SESSION 3: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

SESSION 3: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION

2.1 Same Roles: How acceptable do you think each of the following is?

• Men crying watching sad movies
• Boys playing with Barbie dolls
• Men plucking their eyebrows
• Male nurses
• Househusbands
• Women asking men out on dates
• Women using foul language
• Female religious leaders
• Female boxing

2.2 Discrimination: are women discriminated against in these areas in your country?

• Salary
• Promotion
• Hiring or buying a house or car
• Work atmosphere
• Sexual harassment
• Titles of address (Mrs. / Miss /first name...)
• Levels of respect from the opposite sex

2.3 Discussion: Here are some questions you can try asking yourself before you come to our discussion on Wednesday:

a. Did the headline make you want to read the article?

b. What is your image (or experience) of gender equality in Japan?

c. How equal is your society regarding gender?

d. Do you think a 30 percent target for women in top-level government posts is a good one?

e. How could the system of maternity and paternity leave in your country be improved?

f. Do you think men or women make better managers?

g. Do you think your country will ever achieve perfect gender equality? How?

h. Are there areas in your society where gender inequality hits men?

i. What kinds of institutionalized inequalities exist in your country?

j. What kind of harassment do women complain about in your country?

k. Would you say your country is a male-dominated one?

l. Are you surprised that Japan ranks a lowly 43rd in the world in the United Nations index of gender equality?

m. Which countries do you think are at the top of the UN index and why?

PREPARING A DISCUSSION IS FUNDAMENTAL. THIS MUST BE DONE IN TWO DIRECTIONS: FIRST, YOU NEED TO LEARN NEW VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO USE FOR THE DISCUSSION, SECONDLY YOU HAVE TO PREPARE THE TOPIC BY LOOKING UP INFORMATION IN THE INTERNET, BOOKS, ENCYCLOPAEDIAS. THIS WAY YOU WILL FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU WILL HAVE MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT.

THERE IS ONE FINAL TASK THAT YOU MAY DO AND THIS WAY YOU WILL COVER THE FOUR SKILLS YOU MUST IMPROVE WHEN LEARNING A LANGUAGE: LISTENING, READING, SPEAKING AND WRITING.

WRITING:

Write a composition of not more than 180 words and leave it in the blog as a comment to Session 3, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions

WRITE A COMPOSITION TITLED: SPANISH WOMEN TO HAVE MORE EQUALITY

SESSION 3: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

SESSION 3: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

1.1 TRUE/FALSE
a. F / b.T / c. T / d. F / e. F / f. T / g.T / h.F

1.2 SYNONYM MATCH
1.g / 2.j / 3. e / 4.b / 5.c / 6.h / 7.i / 8.f / 9.a / 10.d

1.3 PHRASE MATCH

1.h / 2.f / 3.a / 4.j / 5.b / 6.d / 7.c / 8.i / 9.g /10.e

1.4 WRONG WORD

ENDORSED - CURRENT - CATER - TIDE - COMPARED - DIRECTIVES - RAISING - REHIRE - PORTION - PATERNITY

CONSOLIDATE - ADDRESS - FOCAL - ENTREPRENEURS - MENTOR - CREATE - EXERCISING - LAGS - LOWLY - AMONG

SESSION 3:EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

SESSION 3: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

NOTE: IN ORDER TO WORK WITH THE TEXT, UNDERSTAND AND PREPARE IT BETTER I RECOMMEND THESE EXERCISES. THERE WILL BE TWO TYPES OF EXERCISES:

1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT: THESE ARE EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE READING COMPREHENSION, WORKING WITH VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS.

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION: EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE PREPARATION FOR THE DISCUSSION.

1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

1.1 TRUE/FALSE: Read the article and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):
a. Japan´s civil service will be 50 percent female by 2020.
b. New equality laws are to stem the tide of a shrinking workforce.
c. There are five times more female managers in America than in Japan.
d. Japan´s government will not consider the idea of paternity leave.
e. Japan´s firms hide female workers´ addresses to prevent harassment.
f. A mentor system will start to encourage female entrepeneurs.
g. Japan´s Prime Minister wants to create a gender-equality society.
h. Japan ranks next to last in a UN index comparing gender equality.

1.2 SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms with words from the article:
1. endorsed ....................a. trails
2. cater for ....................b. decrees
3. stem the tide ..............c. persuade
4. directives ..................d. poor
5. entice .......................e. curtail
6. strengthen ..................f. potential
7. mentor ......................g. approved
8. would-be ...................h. reinforce
9. lags ..........................i. coach
10. lowly .......................j. help

1.3 PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):
1. endorsed a set ...............a. demands of raising children
2. stem the tide .................b. to take paternity leave
3. cope with the ................c. support female entrepreneurs
4. entice ..........................d. institutionalized inequalities
5. urge male civil servants .... e. 43rd among 80 countries
6. measures to address ......... f. of a shrinking workforce
7. the drive to .................. g. individuality and abilities
8. a mentor system to aid ..... h. of measures
9. fully exercising their ........ i. would-be businesswomen
10. It ranks a lowly ............. j. back to work...

1.4 WRONG WORD: Delete the incorrect or least likely word from each pair in italics:

The Japanese government has endorsed/enclosed a set of measures that aims to increase the number of women in top-level government posts to 30 percent from the current/currant 21.5 percent by 2020. The ambitious plans also cater/canter for working mothers as the government attempts to stem the pride/tide of a shrinking workforce. Further plans aim to help more women into management. Only nine percent of managers in Japan are female, compared/complementary with 46 percent in the U.S. The new directors/directives will allow full-time female civil servants to work shorter hours to cope with the demands of elevating/raising children. They recommend companies retrench/rehire women after their maternity leave ends to entice back to work a portion/proposition of the two thirds of mothers who leave the workforce permanently following childbirth. The government will also urge male civil servants to take maternity/paternity leave.

The new targets commiserate/consolidate on the Gender Equality Basic Plan, which was introduced in 2000. They include many measures to telephone/address institutionalized inequalities, discrimination and harassment. One of the local/focal points is the drive to support female entrepreneurs/interpreters by making available more information regarding business start-ups and introducing a mental/mentor system to aid would-be businesswomen. Prime Minister Koizumi said he wanted "to recreate/create a gender-equality society in which men and women can have dreams and expectations by fully working out/exercising their individuality and abilities". Japan logs/lags behind many industrialized nations in gender equality. It ranks a slowly/lowly 43rd among/humungous 80 countries in the 2005 United Nations Gender Empowerment Measure Index.

SESSION 3: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 4TH FEBRUARY

SESSION 3: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 4TH FEBRUARY

JAPANESE WOMEN TO HAVE MORE EQUALITY

Text taken and adapted from:

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

THE ARTICLE:

The Japanese government has endorsed a set of measures that aims to increase the number of women in top-level government posts to 30 percent from the current 21.5 percent by 2020. The ambitious plans also cater for working mothers as the government attempts to stem the tide of a shrinking workforce. Further plans aim to help more women into management. Only nine percent of managers in Japan are female, compared with 46 percent in the U.S. The new directives will allow full-time female civil servants to work shorter hours to cope with the demands of raising children. They recommend companies rehire women after their maternity leave ends to entice back to work a portion of the two thirds of mothers who leave the workforce permanently following childbirth. The government will also urge male civil servants to take paternity leave.

The new targets consolidate on the Gender Equality Basic Plan, which was introduced in 2000. They include many measures to address institutionalized inequalities, discrimination and harassment. One of the focal points is the drive to support female entrepreneurs by making available more information regarding business start-ups and introducing a mentor system to aid would-be businesswomen. Prime Minister Koizumi said he wanted "to create a gender-equality society in which men and women can have dreams and expectations by fully exercising their individuality and abilities". Japan lags behind many industrialized nations in gender equality. It ranks a lowly 43rd amond 80 countries in the 2005 United Nations Gender Empowerment Measure index.

Japanese women to have more equality- December 28th, 2005
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

SESSION 2: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

SESSION 2: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION

2.1 What do you think?

- I strongly believe Barack Obama should have chosen a eco-friendly car that is light and fuel-efficient.´

- I strongly believe President Obama´s safety is a million times more important than the environment.

2.2 What does Barack Obama need to stay safe? Underneath you have a series of things suggested, try to think of the special security measures that will have to be taken and why:

- car

- telephone

- bodyguards

- email

- airplane

- other

2.3 World Peace Discussion: Here are some questions you can try asking yourself before you come to our discussion on Wednesday:

a) What did you think when you read the headline?

b) What springs to mind when you hear the word 'limousine'?

c) What kind of top secret stuff do you think the car has?

d) Barack Obama is being called "president of the world". Do you think this is a good name for him?

e) What kind of president do you think Obama will be?

f) How do you feel without George W. Bush in power?

g) Did you see the presidential inauguration of Obama?

h) What kinds of threats on his life do you think Barack Obama might face?

i) What would you like Obama to do first?

j) Do you believe Obama will make a difference?

k) How do you think will this new president affect Spain?

l) How do you think will this new president affect the world?

m) What questions would you like to ask Barack Obama?

PREPARING A DISCUSSION IS FUNDAMENTAL. THIS MUST BE DONE IN TWO DIRECTIONS: FIRST, YOU NEED TO LEARN NEW VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO USE FOR THE DISCUSSION, SECONDLY YOU HAVE TO PREPARE THE TOPIC BY LOOKING UP INFORMATION IN THE INTERNET, BOOKS, ENCYCLOPAEDIAS. THIS WAY YOU WILL FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU WILL HAVE MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT.

THERE IS ONE FINAL TASK THAT YOU MAY DO AND THIS WAY YOU WILL COVER THE FOUR SKILLS YOU MUST IMPROVE WHEN LEARNING A LANGUAGE: LISTENING, READING, SPEAKING AND WRITING.

WRITING:

Write a composition of not more than 180 words and leave it in the blog as a comment to Session 2, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions

WRITE YOUR OPINION ABOUT BARACK OBAMA AND HIS IMPACT ON THE WORLD.

SESSION 2: ANSWER TO EXERCISES

SESSION 2: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

1.1 TRUE/FALSE

a. F / b. F / c. F / d. T / e. T / f. F / g.F / h.T

1.2 SYNONYM MATCH

1.g / 2.c / 3. e / 4.a / 5.h / 6.i / 7.j / 8.f / 9.b / 10.d

1.3 PHRASE MATCH
1.e / 2.i / 3.a / 4.h / 5.c / 6.j / 7.d / 8.b / 9.g /10.f

1.4 GAP FILL

MAKER-ALLOWED-SHOTS-LATEST-HEAVILY-BIG-CHAUFFEUR-FOREIGN

DEBUT-TRADITION-PARADE-VALUABLE-DISCUSSED-MOST-SECRECY-TALK

SESSION 2: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

SESSION 2: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

NOTE: IN ORDER TO WORK WITH THE TEXT, UNDERSTAND AND PREPARE IT BETTER I RECOMMEND THESE EXERCISES. THERE WILL BE TWO TYPES OF EXERCISES:

1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT: THESE ARE EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE READING COMPREHENSION, WORKING WITH VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS.

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION: EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE PREPARATION FOR THE DISCUSSION.


1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT


1.1 TRUE/FALSE: Read the article and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F)
a. Barack Obama now has the world´s safest sports car.
b. The car is exactly the same as one seen in a recent spy movie.
c. The car´s nickname is "The Beauty" because of its lovely curves.
d. The car will go overseas with Obama when he goes on foreign trips.
e. U.S. Presidents show off their new cars on their first day as president.
f. A security spokesman said details of the car´s security will be online.
g. There are other cars that offer better protection to passengers.
h. A spokesman said there were specifications about specifications.


1.2 SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms with words from the article:
1. maker ...................................... a. stuff
2. allowed .................................... b. confidentiality
3. shots ....................................... c. let
4. equipment ................................. d. details
5. chauffeur .................................. e. photographs
6. debut ....................................... f. modern
7. asset ........................................ g. manufacturer
8. advanced ................................... h. driver
9. secrecy ..................................... i. premiere
10. specifications ............................ j. resource


1.3 PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):
1. take photos ........................... a. armoured car ever made
2. it has all the very .................... b. asset
3. the most heavily ..................... c. tours with the president
4. drivers will chauffeur ............... d. parade
5. the car will even go on foreign .... e. of the new limousine
6. "The Beast" will make its debut .... f. about the specifications
7. part of the inauguration ............. g. advanced
8. a valuable ............................. h. President Obama round
9. technologically ....................... i. latest equipment
10. we don´t talk ....................... j. on the 20th of January


1.4 GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

BIG - SHOTS- FOREIGN - LATEST - MAKER - CHAUFFEUR - ALLOWED - HEAVILY

The __________ of Barack Obama´s presidential car showed it to the world on Wednesday. Car giant Cadillac __________ photographers to take photos of the new limousine, that could belong to a spy movie. The world´s press could only take __________ of the outside of the vehicle. Everything inside is top secret, although Cadillac has said it has all the very __________ equipment. The limo has the nickname "The Beast" because of its weight, size and power. It is probably the most __________ armoured car ever made. Cadillac is keeping details of how well protected the car is a __________ secret. Special Secret Service drivers will __________ President Obama around on his official appointments. The car will even go on __________ tours with the president.

discussed - parade - secrecy - debut - valuable - most -tradition - talk

"The Beast" will make its __________ on the 20th of January. This is when Barack Obama becomes president. It is a __________ for the new presidential car to be part of the inauguration __________. America´s Secret Service told reporters the car would be a "__________ asset" in protecting the new president. Spokesman Nicholas Trotta boasted: "Although many of the vehicle´s security (details) cannot be __________, it is safe to say that this car´s security and coded communications systems make it the __________ technologically advanced protection vehicle in the world." Another spokesman explained the __________ to the BBC, saying: "One of the specifications is that we don´t __________ about the specifications."

SESSION 2: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 28TH JANUARY

SESSION 2: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 28TH JANUARY

BARACK OBAMA´S SUPERCAR SHOWN TO THE WORLD

Text taken and adapted from:

www. Breaking News English.com

THE ARTICLE:

The maker of Barack Obama´s presidential car showed it to the world on Wednesday. Car giant Cadillac allowed photographers to take photos of the new limousine, that could belong to a spy movie. The world´s press could only take shots of the outside of the vehicle. Everything inside is top secret, although Cadillac has said it has all the very latest equipment. The limo has the nickname "The Beast" because of its weight, size and power. It is probably the most heavily armoured car ever made. Cadillac is keeping details of how well-protected the car is a big secret. Special Secret Service drivers will chauffeur President Obama around on his official appointments. The car will even go on foreign tours with the president.

"The Beast" will make its debut on the 20th of January. This is when Barack Obama becomes president. It is a tradition for the new presidential car to be part of the inauguration parade. America´s Secret Service told reporters the car would be a "valuable asset" in protecting the new president. Spokesman Nicholas Trotta boasted: "Although many of the vehicle´s security (details) cannot be discussed, it is safe to say that this car´s security and coded communications systems make it the most technologically advanced protection vehicle in the world." Another spokesman explained the secrecy to the BBC, saying: "One of the specifications is that we don´t talk about the specifications."

Barack Obama´s supercar shown to the world - 16th January, 2009

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

SESSION 1: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

SESSION 1: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION

2.1 What do you think?

- I strongly believe all conflicts between nations will be solved one day.

- I strongly believe countries will always find reasons to fight.

2.2 Who would you choose for these prizes? Why?

• Music prize
• Technology prize
• Sports prize
• Humanitarian prize
• Politician prize
• Fashion prize
• Greatest living person prize

2.3 World Peace Discussion: Here are some questions you can try asking yourself before you come to our discussion on Wednesday:

a) What did you think when you read the headline?

b) Did you like reading the article?

c) What springs to mind when you hear the word "peace"?

d) Do you think the world will ever be at peace?

e) Do you think Martti Ahtisaari is a good choice to be Nobel Peace Prize winner?

f) Do you know who any of the other 196 nominees were?

g) What do you know about previous winners?

h) Is there someone from your country who deserves a Peace Prize?

i) Do you think solving international conflicts is a good job?

j) Are you good at mediating between people who are arguing

k) What do you know about the Nobel Prizes and Alfred Nobel?

l) Do you have iron determination?

m) What do you know about Martti Ahtisaari?

n) Do you agree with Martti Ahtisaari that every conflict can be solved?

o) What questions would you like to ask Martti Ahtisaari?

PREPARING A DISCUSSION IS FUNDAMENTAL. THIS MUST BE DONE IN TWO DIRECTIONS: FIRST, YOU NEED TO LEARN NEW VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO USE FOR THE DISCUSSION, SECONDLY YOU HAVE TO PREPARE THE TOPIC BY LOOKING UP INFORMATION IN THE INTERNET, BOOKS, ENCYCLOPAEDIAS. THIS WAY YOU WILL FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU WILL HAVE MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT.

THERE IS ONE FINAL TASK THAT YOU MAY DO AND THIS WAY YOU WILL COVER THE FOUR SKILLS YOU MUST IMPROVE WHEN LEARNING A LANGUAGE: LISTENING, READING, SPEAKING AND WRITING.

WRITING:

Write a composition of not more than 180 words and leave it in the blog as a comment to Session 1, I will correct it and edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions

WRITE YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AND ITS PURPOSE.

SESSION 1: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

SESSION 1: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

1.1 TRUE/FALSE

a. T / b. T / c. T / d. F / e. T / f. F / g.T / h.T

1.2 SYNONYM MATCH

1.g / 2.d / 3. j / 4.f / 5.b / 6.i / 7.e / 8.c / 9.a / 10.h

1.3 PHRASE MATCH

1.e / 2.a / 3.f / 4.b / 5.i / 6.d / 7.c / 8.g / 9.j /10.h

1.4 GAP FILL

EFFORTS/CONFLICTS/ZONES/BROUGHT/DESCRIBED/MORE/SPIRIT/IRON/

SELECTED/GRATEFUL/SOCIETY/ENVOY/DISPUTES/GIVING/DISGRACE/FROZEN

SESSION 1: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

SESSION 1: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

NOTE: IN ORDER TO WORK WITH THE TEXT, UNDERSTAND AND PREPARE IT BETTER I RECOMMEND THESE EXERCISES. THERE WILL BE TWO TYPES OF EXERCISES:

1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT: THESE ARE EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE READING COMPREHENSION, WORKING WITH VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION: EXERCISES FOCUSING ON THE PREPARATION FOR THE DISCUSSION

1. EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

1.1 TRUE/FALSE. look at the text and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):
a. Finland´s president Ahtisaari is the Nobel Peace Prize winner for 2008.

b. Ahtisaari has worked for over 30 years bringing peace to the world.

c. The Nobel Prize committee said Ahtisaari was true to the Nobel spirit.
d. A former colleague of Ahtisaari said he had no sense of humour.

e. Ahtisaari was one of 197 nominees to win the prize.

f. Ahtisaari has never represented the United Nations during his work.

g. Ahtisaari´s reputation is one of a man who never quits.

h. Ahtisaari is angry the world is not doing enough to stop conflicts.

1.2 SYNONYM MATCH. Match the following synonyms with words from the article:

1. former ................................. a. shame

2. several ................................. b. willpower

3. resolve ................................. c. good name

4. fraternity .............................. d. a number of

5. determination ......................... e. ambassador

6. nominees ............................... f. friendship

7. envoy ................................... g. ex-

8. reputation .............................. h. attempt

9. disgrace ................................ i. candidates

10. effort .................................. j. sort out

1.3 PHRASE MATCH. Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible:

1. Mr Ahtisaari has worked tirelessly to .............. a. together

2. He has successfully brought conflicting sides ..... b. nations

3. An outstanding international mediator ............ c. pleased and grateful

4. Fraternity between ................................... d. a list of 197 nominees

5. Ahtisaari combines charm and good humor ....... e. end conflicts

6.Selected from .......................................... f. mediator

7. He said he was very .................................. g. missions

8. He has led humanitarian ............................. h. to become frozen

9. Every conflict .......................................... i. with an iron determination

10. We have allowed so many conflicts ................ j. can be solved

1.4 GAP FILL. Put the words into the gaps in the text:

DESCRIBED - EFFORTS - MORE - BROUGHT - IRON - CONFLICTS - SPIRIT - ZONES

The former president of Finland Martti Ahtisaari has won the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize. He won it "for his important __________, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international __________." Mr Ahtisaari has worked tirelessly to end conflicts in many of the world's danger __________. He has successfully __________ conflicting sides together to bring peace to Namibia, the Aceh province of Indonesia, Northern Ireland and in Kosovo. A spokesman for Norway's Nobel Committee __________ Ahtisaari as "an outstanding international mediator." He added Ahtisaari has "contributed to a __________ peaceful world and to 'fraternity between nations' in Alfred Nobel's __________." Ex-colleague Gareth Evans said Mr. Ahtisaari "combines charm and good humor with an __________ determination."

GIVING - SOCIETY - DISPUTES - GRATEFUL - FROZEN - ENVOY - SELECTED - DISGRACE

Mr. Ahtisaari was __________ from a list of 197 nominees for the Peace Prize. He said he was "very pleased and __________" for it. "I hope this will bring positive attention to Finland and that it tells about our __________ and what is important to us," he said. Ahtisaari´s work as a Finnish diplomat, a United Nations __________ and an international mediator has taken him all over the world. He has led humanitarian missions, and helped resolve difficult ethnic, racial and religious __________. He built up a reputation for bringing enemies together and never __________ up. Ahtisaari told the Nobel Foundation: "Every conflict can be solved. I think it´s a __________ for the international community that we have allowed so many conflicts to become __________, and we are not making a serious effort to solve them."

SESSION 1: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 21ST JANUARY

SESSION 1: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 21ST JANUARY

MARTTI AHTISAARI WINS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

Text taken and adapted from:

www. Breaking News English.com

Ready-to-use ESL /EFL Lessons

"1000 IDEAS & ACTIVITIES FOR LANGUAGE TEACHERS"

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/book.html

THE ARTICLE

The former president of Finland Martti Ahtisaari has won the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize. He won it "for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts." Mr Ahtisaari has worked tiredlessly to end conflicts in many of the world´s danger zones. He has successfully brought conflicting sides together to bring peace to Namibia, the Aceh province of Indonesia, Northern Ireland and in Kosovo. A spokesman for Norway´s Nobel Committee described Artisaari as "an outstanding international mediator." He added Ahtisaari has "contributed to a more peaceful world and to 'fraternity between nations' in Alfred Nobel´s spirit." Ex-colleague Gareth Evans said Mr. Ahtisaari "combines charm and good humor with an iron determination."

Mr. Ahtisaari was selected from a list of 197 nominees for the Peace Prize. He said he was "very pleased and grateful" for it. "I hope this will bring positive attention to Finland, and that it tells about our society and what is important to us," he said. Ahtisaari´s work as a Finnish diplomat, a United Nations envoy and an international mediator has taken him all over the world. He has led humanitarian missions, and helped resolve difficult ethnic, racial and religious disputes. He built up a reputation for bringing enemies together and never giving up. Ahtisaari told the Nobel Foundation: "Every conflict can be solved. I think it´s a disgrace for the international community that we have allowed so many conflicts to become frozen, and we are not making a serious effort to solve them."

Martti Ahtisaari wins Nobel Peace Prize - 12th October, 2008

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

WELCOME TO OUR EOI ALMERIA CONVERSATION CLUB

WELCOME TO OUR EOI AlMERIA CONVERSATION CLUB.

We have just started the year 2009 with a new project for former students of EOI Almería.We hope many of you will join and enjoy this Club. First we´ll try to answer some of the questions you will probably be asking yourself:

1. WHAT IS THIS CONVERSATION CLUB?

I´m Rosana Sierra, an English teacher at the Official School of Languages in Almería. At the end of the Third Term last year my students of fifth level and me had a conversation about what their plans to improve their English were once they had finished their studies in this School. The truth is they didn´t have much “future”: they had no plans, they didn´t know what to do next. Of course, this meant they were going to lose their contact with English. Everybody knows that learning a language requires practice and if you stop coming to class you´ll probably have no other opportunity to practise your English. This Conversation Club tries to keep you in contact with the English language.

2. HOW DOES THIS CLUB WORK?

Every Friday you have a new text in this blog (it can be a piece of news, a recent article, an extract…) together with some activities and questions so that you can prepare it at home. Of course, the aim is that you work with it by looking up the difficult words and by learning new vocabulary and expressions. You also have to prepare the discussion and think of possible topics related to it. There will also be a writing you may do and send to my email address. Of course all these activities are optional but you will be better prepared for the discussion if you dedicate some time to them.
Every Wednesday at 20:00 we´ll get together in classroom 4.4, talk about the text and try to put into practise what you have been preparing along the week.

3. WHICH STUDENTS CAN JOIN THE CLUB?

This Conversation Club is for former students who have finished 5th level and have no other way to continue practising their English or for students who left school in their last year and are not studying English at the moment, at least not officially.

4. WHAT LEVEL OF ENGLISH DO I NEED TO HAVE?

Really your level of English is not going to be tested. This club is just for practice and everybody knows that the only way to improve your English is by using it. You can learn a lot by joining this club if you work at home and prepare the article, but of course, that´s up to you.

5. HOW CAN I JOIN THE CLUB?

Just send an email to roxsiba@gmail.com or contact me at school. I´ll need your full name, your telephone number and your email address.