Technology: A blessing or a curse?

Hello everybody,

Today in our computer time we will carry out two activities. First, I would like you to check a couple of videos in youtube that will give you an idea of some recent developments in two important fields: housing and communications.

In the first one, you will take a virtual tour of Bill Gates' house and will compare it with the ideas we discussed in class: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9738CIiY41k

In the second one, you will watch a video on the latest gadgets for cell phones, again compare it with the ideas we discussed in class and blog a comment:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwTALySOy9Y

To finish I want you to check the trailers for the 5 movies we chose in class and be ready to report tomorrow on whether the topics shown in them will happen in the future or had already happened.

Take care

Let's get ready for valentine's Day!!

It is coming . . don't you feel it in the air?

Valentine's day is celebrated on February 14th in America. Here is a link in which you will have the chance to watch a video and learn some things about this traditional holiday.

Love is all around! www.history.com/minisites/valentine/

P.S. The video might take some time to download depending on the speed of your internet connection.

Inventors and their inventions!

Hello everybody,

As the topic of our last unit in this course (yes, the end is near) is technology. I found a couple of pages you might enjoy visiting.

The first one has a description of latest inventions a round the world and a special link for "funny inventions" which is hilarious. Try it at: www.inventionreaction.com/

The other link has a collection of pictures of crazy inventions. Take a look at the pictures and blog your comments on how useful or unuseful they are. http://www.weirdthings.org.uk/crazy-inventions-picture-gallery-choose-your-weirdest-invention-now/

Take care

Interview with an immigrant!

Hello everybody,

This post is for you to blog your comments on the interview we are going to have today with a foreign teacher. I just want a short comment on what called your attention the most.

Have fun.

Let's practice some pronunciation!

Check the sure shot charged surely by the changing shift.

Try saying this short tongue twister. . . kind of hard isn't it. Well as we have been working with the pronunciation of some vowel and consonat sounds, I would like you to take some time to visit a web page that offers you exercises, explanations and some video and audio recordings for you to clarify some doubts you may have.

Go ahead and have fun!

http://www.soundsofenglish.org/pronunciation/sounds.htm

Phrasal verbs mania!

Hi class,

I hope you have missed me as much as I did yesterday. I imagine you had a good time with Alejandro, though. I found some websites in which you will be able to practice some phrasal verbs.

In the first two you will find three categories: Listening with a couple of short videos in which phrasal verbs are used and you will have to answer some comprehension questions while the video is played, Vocabulary with a synonyms activity and reading with a short quiz on the verbs you used in the activity.

http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-word-games-phrasals4fun-health-index.htm

http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-word-games-phrasals4fun-money-index.htm

The other page I want to recommend is a must see, you can see different phrasal verbs everyday and different stuff related to this interesting topic.

www.phrasalverbdemon.com

Have fun!

Listening task: Cultural eating differences

Hi everybody, Welcome to your first listening task of the course. During the last two classes we have discussed food trends and cultural differences. This time you are to visit a site in which you will listen to an interview about food differences and manners among cultures. The interview answers seven questions which are displayed along it. You are to take notes and once you have watched the complete interview put together a comprenhensive answer for each of the questions.
The link is: www.videojug.com/interview/table-manners-across-cultures-2

Have fun.

P.S. The video might take some minutes to be downloaded so in the meantime I would like you to take a survey about favorite food and blog your comments on how your results are compared to the rest of the people. The survey will show you graphs based on your answers.

www.quibblo.com/quiz/1B122j/What-Are-Your-Favorite-Foods

The cabbage mystery

Hello little ones,

As we had such a hard time understanding what a cabbage is in class yesterday, I have a definiton and a picture for you so we have a complete understanding of this mysterious vegetable.

The cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), is a leafy garden plant of the Family Brassicaceae (or Cruciferae), used as a vegetable. It is a herbaceous, biennial, dicotyledonousflowering plant distinguished by a short stem upon which is crowded a mass of leaves, usually green but in some varieties red or purplish, forming a characteristic compact, globular cluster (cabbagehead). Cabbage is normally green, but, if left to rot, can turn a sickly brown.

Take it easy.

P.S. An extra link is here for Margie and Carolina who did not have the pleasure of playing with "Cabbage dolls" in their childhood. Meet them here: www.cabbagepatchkids.com/

Eating habits and culture!

Hello angels, (This time the link is working)

As we discussed yesterday in class there are several factors that influence what you eat. As culture is one of the most noticeable ones, I would like you to take a cool quiz about eating and drinking habits in different countries. I have to confess I missed one of the questions but I learned a lot from the quiz. I hope you do too.

Take care.

You can find the quiz here: http://www.fekids.com/img/kln/flash/DontGrossOutTheWorld.swf

Back in business!

Hello everybody,

I hope you have enjoyed your vacation together with your beloved ones. I had a great time with my family and I had a chance to rest and do many things you don't usually do because of time constraints. I missed you a lot and I hope to see you all next week in class. Remember our first class will be on January 19th, same time, same place.

As a warm-up, I'd like you to take a look at the following site which will give you an idea of the first topic we will discuss during our first week of class:

http://www.tv.com/video/wmQ_IcDHLiHaLh8DiEj5DidVjA5NscDj/101/7328/food-trends-for-2009?o=cbs

See you around people!