STOP RURAL DEPOPULATION!!!

We have to prevent rural depopulation. We have often heard about the emptied Spain, that is to say, the part of Spain which is being abandoned. Meanwhile, our cities are becoming more and more crowded (overcrowded cities).

 

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

• The 'Revolt of Empty Spain': Why is Spain's rural world protesting? (Euronews) 

• Emptied Spain: nobody's land, everybody's land  (Agencia EFE)
  

• 'Empty Spain’: country grapples with towns fading from the map (The Guardian)

• Urban overcrowding and rural depopulation: Are there any solutions to these problems? (Tomorrow.City)

 

 

Selectivity exam  2020 connected with issue of 'rural depopulation'  >>     OPTION A: A cheese that tastes of future & OPTION B: (K)orean-pop   (interesting posts to have a look before doing them:      label    &   posts:    Crowdfunding , Objectification, a top issue )

 

 

 

Here's my musical hint in the case things get tough: Billy Ocean - "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going"   and here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing and dance along:

 

Actually, this was part of the soundtrack of the film: Romancing the Stone starred by Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. Here's the trailer >>>

 

 

Some activities for you to do:  

 

• And, please, do not procrastinate  >>>  The English We Speak:  PUSH BACK  (BBC Learning English) 

• English in a Minute:    4 verbs for COOKING (BBC Learning English)

• A listening exercise for you to do: When males are not needed   (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English) 

• English in the News: Deaths mount as Israel-Gaza violence worsens   (BBC Learning English)

 

 

 

 

And when the things get tough on clay in tennis, here's always Il imperatore Nadal (  L'imperatore di Roma & NADAL: l'imperatore è tornato a Roma!!!  ) winning his 10th title in Rome and 36th Master 1000 title!!!! Rome 2021 Final Highlights  & Talking about the Next Gen 

 

 

 

Rafa Nadal Championship Point, Interview & Trophy Lift | Rome 2021

 

And the Next Gen is not only tennis, but also in BASKETBALL  >>>  Vintage NBA

Spud Webb Proves He Can Still Dunk At Age 47!

 

[Spud Webb] The Shortest Player In the NBA that Broke the Prejudice of People All Over the World

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 210505 / 05 May 2021    >>>  The whitest white paint -    Language related to 'discoveries'.  Need-to-know language: embraced, estimate, formulation, relatively & breakthroughs.

Let's get it on!!

 

Let's get it on! We can do it, but we've got to be resilient and be strong enough to do our best.

My musical hint for these final school days: Marvin Gaye - "Let's Get It On"  and here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along:

 

In the level of 4º ESO we came across The Giant's Causeway and its legend. Here's a video to learn about it:

The Giant's Causeway and its Legend for Kids: Famous Landmarks for Children - FreeSchool. Some other videos about the issue: 1 & 2  

Here you can read about The Giant's Causeway Legend: Myth & Scientific explanation 

 

Some activities for you to do:  

 

• English in the News:  Malian woman gives birth to nine children  (BBC Learning English) 

  

• English in a Minute:    How to complain politely (BBC Learning English)
  

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

• News Review: India's Covid nightmare   (BBC Learning English)

Solution for climate change we already knew: Paint it white (The Guardian)

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 210505 / 05 May 2021    >>>  The whitest white paint -    Language related to 'discoveries'.  Need-to-know language: embraced, estimate, formulation, relatively & breakthroughs.

Better late than never

It seems that some of our students have been working hard lately. Better late than never!!!

 

A brand new TV channel has come to our screens!!!! No more trash TV!!! It is your chance to learn about the world, your town, village... and to meet the new couple at school!!!

 

Mediterranean News!!!!! What an incredible programme our students have done!!!!

And here are some of the digital projects done by our students about the readers  >>>>

 

Project about Jane Eyre by David Escribano (2º Bach A)

 

 

Project about Jane Eyre by Rocío González (2º Bach A)

 

 

Project about A Foreigner in New York by Rocío González (2º Bach A)

 

Project about A Foreigner in New York by Andrés Vidoy (2º Bach A)

 

 

Project about The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Andrés Vidoy (2º Bach A)

 

 

Project about Jane Eyre by Andrés Vidoy (2º Bach A)

 

 

Project about A Foreigner in New York by Raquel Boo Arellano (2º Bach A)

 

 

Project about The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Raquel Boo Arellano (2º Bach A)

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THEM!!!

 

 

We're all a family at IES Mediterráneo!!!

Tough moments for everybody at school, both students and teachers!!! But remember we're all a family at IES Mediterraneo with the same goal: DO OUR BEST!!! 

 

Having this goal in mind and due the COVID protocol, we are all in the need of a quieter world, as you will see below. Remember what happened to nature when our cities went silent during the lockdown.

 

 

My musical hint for this long weekend: Sister Sledge - "We Are Family"  (1979)  and here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along:

 

 

Some activities for you to do:  

 

• English in the News:  INDIA COVID: Hospitals overwhelmed  (BBC Learning English) 

• English in a Minute:    How be polite in English GIVING OPINIONS AND TALKING ABOUT MISTAKES (BBC Learning English)
  

• A listening exercise for you to do: A quieter world   (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English) 

• News Review: Nomadland wins at the Oscars   (BBC Learning English)

 

Some articles for you to read about the issue:

 

• India Covid: Hospitals overwhelmed as deaths pass 200,000 (BBC News)
  

• As COVID-19 floods India’s hospitals, the better-off also scramble for care (Reuters)
  

• ‘The system has collapsed’: India’s descent into Covid hell (The Guardian)
  

 

 

With regard to the need for a quieter world, especially in Spain and at our school, here are some interesting articles for you to read:

 

Pandemic made 2020 ‘the year of the quiet ocean’, say scientists (The Guardian)

 

'The bliss of a quiet period': lockdown is a unique chance to study the nature of cities (The Guardian)

 

Lockdown 'silence' reveals mesmerizing sounds (CNN Travel)

 

Will the world be quieter after the pandemic? (BBC News)

Windows to the sea (Ventanas al mar ): Some stunning drawings done by our students!!!

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 210428 / 28 April 2021    >>>  The reconstruction of Notre Dame -    Language related to 'reconstruction'.  Need-to-know language: dismantling, mangled, rafters, sprouted & contemporary.

Nothing is going to stop us now!!!!

The school year is coming to an end and crucial moments are coming closer. However, it is not just in the academic domain, but also in other areas. 

 

In sport seasons are in the most important matches, the pandemic is living special moments with the vaccination of the population and the state of alarm coming to an end, climate change is again an issue that demands the attention of the whole world (especially, super powers such as US or China), justice in the US has also lived something special regarding the BLACK LIVES MATTER movement... 

 

But perhaps some have gone a bit too far >>>>

News Review: FOOTBALL: 'Superleague' for Europe?   (BBC Learning English)

 

Anyway, above all,  here we are and

McFadden & Whitehead - "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" 1979

to encourage our students in these tough times. Try dancing the way they do it and singing. Here's the song with the lyrics >>>>

 

and here's another version by Starship: Nothing is gonna stop us now  

Some activities for you to do:  

 

• 6 Minute Grammar:  STATE VERBS vs ACTION VERBS  (BBC Learning English) 

• English in a Minute:   Modifying comparative adjectives   (BBC Learning English) 

• A listening exercise for you to do: US and China vs Climate change   (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English) 

• English in the News: Derek Chauvin GUILTY   (BBC Learning English)

 

 

 

And being just on the move, enjoy this other musical hint of mine: A Celebration Of New Orleans Blues With Hugh Laurie. I hope you'll fancy the music and the city of New Orleans.

Here are our students at work >>>

 

Project on A Foreigner in Britain by David Bacas (1º Bachillerato A)

 

 

  

Some other projects done by our students: 

• Project about Jane Eyre by Raquel Boo Arellano (2º Bach A) 

• Project about A Foreigner in New York by David Escribano (2º Bach A)

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 210414 / 14 April 2021    >>>  How will Brexit affect the flower industry? -    Language related to 'threats and warnings'.  Need-to-know language: poaching, deshints, baffling, shed some light on & large improvement (in something).

 

And nothing is going to stop the outstanding Nadal...at least on clay!!!! Barcelona Open 2021  & Rafa Nadal's winning moments   

 

 

 

 

A glass of wine? Space wine, please!

 What about having a glass of wine? But not any average wine, but wine that has aged in space!!! Would you believe this amazing story?

 

News Review:   SPACE WINE: Does it taste letter?   (BBC Learning English)

 

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

• A bottle of wine was blasted into space. Here's what it tastes like now (CNN)
  

• Cosmic reds: French researchers sample fine wine aged in space (France 24h)
  

• Bordeaux-ver the moon: French wine to return from space station after 12 months (The Guardian)
  

• Does space affect the taste of wine and other tech news (BBC News)

 

 

 

Some activities for you to do: 

• English in the News: World's richest 'at heart of climate problem'  

• 

  English in a Minute:   Modifying comparative adjectives   (BBC Learning English)

• A listening exercise for you to do: Naked in nature   (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

• News Review: NATANZ: Iran blames Israel   (BBC Learning English)

 

And here's my musical hint for today: The Jacksons 5 - Can you feel it? (Official video) and here's another one with the lyrics. 

 

 

 

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 210407 / 07 April 2021    >>>  Africa's endangered elephants -    Language related to 'threats and warnings'.  Need-to-know language: poaching, destruction, faring, critically & wake-up call.

 

 

I think we'd better dance now

 

 

Spring is already here and I think we'd better dance now, have fun and do our best in this  final term at school after such a difficult and bizarre year!!

How do you feel with the arrival of the spring, with the change in the time, with longer and sunnier days, with all the school matters...?

 

Before answering have a look at the activity just below:

 

English in a Minute:   3 phrasal verbs for 'feelings'   (BBC Learning English)

Some activities for you to do: 

• English in the News: Navalny's health  

• Stories for children: Car journey   (BBC Learning English)

• A listening exercise for you to do: That's the way the cookie crumbles   (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

• ... and a final activity: Where to put the adverb better?   (BBC Learning English)

 

 

Time to dance with my musical hint for today: Tom Jones and Art of Noise - Kiss (Official video) and here's another one with the lyrics. 

 

    

 

Our students at work  >>>>

Lucía Guirado's project on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (2º Bachillerato A)

 

Marina Guirado's project on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (2º Bachillerato A)

 

 

 

• Project on The Hound of the Baskervilles by Lucía Espinosa (1º Bachillerato A)

• Project on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Anabel Prados (2º Bachillerato A)
  

• Project on The Hound of the Baskervilles by Natalia López (1º Bachillerato A)

• Project on The Hound of the Baskervilles by Johana Gutiérrez (1º Bachillerato A)

 

• Project on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mari Trini Ortiz (2º Bachillerato A)

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 210310 / 10 March 2021    >>>  The dentist helping a koala to walk -    Language related to 'improving health'.  Need-to-know language: prosthetic, patient, mobility, rejuvenated & quality of life.

 

 

I can't help falling....

 Although I'm a bit annoyed with some of my students, I can't help reminding them this most important piece of news (What does 'can't help + verb in -ing' mean?):

 

    REMINDERS FOR OUR STUDENTS >>>>>> B1 & B2 exams!!!!

You can register for the B1 and B2 exams as freelance student (estudiante libre) from 1st April to 15th April.

 

Here's the LINK to the website of the Official Language School in Motril.

 

And you must also remember that you can apply to be an official student next school year from 1st May to 20th May. Here's the LINK, and all the dates for ...

 

PRUEBAS DE CERTIFICACIÓN 2021 Pruebas escritas  junio 1 - junio 10

 

 

Here's a sentence our students in 2º Bachillerato had to translate  in their control on the reader "Jane Eyre": 

"Setting out on the road, I could not help thinking of Mr Rochester's despair when he found himself abandoned." 

How would you translate it? (simple explanation in a video)

 

 

     And all this brings to my mind a couple of songs that I present you in this post as my musical hint for you. The first one is by Elvis Presley "Can't Help Falling in Love" (1961). Here's a version with the lyrics both in English and Spanish, and another one just with the lyrics in English:

 

 

The second one, which you will probably like better, is the version of this same song done by UB40 "(I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You".

 

 

Some activities for you to do:    

• Here's a listening exercise for you to do:  Digital help for blind people    (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

• English in a Minute:    LESS vs FEWER   (BBC Learning English)

• Stories for children: Exam time   (BBC Learning English)

• News Review: Australia hit by record floods (BBC Learning English)

 

 

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 210331 / 31 March 2021    >>>  Changing how we view the Universe -    Language related to 'scientific discovery'.  Need-to-know language: profound consequences, hints, baffling, shed some light on & large improvement (in something).

 

Our lives are like rivers

 

 As Spanish writer Jorge Manrique said (or even later Bruce Springsteen), our lives are like rivers (have a look at Copla IV, "Coplas por la muerte de su padre"), rivers that die when they arrive at the sea, but which provide so much life in their way down to all the fields alongside. So remember to do your best because you are in the best part of your life, of your river!!!

 

 

 

     Here's my musical hint for today: Bruce Springsteen - The River (The River Tour, Tempe 1980)

And do you remember the film by Robert Redford: A River Runs Through It : A Symphony (Mark Isham) and its wonderful soundtrack.

and here's its movie trailer (some other movie clips)

 

Some activities for you to do:    

• Here's a very interesting listening exercise for you to learn about the English language:  Is English really English? (The origins of English)    (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English) and remember this old post of mine:   Where does English come from?

• English in a Minute:    How to use 'ish'   (BBC Learning English)

• English in the News : Brazil's political crisis and Covid surge   (BBC Learning English)

• News Review: Suez Canal: Delays continue (BBC Learning English)

 

 

Giant ship blocking Suez canal partially refloated (The Guardian)

The cost of the Suez Canal blockage (BBC News)

How the Suez canal blockage can seriously dent world trade (The Guardian)

 

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

• 
  Episode 210317 / 17 March 2021    >>>  Kenyan fishermen and women saving the planet -    Language related to 'fishing'.  Need-to-know language: catch, the fruits of, source of income, scarce & labour-intensive.