The World Cup

The World Cup, promoted by FIFA, starts tomorrow bout I am sure you have heard about the protests against it in Brazil. 

The video below - by Brazilian director Carla Dauden - was the origin of the protests; in the video, Carla explains why she said she was not going to the world cup.

 

Some time after that first video, Carla shared a new one where she gave some reasons why you could change your mind and still go to the world cup; this video is called "Yes, you can still go to the world cup, if…"

Now it is up to you to decide, can people still go to the world cup?

Drawbacks of Social Networks

Think twice before posting news about you on Facebook or other social networks, or else something like this may happen:

 

It´s too easy to convince a stranger that you are an old friend, isn´t it? That´s scary!

No Tobacco Day 2014

Tomorrow is May 31st, No Tobacco Day; the theme of this year´s celebration is "Raise taxes on tobacco". Do you think it is likely to work? Why (not)?

The Meaning of "Elegance"

What does "being elegant" mean to you? Is it something important in your life? Watch this video and check if your opinion agrees with the meaning of "elegance" shown there (languages in the video: English and french)

 

Read the explanation that comes with this short documentary, do you agree with it?

In this documentary we illustrate the brightly coloured and social affairs that bring the 'Sapeurs' together. Their bold choice to live an unexpected lifestyle is a source of celebrated originality and positivity. Their life is not defined by occupation or wealth, but by respect, a moral code and an inspirational display of flair and creativity. The Sapeurs show us that whilst in life you cannot always choose your circumstances, you can always choose who you are. 

Share your thoughts!

The Power of Education

How would you spread the message of the power of education?

This is what they did in Mexico: the Non- Violence Project divided one bus into two parts: a school bus and a prisoner bus trying to explain visually the following statement: Violence ends where education begins

 

Share your thoughts: what do you think of this project?

Rules of Social Media

Many problems would be avoided if people followed these simple rules… (don´t you agree?) 

Viral Video: Poem "Look Up"

"Look Up" is a poem written and performed by British writer Gary Turk, which encourages people to do just that: look up. It is a reflection on how mobile devices - originally designed to connect people - are, in fact, disconnecting people.

Remember to click on the captions (CC) to get the subtitles when you watch the video, otherwise, it may be too difficult to understand.

If you need the subtitles in Spanish, click here.

Click here to be directed to the Multimedia English webpage and have a look at the explanations of the vocabulary in the poem.

Any comments about the message of the poem?

A Monologue About Yourself

Here´s one of the options for your oral exam for the third term: record a monologue about you; the video below, A Conversation With My 12-Year-Old Self,  may be useful to get some ideas.

You need to reflect on your life: your past, your present and your future:

• Past: memories (focus on the positive ones) and moments that were a turning point - or just special for you-  in your biography

• Present: your school life, your friends, hobbies, extracurricular activities

• Future: expectations: what do you think your life will be like in 10 years´time? what are your plans for your future?

Requirements: 

• the video must be 4-7 minutes long

• you must write the text (I will help you with grammar, vocabulary and expression) and make sure both pronunciation and intonation are OK. Thus, you may need/want  to use either a pronunciation tool or a text-to-speech tool (Voz Me is one of them but there are many others you may choose from the list in My Delicious Bookmarks) 

• when you record the video, you may read the text but you will need to rehearse quite a few times before the recording, reading it in front of a mirror so that it will sound and look natural

• send me the video when it is ready: dateline June 10th

Visual Vocabulary: Empathy & Sympathy

Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She studies concepts such as shame, empathy, vulnerability, courage, shame… Hers is the voice in this  video, which explains the difference between sympathy and empathy.

If you are interested in watching and listening to Brené Brown´s TED Talks, click here.

Start the Weekend With a Smile

This is said to be a real story: a waitress receives extraordinary tips, which, in fact, are part of a plan to thank her for her previous actions and help her have the "best shift* ever". Click here to read more about it

* shift= a person's scheduled period of work, esp. at a place of employment operating continuously during the day and night.

Do some speaking practice: tell this story aloud; include as many details as possible and remember to answer the 5 wh- questions: who? when? where? what? why?

What do you think about this story? Who do you think feels happier, the person who gives or the person who receives?

Ted Talk: Lizzie Velasquez

Here is an inspiring talk about the importance of believing in oneself; the speaker is Lizzie Velasquez, an American woman whose extremely rare medical condition has led her to become a motivational speaker.

Read the introduction of her talk at Ted Talks: 

In a time when beauty is defined by supermodels, success is defined by wealth, and fame is deified by how many followers you have on social media, Lizzie Velasquez asks the question, `how do you define yourself?´ Once labeled, "The World´s Ugliest Woman," Lizzie decided to turn things around and create her own definitions of what she defines as beauty and happiness.

I am afraid the captions are automatic so there are quite a few mistakes but they may be helpful, anyway - listening practice: try to find the mistakes in the subtitles.

What lessons have you learned from this talk? Do you think it is a motivational one? How does it help people to see life from a different perspective?

What Is Your Favourite Memory? (Homework Assignment 9))

What is your favorite memory?

The following video is a piece of a larger picture called Fifty People, One Question, by Benjamin Reece and Nathan Heleine. Fifty People, One Question is  a social experiment and film series exploring human connections through people and places. The project began in New Orleans in 2008; along the way it has managed to depict a slice of humanity: dreams, losses, reflections stories and secrets.

What is YOUR favorite memory?

Think about it and share it with us; consider the five questions to let us have a full picture of the situation: who? when? where? what? why?

If you could, would you photoshop any of your memories?

March 21, World Down Syndrome Day

March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day, chosen for the the trisomy of the 21st chromosome.

I’m expecting a baby. I discovered that he has Down Syndrome. I’m scared: what kind of life will my child have? This is the beginning of this video, which tries to create awareness around Down Syndrome. The ad features fifteen people with Down Syndrome who assure the future mom that her future son, identified as having Down Syndrome, will have a normal life with the ability to do almost anything he wants to do. Just like them. 

Dear Future Mom, don’t be afraid. Your child will be able to do many things. He’ll be able to hug you. He will be able to run towards you. He’ll be able to speak and tell you he loves you…Sometimes it will be difficult, very difficult. Almost impossible. But isn’t it like that for all mothers?

Father´s Day 2014

Father´s Day  is celebrated on March 19th.

Watch these two videos with two different perspectives of father; in the first one, a father uses the web to share memories with his daughter as she grows up in this video depiction.

In the second video, Nobel Prize winner Richard Feynman describes his father's unique teaching methods. “The difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something,” is a quote in this video, R. Feynman uses it while he describes what he was taught by his father.

Richard P. Feynman (1918-1988), scientist, teacher, raconteur, and musician.  He assisted in the development of the atomic bomb, expanded the understanding of quantum electrodynamics, translated Mayan hieroglyphics, and cut to the heart of the Challenger disaster.  But beyond all of that, Richard Feynman was a unique and multi-faceted individual.

Words Matter

Read the following paragraph; do you agree with it?

When a little boy asserts himself, he's called a “leader.” Yet when a little girl does the same, she risks being branded “bossy.” Words like bossy send a message: don't raise your hand or speak up. By middle school, girls are less interested in leading than boys—a trend that continues into adulthood. 

Ban Bossy is a campaign to encourage young women to feel good about themselves and to be confident to take the lead. Do you think a campaign like this is necessary and / or useful? Why (not)? 

Grammar: Be Used To

Here´s a video from Luiz Otavio Barro´s blog to help you remember the grammar construction: be used to + -ing. There is no sound at the beginning of the video, just read and think about the questions the video asks.

Food for thought: International Women´s Day, March 8th, is coming and there´s a lot to say about it, considering the message behind this video

 

In the video before, the actions performed by the husband are introduced by "would". Watch the next video for an explanation of the difference between "used to" and "would"

Finland´s School System

For the record, a long documentary about the school system in Finland: The Finland Phenomenon: Inside the World´s Most Surprising School System

What surprised you most? What do you "envy" the most? What do you disagree with?

If you would like to read some reviews of the documentary and its content, click here

Would you Give Up Your Jacket ?

Children in Syria are cold, give them a warm jacket:  this is the slogan of a social experiment set up by SOS Mayday, an action network which wants to raise awareness about the thousands of children suffering in Syria and to raise funds for SOS Children´s Villages, as part of their winter campaign. 

The experiment involved an 11-year-old boy who told people that his jacket had been stolen while sitting at a bus stop in Oslo, Norway. Watch the video to see how people reacted. 

What would you do? Do you think it is an effective campaign? Why (not)?

Video: "I Am A Ukranian"

Watch this video, "I Am A Ukranian," about the protests in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.

Why are people protesting? Read about it here - for the record, Maidan is the  central square of Kiev, the capital of Ukraine

 

To read more about the protesters, click here

Grammar tip: why do we say "a Ukranian" instead of "an Ukranian"? Read an explanation here.

Food For Thought

This video is meant to be a letter to a newborn child including some advice on how to be a good person. It´s good listening practice; you will hear vocabulary related to everyday stuff so it shouldn´t be too difficult.

If the accent is hard for you to understand, read the subtitles: you´ve got the audio, the subtitles and… some grammar mistakes but let´s ignore those and focus on the listening comprehension: it´s a good and positive message - and we are in need of these type of messages nowadays, aren´t we?

 

What do you think about the message, do you like it or do you find it soppy?