WELCOME (YEAR 2008-09)

I was once told the first day of class sets the tone for the rest of the term and I think that to get a good start, three important tasks should be done:

1st: giving information about the course

2nd: getting to know each other, trying to create an open friendly classroom environment. Do you think we will be able to create a participative and communicative group altogether for the rest of the year?

3rd: setting course expectations and standards. I'd like to know what you expect from the course. As for me, I would like to stimulate your curiosity about topics that will be covered during the term and to have fun while learning a lot (both things can go hand in hand!)
What about you? I would like you to list the goals you hope to achieve by taking this course. List, for example, three to five goals about knowledge, skills, interests, methodology, or attitudes... and we can discuss about them next day in class!

Let's see if after knowing all these things and working hard, we can get cloud nine with our English!

SAYING GOODBYE

That's it!... We've just finished!... Time goes by really fast, doesn't it?
And Martix wants to say goodbye as well... Listen to her message.



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Below, you will find a picture: the 4th year group. All of us made an effort and chose English, rather than a siesta!

MAKING THE VOICE-OVER

Some students from the 4th year group created the voice-over of a TV commercial: they were supposed to be the narrators or characters in the advert. They did two versions: a positive and a negative one.
It took very little time and I think that everybody had fun when doing it... so here's the result.

See version one:



See version two:




In case you are curious and you want to know what the original advert was like, click below, where you'll find the commercial we worked with:

Theodora Foundation (Clown Doctors)

I am sure that everybody has sometimes heard of clown doctors, but actually... how many of you met one?
This year, there is a clown doctor with us (with the pre-intermediate group). Her name is Sabela Amado Rojo and we interviewed her so that we could learn a lot about her unusual job.
She's working for Theodora Foundation, a Swiss organisation that brings fun and laughter to children in hospital. If you want to learn more about Theodora (their objectives, history, hospitals, staff and clowns, etc.), click here.
If you want to listen to the interview, which was done at the school, click below or go to the school website here.



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HELP WITH GRAMMAR (REVISION - Pre-Intermediate)

Click here to revise the grammar section about enough / too much / too many.
Click here to revise comparative forms of adjectives and adverbs.
Click here and here to revise 'going to' and other future forms
Click here if you need to revise -ing or infinitive after some verbs.
Click here and here if you need to revise connectors
Click here to revise past simple pronunciation
Click here to revise past simple and present perfect
Click here to revise quantifiers / quantities. This exercise may be a little difficult, though.
Click here to revise still / yet / already
Click here to revise -ed / -ing adjectives
Click here to revise 'So do I', 'So have I', etc
Click here and here to revise word order

FLIRTING SUCCESS (UPPER-INTERMEDIATE)

What do you think of pick-up lines? Are chat up lines a good form of flattery? If someone approaches you, would you ever use any of the lines below? or... do you think a big smile is enough to show you are genuinely interested in someone?

- Do you believe in love at first sight? Or do I have to walk by again?
- Do you have a map? Because I keep getting lost in your eyes
- Was your father a thief? ‘cause someone stole the stars from the sky and put them in your eyes
- When they made the alphabet, they should have put U and I together
- Can I take your picture? - Why? - Because I want Santa to know exactly what I want for Xmas
- You must be Jamaican, because Jamaican me crazy
- Is your name Gilette? ‘cuz ur the best a man can get
- I must be lost. I thought paradise was further south
- Excuse me, but I think I dropped something! MY JAW!!!
- Did it hurt? - Did what hurt? - When you fell out of heaven…

Below, you can watch a video where you will be given some tips in order to be the best flirt in town. Predict what you will find.

After you watch it...: What are the best flirting tips for success? Is it necessary to be devastatingly attractive or rich? Honesty? Self-confidence? A good smile? Boost the other's ego? Do you agree with all these pieces of advice? Are they any good?

STUPID GIRLS (Advanced)

Have you ever heard 'Stupid Girls' by Pink? Pink is considered an anti-pop star and she is as outspoken as ever in this video clip, where she's setting her sights on the ridiculous antics of Hollywood females. Apparently, she's featuring other stars like Cher, Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson, Carmen Electra, Pamela Anderson or Lindsay Lohan.
Watch this video and try to form an opinion about it yourself. The questions you will find below may help you...




Questions:
What issues are being criticised in the video clip? Why do you think it's been so controversial?
What celebrities is she making fun of? Why? In what scenes?
After the release of the video, Pink got a thank you letter from the National Eating Disorders Association. Why do you think she received it?
What's the role of the girl at the beginning and end of the video clip?

Click here if you want to read the lirics in English and here if you want to see a translation of the lyrics into Spanish.