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!