Le Tour de France est fini...mais Paris est toujours là!!!

 

Even if the Tour de France is finished, we still have the city of Paris to visit. Why??? To begin with, at this time of the year (end of July and August) the weather is most suitable to go sightseeing (cool temperatures), fewer people and loads of things to do and monuments and museums to visit.

However, remember that Chris Froome has just won his second Tour de France!!!!

Chris Froome joins legends of Tour de France with second win  (The Guardian)

Listen and watch to this delightful video provided by our Philosophy teacher:  'Paris sera toujours Paris' by ZAZ  (original version by Maurice Chevalier)

Another article to read.

Have you ever visited this wonderful city? Tell me about any other good places to visit during your summer holidays and that you've been to.

A bloody matter

To begin with, what does 'bloody' mean? Can you tell me its different meanings?

Listening exercise to do: The wonder of blood (6 minute English)

Articles to read: The importance of blood in human health  

Top 10 tips for a healthy heart (The Guardian)

Too skinny for the catwalk!!!!

During the summer time we tend to worry a bit too much about our happy bellies, especially men. Here are some articles about eating healthily, or just eating:
- Politicians eating 
- BBC:

Body image: Men 'most unhappy about beer bellies'

Article from the BBC to read:

French MPs back ban on skinny catwalk models

Another article from the Daily Mail: Are size zero models too thin for the catwalk? 

Listening exercise to do: Are models too skinny? (Can you find and give me synonyms for the word 'skinny'? , would you say this to your girlfriend/boyfriend? Is it a compliment or rather an insult?)

An expression to learn: The penny dropped

And finally a drama to read: The importance of being Earnest or Ernest?   (Who wrote this play? Where was he from? Where are we going this year for our study trip?)

Solar-powered planes and the music war

Some articles to read about these two issues:

• Solar-powered plane lands in New York to complete cross-country trip 

• Swiss pilots attempt first around-the-world solar flight

• Apple U-turns after Taylor Swift slams music policy (What does a 'U-turn' mean?)

Listening exercises to do: 

• Solar-powered plane takes off again  

• Taylor Swift forces Apple music change   

Greece, Europe and the future

Articles to read:

- The Guardian: Ten things people in Greece can't do...  

- The Guardian: Eurozone must not allow Greece....   

- Greece debt crisis   (BBC)    

- CNN: No! Greek vote shocks Europe  

Listening exercises:

• Third Greek bailout  

• Greek finance minister resigns after 'no' vote   

Linkers expressing cause and effect. (Interesting notes and activities to do)

Food banks and chewing gum ban

Here are two listening exercises to do (6 minute English):

• Why did Singapore ban gum?

• Food banks

And some articles to read about the issues:
- Chewing gum ban   1   2   3
- Food banks   1   2   3