This was the last week of the school year and I am flying to New Hampshire tomorrow. I will return vaccinated and ready to jump into more English classes at the end of the summer.

I wanted to thank you for your continued support and participation. It was a great year in a new space and we made it through the pandemic chatting together.

Enjoy your summer! Don't forget to fill out the evaluation and pre-registration if you want to save a spot for next year.

Thank you!
Kelly

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This week we explored Shima Spain Village which is a Japanese theme park modeled after life in Spain.  This was a great way to spark a larger conversation about theme parks and amusement parks.

Listening:
Learners can try a listening comprehension activity about theme parks from British Council. Or try an activity from Breaking News English called No Screaming at Japanese Amusement Parks.

For original version listening, try an episode of This American Life called Amusement Park (transcript available).

Reading:
Learners can read try a reading comprehension activity about Disneyworld.

For original version, check out an article entitled, The Dangerous Return of the World's Most Insane Amusement Park. Or another one called The Quest for the Best Amusement Park is Never Ending.

Writing:
For writing this week, write a review of an amusement park that you have visited.  What types of rides do they have? What sets it apart from the rest?

Best,
Kelly

This week we talked about life in the village, using a humourous article from El Pais Engish to spark our conversation about small town life is like in Spain (and abroad).

Listening:
Learners can try a listening comprehension activity called Village or City?

For original version listening, I highly recommend the serial podcast Shit Town.  You might get hooked after the first episode!

Reading:
Learners can read a text from British Council about people describing their town.

For original version, check out an article describing some of the pros and cons of moving back to your small hometown or about culture shock experienced moving to a small town.

Writing:
For writing this week, try writing an essay about small town life.  What are some of the hardships? Is life better in villages than in the city? 

Best,
Kelly

 Happy San Bernabé everybody! Enjoy your holidays this week. Or maybe you want to take advantage of the extra time to do some homework!

This week we talked about camping, glamping, and summer camp!

Listening:
Learners can start with an activity from BBC Learning English called Where is there a Campsite?  Or you can check out a program about glamping.

For original version listening, check out an episode from This American Life called Notes on Camp. Or try Life Kit's episode: A Guide to Camping (with transcript).

Reading:
Learners can read a pre-intermediate text called the Scotland Trip, or from British Council, A Camping Adventure. For something a little harder, try an FCE exercise about summer camps.

For original version, check out a great article from the Guardian called Take frozen curry, buy a blackout tent.  Or Wheel Life with the Ladies.

Writing:
For writing this week, try some creative writing.  Write a story that takes place within the context of camping or summer camp.

Best,
Kelly

 Hi Folks!

My apologies for the delay this week, I hadn't realized there was a glitch in the scheduling for the email server this week. Now on to the homework!

This week we discussed TV and specifically the phenomenon of Norwegian SLOW TV.  Do you think Slow TV could work in Spain?

Listening:
Learners can start with an activity from BBC Learning English about Slow TV or a listening comprehension activity about the TV Guide.

For original version listening, I highly recommend listening the latest episode of Invisibilia about Slow TV which was the inspiration for our class: The Great Narrative Escape.  Or 

• "That Damned Cow: Just What is Norwegian Slow TV?" (documentary short)

Reading:
Learners can check out a reading comprehension activity about Reality TV or for something a little harder, an article from Breaking News English about Binge Watching TV.

For original version, read an article from the New Yorker called Slow TV is Here or Emily in Paris and the Rise of Ambient TV.

Writing:
For writing this week, please write a review of Norwegian Slow TV. What is your view on it? Is it the solution to our fractured society or a waste of time?

Best,
Kelly

 This week's topic was wisdom, and we used Kevin Kelly's 99 Bits of Unsolicited Advice as jumping off points for numerous mini conversations and debates.

Check out the full list to get some more piece of wisdom!

Listening:
Learners can start with an interesting listening comprehension activity entitled The Wisdom of Pessimism.

For original version listening, check out Anna Sale's podcast Death, Sex, and Money, full of fascinating interviews with people sharing their wisdom and experience.

Reading:
Learners can do a brief reading comprehension activity about contradictory proverbs or a longer text called The Wise Parrot.

For original version, delve into the full  99 Bits of Unsolicited Advice. Are there any that particularly resonate with you?

Writing
This week, choose one proverb and write an essay about it.  Do you agree with the sentiment? Why or why not?  Do you think that is useful today? Do you have a real-life illustration of this proverb?

Best,
Kelly

 Last week we discussed different events in professional life (conferences, conventions, seminars) and in personal life (weddings, birthday parties, openings), but this week we took it a step further and imagined planning an event like this.  

Listening:
Learners can check out several listening options such as planning a party, and office party planning.

For original version listening, try a podcast from This American Life called Number One Party School.

Reading:
Learners can try an activity called My First Music Festival in France, to try to practice their reading skills.  For another one, check out the PDF: Woodstock, the Greatest Music Festival.

For original version, read a magazine article about planning a festival and having it go completely wrong: Fyre Festival: Anatomy of a Millenial Marketing Fiasco Waiting to Happen.

Writing:
This week, please write an article describing the steps to pulling off an amazing party or event!  Here are some ideas:

• surprise party
• gallery opening
• going away party
• block party
• village fiestas

Best,
Kelly

This week we looked toward the future and imagined planning some events: birthday parties, musical festivals, weddings, first communions, etc.

Listening:
Learners can check out a listening comprehension activity from British Council about Weddings, or about Unusual British Festivals.

For original version listening, watch a short video about festivals around the world.

Reading:
Learners can read about the stages of planning an event and complete a comprehension activity.

For original version, read some descriptions of Spanish festivals for an international audience.

Writing:
This week, please write a report about an event that you have attended.  What were the preparations, describe the venue, the activities.  Do you think it was successful? Why or why not?

Best,
Kelly

 This week we talking about fixing things: renovating, repairing, mending, fixing, this topic is relevant in many aspects of life from homes, cars, computers to clothes.

Listening:
Learners can try an intermediate listening activity about computer problems. For something more challenging try listening about home repairs and car repairs.

For original version listening, there are a few TED talks worth watching: How to fix a broken heart, Can the Damaged Brain Repair Itself? or Architecture that Repairs Itself.

Reading:
Learners can read something from Breaking News English about clothes that repair themselves. For something harder, try an article about the Buy Nothing Movement.

For original version, read an interesting article from the Guardian entitled Can Spain Fix Its Worst Ecological Crisis by Making a Lagoon a Legal Person?

Writing:
This week, please write a report about something that is broken (an object, a system), how to repair it and recommendations for the future.

Best,
Kelly

 This week's topic was work!  Employment, unemployment, working from home, retirement, work life balance.  Our conversation ran the gamut.

Listening:
Learners can try listening to a radio program from British Council about Work-Life Balance or for something more difficult try
Challenges at work
For original version listening, listening to an episode from Esther Perel's podcast How's work?  such asRace, Gender and Money or Sex Work: The Unofficial ResumeReading:
Learners can try a reading comprehension activity about job adverts or about achieving balance while juggling all your tasks.

For original version, read any of the fascinating stories from Longreads.org about work:
Seasonal Associate
What Happened to Cruise Ship Workers Once the Passengers Were Gone?

Writing:
This week, please write an article about how the nature of work is changing in this crazy moment of the pandemic.  How are people adapting to working at home? Is this a paradigm shift?

Best,
Kelly