"My region is the best" presentation (B1A/B)

This is the role-play you have to act out: you are the local authorities of a region/city in a country of your choice (e.g. Cornwall, Wales, Coslada, etc). The rest of the students in the class are important investors who want to build a huge hotel and leisure centre somewhere in the world. You want your region/city to be chosen, of course! So you have to "sell" it to them and convince them that yours is the best alternative.

-Rules:

-You must work in groups (4-5 people).

-You must choose an area/city in a country and research about it.

-You must give a presentation (in powerpoint) showing the most interesting features of the region you represent and explaining why it is the best place for the investors to put their money.

-The powerpoint presentation must be based on pictures, the slides must NOT include texts (just isolated names, dates or figures), like in PechaKucha presentations (a very fashionable format you can use: 20 slides, explained in 20 seconds each, if the group has four members that means each person is supposed to explain 5 slides). You can´t read anything.

-The presentations will be given the first week of June.

-Evaluation: 2.5 points (this is your speaking exam). One point will go for the powerpoint presentation, so that mark will be shared by the members of the group, and the rest (1.5 p.) for the oral presentation of each member of the group (that mark will be individual).

-The powerpoint presentation must have a minimum of 20 slides plus a cover page. Include a map of the region you have chosen so that we can follow your presentation.

-Finally the best project will be chosen by the whole class.

Blade Runner (B1A/B)

You have to prepare the following questions for a class quiz contest next Thursday about the film we are going to watch next week, Blade Runner.


1. Instructions to prepare the quiz:


-You can find the answers to the questions and loads of extra info on the film in the internet. You can begin here: http://www.brmovie.com/



2.The Questions:


a)When was this film released?

b)Who is its director? Say the names of three famous films he has directed.

c)When and where is the film set?

e)Which book is the film based on?

f)Say the name of another film based on a novel by this author.

g)What is the name of the actress who performed the role of Rachael?

h)What is "Cityspeak"?

i)Who made the score of the film? Where is he from?

j)How old was Harrison Ford when he played this role?

k)Where is the actor who plays Roy´s role from?

l)Watch this trailer of the film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_hYs1jBy8Y

Now, answer the question: What is the only animal you can watch in it?

m)What is the "Final Cut" of Blade Runner?

n)What is a "spinner"?

o)Who are the "replicants"?





Good search!

Questions (E1A/C)

You know you have a problem with questions. But here you are the solution: 20 sentences you must turn into the interrogative form! You know, ask about the underlined part and use the same tense you have in the answer. Let´s face it, this is not going to be the most exciting exercise you´ve ever done, but that´s the way it is. Have it ready for Thursday.

1. They have been to Paris many times.

2. He began to study in this school in 1990.

3. He phoned Jane yesterday.

4. Peter broke his leg last Tuesday.

5. John has studied here since May.

6. They always give Karen a present for his birthday.

7. She´ll work as a teacher next year.

8. They often go to Torrevieja.

9. Yes, she´s working as a hairdresser.

10. I bought a moped last week.

11. She is going to work in the evenings.

12. Bob has written seventeen e-mails today.

13. No, I have never had a car accident . I´m lucky.

14.  Peter came to visit us yesterday.

15. Jane was waiting for Peter when it started to rain.

16. I enjoy Wes Magee´s poems so much

17. No, she shouldn´t  smoke!

18. She has to study very hard to pass her exams.

19. She used to go to the cinema when she was younger.

20. She was driving very fast when I saw her yesterday.

Finished! Congratulations. Now check them!

The Maoris and the sun (E1A/C)

Talking about the sun metaphors, I remembered a Maori legend that has to do with the sun (and is really poetic). Watch the video and answer the questions:

 

1.Why did the days become too short?

2.How many brothers did Maui have?

3.What did Maui want to do?

4.How is he going to do that?

5.Why did they walk where the sun rose during the night?

6.Why did they make a wall?

7.What did they do with the ropes?

8.Why were they magic?

9.What did Maui do when the sun rose?

10.What happened in the end?

Rick and his revolting rumours (by Wes Magee)

-Listen to Wes Magee´s poem Rick´s Revolting Rumours

-Have a look at an interview to him HERE.

Adele - Someone like you

More metaphors (E1C)

More metaphors (now by E1C) on the sun and the moon!

The sun is….

The galaxy´s heart.

A powerful flashlight (torch).

The fever that never ends.

A flame in the distance (sky)

A giant who evaporates a puddle.

A giant star of fire.

The beginning of a pretty day.

A huge amount of volcanoes.

The reason of my beautiful life.

The light that creates shadow.

Is the power to see.

The symbol of summer.

The earth´s furnace.

A smile in the morning.

A dry day in summer.

A glittering yellow rose.

An everlasting bulb.

An orange stain in the galaxy.

The enemy of nightmares.

Is the ball the gods use to play with.

Is an angry father whose face turns red with rage.

A giant molten planet.

Is everyday´s hope.

A free light bulb

Our winter dream.

The moon is …

A wolf´s temple.

A white snowflake in the dark sky.

Is the sun in the night.

The most beautiful rock in the sky.

Is sometimes shy (especially when it disappears)

A giant white pearl.

The calmness of our thoughts.

A baby´s bum that needs to sunbathe.

A huge tipex correction.

The night´s princess.

Is the death of the day.

A crystal ball full of milk.

Great work!!

Metaphors (E1A)

Metaphors about the sun and the moon by the students of E1ºA (an incredible bunch of poets, btw)…:

The sun is …

A big house where you can have a party with all the planets

A yellow dot.

The origin of life.

The fire that glows out of my heart.

A big lamp in the sky.

My brain in an exam.

An enormous firefly.

The lamp that shines on the earth.

A yellow coin that is worth a lot.

A circle that encloses my thoughts. Its rays are my tears when I feel sad.

A big volcano in Space.

The beginning of hope.

The moon´s brother.

The sea´s best friend.

A spatial canvas with bright red paint drops.

A golden coin in the middle of the street.

The light that shows me the way.

The angel of the dark.

A bomb about to explode.

An egg in the middle of my dinner plate.

The beginning and the end.

And the moon is…

A silver coin.

The sky´s smile.

A cheese ball.

A big ball of cheese with craters that explode with cheese.

A shiny pearl in the depth of the ocean.

The earth´s little brother.

A speck of dust in a mansion.

A honeydrop in the middle of the universe.

A baby´s cradle (when crescent).

The one who tells me stories when I go to sleep.

Cheshire cat´s smile.

A pearl of your necklace.

The queen of the night.

A spot of white paint on a black ceiling.

The Earth´s pet.

A dream protector.

The Earth´s football.

Happiness at night.

The ghost of day time (because you can´t see it then).

Your "whatifs" (E1A/C)

Here are your poems in Shel Silverstein´s "Whatif" style:

"Whatif I don´t buy more jeans?
Whatif I start eating beans?
Whatif we become bald?
Whatif I forget how I´m called?" (by Aroa M.)
 
"Whatif I´m getting crazy?
Whatif I´m a little lazy?
Whatif the sun ceases to shine?
Whatif the moon can be mine?
Whatif I cry laughing?
Whatif I laugh crying?" (by Paula N.)

"Whatif I fall from a skyscraper?
Whatif in the toilet there´s not paper?
What if Martin doesn´t come?
Whatif he leaves us without fun?
(...)Whatif we all become Supermen?
Whatif Samuel puts me a ten?" (by Álvaro de B.)

"Whatif they throw me into prison?
Whatif they do that without a reason?
Whatif the crisis never ends?
Whatif I lose all my friends?
(...)What if Bárcenas stole more money?
What if someone ate all the honey?
(...)What if North Korea starts a war?
Whatif I don´t see my mother anymore?
Whatif videogames disappear?
Whatif I lose my left ear?
(...)Whatif I lose my inspiration?
Whatif Madrid becomes a nation?".(by Alejandro Z.)

"Whatif I don´t know what to do?
Whatif I get as silly as you?
Whatif I don´t go to school?
Whatif Samuel gets cool?" (by Lucía F.)

(I´ll try to get cool, Lucía. Anyway, don´t expect too much).

"Whatif there´s life in Mars?
Whatif they steal my father´s cars?
(...)Whatif the war is chaotic?
Whatif my parents become gothic?" (by Pablo M.)

"Whatif I have stomachache?
because I eat too much cake?
 Whatif my brain goes out of my head
because I fall off my bed?" (by Alejandra S.)

"Whatif someone punishes me?
Whatif I´m not who I should be?
Whatif I can´t speak?
Whatif a bird hits me with its beak?" (by Raquel L.)

"Whatif one of my best friends leaves me alone?
Whatif I´m less important than a smartphone?
Whatif I become unemployed?
Whatif the world gets destroyed?" (by Inés A.)

"Whatif water stops being blue?
Whatif I die because of the flu?
Whatif I stop loving you?
Whatif I don´t have anything to do?" (by Águeda A.)

"Whatif I see a ghost?
Whatif I get a burning toast?
Whatif I get lost in a lonely coast? (by Carlos E.)

"Whatif you don´t hear my voice again?
Whatif my breath stops when the clock strikes ten?
Whatif suddenly I lose my sense of touch?
Whatif everybody trusts me, but not too much?
Whatif I can´t tell you something you should know?
Whatif in a winter I can´t see the snow?
Whatif my eyes can no longer see?
Whatif death surprises me by the sea?". (by Noelia P.)



I´m really impressed! Good work!

A dream

Today, working in groups of 3 to 5 you are going to write the story of a dream by completing the following text. Each student has to choose 2 pictures out of the set I´ve given to you, turn them over and include them in the dream. (You must use Past Simple and Past Continuous). The dream begins like this:

"I was sitting in front of the television late one evening, when I fell asleep and had a strange dream. In the dream I was........... (where were you? What were you doing?)

Suddenly........ (What happened?)

Then, to my surprise..... (What happened next?)

Unfortunately..... (Something terrible happened. What was it?)

Finally............ (What happened in the end?)

Now read your dreams and decide which one is the funniest or strangest.

(activity adapted from Reward, Macmillan Heinemann).

The Christmas Presents (E2A/B)

Explain the relation of the objects in the pictures and The Christmas Presents story by O. Henry:

Paradise Lost (E2A/B)

1.Look at the picture and describe it. Would you like to be there? Why?

2.Now watch a videoclip using this link. Answer these questions:
-What can you see in the videoclip?
-What is the topic in the song?

3.Work now with the lyrics (fill the gaps on the lyrics sheet). Then answer the following questions:
-Who is the protagonist of the song?
-Where does she live?
-Do you think she is happy?
-Why do you think the title of the song is “Another day in paradise”?

4.The song is related to one of the stories by O. Henry in New Yorkers, which story is it? How are they related?

Getting ready for debates: Death penalty (B1A/B)

Watch this video about the death penalty issue (with actor Jeremy Irons). Try and answer these questions about the video:

1. Say 2 ideas he mentions against death penalty.
2. Which social group is especially affected by death penalty?
3. What is the saying in the US about "capital punishment"?
4. "Death penalty is irreversible". Explain.
5. Since 1990, how many execution of child offenders have there been in countries with death penalty?
6.Complete the sentence: "an attack to human rights (like the right to life) is an attack............................"
7. "Explain: "Criminals and murderes have crossed the line between right and wrong. Do we want to join them?"

Now using these ideas and others of your own let´s discuss about the topic.

Debates (B1A/B)

-Instructions for the debate:

-You must gather in groups of 2/3. 

-In groups of students with different levels the stronger student will be rewarded.

-In each group, one member will be for the statement and the other(s) will be against. If you have the same opinion on the topic, one at least will have to pretend.

-The script with the debate can be handed in to me to check mistakes. 

-Each member in the group must speak at least 3 minutes.

-Participation of the rest of the students in the debate will be rewarded.

-The debates will start at the end of April.

-Topics of the debate. Choose one of these statements:

1.All politicians are corrupted. I don´t believe in Democracy.
2.Parents should let teenagers do whatever they want. They are old enough now.
3.A computer with internet connection. I don´t need anything else in my life.
4.I agree with free abortion at the age of 16.
5.I would disconnect a dying but conscious person from the machines that keep him/her alive if he/she asked me to.
6.Spanish educational system doesn´t work.
7.The real crisis is the starving people in the Third World. No more money for banks!
8.Armies should disappear.
9.I believe in death penalty.
10.Sportsmen salaries should be controlled by the state. Nobody should earn more than 50,000 Euros a year.
11.I would manipulate the genetics of my future son to "design" him/her as I like (tall, blonde,intelligent...).
12.All drugs should be legalised.
13.Smoking should be totally banned.
14.Studying at university is a waste of time.
15.Going to another country to find a job: pros and cons.

-Each group must choose a different topic. Choose the topic fast! The first to tell me their choice will get it; if you are too late you´ll have to choose another one. If you want to discuss about another topic it´s OK, but let me know first.

-Evaluation: 1.5 points.

Grammar and vocabulary revision (E1A/C)

You really had a good time in the Jornadas Culturales, didn´t you? Well, now it´s time for a bit of work and review. The activities below are designed for several days, don´t try to do them in only one day! All the exercises include the answers at the end. Have a nice Easter!

-Grammar:

1.Present Perfect practice and Present Perfect/Past Simple contrast: click HERE, in this page you can find the theory about this tense and several links to exercises.

2.Since and for are so tricky! Do an exercise about them HERE.

3.Past Continuous practice: click HERE. (Theory and links to several exercises). For the contrast Past Simple/Past Continuous: click HERE and HERE.


4.Comparative and Superlative exercises: click HERE.

5.Will practice: click  HERE , going to: click HERE.

5.Practice with irregular verb forms: click HERE. Now try a crosswords HERE.

-Vocabulary:

1.Parts of the body: click HERE.

2.Jobs. Click HERE.

3.Computers: HERE.

4.Sports: HERE.


 -Time for relax now after so much hard work! Why don´t you play a hangman? Click HERE and have a good time! Once you have finished, you can try a new game (scroll down and click on the link for a new word below: you can keep the same topic or change it).