Health and Healthcare

This week we talked about health and healthcare.  To get started, why not click on the infographic  to see how different countries compare in their life expectancy and health care spending per capita.

Listening
Learners  try the Cyberlab piece A Healthy Lifestyle or learn about The Common Cold (text and mp3). For original version listening watch any of the fascinating TED talks that deal with healthcare or the Frontline documentary Sick Around the World which compares healthcare systems around the world and what we can learn from them.

Reading
Now, moving on to some reading!  Learners can try any of the numerous articles related to health and healthcare at Breaking News English or the texts at VOAHealth.  Click on the one that interests you most. For original version reading I recommend the article Paying Till it Hurts.

Writing
You have a couple of options for writing this week.  You could write about the pros and cons of the Spanish Healthcare System and what you think we could do to improve it.  Or you could explore what little changes people could do to improve their health longterm.

Best,
Kelly

How a T-Shirt is Made

First things first, our Extra Activity is this weekend!  Unfortunately I will not be able to lead the short film and commentary at La Retro on Thursday.  The activity will occur and I recommend you all go, but because I won't be there, I have organized another activity.  We will meet this Sunday March 23rd at 20:00 at Tastavin Bar in the San Juan to go out for tapas in English.

Now on to the topic!

This week we talked about fast fashion and how our clothes are produced.  From cotton farming to fabric production, to designing, manufacturing, distribution and shopping, it's amazing the many things we can talk about when we look at the life of just one T-shirt!  This topic was in part inspired by the Planet Money T-Shirt Project.  You can see tons of videos there that describe the whole process.  Check it out!

Listening
Learners can try several podcasts about Zara, Factories, Working in a Factory, or the disaster last year in Bangladesh.  For original version listening I recommend watching the documentary China Blue and of course, any of the chapters at Planet Money T-Shirt Project.
Reading
Don't forget about reading!  There is a ton of information out there. Learners can try some articles from Breaking News English about Sweatshop or the article The Cost of No Sweatshops. For original version reading I recommend the articles at NPR, such as The Tragic Number that Got Us Talking about Our Clothing.

Writing
So now comes the question, what can we do about it?  Do you think there is anything we as consumers can do to improve workers conditions in the textile industry?

Best,
Kelly

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder.

Listening
For listening this week learners can try reading an article about Beauty Pageants.  What's your opinion? For something more difficult, try the activity The Ideal Woman. For original version, check out some songs at LyricsTraining such as You're Beautiful by James Blunt or What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.

Reading
Learners should try reading about an increasingly common plastic surgery treatment (especially in South Korea), Jaw Surgery.  For original version, check out some of the articles at Gilded Birds or an interesting article about if Beauty can make us better people.  What do you think?
Writing
For writing this week, please watch the short film Seconds of Beauty and describe some of the things you see.  If you had to make a film of seconds of beauty from your own life experience, what would be in that film?  Try to be descriptive!

Best,
Kelly

Women Artists

This week, in honor of International Women's Day, we honored some incredible female artists, including Frida Kahlo, Georgia O'Keefe, and photographers like Sally Mann and Lauren Greenfield.



Listening
For listening this week learners could try listening to Art at Listen a Minute or a dialogue about a modern art exhibit. Or for something a bit more difficult, why not have a go at listening to a biography about the American painter, Georgia O'Keefe. For original version, check out the interactive about Frida Kahlo's work and her art at SFMoma.

Reading
Learners should try reading about someone who hates art, or for something a little harder, a text about Diane Arbus.  For original version, try an article about the photographer Cindy Sherman.

Writing
Please pick a painting, a sculpture, or a photograph by a famous female artist and write about it.  Describe it, explain why you enjoy it.  Do you know anything about the author's life?  Why

Best,
Kelly