sunrise. 
7)👥 Who? 5-7 brave souls plus myself. (enough for safety, but not enough for total chaos). You don't want to be with someone alone in the dark, specially if they will accuse you and you don´t have anyone to vouch for you. That is why minimum 5 people 
8)🎒 What to bring? Snacks, drinks, a power bank, games, and anything that makes the night more fun

We’ll borrow (totally return in the morning) some chairs and a table from Building 7, set up camp in the forest, and let the madness unfold! 🤪

If you’re in for an epic, hilarious, and absolutely crazy night, message me on WeChat! Let’s make this happen! 🚀🔥

 

UPDATE (2025 march 03)

I have  talked to my assistant and supervisor, and I am sorry to say that this activity was not approved. I am sure those 7 students who where waiting below for the approval would be disappointed, and I supposed if we could do it such activity, we would never forget about it…

Article by Marcelo Gameiro

Published 01 Apr 2025

How to give a GOOD speech - Want to Crush Your Next Speech? Here’s How!

 

How to give a GOOD speech

🚀 Want to Crush Your Next Speech? Here’s How! 🎤🏆

Last year, I shared a post breaking down the secrets of speech contests: Enhancing Speech Performance: An Analysis of Key Factors and Evaluation Criteria. It was packed with tips to help students level up their speech game.

Fast forward to this year—my friend Qin Mingyue took those tips seriously. She applied everything, practiced like a pro, and guess what? She won first place in the competition! 🥇🎉

Since I was a judge at all three rounds of the contest (and recorded everything 📹),I decided to go beyond a simple post — I created a FREE mini-course on how to deliver a winning speech! This course is packed with real examples from students who competed, plus practical techniques to improve not just your public speaking skills but also your English fluency. Because let’s be real—if you don’t speak English well, how can you expect to win?

So, if you want to:
✅ Speak confidently
✅ Improve your English
✅ Ace your next speech contest (or just impress your audience!)

🎓 Check out the course—it's 100% free and straight to the point! → Click here to see it

Don’t just take my word for it—Qin Mingyue put these strategies into action and walked away with the gold. Will you be next? 💡🎙️

 

🎤 Want to Own the Stage? This Free Course Will Show You How! 🚀🏆

Public speaking can feel like stepping into a lion’s den—but it doesn’t have to! Whether you're aiming for a speech contest victory or just want to sound more confident in English, this free mini-course will teach you how to grab attention, keep your audience engaged, and leave a lasting impression.

Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll learn:

🔥 Introduction – Let’s set the stage! Why do some speeches captivate while others fall flat? Learn the core secrets behind powerful public speaking.

👋 First Impressions – They say first impressions last forever! Find out how to hook your audience in the first few seconds and make them excited to listen to you.

💡 Making Gestures – Your hands shouldn’t just hang there! Learn how to use gestures naturally to emphasize your points and add energy to your delivery.

👀 Not Reading & Making Eye Contact – Don’t be the person staring at their notes! I’ll show you how to connect with your audience using strong eye contact while delivering your speech smoothly and naturally.

😨 Fear – Nervous? Good! It means you care. But I’ll teach you how to turn those butterflies into confidence so your fear doesn’t control you.

🗣️ Pronunciation, Accent & Clarity – Speaking English well is half the battle! You’ll learn how to improve pronunciation, refine your accent, and speak with clarity so your message is loud and clear.

👂 Listening Exercise – Being a great speaker starts with being a great listener. This fun exercise will help you train your ears and improve your communication skills effortlessly.

📖 Reading Exercise – Reading out loud isn’t just for kids! This exercise will boost your fluency, pronunciation, and confidence when speaking in front of an audience.

🚀 Ready to take your speaking skills to the next level? This free course is packed with real examples, expert techniques, and practical exercises to make sure you walk away a better speaker.

🎓 Sign up now and start speaking like a champion! → Enroll for FREE!

Article by Marcelo Gameiro

Published 31 Mar 2025

Movie Activity - AVATAR (2009) Improve Your English by Watching Movies!

 

Movie Activity

Movie Activity - AVATAR (2009)

Improve Your English by Watching Movies! 🎬📚

Even thou just few students show up for the activity, and that feels a little awkward I did reserve such a big class for the event, the activity was very successful, it would be successful even just one student show up.  

Fof this activity we watch it Avatar (2009),it was a 3 hours movie and we enjoy it a lot, it was so fun to do it that perhaps I will do it again…

 

Learning English doesn’t have to be boring or feel like hard work—one of the most enjoyable ways to improve your skills is by watching movies! Films expose you to natural conversations, different accents, cultural expressions, and real-life situations that textbooks simply can’t capture.

When I was living in the USA, I used to go to the movie theaters every week. It was very affordable, especially with dollar movies. At first, I didn’t understand much, and it felt overwhelming. But I kept going, listening, and paying attention to the dialogue. Little by little, my comprehension improved, and I started recognizing words, phrases, and even jokes. The key is to never give up and enjoy the process. One day, all your effort will pay off, and you’ll be glad you stuck with it.

Below are some pictures from when I was living in USA and how I used to make watching movies as part of my English learning process…

If you’re learning English, try watching movies with subtitles at first, then gradually switch to English audio without them. Choose films you love so that learning feels fun. Your brain will naturally absorb new words, pronunciation, and sentence structures.

Have you ever used movies to improve your English? What’s your favorite film for learning? Let me know in WeChat if you have my contact 🎥✨

Article by Marcelo Gameiro

Published 29 Mar 2025

JOB FAIR - Why Learning English Can Change Your Life

 

Job Fair

JOB FAIR

Why Learning English Can Change Your Life

Today, on my way back from lunch, I noticed some activity in the playground. It wasn’t as crowded as I imagine it had been in the morning, but something about it caught my attention. Curious, I walked over to see what was happening.

It turned out to be a job fair. There weren’t many students around at that moment, but what I saw next was enough to prove a very important point.

I recognized one of the company representatives, Eric, who works for a global business. He was speaking with a student I knew from the English Corner—someone I had personally encouraged to practice English because I knew he was making an effort to improve. As I listened to their conversation, I realized something incredible: Eric wasn’t just chatting—he was scouting for talent.

By the end of our discussion, Eric turned to me and asked, “Do you have more students like him? We need people who can speak English.”

Think about that for a second. This company was ready to hire someone not because of their degree, not because of their grades, but because they could communicate in English. The ability to speak English was more important than a diploma in that moment. Why? Because businesses in China—and all over the world—need people who can sell, negotiate, and communicate across borders.

This is not a rare situation. It happens all the time. Those who make even a small effort to learn English open doors to opportunities that others never will.

So ask yourself: Are you ready for when an opportunity like this comes your way? Or will you let it slip by because you didn’t take English seriously?

Article by Marcelo Gameiro

Published 15 Mar 2025