Round 1 almost over!!

Our first term is coming to an end. Fortunately we have had all our classes face to face (in-person clases), at least those groups I teach. Despite all these tough times with the pandemic, we are all making a tremendous effort complying with all the security mesures at school and so far no cases have been reported to have anything to do with what happens inside our school premises.

However, we cannot be happy at all as we live locked down most of the time. At the moment we have to stay in our own local town and we are not allowed to meet any relatives or friends living outside our hometown. Times of solitude, loneliness. But, as the song below says "let's be lonely together!"

 

Here's a listening exercise for you to do about this issue:

6 Minute English:  Loneliness (BBC Learning English)

How many words do you know related to 'loneliness'?

Avicii - Lonely Together ft. Rita Ora (official video)

 

Some other activities for you to do: 

• 6 Minute Grammar:  Verb patters: LIKE, LOVE, PREFER or HATE   (BBC Learning English)

• Upgrade your vocabulary:  Stop saying VERY   (mmmEnglish)  >>  EXTREME ADJECTIVES
  

• English in a Minute:  4 English word pairs   (BBC Learning English)
  

LINGOHACK  >>>

• 
  Episode 201125 / 25 November 2020    >>>  Ban on new petrol and diesel cars in UK from 20230 -    Language related to 'cars'.  Need-to-know language: performance, top end, range, charge points & museum pieces.

 

 

What really matters in life

In the previous post we talked about the expression 'it doesn't matter'. Now it is time to talk about what really matters in life. We are not plants, so we always try to find a goal in life to achieve and even sometimes if you can't find it, you may break down and have problems to keep on living. That would be the case of lonely elderly people.

Selectivity exam to do: Our love for pets 

 

Some articles to read about the issue:

• Loneliness in older people (NHS)

• Loneliness is not just for older people. I’ve found it crushing in my 20s (The Guardian)

• This 32-year-old is on a mission to end loneliness (BBC)

• Food, clothes, a mattress and three funerals. What teachers buy for children (The Guardian)

 

A grandchild, a pet, a search for new experiences... may be the key! Do you remember this post: Bucket lists and time capsules ? So try to make a bucket list yourself!

In my bucket list the success of my students is of paramount importance, for example.

What matters most to people around the world? (The Guardian)

Finding Purpose for a Good Life. But Also a Healthy One. (The New York Times)

 

TED talk - What really matters at the end of life by BJ Miller  >>>>

 

News Review: Small South African beachside restaurant wins World Restaurant Awards (BBC Learning English)

 

How to Use WITH & BY ⚡️English Prepositions | Common Grammar Mistakes by mmmEnglish

Do you remember this previous post: Cleaning up space junk ? Well, we are still concerned with space junk >>>

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 190220 / 20 February 2019    >>>  The harpoon that clears space junk -  Language related to 'space'.  Need-to-know language: mission, space station, satellite, orbit & celestial.

And still talking about what really matters, we have to give our congratulations to our Arts teacher Elisa and his students for their wonderful results in the International Women's Day poster contest. We have won the first and third prizes!!!! Check it here >>>>

Premios Cartel 8 de Marzo

Loneliness, isolation, teenagers, sex!!!

Surprisingly, loneliness and isolation are very common feelings among our teenagers despite the fact that we live in overcrowded cities. Social media, video games, dangers in the streets... make our teenagers spend hours and hours alone in their bedrooms with their computers. Is this really good for their mental health? 

 

In the old days children used to play in the streets altogether, they would interact with other teenagers and they would learn about life through interaction.

 

Interesting articles to read about the issue:

• Teenagers on loneliness: ‘We want to talk to our parents. We need their guidance’ (The Guardian)

• Loneliness more likely to affect young people (BBC News, Education)

• Alone in the Crowd: Dealing With Loneliness In Teens (Your Teen magazine)

• Consequences of social isolation for children and adolescents (No Isolation)

• Why teenagers feel MORE lonely than the older generation (Daily Mail)

And this can even affect their sexual habits:

• We have abandoned our children to the internet (The Guardian)

• Help! My teen's watching online porn (CNN)

• Pornography 'desensitising young people' (BBC News, Education & family)

 

Here's a listening exercise to do: Loneliness (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

 

REVISION EXERCISE for 4º ESO

Complete the sentences using the correct FUTURE TENSE form.

1. I booked our summer holiday last week. We (go) _______________________ to France in July.

2. I think our team (win) ______________________ tonight. I’m feeling lucky.

3. I (have) _____________________ an orange juice, please.

4. I’ve just started a new diet. I (not eat) ______________________ any more chocolate.

5. It’s 8.30, you (be) __________________ late for school.

6. I (be) ____________________ 17 on my next birthday!     

7. We (play) ____________________ tennis tomorrow if it doesn't rain.

8. In our trip around Scandinavia we (visit) __________________ Copenhagen first, then Stockholm, Helsinki and finally Oslo, where we (have) _________________ on a cruise ship along the Bergen fjord.

And here's a video about the Bergen fjord:

and another video about the train that goes from Oslo to Bergen: (What does 'Norway in a nutshell' mean?)

Alone or with company???

There are certain moments in life when one really enjoys solitude (especially, teachers, who are always in crowded and noisy places), but there are also great moments we love sharing with people (like our study trips to the British-Irish Isles).

Here's an incredible video about the Scottish mountain-biker Danny Macaskill in the Isle of Skye. Enjoy the gorgeous Scottish landscapes that this year I would like to share with my students:

And here's another one: Danny MacAskill’s Wee Day Out  (Enjoy Scottish landscape!!)

Two listening exercises to do: "Is loneliness in our genes?" (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English). However, to begin with, you have to know yourself: "Who do you think you are?" (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

Article to read:

All by myself: is loneliness bad for you? (The Guardian)

And here's another one:

What's the difference between being lonely and a loner? (BBC News)

LINGOHACK  >>>

Episode 161012 / 12 October 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: destabalise, appetite, limiting the damage & nudge.

English with Lucy >>>>

New Series >>>> English at university: Just landed (episode 2)

A final question before ending: How do you know you're real? Interesting video about it to think about it: