World's Top Landmarks

Some of Europe's greatest landmarks.



And here are some of  Madrid's top landmarks.What is your favourite?



The Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

In 2007 The New Seven Wonders Foundation started a campaign to maintain and restore world heritage sites. For a year and a half, over 100,000,000 people voted to choose the new seven wonders of the modern world. Although The Alhambra of Granada was one of the candidates, no Spanish landmark was included in the final list.


Watch the following videos to discover which are the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

   


Now try to match the sentences with the landmark they describe.
 

1. The name of the site means Old Mountain.
2. It was built of brick and stone.
3. It still serves as a model for every modern sports stadium.
4. It sits at the top of the Corcovado Mountain.
5. It was an important Mayan city.
6. It is located in a valley near the Dead Sea.
7. It was built to honour the emperor's favourite wife.
8. It was rediscovered in 1911.
9. Its origins date back to the 7th century.  
10. It has been described as a jewel of Muslim art. 
11. It has been severely damaged by earthquakes and stone robbers.
12. It was built between 1632 and 1648.
13. Only surviving wonder of the Ancient World, it was named an honorary candidate.

  

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela,  South Africa's  first black president, dies aged 95.

"Don't judge me by my successes. Judge me by how many times I fell and got back up again."

President Obama pays tribute to Mandela

Global Warming

Do the following test and then submit your result to me.

Teacher code: OlgaGalileo

Please write your name and surname.

The Girl Who Was Shot for Going to School

“Let us pick up our books and our pens.They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.” 

Malala receives Sakharov prize for freedom of thought.





One year ago schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen - her "crime", to have spoken up for the right of girls to be educated. A few months later Malala addressed the United Nations Youth Assembly.




Click here to read Malala's full speech at the UN.

Find out about Malala, her biography, her achievements, the country she comes from.

Here are some useful links:

BBC Profile: Malala Yousafzai. 

Malala Yousafzai. Biography.

Ten ways Malala has changed the world




Watch Malala's interview on The Daily Show.

Women in Science

Look at the photograph carefully. What stands out straight away? Do you recognize anybody there?

The photo was taken at the Solvay Conference on Physics in 1927 and the woman in the bottom row, and indeed the only woman, is, as I am sure you've guessed, Marie Curie. You've heard her name and probably know something about her achievements as a scientist.

Watch the video and try to write down as many relevant facts about her life and career as you can.




To what extent have things changed since 1927, when the photo was taken? Not as much as you would expect, according to a study published by Yale University. According to this study, of all the physics professors in the United States, only 14% are women and only one fifth of Ph.D.'s are awarded to women.

Lucía, a student doing research at a university in Denmark, tells us:

"Personally, I am surrounded by men in the research area, we are only two girls out of twelve in the group and the same proportion can be expanded to the whole department. In the beginning it was funny to see the guys' faces when I could solve a problem that we were facing, but I cannot tell if it was because I was a woman or because I was a foreigner (or both?).
Women getting into science  is like men getting into the baby stuff: sometimes it might be hard for women to accept advice from a man on how to take care of children just as it might be for men to accept advice from women on how that sensor has to be built. But we are in the good track, I would say." (Lucía Alcalá, former Galileo Galilei student)

What is keeping women out of STEM fields? (STEM stands for "science, technology, engineering and mathematics")

Tuesday 16 October marks Ada Lovelace day, an annual event "designed to raise the profile of female scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians."
But who was Ada Lovelace and what do you know about her? Look her up and write a few lines about her achievements.

Feel free to leave your comments.

Dangerous Jobs

This week we have been talking about some dangerous jobs. Here is one not many people would be willing to do. Would you?

1. What is the name of the bridge? 
2. How long is it? What other facts about the bridge do we learn?
3. How long does it take to paint the bridge?
4. What test do potential workers have to pass before they can get the job?
5. How many workers have died on the job?
6. What famous landmark can be seen from the top?
7. What do they wear to protect themselves?

Gerund or Infinitive?

Trying to decide when to use an infinitive or a gerund can drive you crazy. And there is no easy way to learn, I'm afraid. It's just a matter of PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and MORE PRACTICE.

Here are some links to get you started.

Infinitive or -ing? Verb Lists
More verb lists
Infinitive or Gerund? Some exercises.
Keep practising
And still some more!

A look inside a Syrian Refugee Camp in Turkey

Thousands of Syrians flee their country and find refuge in neighbouring Turkey. They leave behind a  terrible conflict which has claimed the lives of tens of thousands.

1. How has the number of Syrian refugees leaving their country increased in the past month?
2. How many Syrian refugees are now in Turkey?
3. How old is Um Omar? Did she arrive in Turkey alone?
4. How does Um Omar describe her  life in Syria?
5. Do the Turkish authorities let all the refugees arriving at the border into the country?
6. What are the main problems inside the camp?
7. What is their main fear?

Writing a Discussion Essay

When writing a discussion essay, remember to keep to the fixed structure:

• introduction
• body (arguments for and against)
• conclusion

You will find the following example useful.

7.2 Discussion Essay Esl Printables

Farewell to 2nd of Bachillerato Students!

The school year is coming to an end for the 2nd of Bachillerato students and it is time to say goodbye.


I know it has not been easy, I have seen you tired, exhausted at times, frustrated, ... but at last you've made it here. All those sleepless nights, all those hours in front of your books have paid off, and I hope the effort was worth it.

Before we say goodbye, I'd  like to wish you all every success and happiness in the future. Keep learning!!

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." Henry David Thoreau


 Best of luck!

 Graduation Speeches

The following are graduation speeches written by the students in  APLE2. 

A Trip to Antarctica

Thinking about your summer holiday? How would you like to travel to Antarctica? 
Watch the following video and discover some of the wonders of this amazing continent.

 


Imagine you have decided to travel there.

• Would you find much rain?
• When would it be a good time to travel?
• Where would you start your trip from?
• Would you be able to get near the gigantic icebergs? How?
• What animals would you expect to see?
• What other things can you do there?

Leonardo Da Vinci - Universal Genious

Watch the following documentary about  Leonardo Da Vinci and answer the questions.
Feel free to leave a comment about this fascinating genius.

1. Where was Leonardo born?
2. What did he study?
3. How many places did he live in?
4. What did he do in 1492?
5. Who did he work for for 17 years?
6. Name some of the inventions and designs he worked on.
7. What was Leonardo's greatest dream?
8. Where did he spend his last years?
9. How old was he when he died? 
10. What characterises the Renaissance Man?

Graduation Speeches

Only a few weeks to go!
 Soon you will be saying goodbye to teachers and students and to the school where you've spent an important part of your life.
Now I am giving you the opportunity  to think back and try to recapture those moments which will stay with you for ever, your very first day, all the good and bad memories ...  You are about to embark on a new adventure, so you might also like to talk about your hopes for the future .
You will be able to talk about all that in your GRADUATION SPEECH.
This will be your final project, so it is important that you spend some time thinking and preparing what you want to say.






In order to help you and give you some ideas, here are some examples and tips.


How to write a valedictorian speech

Selected speeches by valedictorians (NYTimes)

The top valedictorian speeches on YouTube

Here are some examples of funny or inspirational speeches

The Mobile Phone's 40th Anniversary

The first mobile phone call was made on 3rd of April, 1973.

40 years later Marty Cooper, the 'father' of the mobile phone, talks about his invention.

Watch the interview.

1. What was the real reason for creating the first mobile phone?
2. What did he say on that first call?
3. Had he planned what he was going to say?
4. How much did he make from his invention?
5. How many people worldwide own cell phones?
6. Rather than improving coverage, what are companies more interested in?
7. What is according to Marty the most exciting revolution?
8. How can our cell phones help our health?

Watch the following video about the history of iconic mobile phone designs.


 


And what about you?
Are you one of the billions of people who own a mobile phone? When did you get your first phone and how many have you had? How important is your phone in your life? What do you use it for. Can you imagine life without it?

Click here to see your marks

What Stresses out High School Students?

Listen to some high school students talking about what stresses them out.






But does it get better in college? Apparently not.
 


How can we cope with stress? A short video about managing stress.





What stresses you out?

On Death Row

We've seen the film The Green Mile. Today we get a look at what Death Row is really like.





 Try to answer the following questions:

1. What is Ronald Sanford in prison for?
2. How old was he when he committed his crime?
3. Why did he do it?
4. Does he remember what happened?
5. What was he sentenced to?
6. What sort of things has he missed having been in prison for so long?  
7. Some time later, Trevor goes back to talk to Sanford. Could you describe his cell?
8. What books does he read?
9. Trevor says it's an isolated place. Does Sanford agree?

You can watch the rest of the programme Inside Death Row with Trevor McDonald.

English Central

Introducing English Central (for those of you still not familiar with it)
A fun and easy way to practice you English.
 
To start earning points enroll at:  obs2012  
But don't forget you must register first

Once in my class, click on BROWSE at the top of the page and choose any videos you like.
Try to do as many videos as you can. I'll be checking regularly to see how are doing!

There are hundreds of new videos awaiting you. And in case you've forgotten how it works, here is a video.

Debating the Death Penalty

APLE2
Next week we will be debating the death penalty in class.
In order to prepare for the debate you should first do some research. Find out as many facts as you can, read and listen to other people's opinions, get familiar with the vocabulary. You will find a great number of sites dedicated to the subject, both in favour and against.



And here is your last chance to express your own views on the subject.
Deadline: 3rd March.









British actor Jeremy Irons talks about the death penalty .



Listen and fill in the gaps.

The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

Deadline: 12th February
Check out your marks here

Spanish Corruption Scandal

And we make international headlines again!

Galileo, the Father of Modern Astronomy

Brian Malow, from Time Magazine, talks about Galileo and astronomy.

1. Why does Malow compare Galileo to Elvis or Oprah?
2. Why was 2009 declared International Year of Astronomy?
3. What does Malow say would have happened if he had been an astronomer?
4. When and were was the telescope invented?
5. What, according to the astronomer interviewed, is the hottest thing in science right now?
6. What are exoplanets?
7. What will Kepler do that no other telescope has managed to do before?
8. What happens every Friday and Saturday at the Chabot Space & Science Centre?
9. What experience does astronomer Dr Marcy from Berkeley  think you will never forget?
10. What does Brian Malow suggests you should do? (and why not listen to them,too?)

Who Wants to Become a Millionaire?

A game to help you practise your modal verbs. Good luck!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Every third Monday in January, people in the United States celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Here is a brief biography of one of America's most admired leaders.

Lance Armstrong Admits to Doping

A few months ago we talked about Lance Armstrong. Now he has made the headlines again. In an interview with the famous television presenter Oprah Winfrey, he finally admits to doping.

1. 'I didn't invent the culture, but...' Can you finish Armstrong's sentence?
2. What substances does Armstrong admit to taking?
3. As a leader of the team, a) was he pressured  by directives into taking drugs?  b) did he bully others?
4. What does he promise to do for the rest of his life?
5. What is, according to him, a major flaw?
6. Would he be willing to go to a truth and reconciliation commission? 

How I Met Your Mother (Belly Full of Turkey)

For those of you who  missed it, here is what happened in this episode of HIMYM as told by the students of APLE2

Deadline: 22nd January

The Man with the Twisted Lip (Sherlock Holmes)

Story time! Let's hear you read...

Deadline: 24th January

Living with a Disability

Ben Underwood, a teenager from California, has learnt to live with his disability.
Watch the video and answer the questions.

• How old was he when he became blind? How old is he now?
• What remarkable things can Ben do despite being blind?
• Why do you think Ben has managed to overcome his disability?
• Who won the football game?

New Seven Wonders of the World

In 2007 The New Seven Wonders Foundation started a campaign to maintain and restore world heritage sites. For a year and a half, over 100,000,000 people voted to choose the new seven wonders of the modern world. Although The Alhambra of Granada was one of the candidates, no Spanish landmark was included in the final list.

Watch the following videos to discover which are the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

   

Now try to match the sentences with the landmark they describe.
 

1. The name of the site means Old Mountain.
2. It was built of brick and stone.
3. It still serves as a model for every modern sports stadium.
4. It sits at the top of the Corcovado Mountain.
5. It was an important Mayan city.
6. It is located in a valley near the Dead Sea.
7. It was built to honour the emperor's favourite wife.
8. It was rediscovered in 1911.
9. Its origins date back to the 7th century.  
10. It has been described as a jewel of Muslim art. 
11. It has been severely damaged by earthquakes and stone robbers.
12. It was built between 1632 and 1648.
13. Only surviving wonder of the Ancient World, it was named an honorary candidate.