terça-feira, 7 de junho de 2011

My dear students


My dear students,

I wish you all the best and Good Luck to all of you for your final exams!

sexta-feira, 27 de maio de 2011

Project: 3rd Term

Project
• Human Diversity

The people of the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand are a mixture of many different nationalities.

These different people brought to their new land a wonderful mixture of customs and traditions.

These countries were also inhabited by native people with their own cultures.

- Select a country and a native people or a nationality and write about the history of these people, customs and traditions.
- Talk about the integration of the chosen culture in a different country – if it has been an easy process or not. Are there signs of racism, xenophobia or segregation?
- What events or festivities do the people organise in order to celebrate or value their own roots? Are they well accepted?
- Give your own opinion: Is “multiculturalism” still relevant? What are the main advantages/problems of multiculturalism? Should different races integrate or should they fight for their own roots?


Vocabulary:

Multicultural: including or involving people of several different religious faiths, cultures etc.

Segregation: the separation of a social or racial group from others, especially by the laws in some US states between 1896 and 1954, which prevented black people from using the same schools, hotels, restaurants, seats in buses and in theatres and parks etc, as white people.

Racism: the belief that racial differences between people are the main influence on their characters and abilities, and especially that one’s race is the best. / Dislike or unfair treatment of people based on this belief.

Xenophobia: unreasonable fear and dislike of strange or foreign people, customs etc.

Assimilation (assimilate): to make or become like the people of a country, race, or other group, especially in ways of behaving or thinking.

Integration (integrate): to join or cause (a member of a social group) to join in society as a whole; (cause to) spend time with members of other groups and develop habits like theirs. Example: “Not all foreign immigrants want to integrate (with us/into our society”).

Good Work!
Teacher Sara Silva

segunda-feira, 23 de maio de 2011

Correction of the English Test: Quitters, Inc

Correction of the English Test: Quitters, Inc

Activity A

1.
1-f)
2-h)
3-j)
4-e)
5-a)
6-i)
7-b)

2.
a) business card: Richard Morrison, the main character of the short story, receives at the beginning of the story a business card from Quitters, Inc given by his friend Jimmy McCann. This card will change completely the life of Dick, it will play an important role in the development of the plot.

b)rabbit: Donatti uses a rabbit to show to Dick what the treatment will consist of. Through the treatment, if Dick smokes, he or his wife will be taken to the small room and will be electrocuted, just like the rabbit.

c) finger: During the process of quitting, if Dick gains extra weight, they will cut his wife's little finger.

Activity B

1.
1.d
2.e
3.h
4.a
5.b
6.c
7.f

2.
a)Dick couldn't have a good night's sleep, because he was strongly addicted to smoking. His desire for smoking was stronger than everything else.

b)The writer presents so many different scenes from Dick's daily life to show the difficulties he feels to avoid smoking in his life. It makes us aware of the passing of time and the efforts he's making to achieve his goals.

c) The love he felt for his wife and son was the drug that helped him overcome his addiction.

3.He regrets having done so because he says “My God what am I doing?”

4. Yes. There is a crescendo in terms of suspense, that starts to make the readers feel more curious and anxious about what will probably happen.

5.The next scene will be the climax of the story. It will be the high point of the story , where the suspense rises and scenes happen that indicate the outcome. When Dick arrives home he found that his wife was not at home. He went to Quitters, Inc, and they had taken his wife to the small room and he saw his wife getting electric shocks. He is informed about another condition of the treatment: if he goes over one-eighty-two, his wife's little finger will be cut of.

6.
a) ...hands him a business card from Quitters, Inc.
b) ...picks up the small card, rereads it and decides to go there.
c)...he reacts violently, but then he was unable to have any other reaction, because everything was so unbelievable that he felt completely helpless. At first he felt he was speaking with a psycho then he didn't want the treatment and finally he was terrified.
He feels completely helpless and completely desperate. He seems not to believe what he had just put himself to.

b)We should value our family and try to accomplish our goals by ourselves and not depend on others.
Our family can help us to do anything, weather it is to cheer us up or help us overcome a certain problem or addiction. They are always there, understanding, and ready to listen.
We should cherish every moment with our loved ones.

sábado, 30 de abril de 2011

Quitters, Inc

Quitters, Inc. by Stephen King


1. Exposition: It begins the action and sets the stage for the development of the plot.
It refers to the meeting between the two charaters, Dick Morrison and Jimmy McCann and the information that we get about them and their personal and professional lives.

2. Inciting action: an incident which will change the events to follow. From them on, the story will develop according to all that decision will imply.

“ Dick's decision to go to a first interview”

3. Rising action of a plot is the series of events that build up and create tension and suspense. This tension is a result of the basic conflict that exists and makes the story interesting.
Part III – Many different scenes from Dick's daily life are presented. They try to show to the reader the difficulties he feels to avoid smoking in his daily life. It makes us aware of the passing of time and the efforts he's making to achieve his goals.
There is a crescendo in terms of suspense, that starts to make the readers feel more curious and anxious about what will probably happen.

4. Plot: the events that form the main story of a book, film, or play

5. Climax: the most exciting or important part of a story or experience, which usually comes near the end

Part IV- This is the high point of the story, where the suspense rises, and scenes happen that indicate the outcome.

6. Setting: the place or time where the events in a book, film etc happen

sexta-feira, 22 de abril de 2011

quinta-feira, 21 de abril de 2011

May/June

Listed below are the days and weeks officially recognised by the United Nations:

•17 May - World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (ITU)

•21 May - World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (UNESCO)

•22 May - International Day for Biological Diversity

•25 May - Africa Day

•31 May - World No-Tobacco Day (WHO)

•4 June - International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression (in French)

•5 June - World Environment Day (UNEP)

Source: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=7588&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

sexta-feira, 18 de março de 2011

Gap Year: Advantages/Disadvantages

Advantages:
- You show initiative and desire;
- Travel widdens your horizons;
- Travel gives you experience of different cultures - useful if you are planning to have an international career;
-Travel shows self-sufficiency and initiative;
- Work experience is always a good thing and work experience abroad can be invaluable if you want to start your career overseas;
-You can build up a wide variety of new skills and contacts;
- You can help people living in poverty;
- You can help the environment;
- It is a good way to give something back to society;
- You can make a differentce in the world;
- You get a chance to know the world outside school and to seek out adventure;
- You gain maturity, self-confidence and self-esteem;
- You explore personal interests.

Disadvantages:
- You may forget what you have learnt at school;
- You may never return to school;
- It may look like you are not focused on your career;
- It may be expensive unless you are paid for your work;
- You may have to leave your family and friends.

quinta-feira, 17 de março de 2011

Oral Evaluation

Oral Evaluation

Gap Year:

- Go to this site: www.gapwork.com

- Choose one destination

- Choose a job, an activity

- Give some reasons

(you can bring some pictures)

- Answer the question: Would you take a year off? Why? Why not?

Homework: Write a letter applying for the job you have chosen. Follow the model you have on page 162

terça-feira, 15 de março de 2011

Gap Year: opportunities

Gap Year: Many school-leavers in the United Kingdom decide to take some time off, usually a year, before entering university.

Gap year, working holiday abroad, or temporary and voluntary work.


Jobs:Find your perfect gap year job - holiday jobs; TEFL; work placements; voluntary jobs.

Destinations:Gap year destination guide: travel and work in Australia, the USA, Europe and more.

Adventure:Gap year expeditions, treks, tours, adventure holidays and extreme sports.

Community Development:Volunteer work placements for your gap year in Africa, Asia and around the world.

Conservation:Conservation volunteering and volunteer placements to save the world on your year out.

Study or Study Abroad:Gain qualifications, work experience and new skills on your gap year.

Volunteering:Use your gap year to volunteer with placements in Australia, Africa, South America and more.

Winter Sports:Skiing, snowboarding and other great winter sports on your gap year.

Source: http://www.gapwork.com/index.shtml

Gap Year





What is a Gap Year?

A Gap Year is known also as a “year off”, “year out”, “deffered year”, “bridging year”, “time off”, “time out” or “overseas experience”. A Gap Year doesn't takes always a whole year. Usually young people takes a time off (some weeks, months up to a year) before going to the university and take the opportunity to make a Gap Year travel.

During a Gap Year young people can travel to another country and experience diverse activities: like volunteering, teaching or just traveling. The most popular Gap year activity for “gappers” is international volunteering.

Many students take the advantage to study during their Gap year and they enroll in a language course abroad or earn money by working in diverse areas, as the hospitality industry.

Some gappers also enroll themselves in global education programs that combine a language study, cultural immersion, community services, home stays and independent study.

Why should you go?

A Gap Year travel is an exciting once in a lifetime experience that can be suitable for anyone! Why should you go to a Gap Year Travel?

- Get in touch with foreign communities.
A Gap year travel is not the typical short-therm holiday where you hang out with family or friends and only get to know the typical attractions for tourists. In a Gap year program you will have the opportunity to truly interact with the local people, learn about the reality of the community, enjoy the traditions and open your eyes to an extraordinary array of new things through multiple experiences.

- Social understanding and awareness.
Some of the Gap Year programs give you the opportunity to not only enjoy the new environment you will be in but also to support a good cause with volunteer work by teaching, helping to protect the nature, building new houses or schools... don't lose the opportunity to not only travel and enjoy but also to help and make a difference in the world.

- Learn new languages, develop new skills:
As you will be living abroad for some weeks or even months you will have the opportunity to learn or improve your local language knowledge. There are also Gap programs that give you the opportunity to learn a new language through specific courses ideal for people that is looking to learn while enjoying a fantastic travel experience.

- Earn money while:
There are many paid work Gap programs where you make money to pay your expenses while teaching or working in the hospitality industry for example, having fun, interacting with other young people, living new experiences without a real cost for you!

- Get to know yourself:
During a Gap year travel you will have time to enjoy your independency, gain experience and get to know your strengths and weaknesses as a person! A Gap year is a definitely enriching experience that will make you grow as a person and become a more mature person.

- Interact and develop friendship with other people that share your vision and passions:
You will have the opportunity to travel with other people like you, that have chosen the same program and will propably share your same vision and objectives, plus they will share their previous experiences and you will have the opportunity to make new friends from all over the world!

- Have the best fun of your life:
A Gap travel is an extraordinary opportunity that will give you a lot of satisfaction through new and diverse experiences and will surely become a milestone in your life.

quarta-feira, 9 de março de 2011

Meet the Parents: An awkward situation


In the film Meet the Parents, the character Pam Banks is spending the weekend at her parents' and has brought her boyfriend, Greg, with her. Watch the excerpt and notice the way people react to Greg's profession:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmhGzTEGa70&feature=related

Technology



Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BN-XQk6yIk

quarta-feira, 2 de março de 2011

quinta-feira, 24 de fevereiro de 2011

World Book Day: 3rd March


World Book Day was designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and is marked in over 100 countries around the globe. The origins of the day come from Catalonia, where roses and books were given as gifts to loved ones on St. George’s Day – a tradition started over 90 years ago.

Fun stuff: http://www.worldbookday.com/index.asp

Partilhar

quarta-feira, 23 de fevereiro de 2011

Job versus Work

Firstly, on a grammatical level, work is both a verb and a noun, whereas job is only a noun. Let’s look at their meanings now.

Work is an activity in which you use effort or energy, normally to achieve a particular aim or task, rather than for fun or enjoyment. It is essentially the opposite of play, and to work means to do such an activity. Generally, we work in order to earn money, and this is often how we use the verb; to describe what we do to earn money. For example:

I work for the BBC.
David works in a café.


In these examples, we do not know exactly what the person’s duties or responsibilities are. David works in a café, but we do not know if he cleans the tables or cooks the food.

So, in this sense, work has a very general meaning, whereas job is much more specific, and its most common meaning is the name for the work that you do to earn money. For example,

David has now got a new job. He is a cook in a small restaurant.

In this example, we now know exactly what David does because we know what his job is. To summarise, we can say that the word job refers to a particular employment role or position, such as cook, teacher or banker, whereas work refers in a more general way to activities that you do.

Interestingly, all jobs involve work but doing work isn’t always part of a job. For example, someone can spend the weekend working in their garden, perhaps cutting the grass or planting new flowers. However, this is a free time activity, and so it is not his or her job.

As a verb, work does have other meanings, such as, if you describe how a machine works, you explain how it functions, or operates. For example,

Can someone show me how the photocopier works? I don’t know how to use it.

Similarly, you can use it to say if the machine is functioning correctly. For example,

Don’t try to use that computer. It doesn’t work. We are waiting for the engineer to fix it.

Finally, although your job is the name for what you do to earn money, it can also refer to a specific task that you have to do; a task that requires work and a task that you can specifically identify. For example,

I have a few jobs to do at home this weekend. I need to paint my bedroom, fix a broken door and cut the grass.

Right, well, I’ve been working hard for the last few hours, so I think it’s time for me to take a break. Fortunately, the work that I do in my job is very interesting, so even though it is hard work, I don’t think I will look for another job!

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/askaboutenglish/2009/03/090331_aae_work_page.shtml

domingo, 6 de fevereiro de 2011

Summarising

What is a Summary?

A summary is an overview of a text. The main idea is given, but details, examples and formalities are left out. Used with longer texts, the main aim of summarising is to reduce or condense a text to it's most important ideas. Summarising is a useful skill for making notes from readings and in lectures, writing an abstract/synopsis and incorporating material in assignments.

How to Summarise

The amount of detail you include in a summary will vary according to the length of the original text, how much information you need and how selective you are:
• Start by reading a short text and highlighting the main points as you read.
• Reread the text and make notes of the main points, leaving out examples, evidence etc.
• Without the text, rewrite your notes in your own words;restate the main idea at the beginning plus all major points.

When to Summarise

Summarise long sections of work, like a long paragraph, page or chapter.
• To outline the main points of someone else's work in your own words, without the details or examples.
• To include an author's ideas using fewer words than the original text.
• To briefly give examples of several differing points of view on a topic.
• To support claims in, or provide evidence for, your writing.

Summarising
• does not match the source word for word
• involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, but including only the main point(s)
• presents a broad overview, so is usually much shorter than the original text
• must be attributed to the original source

Source: http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/sumpara.html#sumpara4

More information: http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/media/KSSP/c10_summarise_hair.pdf

sexta-feira, 28 de janeiro de 2011

Slogans: 11º8



Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MrXJm66vL8&feature=related


Brand: Coca-Cola

Drink Coke and feel Pop: Inês Mendes/Gonçalo

Put the glory outside
Because the glory is inside it
Because the world is inside it
.

Don't use Coca... just drink Coca-Cola.
Don't think...just drink it
.

Mafalda, Inês Brito

Drink Coca-Cola and
refresh your ideas!

Feel the rhythm,
feel Pop Art
.

Mariana, Débora

And you mate? Join us, drink Coke!: Anton

A million ways to drink it.: Daniel,Ricardo

"What about you?"
"The same, please."

Don't bother. Order the same.
Order a Coke
.

Joana Vitorino

You are an artist so drink Coke
and give wings to your imagination
.

Vanessa, Carolina

segunda-feira, 24 de janeiro de 2011

The Future of Advertising


Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJEXMz6P3oo&feature=related



Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0nmztds7B4&feature=related

Nike: My better is better

"My better is better than your better"


Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHHMaiNyztk


"LIST OF DEMANDS" by Saul Williams

I want my money back
I'm down here drowning in your fat
You got me on my knees praying for everything you lack
I ain't afraid of you
I'm just a victim of your fear
You cower in your tower praying that I'll disappear,
I got another plan, one that requires me to stand
On the stage or in the street,
don't need no microphone or beat.
And when you hear this song,
if you ain't dead then sing along.
Bang and strum to these here drums til you get where you belong.

I got a list of demands
written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist and you're gonna know where I stand.
We're living hand to mouth
You wanna be somebody?
See somebody?
Try and free somebody?

I got a list of demands
written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist and you're gonna know where I stand
We're living hand to mouth

quarta-feira, 19 de janeiro de 2011

Work

Choose a commercial or an ad campaign and bring it to class to be presented regarding the following topics:

- Reason of your choice

- How does viewing the commercial or looking at the advertisement make you feel or think? (You can talk about the colours used /the techniques/ music in case of a commercial)

- Type of information given about the product

- The target audience

- Whether the message is mainly conveyed by the slogan, the text or the image.

- What is your opinion about advertising? Are you influenced by it? Are you influenced by the ad that you are analysing? How?


- Write four or five paragraphs answering the questions above and hand in or send it per e-mail to your teacher before your presentation.
Don’t forget to write at the bottom of the page the sources of the ads or commercials.

Good work!

segunda-feira, 17 de janeiro de 2011

Advertisements that will make you look twice

Australia Post – Personalise your post


FedEx Kinkos – Office Products now at fedexkinkos.com


Bergmann funeral service – Come a litle closer


Denver Water – Use only what you need.


Kill Bill 2


Australia Post - If you really want to touch someone, send them a letter


http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/70-creative-advertisements-that-makes-you-look-twice/

quarta-feira, 12 de janeiro de 2011

A letter of complaint

In a formal letter making a complaint, you may use a mild tone, for complaints about minor problems, or a strong tone, for complaints about more serious matters, especially when you are extremely upset or anoyed. However, the language you use should never be rude or insulting.

In the opening remarks, you should state your complaint including details of what has happened and where/when the incident took place.

e.g. (Mild) I am writing in connection with.../to complain about... the terrible behaviour/attitude/rudeness of...
I am writing to draw your attention to... which...


(Strong) I wish to bring to your attention a problem which arose due to your staff/inefficiency...,
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction/unhappiness with the product/treatment I received from ... on ...


In the main body paragraphs, you present each of the specific points you are complaining about. You start a new paragraph for each point and justify these points by giving examples/reasons.

e.g. Although you advertise "top quality", I felt that the product I purchased was well bellow the standard I expected.

In the closing remarks, you should explain what you expect to happen (e.g. to be given a refund/replacement/apology/etc).

e.g. (Mild) I hope you will replace...
I feel/believe that I am entitled to a replacement/refund...
I hope that this matter can be resolved/dealt with promptly.


(Strong) I insist on/ I demand a full refund/an immediate replacement/etc or I shall be forced to take legal action/the matter further.
I hope that I will not be forced to take further action.


Most letters of complaint use formal language and are organised in a standard way:
paragraph 1) explain why you are writing
paragraph 2) explain what the problem is and describe any action you have already taken
paragraph 3) say what inconvenience it has caused you
paragraph 4) state what you want done about the problem

A letter of complaint

(ON THE RIGHT CORNER)
17 Wolfson Close
Reigate
Surrey RH6 3KE
Tel:0116 587392
12 December 2010

(ON THE LEFT CORNER)
Customer Services
Maintrail
Carbis House
London WC1 5NR


Dear Sir or Madam

I am writing to complain about the poor service provided by your train company.(1)

Yesterday I travelled on the 7.20 from Oxford to London Paddington. Not only was the train thirty minutes late leaving Oxford but we were further delayed at Reading and no explanation or apology was offered. Furthermore, the heating broke down and the train got colder and colder.
I complained to a member of staff, who was most unhelpful and unsympathetic.(2)

As a result of the delays I was two hours late for an important meeting with a valuable client, which caused considerable difficulty and embarrassment.(3)

In the circumstances I believe I am entitled to compensation. I look forward to hearing from you very soon.(4)

Yours faithfully

John Holland