I'll never surrender... if there's a chance

 

There are many challenging situations in life where our determination is essential. That would be the case with difficult groups where the teaching-learning process is not easy, but also in real life like the catastrophe they are living in Turkey and Syria after the terrible earthquatkes they have gone through.

 

In all those situations what we have to say and what all the firefighters that have gone there to help is: "I'll never surrender... if there's a chance".

 

   

Obviously, my musical hint for today will be the song: Never Surrender by Shangrii-La. Here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along!!

 

 

Some activities for you to do: 

• English in a Minute: Different meanings of 'CHARACTER'  (BBC Learning English) 

• The English We Speak: Know the score  (BBC Learning English)

• News Review:  'Spy balloon' row  (BBC Learning English) 

• A listening exercise for you to do:  Can AI have a mind of its own? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

 

 

And here are some interesting articles related to the issue for you to read:

• Thousands killed in major quakes – as it happened (The Guardian)

• Turkey earthquake: Erdogan announces three-month state of emergency in quake area (BBC News)

• Death toll rises after massive earthquake rocks Turkey-Syria border (ABC News)

 

Learn ALL 16 TENSES Easily in under 30 Minutes - Present, Past, Future, Conditional with Lucy

 

 

Shakespeare speaks: All that glitters is not gold  (BBC Learning English)

 

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

Mind Your Language - Hello Sailor Giovanni     

 

 

Make a move... walk, run, JUMP!!

 

Sedentarism is a big problem in our society, especially among our teenagers. So make a move... walk, run, JUMP!!

A listening exercise for you to do:  Exercise for the lazy (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

 

Some articles for you to read about the issue: 

• Why exercise alone won’t save us (The Guardian)

• Inactivity 'kills more than obesity' (BBC News)
  

• More than 80% of adolescents not active enough, warns WHO (The Guardian)
  

• Sitting too much is bad for your health, but offsetting the impact is easy, study shows (CNN)

 What does 'WHO' stand for? What's the Spanish for it? (Solutions at the bottom)

 

   

And here's my musical hint to make you move: Jump (For My Love) by The Pointer Sisters. Here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along!!

 

 

 

 

 

Some activities for you to do: 

• Learn how to speak English naturally: How to express uncertainty "She isn't an actress, is she?"  (BBC Learning English)
  

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

• The English We Speak: A flying start  (BBC Learning English)

• News Review:  'Love hormone': new study  (BBC Learning English)

 

Vintage tennis: 

Mats Wilander vs John McEnroe SF Australian Open 1983 Part 1

 
 

Activities for my students:

• 1º ESO - According to what we have done in Exercise 9 on page 37, what can you say about what your parents think teenagers do?

Example: 

- My parents think teenagers often eat junk food.

YOUR POSSIBLE ANSWER:  No, because we hardly ever eat junk food.

 

And our students at school at work... 

Project on A Christmas Carol by Manuel Utrabo (4º ESO A)

 

 

 

 Solutions to the questions above: 'WHO' stands for 'World Health Organisation' and 'OMS' would be the Spanish equivalent.

The time has come... to make a move!!!

 Yes, the time has come to make a move and take decisions. It is the middle of the school year and we'd better start thinking about doing our best at school and getting the best marks possible, but time flies!!

 

 

 

Some activities for you to do: 

• Learn how to speak English naturally (VERY USEFUL FOR OUR STUDENTS): How to disagree "I don't accept that we failed"  (BBC Learning English)
  

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

• The English We Speak: Jog your memory  (BBC Learning English)

• News Review:  World's economy slows down  (BBC Learning English)

 

Emma in mmmEnglish tells us about English words that are often mispronounced!    

 

Yesterday, 2nd February, was the Groundhog's Day and what will winter be like? Have a look at this previous post to learn about the story behind.

UPDATED: What will the weather be like in 2016, Mr Marmot?

 

Quizz on the SECOND CONDITIONAL  >>>   Click HERE

 

The bizarre history of Groundhog Day  (CNN)

 

   

Here's my musical hint for today: Beds are burning by Midnight Oil. Here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along!!

 

 

 

 

And our students at school at work... 

Project on A Christmas Carol by Francisco J. Prados (4º ESO A)

 

 

 

Football legends - Pelé, los Santasticos y la Copa Libertadores de 1962.

 

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  

 TESTIMONIOS SOBRE EL PROFESOR NEIL McLAREN: IN MEMORIAM by Daniel Madrid

 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)