19 May 2008

Inventions and Discoveries






Who invented the lightbulb?

Who discovered New Zealand?
What was discovered by Fleming?

What was invented by Tim Berners-Lee?






In your opinion,
What's one of the most important discoveries or inventions made by humanity in the past??? :-)


1- Look up here for ideas:
inventions and discoveries
important inventions
20th century scientific discoveries

2- Prepare 1 minute (max) podcast about the discovery or invention you think has changed humanity in some important way. Include the following info+ podcast on your portfolio:
  • Name of Invention or Discovery and photo/video
  • Inventor or Discoverer
  • Year (Eg: it was discovered in 1983)
  • Little description
  • What it is used for
  • Why you think it is important for humanity
  • Urlography: webpages links where you got your information from.

01 April 2008

Pride and Prejudice

1- Pride and prejudice??? Explain the title: who's got pride? who's got prejudice?

2- View the trailer of the film and write what they say

3- Life in the Jane Austen's times (bonus material)
Comment on some differences that caught your attention.

4- The State homes
Choose one of the houses where the film was set. Look up basic info, a picture and a moment in the film you particularly like.
Chatworth house
Burghey house
Basildon park
Groombridge place
Wilton house

5- Dating traditions (bonus material)
*What do you do when you meet people for the first time? Are there any accepted social norms?
*What do you think were the politics of 18th century dating ?
*Answering these questions may help you:
1. Where did people go in order to find a good husband / wife?
2. Who went dancing?
3. What were the rules of behaviour for a man when a lady walked in a room?
4. When did people have the opportunity to talk with the person they were interested in alone?
5. Describe the first time Darcy touches Elisabeth
6. CONCLUSION: Should there be some basic social norms for dating? Suggest 3 basic ideas.

6- Keira Knightley

She plays one of the most important female roles in literature. What is your view Ms Elizabeth Bennett? Is she a heroine? How different is she from her sisters?
Listen to the interview with Keira Knightley about the film.

7- AlternativeUS ending: Why is a different ending required? Which do you prefer?

8- Views on marriage. This is Jane Austen's opinion:

"Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least(...)and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life."
from: Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1811
  • What do you think? Knowing each other very well is no guarantee of happiness?

  • Write your opinion in 100 words: "Happiness in marriage is a question of chance"

Pixar videos

Choose one of these videos (both for extra points ;-) ) and write an appropiate dialogue... XD
remember what you said about dialogues:
- short sentences
- often interruptions
- repetitions
- onomatopeic sounds
- idioms and expressions
- phrasal verbs

FOR THE BIRDS


GERI'S GAME

28 February 2008

An inconvenient truth. If not now, when?

You look at that river gently flowing by. You notice the leaves rustling with the wind. You hear the birds; you hear the tree frogs. In the distance you hear a cow. You feel the grass. The mud gives a little bit on the river bank. It’s quiet; it’s peaceful. And all of a sudden, it’s a gear shift inside you. And it’s like taking a deep breath and going... 'Oh yeah, I forgot about this'.

Al Gore in the opening monologue of An Inconvenient Truth


1- Watch the trailer of the film.

  • What was the first impact of the film on you?
  • What didn't you know about global warming that you learnt with the film and surprised you?

2- How can we take action?
Choose 5 ideas you really want to commit to from now on.

crimatecrisis.net
stopglobalwarming.org
download products

3- Are you ready to change your lifestyle?
Option A: Write a 100 word composition defending your opinion.
Option B: Write a formal letter to the president of the US/Spain suggesting possible actions.
Option C: Write a dialogue between a pro-Al Gore activist and a pro-Bush policy defendant.
Option D: Write an argumentative text on the need of changing the western lifestyle

07 February 2008

Your mum speaking

What sentences does your mom say over and over again?
For example: don't forget to tidy your room?? ;-)
Let's see how many you can hear here!!!!!


  • Which expressions can you understand?
  • How many of these expressions sound familiar to you?
  • Are these sentences necessary to raise a child ?
  • List must and mustn'ts on how to educate a child today in your opinion/experience
  • Watch Judge Perez Calatayud on this video
  • "Children are not properly educated by their parents today" State your opinion in 100 words.
  • Help: remember the connectors

31 January 2008

Little Britain


  • Little Britain...: Why little?
  • What British stereotypes are reproduced here?
  • How are they de-constructed?

Meeting the parents

The shopkeeper

Carol the travel agent

01 January 2008

Rebel blogger

Can a blog change the world?
Watch this video and decide:

cnn/video