Language, culture and identity; Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This entry corresponds to level C1

Hi there!

In these weeks we've mainly been talking about culture and identity, and we've discussed identity icons that define us, our country, or other countries.

In one session we also talked about the relationship between language and identity, and in that sense I'd like you to know a little bit about the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which holds that the structure of a language affects the perceptions of reality of its speakers and thus influences their thought patterns and worldviews.

Please, check the video below (it's only 6 minutes; the remaining 2 are for credits). If you open it on YouTube, you can activate the option of "subtitles". As you know, those subtitles are computer-generated, so you're going to find many mistakes. However, they can still help you to follow the main ideas.

In Unit 3 we've started talking about relationships, and I've asked you to read the short story "Imitations", by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

She's an Igbo writer from Nigeria. She has been labeled as the most prominent of a procession of acclaimed young anglophone authors that has succeeded in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature. Since she's settled in the US, some of her stories also show the cultural clash between the Western and African views of the world.

Listen to her on this very interesting talk about the power of stories. You'll find her extremely easy to understand due to her crystal-clear diction and her outstanding communicative skills.



If you want to read a little bit more about her life, and her writing career, check the document below. You can also visit her official website here. I strongly recommend you to read something else by her.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie by ana_uk877884



For Tuesday, remember you have to record a video about a day in your lives; on Thursday you have to hand in the second writing of the term.

Have a great Sunday!
Ana.

Emphatic structures; Oklahoma tornado; stereotypes; Lonely Planet

Hi there!

You might not believe it, but we've nearly had a month of lessons already!

Today I post our first entry in the blog. I'll regularly try to post a brief summary of what we've been doing in the lessons but, most importantly, I'll publish extra material with which you can practise at home and expand what we do in class.

We've already finished Unit 1 about cities, and now we've just started Unit 2, on culture and identity. We've learnt plenty of vocabulary, and we've also revised perfect tenses and emphatic structures. If you want more information on the latter, please check this link.


In Unit 1 we watched a video about recovery after a natural disaster. I post it below in case you might want to watch it again:




We also had a session on urban legends. Check the video below about the 25 most popular urban legends still being told!



In Unit 2 we've already done some interesting activities on stereotypes and the relationship between language, culture and identity.

Here I post a video about how Madrid is described in the Lonely Planet guide. Do you agree with the image given of the Spanish capital city?





Have a great weekend and see you on Tuesday!

How to get your point across in Spain

Hi there,

I've just found this very interesting article on how we communicate in Spain. I believe the writer manages to capture many of our cultural features, and how we display them in communication... or doesn't he?

How to get your point across in Spain

What do you think of the image given of the Spanish? Do you agree with the way we are portrayed? Feel free to post a comment below!

Wikileaks; Bowling for Columbine; Sicko; Gandhi quotes

Hi everyone!

Last week we continued with Unit 5 and we've practically finished it by now.

On Tuesday we talked about Wikileaks (Unit 5.3. in your books). Click here for a newspaper article from The Guardian in which Assange, the founder of the website, criticises and attacks the new WikiLeaks film which is to be released shortly.

For the students in 5º CAL,  here I leave you with the link to the CLIL (AICLE in Spanish) materials I showed you in class. I hope you find them helpful and manage to implement them in your classrooms:

http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/educacion/webportal/web/aicle/contenidos/

On Thursday I gave you back your compositions which, as I said in class, were astoundingly good this time. Congratulations on your work. The example of a problem-solution essay that you had in your books was about "gun control". Below I post the documentary "Bowling for Columbine" (2002), by Michael Moore, which explore the causes for the Columbine High School massacre in 1999 and other acts of violence with guns. It's veritably insightful (rated with an 8,0 in IMDB).

The video is in English with subtitles in Spanish:



There is an even more interesting documentary by Michael Moore about the American health system (rated with an 8,1 in IMDB). It is entitled "Sicko", a wordplay between the words "sick" and "psycho". I strongly recommend you to watch it, as it offers a comprehensive overview of how the health system currently functions in the US. You can watch it online by clicking on the link below:

http://www.documentarywire.com/sicko

And, finally, here I leave you with some famous Gandhi quotes. As  you know, the 30th of January is the International Day of Peace, a date which was precisely chosen to commemorate Gandhi's death. We had some time to work with them in 5ºCAL, but not in 5ºA, so here you have them:

Mahatma Gandhi Quotes by ana_uk877884

For homework, remember to do the Grammar Bank corresponding to the passive voice (Unit 5.2.) and the section devoted to phrasal verbs/multi-word verbs.

Enjoy your weekend :)

Ana.

Week 19th - 23rd November: Culture; Thanksgiving

Hi everyone!

On Tuesday we discussed some intercultural experiences we had had, either in Spain or abroad, and which provided us with insights into other people's cultures, but also our own.




We also read a poem by John Godfrey Saxe's (1816-1887), a version of the famous Indian legend "The Elephant and the 6 Blind Men".

We also did a FCE listening, which proved to be a bit difficult... And, finally, we corrected the handout on metaphors.

On Thursday we corrected the text "Lonely Planet" and worked with some difficult vocabulary. We then focused on the first grammatical content of unit 3: Noun phrases (remember that complex noun phrases are particularly relevant for your writing). To end with, we corrected the Use of English.

In case you didn't know, Thursday was Thanksgiving. I had prepared an activity, but the projector broke down, so here I post the video so that you may watch it at home. It's from a very big (famous, trendy) programme in the States at the moment, called the EllenShow, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. Watch it and try to understand as much as you can.
  


For homework, do Grammar Bank 3.1 (theory + activities; 5º CAL also 6b in unit 3.1.), and prepare a short presentation about a photograph that is relevant for you. By all means, try to elaborate your language as much as possible. I remind you that we don't have "speaking exam" in December, so I have to evaluate you with the activities we do in class.

Have a nice weekend!

Week 12th - 16th November: reading, videos and Indian cuisine; Skyfall

Hi there!

As usual, here I post a summary of what we did last week along with some other complementary/extra material that you may find useful.

Last week we started Unit 3. We began talking about places and travelling, and discussed some sights that we thought were overrated. I've found a link on the Internet about the "10 most disappointing Attractions in Europe". Check it here!




We also did a listening about an anecdote on an air taxi (funny, yet still terrifying if we had been there!). On the Internet I found a video of a girl who had another "dangerous" situation with a taxi. Click here to watch it.

As promised, in 5ºA we finished with the song "Set fire to the rain". Here I leave you with a live version at the Royal Albert Hall:



On Thursday 5º CAL had normal class, and we eventually got round to doing the activity on the film "Skyfall". Here I leave you the first video, so that you can watch it again at home.



And here you have the interview with Javier Bardem:



During 5ºA's lesson time we attended a presentation by Susen Ahwulalia, a Londoner from Indian descent. It was absolutely superb, and we all learnt a lot about traditions and festivals in India!

Maybe you'd be surprised to know that she's actually an expert in Indian cuisine! If you are interested in cooking, visit her blog and check out a few Indian recipes! (Be careful not to get a "Delhi belly" though! haha).

"Top Ten Beaches in the World" - thanks to Pablo Suárez

Hi everyone,


I hope your week is off to a good start! :)

The other day we talked about places and discussed sights that had lived up to our expectations, sights that hadn't, and also places we felt guilty about not having visited. Pepe (5º CAL) talked about the Cies Islands, and that reminded Pablo of an article by The Guardian entitled "Top Ten Beaches in the World".

Here you have the link.

Check out for number one! :)

Thanks for sharing, Pablo.

Indian festivals and traditions

Last entry for today, I promise! :)

Next week we're going to have a special activity in the school. We have invited an Indian girl to give us a presentation about Indian festivals and traditions. The session for Basic Level 2 will be Tuesday 13th from 17.00 to 18.15.

I know we don't have class on Tuesdays, but, please, if you can, make an effort to come. I'm sure it's going to be incredibly interesting, and we're going to learn many things!
Poster India

Indian festivals and traditions

Last entry for today, I promise! :)

Next week we're going to have a special activity in the school. We have invited an Indian girl to give us a presentation about Indian festivals and traditions. The session for Basic Level 2 will be Tuesday 13th from 17.00 to 18.15.

I know we don't have class on Tuesdays, but, please, if you can, make an effort to come. I'm sure it's going to be incredibly interesting, and we're going to learn many things!
Poster India

Week 5th - 11th November: Child prodigies; Españasmus

Hi! How's the weekend going? I hope you are making the most of it! :)

In this entry you have a brief summary of what we've done in class this week, together with some other interesting material you might find useful. This week we've mainly focused on speaking and listening, although we've done a little bit of grammar as well: like and as and collocations in 5º CAL; expressing opinion in 5º A. (Please, note that I cover the same areas with both groups, but sometimes on different days).

On Tuesday we "played" a funny game where you had to decide who had to jump from the hot air balloon. I can't yet believe some of you even volunteered!! haha. On Thursday we also started with a speaking activity with cards. Some of the questions were rather controversial, and we held a heated debate on some of them.

On Thursday we also discussed the topic of nature (/ˈneɪtʃə(r)/) vs. nurture (/ˈnɜːtʃə/) and we watched a documentary about Vanessa-Mae, a child prodigy with the violin -remember that you can watch it again at home with the CD at the end of your book-.

The other day I watched this video about three brothers who are undoubtedly gifted in instruments as well! "The Sleepy Man Banjo Boys" they're called. Check it out!




Finally, here you have a newspaper article from the magazine "TIME" entitled "The downside of being a child prodigy". Do you agree with what it says?



As for Friday, thanks so much to the people that came. I truly appreciate your attendance :) In both groups we worked in a writing workshop, which we'll finish next Tuesday. Little by little during the year we'll do different types of exercises to help you with the difficult task of writing.

In 5º CAL we worked with a song, and in 5ºA we did an activity about "Skyfall", the last Bond film. I'll post the videos next week, when I've done the two activities in both groups :)

For homework, do the copy about "metaphors" and the FCE reading.

Finally, today I wanted to post this video that a friend shared on Facebook the other day. It's a Vodafone commercial based on how the Spanish get on with the Erasmus students.

 

To be honest, I find the video quite funny, but... isn't it time we broke the stereotype that the Spanish can't learn a foreign language? Please, feel free to post a comment below with your impressions. Thank you!

Videos so far: Baumgartner; Bullying; "Friends"

Hi again!

I've been thinking and I don't consider it worthwhile to post everything we've been doing during the past few weeks, but at least I wanted you to have the videos we've watched in class, so that you may watch them again at home.


The first one we saw was the one about Felix Baumgartner. Click here to watch it online.









The other one we have watched so far is the one about bullying. Click here to watch it again.










Finally, for Halloween we watched an episode from "Friends". It was episode 6 from season 8. You can watch it online at www.cuevana.tv.








From now onwards I'll do my best to write regularly and provide you with extra material to reinforce, complement and expand what we do in class. And, as I said in my previous entry, you're more than welcome to contribute as well :)

Enjoy what is left of the bank holiday and see you on Tuesday!

Unit 2: Oct 2012

Hello everyone,

In the previous entry I posted some information to revise Unit 1. Here I do the same with Unit 2!

In this unit we have talked about fast food, first meetings, love and relationships, stories and how to start and finish a conversation!

About grammar, we revised how to form the past simple and the past continuous, and when we use them. Be very careful with the pronunciation of the -ed past. The rule "PoKaSH FiCHaS Te Doy" can help!

Here you have the uses of the past continuous, so that you can revise them (if you want to see it bigger, go to the original page, but only look at uses 1 to 4):

 If you want to practise a bit more, here you have some exercises (from easier to more difficult):

• Was, were, wasn't or weren't?

• Complete the story with verbs in the past continuous

• Put the words in order to make sentences

• Finish the sentences with the correct ending

• Complete the text with the past simple or continuous

On Wednesday we celebrated Halloween. Here you have a powerpoint presentation with a summary of the story we read:

View more presentations from Ana Bueno Amaro

And here you have a video to learn how to carve a pumpkin!



Basically, what you need to do is to remove the top of the pumpkin and take out all the seeds (semillas). Then draw a face on the pumpkin and cut it with a knife. Finally, put a candle inside! If you try to make a jack-o-lantern, please bring it to class the next day! :)

Finally, I gave you back your informal letters and I gave you a copy with some of the symbols I use. Here you have it, in case you don't have a copy:

Marking Code



I hope you're enjoying the bank holiday! :)

Past simple & past continuous; Halloween

Hello everyone,

In the previous entry I posted some information to revise Unit 1. Here I do the same with Unit 2!

In this unit we have talked about fast food, first meetings, love and relationships, stories and how to start and finish a conversation!

About grammar, we revised how to form the past simple and the past continuous, and when we use them. Be very careful with the pronunciation of the -ed past. The rule "PoKaSH FiCHaS Te Doy" can help!

Here you have the uses of the past continuous, so that you can revise them (if you want to see it bigger, go to the original page, but only look at uses 1 to 4):

 If you want to practise a bit more, here you have some exercises (from easier to more difficult):

• Was, were, wasn't or weren't?

• Complete the story with verbs in the past continuous

• Put the words in order to make sentences

• Finish the sentences with the correct ending

• Complete the text with the past simple or continuous

On Wednesday we celebrated Halloween. Here you have a powerpoint presentation with a summary of the story we read:

View more presentations from Ana Bueno Amaro

And here you have a video to learn how to carve a pumpkin!



Basically, what you need to do is to remove the top of the pumpkin and take out all the seeds (semillas). Then draw a face on the pumpkin and cut it with a knife. Finally, put a candle inside! If you try to make a jack-o-lantern, please bring it to class the next day! :)

I hope you're enjoying the bank holiday! :)

Unit 2: Oct 2012

Hello everyone,

In the previous entry I posted some information to revise Unit 1. Here I do the same with Unit 2!

In this unit we have talked about fast food, first meetings, love and relationships, stories and how to start and finish a conversation!

About grammar, we revised how to form the past simple and the past continuous, and when we use them. Be very careful with the pronunciation of the -ed past. The rule "PoKaSH FiCHaS Te Doy" can help!

Here you have the uses of the past continuous, so that you can revise them (if you want to see it bigger, go to the original page, but only look at uses 1 to 4):

 If you want to practise a bit more, here you have some exercises (from easier to more difficult):

• Was, were, wasn't or weren't?

• Complete the story with verbs in the past continuous

• Put the words in order to make sentences

• Finish the sentences with the correct ending

• Complete the text with the past simple or continuous

On Wednesday we celebrated Halloween. Here you have a powerpoint presentation with a summary of the story we read:

View more presentations from Ana Bueno Amaro

And here you have a video to learn how to carve a pumpkin!



Basically, what you need to do is to remove the top of the pumpkin and take out all the seeds (semillas). Then draw a face on the pumpkin and cut it with a knife. Finally, put a candle inside! If you try to make a jack-o-lantern, please bring it to class the next day! :)

Finally, I gave you back your informal letters and I gave you a copy with some of the symbols I use. Here you have it, in case you don't have a copy:

Marking Code



I hope you're enjoying the bank holiday! :)

Cultural differences; animated history of Coca-Cola

Hi everyone!

In these last two weeks we've worked with the book, but especially with photocopies. Make sure you revise the vocabulary and grammar carefully.

Last Friday we had class and we watched a video about cultural differences among countries as regards handshaking and other body language. I've just found a video by National Geographic where a group of Africans travel to the United States... You can imagine the cultural shock! Watch the video and you'll see (most of it is subtitled as the African accent is extremely strong):





On Tuesday we watched a video about the history of Coca-Cola. You have the transcription in the copies, so here I post the video so that you may watch it again:


In the second hour, we corrected the copy about the passive voice. Check it carefully at home and ask me next week in case you have any questions. At any rate, we'll practise a bit more next week. For homework, remember to do the two tests (Use of English and Reading).

Finally, in these two weeks we've had two complementary activities: poetry reading and the spring party. Thank all of you for your participation. We also had to say goodbye to Leah... She's been such a good language assistant. Let's hope we are at least as lucky next year!

We'll devote next week to revision, and to answer any questions you may have.

Well, have a nice weekend and see you all on Tuesday!
Ana.

Conditionals; crime; Jack the Ripper

Hi everyone!

I hope your weekend is off to a good start (nice expression to learn!), although the weather is absolutely miserable!! Let's hope this howling wind goes away soon!

Last week we corrected the unit about "The Natural World". It's a lot of vocabulary, I know, but, remember, take things calmly: sit down, select the words you don't know, copy them in your notebook and check them regularly.


Last week we also started to talk about crime and we learnt some words such as:

On Tuesday we didn't have class because it was a bank holiday, and when we came back on Thursday I gave you back your compositions. I'm very glad to say that I can see a big, big improvement in comparison with the first compositions you sent me. Well done, and keep up the good work, guys. Keep up the good work :)

With Leah you talked about World Book Day and in my hour we corrected the unit about the Conditionals and some exercises which were lagging behind (que se nos habían quedado atrás). If you want to practise a bit more, try doing the following:
Conditionals


This week we also had class on Friday. Thanks once again for all the people that came. I truly, truly appreciate your effort :)

We talked about famous criminals and serial killers, and we focused on Jack the Ripper, who really existed! Below I post some of the newspaper articles that were published after his murders (1888). Really interesting!

We then watched some fragments from the film "From Hell" and with Advanced Level 1 A we also had time to play a game called "Ullaby"... All the suspects were found guilty!! If you're interested in this case, check this website, where you have plenty of information and videos about the mysterious Jack the Ripper.

Have a nice weekend! :)
Ana.

International Day of the Book

Yesterday, 23rd April, was the celebration of the International Day of the Book.

I have just found this video online: it is from the Book Council in New Zealand and its objective is to promote reading.

The person is reading part of the book. I know you won't be able to understand it, but simply watch it and see the magical effect that reading has in our heads :)

International Day of the Book

Yesterday, 23rd April, was the celebration of the International Day of the Book.

I have just found this video online: it is from the Book Council in New Zealand and its objective is to promote reading.

The person is reading part of the book. I know you won't be able to understand it, but simply watch it and see the magical effect that reading has in our heads :)

Curious laws in other countries

On Wednesday we had one hour with Leah and you talked about the political organisation of the United States.

I was surfing the Internet to look for information about that and I found some very curious laws! Below I post a few of them. Believe it or not, they are still in law books today, but some of them are absolutely ridiculous!!! :) - For a whole list, check this link.

IN THE UNITED STATES

In Ohio it is illegal to get a fish drunk.

In Tennessee, it is illegal to drive if you are asleep.

In Indiana, it is illegal to dress Barbie in Ken's clothes.

In Kentucky it is illegal to paint your lawn red. Any other colour is fine.

In Florida unmarried women can be jailed if they parachute on a Sunday.

In Miami, it is illegal to imitate an animal.

In Los Angeles, it is illegal to tell a customer you are really an actor.

In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to put a dollar on a string and pull it away when someone tries to pick it up.

IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament.

A pregnant woman can legally urinate anywhere she wants, including if she requests, in a policeman's hat.

In York it is legal to murder a Scotsman within its ancient city walls but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow.

IN OTHER COUNTRIES

In Toronto in Canada, it is illegal to drive a street car on a Sunday if you have been eating garlic.

In France it is illegal to name a pig Napoleon

In Iceland, it is illegal to blow on lampposts.

In Hong Kong, a woman can kill her husband if he has cheated on her. She must use her bare hand though.

In Samoa, it is illegal to forget your wife's birthday.

Week 25

Hello everyone!

Last week we came back from our Easter holidays. I hope you come full of energy! We only have the last months of the course in front of us!

On Monday you told me about your holidays, and then we talked about the similarities between our nazarenos and the members of the Ku Klux Klan. We read a text that told us that there wasn't any relationship at all between them. After that, we learnt about different Easter traditions in other countries in the world.

KKK vs. Semana Santa

Finally, we talked a little bit about Multiple Intelligence Theory and different learning styles. If you want to listen to the audio again, click here. Below you have the transcription.








Learning Styles TRANSCRIPT



Maybe you can use some of these strategies in your own learning! Apart from the quiz we did in class, you can learn a bit more about what type of learner you are by doing the quiz here. And here you have some ideas to help you studying depending on your type of intelligence (NOTE: Tactile refers to bodily-kinaesthetic). You can apply this to you, and also to your students!

On Wednesday we had one hour with Leah and you talked about the political organisation of the United States. I was surfing the Internet to look for information about that and I found some very curious laws! Below I post a few of them. Believe it or not, they are still in law books today, but some of them are absolutely ridiculous!!! :) - For a whole list, check this link.

IN THE UNITED STATES

In Ohio it is illegal to get a fish drunk.
In Tennessee, it is illegal to drive if you are asleep.
In Indiana, it is illegal to dress Barbie in Ken's clothes.
In Kentucky it is illegal to paint your lawn red. Any other colour is fine.
In Florida unmarried women can be jailed if they parachute on a Sunday.
In Miami, it is illegal to imitate an animal.
In Los Angeles, it is illegal to tell a customer you are really an actor.
In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to put a dollar on a string and pull it away when someone tries to pick it up.

IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament.
A pregnant woman can legally urinate anywhere she wants, including if she requests, in a policeman's hat.
In York it is legal to murder a Scotsman within its ancient city walls but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow.

IN OTHER COUNTRIES

In Toronto in Canada, it is illegal to drive a street car on a Sunday if you have been eating garlic.

In France it is illegal to name a pig Napoleon

In Iceland, it is illegal to blow on lampposts.

In Hong Kong, a woman can kill her husband if he has cheated on her. She must use her bare hand though.

In Samoa, it is illegal to forget your wife's birthday.

On Friday we talked about awkward (strange) social situations: we learnt some expressions to use in different situations and we also watched a video in which a man was in a pretty uncomfortable situation... :P Then there was a powercut/blackout (this is the second time this has happened to us!!), so we corrected some homework.

Two of the exercises were about verbs that were followed by (i) infinitive with to; (ii) infinitive without to and (iii) -ing. Click here for a revision of this and here to do an activity online.

When the light came back, we watched two recipe videos that you have in the entry before! I had planned to do the song with most votes as well, but there was no time. We'll do it today :)

See you later!