Advanced - The history of New Year's Resolutions

2nd Intermediate - New Year's Resolutions

What are their resolutions and take notes

Ross: No more divorces. Well, just one. Be happy. Every day he's going to do one thing he has never done before.
Phoebe: Pilot a commercial jet.
Chandler: Stop making fun on his friends.
Joey: Learn how to play the guitar so as to make some information in his resumé true.
Rachel: Gossip less

Answers written in white. Select the text above to see them.

Now watch how Chandler copes with his resolution:

2nd Intermediate - How to write a letter of complaint

Watch the video and complete the information below:

How to Write an Effective Complaint Letter -- powered by ehow

• Reasons to complain: you received bad customer service or a product doesn't work
• Before you start: write to the correct person, call the store o company to make sure where to send your letter
• The tone of your letter: be composed, specific and calm
• Include details: include the dates and the exact problem
• Your expectations: explain what you plan to do or expect to receive
• One final thing: be prepared to back up your complaint if you receive a call or return letter.

The answers are written in white. Select the text next to the headings to read them.

2nd Intermediate - 2nd reading asignment

A BOOK REVIEW

You have until the third week of January to choose one book from the library (or another in English you may already have). It should be either an original text or an advanced adapted version (the intermediate is too easy!).

For your 3-5 minute oral presentation (in January) you'll have to include the following points:

1. The type of book
2. The author
3. A summary of the story making references to the place, time and main characters
4. Comment something about the way it’s written (the language, if it includes a lot of descriptions or dialogues…)
5. What you liked about the book
6. What you didn’t like about it
7. Who you would recommend it to and why

If children can do it, so can you! Watch these two examples if you need inspiration.
True Escape Stories
Dreams in the Golden Country

Some suggestions with an excerpt:
Windows of the Mind (Adapted)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Adapted)
Frozen Pizza and Other Slices of Life (Adapted)
A Room With a View
Bridget Jones Diary
Pride and Prejudice 
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Animal Farm 
The Great Gatsby 
Travellers' Tales

Lamb to the Slaughter

Reading asigment - 2nd Intermediate

Read this short story for November 5th or 6th.

Lamb to the Slaughter.

2nd Intermediate - Ecotourism

What is Ecotourism? Why is it important?
Watch this video and find out. Then try to answer the questions below.




Choose the correct option (coming soon)

Intermediate - Biographies

Watch this biography about Nelson Mandela and then take the quiz.




Quiz

Now check this link and learn how to write a biography .
Aurdrey Hepburn's biography.
You can also try writing one using the BIO CUBE. 

Intermediate - Making excuses

How to make excuses

Watch these examples and try to understand their excuses. (The accent is a little difficult sometimes)

2nd Intermediate - What's your happy place?

Watch the video and note down the places they mention. Leave a comment if you want to check your answers!

Intermediate / Advanced - Speed dating

Watch the video and follow the link below to do a comprehension exercise.

Don't panic if you are an intermediate student and you find it difficult. It really is a little difficult for your level.


Activities and transcript

2nd Intermediate-Time 100

Watch this short video and say whether the following statements are true or false.

• It’s a list of the most intelligent people in the world.
• The list includes artists and philosophers.
• The people in the list have had an impact on others.
• It’s the parents who write about the honorees
• Last year they wanted people who had made the world a better place.

ANSWERS in white (select the area to see them): 1F, 2T, 3T, 4F, 5F

2nd Intermediate - Heroes and Role Models

Watch the video up to minute 4.25 and take notes. Answer the following questions:

• What are the qualities of a hero?
• What are the qualities of a role model?
• Who's your hero?
• Who's your role model?

Answers:A hero is honorable, courageous, strong to stand up for what he believes and for those who don't have the courage. A hero just goes in and does it. Generosity. He makes tough decissions, transforms a situation in a positive way.
A role model is inspirational, honest, strong, fair, determined, open, acts and speaks honestly. does the right thing in a difficult situation, has a positive attitude, is responsible and leads other people, shows empathy and is compassionate. He is not perfect but strong to do the right thing.
Heroes and role models: my sister, mom, an Australian soccer player, Mother Theresa, Oprah Winfrey, my parents, grandparents, the Dalai Lama, a teacher, people in the military, police officers, doctors, friends, family and teachers.


Now some music. You too can be a hero. Listen and complete the blanks (select the text to see the answers):



Hall of Fame - The Script

Yeah, you could be the __ greatest
You can be the best
You can be the King Kong banging on your __ chest
You could beat the world
You could beat the war
You could talk to God, go banging on His __ door

You can throw your hands up
You can beat the __ clock
You can move a mountain
You can break rocks
You can be a master
Don't wait for __ luck
Dedicate yourself and you can find yourself


Standing in the hall of fame
And the world's gonna know your __ name
Cause you burn with the brightest __ flame
And the world's gonna know your __ name
And you'll be on the walls of the hall of fame

You can go the __ distance
You can run the mile
You can walk straight through hell with a smile
You can be a hero
You can get the __ gold
Breaking all the records they thought would never be broke

Do it for your __ people
Do it for your pride
You're never gonna know if you never even try
Do it for your__ country
Do it for your name
Cause there gonna be a day

When you're standing in the hall of fame
And the world's gonna know your __ name
Cause you burn with the brightest __ flame
And the world's gonna know your __ name
And you'll be on the walls of the hall of fame

You'll be on the walls of the hall of fame

Be a champion

Be students
Be teachers
Be __ politicians
Be preachers

Be believers
Be leaders
Be __ astronauts
Be champions
Be truth __ seekers

2nd Intermediate - Time 100

Watch the video and complete the information below.



Who is who? Why are they considered influential?

Dan Savage and Terry Miller - Gabrielle Giffords - Mohamed Bouazizi 

Rain - Tawakul Karman - Wael Ghonim

Number 01 - Rain - South Korean singer
Number 15 - Fukushima power plant workers - for their heroic struggle
Number 13 - Twakul Karman - middle east revolutionary leader of women journalists without chains
Number 16 - Mohamed Bouazizi - a revolutionary who immolated himself asking for freedom
Number 26 - Wael Ghonim - mobilized Egypt peaceful protest on the Internet
Number 24 - Gabrielle Giffords - American politician for her recovery after surviving a terrorist attack
Number 20 - Dan Savage and Terry Miller - for their project to help people who have problems because of their sexual orientation
Select the text to see the answers.

Culture differences

Watch this video and say who speaks about what (the answers are written in white between the brackets, select the text to see them):

1. About food (Christian and Jordan)
2. Traffic conventions (Jordan)
3. Social conventions (Jaime)
4. Shopping centres (Christian)
5. School activities (Jorgen)
6. Units of measure (Christian)
   
   

Slow movement

Check the transcript for this second video here

Zombie alert

Watch and laugh

That's English - Mod 6 - Traditions and Festivals

Watch this video about how to talk about festivals and celebrations
On this page you will find several activigties including vocabulary related to the topic.

 
Now, you can prepare a presention on a festival or celebration which is popular in your country. Send a recording to your teacher or include a comment with details on this blog.

Appearances

Can beauty be a disadvantage? Watch this video and judge for yourself.

Watch More News Videos at ABC | Technology News | Celebrity News

Now answer the following questions:
1. What did the woman do? Nothing, she didn't flirt or have an affair 
2. How long had she been working for the dentist? 10 years 
3. How old is she? 32 
4. Did she realize what was happening? She had no idea. She was surprised. 
5. Why did the dentist decide to fire her? Because his wife asked him after having found him texting his assistant 
6. What is her conclusion after what happened? Men can do whatever they want at work
7. Who decided the dentist was right? A group of male judges. The supreme court 

Answers written in white. Select the questions to see them.

Read the transcript here