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11/30/2014 0 Comments November Week Four This week is Thanksgiving (yoohoo! Happy Thanksgiving!), so as usual at this time of year, all I can think of is food! That's why our conversation this week turned to different kinds of diets and ideas about eating well.
Start your work this week with some English Diet Vocabulary! LISTENING To practice your listening skills, learners could try a listening activity about vegetarian celebrities. For original version watch the NYTimes short documentary about Playing to the Paleo Crowd or 3 Doctors Debate The Best Way to Eat. READING Learners can try reading about the links between a vegetarian diet and cancer reduction or about how Mediterranean diets make you happier. For original version reading, I recommend an interesting National Geographic Article about the Evolution of Diet or the Michael Pollan essay We are What we Eat. WRITING So, now that you've heard about all different sorts of diets this week (vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, mediterranean, and on and on), which do you think are the most and least healthy? Why? Which of these factors do you consider in your own food choices? Have a good week! Best, Kelly
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11/21/2014 0 Comments November Week Three This week's topic was corruption. We took a look at recent corruption scandals cropping up in Spain but also discussed general tendencies, consequences and prevention measures.
LISTENING To practice your listening skills, learners could try an ESLPod episode about dealing with corrupt officials. For original version consider the TED talk about Meeting Global Corruption's Hidden Players. READING Learners can try their hand at ready a text explaining the different types of corruption. Watch your vocabulary and don't forget to look up any words you don't know! Or you could read an article about attempts to combat transnational corruption. For original version reading, check out El País in English. Explore the current news and archives to see how the Spanish corruption scandals are covered in English. WRITING Consider this statement, "Making a stand against corruption is a waste of time. We should just learn to deal with it." To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Please write a short composition defending your position. Have a good week! Best, Kelly 11/18/2014 0 Comments November Week Two This week we based our work of a short film called Bendito Machine that looks at a distant society who is dependent on their machines. This led to conversation about media, technology and short films.
LISTENING To practice your listening skills, learners should check out some short films and videos with subtitles at ESL Video or some inspiring videos from Quality Time ESL. For original version listening, explore some of the many amazing short films out there. I recommend NYTOpinion (documentary), Short of the Week, Brave New Films. WRITING This week I recommend you watch one of the shorts I recommend in the Listening section above or one of the other episodes from the Bendito Machine series. Then write a short review of it. You can give some descriptions of the charactes and set, maybe a little plot description and your opinion about the short. If you don't have time to watch a short film, then go ahead and write a review about a recent film you've watched.Have a good week! Best, Kelly 11/7/2014 0 Comments November Week One This week we took a look at "daily rituals," how many of our world's great minds spent their day, and how they differ or line up with our own daily routines.
LISTENING To practice your listening skills, learners can start with something easy. Try Randall's short listening about daily schedule or about daily routines. You could also check an Elllo listening comparing routines. For original version watch an interview with the author of the Daily Rituals book or the TED Talk "Try Something New for 30 Days." READING Learners should try reading Talking About Bad Habits in English. There's also a bunch of exercises and vocabulary for routines and actions. For original version reading, I recommend you check out the Daily Rituals Slate series and blog. Are there any people who inspire you in their routine? WRITING Take a look at this fascinating infographic about how some famous creatives structured their day. Choose one and with this information, describe (be creative!) what their day looks like. Have a good week! Best, Kelly 11/1/2014 0 Comments October Week five Happy Halloween, everybody! I hope you enjoyed our creepy conversation about all things spooky: zombies, vampires, bats, ghosts, demons, and ghouls. Some classes also engaged in a friendly debate about whether or not Halloween should be celebrated in Spain.
No, on to your frightening homework. LISTENING To practice your listening skills, learners can try Ghost Hunters (with transcript) or for something a bit harder, try the article From Dracula to Twilight, Vampires Evolve with the Times (with transcript). For original version listening, try a short video about Wade Davis' theory about zombies or the Radiolab story Ghost Stories. READING Learners can an easy text about Halloween or for something a bit more challenging, try one of the ESL Ghost stories. For original version reading, try an article about the Salem Witch Trials or try your hand at the BBC article, Why Are Zombies So Popular? WRITING For writing this week, you have a few options. Consider telling a scary story, it can be something that happend to you or something that you have made up. Or write about your own experience with Halloween and your opinion about this traditional anglosaxon holiday. Have a good week! Best, Kelly |
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