ELLLO: English Listening Lesson Library Online

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

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

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

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

(...) read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2011602956_slang14.html

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

Categories (410)
Business (42) Daily Life (44) Dining/Food (16) Environment (17) Health (4) Movies & TV (51) Music (22) News & Politics (98) Shopping (9) Social Life (12) Sports (23) Technology (38) Travel (28) Video Gaming (6)
Channels
AERA English TV (67)
ALC (86)
Aoyama Gakuin (14)
Scholastic Readers (17)
Waseda (13)

Most Recent Most PopularMost Popular VideosAll
Learn English while watching videos!
You are ONE CLICK away from learning English.


Be curious, an have a look! Then, Write your comments!

PESTICIDES AND THE FOOD CHAIN. The dirty dozen.

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 – 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.

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/