24 abril, 2007

Would Jack Sparrow download files from the internet for free?

Jack Sparrow is the character played by Johnny Depp in "Pirates of the Caribbean", a successful Disney film where not all the pirates are considered bad guys. On the contrary, Sparrow is one of the heroes of the movie, along with the characters played by Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom. So, what would happen nowadays if he had the opportunity to listen to music or watch a film without paying?

What is your opinion about internet files sharing? Do you think piracy seriously damages the music and movie industry? Or do you believe that it is a question of freedom to share what you own with other people? You can see both views in these commercials.

Pro-piracy



Anti-piracy



Finally, you can try this link to read (and listen) about some surprising words by Robbie Williams on the subject.

BBC Learning English

20 abril, 2007

The king!



In the Ghetto by Elvis Presley.

Put the sentences in order:
_____ A poor little baby child is born
_____ As the snow flies
_____ In the ghetto
_____ On a cold and gray Chicago morning

Fill the blanks.
Use: - need - mouth - hungry - thing - cries
And his mama ____________
'cause if there's one __________ that she don't ___________
it's another _________ ___________ to feed
In the ghetto.

Put the sentences in order:
_____ the child needs a helping hand
_____ or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day
_____ are we too blind to see,
_____ People, don't you understand
_____ Take a look at you and me,
_____ do we simply turn our heads
_____ and look the other way

Fill the blanks.
Use: -fight- streets - boy - steal - night
Well the world turns
and a hungry little _______ with a runny nose
plays in the _______ as the cold wind blows
In the ghetto
And his hunger burns
so he starts to roam the streets at ________
and he learns how to ___________
and he learns how to ___________
In the ghetto

Use: - desperation - mama - gun - car -far
Then one night in ____________
the young man breaks away
He buys a ________, steals a _________,
tries to run, but he don't get ________
And his ________ cries

Put the sentences in order:
_____ face down on the street with a gun in his hand
_____ As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man
_____ In the ghetto

_____ another little baby child is born
_____ In the ghetto
_____ As her young man dies,
_____ on a cold and gray Chicago morning,
_____ and his mama cries.

************************

Now, do the following exercise from the OUP (Oxford University Press)
... and if you are not very tired, try this one by Real English

19 abril, 2007

It's bath time!



If you like the Knock Knock English Team's songs, you can purchase their CDs on their web.

15 abril, 2007

Uh-hum!

Just the first words anyone learns in any language.



Not only words but also gesture language - or rather sound language or interjections (???) To tell the truth, I don't know how to call it. Whatever ... very important to communicate.

This video belongs to a wonderful team of teachers who work in Japan. If you want to know them you can visit their web page: Super Simple Songs. It's worth visiting!!! Listen and watch their songs. Super!!!

13 abril, 2007

Thank you

THANKS, THANK YOU, THANKS A LOT to all those teachers who share their knowlede and their work on the web.

Lots of our colleagues love their job and work very hard. On top of that, they share their work with everybody.

We want to pay homage to all of them. From now on, we will make an effort to let you know these wonderful professionals.

To start with, let us introduce esl teaching reources, a blog written by an English teacher who works in South Korea. You can't miss her videos. They are fantanstic!
Wanna see one, huh?



(Thank you, Captain KungZoo)

Moreover, her blog is full of useful advice, useful ideas and useful links.

10 abril, 2007

Is beauty so important?

The Spanish version of the popular American TV show Extreme Makeover has arrived in our living rooms. Antena 3 is broadcasting Cambio Radical.

On Cambio Radical, participants are away from their families for several weeks. During this time, they undergo a number of different cosmetic procedures, including plastic surgery, diets, hairdressing and so on. They also meet personal trainers and fashion consultants who teach them how to improve their look.

Thousands of people have applied for a place on this reality show.

- What do you think of it? Would you like to be a contestant in a programme like this?
- Would you undergo plastic surgery? Why? (or why not?)
- Why is plastic surgery so popular nowadays?
- Some people claim that this kind of realities are sexist. Do you agree?
- Is beauty so important?
- Do we need to change our bodies or to change our minds?