Inglés Instrumental II (2010-2011)

THE POWER OF INSPIRING WOMEN

2011-04-23T15:16:00.006+02:00

THE POWER OF INSPIRING WOMEN

Why don't you tell us about any inspiring woman/women you have met?
It may be your mother/sister/cousin/best friend/celebrity...
Write some lines about her and what inspires you about who that woman is.

Here you have some we have come across in Mercy Mathews' blog.

"When I'm not mothering my 3 sons (including a set of twins!) or fixing meals, I love reading up on other blogs. My other interests include writing poetry, pot painting, chess, cricket and my latest passion - foosball!"
Website: http://allwomenstalk.com

The 7 Most Inspiring Women Celebrities …

There are so many women in the public eye but only a few of them can be called truly inspiring women celebrities. Apart from the fact that they all have tremendous wealth and have enjoyed widespread success and popularity, they have all overcome the odds to get to where they are today. That is what makes these individuals the most inspiring women celebrities of our time.

1. Oprah Winfrey

Photo Credit: obamamtoto.blogspot.com

Oprah was born in rural Mississippi in a small low-income family where she had a troubled childhood of rape, abuse, child pregnancy and tragedy. Through sheer grit and determination she overcame all odds, fighting her way through school and college to end up with a career in communication. Her talk show, the Oprah Winfrey show is possibly the most popular in the world and it is all due to her honest personality, straightforward style and general likability.

2. J.K. Rowling

Photo Credit: pressgazette.co.uk

J K Rowling, the single mother author of the Harry Potter series of books, was rejected 12 times by different publishers before a small British publishing house finally accepted it. The book went on to become an international phenomenal with millions of followers of all age groups. With just the power of her pen, J K Rowling went from near poverty to becoming a billionaire many times over, a definite contender for one of the most inspiring women celebrities if ever there was one.

3. Angeline Jolie
4. Maria Shriver
(...)

Do visit http://allwomenstalk.com/the-7-most-inspiring-women-celebrities/
and find out about the rest of the list.

You can write about the list too.

MORE ON GOOD TOOLS

2011-04-23T14:42:00.011+02:00

Pronunciar Inglés
Consejos, videos y ejercicios para mejorar la pronunciación
Blog Ejercicios Fonemas Videos Recíbelo por Email

http://pronunciaringles.com/2011/04/19/descifrando-la-vocal-mas-comun-del-ingles-schwa/

Icíar is a Spaniard living in London. Like you, she is trying to learn and understand English :
Soy una chica española que vive en Londres. Pese a que mi marido es británico y hablamos inglés en casa, no conseguía mejorar mi acento. Mi marido me decía que no me preocupara ya que todo el mundo tiene acento en Londres. Pero eso no me servía de consuelo.
(...) Así que en este blog estoy comparando el idioma inglés y el español para intentar identificar porqué solemos cometer ciertos errores y así poder evitarlos de una forma consciente.

This is her last entry in her blog "Pronunciar Inglés":

Descifrando la vocal más común del inglés (Schwa)
April 19th, 2011 · 2 comentarios... ¿y tú qué opinas?
Una diferencia entre el inglés y el español es que en el idioma español las sílabas acentuadas tienen la misma duración que las inacentuadas, pero esto no ocurre en el idioma inglés. En inglés, muchas vocales inacentuadas se reducen utilizando un fonema débil, corto y centralizado. Este fonema suele ser la /ə/ también denominado Schwa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yj-uAltQJk&feature=player_embedded

Nationalities word formation

2011-04-18T18:29:00.000+02:00

Here you are a very interesting website related to one of the grammar points studied in unit 5. It is very interesting, because, apart from giving you a very detailled explanation of this topic, you'll see a rather descriptive map on these kind of suffixes.

Ater that, why not getting subscribe to that blog?

GOOD TOOLS ...2

2011-02-20T23:52:00.014+01:00

http://www.hablamejoringles.com/

This is Zac Tobias and this is his blog: http://www.hablamejoringles.com/
He is a teacher in Madrid and, obviously, he teaches English there.

This is his BIO:
Me llamo Zac Tobias y soy un profesor y traductor norteamericano con más de 6 años de experiencia trabajando en Madrid. Esta página web es fruto de mis experiencias viviendo en España, enseñando inglés a hispanohablantes y reflexionando sobre las diferencias entre los dos idiomas y los problemas que suelen surgir.

You can read more about him if you visit his blog and make the most of his posts and the visitors' questions.

You can listen to some interesting points on pronunciation and even watch some videos and check how some Spanish celebrities speak English: Nadal, Barden, Pe and others. If they did it you can do it too!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-ubO1SgJRs&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53a2aJnqYlg&feature=player_embedded#at=26

GOOD TOOLS

2011-02-20T01:38:00.008+01:00

If you are looking for good blogs to practice your English, improve your pronunciation or just read some real English, this will be very helpful:

http://elblogdelingles.blogspot.com/

Monica is a bilingual teacher (her mum is English) and she keeps this blog to help students, as simple as that.
The blog includes :
Inicio Curso Gratuito Índice All Lessons ¿Quieres Colaborar? Artículos Ebpai-Clases de Inglés Contacta FAQ
Posts Destacados: Business English Pronunciación Trucos para aprender inglés Escribir en Inglés Do and Does El participio pasado Wh-questions Recursos 1 Recursos 2

Please, visit Monica's blog watch her videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3oK1mgG2xM&feature=BF&list=ULc8yQAyi5HTE&index=23

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aHN29k1_GI

and write your coments.
What do you think of the blog, is it useful for your studying?
Why/why not?
Do you keep a blog? In English?

Survey

2010-12-27T10:48:00.000+01:00

Please, take some minutes to fill out the following survey about the use you have been making of this blog:

Cargando...

Thank you very much,

INDIA TO LAUNCH COW URINE AS SOFT DRINK?

2010-07-10T14:10:00.013+02:00

http://www.jla.co.uk/dynamicUploads/sunday-times-logo.jpg

From Times Online February 11, 2009

India to launch cow urine as soft drink
Jeremy Page, Delhi
source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article5707554.ece

Does your Pepsi lack pep? Is your Coke not the real thing? India's Hindu nationalist movement apparently has the answer: a new soft drink made from cow urine.
The bovine brew is in the final stages of development by the Cow Protection Department of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), India's biggest and oldest Hindu nationalist group, according to the man who makes it.
Om Prakash, the head of the department, said the drink – called "gau jal", or "cow water" – in Sanskrit was undergoing laboratory tests and would be launched "very soon, maybe by the end of this year".
"Don't worry, it won't smell like urine and will be tasty too," he told The Times from his headquarters in Hardwar, one of four holy cities on the River Ganges. "Its USP will be that it's going to be very healthy. It won't be like carbonated drinks and would be devoid of any toxins."
The drink is the latest attempt by the RSS – which was founded in 1925 and now claims eight million members – to cleanse India of foreign influence and promote its ideology of Hindutva, or Hindu-ness.
Hindus revere cows and slaughtering them is illegal in most of India. Cow dung is traditionally used as a fuel and disinfectant in villages, while cow urine and dung are often consumed in rituals to "purify" those on the bottom rungs of the Hindu caste system.
In 2001, the RSS and its offshoots – which include the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party – began promoting cow urine as a cure for ailments ranging from liver disease to obesity and even cancer.
The movement has often been accused of using more violent methods, such as killing 67 Christians in the eastern state of Orissa last year, and assaulting women in a pub in Mangalore last month. It also has a history of targeting foreign business in India, as in 1994, when it organised a nationwide boycott of multinational consumer goods, including Pepsi and Coca Cola.
The cola brands are popular in India, now one of their biggest markets, but have struggled in recent years to shake off allegations, which they deny, that they contain dangerous levels of pesticide.
Mr Prakash said his drink, by contrast, was made mainly of cow urine, mixed with a few medicinal and ayurvedic herbs. He said it would be "cheap", but declined to give further details about its price or ingredients until it was officially launched.
He insisted, however, that it would be able to compete with the American cola brands, even with their enormous advertising budgets. "We're going to give them good competition as our drink is good for mankind," he said. "We may also think of exporting it."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-ht0DJZBpU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G_7Yb5dilE&feature=related

AND it may help bees....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iowt6WPekA&feature=related

Dr. RANDY PAUSCH and how to live life.

2010-07-01T18:34:00.003+02:00

A dear friend has sent me this video that I'd love to share with you today.
I won't write anything about this entry. Dr. Randy Pausch words' are more important. Listen to this amazing man.

"Inspirational Speech by Dr. Randy Pausch On the Oprah Winfrey Show: The Last Lecture. Dr. Pausch Passed Away on July 25th, 2008.

This is a video that everyone should see. For those of you who aren't familiar with who Dr. Randy Pausch is, the short story goes like this:He is a happily married man with three very young children. He spent years working for Disney as an Imagineer who helped them develop some of their theme park attractions. He then went on to teach at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pennsylvania.
Abruptly, his life took a turn for the worse when he got cancer and fought it off after years of treatment. The cancer has since returned and has near-totally corupted several vital organs leaving him with mere months to live.
This video is his shortened speech on how not even death can bring this man down and how the dreams he sought to come true can inspire us all.
This video has changed my life and I will NEVER forget it. Will it do the same for you? Please pass this video from the Oprah Winfrey Show on to anyone you feel takes life for granted or just pass it to someone who loves to live.
The full video can be found here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?doc...
Additional Info on Dr. Pausch: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Pa...
Dr. Pausch's final fight to get the message out about his disease:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iP7xr6ig-s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ7zeZ...

http://www.firstgiving.com/randypausch PLEASE donate to the Randy Pausch pancreatic cancer research fund.

Please watch this and find some true happiness in your life."

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9ya9BXClRw TheArchfiend

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR VOCABULARY

2010-06-28T11:47:00.005+02:00

http://ctlgbtlaw.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/dictionary.jpg

Whether you are looking to improve your grades, seem smarter at work, or simply wanting to impress your friends, these tips will help you achieve your goal of an increased vocabulary.

You Will Need Reading material
Dictionary
Notebook
Note cards
Word-a-day calendars
Internet access
Crossword puzzles
Address book (optional)

Step 1: Read as much as you can
Read as much as you can to encounter words that you don’t already know.

Step 2: Look up the definitions unfamiliar words
Use a dictionary to look up the definitions of the unfamiliar words that you come across in your reading.

Remember a word can have different meanings. Note all of the definitions for your word.

Step 3: Keep a list of your new vocabulary words
Use a notebook to keep a list of your vocabulary words. Write the definition as well as a sentence using the word to help you remember the context.

Use an address book to keep an alphabetical list of your words.

Step 4: Make vocabulary flash cards
Create flashcards to reinforce your new words. Write the word on one side of a note card and the definition on the other. Quiz yourself by looking at the word and remembering the definition.

Step 5: Use word-a-day calendars and web sites
Make efforts to learn a new word every day. Use a word-a-day calendar and web sites to introduce you to new words.

Learn common prefixes and suffixes. These parts that come together to create words can help you figure out what a word means.

Step 6: Play word games
Play word games. Use computer games or crossword puzzles to grow your vocabulary and help reinforce the words you are learning.

Step 7: Use your new words in daily conversation
Use your new words in your daily conversations. Continue using and reviewing your words to reinforce what you’ve learned.

In 1857, British scholars decided to build a dictionary to contain all words in the English language. They created the Oxford English Dictionary, which still serves as the language’s definitive dictionary.

http://www.howcast.com/videos/349857-How-To-Increase-Your-Vocabulary

How To Increase Your Vocabulary on Howcast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-556oxBdnh4&NR=1

Could you imagine the famous Happy Meal without toys?

2010-06-24T17:51:00.000+02:00

Read this article and use the comments option you share with us what you think about this topic.

ABOUT WRITING. You can learn anywhere.

2010-06-22T10:47:00.007+02:00

EBAY, as you all know is basically a website to buy and sell items so it is essential to write a very good description of what you want to sell or need to buy. They include some hints about this which you may find interesting to read and then use in your essays, compositions, etc as thay are practical and easy to use.
This is their advice:

Writing a good title and description

Writing an effective title
What to avoid in your title
Writing an informative description
What to avoid in your description
Examples of titles and descriptions

Your listing's title and description are your advertisement; an opportunity to inform and excite buyers. A good title and description provides a clear picture of your item, which increases your chances that buyers will find and bid on or buy your item.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/title_desc_ov.html

If you also want some listening practice on "Learn How To Sell On Ebay - Tips For Selling On Ebay" and get your ear working, here you can find some videos to learn some more vocabulary on descriptions:

Video Games - E3 2010

http://g4tv.com/videos/8093/EBay-Tips/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9Mn9C-3pGI&feature=related

MORE ON BBC

2010-06-14T02:53:00.001+02:00

Listen to BBc radio stations live. Radio on the Internet about different issues, podcasts, radio blogs, etc.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/

Or try the NEWS, Sport, TV, the weather or the QUIZZES for your exams:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/worldservice/quiznet/quizengine?ContentType=text/html;quiz=157_mobiles

you can also find very useful this link to EXAM SKILLS:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1143_exams/

and all these interesting sections:Preparing Building vocabulary Writing exams
Listening exams Speaking exams Reading exams Advice from IATEFL Insider guides
Useful Links

"It's easy to waste time worrying about exams - even when they're still months away! But there's a great deal you can do to help yourself prepare thoroughly and perform well... We've created resources for every move you need to make - from choosing the right course in the first place and planning your revision, to improving your exam technique. Each unit contains a handy list of tips from teachers, examiners and students. You can also listen to short programmes and download transcripts. There are glossaries to help you understand the audio. You'll also find a unit of tried-and-tested advice from English language experts who took part in the 2006 International Annual IATEFL conference. And to help you choose the right exam for you, we begin a series of Insider guides to different exams. These are written by the institutions which create the exams. Read up on the Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) exams and the Trinity College London Examinations. Coming soon ... there'll be a chance to put your questions to an English language revision expert and an English language examiner in a live web chat! And if you e-mail us with your strategies for revising, we'll pass on the best of your advice! You can send all your comments and recommendations to us at: mailto:learningenglish@bbc.co.uk?subject=Exam. "

RON CLARK, THE TEACHER

2010-06-07T23:07:00.001+02:00

http://www.ronclarkacademy.com/

Ron Clark, Founder and Mathematics Teacher

Ron Clark has been called "America's Educator."

In 2000, he was named Disney's American Teacher of the Year. He is a New York Times bestselling author whose book, The Essential 55, has sold over 1 million copies and has been published in 25 different countries.

He has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, and Oprah, and Ms. Winfrey even named him as her first "Phenomenal Man."

His classes have been honored at the White House on three separate occasions. Ron's teaching experiences in New York City are the subject of the uplifting film, The Ron Clark Story, starring Matthew Perry, better known as Chandler from Friends.

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Clark

Ron Clark is an American teacher who has worked with disadvantaged students in rural North Carolina and Harlem, New York City. He is known for his books and multiple teaching awards. . Clark's latest project is the Ron Clark Academy, a private non-profit school in Atlanta, Georgia where students follow a unique curriculum. The school also gives students opportunities for international travel and offers training workshops for teachers to learn more about Clark's teaching methods.Clark made a set of rules called the esential55 that he use to teach his students.

Ron Clark interview Part 1 of 3.wmv

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgrsfpI5b9c&feature=related

cnn - ron clark academy "teaches you how to be a global citizen and a global leader"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkHMJMApeT8&feature=related

Ron Clark and students return from South Africa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOxHZVx7XHs&translated=1

Ron Clark Kids - You can Vote However You Like

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEKNAZbn9p0&translated=1

Obama Inauguration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e1Qyt6V2Pc&feature=related

SPELLING BEE

2010-06-04T11:57:00.015+02:00

http://www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/chres/Home/tabid/153/ctl/Details/Mid/6693/ItemID/4798/Default.aspx?ContainerSrc=%5BG%5DContainers/XDContainerama/Paper&SkinSrc=%5BL%5DSkins/CHRES1/skin

http://wcloc.org/wordpress/current-season/spelling-bee/

WHAT'S THE "SPELLING BEE"?

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR THESE STUDENTS YOU ARE ABOUT TO KNOW?

Reading one of our students messages in the course forum, I have remebered about this important event for Primary schools in this month so here you have some information about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelling_bee

A spelling bee is a competition where contestants, usually children, are asked to spell English words. The concept is thought to have originated in the United States.[1] Today, National Spelling Bee competitions for English are held in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Indonesia, among others. Similar institutions are also found in numerous other countries such as France's "La dictée" and Poland's "Dyktando". They are rare to nonexistent in countries whose national language follows more phonetic spelling rules, as compared to the largely historical spelling of the English and French languages.

First three rounds of Spelling Bee in the books June 3rd 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_epSiDEZcCM

HD 9 wcpo

KSPR Ozarks Spelling Bee Champion Prepares for National Spelling Bee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2w3W5kbOzw&feature=related
ksprnews , May 20th 2009

TEACHING TODAY

2010-06-02T01:17:00.003+02:00

MANY OF YOU WILL END UP BEING A TEACHER.
What kind of teacher do you want to be?
I've recently read that most of the teaching generation today are teaching in XXI c. have learnt how to do it in XX c. using XIX methodology. What do you have to say? Do you agree?
This will be the century of e-learning, all kind of technology in our hands
Let's have a look at what has come to stay...

A Vision of K-12 Students Today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8&feature=player_embedded

21st century Pedagogy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l72UFXqa8ZU&NR=1

Learning to Change-Changing to Learn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tahTKdEUAPk&feature=related

What Kind Of Teacher Do You Want To Be?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBLempPVKVY&feature=related

SOME READING, SOME PRACTICE, SOME SMILES

2010-05-28T05:42:00.002+02:00

Someone sent me this a few weeks ago, after Mother's Day in Spain. Do not worry! No more "mothers" entries after this -funny- one!!

WHY GOD MADE MOMS Answers given by 2nd grade school children:
Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2.. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.
What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.
Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.
What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.
What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?
Why did your mom marry your dad?
1.. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.
Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.
What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them..
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.
What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.
What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.
If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter.. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

BBC LEARNING ENGLISH

2010-05-22T12:14:00.001+02:00

Our students want to know about sites to keep on improving or practicing their languages.

BBC LEARNING ENGLISH is one of them.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/

Here you can find General & Business English, Grammar, Vocabulary & Pronunciation ,Quizzes ,
The Flatmates,Community , Specials, Downloads where you can practice Listenings, pronunciation, podcast, news, even a 6 minute English and if you have children try English kids!

WHAT’S BEHIND THE MOM´S SONG?

2010-05-18T16:03:00.006+02:00

WHAT’S BEHIND THE MOM´S SONG?

http://www.anitarenfroe.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/anitarenfroe3

DON'T MISS THIS IF YOU WANT TO MEET HER:
CBS — October 03, 2007 — After years of parenting, comedian Anita Renfroe put her semantics to song and the result is an Internet phenomenon. She sits down with Hannah Storm to talk about her comic brainchild.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHJN2PGm1Yo

Who is Anita Renfroe???
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anita Renfroe (born 1962)[1] is an American Christian comedian from Atlanta, Georgia, the wife of a Baptist pastor and the mother of three children.[2] She became a sensation after her comic rendition of everything that a mother would typically say to her children in the course of a day, set to the William Tell Overture and entitled Momisms, was posted on YouTube.[1] She is a regular commentator on Good Morning America. [3]
According to Christian Book, "Anita Renfroe has the spiritual gift of saying what most women think but are afraid to say out loud." [4]
In April 2009, it was reported that Anita is taping a pilot for a new sitcom to air on ABC called "The Anita Renfroe Presentation."[5] She is set to costar with fellow comedian, Ryan Stiles. The show is about a couple raising two kids.
Anita has been touring with the largest touring Christian women's conference, Women of Faith, since 2006.

Haver you ever heard about Anita Renfroe?

What do you think of her " It’s been a wild decade going from “stay-at-home-mom” to “YouTube comedic Phe-mom-enon"?

The Mom's song

2010-05-14T22:12:00.003+02:00

The course is coming to its end. Many of you complain about lack of time, lots of work, many other tasks and activities to be done, family to take care of...
Let me put a smile on your faces, moms and dads as well. And enjoy the weekend, even if studying!

source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkeL9Djgm0Y

As always, your comments and impressions are more than welcome!!

ELLLO: English Listening Lesson Library Online

2010-05-03T22:50:00.006+02:00

elllo.org

Do you know ELLLO? ELLLO means English Listening Lesson Library Online :

Learn English naturally.

You can practice English in the funniest way.

Listening Lessons (Views, Mixer, Games ...)Activities include multimedia, free MP3 files, vocab tasks, language notes, print page and more.
Views
Mixer
Games
Videos
Songs
News
Points

There are now over 600 audio clips on ELLLO. Below are just a small sample of what is on the site.
High BeginnerThese activities are good for students who are new to learning English.
High IntermediateThese listening activities are a little more difficult.
Low IntermediateThese listening activities are a little more difficult, but not much.
AdvancedIn these clips, the speakers talk faster and the topics are more difficult.

The mp3 files and text on elllo are Creative Commons. Students and teachers are free to download, copy and distribute these materials for educational purposes. They are not transferable for commercial purposes.

ELLLO! Listening Games:

http://www.elllo.org/months/weeks/games.htm

MAUREEN AND URSULA AND (...).How to write an effective essay/ movie script

2010-04-27T23:25:00.008+02:00

May be you need some good hints on this, so two for the price of one: some listening practice and some good clues on writing. Enjoy yourselves!

http://www.engVid.com/
In this lesson, I give you a simple method for writing a good, effective essay in English. If you don't know where to start when you are given a writing assignment, start here and learn how to do it right!

Watch an introduction to writing a movie script in this free screen play instruction video from our motion picture expert and experienced executive producer.Expert: Ron BecksBio: Ron Becks has been acting since he was a child. His feature film "1st Testament--CIA Vengance" (2001) and his documentary "Haitian Slave Children-- Forgotten Angels (2002)" have won film awards.Filmmaker: Nili Nathan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYfbzubKRt0&feature=fvst

2010-04-25T16:17:00.011+02:00

http://vox-nova.com/2007/06/

Teaching English as a ‘global’ language?

Posted by Kati Sule here:

http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/teaching-english-as-a-global-language?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+macmillandictionaryblog+%28Macmillan+Dictionary+Blog%29

Do you remember one of our very fisrt posts, back in February "Teaching a Foreing Language? Best Teach in the accent of the Listener" ??

Now the question is Should English be taught as a ‘global’ language.??

A new video by David Crystal , answers the question:

Now it is up to you: do you agree with Mr. Crystal?

Should English be taught as a ‘global’ language?

Share your opinions with us.

--David Crystal is a writer, editor, lecturer, and broadcaster. Born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland in 1941, he spent his early years in Holyhead. He read English at University College London (1959-62), specialised in English language studies, did some research there at the Survey of English Usage under Randolph Quirk (1962-3), then joined academic life as a lecturer in linguistics, first at Bangor, then at Reading. He published the first of his 100 or so books in 1964, and became known chiefly for his research work in English language studies, in such fields as

intonation and stylistics, and in the application of linguistics to religious, educational and clinical contexts, notably in the development of a range of linguistic profiling techniques for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

More: http://www.davidcrystal.com/

MAUREEN AND URSULA AND (...).Texting slang invading academic work

2010-04-21T22:00:00.000+02:00

http://alician.glogster.com/obsessive-texting/

Texting slang invading academic work
College professors are anything but LOL at students' writing habits.
By Matt Krupnick
Contra Costa Times
College professors are anything but LOL at their students' recent writing habits.
Not only are instructors not laughing out loud — shortened to LOL in text messages and online chats — at the technology-oriented shorthand that has seeped into academic papers, many of them also sternly telling students to stop using the new language even in less formal writing.
The shorthand often consists of shortened variations of common words — "u" instead of you, or "ur" for your. Text speak may be appropriate for a quick note to a friend, but professors are increasingly stymied by how casually students are using the terms.
"Despite the fact that I happen to be perfectly capable of reading any incoherent drivel you may send to my (e-mail) inbox directly from your phone keypad, 'wut up ya I cnt make it 2 clss lol' is insanely unprofessional," reads the syllabus of Alejo Enriquez, a Cal State East Bay instructor.
"Therefore, I am imposing a higher standard of grammar, spelling, and use of the enter key upon you and kindly request that all e-mails sent to me resemble any other letter to your teacher, supervisor, grandparents or parole officer."
Faculty members increasingly have expressed irritation about reading acronyms and abbreviations they often do not understand, said Sally Murphy, a Cal State East Bay professor and director of the university's general-education program. One e-mail to a professor started with, "Yo, teach," she said.
"It has a real effect on the tone of professionalism," said Murphy, who also has seen younger instructors use the shorthand. "We tell them very specifically how this is going to affect them in life. It's kind of like wearing their jeans below their butt. They're going to lose all credibility."
The introduction of such casual language into term papers is a sea change from the days when nearly all students addressed their instructors as "professor" or "doctor." More faculty members ask students to call them by their first names, but many are drawing the line at texting shorthand or even emoticons — smiley faces made out of punctuation marks.
Tech-speak has been moving through the educational pipeline toward colleges for a few years. A 2008 survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project found that two-thirds of middle- and high-school students had accidentally used instant-messaging-style words in their work, while a quarter admitted using emoticons in assignments.
The breakdown in language skills is an odd phenomenon given how much time children and young adults spend in front of the computer, said Marcia Linn, who teaches about technology in education at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Education.
"Writing has actually increased as an activity," she said. "Standards are another issue. Maybe we haven't quite thought it through well enough in an academic setting."
Many students communicate constantly via text and instant messaging, so it can be difficult to leave the tech lingo behind in class, said Mohammed Shahid Beig, a senior and student-body president at Cal State East Bay.

Contribution: Dr. Jordano

Do you text? Do you think the article is appropriate? Our unit is about writing, what's your opinion about texting and writing?

MAUREEN AND URSULA AND OTHER INSPIRING WOMEN. Writing a script.

2010-04-20T12:50:00.009+02:00

Pic: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2917920/Top-secret-Harry-Potter-movie-script-left-in-a-pub-by-boozy-film-crew.html
Posted by Sarah Harlan - email (NBC) - Here's an example of what not to do after a night out drinking at a pub. The British newspaper The Sun claims to have obtained a copy of the top-secret script for the next Harry Potter movie. A film crew allegedly left the script under a table at a pub in England after a night of drinking, where someone picked it up. The Sun said the script was marked "private and confidential" and contained some major changes from the original book by J.K.... http://celebrifi.com/gossip/British-newspaper-Top-secret-Harry-Potter-script-left-at-pub-2118632.html

It was given to The Sun by a reader who found it at a boozer in Kings Langley, Herts, often used by star Daniel Radcliffe, 20.
The script - marked "Private and Confidential" - was spotted under a table.
It reveals how film chiefs have made several dramatic changes from JK Rowling's book Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows.
Studio Warner Bros last night thanked The Sun after we handed back the lost script.
And bosses launched an urgent investigation into how the inch-thick booklet was lost - as sources told how the film's crew went on a major drinking session.
The £250 million film, starring Daniel Radcliffe as the schoolboy wizard, is currently being completed at Leavesden Studios in Kings Langley, Herts.
On Thursday night a large group of film crew went to the nearby Waterside Tavern.
A source at the pub said: "They'd got behind schedule in filming but then caught up, so they went out for a celebratory drink which led to many more.

Surprise ... we've obscured script to keep spoilers secret
"There was a huge group. They were here all night, laughing and joking, chucking back beers.
"They usually come down for a session on a Friday, but because it was Easter they were in a day early.
"Daniel Radcliffe is the only member of the cast who has been known to come down and have a laugh with them, but he wasn't there that night."
The Sun reader who found the script said: "I couldn't believe my eyes. I know guys that work on the film drink in the pub, but it's very embarrassing that someone could just leave it there.
"I'm glad I've helped to stop any surprises being leaked."
The script shows how film bosses have split the final Potter story into two parts to keep fans in suspense. The first film - with Daniel's co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint back in their usual roles - is due for release in November. Part two will follow in July next year.
The Sun has seen how producers are making a number of dramatic changes from the book, but we are keeping the details secret and have blurred our picture of the script so as not to spoil fans' enjoyment.

Crew's boozer ... Waterside Tavern
A Warner Bros spokesman said: "We are grateful to The Sun for the safe return of this script." It is the THIRD time that Harry Potter secrets have almost been revealed prematurely.
In May 2003, copies of The Order Of The Phoenix book were found in a Suffolk field six weeks before the publication date. Then four years ago the script for that film was found at an alleged "dogging" site beside the A25 in Chipstead, Kent.
a.crick@the-sun.co.ukRead more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2917920/Top-secret-Harry-Potter-movie-script-left-in-a-pub-by-boozy-film-crew.html#ixzz0kVQxDIKh
Contribution Dr. Jordano

Now, is this serious? Are we going nuts? Are those writers sensible, responsible, good workers?
Isn't it that important? Can this happen to anybody?
Why, in your opinion, is this happening more and more often at work?

MANAGING EXAM ANXIETY

2010-04-19T11:52:00.006+02:00

http://www.teachercreated.com/blog/pics/TCR2907%20p9_1.jpg
http://www.english.ucla.edu/faculty/mcgurl/anxious%20students.JPG
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2007/02/17/images/2007021702670301.jpg

MANAGING EXAM ANXIETY
Exams are round the corner...

Almost everyone feels nervous before an exam. Butterflies in the stomach and worrying thoughts - 'Will I be able to answer the questions?' 'Have I done enough revision?' - are indications of exam nerves that are probably familiar to all students. In fact, a certain amount of nervous tension probably helps us perform to the best of our ability, producing a rush of adrenaline that helps us to feel alert and focused.
But too much anxiety can BLOCK thoughts, create a negative frame of mind, and lead to panic and potentially poor exam performance.There are a number of things you can do to help manage exam anxiety and turn uncomfortable, panicky thoughts into more creative tension
http://cs3.brookes.ac.uk/student/services/health/exam.html

What does test anxiety feel like?

Some students experience mainly physical symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, faintness, feeling too hot or too cold, etc.Others experience more emotional symptoms, such as crying easily, feeling irritable, or getting frustrated quickly.A major problem of test anxiety can be its effect on thinking ability; it can cause a person to blank out or have racing thoughts that are difficult to control.Western students are strongly encouraged to seek assistance in the Student Development Centre if you experience interfering levels of anxiety prior to and/or during tests and exams; if you are not a Western student, speak with a counsellor or physician about support services.

What can you do to control test anxiety?

Be well prepared for the test.Include as much self-testing in your review as possible.Maintain a healthy lifestyle:get enough sleep, good nutrition, exercise, some personal "down" time, and a reasonable amount of social interaction.As you anticipate the exam, think positively, e.g., "I can do OK on this exam. I've studied and I know my stuff."Engage in "thought stopping" if you find that you are worrying a lot, comparing yourself to your peers, or thinking about what others may say about your performance on this exam.Before you go to bed on the night before the exam, organize anything that you will need for the exam -- pen, pencil, ruler, eraser, calculator, etc. Double check the time of the exam and the location.Set the alarm clock and then get a good night's sleep before the exam.Get to the exam on time - not too late but not too early.Be cautious about talking to other students about the exam material just before going into the exam, especially if this will make you more anxious.Sit in a location in the exam room where you will be distracted as little as possible.As the papers are distributed, calm yourself by taking some slow deep breaths.Make sure to carefully read any instructions on the exam.As you work on the exam, focus only on the exam, not on what other students are doing or on thinking about past exams or future goals.If you feel very anxious in the exam, take a few minutes to calm yourself. Stretch your arms and legs and then relax them again. Do this a couple of times. Take a few slow deep breaths. Do some positive internal self-talk; say to yourself, "I will be OK, I can do this." Then direct your focus on the test; associate questions to their corresponding lecture and/or chapter.If the exam is more difficult than you anticipated, try to focus and just do your best. It might be enough to get you through with a reasonable grade!When the exam is over, treat yourself. If you don't have any other commitments, maybe you can take the night off. If you have to study for other exams you may have to postpone a larger break, but a brief break may be the "pick up" that you need.
http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/learning/mcanx.html

***Many universitites offer help so have a look whether you need it or just to tell us if you think these links can be of any help:
http://cs3.brookes.ac.uk/student/services/health/exam.html
http://www.studygs.net/tstprp8.htm
http://www.theiet.org/students/resources/revision/exam-anxiety.cfm
http://www.ualberta.ca/~uscs/managing_test_anxiety.htm
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/stdsup/welfare/examanxiety.shtm

***As for UNED :TÉCNICAS PARA EL CONTROL DE LA ANSIEDAD EN LOS EXÁMENES:
http://portal.uned.es/portal/page_pageid=93,150664&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&text=ansiedad&desde=0&hasta=10

PESTICIDES AND THE FOOD CHAIN. Other perspectives. Are you a couch potato?

2010-04-13T01:43:00.000+02:00

Behavior: Too Much Sitting Shortens Lives, Study Suggests

http://optimumnutrition.wordpress.com/category/being-productive/

**couch potato http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedentary_lifestyle

January 26, 2010, By RONI CARYN RABIN
Published: January 19, 2010 in the NYTimes

A new study from Australia suggests that couch potatoes live shorter lives.
The study followed 8,800 adults ages 25 and older for six and a half years and found that each daily hour of television viewing was associated with an 18 percent increase in deaths from heart disease and an 11 percent increase in overall mortality.
Those who watched television four hours or more a day were 80 percent more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those who watched two hours or less, and 46 percent more likely to die of any cause. And it did not matter whether they were overweight, according to the study, which appeared Jan. 11 in the online edition of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Although it is possible that people who were already ill watched more television than those who were healthy, the researchers tried to rule that out by excluding subjects who already had heart disease and by adjusting for differences in risk factors like diet and smoking.
While the benefits of physical activity have been well studied, there is growing interest among researchers in assessing the effects of being sedentary.
“For many people, on a daily basis, they simply shift from one chair to another — from the chair in the car to the chair in the office to the chair in front of the television,” said the study’s lead author, David Dunstan of the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Victoria, Australia. “Even if someone has a healthy body weight, sitting for long periods still has an unhealthy influence on blood sugar and blood fats.”

PRACTICE: English Central.com videos.

2010-04-09T23:54:00.006+02:00

http://www.englishcentral.com/en/videos

Our unique speech recognition platform allows you to practice SPEAKING with any video you choose and then get INSTANT FEEDBACK on how well you are doing.

TRY THE DEMO
Apple: Making a Difference
This Apple commercial pays tribute to people who make a difference.

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PESTICIDES AND THE FOOD CHAIN. The dirty dozen.

2010-04-08T12:24:00.008+02:00

http://www.ewg.org/

Pesticide Health Effects: The Latest Science
Every year, new research is published demonstrating the toxicity of pesticides to human health and the environment, often at doses previously declared "safe" by the pesticide industry and the government.
As acknowledged by the U.S. and international government agencies, different pesticides have been linked with a variety of toxic effects, including:
Nervous system effects
Carcinogenic effects
Hormone system effects
Skin, eye and lung irritation
Pesticides are unique among the chemicals we release into the environment; they have inherent toxicity because they are designed to kill living organisms â€“ insects, plants, and fungi that are considered "pests." Because they are toxic by design, many pesticides pose health risks to people, risks that have been acknowledged by independent research scientists and physicians across the world. Children Are Especially at Risk. More: http://www.foodnews.org/reduce.php

About the Environmental Working Group
The Basics:The mission of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment. EWG is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 1993 by Ken Cook and Richard Wiles.
In 2002, we founded the EWG Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) organization that advocates on Capitol Hill for health-protective and subsidy-shifting policies.
EWG specializes in providing useful resources (like Skin Deep and the Shoppers' Guide to Pesticides in Produce) to consumers while simultaneously pushing for national policy change.

Organizational Goals
1. To protect the most vulnerable segments of the human population—children, babies, and infants in the womb—from health problems attributed to a wide array of toxic contaminants.
2. To replace federal policies, including government subsidies that damage the environment and natural resources, with policies that invest in conservation and sustainable development.

How EWG Does It
Our research brings to light unsettling facts that you have a right to know. It shames and shakes up polluters and their lobbyists. It rattles politicians and shapes policy. It persuades bureaucracies to rethink science and strengthen regulation. It provides practical information you can use to protect your family and community.
And because our investigations and interactive websites tend to make news, you've probably heard about them. Even if you've never heard of us. Which is fine. We'd rather you remember our work than our name.

PESTICIDES AND THE FOOD CHAIN. Food Markets.

2010-04-06T01:47:00.000+02:00

http://www.urbanpath.com/london/food-markets/exmouth-market.htm

WHAT ARE FARMERS MARKETS? http://www.lfm.org.uk/

Our farmers’ markets offer the freshest local food to Londoners every week. Meet the farmers, fishermen, growers and bakers who all share a passion for home grown products.

Easter Opening
Don’t miss the markets over the Easter weekend all markets will be open on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th April. Pick up something for your Easter lunch. Expect fewer stalls on Sunday markets as some producers take a well earned rest.
Look out for new season lamb, rhubarb, spring flowering bulbs and crisp purple sprouting that will all liven up your Easter dinner table, enjoy the break and Happy Easter from all at LFM.

What can I buy?
The following foods and products are available at London Farmer's Markets. All are grown and produced within 100 miles of London. Some produce is organic. Click on a category below for a list of all businesses selling these procducts. To see what's available near you, find your local market.
Beef / Lamb / Pork
All our beef, lamb and pork come from high welfare farms. Look out for rare breeds and a huge selection of sausages. All farmers hang their beef for improved flavour and texture. Some cut on site. Order those more unusual cuts direct from the farm
Vegetables and Salads
Cut or picked within hours of a market ensures great tasting vegetables and salads. Because they're so fresh salads keep well in the fridge
Fruit
Rhubarb in the Spring, strawberries from May, rasperries, blueberries, currants, following on, cherries in July and fresh apples from August, blackberries, pears and plums in September. A huge range of fruit with varieties you'll never find in a supermarket
Cooked Local Foods
Everything from pies and soups to hand made pasta, all made using local ingredients
Eggs
All the eggs at our farmers' markets are free range or organic. You won't find fresher unless you keep your own hens!
Breads and Cakes
Local artisan bakers with a huge range of breads from tradtional bloomers to gluten free. Home baked cakes using free range or organic eggs and local ingredients where possible. Look out for seasonal specials.
Honey / Preserves
Local beekeepers selling London and regional honey. Preserves made using locally grown fruit and vegetableS
Fish
Shellfish and wet fish sold fresh from their day boats, caught from the south and east coast. To sell at our markets fishermen must have a licensed fishing vessel. Storms and strong winds sometimes stops fish getting to market but you'll usually find a good seasonal range.
Drinks
Juice, cider and wine, all made by the farmer and grower using their own fruit.
Garden Plants and Cut Flowers
Get expert advice from the growers and enjoy cut flowers that last for ages. You'll find specialist nurseries at our markets with fantastic ranges. Don't miss our annual garden plant fairs in the Spring.

Cheese and Dairy
All sold by the farmers using milk from their own herds. You'll find a huge range of award winning cheddars, unpasteurised milk and cream, buffalo, cow and goats cheese and yogurt.
Poultry / Game
All poultry is free range or organic. Game is wild and seasonal.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Marylebone Farmers’ Market
Marylebone Farmers' Market put the 'Marylebone Village' on the map as a destination for great food. On Sundays, the market site usually has between 30 and 40 stalls and is heaving with locals doing their weekly shopping, as well as food enthusiasts from all over the capital.
There is a good reason why the market attracts so many people from far and wide. There is something for everyone, whether it be Adrian Izzard's unusual salad leaves, James Coe's outstanding beef and lamb, a mushroom sandwich from The Mushroom Table, or freshly shucked oysters from the Maldon Seafood Company. Sunnyfields Farm's mountains of veg are always a crowd pleaser.
Exmouth MarketClerkenwell, LondonEC1R 4QA
A food market bustling with an eclectic mix of producers, farmers and local artisans returns to Exmouth Market every Friday and Saturday. Stallholders include Neal's Yard Cheeses, De Gustibus and the Monmouth Coffee Company. Together with specialist producers such as Isle of Wight Tomatoes and Born and Bread, stalls display mouthwatering delicacies. Clerkenwell's talented designers and artists also have the chance to show off their creations.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOOD MARKETS IN LONDON AREA
Blackheath Farmers' Market Blackheath
Borough Market South Bank
Broadway Market London Fields
Clapham Farmers' Market Clapham
Ealing Farmers' Market Ealing
Exmouth Market Clerkenwell
Islington Farmers' Market Islington
Marylebone Farmers' Market Marylebone
Notting Hill Farmers' Market Notting Hill
Peckham Farmers' Market Peckham
Pimlico Farmers' Market Pimlico
Wimbledon Farmers' Market Wimbledon

Which are you choices, your options?

Do you buy in food markets?

Do you think they sell healthier food?

Why, why not?

Have a look at the farmer's blog: http://www.lfm.org.uk/farmers-blog/

PESTICIDES AND THE FOOD CHAIN. Other perspectives: No impact man.

2010-04-03T01:30:00.015+02:00

www.greenthump.com/.../youtube-no-impact-man-trailer-hd/

http://vimooz.com/screening/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/noimpactman.jpg

http://www.nytimes.com/

http://optimumnutrition.wordpress.com/category/being-productive/

A blog by Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man about living a green, sustainable, environmental life to help save the planet by reducing pollution, global warming ... http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/

Colin Beavan is a liberal schlub who got tired of listening to himself complain about the world without ever actually doing anything about it..." Thus, in November, 2006, Beavan launched a year-long project in which he, his wife, his two-year-old daughter and his four-year-old dog went off the grid and attempted to live in the middle of New York City with as little environmental impact as possible.

http://www.colinbeavan.com/bio.php The point of the project was to experiment with ways of living that might both improve quality of life and be less harmful to the planet. It also provided a narrative vehicle by which to attract broad public attention to the range of pressing environmental crises including: food system sustainability, climate change, water scarcity, and materials and energy resource depletion.Beavan's experiment in lifestyle redesign is the subject of his book (Farrar, Straus & Giroux) and a Sundance-selected documentary by independent film producers Laura Gabbert (Sunset Story, Getting to Know You) and Eden Wurmfeld (The Hammer, Puccini for Beginners, Kissing Jessica Stein). Both the book and the documentary were released in September, 2009. Columbia Pictures also plans to make a feature film (produced by Todd Black) based on the book.Beavan writes and administers the provocative environmental blog NoImpactMan.Com, which has become a meeting point for discussion of environmental issues from a "deep green" perspective. In addition to some 2,500 daily visitors and 4,000 daily page views, the site has 10,000 email and "newsreader" subscribers. About 1.8 million people have visited the blog since he established it a year and a half ago.

Beavan was named one of MSN's Ten Most Influential Men of 2007 and was named an Eco-Illuminator in Elle Magazine's 2008 Green Awards. His blog NoImpactMan.com was named one of the world's top 15 environmental websites by Time Magazine. He was named a 2008 Eco-Star by New York City's Lower East Side Ecology Center. (...)In 1992 Beavan returned to the United States and wrote for magazines (...)
He is director of the No Impact Project, a visiting scholar at NYU, an advisor to the University's Sustainability Task Force, and sits on the board of directors of New York City's Transportation Alternatives and on the advisory council of Just Food.
Want more? Check out these links. http://www.noimpactproject.org/ http://www.noimpactmandoc.com/ http://us.macmillan.com/noimpactman

PESTICIDES AND THE FOOD CHAIN

2010-04-01T01:55:00.005+02:00

http://www.pan-uk.org/Projects/Fairness/documents.html
PAN UK is an independent, non-profit organisation. We work nationally and internationally with like-minded groups and individuals concerned with health and the environment.
We promote healthy food, sustainable agriculture and an environment which will provide food and meet public health needs without dependence on toxic chemicals and without harm to food producers and agricultural workers.
PAN UK believes it is possible to eliminate the use of hazardous pesticides, to reduce dependence on pesticides and to increase the sustainable alternatives to chemical pest control in agriculture, urban areas, public health and homes and gardens.
PAN UK makes a difference We have
Achieved a ban on lindane, a hazardous pesticide once used in agriculture and homes
Persuaded the government to commission an independent investigation into health impacts in rural areas
Established the Africa Stockpiles Programme to remove 50,000 tonnes of dangerous obsolete pesticides from Africa.
Increased the use of organic cotton in UK textiles and clothing while helping to prevent deaths from poisonous cotton pesticides in developing countries.
Strengthened the international commitment to deal with pesticide hazards.
Increased availability of disposal facilities for household pesticides in the UK
Stockpiles of Pesticides in AfricaWhat we do
We publish unique and independent information on pesticides for governments and decision makers, researchers, media, concerned citizens and other interested groups
We undertake and target appropriate research to promote better understanding of the cause and effect of pesticide problems.
We promote effective and progressive policies to eliminate pesticide hazards, representing concerns of users, consumers and exposed communities nationally and internationally.
We support projects with partners in developing countries to demonstrate the efficacy of organic production as a means of providing farmers with economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound livelihoods.

www.pan-uk.org/Projects/Fairness/documents.html

What are pesticides? How and why do pesticides end up in our food? What are supermarkets doing about this?
Who should pay to solve these problems?How do I know what pesticides my food contains?What about the effects on farmers and farm workers?Why should I be concerned? How can we avoid pesticides ending up in our food? Are pesticides in food and farming the only problem?

www.pan-uk.org/Projects/Fairness/documents.html

Do we have something line PAN in Spain?

Do you think this is useful for consumers, for citizens in general?

Do you consider you are really aware, well informed about this issues?

How do you feel about this new unit's topic?

HAPPY EASTER!

2010-03-27T00:12:00.004+01:00

http://blog.jumpitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/happyeaster.png

http://www.list.co.uk/article/16945-easter-eggcitement/

WHAT IS EASTER ?
Easter is the celebration of Jesus Christ's rising from the dead (His Resurrection) after His crucifixion which took place on what we now term Good Friday.
Easter is usually celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon following the Vernal or Spring Equinox on March 21st. This can be any Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th. It is the most sacred of all the Christian holidays or celebrations.
Christ's return (or rising) from death is called the Resurrection. According to the scriptures, Christ's tomb was empty three days after His death, which is commemorated on Good Friday. His followers saw Him and talked to Him after this. Christians therefore believe that they have the hope of a new life (an everlasting life in Heaven) after their earthly death.

WHAT IS THE HOLY WEEK ?
The Holy week is the last week of Lent. It begins with the observance of Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter Sunday. The name, Palm Sunday originated from Jesus's entry in Jerusalem. The crowd laid carpets of palms on the street for Him. The Last Supper is commemorated on Holy Thursday of special week (often called Maundy Thursday) and Friday is the anniversary of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross. The Lenten season and Holy week end with Easter Sunday (the Resurrection of Jesus Christ).

HOW DID EASTER GET ITS NAME ?
The English name "Easter" is much newer. Before Christianity in early England, the people celebrated the vernal equinox with a feast honoring Eostre, the Pagan goddess of spring. When the early English Christians wanted others to accept Christianity, they decided to use the name Easter for this holiday so that it would match the name of the old spring celebration. This made it more comfortable for other people to accept Christianity. Some believed that the word Easter came from an early German word "eostarun", meaning dawn and white. Newly baptized Christians wore white clothes as a sign of their new life on Easter.

NAMES OF EASTER
Easter was called Pesach by early Christians. It is the Hebrew name for Passover. Today, the name for Easter in many cultures in Europe are similar to the word Pesah. For example :
France -Paques /Spain -Pascua /Italy -Pasqua /Albania -Pashke/ Greece -Pascha /Norway -Paaske /Holland -Pasen /Sweden -Pask

EASTER EGG
As Christianity spread, more familiar traditions, symbols and celebrations of spring were associated with Easter . One of the oldest spring symbols in the world is the egg. The oval shape of the egg was the same shape for a raindrop and a seed. These two were important life-giving elements. The egg itself promises new life as in spring, birds, and many other animals are hatched from eggs. In fact, the Persians, Hindus and Egyptians believed that the world began with a single egg. In ancient China, Rome and Greece, eggs were given as springtime gifts. In Polland and Russia, hours are spent on drawing intricate designs on Easter eggs. In England, members of the royal families gave each other gold-covered eggs as Easter gifts in the middle ages. The most famous Easter egg decorator was Peter Carl Faberge. He designed eggs from gold, silver and other precious gems for kings of Europe and czars of Russia. These eggs are priceless now and can only be found in museums and private collections. In early America, children decorated their eggs by using dyes made from natural materials like fruit and leave coloring.

http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Holidays/Easter/

MORE ON HEALTHY DIETS?

2010-03-26T23:23:00.007+01:00

I'm not really sure whether this would come as HEALTHY DIETS but it is a delicious dessert recipe, and easy to do that Dra. María Jordano has left for you all as a little gift for the Easter break!! Really mouth-watering...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCdy4vmqwx0

Any other "weight-reducing" but yummy recipes?

The Daughters Of Edward Darley Boit By John Singer Sargent

2010-03-26T12:45:00.003+01:00

ART
The Daughters Of Edward Darley Boit By John Singer Sargent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-znOSWfAb_8&feature=player_embedded

This is not a blog about art, and I do hope ED won't get mad at me (!) but I've come across this wonderful video in the forum of another of the subjects I have as a tutor: it is good practice for your ears, it is learning about another painter and about how to look at a painting and you can watch many other paintings by many, many other painters but, above all is enjoying art and learning more English and about English speaking countires.

It's Friday and we need a little break like this. Now, enjoy the video. Yo can write later about your impressions on art. Have a relaxing weekend if you can.

"CONFIDENCE PILLS" AND HEALTHY DIETS. Food revolution.

2010-03-22T19:31:00.009+01:00

www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/05/17/jamie_o...
I'm sure many of you know this guy, Jamie Oliver, the chef. He is really involved in many, many things ( I wonder if he can get some sleep!) but his main "battle" at present has to do with our topic: Jamie's food revolution . He is a father so he also focuses a lot on schools (ministry of food campaing, school dinners campaing... )Don't miss his recipease, healthy(and Mediterranean) recipes, today's recipe. Have a look: http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/ http://www.jamieoliver.com/about
"Jamie has made a new series for American TV about food – how families eat, what kids get at school and why, like the UK, the diet of processed food and snacks is causing so many health and obesity problems. The series was filmed in Huntington, West Virginia.Jamie's challenge was to see if he can get a whole community cooking again. He worked with the school lunch ladies and local families to get everyone back in the kitchen and making tasty meals with fresh ingredients – no packets, no cheating. He's started a Food Revolution: to get people all over America to reconnect with their food and change the way they eat."
Please, watch as much as you can of this video (I know, Mr. Oliver speaks really fast but you just need a general idea to start practicing) and DO NOT MISS minute 11 , when he is in a school with children, you'll be open-mouthed! Is this our future?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIwrV5e6fMY

Don't forget to write some lines...

"CONFIDENCE PILLS" AND HEALTHY DIETS. Eat and run.

2010-03-22T18:55:00.006+01:00

EAT AND RUN:

With more than 300,000 fast food restaurants in the United States, the American fast food culture has become super-sized:
http://www.history.com/shows/modern-marvels/videos/playlists/food#eat-and-run

ARE WE EATING HEALTHY? DO WE HAVE THE TIME TO COOK PROPERLY?
DO WE GET ENOUGH EXERCISE? ARE WE TOO TIRED FOR IT? WHERE?

NYC farmers market: http://www.break.com/usercontent/2010/1/nyc-farmers-markets-try-something-new-1621051
Okay, sometimes you don't have time to cook properly, especially if you're rushing out to meet friends or have clubs and societies meetings. You can still throw together a snack like beans on toast or an omelette without too much stress before it's time to head out the door. http://www.thesite.org/healthandwellbeing/fitnessanddiet/food/howtocook

and more...
http://www.history.com/shows/modern-marvels/videos/playlists/food#three-things-you-didnt-know-about-cheese
http://www.history.com/shows/modern-marvels/videos/playlists/food#three-things-you-didnt-know-about-chocolate
http://www.history.com/shows/modern-marvels/videos/playlists/food#american-barbecue

Many questions are now in our minds. Leave your comments please...

"CONFIDENCE PILLS" AND HEALTHY DIETS. Plus-size models

2010-03-22T18:17:00.009+01:00

Plus-size models on ELLEN (Crystal Renn, Kate Dillon, etc)

You have just watched Crystal Renn in this show, author of "Hungry", ex-top model and plus-size model nowadays. Renn started her modeling career in high fashion at the age of 14 after being told to lose almost a third of her total body weight. This weight loss eventually triggered a health crisis, causing her to reassess her diet and exercise habits. After gaining 70 pounds (32 kg) and re-emerging as a U.S. size 12, she was re-marketed by her agents as a plus-size model.

In addition to working repeatedly with notable fashion photographers Ruven Afanador and Steven Meisel and being the only plus-size model to appear on a Harper's Bazaar cover and appearing in four international Vogue editions, Crystal has enjoyed lucrative contracts with many high-profile plus-size clothing manufacturers such as Lane Bryant, Evans and Torrid, and has also appeared on the runway for Vena Cava, Heatherette, Elena Miro, and most notably for Jean-Paul Gaultier in his Spring/Summer prêt-à-porter 2006 collection in Paris, garnering favorable and extensive media interest.
Renn is also notable for appearing in back-to-back campaigns in 2007 wearing regular-sized (not specifically plus-size) clothing for Spanish retailer Mango; her photos appearing amid those of smaller models and without notation regarding her larger size, a rare occurrence in conventional apparel advertising.
Renn's first book, HUNGRY, was co-authored by Marjorie Ingall and released on September 8, 2009. During an on-camera interview at an Australian industry function, Renn's agent Gary Dakin noted that her total income would now be "close to 7 figures".
Renn is currently reporting for Glamour Magazine on New York Fashion Week 2010 on the fall collections.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Renn

Crystal Renn on HUNGRY : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhjs5HfWN30 Crystal Renn speaks about her new book Hungry: A Young Model's Story of Appetite, Ambition and the Ultimate Embrace of Curves.

Plus-size model Crystal Renn on Good Morning America and 20/20: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JtcOcj8sGQ&NR=1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfhlo80doK4&feature=related

I'm sure many of you would like to leave their comments on this topic, please, do it, there are many things to say.

"CONFIDENCE PILLS" AND HEALTHY DIETS

2010-03-22T15:31:00.002+01:00

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20351257_1,00.html

Foods to Boost Your Mood.

Blissful meals
Though their findings are debated, several studies show that a lack of certain vitamins and minerals may put you at risk for depression. Try these 10 nutrient-rich meals that taste as good as they make you feel.
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20351257_1,00.html

Salmon Salad With Vinaigrette Studies show that omega-3 fatty acids may have therapeutic benefits in depressed children. And this savory salmon dish contains 6 grams of this monounsaturated fat. Ingredients: Green beans, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, extra virgin olive oil, minced shallots, salmon fillets, mixed salad greens, Vidalia onion, eggs Calories: 271

Read also:

The Science of Living Longer
A century of life was once a rare thing, but that is changing. Science is slowly unraveling the secrets of the centenarians. http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,1963392,00.html

Let´s see THE DIET: How eating less (much less) may help you live longer (much longer) John Apollos is losing weight the old-fashioned way — by eating less. A whole lot less. As a volunteer in the two-year Comprehensive Assessment of Long-Term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) study at Tufts University in Boston, Apollos has lowered his daily caloric intake 25% over the past eight months. The fat, not surprisingly, has melted away; the 52-year-old physical trainer has lost more than 25 lb. (11 kg) since the study began and is down to his high school weight. Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1963392_1963366_1963381,00.html

HAVE YOU HEARD OF EARTHHOUR? MARCH 27TH 20:30 hrs.

2010-03-20T00:26:00.004+01:00

Saturday 27 March 2010 at 8.30pm
We want a billion people around the world to switch off their lights for one hour, WWF’s Earth Hour, to show they care about people
and wildlife threatened by climate change. WWF’s Earth Hour provides a fun and effective way of giving students a voice in tackling
climate change, and your participation is crucial to its success!
Watch this WWF-UK video to find out more: http://earthhour.wwf.org.uk/about_earth_hour/aboutearthhour/

What do you think of these initiatives?

Do you take part in them?

Are they useful to make people aware of what's going on?

Please send your comments!

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig

2010-03-17T12:41:00.019+01:00

thegreenroombar.wordpress.com/2009/03/
thelands.wordpress.com/.../
http://www.st-patricks-day.com/

"Welcome to St-Patricks-Day.com for 2010!Dedicated to the Irish & Irish at Heart all around the World. St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by the Irish and Irish at Heart in big cities and small towns alike with parades, "wearing of the green," music and songs, Irish food and drink, and activities for kids such as crafts, coloring and games. Its a time for fun. Some communities even go so far as to dye rivers or streams green! See all the Parades & Events going on around the World to celebrate St Patricks Day 2010 http://www.st-patricks-day.com/

Well now St. Patrick's Day wouldn't exist if not for the man himself! But how much do we know about him? Did you know that he spent six years of slavery in Ireland until he escaped and undertook religious training abroad? Read more about this great man!

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig is the Gaelic way of expressing a wish that you have all the blessings of St Patrick's Day and the "luck of the Irish" to go with it. There are many humorous explanations for this expression. One comes from the legend of the 'Little People' of the land, know as leprechauns. Finding or catching a leprechaun (who would then give you gold) was a lucky event that could only take place in Ireland ! The Irish are descendants of great Celtic and Viking fighters and invaders. Their natural fighting skills often ensured survival & hence they became known as the 'lucky' people .a classic case of making your own luck ! But then "The Luck of the Irish" may all be legend.Saint Patricks Day Parades Worldwide, Irish Pubs all around the globe, Fun Runs, Irish Associations, Irish Music Festivals, Irish Names, Irish Dancing Schools,Irish Music Irish Roots, Irish Festivals,Scottish Highland Games USA & Canada, as well as, Scottish Pipes & Drum Bands.St Patricks Day is for thinking about our Saint as well as a time to think of loved ones across the water.So, why is it celebrated on March 17th? One theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick died. Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread out around the world, they took with them their history and celebrations. The biggest observance of all is, of course, in Ireland. With the exception of restaurants and pubs, almost all businesses close on March 17th. Being a religious holiday as well, many Irish attend mass, where March 17th is the traditional day for offering prayers for missionaries worldwide before the serious celebrating begins".

May be some of the readers of this blog have attended some time St. Patrick's celebration and is eager to tell us!! You are all welcome, take a virtual"green pen" and start telling us. Happy St. Patrick's! Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig!!

And some practice for your ears: do not miss these great videos on St. Patrick's Day: history, traditions, parades...

********* http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day

WORDS AND NOTEBOOKS

2010-03-15T12:09:00.004+01:00

Last week, one of our students, Cristina, asked me to help her while studying vocabulary as it was very hard for her to learn new words by heart or to remember them when writing, for instance.

I told her that in my case, repetition had made wonders but it was boring.

I forgot to tell her (Cristina, pay attention!)it is also very useful to keep lists at hand or to group vocabulary: positive adjectives, negative ones, verbs expressing ways of looking, synonymes for very used words, verb lists, etc.

Notebooks are not easy to carry, we don't usually have them at hand while working or are too big for our needs (whenever you learn the words you don't need those words anymore but the notebook is not full!!)

Well, here's the answer to our needs, and another step into recycling.

Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord is an amazing woman, she is really in love with books (specially books made for children and teaches them how to make them too) and just with cereal boxes, elastics, little sticks or just used sheets and nothing else, has solved our problem: a handy useful and temporary vocabulary notebook (the hot dog booklet) we can adapt for our purposes by listening (more practice for your ears) to her nice and clear directions. Have a good time!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX5jp1hqUG4

**Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord:

"I've been making books in schools, libraries, and with my family for twenty years. My primary goal is always to make it easy and fun. It is my pleasure and delight to share what I have learned and bring the joy of making books to you. "

Making books Blog http://makingbookswithchildren.blogspot.com/

Web site http://www.makingbooks.com/

Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/skgaylord

By the way, more ideas or suggestions to learn vocabulary are welcome!!!

MORE ON ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES by our students

2010-03-15T11:32:00.012+01:00

Two of our students have sent very interesting information to our practice forum for unit 2, which I'd like to bring here as well, for you to read.

Sandra Karina Romo Quezada told us about this amazing " stadium in Japan that collects people's vibrations and then generates energy":

Misako Park Stadium, stadium capable of generating energy through the vibrations of the fansPosted Mar 10, 2010 by Ken
Several systems are currently used to generate energy cleanly from the most popular based on solar panels or windmills to others not so famous, such as those that are fed by vibration.
(UpVery.com) Mar 10, 2010 -- Several systems are currently used to generate energy cleanly from the most popular based on solar panels or windmills to others not so famous, such as those that are fed by vibration.An example of this type of system (implemented recently and still in testing) can be found in the football stadium Misaki Park Stadium in Kobe (Japan), home of Vissel Kobe, which uses the vibrations produced by the fans for energy . You what?Let me explain. What they have done is install a number of special plates located at the foot of fans able to collect the energy generated by their jumps and other movements (eg, a stomp of anger caused by a red card) which is stored for later use. The numbers obtained in the first test is not bad, in a match that lasted produced 8400 watts per second on average and the completion of the flow continued, there were 2320 watts per second.Although not the final solution seems like a great idea, are using the energy generated by the home crowd with its vibrations to feed on the same stage and thus reduce the consumption of energy generated from other less environmentally friendly. To see if hopefully the example is copied by other countries in the world man.

http://www.web-soft-design.com/misako-park-stadium-stadium-capable-of-generating-energy-through-the-vibrations-of-the-fans/

On the other hand, Cristina González Angos told us in the same forum "yesterday I talked with a girl from Oregon about alternative energies (...) and she said to me that in her country there is a gym where you can generate energy when you are running in the machine. I was amazed and she gave me the web page: http://rerev.com/howitworks.htm

The gym environment is an ideal setting to capture a large amount of consistent kinetics with little up front cost by utilizing existing infrastructure.
HUMAN ENERGY Kinetic energy from your workout is converted to DC (Direct Current) and sent to the ReRev System.
CURRENT CONVERTS ReRev converts the DC current into AC (Alternating Current), the form of electricity used by homes and businesses.
RENEWABLE ENERGY The electricity can then be used to power the building.

Thanks for your gripping contributions, it's good to check we are all thinking of alternative energies and ALREADY using them in some places not to exhaust, our so much battered planet!

MORE ON SHRINKS AND PSYCHOANALYSIS

2010-03-14T18:45:00.007+01:00

http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/p/psychoanalysis.asp

shrink
n.
1. a. The act of shrinking.

b. The degree to which something shrinks; shrinkage.

2. Slang A psychotherapist.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/shrink

Browsing around in the internet, looking for information about our unit's topic of these weeks, I've come across the most unexpected things about it...

Puppets? What for?

Blogs by Psychiatrists for Psyquiatrists...but no one has to listen!

Of course cartoons, books, art...

What do you think?

Do It Yourself Book of Freudian Psychoanalysis

http://us.macmillan.com/shrinkyourself

Freud's insights are everywhere in 20th-century literature. But, from Virginia Woolf to Philip Roth, psychoanalysts have been given short shrift in fiction, lacking the inner life that is their trade.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/feb/16/featuresreviews.guardianreview2

Celebrities and shrinks:

Britney Spears A Hot Topic For Shrinks

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/23/entertainment/main3744988.shtml

Psychoanalysis FAQ

http://www.wawhite.org/index.php?page=psychoanalysis-faq

Dinah, ClinkShrink, & Roy introduce Shrink Rap: a blog by Psychiatrists for Psychiatrists. A place to talk; no one has to listen. All patient vignettes are confabulated; the psychiatrists, however, are mostly real. --Topics include psychotherapy, humor, depression, bipolar, anxiety, schizophrenia, medications, antidepressants, antipsychotics, ethics, psychopharmacology, forensic and correctional psychiatry, psychology, mental health, chocolate, and emotional support ducks. Don't ask.

http://psychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com/2008/05/psychoanalysis-of-oliver-sacks.html

The Country Shrink
A psychologist from rural America comments on psychology, psychiatry, religion, and politics.

http://thecountryshrink.com/tag/psychoanalysis/index.html

PSYCHOANALYST PUPPETS???

Tell me, how do you feel about finger puppets?
Go nuts with this set of psychoanalyst puppets, including Freud (the father of psychoanalysis), his daughter Anna Freud (a noted child therapist), Carl Jung (king of the collective unconscious). Comes with a red chaise lounge so the shrinks can take turns shrinking each other.
You and your friends can debate psychological theory, reenact the friendship and breakup of Freud and Jung, and turn psychoanalytical theory on its head! The box converts to a puppet theater. Made in China.
http://www.uncommongoods.com/item/item.jsp?itemId=12060

ART:

Shrink art -- many of us have seen it. I'm not talking about shrunken objects or about things wrapped in clear plastic. I'm referring to something more intimate and private, something many of us have knowledge of but rarely mention: the art and objects that grace the offices of the therapists and analysts we have known. Shelburne Thurber, "Psychoanalytic Interiors,"

http://www.artnet.com/Magazine/features/jsaltz/saltz4-2-04.asp

SHRINKS AND PSYCHOALYSIS

2010-03-14T16:24:00.006+01:00

picture source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frasier_Crane

In Unit three (SHRINKS AND PSYCHOANALYSIS) EXERCISE 7, you can read this: "Kara Bazzi is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the Seattle area (...)"
Do you know Cheers spinoff FRASIER? Dr. Frasier Crane also lives in this area, we can say he is a therapist, as well, but is a totally different professional!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbjUL9Er-Yg

Frasier Winslow Crane, M.D., Ph.D., A.P.A. is a fictional character on the American television sitcoms Frasier and Cheers. He was played by Kelsey Grammer for 20 years, tying the record for the longest-running character on prime-time American television, which was set by James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on the show Gunsmoke. Grammer received Emmy Award nominations for portraying Crane on three different NBC shows, including a 1992 guest appearance on Wings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frasier_Crane

What's wrong with shrinks and this topic? Some never want to say they are visiting one!
Let's see what this unit brings...

tendonitis and carpal tunnel

2010-03-07T18:19:00.014+01:00

pictures: http://www.nitsugamangore.com/forearm.jpg carpaltunnelwristbrace.solverblog.com/.../ http://www.portaldenoticias.com/tag/Podcast

I have had a hard week: My right hand/arm aches like mad and I 've known I may have carpal tunnel syndrome!! It really aches, even in your sleep, and it gets worse if you have to use your pc mouse, of course, so I've been browsing the net and this man has saved my life, percusionist David Kuckhermann.

I know this post may have little to do with our subject but as we all use the computer for long hours, here is my contribution today. A really useful listening:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUyMNyrOHJQ&feature=player_embedded

Thanks David!!!

*Now to you:

Have you surfed the net for help like me?

Did it work?

Any positive/negative answers?

I'll go and do my daily stretching... :-)

****By the way:

Tendinitis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tendinitis (informally also tendonitis), meaning inflammation of a tendon (the suffix "itis" means "inflammation"), is a type of tendinopathy

COMMON SENSE

2010-02-28T21:48:00.006+01:00

Kamal Dhillon, a Grade 12 student at Balmoral Hall School, is the 2010 Glassen Ethics Competition winner.

This year's essay topic was: "Is it OK to download music, movies and games without paying?" There were about 80 entries from high schools in Winnipeg and across the province. The contest, held annually since 2007, is jointly sponsored by The Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics and The Department of Philosophy at the University of Manitoba. The winner receives $1,000. The Winnipeg Free Press publishes the winning essay.

Please, read this essay and tell us, what do you think about Kamal's essay?
Was it easy to write about this particular topic?
Why has it spread like fire around the world?
Is it just good tools to write? Common sense? Clear ideas?

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 13, 2010 H11

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/not-wrong-just-illegal-84292007.html

Teaching a Foreign Language? Best Teach in the Accent of the Listener

2010-02-28T19:52:00.007+01:00

ScienceDaily (Feb. 17, 2010) — Perception of second language speech is easier when it is spoken in the accent of the listener and not in the 'original' accent of that language, shows a new study from the University of Haifa. The study was published in the Journal of Psycholinguistic Research.

Many adult schools teaching second languages insist on exposing their students to the languages in their 'original' accents. However, this new study, carried out by Dr. Raphiq Ibrahim and Dr. Mark Leikin of the University of Haifa's Edmond J. Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning Disabilities, Prof. Zohar Eviatar of the Department of Psychology and Prof. Shimon Sapir of the Department of Learning Disabilities, found that this system is not necessarily the best and certainly not the most expeditious.

The present study set out to reveal the level of phonological information that the adult learner requires in order to identify words in a second language that had been learned at a later age, and whether the level of phonological information that they require varies when the words are pronounced in different accents.

Read more:
Source:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100216101326.htm

Do you agree with this?
Do you think you would then understand the natives' accent when talking to them?
Why does this seem to work better for adults?
Would you like to tell us about how this works for you?

FLY in the future with an electric self-launch sailplane

2010-02-28T19:02:00.005+01:00

source:http://www.glider-one.si/

FLY in the future with an electric self-launch sailplane Electro Apis EA1

ELECTRIC APIS EA1 is one of the first sailplanes in the world and the first one in Slovenia EU (the first flight was 18. April 2005), which can take off with an electromotor and climb up to altitude 1800m at 50%DOD, even to altitude 3000m at 90%DOD. The altitude depends on the percentage of the discharging of the Li-Poly batteries. The best recomended discharging of the batteries is about 50%DOD. In this case the altitude is app 1800m and the batteries can give 1500 cycles http://kokam.com/english/product/kokam_Lipo_01.html

In the future solar cells on the wings will give enough nature energy for many take offs next day and to climb much over than 3000 metresof the altitude.

Have a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt8ISQC7aVY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydFo67O3dmw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPGeDAZHxMo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm3mliPyeeM

Electric sailplanes... the future?
Will they pollute less?
Is this kind of energy better?

MY PROMISED POST FOR PALOMA

2010-02-18T23:48:00.005+01:00

COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS.

We ALL have communication problems whether we're using our mother tongue, a second language, if we have hearing problems...
If we are studying a language we need to learn the rules, grammar, vocabulary, etc. in the best way but in the end what we need is communication.
So...never feel shy or embarrased, feel free to speak, many people will smile when we speak, some will help us, some will correct us and finally we will learn, we will know more.
We could have done it better, why did we say this or that in the wrong way, we did not pronounce that properly...that's the way we learn!!!
This post is for Paloma, one of our students who is doing a great personal effort everytime she speaks, as she finds it hard to do it as perfectly as she'd like. She is a fighter, so keep on improving Paloma!! (let me include your mates, too: KEEP ON WORKING!)

Well, this is for Paloma and her mates, to have a real good laugh.

For those of you who have not heard about Fawlty Towers (no? and Monty Phyton? ;-) ) please have a look: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fawlty_Towers

Now, you can check we all have communication problems (the plot around Mrs. Richardson) . If it is a bit long you can use fast forward but try to watch it little by little, once and again, and you will understand a bit more every time. Enjoy it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5frHEREsYPM&feature=related 1st part

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ez4x6IYfMo&feature=related 2nd "

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=225SOyk1fzg&feature=related 3rd "

Please send us your comments on Fawlty's episode or your anecdotes on communication problems!!

ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES

2010-02-17T18:44:00.009+01:00

"Alternative energies? What a bore! What can one say about it?" This is what most students say about unit2. I think it is a very important topic so why not try and look at it in a funnier way to get the most of it and learn?

Up there you have some cartoons which can give you some hints to write and here you have a funny video:

The Alternative Energy Comedy Show rocks! Stand-up comedy about wind power, solar panels and biofuels ain't funny unless your host is a big, beer swilling guy like Chuck Roy.

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/eab860b25e/the-alternative-energy-comedy-show-guest-jeff-wozer-from-renewablecomedy

What's your opinion on this?

Do you think these energies will improve our enviroment? Why?

Share a joke, a funny anecdote or anyway, drop us a line!!

Carnival, Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras.

2010-02-13T00:56:00.000+01:00

Picture from: http://www.history.com/content/mardigras

CARNIVAL, FAT TUESDAY, MARDI GRAS ...Venice, Río, Tenerife... Louisiana!

FAT TUESDAY ON BOUBON STREET!

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY AND ITS ORIGINS AND HISTORY , about food, parades, traditions, you have 6 really interesting videos:

http://www.history.com/content/mardigras/mardi-gras-videos

Listen and read about it and tell us:

Do you buy, prepare or borrow costumes and masks?

Do you eat filloas, jambalaya, king cake, orejas...?

Is there a parade at your place?

What do you do during this holiday??

Please, do write and tell us!

Valentine' s Day

2010-02-13T00:22:00.002+01:00

VALENTINE'S DAY.

We all know about Valentine's day:

it's all about love, roses, chocolates, presents, be my valentine, "Roses are red.Violets are blue.Sugar is sweet.And so are you. "

Or not?

Have a look at our links and you will feel an irresistible feeling: writing , writing!

1. Valentines collector??? Nancy Rosin is one of them. Watch:

http://www.history.com/video.do?name=culture&bcpid=1676043212&bclid=1672160848&bctid=8612163001

2. Know it all about the History of St. Valentine's day. Watch:

http://www.history.com/video.do?name=culture&bcpid=1676043212&bclid=1672160848&bctid=1407959235

3. Cupid: a 3.000 year-old baby with wings. Watch

http://www.history.com/video.do?name=culture&bcpid=1676043212&bclid=1672160848&bctid=1407959235

4. Love Letters From The President. Read:

http://www.history.com/content/valentine/love-letters-from-the-president

5.Movie Guide Celebrating a quiet Valentine's Day at home? History.com brings you 15 of the best romances of all time. Read:

http://www.history.com/content/valentine

More? Go to: http://www.history.com/content/valentine

*****and a very special one: aren't they sweet?????:

http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,65968133001_1963535,00.html

MARRIAGE AND LOVE AFFAIRS

2010-02-13T00:03:00.000+01:00

The topic for Unit 1 is MARRIAGE AND LOVE AFFAIRS

You can read this unit first or you can write right now some lines about your ideas on this subject.

Are there too many clichés about love and marriage?

What do you think ?

What would you like to say?

To break the ice, here you have a couple of funny jokes or anecdotes which probably follow those cliches we all have heard sometimes...

Oh, and don't miss our next post on Valentine´s Day...really involved with love and marriage!

THE SILENT TREATMENT
A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight.Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me at 5:00 AM." He left it where he knew she would find it.The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed.The paper said, "It is 5:00 AM. Wake up."

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, and she does.

A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

Source: http://www.love-clinic.com/

Welcome!

2010-02-12T23:12:00.000+01:00

Welcome everybody!

This is our/your blog for you all to practice a little bit your writing, to get used to thinking and writing in English.

Feel free to send a few lines, to share ideas and to express your opinions.

Who wants to be first?