Too many and too individualistic!!

 On the one hand, we are probably too many for this planet and this can also affect climate change.

A listening exercise for you to do:  Climate change: Are there too many people? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

 

In spite of wars, pandemics and so on, Planet Earth is becoming too small for all of us. On top of that, we increasingly demand more space for ourselves: we want bigger houses, our rooms have to be large enough (but just for one single person), every member of the family needs an individual means of transport....

 

On the other hand, we are more individualistic. Working for others is a foolish thing to do and everybody thinks nobody in their right mind can do such things. That's what a good teacher should always do.

 

In the old days, siblings used to share bedrooms. There would be one single TV set in the house, we would have a single landline phone and one single computer for the whole family. The family used to have their meals at the same time all together. This is not possible any more.

 

Some activities for you to do: 

• News Review:   Prince Harry's Book  (BBC Learning English)
  

• 

  A listening exercise for you to do:  The hidden life of buffets (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)   

• English in a Minute: Common uses of PERIOD  (BBC Learning English)

• Learn to speak English naturally:  How to make a point  (BBC Learning English)

 

 

Are there too many people? All bets are off (The Guardian)

How many people can Earth handle? (BBC News)

 

 

 

Is modern life making us lonely? (BBC News)

 

Our selfish society: all for one and one for all is so old-fashioned now (The Guardian)

 

 

Talking about sport (tennis & football): McEnroe talking about Nadal, Nadal's resurrection, Iribar in the match of the century, 10 legendary goals by Pelé and the recently passed away Italian football player Gianluca Vialli.

 

Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut .. Full Match Highlights .. R3 .. AO 2023

 

 

And our students at school at work... 

Project on A Christmas Carol by Carlos Fernández (4º ESO A)

 

 

Our great master

Dr. James Neil Douglas McLaren has passed away today. My master and the master of so many!

 

I have just learned this piece of news that yesterday, Tuesday,17^th January, he is no longer among us and I must admit it has been one of the saddest moments of my life. It is not easy to meet someone who is so unanimously admired as our great professor. Teacher of teachers (he stopped teaching and retired in 2009), of generations of teachers (the 'maclarenian' movement, in Spanish it would be something like 'movimiento maclariano'). Teacher who taught us how to teach setting his own classes as an example to follow. I have never known the case of any other teacher everyone agreed most in recognising how good he was in his job. I have never met a person who said a single bad word about him or the way he taught.

He was the director of both my minor thesis ("tesina") and my PhD, and it was such an honor to be working along with him all these years. For my teaching career he has always been the light in this world (heart) of darkness. 

For several days, and even weeks, I have tried, in my humble way, to pay tribute to our master, who may not be so well-known to the world, but who was the light and reference to so many generations of teachers. I will always leave this post open to revisions and contributions from others.

Here are some articles for you to read about him and even the tweet by the University of Granada (UGR):

La Universidad de Granada despide al profesor Neil McLaren (Granada Hoy)

La Universidad de Granada despide al profesor Neil McLaren (WebGranada.com)

Post on Twitter  

 

 Long live his idea of teaching and working!      

 

 TO BE CONTINUED....

Activities for my students:

• 1º ESO - Talking about routines. What do you think your English teacher does everyday? And what about you?

Example: My English teacher wakes up at a quarter to six and he gets up. I don't get up so early. I wake up at 7 o'clock and I get up at a quarter past seven.

• 4º ESO - What do you think a teacher should be like? And what about a teacher of English?

Example: I think teachers should work as much as they ask us to work. A teacher of English should prepare us to learn English to pass the school exams and any other exams, like the B1 or B2.

 

Where have all our old students gone?

 

Where have they all gone? Some may be still studying, others may be still looking for a job, others may have already found it.... Actually, there are already many with well-established families and careers who even send their children to our school!!  The Circle of Life.

When will our current students ever learn that life passes by so quickly and that we must make the best of every single moment and experience? When will our society ever learn that education is crucial in that vital process? When will our politicians stop messing around with foolish educational policies?

Sometimes it is too late to change things, like in wars, when the damage is already done, but at least I try to make you aware of all that is going to come into your future lives, from my humble point of view.

And here's the first step to make...  GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER to prepare for the B2 exams at the Official Language School in Motril.

 

 

   

This is the song that reminded me of all the old students I've had along my teaching career: Where have all the flowers gone? sung by Joan Baez. Here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along!!

 

 

 

Some activities for you to do: 

• The English We Speak, here are two phrases to learn: Call it a day  &  Off the top of my head (BBC Learning English)
  

• A listening exercise for you to do:  Man vs Beast: Who's more efficient? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)   

• 

  English in a Minute: Common uses of FALL  (BBC Learning English)

• Learn to speak English naturally:  How to make suggestions  (BBC Learning English)

 

 

 

One More Orbit - Trailer (Full documentary: Flying Over The North & South Poles | One More Orbit | The Earth Is Round!)

 

 

 

 

Globetrotters are in fashion...again!

 

 

And our current students in Italy with their Erasmus+ experience...

 

 

 

 

And on Monday...

 

 

 

 

 And our students at school at work... 

Project on A Christmas Carol by Francisco Toledo (4º ESO A)

 

 

Quiet quitting for our English teacher??

 Some months ago I took a decision: I needed a 'quiet quitting' (The English We Speak, BBC Learning English) as I was beginning to feel burn out because I was overdoing it at work with little success and, above all, with little support from the educational community. 

 

 

And so I wrote the post:

Valhalla awaits Rachnar!!

 

That doesn't mean I am not trying my best this school year. On the contrary, I keep pushing to achieve the highest goals possible, even if I know I am not teaching any further than the level of 4º ESO.

 

How 'Quiet Quitting' Became The Next Phase Of The Great Resignation (CNBC)

 

Difference between Quit, Quite, Quiet | Usage with examples| Confusing Words| English Grammar lesson

 

 

Some activities for you to do: 

• Learn how to speak English naturally: How to describe a process  (BBC Learning English)
  

• A listening exercise for you to do:  United against food waste (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)   

• 

  English in a Minute: 4 ways to use CONTACT  (BBC Learning English)

• News Review about January heatwave:  Warmest January day ever  (BBC Learning English)

EU wastes 153m tonnes of food a year – much more than it imports, says report (The Guardian)

How to reduce food waste at home: separate your apples and repurpose your leftovers (The Guardian)

Our students changing for the better...

Story about Sinbad by Amin Briouel (1º ESO B)

 

Story about Sinbad by José Salvador Puentedura (1º ESO B) 

 

 

 

 

A Christmas Carol (Drama story) Part 3:  The third of three spirits    (BBC Learning English)