Men's and women's brains

- According to Mark, what's the main difference between men's brain and women's brain?

- What's "men's special box"?

- What do women expect from men when they are worried or angry about something?

- Did you enjoy Mark's humour? Why/ why not?

PHOBIAS

• Do you have phobias?
• What's your biggest one?
  
• Listen to these people and make a list of theirs:

"th" pronunciation

Let's practise. I'd like to read about your comments.

Video and photo sharing

In this site, you can upload photographs and videos of your own.

I've uploaded one:



It'd be a good idea to see some in your blogs!

Audio and videos

Viewpoint is an audio and video repository that allows you to record your audio/viedo online using your microphone or webcam, or upload existing media.

These media itmes can then be linked from other sites or embedded inside your own web pages/blogs. Note that this product has been developed for educational purposes only.

It is an interesting site to explore!

Video Sharing

In this site, you can upload photographs and videos of your own.

I've uploaded one:



It'd be a good idea to see some in your blogs!

Our chat session with the students from La Plata

We had our first chat session today with Jóvenes 4 MA. As every first experience there were inconvenients but I'd dare say the result was quite good.

Fortunately, Miss Patricia joined us first and was then replaced by Miss Antonella.

I wouldn't have been able to do it without their help. Thanks a lot to both of them!

And here are some photographs:

By placing the cursor on "Glogster" you will see the option to view it "full size".

Hope you enjoy it!

NEW BLOG TO WORK WITH OUR FRIENDS FROM BRAZIL

You will find here our new blog. We will publish our answers to the questions and doubts the students and teachers from Brazil have about our country.

We'll first introduce ourselves. The teacher from Brazil has already left a comment.

* Please, send me your e-mails so that I can invite you as authors of this blog.

TAG CLOUDS

Today you'll play with a web-tool called tag cloud.

We can use tag clouds to know how often words are repeated in a text; we can visualize word frequency.

It's very easy to use; you just have to copy a text and paste it in the site and, after that, copy the embedding code and paste it in a post to be published in your blog.

Here's one of the sites you can use: http://www.wordle.net/

• Go there and click on "create".
• You can either choose to give your blog's url or paste the text of one of your post -your description for example.
• Once you've done it, you can choose the colour, font, layout (horizontal, vertical), etc. You'll find these option on top of the word cloud.
• Save it.
• Get the code where it says "Paste this code into your blog or home page to link to this Wordle:"

I've created a word cloud with 3rd year's blog. Look!

Click on the image to see it more clearly.

• How do you like it?

JUSTCO - We care. . .

State Of Debate

In the year 2020 hoodies are outlawed, but it's not all good news. Stand up for your fellow yoofs using the power of the English Language.

Go to the following link of the BBC and use your English to debate, persuade and advise. If you do it correctly, nothing bad is going to happen to you.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/games/english/index.shtml

VISITING OTHER STUDENTS FROM . . .

I'll leave here the link to another blog in which students from . . . are working.

Visit them and find out where they are from, leave them any questions you might be interested to be answered, too!

The link: http://jovenes4ma.motime.com

They will also visit us.

TEST YOUR AWARENESS

Test your attention with Do The Test's Whodunnit.

Who Killed Lord Smithe?

How observant are you? Try to notice 21 changes while the story takes place?




How did you do?

Any further comments?

THE PASSIVE

If you need some extra practise with this topic, check the following pages:

• Rewrite the following sentences in the text-areas provided so that passive constructions have been changed to active verbs: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/passive_quiz.htm

• Passive Voice

• Passive Voice 2

• Passive Voice 3

• Passive Voice 4

• Passive Voice 5
  

• Active or Passive?

Here's another way of looking into passive voice. Try to watch it and answer the questions, of course! :-))

Miss Lidia has left a comment at

ADDING YOUR CLASSMATES' BLOGS IN THE SIDEBAR

Katy Perry - Hot N Cold

Watch the following video and do the activity below. And also like some feedback, too.

Ex.1 - Fill in the gaps

You... ______________ your ______________
Like a girl... changes ______________

Yeah you... ______________Like a ______________... I would know
And you ... over ______________

Always ______________ ... ______________

I should know ... that you're no ______________ for me!

'Cause you're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
You're wrong when it's right
It's black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We kiss, we make up

(You) You don't really want to stay, no
(You) But you don't really want to go
You're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in and you're out
You're up and you're down

. . . . . .

Ex.2 - Fill in the gaps

We... ______________ ______________ ______________
Just like ______________ so in ______________

The same... ______________

Now's a dead... ______________Used to ______________... 'bout nothing
Now your ______________... ______________

I should know... that you're not ______________change!

'Cause you're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
You're wrong when it's right
It's black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We kiss, we make up

(You) You don't really want to stay, no
(You) But you don't really want to go
You're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in and you're out
You're up and you're down

. . . . . .

Ex.3 - Fill in the gaps

______________... call the ______________ Got a ______________

of ______________ ______________ ______________

on a... ______________ ______________ Can't get of this ______________.

You... change your mind
Like a girl... changes clothes...

'Cause you're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
You're wrong when it's right
It's black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We kiss, we make up

You're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
You're wrong when it's right
It's black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We kiss, we make up

(You) You don't really want to stay, no
(You) But you don't really want to go
You're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in and you're out
You're up and you're down

Do you dare to do something similar in your own blogs? Come on, try it!

Irene, you do Stefa's activity and viceversa.

Diego and Juan Ignacio do the same.

I'll be looking forward to seeing that activity!

Animation

The following site lets you draw a person and then turns your drawing to a bunch of dancing people having a good time.

http://roxik.com/pictaps/

Your task:

• Go to the site
• Draw a person
• Get the embedding code and post the animation in your blog
• Describe in writing what he/she is doing, what he/she looks like. It would also be interesting to say what is going on in the animation.
  

Here's mine:

Here's some extra listening practise.

Click on the speakers to listen. You will hear two people discussing buying a rug. Complete the sentences by writting in the form. If you want to make a change, just delete what you have written and type a new answer.

http://www.english-online.org.uk/fcefolder/fcelistenp2.php?name=The%20Listening%20test%20part%202

Tell us about your results in "comments".

WANTED

I just read the following activity in Nik's Peachey's blog and thougt it might be interesting to work with it.

You'll have to create a "Wanted" poster with a photo of yours. You can improve your digital pictures and drawings with this collection of easy to use photo effects at this site.

It's really easy to use, you just upload a photograph and then write in your own caption. You can then download and print the images or add them to blogs or web pages.

Here's mine:


Just choose "wanted posters", create yours and download it into your computer.

After that, publish it in your blog and write a fictional story saying why you're being wanted (at least three paragraphs).

ADDING YOUR CLASSMATES' BLOGS IN THE SIDEBAR

Follow these steps:

• Click on "customise"
• Choose "Add a Gadget"
• A new window will open. From there, click on "Link list"

• Another window will open. Write the title, copy one of your classmates' url, paste it where it says "New Site URL".
  
• Now, where it says "New Site Name", write the name of the blog.
• Click on "Add link" and repeat the previous point until you finish with all the blogs.
• Last, click on SAVE.

• The previous window will appear, click on SAVE once more and it's ready!

In case you haven't been able to do it, post a comment and I'll try to give you further details.

3rd activity of the first free week: Creating your own comic

Today you'll learn to use a new tool, a comic maker at ToonDoo.

Follow these steps:

• Go to http://www.toondoo.com/Home.toon
• Once there, choose TOOLS, and then TooDoo Make

• You will have to register and open a free account.
  
• Wait just a few seconds. A new window will open in which you will see the comic creator. Try to imagine a dialogue. Use your creativity. The comic can have as many pictures as you need (layout).

• Your are ready to create a comic strip.
• On the top, you can choose: characters, backgrounds, text bubbles, etc.

• At the bottom there are some tools that'll let you move the characters to the front or to the back, shrink or enlarge.
• Once you have finished, click on ToonDoo in the top left corner. After that, press on the folder and choose "save".
  

• You can now publish it, see it at the moment and not only print it, send it to others, but also embed it in your blog. Choose the one(s) you like best.

Place the cursor on the following comic strip in order to read it:

by maral954 | Create your own Cartoon at www.toondoo.com

Leave your comment and let us know when you've embedded the comic in your blog!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• HERE'S ANOTHER SITE WHERE YOU CAN MAKE A MOVIE, BY CHOOSING CHARACTERS, SETTINGS AND BACKGROUND MUSIC.

• ONCE IT'S FINISHED, EMBED IT IN YOUR BLOG BY COPYING THE EMBEDDING CODE.

THE SITE: http://www.dfilm.com/live/moviemaker.html

Write or die. 2nd Activity of this free week

Developing your writing skill is a very important part of learning a language. When you write something it's very important to ensure that there are no mistakes before you let anyone read it. In the planning and drafting stages though it can be much more important to get your ideas down on paper first and not to worry about accuracy.


Today's activity focuses on this drafting stage of the writing process and uses a website from Dr Wicked called 'Write or Die'.

The idea of the website is that you must keep writing. If you stop and pause too long your screen will go red and the words you have written will start to disappear until you start writing again.

This should force you to write more quickly and become a fluent writer. You will be able to correct you errors afterwards once you have your basic text. This is that way that most successful writers work in their own language.

Task:

* First choose a subject that you would like to write about. Here are a few suggestions.

You last holiday
A sport that you enjoy
A band or singer that you like
A good film you have seen
Your family
The best day of your life
Your job or the job you would like to have

* Before you start you might like to think of some key points that you would like to include about your topic.

* When you are ready to start writing go to: http://lab.drwicked.com/writeordie.html

* Set you 'Word Goal' to 300. Set the 'Grace Period' to 'Evil' and set the mode to 'Kamikaze'. There's no need to enter a time.

* Then when you are ready click on 'Write!' You will see a field for your text. Click on it and start to write about your topic as quickly as you can. Your word count will start to appear in the bottom right hand corner.

* As long as you keep writing the screen will stay white, but if you stop it will go red. If you stop for too long, your words will start to disappear and you will have to write them again.
* Do your best and try to write 300 words. If this is too difficult you can lower the word goal to 200 or 150.
* Once you have to to your word goal, click on the button that says 'Done'. You can then copy your text and start looking at and correcting the errors.


This activity has been developed by Nik Peache, you can visit his blog for more activities at: http://daily-english-activities.blogspot.com

Catch the wind (First activity for this week)

I've just received this video and would like to share it with you.

PLEASE, FOLLOW THESE STEPS:


FIRST:
Watch it until the boy is on the train (0:36 sec):

• Where do you think he's going?

SECOND:
Now, until the motorcycle gets near a small house (0:51 sec):

• Is that man a relavite of his?
• Is that house the place of destination?

THIRD:
Stop the video when the old man receives the jar (1:05 sec):

• What do you think is going to happen when the jar is opened?
• What's this commercial about? Can you guess?

FOURTH: Watch along.

• What's the commercial about?
• What feelings did you experience while watching it?
• Any further comments?

AND NOW, LET'S WORK WITH THE LYRICS!
Try to complete the following cloze:

Catch the wind - Glen Compbell

In the ________ hours and minutes of ___________

I want to be,
In the warm hold of your _________ mind
To feel you all __________ me

and to take your hand along the sand.

Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind
When ___________ pales the sky

I want to __________ a while behind your smile
And ____________ I'd look your eyes I'd find
For me to love you now

t'would be the ___________ thing t'would make me sing
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind

When rain has hung the leaves with _________

I want you near to ________ my fears
To help me leave all my blues __________
Standing in your heart

is where I _________ to be and long to be
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind
[ strings ]
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.

Post your comments, I'm looking forward to reading them!