What shall we do with all that plastic?

Are we aware of where and how all the plastic we use on a daily basis ends? Read...

Be a hero - Part l 
Be a hero - Part ll 
National Geographic 

 

 The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Do you want to learn more?
If so, watch these videos...
The life cycle of a plastic water bottle 
Miriam Goldstein 

What is being done to change this dramatic situation?

There are different campaings working to prevent the oceans from becoming the dumpsite of tons of plastic.

Another relevant issue deals with ideas and strategies devised and/or implemented to  eliminate all the rubbish that already floats in them.

We include here some of those proposals...

Plastic Oceans

BBC

The Ocean Cleanup 1

The Ocean Cleanup  2

Natural Reserve Defence Council

Centre of Biological Diversity

How do you fit in it all?
How can you work in order to contribute to saving our oceans and their inhabitants?
Do/Can you do anything at home to help prevent all this pollution?
Which solution/s do you think is/are more practical?
Is there a campaign you believe to be more effective?

Idioms Idioms Idioms...
What a nightmare!!!

Yes, there are far too many and most of them make no sense to us.
So, do we really have to learn as many as we can?
Actually, yes. Sorry.
Otherwise, how can you expect yourself to hold a colloquial conversation?
They spice up our vocabulary and add some fun to all those boring intellectual exchanges we normally have in everyday life.

   Watch this video and...  Good luck with them!!!

In case you want to learn some more...

The History of English... 
in 11 minutes!!

Where does this dreadful language we have to master come from?

Who created all those words we have to remember?

And the grammar, who invented the rules we memorize again and again?

Watch and learn...

Because learning can also be good fun...

NELSON MANDELA

His life, his fight, his legacy...

  

 Back at Robben Island...

These links will take you to some activities which will help you learn more about the first ever black President of South Africa, the man who defeated Apartheid.

Activity I - Level B-1

Nelson Mandela by Famous People Lessons

MP3 Recording

Activity II - Level C-1

                                 

 Nelson Mandela Video Quiz

You can find more information about his work and his commitment on many documentaries on Youtube and at the following websites:

I The Nelson Mandela Foundation

II The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund

III The Mandela Rhodes Foundation

IV His biography on Wikipedia

ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH  BOTSWANA

 

An interview with the famous author.

Complete the activities in your literature file.

DRACULA

The True Story

Do you want to learn more about the real man behind Dracula's legend?

THE HISTORY OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE 

A docummentary

Watch the following video and complete the questionnaire in your literature file.

Reporting News

When you report a news story, it is important to summarise the main points.

You do not have to fully understand every word in the article, but make sure you have understood the main ideas.

When you summarise a news story, the 6 important things to remember are:

*    WHEN? - When did it happen/take place?

*    WHAT? - What happened? (Basic details)

*    WHERE? - Where did it happen? (Location)

*    WHO? - Who was involved?

*    HOW? - How did it happen?

*   WHY? - Why did it happen? (Reasons and causes)

 

Here is an example of a short summary of a recent news article.

"Russian passenger jet reported missing in Indonesia

Last Wednesday, a Russian Superjet airplane went missing whilst on a demonstration flight in Indonesia. The plane began its journey at 7 o'clock in the morning from Jakarta's airport and the flight was only supposed to last 30 minutes. It is believed that the plane was flying near a mountain which was close to the city Bogor, before it disappeared.

A spokesman explained that 46 people were on the plane but he is unsure of their specific names. However the people were invited guests and were testing this new plane as Sukhoi's first commercial aircraft.

The plane was doing its second demonstration flight of the day but did not return. Nobody knows why the plane has disappeared and what caused its disappearance. It remains a mystery."

Now you have to find two news stories with a common topic which connects them, one which took place far from us and another which happened either in Valls, L'Alt Urgell, Tarragona or Catalonia. Summarise them and tell us about the shared topic.

Tools for a debate

 

1. Introducing the topic

Ø      Today we are here to discuss…

Ø      The goal of our discussion today is…

2. Bringing in other people

Ø      What is your opinion, Mr. Ito?

Ø      Do you agree with Mr. Ito’s opinion, Ms. Suzuki?

Ø      Mr. Ito, what do you think we should do?

Ø      Mr. Ito, what are your views regarding this point?

3. Keeping the Discussion Moving

Ø      Let’s go on to another point.

Ø      Next, let’s talk about…

Ø      Let’s talk about that later.

4. Giving an opinion

Ø      In my opinion…

Ø      As far as I’m concerned…

Ø      Personally, I believe that... / I strongly believe that...

Ø       The way I see it is… 

Ø       I think that...

Ø       I do not believe that...

Ø       From my point of view...

Ø       My belief is that...

Ø       In my view...

Ø       Personally...

Ø       I feel strongly about...

Ø       I (strongly) agree with... / I (strongly) diasgree with...

Ø       I am in favour of...

Ø       It seems to me that...

Ø       I would argue that...

Ø       Generally speaking, I think that...

Ø       I'm absolutely convinced that…

Ø       I'm sure that…

Ø       I have no doubt that…

5. Getting further information

Ø      Would you mind explaining that a little more, please?

Ø      Could you explain that more fully?

Ø      Could you tell us a bit more about that? 

6. Restating an idea

Ø      In other words,

Ø      That is, …

Ø      What I’m trying to say is…

Ø      I mean…

Ø      To put it another way… 

7. Persuading Convincing

Ø      You must admit that…

Ø      Don’t forget that…

Ø      You must remember that… 

8. Inquiring about Agreement or Disagreement

Ø      Do/don’t you agree, Ms. Suzuki?

Ø      Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Ito? 

9. Expressing Agreement

Ø      Yes, that is right/correct.

Ø      You are right/correct.

Ø      I definitely agree with Ms. Suzuki.

Ø      That is exactly what I think. 

10. Expressing Disagreement

Ø      I don’t really agree with him/her.

Ø      I’m afraid I can’t agree with his/her opinion.

Ø      That’s not quite how I see it.

Ø      I can see your point, but I don’t really agree with it.    

11. Expressing doubt or reservation

Ø      Well, maybe, but I’m not sure about that.

Ø      Hmm, he may be correct but I’m not sure.

Ø      I can see your point, but I’m not sure I agree. 

12. Refuting a fact

Ø      Actually,

Ø      As a matter of fact, …

Ø      Well, I’m not sure that is true/correct because… 

13. Dismissing an irrelevant point

Ø      I’m afraid you’re missing the point.

Ø      I don’t think that has anything do with the goal of our discussion. 

14.  Making suggestions

Ø      Why don’t we/you…

Ø      How about…

Ø      I suggest that we/you… 

15. Agreeing with a suggestion

Ø      Ok. That makes sense.

Ø      Of course.

Ø      Certainly 

16. Refusing a suggestion or request

Ø      I’m sorry but that is out of the question

Ø      Unfortunately that is not possible. 

17. Capitulation

Ø      Mr. Suzuki has convinced me that my opinion/suggestion/idea is not useful/practical/necessary/good. Therefore, I have changed my mind.

Ø      OK. You have persuaded me to change my mind. I can agree with you. 

18. Expressing similarities

Ø      Those two points/suggestions are similar.

Ø      Mr. Suzuki’s idea is about the same as Ms. Ito’s.

Ø      My idea/suggestion is (more)....er than mine/hers.       

19. Interrupting

Ø      Excuse me for interrupting, but…

Ø      Sorry to interrupt, but… 

20. Getting a point into the discussion

Ø      I have a point I’d like to make.

Ø      I’d like to add something here.

Ø      I’d like to say something about your/her/his idea. 

21. Seeking clarification

Ø      What do you mean?

Ø      Sorry, I’m not quite sure what you mean.

Ø      Do you mean that…?

Ø      I’m sorry, I don’t quite follow.

Ø      I don’t quite understand what you’re saying. 

22. Paraphrasing another person’s idea

Ø      What Ms. Ito means is that…

Ø      What (s)he is trying to say is that… 

23. Requesting

Ø      Ms. Ito, I wonder if you would mind................., please?

Ø      Mr. Kato, do you think you could..............., please? 

24. Making comparisons

Ø      Mr. Ito’s explanation is more/less............than hers/his.

Ø      Your opinion/idea is.............-er than mine/hers. 

25.  Expressing Preference

Ø      I think the best/worst suggestion is …

Ø      His idea is the............-est  (best, most reasonable etc.)

Ø      Her proposal is the most/least…

Ø      One of the most practical items is..............., so we/you should definitely take/use it. 

26. Closing the Discussion

Ø      In conclusion, the purpose of this discussion…

Ø       The goal of our discussion is to….

Ø      We have concluded that…