Shame for our civilised world: Europe's migrant crisis

Some articles related with the issue

• Migrant crisis: Grim find of bodies in Austria lorry (BBC)

• Suspected illegal immigrants arrested after being found inside lorry on M25 (The Guardian)

• Europe migrant crisis: Macedonia allows all 1,500 refugees at border to enter from Greece; 2,200 rescued off Italy (ABC)

• Migrant crisis: Greece struggles to handle influx in Kos (CNN)

• Donald Trump’s American Idiocy (New York Times) 

and the latest:

• Photo of dead child's body renews call for action on migrant crisis (USA Today)

Circular economy, the future.

Moving towards a circular eonomy (European Union)

The principles

The Guardian: The circular economy 

Other interesting issues: Oxfam, second-hand clothing shops, vintage clothes... What is the 'ecological footprint'?

How big is your environmental footprint? CALCULATE IT HERE!!!  

Watch these two NEW THAT'S ENGLISH VIDEOS connected with the issue:

SEPTEMBER is here!!!

 

Here comes September, a month where we probably have the best days of the summer, but also the month when we say goodbye to friends we have made during the summer time. Happy times, sad times. 

Holidays don't mean anything if we don't have routines. In July, holidays represented a break in our routines, but now also back to routines is also a break in our  holidays. However, before going on let's listen to this song ("SEPTEMBER") by Earth, Wind & Fire:

So what memories of this summer come to your mind? A summer love, an unforgettable barbecue at the beach, dancing in a disco, a party...?

And what are your expectations for the school year which is about to start? Tell me any changes that happen during this month. In a few days' time you'll be meeting your schoolfriends!!!

Are summer holidays too long? ARTICLE TO READ: Schools to end long summer holiday  

 

DENALI, 'the Great One', comes back!!!

Articles to read and some interesting videos to watch, where the issue of the climate change is also dealt:

• Obama administration renames Mount McKinley to Denali (US Today)

• Obama says he's renaming Mount McKinley (CBS)

A flightseeing tour of Mount McKinley in Denali National Park, Alaska

PROBLEMS AHEAD:

• Shell to resume Arctic drilling off Alaska as green groups warn of disaster (The Guardian)

• Drilling in the Arctic - what is the environmental impact? (The Guardian)

What do the words 'resume' & 'drilling' mean? What kind of exercise is it when we call it a 'drill'? What kind of a tool is it?

Listening exercise: Big hills, small mountains (6 minute English)

Related articles:

• Survey turns hill into a mountain (BBC)

• The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain* (BBC) Do you remember this film?
  

La Vuelta '15 in the Alpujarras (stage 7)

Have you watched stage 7 of the cycling tour of Spain (La Vuelta)? Incredible images, gorgeous landscape!!!!

By the way, do you know the difference among all these words connected with travelling: TRAVEL, TOUR, TRIP, JOURNEY, VOYAGE, EXCURSION? Can you tell me any other words connected with travelling? Click on this link to my site (VOCABULARY), section dedicated to the preparation for the B2, and have a ook at item 16 where some of these differences are analysed.

Pericopuerto: ALTO DE CAPILEIRA

Lindeman's boldness rewarded as Froome falters

Chris Froome loses ground on seventh stage of Vuelta a España  (The Guardian) 

Video to watch: Summary of stage 7 Jódar > Las Alpujarras  

Even if they said the stage finished in Altos de Capileira, the finish line was actually in the municipality of Bubión.

VISIT LAS ALPUJARRAS IN GRANADA

Another video to watch

Also wonderful area for trekking (as you can see in this blog in the section: TREKKING IN LAS ALPUJARRAS - SIERRA NEVADA) 

MOST INTERESTING: Some of our readers are on YOUTUBE

Some of the compulsory readers we have are on YOUTUBE, for example:  WHITE FANG

 

and there are many more on my site, here's the link to the page:

TV ENGLISH COURSES - albertomeditutor

He was... born to run!!!

A long time ago Bruce Springsteen began his successful career with the album 'Born to Run' and since then he hasn't stopped singing and is still pleasing us with great hits.

What is your favourite song by the Boss?

Neither trekking nor just climbing... it is actually running in the Alps!!!!

Read and watch how a Swiss runner has established this incredible record:

New Alps Mountain Running Record

Swiss mountain-runner Andreas Steindl breaks his own record  (The Guardian)

It is time to revise the EXCLAMATORY SENTENCES: LINK 

Palmyra: Historic temple destroyed, archaeologist murdered and AMERICAN HEROES IN FRANCE!!!

Articles to read and news to watch:

• ISIS reported to have blown up ancient temple in Palmyra (CNN) 

• Daily Mail: ISIS blow up pagan temple in Palmyra that has stood for 2,000 years as jihadi group continues its destruction of Syria's heritage   

• The New York Times: ISIS Blows Up Ancient Temple at Syria’s Palmyra Ruins  

• BBC news: Syrian archaeologist 'killed in Palmyra' by IS militants 

• CNN: Train shooting heroes: The men who helped avert a massacre in Europe 

• Heroes on a train to Paris: A Shot, a Glimpse of an AK-47, and U.S. Servicemen Pounced on Gunman on Train to France   

BBC Learning English: Historic temple destroyed (Listening exercise)

Another listening exercise:

Turkish PM: No plans to send troops to Syria 

Happy birthday, Magic Johnson!!!!

The Legend is back!!!!

Happy Birthday, Magic Johnson (The Post Game)

Happy 60th Birthday, Magic! | Lakers  (Los Angeles Lakers)

 

Pharrell Williams Happy 5AM Magic Johnson

Historical moment: the American flag back in Cuba!!

After so many years, the American flag is back in Cuba.

Here are some articles to read:

• Marines who removed flag at U.S. Embassy in Havana see it raised again (CNN) video to watch 

• The Guardian: American flag raised as US embassy reopens in Cuba  

• ABC News: Why these Cubans are rocking the American flag  

• The Washington Post: Kerry calls for democracy as US flag rises in Cuba

And now what is the difference between the verbs 'raise' and 'rise'? What are the opposites?

Beware of global warming!!! It can cause tsunamis

Global warming is essential issue these days. Among other things, watch these two videos and see some of its consequences (it is not science fiction or part of a film, it's real!!!!):

• Global warming effects (National Geographic): Article to read

• Bella Bathurset (The Guardian): Global warming  

• Implications of global warming (BBC)   

Vocabulary learned: global warming, greenhouse effect....  Any other???

A dream come true!!!!

Incredible!!! A dream come true (how would you translate this?)

Read about another dream come true  >>  Felix Baumgartner's dream  

What are your dreams???

Some articles to read about the issue:

• The Guardian:  ‘Pipe Dream’ motorbike rider surfing giant wave ‘thought he was a goner’ , Robbie Maddison cheats death 

• Top Gear: Watch: Robbie Maddison rides a dirtbike across water  

• Robbie Maddison Just Rode a Wave in Tahiti… on a Motorcycle 

 

Ned Flanders in Chester!!!

Here's a link to the entry our Philosophy teacher has posted in his blog (it includes a wonderful video of the places visited):

CHESTER 2015

Solos or duets?

Which one do you prefer - solos or duets? Obviously, I like both, but here's one of my favourite duets:

Let's make a hit parade of your favourite duets, so send them to me.

By the way, do you know why gibbons sing duets? (Listening exercise from the BBC Learning English) + Articles to read about the issue:  1   2

Our hit parade  >>>>

• Alex  suggested: Albano and Romina's Felicita , Aretha Franklin and Michael McDonald's Ever Changing Times , Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson's State of Shock    
• Ariadna suggested: John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John's Summer Nights, Eminem & Rihanna's Love the way you lie, Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson's Say Say Say, David Bowie & Freddie Mercury's Under Pressure, Frank & Nancy's Sinatra's Something Stupid.  

Another listening exercise: Secrets of the rainforest