What are you thankful for?

Listen to the instructions given on the VoiceThread below and act accordingly.

Due Date: Tuesday 27th

Sense it!

Our senses allow us to enjoy our food, the sound of music, the beauty of a sunny day, the softness of a child's hair -- in short, our lives!

Let's review the vocabulary you studied in unit 4 in your books related to the senses.


1.-I bet you didn't know there was an American holiday that celebrates the sense of smell. Listen to the extract and fill in the blanks. If you click on the Hint ? Button, you'll get the number of words needed for each gap.

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2.- Now review the words and expressions studied in Unit 4 before your written test.

3.- Finally, have fun with these optical illusions. Do not just browse through the different images. It's very important that you read through the instructions and act accordingly. But before starting, who can tell me where the hidden tiger is?

 

USA CONSTITUTION

Last Thursday Emir gave you a talk about the US Constitution, which I hope you enjoyed. Anyway, I felt really proud of you when I saw you there listening and taking notes. You should congratulate yourselves on how far you've got.
What you did is part of the key competences in the educative system, a very important one, in my opinion. Being able to follow, take notes and then retell what you heard is something you'll have to do at any time in your life. Moreover, you were doing it in a foreign language!!!
I'd like to thank Emir once more for making all this possible and for bringing a small piece of American History closer to you.

Now it's your turn to make a short summary of the talk given on the VoiceThread below. Make use of your notes to organize your speech. Try to speak clearly and slowly. Focus on pronunciation and grammar accuracy.
Deadline: Tuesday 20th November






And for those of you, lucky you! that went to Austria on the Comenius Project, I would like you to tell us all about it, about the experience, the people you met, the places you visited, the workshops you took part in..., how you felt...

OBAMA'S VICTORY

 

As everybody knows, Barack Obama won the elections yesterday, becoming the 44th President of USA. I think Obama is not only a good politician, but also a great communicator. His speeches are always worth listening to. You can watch yesterday's victory speech here.

DEADLINE: TUESDAY 13th

Now answer 10 of the following questions and send me a VoiceMail with your answers:

1.       What does Barack Obama say about people waiting in a line for long to vote?

2.       Who did Obama call after he won the elections?

3.       What does he want to talk about with Senator Romney?

4.       Who is Joe Biden?

5.       What year did Obama get married?

6.       How many inhabitants are there in the United States?

7.       Complete: But despite all our differences…

8.       What professions does the worker’s child in North Carolina want?

9.       What challenges can Obama only solve if he Works together with the other parties?

10.   What makes America great and exceptional?

11.   Why does Obama mention New York and New Jersey?

12.   What happened to a family in Ohio?

13.   Complete the sentence: “something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep __________, to keep __________, to keep __________.

14.   Finish the sentence: “You can make it here in America if…”

 Click on the cartoon to see more....

APLE 1 PRESENTATIONS

As part of your final marks this term, you will have to give an oral presentation to the rest of the class about a topic of your choice: a sport, a film, a book, a country, a trip, a band, a TV series, a brand-name, a star... 

Your presentation must take between 5-10 minutes and it should have some visual or audiovisual support.

It is very important that you follow the tips below: 

Oral Presentations: Do's & Don'ts

1. Be organized! The more organized and focused your presentation is, the more relaxed you'll feel.
2. Breathe! (It helps you relax.)
3. Don't try to cover too much material. Remember you only have 5-10 minutes.
4. Don't overwrite your visual presentation. Remember this is an oral presentation.
5. Do speak clearly, slowly and at an appropriate level for your audience.
6. Use vocabulary that is appropriate for your audience. If you use new vocabulary, make sure you explain it and write it on the board.
7. Do make eye contact with all members of your audience.
8. Do move around.
9. Do use hand gestures.
10. Do allow the audience to ask questions at the end of your presentation.
11. Don't read your presentation. You can use short notes, but reading a presentation is unnatural; also, it makes it very difficult for your audience to follow.
12. Do practice your presentation with a partner or in front of the mirror.
13. Do remember to thank your audience.

Read through these guidelines, too.
You will be evaluated by your classmates as well as by your teacher on this Peer Evaluation Sheet.

Dates for your presentations

Friday Nov 9th: Paola R. & Sara M.

Friday Nov 16th:  Iren B. & Maria S

Tuesday Nov 20th: Lucía B. & Laura D.

Friday Nov 23rd: Álvaro S., Inés I., Laura L. &Isaac

Tuesday Nov 27th: Nora S. &a Rocío C.

Friday Nov 30th: Sergio C. & Paula G.

Tuesday Dec 4th: Lorena D. & Zoraida P.

Wednesday Dec 5th: Manuel J. & Miriam A.,

Tuesday Dec 11th: Daniel L., Irene G. &  Ana C., 
Thursday Dec 13th:  Ivan S., Ana Z. & Guillermo P.

Friday Dec 14th:  Carmen M. , Irene M. & Alvaro
Tuesday Dec 18th: ?

Dates for your listening tests this term

Nov 14th & Nov 15th: Short listening test

Dec 12 & Dec 13: Long listening test

APLE 1 WEEKEND HOMEWORK: STUDYING ABROAD

About 5000 Spanish teenagers travel to Britain to study English every summer. Others decide to spend a school year abroad attending High School lessons in an English-speaking country. A few are lucky to study their university degree abroad with the hope of better educational and work opportunities in the future. 

In the track below, an expert offers advice to ESL/EFL (English as a Second Language / English as a Foreign Language) students at UK universities. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions below. Send me your answers through VoiceMai. Make complete answers and give as many details as possible.  

1.- What has he just finished doing? What kind of course did he take?

2.- Why was it a challenge for most of the students in the course to study in the UK? 

3.- Why does he say "people weren't very forthcoming"?

4.- What were the students good at and not so good at?

5.- What does "critical thinking" involve?


Watch the following video about well-known universities in USA and answer the questions on the right.
When you finish, send me your results. Remember to write down your name and surname and my teacher code.

Deadline: Monday 5th November

APLE 1 WEEKEND HOMEWORK: LIFE CHOICES

I forgot to tell you about your homework for the weekend, so I just hope some of you drop by and see this post. Anyway, the deadline will be Thursday 25th, so everyone will have plenty of time.

As you know, we've just started a new unit in our book which deals with life choices and I've come accross a New York Times Interactive where senior students from a high school in San Diego were asked about their plans for their future, their 10-year plans. 

You must hear their answers, choose two students and send me a Voice Mail with all the information you've understood. Try to avoid the usual mistakes. Do not read. Try to sound as natural as possible and do not rush.

Don't forget YOUR NAME, SURNAME AND MAIL ACCOUNT.