Foolish challenges

We live in a crazy, or I'd rather say 'foolish', society where the accomplishment of foolish and very risky challenges are set for us by platforms such as TikTok. The consequences can be fatal like in the case of the British child Archie Battersbee. 

Unlike the real challenges in life such as doing well at school or reaching the summit of the mountains, we try to accomplish challenges such as taking a selfie of us in a very dangerous spot so that everybody can congratulate you for such an achievement. How foolish!

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

• Archie Battersbee: The sickening TikTok challenge that left 12-year-old in coma (Daily Star)

• The dangerous TikTok dares putting young lives at risk (Daily Mail)

• Archie Battersbee treatment should stop, judge rules (BBC News)

• Archie Battersbee: mother says she has done all she can after family told life support to end (The Guardian)

• Archie Battersbee’s life support to be withdrawn on Saturday morning (The Guardian)

Some activities for you to do: 

• 

  News Review: Trump home 'raided'  (BBC Learning English)
  

• Listening exercise for you to do about 'spreading the internet':  Connecting remote communities  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)    

• Quizz on: Uncountable nouns   (BBC Learning English)

• Frankenstein (Drama story) Episode 6:  Death comes to you  (BBC Learning English)

• Friday Phrase, an optimistic expression:  Things are looking up     (BBC Learning English)

 

   

Here's my musical hint for today: Physical by Olivia Newton-John. Here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing and dance along!!

 

Olivia Newton-John, Australian singer and actress, 

Olivia Newton-John, singer and actress, dead at 73 (CNN)

has died this week after fighting against cancer for many years. That was a real challenge for someone who was once everybody's girlfriend, especially after watching the film Grease.

"All work and no play makes Jack/Jill a dull boy/girl"

Mind Your Language - Fawlty Towers (the builders) 

 

 

 

Football:  Football’s Greatest - Franz Beckenbauer   (with 75 in German)

   

Year of challenges

 Any New Year is full of challenges, but probably this one is even more (included the recovery from this amazing snowstorm all over Spain), especially for those students of mine in the level of Bachillerato.

 

What are your challenges for this year? Getting the highest marks, passing your B2, doing the university degree in the university you wish, getting over the pandemic....???? 

Or just eating healthier. Here's a listening exercise for you to do: Why can't we resist comfort food? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

 

My personal challenges are, among others, making my students' academic challenges become a reality and going back to our old days' normality!!!!

English in a Minute:   4 uses of 'AS'   (BBC Learning English)

 

And here's another challenge for our country:

• Spain paralyzed by snowstorm, sends out vaccine, food convoys (CNN)
  

• At least three people die in Spain's worst snowstorm in 50 years  (The Guardian)
  

• Historic snowfall buries Madrid as storm slams Spain (The Washington Post)

 

Weather Events 2021 - Snowstorm - heavy snow & risk of flooding (Spain) - BBC News- 10th January 2021

 

Storm Filomena: Spain sees 'exceptional' snowfall (BBC News)

News Review: Record-breaking snow storm hits Spain  (BBC Learning English)

Talking about THE ENVIRONMENT  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

 

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 210106 / 06 January 2021    >>>  Fruit fashion -    Language related to 'design'.  Need-to-know language: standards, sewed, vision & ran with it.