TO READ OR NOT TO READ

March 5th is World Read Aloud Day in 2014 and I know you are quite stressed up right now, but I'm just asking one minute of your time, no more no less.

Select one of these Read-Alouds from the New York Times and read an extract of it for a minute.

Be really careful with pronunciation, but also with intonation, which is as important. Try to enunciate your voice and give your text the correct pace and rythm. Send me a voicemail before the week ends.

You can always check how to pronounce a few words here

OBAMA'S INAUGURATIONAL SPEECH

President Obama has just celebrated his second inauguration ceremony on Monday and this is a major events for American people and also for the rest of the world. It's always held on Janurary 20th unless the date falls on Sunday, in which case it's postponed to Monday.

You know it's his second and last term of office as USA Constitution clearly states. Many people have expressed hope and voiced their expectations for his second term, including moving health care forward and tackling issues like gun control, gay rights, the status of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

There are a lot of cool resources on his second oath but I would like you to have a look at the following.

• Presidential Inauguration Speeches from Nixon to Obama Word Cloud  Browse through it and see how it works and how words connected in different speeches. Choose a word and its connected words and create a short meaningful sentence with them below. Make sure any president could use your sentence in one of his speeches.

Created with Wallwisher

• The oaths from Washington to Obama Choose a couple of presidents and read about the details to their oaths. You also have the script to their speeches, which you will need for the last activity.

• Watch President Obama's inaugurational speech and read the script at the same time. Now read 6 lines out of his speech. Make sure you listen to your partner's reading and continue where he/she left it. Let's see if we can all together read his whole speech. Careful with intonation!

 

 

Check your marks and mistakes here. Highlights pronunciation mistakes whereas highlights intonation and stress mistakes

 Finally, look at these beautiful pictures of different moments of the ceremony.

 

Deadline: Sunday 27th

 

 

READING FAIRY TALES ALOUD

“The language of books is learned - not taught”

You are going to read Fairy Tales aloud to the class but before you do, you need to work on your fairy tale, get to understand it and make it yours.


Reading aloud and Storytelling is an art form and we have to hook the listener with the delivery of our first line.




 How do we tell/read a story:

• You must express emotions and reactions - expressive storytelling/reading will be remembered.
• You need to use silence, pauses and emphasize words for dramatic effect.
• Maintain eye contact 
• Visualize it - think of it as a comic strip
• Create your own version. Retell it numerous times to yourself
• Be focused and maintain concentration
• Ask questions to your audience to engage them in the reading.

You'll read the stories in pairs or groups of threes depending on their length.

In this pdf you can find 8 popular fairy tales to choose from:

• Cinderella
• The Emperor's new clothes 
• Goldilocks & the three bears
• Hansel & Gretel
• Jack and the beanstalk
• The miller, his son and their donkey
• Snow White
• The town mouse and the country mouse

You can also choose among the following:

• The Ugly Duckling
• The Elves and the Shoemaker
• The Fisherman and His Wife
• Tom Thumb
• The Little Red Hen
• The Three Billy Goats Gruff
• The Pied Piper of Hamelin
• Rapunzel
• Bambi
• Little Red Riding Hood
• The Sleeping Beauty
• Beauty and the Beast
• Puss in Boots                  

Write a comment to this post with the fairy tale of your choice and your names.    

You can enter your text into this site to check  pronounciation. For single words this other site is faster.           

READERS 2011-12

These are the titles of the books you will be reading with me this school year. Look at your course and level to know a little more about it.  Have fun!

1º ESO

"Vampire Killer" Ed. Oxford (Starter Level) 1ºESO. LOWER LEVEL

'I am a vampire killer . . . and now I need help,' says Professor Fletcher to Colin. Colin needs a job and he needs money - but do vampires exist or is the professor crazy?








 
"The Secret of the Stones" Ed. Vicens Vives (Green Apple-Starter) 1ºESO. HIGHER LEVEL

Twins Max and Laura spend an exciting summer in a small village near Stonehenge. A mysterious symbol, their uncle's old book of codes and secrets, strange people and much more. Read about the adventures of the two 'detectives' in this original story and maybe discover the true secret of Stonehenge.





  

3º ESO

 "K's First Case" Ed. Longman. 3ºESO. INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

Sir Michael Gray is the victim of a murder and he was very rich. Katrina Kirby - or K as she is called - is a detective and she wants to find out who the murderer is. But there are lots of suspects.This is K’s first case. Can you help her find the murderer?








 "A Kiss Before Dying" Ed. Burlington Books. 3ºESO. UPPER INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

 A powerful, hard-hitting adult story of murder and suspense by one of America's foremost novelists, which since its publication in 1954, has been made into several very successful feature films.

2º BTO 

"The Giver" by Lois Lowry 

 

 Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear of pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12 he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

STORYTELLING

Halloween is getting nearer and it's time for scary stories. 
It can be a lot of fun to read a great scary short story. You are going to prepare and read your stories aloud.

You need a lot of practice beforehand. I'll be assessing your pronunciation, intonation, rhythm... Basically, how good you are at storytelling!
Try to make your story captivating and interact with your audience. Be expressive. No one likes to listen to someone read in a monotone and expressionless voice; it does not hold their attention.

 You must choose one of the stories in one of the following sites: 

•  site 1
•  site 2
•  two more stories  

Choose a creepy short story that will make your hair stand on end!!!

I'll record your readings and make a podcast with all of them. 
Reading Dates: 30th & 31st October

INSURGENT RELEASE

   

For all of you who enjoyed reading Divergent and are eager to read the second book in the trilogy, I've got good news!!!  It's already been realeased!  You can order it now and read it during the summer.  You can check Veronica Roth's site for updates and details.   

              Anyway if you want a preview you can listen to the first five minutes of it.

A KISS BEFORE DYING

I hope you are enjoying the book assigned to you this year.
It is an exciting and powerful thriller of murder and suspense.
You are going to start working on a document divided into the three parts of the book. You have to make some kind of contribution in the document. You don't have to answer all the questions, but all of you have to take part in some way. You can answer the questions already asked by me, or you can ask some yourselves. You can give your opinion, write new words you have learnt...







Below you can find the document where you will all be typing your comments. I hope this comes useful as writing practice and to help you understand the book better. Don't forget to write your name after your contribution.



                                                                       
                                                                      PART 1

                                                    Click here to download document 1

                                                      Deadline: Saturday 28th

A Kiss Before Dying: Contributions 1

                                                                         PART 2

Clipped from: galileogalilei.titanpad.com (share this clip) 

                                                  Click here to download document 2

                                                        Deadline: Monday 6th


                                                                     PART 3 

Clipped from: galileogalilei.titanpad.com (share this clip)

                                                 Click here to download document 3
          
                                                    Deadline Monday 13th

Reading Test: February 20th

DIVERGENT

I hope you enjoy the book assigned to you this year. The simple fact of reading an unabridged book in English will be quite a feat for most of you and surely I will know how to acknowledge it.
In class we will comment on the book every week and you are going to think of some questions for each of the chapters of  "Divergent" which we will discuss in class on Fridays. You must read a minimum of 5 Chapters every week.
In order to help you collaborate and make this task more interesting, I have created a document where you will type out your questions and you will share them. In this way, all of you will know the questions your classmates have asked. Don't forget to include your name when you make your contribution. The final test will be based on some of these questions. So take good notice!
You can also contribute to the document by answering some of the questions or by writing down a glossary of new words in their context.
If you click on the image below you will be taken straight to the document with the questions. I have typed a couple of them as an example. 

Clipped from: galileogalilei.titanpad.com (share this clip)

READING BOOKS 2011-12

These are the titles of the books you will be reading along this school year. Look at your course and level to know a little more about it.  Have fun!


1º ESO 

"Girl on a Motorbike" Ed. Oxford (Starter Level) 1ºESO. LOWER LEVELS

'Give me the money,' says the robber to the Los Angeles security guard. The guard looks at the gun and hands over the money. The robber has long blond hair and rides a motorcycle - and a girl with long blond hair arrives at Kenny's motel - on a motorcycle. Is she the robber?




 
3º ESO

"K's First Case" Ed. Longman. 3ºESO. UPPER LEVEL

 Sir Michael Gray is the victim of a murder and he was very rich. Katrina Kirby - or K as she is called - is a detective and she wants to find out who the murderer is. But there are lots of suspects.This is K’s first case. Can you help her find the murderer?










"A Sherlock Holmes Collection" Ed. Burlington Books. 3ºESO. MEDIUM LEVEL

A masked man seeks protection from a political scandal; a nephew wants to find the truth behind his uncle's dark past; and a young woman fears for her life. All three como to the famous detective, Sherlock Holmes for help. Will he solve the three mysteries before it is too late? 







  
4º ESO

"A Kiss Before Dying" Ed. Burlington Books. 4ºESO. UPPER LEVELS

A powerful, hard-hitting adult story of murder and suspense by one of America's foremost novelists, which since its publication in 1954, has been made into several very successful feature films.










"The Short Cut" Ed. Stanley. (Level 1) 4º ESO DIVERSIFICACIÓN

 
In this thrilling story set in an African country devastated by war, a youn girl fights for her father's life taking a [shortcut = atajo] to maturity. Topics for reflection and discussion: family arguments, generational gap, therealization of what really matters in life.









2º BTO

 One choice can transform you. Pass initiation. Do not fail! Thrilling urban dystopian fiction debut from exciting young author. In sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior's world, society is divided into five factions -- Abnegation (the selfless), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent) -- each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue, in the attempt to form a "perfect society." At the age of sixteen, teens must choose the faction to which they will devote their lives.



 

SLAM by Nick Hornby

I hope you are enjoying the book assigned to you this year. The simple fact of reading an unabridged book in English will be quite a feat for you and surely I will acknowledge it.
As agreed, you are going to think of some questions for each of the chapters of  "Slam" and we will discuss them in class.
In order to help you collaborate and make this task more interesting, I have created a document where you will type out your questions and you will all be sharing. In this way, all of you will know the questions your classmates have asked.
The final test will be based on these questions. So take good notice!
If you click on the image below you will be taken straight to the document with the questions. I have typed the first one as an example.

Clipped from: titanpad.com (share this clip)

Also in the document below, you can type difficult words or expressions and I'm sure somebody else will help you, or I will, in the last resort. But remember that you mustn't understand every single word in the book. If you come across a difficult word, don't stop, keep reading and only if you think you're losing track of the story, you should check a dictionary or type your word in the document.
You can also help your classmates by translating the word or expression.

Clipped from: typewith.me (share this clip)

You should also know that I will always know who is collaborating in one or another document.

Here you can find the mistakes you made in the Slam exam

NATURAL DISASTERS

Natural Disaster Hot Zones in the World

 
1.- Watch the following presentations by students in 3rd ESO, who tell us about their experiences with natural disasters.

2012-13 school year

3ºAB



3ºCD



2011-12 school year





2010-11 school year






2.- Check your vocabulary about the weather in the following test





3.- Let's revise the words for natural disasters

Clipped from: www.learningchocolate.com (share this clip)

4.- Now try the following test and see if you could survive a natural catastrophe. Good luck!!!

READING BOOKS 2010-2011

These are the titles of the books you will be reading along this school year. Look at your course and level to know a little more about it. Ask your teacher about the book you must read according to your level.  Have fun!

1º ESO

"Vampire Killer" Ed. Oxford (Starter Level) 1ºESO. LOWER LEVELS

'I am a vampire killer . . . and now I need help,' says Professor Fletcher to Colin. Colin needs a job and he needs money - but do vampires exist or is the professor crazy?









"Kidnap" Ed. Oxford (Starter Level) 1ºESO. ALL LEVELS

One cold winter morning, a famous movie star and her teenage daughter are driving along a country road...

A blue van is waiting for them. Tom is in the van, but he's not a kidnapper - he's an artist. He usually draws pictures for adventure stories. Now he's in a real life adventure.







"Tales of the Alhambra" Ed. Burlington  1ºESO. HIGHER LEVELS (VOLUNTARY)

Travel back in time to the Alhambra, a place of magic and mystery. Peregil, a water carrier, discovers an ancient spell to recover hidden treasure, but he isn't the only one looking for it. Don Vincent, a poor student, finds a magic ring that leads him to the treasure of the Alhambra. Ibrahim, an Arabian astrologer, helps King Aben Habuz conquer his enemies, but the king must pay the price. Washington Irving will captivate you with this collection of popular tales. 




 2º ESO

"The Curse of the Mummy" Ed. Oxford (Dominoes One) 2º ESO ALL LEVELS

For thousands of years the dead body of the young king Tutankhamun slept under the sands of Egypt. Then, in the autumn of 1922, Howard Carter and his friends find and open his tomb door. These are exciting times, and Carter's young helper Tariq tells the story in his diary.

But soon people begin to die. Who or what is the killer? Is Tutankhamun angry with them for opening his tomb? And who is the beautiful French girl with the face of Tutankhamun's long-dead wife?




"Tales from the Thousand and One Nights" Ed. VicensVivens (Black Cat Step 1) 2º ESO ADVANCED LEVELS (VOLUNTARY)

A selection from the famous collection of Oriental stories known as the One Thousand and One Nights, including the classic favourites Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and Sindbad the Sailor.
Travel through the streets of old Baghdad, around luxurious palaces and fragrant gardens in India, to desert islands in the China seas… all in the company of kings, sultans, princesses, merchants, enchanted horses, sailors and thieves.






 3º ESO

"K's First Case" Ed. Longman. 3ºESO. HIGHER LEVELS 
                            

                                                                                                                                                                                   
Sir Michael Gray is the victim of a murder and he was very rich. Katrina Kirby - or K as she is called - is a detective and she wants to find out who the murderer is. But there are lots of suspects.This is K’s first case. Can you help her find the murderer?










4º ESO 

"Slam" 4º ESO. ADVANCED LEVEL

Fifteen-year-old Sam is an ordinary, nice kid. He gets along pretty well with his single mom, who had him when she was 16. He does OK in school, and has a few not-very-close friends. He likes to skateboard, and idolizes Tony Hawk, whose poster he talks to about his troubles. He meets a pretty girl, Alicia, and they start a passionate relationship. After a while the passion cools, and they split up. But then Alicia discovers she is pregnant, and she is determined to have and keep the baby. So begins a journey for which neither of them is ready.







 

"The Short Cut" Ed. Stanley. (Level 1) 4º ESO. LOWER LEVELS

In this thrilling story set in an African country devastated by war, a youn girl fights for her father's life taking a [shortcut = atajo] to maturity. Topics for reflection and discussion: family arguments, generational gap, therealization of what really matters in life. 










 1º BTO

"A Kiss Before Dying" Ed. Macmillan. ALL GROUPS.

A powerful, hard-hitting adult story of murder and suspense by one of America's foremost novelists, which since its publication in 1954, has been made into several very successful feature films.

READ THIS!!!

READ THIS!!!

Share that book you particularly enjoyed with others.

Let's recommend books we have read to other students. Tell everyone a little bit about the book and why it is worth reading. Tell them about your feelings when reading the book.

Try to sound natural and talk about the book, do not read your commentary. Due date: 17th May

3RD TERM VOLUNTARY READERS

During the final term you may all read a voluntary book which will help you improve your marks. You just need to choose a book according to your level and show it to your teacher. If I agree with your choice, after reading it you will have to complete the book review sheet and upload it into the correspondent page in the wiki together with a picture of the cover of your book.

Or if you prefer and following Teacher Diana's idea you can read several news articles at Google News and make a short article of each one of them. You will find all the instructions in the following wiki page.

The due date for either task is April 30th.

Don't miss the chance to get higher marks. Remember this is the final term!!!!

LISTEN TO YOU!!!

You need to improve your pronunciation of English and I hope this activity will help you to. In this oral activity you must listen to one of the listenings in http://www.listenaminute.com/ and then read the script into this voicethread. Make sure your listening hasn't been chosen by anybody before recording your voice. Listen to the script several times and record a perfect reading of it.



Due Date: Wednesday 17th March