live your life forever

Do the Selectivo tests make you feel under pressure these days?

2011-02-07T20:35:00.000+01:00

The following post was copied from this site: http://weston.patch.com/articles/students-under-pressure-in-race-to-nowhere

"Parents, teachers, students and administrators packed the Weston High School auditorium Tuesday night to view the critically acclaimed education documentary “Race to Nowhere” and open the discussion on the major challenges facing today’s students.

The 85-minute film, which will be screened and discussed again Monday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium, focuses on the overwhelming expectations and pressures on students, the time commitment required to succeed and the effects of overwork.
“I think what stood out to me the most was that it was so relevant,” Weston High School junior, student representative to the School Committee and discussion-panel speaker Sophia Wirth said. “I think this video really reinforces and shows parents especially that this is a real issue that we have. It is not just something where - oh my kids are doing a lot of homework at night, or oh this is just normal teenage stuff. This is not just a normal teenage behavior to be spending four, five [hours a night doing homework].”

Interested in this article, click on the link above.

However, please do not panic. These's more life beyond Tests and marks. You can watch the following Queen's video clip entitled: Under Pressure

Well, this is just for you to chill out. Now, it's time to go back to work on Testing.

Why are you learning another language?

2011-01-31T21:19:00.000+01:00

First, let's imagine that now you're living abroad and you've just experienced this common situation.
"I recently cut my finger out of sheer stupidity while making a handbag. I had to go to the Emergency Room for stitches (happily I’m ok!), and since none of my closest friends/family were nearby, I had to get there by myself. Luckily, I was able to joke around with the doctors, which took some of the edge of my fear off, but the experience got me thinking about those of you who are in another country, where a different language is spoken.
I’ve mentioned before that there simply is no way around the need for learning the language of your host country if you want to fit in. Medical experiences are one of the things that can really make or break a stay in another country. Imagine you injure yourself, or are in pain, or have some other ailment. All your friends are the same nationality as you because you haven’t felt comfortable enough with your language skills to try and meet local people, so you have to go the hospital or doctor by yourself, or with another person who also doesn’t speak the local language. Once you get there, you are at a complete loss of words – so now your body is suffering, and you can’t even explain what’s wrong. Or, you manage to explain it, and then the doctor tells you something, and you have no idea what he/she said.
One of my good friends had this happen to her in Germany – her husband was fortunately able to take her (he is German) – but he took control of the conversation for her, relaying everything in German with the doctor, and she felt a bit powerless having to leave it to her husband to communicate for her, and having very little comprehension of what they were discussing.
This is just one of many reasons to learn a foreign language. And, to anyone out there that says, “Sure, but I’m not good at languages,” you learned the one you’re speaking now, so you are obviously better than you think!"
This was taken from: http://survivaltipsforexpatsandspouses.com/tag/learning-a-new-language/

So, what's your language anecdote? Please tell us about it and post your comments.

How is a sandwich related to the English language learning?

2011-01-14T18:52:00.002+01:00

Well, at first sight a sandwich is just something we usually have for supper, isn't it? However, Richard Gerver has taught us something different at school today. He was very hungry at the airport and he just wanted to eat a simple sausage sandwich. However, there was no understanding with the young waiter. Is the waiter a good professional? Of course he is. So, what's wrong here according to Richard Gerver? Does the Educational system cater for the current student's needs at crisis times?
What does Gerver's teaching philosophy suggest to you?

Take it easy! You don't need to answer all the previous questions. These are just for you to think about the sandwich metaphor. Please, take your time and try to state your opinion on this topic, using the blog's commentaries.

Nice to meet you all

2011-01-13T00:01:00.002+01:00

Hello everyone,

I'd just like to welcome the new-comers once again and I hope you can feel comfortable enough, using this blog for the 2nd year of Bachillerato. Well, welcome and enjoy languages learning!

At Christmas

2010-12-21T13:55:00.001+01:00

Merry Christmas for you all.

Here's something you could do to kill time at Christmas. These activities are taken from the British Council.

Language Anecdotes

2009-05-19T18:29:00.007+02:00

Here we're going to tell you about language anecdotes.

Any linguistic situation you'd like to share or tell us about it. Please, don't be shy and enjoy languages!

First Álvaro and Diego will tell us what happened in Lugo:

Anecdote: Hello, us Alvaro and Diego, we're going to count what we spent the dayMay 6, 2009, we left home to go to classes in Lugo, but it was veryhot, we went for a drink at plaza mayor, and decided not to go toclass. Diego had to go to a pharmacy when we were in the pharmacy,entered an american marriage, which were from Northern California. The man wanted to buy shaving foam, but the pharmacist does notunderstand what was wanted, and we act translators. The americanmarriage asked we for the tourist office and we have shown the way,but as it was a bit complicated, we were accompanied to the touristoffice, they were delighted with us and gave us a thousand thanks.

Thank you very much, Álvaro and Diego.

By the way, where exactly is the tourist office in Lugo?

The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend

2009-05-07T13:25:00.021+02:00

Here're two video clips for you to get involved in Adrian's stories:

Part 2:

Writing tips:
How to write a review. The information below was found in this link.

Tips on writing a book review

Published
Skim the first few pages to find the date the book was published.

Pages
You don't have to count them! Just look at the number on the final page.

The story
This is WHAT happens. To help you think about the main events, first draw a time line with the beginning scene of the book at the top of a piece of paper and the final scene at the bottom.

E.g. Write "Harry starts at Hogwarts" at the top and "Harry defeats Voldemort" at the bottom.

You can also write a sentence about WHERE and WHEN the story takes place. E.g. At Hogwarts school of wizardry in the present day.

The characters
Or WHO is in the book. To help you describe the characters, first jot down these details:

Name of character
Role
Adjective to describe them
For example:
Harry Potter
Schoolboy wizard
Brave

Highlights
This is where you describe your favourite part of the book. Was there a particular piece of action, description or characters' speech you really enjoyed?

Any weak bits?
Were there any chapters where you found yourself wishing for some action to liven up the plot? Any unrealistic characters? Any descriptions or chapters that you felt were rubbish?

Unputdownable? (=que no se puede parar de leer)
Did you grab the book whenever you had a spare moment? Did you read it rather than playing computer games or watching TV? Or did you read the first chapter before letting it gather dust on your bookshelf?

This is only an example of a book review:

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ is an unabashed, pimples-and-all glimpse into the troubled life of anadolescent. Writing candidly abouthis parents’ marital troubles, the dog, his life as a tortured poet and ‘misunderstood intellectual’, teenager Adrian Mole’s painfully honest diary makes hilarious and compelling reading.

For further information click on these web pages.

Do you enjoy your classes?

2009-04-23T20:23:00.002+02:00

How do you feel about these students who are talking about their maths classes? There's something different here, isn't it? They are learning to learn somehow, but is it so easy at first?

Please, feel free to add any comments about these teenagers.

Our blog's rules

2009-04-03T12:44:00.000+02:00

party Saturday night!!!

2009-04-03T00:23:00.000+02:00

Hello! Go to remind you that dinner will be Saturday night in the restaurant Poy ... and tell you a little more tomorrow... besos and be happy...

How to live a comfortable life

2009-04-02T12:58:00.000+02:00

You need to get a job. Not easy, is it? However, these are some job interview tips:

Well, I hope this will help you somehow and so, you'll find a job straightaway

YOU TUBE video Mankind

2009-04-02T12:46:00.000+02:00

Hello there!

This is the You TUBE that we finally watched. How do you feel about it? Add your comments. Click on here.

Are we really aware of mankind?

Welcome to our blog!!

2009-04-02T11:41:00.000+02:00