Again, still another techno-tool to help you with your studies. This blog is "work-in-progress" , which means that things are added and removed on a regular basis. Here you'll find extra-reading, extra-listening, extra-grammar stuff, extra writing tips... extra-everything, so it's up to you what you do with it. Needless to say, your feedback, ideas, and comments are very welcome.

*This blog is 'apture-powered', which means that if you highlight a word, a 'learn more' sign will theoretically appear. Click on it and it will show a list of internet links related to that word. Just try.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Baby rips it up

I'm not very fond of 'viral' videos, you know, these funny videos that spread out like a virus in the internet, but I liked this one. In spite of the many bad things happening around the world, I thought I wanted to share it. Laughter is highly contagious ...and it can be understood in any language.

By the way, the baby is ripping up his/her daddy's job rejection letter.

Friday, March 04, 2011

The most typical face in the world

The National Geographic Magazine has revealed what the most typical human on the planet looks like, as part of their new series which focuses on the human race called ‘Population 7 billion’.


The research found that a 28-year-old Han Chinese male is the most typical person on the planet, with 9 million around the globe. So was learning English the right choice? Shouldn't you be learning Chinese? They won’t be dominating for long, though. The National Geographic also found that within the next 20 years, the most typical person will come from India. So what now ?
Watch this video and check how similar to/different from the most typical person you are.
 If you want to know more on this topic, watch The Economist: 7 billion video
7 billion? Aren't there TOO MANY people on the planet?

Friday, February 25, 2011

Blah, blah, blah...



How can I improve my spoken English? This video is more inspirational than practical, but it goes to the core question of 'dancing' with your partners rather than 'monologuing' or producing 'memorised' sentences that 'the teacher will like' (ahem...). Below you'll find some more tips that you'll have to adapt to your own habits (like talk to yourself). You'll see that language skills are obviously connected and part of a whole - the time invested in reading, listening, writing, and working on gr...ooops ...sorry 'use of English' will sure contribute to your speaking skills-and vice versa.
- E.How , more EHow
- English at home
- Learning tips ( tips n.2,3,5,6,13 particularly interesting)

And a very important one: KISS (Keep It Short and Simple), which means DON'T get entangled in your own story -generally because you wanted to translate it word by word from your mother tongue. You don't need to do this. You know more than what you think, so USE IT. Make life easier for your partners who should understand what you are saying so that they can react to what you are saying so that you can dance all together.

Sorry there's no pill. Or rather, the only pill is regular practice and patience. But you know all that, don't you? It's just a reminder (remember 'remember'/'remind'?).

Of course, frustration may be part of the process, but it's transitory -and you can always scream and shout in this blog if you need it.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Elementary, my dear Watson

**Take over?
Years ago, computer Deep Blue beat chess world champion Garry Kasparov. Now IBM's Supercomputer Watson has beaten two human competitors in America's quiz show Jeopardy!

I must admit that when my computer crashes or when I lose my pen drive I feel like a part of my brain is missing.

But you are on the right track if you don't want your computer to take control of your life:

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Love is in the air

Last weeek we were talking about feelings, reactions and states of mind, so how would you feel if your loved one proposed on the plane from Lisbon to Barcelona? On cloud nine? Over the moon? Between the devil and the deep blue sea, maybe? The rest of the passengers were happily entertained, that's for sure. A taste of Valentine's day next week.

KEY WORDS: stewardess, in-flight meals, familiar and unexpected voice, crew members, shocked and embarrassed, bride-to-be, I'd better not, on cloud nine.

Sunday, February 06, 2011

Back to the future

A flying car? Forget about the Transition! Teleportation is the future, and it looks like somebody at the University of Queensland, Australia, has found out how to do it.


Whatever the "entangled quantum particles" are, we are closer to time travel, or so it seems. However, you could only (if we had the technology) be teleported into the future, which is where I'd go anyway. But wait a minute ... imagine you travel to next year so you see yourself in the 5th year? Or maybe not? But then you should be able to learn enough to come back to L4 and pass it? Wouldn't it be a bit of a mess?

For those of you with a scientific mind:

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Terrafugia Transition

No traffic jams, no long and winding roads, no speed limits...those of you who were thinking of buying a new car, just wait:

I don't like flying, but I'm sure I'd love to drive-fly the Transition. 30 miles per gallon on the ground (can you calculate how much that is in l./km?) This is the real hybrid car -and it comes with a parachute! 70 people have already pre-booked the car. Would you buy it?

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Nothing new under the sun

The good thing about the financial crisis is that people have to rack their brains as to how to get out of it. This is an interesting story about a woman from Galicia who claims to be the owner of the sun. It seems that governments cannot claim ownership of planets, stars and other celestial bodies, but individuals can.

Needless to say, she wants to profit from her new property, so if you thought that sunbathing would be free forever you may be wrong. Is that a clever move or -as someone said the other day- she's losing her marbles? I think I'll get myself a whole galaxy before it gets too crowded here. What piece of universe would you like to own ?

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Today

Sorry I couldn't make it to class today -family problems- but everything's OK now so I'll definitely come tomorrow ... so no excuse for your test!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

You won't get away with it!



He's finally been caught for smuggling marijuana ...30 years ago!
Script HERE
Remember To get away with something ?

And some more crime/business news with lots of words we've seen in class: High street shoplifting soars. The High street? Shoplifting? What's that again?

*This blog is 'apture-powered', which means that if you highlight a word, a 'learn more' sign will theoretically appear . Click on it and it will give you a list of internet links related to that word. Just try.