SESSION 10: A SONG

SESSION 10: A SONG

MARC ANTHONY: I NEED YOU, I LOVE YOU

The lyrics:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2WsxHeww6I

HOPE YOU ENJOY IT!

SESSION 10: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

SESSION 10: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION

2.1 ENGLISH: What do you want to improve? How much? Why? How do you try to improve?

• knowledge of slang
• pronunciation
• writing
• text message shortcuts
• grammar
• reading

2.2 INSANE: What drives you most insane about English? Rank these from most to least:

• slang
• punctuation
• grammar
• not understanding movies
• pronunciation
• spelling
• different accents

2.3 SLANG WORDS: Make a list of English slang words or expressions that you know and their correct form in English.

2.4 SLANG DISCUSSION: Here are some questions you can try asking yourself before you come to our discussion on Wednesday:

a) What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘slang’?

b) Do you think standards of speech are falling in your country?

c) How well spoken are you in your native language?

d) What’s wrong with slang and “street” language?

e) What do you think of the phrase “innit” to cover a variety of tag questions?

f) Do you like using slang?

g) What English slang do you like or dislike?

h) If you knew more English slang, how would it help you?

i) Does using slang in your own language make you sound stupid?

j) Did you find this article interesting? Why?/Why not?

k) Do you think people need to rethink the importance of grammar and language?

l) What do you understand by the term “articulacy as a form of personal human freedom and power”?

m) Do you think most people know where and when to use slang?

n) Do you think Emma Thompson has a point?

o) Is there “teenspeak” in your country? What do you think of it?

p) Do you think it’s OK to use text messaging shortcuts in regular written English?

q) What is your biggest problem with English?

r) What can parents do to understand “teenspeak”? Go to a “teenspeak” course?

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.

FINAL TASK:

HERE IS ONE FINAL TASK THAT YOU MAY DO IN ORDER TO COVER THE FOUR SKILLS YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON WHEN LEARNING A LANGUAGE: LISTENING, READING, SPEAKING AND WRITING.

Write a composition and leave it in the blog as a comment to Session 10, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions. Choose one of these two options:

• Slang is absolutely essential for the development of a language, it shows a language is alive. Express your opinion.
• Advantages and disadvantages of using slang in you daily life.

SESSION 10: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

SESSION 10: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

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

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

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

1.4 GAP FILL:
OUT - PROPERLY - STREETS - PHRASES - INSANE - RANGING - COMMENTS - SOUND
RETHINK - REINVEST - POWER - NECESSITY - MATES - EXPERTS - ATTACK - SITES

SESSION 10: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

SESSION 10: 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 article and guess whether these sentences are True (T) or False (F):

a. An award-winning actress has criticized British people’s use of slang.

b. The actress told a magazine that no one in the U.K spoke properly.

c. She said some phrases she often heard made her go crazy.

d. The actress told pupils at her old school to cut down on using slang.

e. She said people need to think more about the importance of grammar.

f. She said she was against people using slang.

g. Linguists said her words largely criticized language used by teenagers.

h. Most parents have no problems understanding their teenage children.

1.2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
1. hit out at .................. a. correctly
2. compatriots ............... b. crazy
3. properly ................... c. criticized
4. insane ...................... d. expressiveness
5. stupid ...................... e. fellow citizens
6. articulacy .................. f. friends
7. necessity .................. g. idiotic
8. mates ...................... h. outburst
9. experts .................... i. requirement
10. rant ....................... j. specialists

1.3 PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from this article (sometimes more than one option is possible):
1. hit out at the slang used ............. a. attack on “teenspeak”
2. too many people in Britain .......... b. by her compatriots
3. “ain’t” drove .......................... c. didn’t speak properly
4. a whole variety ....................... d. grammar and language are
5. it makes you sound ................... e. have two languages
6. rethink how important correct ..... f. her insane
7. articulacy as a form of personal .... g. of tag questions
8. There is the necessity to ............ h. human freedom
9. Thompson’s rant was an ............. i. social networking sites
10. text messaging and ................. j. stupid

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

RANGING - PHRASES - PROPERLY - SOUND - OUT - INSANE - COMMENTS - STREETS
British Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson has hit ____________ at the slang used by her compatriots. The star of Harry Potter and Nanny McPhee movies told the British magazine Radio Times that she thought too many people in Britain didn’t speak ____________. She said a lot of the language she heard on the ____________ made people sound stupid. In particular, the ____________ “innit” and “ain’t” drove her ____________. “Innit” started off as a variation of “isn’t it” but is now used to replace a whole variety of tag questions, ____________ from “wasn’t it” to “don’t we” and “won’t I”. She made her ____________ after visiting her old high school. She told the students not to use slang so much, “because it makes you ____________ stupid and you're not stupid”.

SITES - POWER - RETHINK - MATES - EXPERTS - REINVEST - NECESSITY - ATTACK
Ms Thompson told her interviewer she thought people needed to ____________ how important correct grammar and language are. She said: "We have to ____________, I think, in the idea of articulacy as a form of personal human freedom and ____________.” She didn’t say people should not use slang, but they should remember where and when to use it: "There is the ____________ to have two languages – one that you use with your ____________ and the other that you need in any official capacity. Or you're going to sound like [an idiot]," she said. Language ____________ say Thompson’s rant was an ____________ on “teenspeak,” which has developed through text messaging and social networking ____________. Many parents say they don’t understand their children.

SESSION 10: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 1ST DECEMBER

SESSION 10: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 1ST DECEMBER

BRITISH ACTRESS ATTACKS ENGLISH SLANG

Text taken and adapted from:

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

The text:

British Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson has hit out at the slang used by her compatriots. The star of Harry Potter and Nanny McPhee movies told the British magazine Radio Times that she thought too many people in Britain didn’t speak properly. She said a lot of the language she heard on the streets made people sound stupid. In particular, the phrases “innit” and “ain’t” drove her insane. “Innit” started off as a variation of “isn’t it” but is now used to replace a whole variety of tag questions, ranging from “wasn’t it” to “don’t we” and “won’t I”. She made her comments after visiting her old high school. She told the students not to use slang so much, “because it makes you sound stupid and you're not stupid”.

Ms Thompson told her interviewer she thought people needed to rethink how important correct grammar and language are. She said: "We have to reinvest, I think, in the idea of articulacy as a form of personal human freedom and power.” She didn’t say people should not use slang, but they should remember where and when to use it: "There is the necessity to have two languages – one that you use with your mates and the other that you need in any official capacity. Or you're going to sound like [an idiot]," she said. Language experts say Thompson’s rant was an attack on “teenspeak,” which has developed through text messaging and social networking sites. Many parents say they don’t understand their children.

'British Actress Attacks English Slang' - 29th September, 2010

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

SESSION 9: A SONG

SESSION 9: A SONG

LADY ANTEBELLUM: CAN´T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU

HOPE YOU ENJOY IT!

SESSION 9: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

SESSION 9: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK


DISCUSSION: Here is some additional information you may need to read before you come to our discussion on Wednesday:

Go to NASA’s official ISS website to find out more information about the ISS

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html
Here you can read about current missions, crew members and expeditions, watch videos, see images, and find out where to see the ISS in the night sky.
Don´t be afraid to experiment by clicking on all of the different options in front of you, each one is going to take you to a different perspective, all of them fascinating.

THE ISS: THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

The International Space Station (ISS) is an internationally developed research facility that is being assembled in low Earth orbit. On-orbit construction of the station began in 1998 and is scheduled for completion by late 2011. The station is expected to remain in operation until at least 2015, and likely 2020. With a greater cross-sectional area than that of any previous space station, the ISS can be seen from Earth with the naked eye, and is by far the largest artificial satellite that has ever orbited Earth. The ISS serves as a research laboratory that has a microgravity environment in which crews conduct experiments in biology, chemistry, medicine, physiology and physics, as well as astronomical and meteorological observations. The station provides a unique environment for the testing of the spacecraft systems that will be required for missions to the Moon and Mars. The ISS is operated by Expedition crews of six astronauts and cosmonauts, with the station programme maintaining an uninterrupted human presence in space since the launch of Expedition 1 on 31 October 2000, a total of 10 years and 19 days. The programme thus holds the current record for the longest uninterrupted human presence in space, surpassing the previous record of 3,644 days, set aboard Mir, on 25 October 2010. As of 25 September 2010, the crew of Expedition 25 is aboard.

The ISS is a synthesis of several space station projects that include the American Freedom, the Soviet/Russian Mir-2, the European Columbus and the Japanese Kibō. Budget constraints led to the merger of these projects into a single multi-national programme. The ISS project began in 1994 with the Shuttle-Mir programme, and the first module of the station, Zarya, was launched in 1998 by Russia. Assembly continues, as pressurised modules, external trusses, and other components are launched by American space shuttles, Russian Proton rockets and Russian Soyuz rockets. As of May 2010, the station consists of fourteen pressurised modules and an extensive integrated truss structure (ITS). Power is provided by sixteen solar arrays mounted on the external truss, in addition to four smaller arrays on the Russian modules. The station is maintained at an orbit between 278 km and 460 km altitude, and travels at an average speed of 27,743.8 km/h, completing 15.7 orbits per day.

Operated as a joint project between the five participant space agencies, the station's sections are controlled by mission control centres on the ground operated by the American National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the Russian Federal Space Agency (RKA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).[21][22] The ownership and use of the space station is established in intergovernmental treaties and agreements that allow the Russian Federation to retain full ownership of its own modules in the Russian Orbital Segment, with the US Orbital Segment, the remainder of the station, allocated between the other international partners. The cost of the station has been estimated by ESA as €100 billion over 30 years, and, although estimates range from 35 to 160 billion US dollars, the ISS is believed to be the most expensive object ever constructed. The financing, research capabilities and technical design of the ISS programme have been criticised because of the high cost. The station is serviced by Soyuz spacecraft, Progress spacecraft, space shuttles, the Automated Transfer Vehicle and the H-II Transfer Vehicle, and has been visited by astronauts and cosmonauts from 15 different nations.

PURPOSE

The International Space Station (ISS) is an internationally developed satellite currently being assembled in Low Earth Orbit. Primarily a research laboratory, the ISS offers an advantage over spacecraft such as NASA's Space Shuttle because it is a long-term platform in the space environment, where extended studies are conducted. The presence of a permanent crew affords the ability to monitor, replenish, repair, and replace experiments and components of the spacecraft itself. Scientists on Earth have swift access to the crew's data and can modify experiments or launch new ones, benefits generally unavailable on specialised unmanned spacecraft.

Crews, who fly expeditions of several months duration, conduct scientific experiments each day (approximately 160 man-hours a week). As of the conclusion of Expedition 15, 138 major science investigations had been conducted on the ISS. Scientific findings, in fields from basic science to exploration research, are published every month.

The ISS provides a location in the relative safety of Low Earth Orbit to test spacecraft systems that will be required for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars. This provides experience in the maintenance, repair, and replacement of systems on-orbit, which will be essential in operating spacecraft further from Earth. Mission risks are reduced, and the capabilities of interplanetary spacecraft are advanced.

Part of the crew's mission is educational outreach and international cooperation. The crew of the ISS provide opportunities for students on Earth by running student-developed experiments, making educational demonstrations, and allowing for student participation in classroom versions of ISS experiments, NASA investigator experiments, and ISS engineering activities. The ISS programme itself, with the international cooperation that it represents, allows 14 nations to live and work together in space, providing lessons for future multi-national missions.

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.

FINAL TASK:

HERE IS ONE FINAL TASK THAT YOU MAY DO IN ORDER TO COVER THE FOUR SKILLS YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON WHEN LEARNING A LANGUAGE: LISTENING, READING, SPEAKING AND WRITING.

Write a composition and leave it in the blog as a comment to Session 9, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions. Choose one of these two options:

• How can working on the ISS affect you physically and mentally?
• Spending so much money on Space Projects is well worth it. Express your opinion.

SESSION 9: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 24TH NOVEMBER

SESSION 9: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 24TH NOVEMBER

LIFE ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

Text taken and adapted from:

http://www.onestopenglish.com/

Just click on:
http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/news-lessons/monthly-topical-news-lessons/pdf-content/life-aboard-the-international-space-station-advanced/550711.article
And you have the text together with some exercises and the key for you to work on.

HOPE YOU ENJOY IT!

SESSION 8: A SONG

SESSION 8: A SONG 

LIFEHOUSE: BREATHING

THE SONG:



THE LYRICS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQW0kArkgJ0

LIFEHOUSE

For the duration of Los Angeles-based Lifehouse's ten-year career they've been delicately balancing two identities: radio-ready song craftsmen and raucous live rock and roll band. On their forthcoming fifth studio album, Smoke & Mirrors, the band finally unites these two personalities. "We toured for over a year before we started making this record," says singer and guitarist Jason Wade. "With the new album we really wanted to capture what we were doing on the road but halfway through recording, it was apparent we hadn’t focused enough on the equally important radio side. It finally dawned on us to just do both."

Still in their twenties, the guys in Lifehouse have an impressive resume. Founding members Jason Wade and drummer Ricky Woolstenhulme Jr. met in Los Angeles and formed the band in the late 90s. Lifehouse released its smash debut No Name Face in 2000, which launched them to global stardom. Their breakout single "Hanging by a Moment" was the single most played radio track of 2001. Over the next few years – joined first by a replacement, bassist Bryce Soderberg and more recently by new member, guitarist Ben Carey - Lifehouse built upon that initial success. Combined album sales are over 5 million and Lifehouse singles have sold over 3 million copies online including number one hits "Hanging By a Moment" and "You and Me." Later Lifehouse singles "First Time," "Whatever It Takes," and "Broken" have also achieved major chart and sales success. From very early on, Lifehouse fans demonstrated a resilient loyalty to the band, so much so that several of the band's hits still maintain chart positions on iTunes, years after their initial release. The band also has a formidable online presence – their video streams are at 70 million and counting.

Lifehouse has always done well on radio, TV, and online, but just as impressive is their take-no-prisoners approach to touring. "We stayed out on the road for the last ten years," Jason says. "Even through the hard times we played four to six shows a week. We refused to disappear (laughs)!”
In the fall of 2008, when the band finally came off the road from supporting Who We Are, they were on a post-tour high and urgently wanted to bring that visceral live energy to the next album. Lifehouse ended up spending a year recording upwards of thirty-five tracks before settling on the twelve songs that make up Smoke & Mirrors (many of the rest will be included on a deluxe edition). The record is loosely split between rock tracks meant to capture the feel of seeing Lifehouse live, and extremely catchy, sing-along pop songs. "That's where the title of the album comes in," Jason explains. "It's about the record being half live and half studio." The first single, "Halfway Gone," a collaboration with acclaimed rapper/songwriter Kevin Rudolf is most definitely in the latter camp. It's an irresistible pop rock song featuring explosive, driving guitars and a chorus that feels instantly familiar. "Kevin brings another side – a hint of the hip hop world but in context with what we’re doing," Jason says. "We were fans of his and he was a fan of ours and it just clicked. What resulted was a nice blend of older Lifehouse with a new fresh sound -– we can't make the same record over and over." Lifehouse fans approve of the evolution; "Halfway Gone" is already the fastest growing single in the band's history, reaching the top twenty within three weeks of its release. Rudolf also worked on "Falling In," another potential pop hit.

Rudolf was not the only high profile collaboration on Smoke & Mirrors. The band also worked with American Idol alum Chris Daughtry, whom Jason met and became friends with on the road. "I haven't done much co-writing in the past and I'm a bit leery of it," the singer admits. "You can end up with a song that is not good and just wish you had that day of your life back (laughs) however, I went over to Chris's place in LA and within an hour we had 'Had Enough.'" The song, to which Daughtry contributes vocals, is a blistering, anthemic example of the kind of music that made Lifehouse fans fall in love with the band in the first place.

The band will deliver an actual, real live take on these songs very soon – they hit the road in support of Smoke & Mirrors early next year. According to Lifehouse, it feels like they're doing this all again for the first time – they are inspired and excited about getting out there and playing these songs live. "It's our fifth album but I feel like we're just starting as a band," explains Bryce. "As far as our chemistry goes, we just really know each other now. We know what pisses each other off and how to avoid it. We keep each other level headed, we vent to each other. We leave our egos at the bus door. We're good to go."

HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SONG!

SESSION 8: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

SESSION 8: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION

2.1 PROTESTS: What would you protest against, Why would you protest and How would you protest?

• nuclear waste
• high taxes
• racism
• religious intolerance
• lack of press freedom
• going to war

2.2 NUCLEAR POWER: express your opinion:

• I strongly believe nuclear power is the future
• I strongly believe nuclear power will one day be a thing of the past

2.3 ENERGY: What is your favourite, rank them by putting your favourite at the top:

• nuclear
• solar
• fossil fuels
• thermal
• wind power
• wave power
• recycled waste
• other...

2.4 NUCLEAR WASTE DISCUSSION: Here are some questions you can try asking yourself before you come to our discussion on Wednesday:

a) Did you hear this news on TV or on the radio before reading the text? If so, in what way has this news been treated by the TV or radio in your country?

b) What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘nuclear’?

c) What do you know about nuclear power?
d) Why were the protestors angry?
e) What would make you angry enough to protest about?
f) Do you think nuclear energy is a necessary energy for any country?
g) Would you live in a town that has a nuclear power plant?
h) What did people in your country protest about recently?
i) If you don´t like nuclear power what’s the alternative you would recommend?
j) How dangerous do you think nuclear waste is?
k) Why is the issue of nuclear waste so controversial?
l) What’s the problem with keeping nuclear power plants active for longer?
m) What nuclear accidents do you know of? What happened exactly? Were the authorities sincere with the inhabitants and with the rest of the population?
n) Do you know how authorities deal with nuclear accidents?
o) Would you ever go to a nuclear rally?
p) Will the nuclear power plant issue in Germany quietly disappear?
q) Does nuclear energy have any advantages in relation to other energies?

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.

FINAL TASK:

HERE IS ONE FINAL TASK THAT YOU MAY DO IN ORDER TO COVER THE FOUR SKILLS YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON WHEN LEARNING A LANGUAGE: LISTENING, READING, SPEAKING AND WRITING.

Write a composition and leave it in the blog as a comment to Session 8, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions. Choose one of these two options:

• Advantages and disadvantages of Nuclear Energy
• Write a letter to the president of your country asking three questions related to how the government deals with nuclear waste and giving some advice and your personal opinion about the issue.

SESSION 8: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

SESSION 8: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

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

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

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

1.4 GAP FILL:
TOOK - PART - CHAINED - DISRUPTION - REROUTE - SERIOUS - EARLY - PROVIDE
ISSUE - TENSION - PLANTS - LIKELIHOOD - ACTIVISTS - CROWD - HORRIFIED - WILL

SESSION 8: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

SESSION 8: 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 article and guess whether these sentences are True (T) or False (F):

a. German and French leaders are arguing over nuclear waste.

b. The biggest anti-nuclear rally in history took place over the weekend.
c. Officials had to change the route of a train carrying nuclear waste.
d. Germany needs the nuclear waste to produce electricity.
e. Germany’s leader made an unpopular decision regarding power plants.
f. Seventeen of Germany’s nuclear power plants are 12 years old.
g. More than 50,000 people met at a rally to protest against Merkel.
h. A protestor said she will ignore the people.

1.2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
1. protests ............. a. large
2. transporting ........ b. trouble
3. took part ........... c. hot
4. disruption .......... d. participated
5. eventually .......... e. shocked
6. controversial ....... f. demonstrations
7. likelihood ........... g. desire
8. considerable ........ h. finally
9. horrified ............ i. shipping
10.will .................. j. chance

1.3 PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from this article (sometimes more than one option is possible):

1. Large protests took .......................... a. power plants working
2. Tens of thousands of ......................... b. of 11 train cars

3. people who had chained themselves ...... c. border
4. reroute the convoy ........................... d. protesters took part
5. crossed the French-German ................. e. of the people
6. a controversial ................................ f. place in Germany
7. keep her country’s 17 nuclear .............. g. of nuclear power
8. increase the likelihood ...................... h. issue
9. extending the lifespan ....................... i. to the railway
10.They've ignored the will .................... j. of accidents


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

EARLY - DISRUPTION - PART - REROUTE - TOOK - PROVIDE - CHAINED - SERIOUS
Large protests ____________ place in Germany and France over the weekend over the transporting of nuclear waste between the two countries. Tens of thousands of protesters took ____________ in one of the biggest anti-nuclear rallies in years. Police in France had to cut free people who had ____________ themselves to the railway track on which the spent nuclear fuel would pass. The protestors caused a lot of ____________ to the shipment, the first in two years. Authorities had to secretly ____________ the convoy of 11 train cars to prevent those protesting causing a ____________ accident. The 154 tons of waste eventually crossed the French-German border and arrived in the town of Dannenberg ____________ Sunday morning. It will be used by Germany’s nuclear power agency to ____________ the country with electricity.

CROWD - LIKELIHOOD - TENSION - HORRIFIED - ISSUE - WILL - PLANTS - ACTIVISTS
The shipments of nuclear waste have been a controversial ____________ over the past decade. There was extra ____________ in Germany this year because of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to keep her country’s 17 nuclear power ____________ working for 12 years longer than was planned. Many fear this will increase the ____________ of accidents. There is considerable public opposition to her plans in Germany. Over 50,000 ____________ rallied in Dannenberg. A Green Party leader, Juergen Trittin, told the huge ____________: "Merkel provoked society by extending the lifespan of nuclear power and this is the people's answer." Protestor Elke Hinrichsmeyr, 71, said: "We're ____________ that this government wants to extend the use of nuclear power. They've ignored the ____________ of the people."

SESSION 8: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 17TH NOVEMBER

SESSION 8: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 17TH NOVEMBER

GERMAN-FRENCH PROTESTS OVER NUCLEAR WASTE



Text taken and adapted from:

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

The text:

Large protests took place in Germany and France over the weekend over the transporting of nuclear waste between the two countries. Tens of thousands of protesters took part in one of the biggest anti-nuclear rallies in years. Police in France had to cut free people who had chained themselves to the railway track on which the spent nuclear fuel would pass. The protestors caused a lot of disruption to the shipment, the first in two years. Authorities had to secretly reroute the convoy of 11 train cars to prevent those protesting causing a serious accident. The 154 tons of waste eventually crossed the French-German border and arrived in the town of Dannenberg early Sunday morning. It will be used by Germany’s nuclear power agency to provide the country with electricity.

The shipments of nuclear waste have been a controversial issue over the past decade. There was extra tension in Germany this year because of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to keep her country’s 17 nuclear power plants working for 12 years longer than was planned. Many fear this will increase the likelihood of accidents. There is considerable public opposition to her plans in Germany. Over 50,000 activists rallied in Dannenberg. A Green Party leader, Juergen Trittin, told the huge crowd: "Merkel provoked society by extending the lifespan of nuclear power and this is the people's answer." Protestor Elke Hinrichsmeyr, 71, said: "We're horrified that this government wants to extend the use of nuclear power. They've ignored the will of the people."

German-French Protests Over Nuclear Waste - 7th November 2010

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

SESSION 7: A SONG

SESSION 7: A SONG

CHEAP TRICK: I WANT YOU TO WANT ME

The song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBQ9dm7zaQU

the lyrics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jEdEgK_A9E

Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1974. The band consists of members Robin Zander (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Rick Nielsen (lead guitar, backing vocals), Tom Petersson (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Bun E. Carlos (drums, percussion).

Cheap Trick created a substantial fan base through its own brand of power pop music with a hard-edged yet melodic pop sound that combined the catchiness of The Beatles with the speed and energy of punk rock. The Los Angeles Times has remarked that "Cheap Trick gained fame by twisting the Beatlesque into something shinier, harder, more American." Their biggest hits include "Surrender", "I Want You to Want Me", "Dream Police", and "The Flame".

None of Cheap Trick's first three albums made it into the Top 40 in the United States. In Japan, however, all three albums became gold records. When Cheap Trick went to Japan to tour the country for the first time in April 1978, they were received with a frenzy reminiscent of Beatlemania. During this tour, Cheap Trick audio recorded two concerts attended by their loyal Japanese fans at the Nippon Budokan. Video footage was also filmed at the first concert. Ten tracks taken from both shows were compiled and released as a live album titled Cheap Trick at Budokan, which was intended to be exclusive to Japan. Demand for the import album became so great that Epic Records finally released the album in the United States in 1979. Cheap Trick at Budokan launched the band into international stardom, and the album went triple platinum in the United States

Cheap Trick is known for its use - and large collection - of unusual and vintage guitars and basses.As of 2009, Cheap Trick continues to tour with their most well known lineup. They have often been referred to in the Japanese press as the "American Beatles". The Illinois State Senate has declared April 1 to be "Cheap Trick Day" in the state. The band was also ranked nº25 in VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.

SESSION 7: EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL TASK

2. EXERCISES FOR DISCUSSION
 

2.1 HARMFUL: How harmful are these in your society and what laws are needed to prevent them from being harmful:

• alcohol
• nicotine
• marijuana
• caffeine
• heroin
• prescription drugs

2.2 SOCIETY: Who does alcohol most harm? Rank them from more harmful to harmless:

• unborn children
• battered wives
• abused children
• the drinker
• traffic accident victims
• victims of drink-related violence
• people who live near bars/pubs
• everyone

2.3 HEROIN: Spend one minute writing down all the different words you associate with the word 'heroin'.

2.4 DRUGS 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 ‘alcohol’?
c) How dangerous a drug is alcohol for you?
d) How can alcohol be more harmful than heroin?
e) What problems does your society have with alcohol?
f) Would the world be a better place without alcohol?
g) At what age is it OK (if at all) for people to start drinking?
h) Should people with alcohol-related diseases pay higher medical costs?
i) Should laws on alcohol be tighter?
j) Would it be possible to ban alcohol in a society?
k) Should alcohol be classified as a drug?
l) Why are politicians afraid to be tough with alcohol and cigarettes?
m) What laws would you pass about alcohol if you were president?
n) What are the most damaging drugs in your society?
o) Why did the report suggest putting cigarettes in the same category as cocaine?
p) Do you think we can ever get rid of the drugs problem?
q) Why do people take drugs?
r) Are drugs properly explained in schools or should there be more education about drugs in schools?
s) What questions would you like to ask Professor David Nutt?

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.

FINAL TASK:

HERE IS ONE FINAL TASK THAT YOU MAY DO IN ORDER TO COVER THE FOUR SKILLS YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON WHEN LEARNING A LANGUAGE: LISTENING, READING, SPEAKING AND WRITING.

Write a composition and leave it in the blog as a comment to Session 7, I will edit it in the blog so that everybody can learn from other people´s opinions. Choose one of these two options:

• The 'botellón' in Spain is a very dangerous way of putting teenagers and young adults in contact with drugs, specially alcohol, and should therefore be banned. Express your opinion.
• Write a composition giving ideas on how to reduce the damage alcohol and other drugs cause to society.

SESSION 7: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

SESSION 7: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

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

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

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

1.4 GAP FILL:
DISCOVERED - RESEARCH - BASIS - CATEGORIES - DAMAGE - OTHERS - ENSURE - DEAL

LED - CALLING - FIRED - EVIDENCE - STRONGLY - LIGHT - CATEGORY - SOCIETY

SESSION 7: EXERCISES WORKING WITH THE TEXT

SESSION 7: 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 article and guess whether these sentences are True (T) or False (F):

a. Researchers have found that alcohol is a bigger danger than cocaine.

b. The research was on how harmful drugs are to people and societies.
c. No one in the U.K. wants to change the laws about alcohol.
d. One person wants to make alcohol cheaper to buy.
e. The leader of the research previously lost his government job.
f. Making strict alcohol laws doesn’t help governments stay in power.
g. The study from Mr Nutt does not suggest a reclassification of drugs.
h. One suggestion is to put cigarettes and cocaine in different categories.

1.2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
1. discovered ............ a. consultant
2. basis .................... b. handle
3. categories ............. c. broad
4. experts ................. d. found
5. deal with .............. e. groups
6. advisor ................. f. proof
7. fired .................... g. grounds
8. evidence ............... h. proposed
9. extensive .............. i. specialists
10.suggested .............. j. sacked

1.3 PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from this article (sometimes more than one option is possible):
1. alcohol is a more dangerous ........ a. for a change
2. classified drugs on the basis of .... b. of the list
3. Alcohol came top .................... c. alcohol dependency
4. ensure alcohol is made .............. d. of these new findings
5. deal with the rise in ................ e. drug than heroin
6. He has been calling .................. f. for his views
7. He was fired in 2009 ................ g. to the individual
8. more interested in politics ........ h. the harm they do
9. deal with drugs in the light ....... i. than scientific evidence
10. they cause as much harm ........ j. less affordable

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

DAMAGE - ENSURE - BASIS - DEAL - DISCOVERED - OTHERS - RESEARCH - CATEGORIES

A new study has ____________ that alcohol is a more dangerous drug than heroin and cocaine. The report is from Britain’s Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs. Its ____________ classified drugs on the ____________ of the harm they do in our society. Alcohol came top of the list, with heroin second and cocaine third. Researchers created nine ____________ of harm that drugs can do "from death to ____________ to mental functioning and loss of relationships," and seven types of harm they do to ____________. Experts in Britain are now calling for new laws to control alcohol. Don Shenker from the group Alcohol Concern said: “The government should now urgently ____________ alcohol is made less affordable and invest in prevention and treatment services to ____________ with the rise in alcohol dependency that has occurred."

CATEGORY - FIRED - SOCIETY - STRONGLY - LED - LIGHT - CALLING - EVIDENCE

The research was ____________ by a former government drugs advisor, Professor David Nutt. He has been ____________ for a change in the way Britain classifies drugs for many years. He was ____________ in 2009 for his views and claimed the government was more interested in politics than scientific ____________. Any laws that make alcohol a dangerous drug would cause harm to any government trying to win an election. However, the current study is very extensive and ____________ suggests he was right to call for a reclassification. Professor Nutt told Britain’s Guardian newspaper: “We need to rethink how we deal with drugs in the ____________ of these new findings." One suggested change is that cigarettes are put in the same ____________ as cocaine, because they cause as much harm to the individual and ____________.

SESSION 7: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER

SESSION 7: TEXT FOR WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER

ALCOHOL MORE HARMFUL THAN HEROIN

Text taken and adapted from:

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

The text:

A new study has discovered that alcohol is a more dangerous drug than heroin and cocaine. The report is from Britain’s Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs. Its research classified drugs on the basis of the harm they do in our society. Alcohol came top of the list, with heroin second and cocaine third. Researchers created nine categories of harm that drugs can do "from death to damage to mental functioning and loss of relationships," and seven types of harm they do to others. Experts in Britain are now calling for new laws to control alcohol. Don Shenker from the group Alcohol Concern said: “The government should now urgently ensure alcohol is made less affordable and invest in prevention and treatment services to deal with the rise in alcohol dependency that has occurred."

The research was led by a former government drugs advisor, Professor David Nutt. He has been calling for a change in the way Britain classifies drugs for many years. He was fired in 2009 for his views and claimed the government was more interested in politics than scientific evidence. Any laws that make alcohol a dangerous drug would cause harm to any government trying to win an election. However, the current study is very extensive and strongly suggests he was right to call for a reclassification. Professor Nutt told Britain’s Guardian newspaper: "We need to rethink how we deal with drugs in the light of these new findings." One suggested change is that cigarettes are put in the same category as cocaine, because they cause as much harm to the individual and society.

'Alcohol more harmful than heroin', 1st November, 2010

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com