domingo, 28 de agosto de 2011

TEACHERS: OUR HOLIDAYS ARE NEARLY FINISHED

      Now is our time: back to school in early September!!!

      And remember...

      "A teacher teaches us a lesson first, then takes the test.
      Life takes the test first, then teaches us a lesson."

viernes, 26 de agosto de 2011

TEA IN ENGLAND

     
      Tea, that most quintessential of English drinks, is a relative latecomer to British shores. Although the custom of drinking tea dates back to the third millennium BC in China, it was not until the mid 17th century that the beverage first appeared in England.

      The use of tea spread slowly from its Asian homeland, reaching Europe by way of Venice around 1560, although Portuguese trading ships may have made contact with the Chinese as early as 1515.

      It was the Portuguese and Dutch traders who first imported tea to Europe, with regular shipments by 1610. England was a latecomer to the tea trade, as the East India Company did not capitalize on tea's popularity until the mid-18th century.

      Click here

domingo, 21 de agosto de 2011

ME AND MY MOBILE

TEACHING IDEAS...

     Pupils will:
  • Look at their own consumer behaviour and begin to understand how they are targeted by companies
  • Begin to understand the global effects of their decisions and explore the concept of 'interconnectedness'
  • Examine the dangers of e-waste and the idea of sustainability. They will hopefully begin to realise that their own actions have far reaching effects
      This scheme of work is divided into three lessons, each of which is accompanied by a PowerPoint. The lesson plans are as follows:

      Lesson Plan 1: Whats in a phone?
      Lesson Plan 2: Mobiles, mining and gorillas
      Lesson Plan 3/4: Thrown Away- Where is 'away'?

      More information and materials, here

martes, 16 de agosto de 2011

YOUTH UNITE TO CHANGE THE WORLD: WYD MADRID 2011

                                                                                                                   
  WORLD YOUTH DAY, MADRID 2011 

      
     World Youth Alliance, an international organization dedicated to promoting human rights and solidarity among youth, recently emphasized the global importance and positive effects achieved by World Youth Day. 

      Van Blauwen´s testimony further emphasized the role of religion as a positive contribution to the European Union: 

      “It seems to me that he, and Benedict XVI with him, encouraged us young people that we can make a difference, that the future is up to us, not by being revolutionaries but by doing what God calls us to do, studying for the one, working for the other, taking up social and political responsibilities in small town organizations and on a higher level.”

Visit the website

sábado, 13 de agosto de 2011

WHERE DOES THE NAME BEEFEATER ORIGINATE FROM?

      The guards at the Tower of London are called Yeoman Warders. In principle they are responsible for looking after any prisoners at the Tower and safeguarding the British crown jewels, but in practice they act as tour guides and are a tourist attraction in their own right. There are twelve Yeomen Warders.

      While their role is usually confined to the Tower of London, the Yeomen Warders do take part in one State ceremony. At Coronations, they form a guard of honour inside the annexe at Westminster Abbey.

      Their nickname is Beefeater.

      To read more, here

domingo, 7 de agosto de 2011

GREAT MISTAKES, GREAT DISCOVERIES

GREAT MISTAKES: FROM PENICILLIN TO CRIPS.


      After inoculating several dishes with the bacterium staphylococcus, Alexander Fleming forgot to cover them up before going on holiday. On his return, one of the dishes had grown mould. Fleming observed that the bacteria around the mould were all dead, thus discovering that the mould Penicillium had antibacterial properties.

      In 1492 Christopher Columbus set sail westwards intent on discovering a new route to Asia. Miscalculating the Earth’s circumference meant he actually landed in America, opening up trade links between the old and new worlds.

      In 1839 Charles Goodyear accidentally dropped some India rubber mixed with sulphur on to a hot stove, discovering the vulcanisation process which made possible the commercial use of rubber.

      Chef George Crum invented crisps in 1853 when a customer at a restaurant in New York, returned his fries to the kitchen. In anger, Crum sliced them as thinly as possible, over-fried them and doused them in salt. The customer was delighted and the crisp was born.

miércoles, 3 de agosto de 2011

TOPICS

     
     Most EFL course books are organized around topics – themes such as the body, transport, clothes, animals or sports. At higher levels the concepts may be more abstract – the environment or culture. This seems logical as we need something to talk about; a topic provides a context making language learning and use more meaningful and purposeful.

      The structural approach to language learning emphasizes knowing about and being able to use grammar and vocabulary items. The communicative approach seeks to provide tasks in which learners use language to do the sorts of things they would do in their native language. Activity-based learning realizes that children learn by doing, exploring their interests and experimenting. Teaching through topics can draw on all three approaches. Learners are also using their own knowledge as well as learning something apart from the language.

      To read more