Students’ Views on….

Students' Corner, Writing, ,

…two hot issues. On the one hand, Estibalith Solaguren expresses her opinion on whether Famous People are Treated Unfairly by the Media or Not  and on the other hand, Dulce Mariño gives her view on Whether Sex Education Should Be Taught at the Schools. Two very interesting issues that are food for thought. Thank very much to these two Intermediate students; I really appreciate you taking the time it takes to type and send me your contributions.

“Are famous treated unfairly by the media? Should they be given more privacy, or is the price of their fame an invasion into their private lives?”

Nowadays we can see that famous people seem to have no right to privacy. In spite of the fact that gossip programmes have so many followers, I completely disagree with how they treat celebrities.

It is true that a famous person’s life is more interesting than an anonymous one yet, they are treated unfairly.

Firstly, because there are lots of reporters waiting twenty-four seven at their doorsteps. They cannot go to the bakery without being shot, even when they go with children.

Secondly, gossip journalists give us fake news and they do not apologize if it proves to be a lie.

There are definitely different kinds of celebrities. On the one hand, there are people who are known because of their job e.g. singers, actors, … whereas, we have people who are known because they have sold their privacy. In any case, the media cannot abuse people in that way, even if they have sold their lives. It is like a prostitute who sells her/his body, it does not mean that she/he can be raped.

To sum up, the media are to inform us, but it is not necessary to attack, without mercy, a famous person to obtain a scoop.

“Sex in the schools”

Sex education for children should be approved in High School. Some people believe that it’s worse for children because they think that they are rather immature. Personally, in my view, it’s pretty important for young people to prevent teen pregnancy and sex diseases.
Firstly, the children from the age of twelve to nineteen are physically in a period of change and sex education can help them to understand the change of their sex organs.
Secondly, students are taught how to use condoms. I think that they are very embarrassed to speak with their parents about this. In addition, sex education helps to avoid social problems like early marriage, teen pregnancy, sex abuses and sex diseases.
In conclusion, I believe that sex education in the schools has important advantages for both teenagers and the society.

Now read the essay below, with a sample Opinion Essay from the British Council and if you feel you need more practise, click on the picture to do the interactive exercises on their website.

Two more role-plays

Role-plays, ,

I don’t know. I think I need  a holiday. I drag myself through the week and then Saturday and Sunday I just feel so sleepy I cannot bring myself to do the little things that not so long ago brought me a great deal of pleasure. I must be getting old though I am trying to convince myself that it is just another case of  spring depression. And why not embrace it? Why should I be expected to be up and cheerful all the time? why not sit quietly , enjoying my mood ? It is just another part of me and there is beauty to be found in all parts of me , for sure 🙂

Meanwhile, while I would be happy to stay at home nursing my current mood , my students still deserve to get the best of me.  Here it is, more role plays to practise for the certificación oral test. Don’t forget to check my Role Play Section.

BOOKING A ROOM IN A HOTEL

AT THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES

Tips to Describe Pictures: Music

Picture Description, Speaking, Tips to get a good mark in the EOI exams, , , , ,

OMG! Where does time go? It seems only like yesterday when with butterflies in my stomach I greeted my new students. It was early October and, at that time, the course seemed long enough to last a lifetime, and just now I ‘ve realized that spring is technically here,  in fact, it ‘s been here for several days though I don’t feel exactly in on spring-mode and… it doesn’t help that it’s been raining on and off for the last few days. 🙁

Anyway, the Certificación exam is fast approaching and we need to practise a lot, especially speaking.

In the second part of the oral exam you will be asked to describe pictures ( a max. of three) and, in this part, you will be on your own. The examiner won’t ask you any questions.

REMEMBER

♥the pictures are just an excuse to talk about the topic

♥describe what you can see, comparing and contrasting the pictures. We don’t want you to describe in detail, just give a general description.

♥Use a wide variety of vocabulary and structures. Join your ideas using connectors.

♥Talk about the topic explaining your point of view.

♥Normally the pictures show different sides of the same issue. Say which one you would choose and why.

You have three minutes to shine 🙂

LET’S PRACTISE WITH THESE PHOTOS.  (click here to see the original)

Some ideas to help you talk:

How important is music in your life?
How much time do you spend listening to music each day or week?
Do you think music is getting better or worse?
Do you ever go out to listen to music live? When was the last time you went to a concert/gig? Gig /ɡɪɡ/ is a slang word than means live performance

Now, let’s try this one. Original here



How important is music in your life?
How much time do you spend listening to music each day or week?
Do you think music is getting better or worse?
Have you ever illegally downloaded music? Do you think it is okay or not okay to download music illegally?
With the increasing rise of downloading from the internet, what do you think the future of the music industry is?
Do you think music is getting better or worse?

England? Great Britain? United Kingdom or maybe The British Isles?

General, ,

Have you ever wondered what’s the difference between England and Great Britain? Has it ever crossed your mind the possibility that The United Kingdom and Great Britain might  not be synonyms? I’ve come across this beautiful picture from Taste of Awesome.com, that beautifully helps clarify these  terms. I’ve just added the words Great Britain. I hope the author doesn’t mind. And, whatever you do, “never” call a Scottish person English or ask them why they wear skirts. Please, it is a kilt,  not a skirt!! There is a big difference!!

What a mess! I hope none of my students read this post. And why … you might be wondering? the reason is simple…. I always tell my students that English is a very easy language to learn. Hey! What do you want me to say? Do they really need to know that it is so irregular in pronunciation and spelling that even most native speakers need to think twice before daring to write some words?

If you don’t believe me, read this poem. You might change your mind!

We’ll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes,
But the plural of ox should be oxen, not oxes.
Then one fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,
Yet the plural of moose should never be meese,
You may find a lone mouse or a whole nest of mice,
But the plural of house is houses, not hice.

If the plural of man is always called men,
Why shouldn’t the plural of pan be called pen?
The cow in the plural may be cows or kine,
But a bow if repeated is never called bine,
And the plural of vow is vows, never vine.

If I speak of a foot and you show me your feet,
And I give you a boot would a pair be called beet?
If one is a tooth, and a whole set are teeth,
Why shouldn’t the plural of booth be called beeth?

If the singular’s this and the plural is these,
Should the plural of kiss ever be nicknamed keese?
Then one may be that and three would be those,
Yet hat in the plural would never be hose,
And the plural of cat is cats, not cose.

We speak of a brother, and also of brethren,
But though we say mother, we never say methren,
Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him,
But imagine the feminine she, shis and shim,

So the English, I think, you all will agree,
Is the queerest language you ever did see