The journey to nowhere

Our younger generations are claimed to be the best educated and trained generations ever. They are supposed to be bilingual, and even plurilingual, with a high digital competence, with the best marks ever, with excellent social skills, with the highest expectations... and so on. And, all of a sudden, we discover that they tend to be a fake. I do hope that I'm wrong because the outcome can be fatal for our world, our planet.

Lately I have found out that my students don't read the compulsory readers that we have, that most comments are not genuine and that all the articles and videos I provide them with in this blog are not read or watched, among many other things.

Well, life is hard and has no mercy, and in a few weeks' time they will face the real world, that is to say, the Selectivity exam. And this is just the beginning of a long race full of hurdles and you have to be better educated and trained than ever before. This is no fake!! The requirements that are demanded are probably the highest ever and only those who have done things properly will succeed. I know the pandemics and the lockdown didn't help, but we should be more conscious of the real/analogical world and we should not be mislead by the metaverse or any other kind of virtual world they create. 

Therefore, my piece of advice is to take advantage of all that is offered to us, all that is available on the web... but always being sensible because the fact that we have all 24/7 does not mean that we do not make a proper use of it. So, for example, we mustn't watch TV 24 hours 7 days a week because they are broadcasting films, series, documentaries, sport... all that time. 

 

THIS WOULD BE THE JOURNEY TO NOWHERE!!!

 

 

 

Some activities for you to do: 

• The English We Speak: Bad hair day  (BBC Learning English)

• A listening exercise for you to do: Remembering Desmond Tutu    (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

• Detective work: Part 6: An interview with a celebrity chef  (BBC Learning English)

• News Review:  FRANCE: Macron wins second term  (BBC Learning English)

 

 

Learn with Lucy about -ing & -ed adjectives >>>

This was not the case of Shakleton. He knew where to go and the goals to achieve. Do you remember? We need Shackleton's Endurance to keep on fighting   Here's an interesting Lingohack episode for you to broaden your vocabulary about the issue.

LINGOHACK  >>>

Episode 220427 / 27 April 2022    >>>   Endurance: Shackleton's lost ship found in Antarctic   -    Language related to 'shipwrecks'.  

Need-to-know language: preserved, construction, pristine, portholes  & raised.

 

 

And remember the song we were listening to last week: "While you see a chance, TAKE IT!!"

 

Talking about chances, here's the latest about the possibility of going to Dublin next year, but first have a look at this document about our trip in 2016.

 

Dosier Vvee Dublin Mediterraneo 2016

 

And the proposal for next year...

Propuesta Ficha Dublin 2023 Mediterraneo

Publish at Calameo

Bearded men to work!!!

Amazing! Have a look at this

News Review:  Taliban: NO BEARD, NO JOB!  (BBC Learning English)

 

The Taliban has told men who work for the government that if they shave their beards and don't wear traditional local clothing - long loose top and trousers, and hat or turban - they will not be allowed in their workplace and might even be fired.

 

The group regained control of Afghanistan last August, 20 years after being ousted, as the remaining Western troops and diplomats left.

 

Do you think that this kind of requirements are necessary to be allowed to work? Is it the same in all jobs? For example, there are certain jobs tattoed people cannot apply for. Is it fair? 

Here are some articles for you to read related to the issue:

‘No entry will be available in office without beard and dress code’, orders of Taliban, said – may be leave from job (NewsNCR)

Afghanistan: Taliban ban Helmand barbers from trimming beards (BBC News) & podcast to listen to 

Some activities for you to do: 

• The English We Speak: Don't cry over spilt milk  (BBC Learning English)

• A listening exercise for you to do: Discoveries of the deep sea    (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

• Detective work: Part 4: Gathering evidence & Part 5: Ransomware (BBC Learning English)

• News Review:  UK city holds major driverless car trial  (BBC Learning English)

   

My musical hint for today also makes reference to the issue: While you see a chance by Steve Winwood. Yes, my dear students, while you see a chance, take it!!! Stay healthy!!

Here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along!!

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

Episode 220420 / 20 April 2022    >>>   How to make people like robots   -    Language related to 'behaviour'.  

Need-to-know language: playful, curious, sociable, interact  & accept.

 

 

Carlos Alcáraz again making history. This time in Barcelona!!!

Barcelona 2022 Semi-Final Highlights  

and the FINAL against Pablo Carreño!!!

 

 

 

Project on England  by Alejandro Venegas (3º ESO A)

 

Sportmanship

Not long ago in the 1000 Master Miami tennis tournament we saw how the Norwegian tennis player Caasper Ruud conceded a first serve to Carlos Alcaraz, despite the chair umpire's opinion, after a wrong decision he had taken. That is what we call 'great sportmanship', that is to say:

fair and generous behaviour or treatment of others, especially in a sporting contest. Example:"he displayed great sportsmanship in defeat"

 

A synonym would be 'fair play' and there are sports where this attitude is usually present and applauded by the public.

 

Here are some other examples of sportmanship or fair play: When Sportsmanship Is At Its Best!

 

   

My musical hint for today also makes reference to the issue: Black Petty by Ram Jam (originally sung by Leadbelly). Here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along!!

 

Some activities for you to do: 

• Learn English through story: The Sign of Four   with subtitles (Sherlock Holmes)

• A listening exercise for you to do: Are you a glass-half-full person?    (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

• Detective work: Part 2 & Part 3 (BBC Learning English)

• News Review:  Ed Sheeran wins Shape of You copyright case  (BBC Learning English)

 

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

Episode 220323 / 23 March 2022    >>>   Restoring Scotland's salt marsh   -    Language related to 'change'.  

Need-to-know language: transformation, re-engineered, bring (something) back  & reappear.

 

Unlike all these examples of fair play and good behaviour, here are some insults to be learned in English: Learn English with Will Smith  

 

Our students at work again...

 

Project about A Foreigner in Britain  by Lara Quesada (1º Bach A)

 

 

Project about The Adventures of Tom Sawyer  by María González (2º Bach A)

 

 

 

Projects about A Foreigner in New York, Jane Eyre and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer  by Lucía García (2º Bach A)

 

 

That'll be the Day when...

As the song says, "that'll be the day when you say goodbye, that'll be the day when you make me cry..." Yes, time flies and this school year is coming to an end, a group of students that began their secondary studies are about to finish and ten years ago....

But let's start first analysing the expression: "That'll be the day"    

The English We Speak:  That'll be the day  (BBC Learning English)

 

   

My musical hint for today also makes reference to the issue: That'll be the Day by Buddy Holly. Here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along!!

 

 

Yes, ten years ago we began our experiences with the study trips going to Edinburgh. Do you remember?

 

 

Some activities for you to do: 

• Leadership: Bow to your robot leader  by Linda Te Aho (BBC Learning English)

• A listening exercise for you to do: Is there life on Mars?   - Why is laughter the best medicine? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

• Detective work: Part 1  (BBC Learning English)

• News Review:  Will Smith hits Chris Rock  (BBC Learning English)

 

 

 

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

Episode 220316 / 16 March 2022    >>>   A family's hope of ending discrimination   -    Language related to 'discrimination'.  

Need-to-know language: to face, bullying, uniqueness, educate  & stigma.

 

 

Carlos Alcáraz making history in Miami 2022 against Cilic, Tsitsipas, Kecmanovic, Hurkackz and perhaps Ruud?? with a great moment of sportmanship by the Norwegian tennis player.