Hi everyone,
These are the essays my English Composition I students wrote in the second semester of 2016. As always, they chose a subject related to their communities or region, did observations, searched for information and followed the process of writing in the classroom. I hope you enjoy their essays and leave comments.
JUAN FRANCISCO ALFONSECA
HIGH SCHOOL
By Auris R. Encarnación Bello
The community of Angelina in Cotui has Juan Francisco Alfonseca High School,
a complete and modern high
school, with the greatest and well prepared
teachers and authorities in the whole district. This high school is an important part of education
in Angelina and its surroundings. It plays a central role in the secondary
education for students
in the community. It is the only high school that this community has, and its existence
makes the dream of all students that want
to go to college come true.
The Juan Francisco Alfonseca High School is an interesting teaching and learning
place. The high school counts on a great infrastructure
that serves as house to all the teachers and students of the community in Angelina, Cotui.
The building was built in 2003 when President
Hipolito Mejia was in office.
In general, it is quiet, big, and has many different areas related to education. In the controlling place, in which the Principal
and the vice-principal are, there are some small
offices that serve as the administrative area. There is also a library where the students
go to get knowledge from the books they read. There is an auditorium for performing plays and
giving presentations and speeches.
The high school counts on sixteen modern classrooms, which are divided into the number of grades taught in the high school. There are five first grades, four second grades, four third grades, and three fourth grades.
The authorities in the Juan Francisco
Alfonseca High School in Angelina, Cotui are
responsible and capable. This high school has some of the most capable
staff that the whole Angelina community has. The high school
principal is teacher Eduardo Regalado who is one of the most knowledgeable
teachers in this school, because
of his experience and many courses
that he has taken. The vice-principal, Lucrecio Algramonte is one of the teachers who have been working there for
the longest time. He has a Masters degree and some other
degrees. The other groups of administrators and assistants, as well as the
teachers, are very responsible and capable. For example, they arrive
to school first than students and get everything ready before they arrive to class. The administrators, as well as the teachers, leave the high school after all the students
have already gone home. This is
something that is weird in
these times, because responsibility and love for the job in
elementary schools and high schools
are poor nowadays
in our country. Attachment to the
Ministry of Education standards and rules has awarded
the first placed to this school several times.
It is acknowledged as the most responsible and quiet school
in the whole district.
Teachers and the curriculum at Juan Francisco
Alfonseca High School
in Angelina, Cotui are well arranged.
The main characteristic of the teachers
and the subjects
they teach is that
they are well organized
in the way the Ministry
of Education requires. The high school has twenty four teachers
who help students
learn the contents
of their subjects.
Every teacher of this high school teaches its own subject depending on his/her mayor. In
this school, there are eleven subjects
that are taught separately one from the other. Some of these subjects
like Math, Spanish, Biology, and Social Science are considered
a priority by the Ministry
of Education. Others like English, French,
and Physical Education
are considered secondary.
These subjects are a point of reference for evaluating
the quality of education in the
community. For all these reasons,
this high school complies with the requirements of educational standards nowadays.
In conclusion, Juan Francisco Alfonseca High School in Angelina, Cotui is one of the most
important and biggest high schools in the whole Sanchez
Ramirez province. Its well prepared teachers and authorities, as well as its modern
classrooms and facilities make this
high school very significant for the students
that want to achieve their goals and become good professionals in the future. Therefore, this high school is changing lives and giving the community better opportunities of progress and development.
San Francisco
de Macorís 2016
The green areas in a place are as important as the lung is for the functioning of the body. They serve as the main propellant air. It is extremely important for the general health of its inhabitants. Antonio Guzmán Fernández municipal district is a green and diverse. Its important source of natural life stands out in favor of the inhabitants in this locality and its surroundings.
To sum up, the Antonio Guzmán Fernández municipality constitutes a pleasant access to the natural world. This locality offers a great variety of natural resources for farmers and workers in the place. People enjoy living in this municipality because it is surrounded by nature which keeps the air free of pollution. This neighborhood promotes the good health of its inhabitants as well as good hygiene. Antonio Guzman Fernandez District is an example of love and care for the natural resources, honoring the famous phrase, "Nature is full of words of love, but how can we listen to them in the midst of constant noise, permanent distraction and anxiety, or cult of appearance?" (Lauded Yes, SS. Pope Francisco.)
SAN
MIGUEL CLUB IN FANTINO, COTUI
By Estefany Castaños
There are some
communities that do not have a place for people to get together to have a good
time and do different kinds of activities. San Miguel club is the perfect place
in Fantino which makes citizens happy and allows them to develop their skills.
It is important due to it is the only club with a beautiful physical structure
and good management.
San Miguel club
physical structure includes different areas to enjoy. There is a saloon for a
lot of activities there. It is light yellow. The roof and walls are made of
concrete and it has a mosaic floor. Inside the club, there are two rooms and a
kitchen. Outside and behind the club, there is a basketball and volleyball’s
court. In the court, there are rows where people sit to enjoy the games.
Moreover, it has a green area. Also, it has an area to exercise and two
bathrooms.
San Miguel club
has a responsible board of directors. They are in charge of the maintenance of
de club. The board of directors is formed by the president, vice president, a secretary,
a treasurer, and two substitutes. Also, there are a concierge, volleyball and
basketball coach, and an activities planner. The three last said people do not
belong to the board of directors, but they are part of the management of the
club and they work hard. Each of them has the responsibility to fulfill their
functions. Because of their effort, the club is clean, organized, and in good
conditions. The community has a beautiful club to go to and have fun.
In san Miguel
club, people do different activities to socialize. In the saloon of activities,
people celebrate birthday parties, weddings, and graduations. Those are the
activities people who like dancing enjoy the most. Some organizations have
meetings in this saloon. The board of neighbors and the guild association get
together every Monday and Saturday. Also, in a room that is inside the club,
the Instituto Nacional de Formacion Tecnico Professional (INFOTEP) program
teaches some technical courses, such as upholstery, confectionery, bijouterie,
and others. The board of directors does different activities for raising funds.
Once a year, they organize a volleyball and basketball tournament. Another
activity they do is to sell foods, drinks, desserts, and other things. This is
called kermes, in which the coach invites various teams. On the other hand, the
board of directors does a kind of activities for people that prefer a quiet
environment in which people watch movies and enjoy seeing a play. A good thing
is people have variety and do not have to pay money to use the club for doing
activities.
In conclusion,
San Miguel club is the most beautiful and the perfect place for doing activities
in Fantino. This club is visited by many people because of the variety it
offers. Its good physical conditions are due to the work of the personnel that
works there. This club gives people the opportunity to become good at sports
and handiwork.
San Francisco de Macorís 2016
GREEN AREAS IN ANTONIO GUZMÁN FERNÁNDEZ DISTRICT
By Ezequiel Santos
The green areas in a place are as important as the lung is for the functioning of the body. They serve as the main propellant air. It is extremely important for the general health of its inhabitants. Antonio Guzmán Fernández municipal district is a green and diverse. Its important source of natural life stands out in favor of the inhabitants in this locality and its surroundings.
Antonio Guzmán Fernández is a very Green place.
It is about 35 years old. The municipality is big and greatly distributed compared
to other. It has some parks and Green areas for people to walk around and
relax. The greatest places to walk and exercise or just relax their minds are
the fields, a place where they can go and have a good time. Those fields are
pieces of lands given by the government in office in those times to the
inhabitants to work and plant different sources of food. It takes its name from
the president who led the government.
People like Antonio Guzman and its location
because of the environmental diversity. One of the most important things is the
river next to the lots. It really makes the area one of the most beautiful and
Green places in town. The place is surrounded by many big trees and fields from
side to side. The community has planted a lot of fruit trees. Besides, there are corn, plantains, oranges,
cherries, rice, yucca and others. Also people like to plant flowers in front of
their houses, especially women. They take care of the yards in front and behind
their houses.
In this neighborhood, the cleaning
service is done by the local government. There are some employees who clean all
the streets and their surroundings every morning. The local government really
cares about the wild nature that grows around the area. They clean the avenue
outside the place all over by using trucks and machines to do a great job. Also,
many people work divided by groups and zones.
To sum up, the Antonio Guzmán Fernández municipality constitutes a pleasant access to the natural world. This locality offers a great variety of natural resources for farmers and workers in the place. People enjoy living in this municipality because it is surrounded by nature which keeps the air free of pollution. This neighborhood promotes the good health of its inhabitants as well as good hygiene. Antonio Guzman Fernandez District is an example of love and care for the natural resources, honoring the famous phrase, "Nature is full of words of love, but how can we listen to them in the midst of constant noise, permanent distraction and anxiety, or cult of appearance?" (Lauded Yes, SS. Pope Francisco.)
San Francisco de Macorís, 2016
EL
SALTO WATERFALL
By José A. Del Orbe Reynoso
When people visit El Salto, they fall in love for
everything this beautiful waterfall offers to their senses. A lot of emotions
occur when people admire its spectacular shape, incredible surroundings, and
the contrast between the peace and the joy that people feel when they swim in
its crystalline waters, which always invites visitors to return. This is the
most iconic place in Castillo.
People do
a lot of activities in El Salto Waterfall. It is good to go there with friends
to hang out and have a good time. People play some typical water games like Tag
Game. In this game, people swim very fast to avoid being touched on the head by
the ones who are chasing them. El Salto has been the best spot for swimming,
fishing, hiking, and cooking for families and friends for about four
generations in Castillo. People can go there for having a good time, doing
motocross, biking, camping, and climbing the big rock wall that offers an
exciting experience. Many activities that are part of children and old people
traditions are done there. For example, when every school year ends, teenagers
go there for celebrating and drinking alcoholic beverages without supervision.
Also couples go there to find a very cute and romantic place when it is
desolated. When the first inhabitants in Castillo went there for the first
time, they found objects they thought Tainos used to make rituals. El Salto has
been the perfect place to do all kinds of recreational activities for the whole
town in Castillo. The desire for adventure still continues to invade the hearts
of the Castilians.
EL Salto
waterfall has a very pretty and particular structure. It is formed by three
waterfalls. Two of them are small and are located above the big one which is
about twenty feet tall. There is a big rock wall which is about 100 feet tall.
It excels a little bit from the mountain when people observe it. They think
that it is coming over them. It is formed by nitrate-bearing and protects the
waterfall from the sun rays, so the water is always cold and green. That color
is provided by the sediment coming from the top of the mountain. This place is
very particular because of the shape which is almost a circle. Its beauty and unique shape makes the perfect combination for the unique place
this waterfall is.
The
surroundings in Castillo are very beautiful, but the ones that are the most
impressive are the ones around El Salto. This place has all the combinations of
nature in just one place. There is an excellent view of Castillo’s mountains
which are full of cocoa and poppy trees. There, people can find a big diversity
of plants such as orange, hives, and avocado, which are the most common. The
road to get to El Salto passes by the middle of the high mountain of La Fedelá
community, which goes down among cocoa trees plantations, toward an old mine of
nitrate-bearing from where people see a great abyss that can terrify people.
There is a long and steep set of stairs leading to the river. Anyone who visits
El Salto will say that the beauty of the surroundings near it have not and
equaled one throughout the area.
To
conclude, visiting El Salto is an amazing trip along a difficult road, but
people love to go there not matter what they have go though to get there. It is
a waterfall where people do a lot of activities. In addition they marvel at its
unparalleled shape and beautiful surroundings. This cascade is the most
emblematic place in terms of natural beauty in the beautiful town of Castillo.
San Francisco De
Macorís 2016
FRANCISCO
SERRA TIRADO
By Paola Altagracia Taveras Martinez
Life means to be successful
in all things that people do. In life, nothing is easy to get, but it is not
impossible, either. No matter how many difficulties people have to go through.
When people want to be successful, they have to make a big effort. However,
that effort is worth it at the end of the road. Francisco Serra Tirado is a
person who has a beautiful life because he fought to achieve his goals.
Francisco Serra Tirado is a
famous man from Pimentel who has had a lot of difficulties to achieve his
goals. Serra was born in Caobete, Pimentel on September 3rd, 1970.
He is the fifth son of Ramón Serra, a farmer, and Antigua Tirado, a house wife.
He studied at Caobete Basic School where he finished his primary education. In
those times, in Caobete, there was not a high school where Francisco could
continue his schooling. The nearest one was in Pimentel where he finished high
school. He was very young and he liked English. Because of his bad economic
conditions, he moved to Santo Domingo, where he worked and succeeded in a
chicken farm in Haina. Due to his success, he became the manager. In spite of
his success in the farm, he wanted to study English at the university and told
Juan Del Orbe, his friend, to help him to learn. Two months later, he came back
to Pimentel and immediately, he started to study English at Universidad
Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) in San Francisco de Macorís. He was hired as a
teacher in the first semester he started college and finished his career in
four more years. He obtained his associate degree in English Teaching. Two
years later, he got married with Genara Reynoso. Now, they have a beautiful
family with three wonderful boys.
Francisco Serra is a funny
person who has had many achievements. He has a beautiful personality. He likes
to smile a lot and also tell jokes. Also, his personality makes people feel
comfortable and happy. Serra is never angry and always enjoys doing things in a
natural way. His friends say that he is the kind of people who always make them
laugh. His co-workers in high school call him the clown. They say that the reason for this name is because he
always makes them laugh with his jokes. Francisco is a man who feels
comfortable helping others, looking for the best solution to their problems.
Francisco Serra Tirado is a
good teacher who has had different occupations. He moved to Pimentel where he
became famous. Francisco has had different jobs such as teacher, poet, and
school principal. He has worked in different offices in Caobete School. He
worked hard in order to succeed in this school. He hears students in the
streets whispering that he is the best teaching English. As far as he is
concerned, he does not mean that being a good English teacher is easy. It is
not. Francisco has taught many students and they have helped him improve as a
teacher. Francisco cannot complain about life. He loves being an entertainer
because he loves making people happy. Francisco Serra is a man who has received
a lot of recognition from his classmates and students. He has been awarded with
the title of the Teacher of the Year in every school he has worked.
In conclusion, Francisco
Serra is a man who became famous after he achieved his goals. His personality
of being a positive person with good sense of humor helped him to have a good
job and continue growing as an English teacher and good person. If people have
a dream, they can achieve it and be a successful person as Francisco is. Of
course, people have to make a big effort. However, at the end of the road, they
can see good results. Making the difference is not easy, but Francisco will be
an example in the future for teachers and people who have goals. In addition,
many people can get what they want. They only need to work hard until the end.
San Francisco de Macorís 2016
QUITA ESPUELA MOUNTAIN
By Rosa Leidy Vargas
Quita Espuela is very important for the Northeastern
region and the Dominican Republic as well. The flora of this mountain has a big
diversity and its fauna is rich and abundant. Also, many of the endemic animals
of Santo Domingo Island live there. It is the home for many animals and it is
rich in natural resources. That is why Quita Espuela Mountain is protected by
the Loma Quita Espuela Foundation. This mountain is a tourist attraction where
people can enjoy different activities, but they should follow the rules. They
should respect and protect the natural resources of this mountain, which is the
treasure of people living in San Francisco de Macoris.
The flora
of Quita Espuela Mountain has an interesting diversity. In Quita Espuela,
people can find a wonderful place with a lot of trees and plants. In Quita
Espuela, there are more than 630 types of plants and trees, and there are more
than 30 rivers that flow there and are very important for San Francisco de Macorís
city. People can enjoy these rivers. They can swim and
have a wonderful time. Quita Espuela is a piece of green land. It is beautiful.
It looks different in each season. For example, in spring, it has different
colors that make people feel they are watching a real colorful picture from the
distance. In winter, each morning, the mountain gets covered by the fog and it
looks as if the sky and the mountain were together.
The fauna
of Quita Espuela Mountain is rich and abundant. Quita Espuela is the home for
many endemic species of animals. It has more than 51 species divided into
reptils, birds, fishes, and others. In Quita Espuela, there are around 18
species of reptils and 13 of them are endemic of that area. There are different
types of fishes. One that is very famous in that region is the Anguilla. People
say that this animal went to Quita Espuela from the Ocean. It swam up the
mountain to become part of it. Another important animal is the selenodonte.
This animal was discovered in this area not long ago. This animal is unique and
it is endemic of this area. This animal was found in the Island of Cuba, and
scientists are investigating about it. Also, in Quita Espuela, there is a variety
of birds. They are very beautiful and colorful. All the animals that live in
Quita Espuela are protected by the authorities and by the people who live near
the mountain.
People,
who want to have a good time, explore, and watch the natural resources of Quita
Espuela Mountain, need to get ready by working out. People can go to Quita
Espuela by any kind of transportation, but when they arrive there, they need to
climb a lot. At the mountain, people are taken on a tour by a person who is
responsible for that. Through the tour in the mountain, they can see different
kinds of animals, and different kinds of trees. Also, they can eat fruits and
have beverages made in the area. They can drink chocolate which is made from
cocoa from trees grown in the mountain, and the beverage is prepared by the
people who are in charged of that activity. Those people who work there are
very friendly and generous. As soon as people get to the top of the mountain,
when they see how beautiful the view is, they forget how tired they are. There
is a tower on top of the mountain. People can climb up the tower and have a
wonderful view of the green land area. On the other side, they can see a
beautiful view of San Francisco de Macorís city. This experience is unique.
Quita Espuela
Mountain is a wonderful place where people can do many activities. People who
go there find a peaceful place with a big diversity of natural resources and
interesting animals. They can enjoy Dominican food and learn how many beverages
are prepared there. People who visit the Dominican Republic should not leave
before visiting Quita Espuela Mountain and enjoy an experience that will be
part of their lives forever.
San
Francisco de Macoris 2016
The houses in C Street are the most beautiful in Cristo Rey neighborhood. All of these houses have the most beautiful colors and designs. Their colors are common. The most common colors are orange, green, and yellow. Almost all those houses have a particular structure because some are made with wood and some with concrete. Also, some of them have the same design such as a flat roof. However, they look fantastic. Their structure is totally different from the others. The windows are square and are made of Chrystal and metal. In addition, their backyards are tiny and many houses do not have one.
San Francisco de Macorís 2016
LA BOMBA DE CENOVÍ
By Yanibel Cabrera Acosta
La Bomba de
Cenovi is a fascinating town that belongs to San Francisco de Macorís. It is an important place for the inhabitants, not only
because it has a meaniful name, but also it has many places and activities that
involve all citizens in the town.
The origin of La Bomba de Cenovi
is interesting. Why is it interesting? Old people from the community have two
versions about the origin of it. According to them, there was a time when a
group of aborigines lived in the place where La Bomba de Cenovi is nowadays.
Among them, there was a man called Vi. One day, he got lost and people were
looking for him. They found trashes of food and said. “Aqui Ceno Vi.” (“Vi had
dinner here”). The second version about the origin of Cenoví is that there was
a priest who was sent to inspect the zone for any reason. When he arrived to
the river he found a woman taking a bath topless and the priest exclaimed. “!Que
hermosos senos vi!” (“What beautiful breasts I saw!”). In addition, people
called the place La Bomba de Cenovi, because there was a hydraulic pump in the
place, which supplied the train that traveled from Sanchez, Samaná port to La
Vega with fuel. From that moment on, this town is called La Bomba de Cenovi.
There are many places in La
Bomba de Cenoví where people can go. There is a hospital for keeping families
healthy. There are many schools for primary education, a high school and
politecnical school for secondary education. There is a supermarket, some
grocery stores, and some mini markets just in case people want to buy some
food. If people want to buy some bread, there is a bakery. Also, there is a
police station and a gas station. There is a club for the community to do their
activities. For nightlife, there are some places where people can go and have a
good time. For example, there are bars and a typical ranch. There are some
small restaurants where people can eat delicious dishes. There is a court where
people can play and practice some sport such a basketball and volleyball.
Additionally, there are many places for people who live in and visit La Bomba
de Cenovi, depending of their needs.
In La Bomba de Cenoví there are
many activities that people do the whole year. First, on January 21st,
it is a tradition to commemorate La Altagracia’s Day with dancing and a
kettledrum’s party. In these activities, people drink and see many artistic
activities. This is an exciting day for people who like those things. However,
it is a tradition to make a parade in the Independence’s Day with the Dominican
flag and folk dance. This is something beautiful for the community.
The most important activity in
Cenovi is San Jose Festival. Every year, San Jose festival starts on March 10th.
It is held until March 19th, which is San Jose’s Day. In this
festival, everybody goes to church to celebrate. After that, people who like
fairs and concerts go to the stadium or to the biggest parking lot in town,
where they can have a special moment. The last day, they make a parade along
the streets with Saint Jose image. Also, in this festival basketball and
volleyball games take place. In these competitions, people who like sports can
have a fun and a relaxing time. In the summer, San Jose’s church prepares a
summer camp for children. In this activity, they have a trip to the beach and
close it with a parade with the queens and kings they have chosen during the
camp. Even though there are many activities in Cenoví, these are the most
highlighted.
To conclude, La Bomba de Cenovi is a special place for all the citizens
in town, especially for visitors that consider Cenoví a historical place for
its origin and location. People who visit Cenoví are
always curious about the name of it. Also, people like to visit it, because it
has access to many places and has great activities that make Cenoví a good
place to live or visit.
San Francisco de Macorís 2016
C STREET IN CRISTO REY
NEIGHBORHOOD
By Yerni Herrera
Cristo Rey is a small neighborhood located
in San Francisco de Macorís. This neighborhood has many beautiful houses,
streets, and a good school. Streets are well arranged. The most
beautiful is C Street, which provides the neighborhood many advantages. C Street
is really important for this neighborhood and shows a high level of activities
in the community.
The houses in C Street are the most beautiful in Cristo Rey neighborhood. All of these houses have the most beautiful colors and designs. Their colors are common. The most common colors are orange, green, and yellow. Almost all those houses have a particular structure because some are made with wood and some with concrete. Also, some of them have the same design such as a flat roof. However, they look fantastic. Their structure is totally different from the others. The windows are square and are made of Chrystal and metal. In addition, their backyards are tiny and many houses do not have one.
C Street in Cristo Rey neighborhood
has many advantages. One advantage is this street represents the beauty of the
neighborhood. If the community has an important social event, they do it there
because it is the one that looks better and is representative of the
neighborhood. Also, this street is the nearest street to the main avenue.
Another advantage is this street does not have curves, and people have less
possibility of having an accident. Besides,
people can exercise there. They run or jog in this straight street, having the
pleasure of enjoying a beautiful view.
The physical aspect of C Street in Cristo
Rey neighborhood is good. C Street is the longest street in this neighborhood.
C Street has four blocks. It is not really wide. It has 5.50 meters. The width
of the street allows cars to move easily. The street is made of asphalt. C
Street went through some processes before being asphalted because the street is
the longest. Some people used to run car races in it. C Street has different
signs like stop and speed limit. Those signs made people
who ran races to stop them. Sidewalks look in not so in good conditions. They
need to be rebuilt. The physical aspect of C Street in Cristo Rey neighborhood
makes it look very different from the others. This street connects Cristo Rey
with other neighborhoods. This street is considered the main street in this neighborhood.
Parades and many other activities are held in this street.
In general, Cristo Rey
is a lovely and organized place. It has cute houses with magnificent colors,
structures, and designs. People who live there enjoy its splendid surroundings
which make them feel like they are living in paradise. All the streets are well organized,
but not like C Street. It is a marvelous and peaceful street.
