American Schools: Our role model, really?

Here follows an article published in Time Magazine back in September 2011. Your task is to complete the gaps in the text, and not to look at the key until the very end! You're also very welcome to think about the similarities between what was happening in the US two years ago, and what is happening right now -right this very week in fact-, in our country.

We're living sad times concerning our education system: Yesterday the most infamous law of education  in the history of this country was passed in Congress... Nevertheless, today I would like to thank all of you who are opposing this terrible reality one way or another, and encourage you all to continue expressing yourselves, and defending your freedom of speech, and of thought.

Onward and upward!

Cloze: American Schools

So what are we really like then?

Now that we all know the difference between how we see ourselves and what we are really like, I'd like to share with you some more adjectives which may help you pin down your character traits more precisely... One of your fellow students sent me this nice home-made list of adjectives over the email, just click on  this link below to look for your exact definition in English!

Carmen's Vocabulary List

In case your personality is a bit too complex and you need more words to define yourself, go for the big catalogue below!

Full List of Character Traits

Thanks a lot Carmen! and you guys enjoy your weekend!

Grammar for a Rainy Day

As I promised, here you have the answer key to the Entry Checker leaflet. I suggested in class that you should really try to make the effort and complete it, because it's great review of basic grammar contents that should be mastered by now, and the beginning of the year is definitely the best time to tackle this.

Entry Checker Intermediate Answer Key

Remember: if you come across major doubts or problems, you're more than welcome to bring them up in class. And, hey, the weather forecast says RAIN all over this weekend, so some catching up with the grammar of English doesn't sound like such a terrible plan, does it? Have a nice and cozy weekend anyway!

What's going on with our education system today?

Dear all,
As part of your listening practice, I´d like you to hear a brief news story about the students' and teachers' strike today in Spain, broadcasted by euronews channel. Here follows the video, and  you may read the story below. I'll be happy to hold a brief discussion on these matters next day in class; I'll leave this initiative to you, guys.

Click on this link to read the audiotranscript of the news

Dedicated to all the musicians in the world...

                        ...who make our lives better... and theirs too!!

Remember the mood-food debate in class last week? We all had the chance to reflect on how food actually affects our mood, right? Now I would like to show you a piece of research which deals with another very important nutrient for our brains: Music. You're going to listen to a news story about the relationship between music and the human brain. Click on the link below to hear and read all about it.  And thanks, musicians, for being around!!
NOTE: To listen to the news, click on the slower listening speed.

Music and the Human Brain: Read and Listen

Turning problems into solutions... That simple?

Here follows a short video where they give us some tips about how to approach our problems, focusing mainly on their solutions (future), and leaving behind their causes (past). I'd like you to watch it, and make sure you understand all the new expressions and vocabulary with the help of the vocabulary sheet that you find below. After you have watched it at least a couple of times, please write up a brief review by answering the discussion questions posted at the end of this post. We will read your writings in class next week.

Vocabulary Sheet: Turning Problems into Solutions

Discussion questions:

1.- Could you explain with your own words the solutions focus?
2.- Can you think of one person in your environment who follows this approach to solve his/her problems?
3.- Do you believe that the solution to our problems mainly depends on how we look at them? Why? Why not?

Which do you think is the hardest language in the world?

What follows is a cloze that you guys should work on as part of your home assignment this week.
Here is what you have to do: the first link below (step one) opens up the cloze text, once you're really done trying to get all the right answers you can open the second link (step two) where you will find the key to the exercise. Please, try to concentrate on getting the right answers by yourself before opening the key! :)

Step one: The Hardest Language Cloze

Step two: The Hardest Language Key

So, which do you think is the hardest language to learn? Well, I guess it depends on your  mother tongue too, don't you think? Maybe we can share our opinions in class next time. I believe we have Italian, Arabic, and Polish speakers in our groups who might have a take on this issue which may differ from Spanish speakers.