4th assignment: write a composition:
1. Bayern Munich is a better football team than Real Madrid.
Some people say Real Madrid is a better team than Bayern, because of different reasons. Do you support this idea?
If you do, you probably say they have much better, younger and faster players than Bayern. For example, Casillas has better instinctive reactions and is younger than Kahn. They’d continue saying that as they have more money than Bayern; they could get good players, like for example Kaka. They’d end saying that Real Madrid’s trainer is very experienced, and knows how to manage the team.
But what if you don’t support this idea? Then you would probably say Bayern has more team spirit, as they are very joined in good and bad moments. You would continue saying that Bayern players are more experienced as they are older. You’d end saying they have a lot of money after selling Ballack.
In conclusion, I’d say Real Madrid is a better team, as Bayern’s arguments are very weak.
by Daniel
03:43 - 28.03.2007 - {0} -
4th assignment: write a composition:
3. Modern technology prevents real communication taking place.
Modern technology doesn´t prevent real communication taking place.
To start, it depends on what you understand by real. Who´s to say what´s real and what isn´t? No one has exactly the same concept of the meaning of a word in each case. Furthermore, thanks to modern technology more communication takes place, which means that people are more informed and that there´s more communication between people. Moreover, it´s quick. You don´t have to wait three weeks to receive a reply to your letter, as with normal mail. E-mail, mobile phones and other communication devices send your message in a matter of seconds.
Modern technology prevents real communication taking place.
Modern communication objects are sometimes used instead of paying a visit, due to which normal person-to-person relations are lost. Also, when using e-mail or the mobile phone you don´t see the other person, their facial expressions, their body language, and sometimes you don´t even hear their voices. Last of all, these new methods of communication make us more dependent on computers than, for example, someone that goes everyday to visit their friend.
I think modern technology is quite useful, but we shouldn´t turn it into a need, to go for a walk or write a letter is also recommendable.
by Jero
11:22 - 24.03.2007 - {0} -
4th assignment: write a composition:
2. School uniforms are useful and should be
compulsory in any school.
Using Uniform
There has always been a disagreement in wearing or not wearing a school
uniform. In some schools wearing a uniform is compulsory. Even though students
think it is a bad idea I think it is a great idea. If one day they stopped and
thought about it, most of them would agree with me.
Wearing uniform gives a
better impression of the school because it looks more formal, serious and
equal. It is also better because people don?t have to spend so much money in
buying clothes for all the days of the week. This way, parents have to buy only
the uniform and some clothes for the weekends, holidays... Another good point
of wearing a uniform is that you don?t have to choose every day what you are
going to wear.
On the other hand, not wearing a uniform cannot be better but preferable
for some people who prefer wearing street clothes because maybe they can?t
afford buying both, street clothes and uniform or any other thing. There are
other people who prefer wearing street clothes only for showing off.
In my opinion all schools should make wearing a uniform compulsory because
it is better for everyone; for the school because it gives a better impression
of it; for the students because it avoids one type of bullying, and so that
they don?t have to think every night what to wear the following day, and to the
parents so that they don?t have to buy so much clothes.
by Cova
05:03 - 22.03.2007 - {0} -
3rdassignment: write a short story The Investigation of the Crime The phone rang, he replied. Another crime had taken place; another crime to investigate. He went to the crime scene, and there she was, lying on the floor, without breathing, covered in blood; she was dead. From that moment in which he started to investigate, his life would change. He started to look for clues and too early he thought he knew who the originator of the crime was. The only thing he had to do now was to look for him, which was not as complicated as the investigation but in this case it wasn?t easy at all. At first he tried to look for him by himself, but then he realised that he couldn?t do it without help. Just when he had asked for help, he ?found? the criminal, he persecuted him, he asked him to stop and to confess but he wouldn?t. He shot with his gun; just then he received a call from another policeman who told him that he had caught the criminal and that he had already confessed. by Cova
09:45 - 20.03.2007 - {0} -
3rd assignment: write a short story
Would you have it?
It all started with that kind of strange milk I had for breakfast one morning. My grades suddenly shot upwards like the Columbia space shuttle. I started having a lot more friends, more than I can count. The girls didn´t leave me alone for a second, and my parents treated me as if I had just got an A* in ?selectividad?.
What was happening? There didn´t seem to be anything particularly strange about that milk, if something, then that it was a bit sour, nothing else. I just assumed that it was out of date. But there had to be something else, because it couldn´t be by chance that everyone quarrelled in the bus to sit near me, for the girls to go nuts and to start screaming like crazy for me to choose them as my girlfriend, for the teachers to squeal in delight every time I got 2+2 right? I could go on forever. To sum up, I was a popular guy.
Then it all came crashing down. My grades dropped down so quickly that I didn?t have time to realize it before it was too late, the girls stopped pestering me to begin to just glance at me with a look of cold indifference, and I felt the loneliest person in the world. ?Was it a coincidence?? I thought as I walked home (I was no longer accepted in the bus). I didn´t think so, and that thought was soon backed up with an undeniable fact as soon as I arrived at home. I saw my cat, Pepe, asleep in front of his finished plate of milk. He was unusually still, so I cautiously walked over and gently shook him, only to find that he didn?t move and he just had his mouth and eyes half open. He was dead.
From then on I stopped buying that type of milk and threw away all the bottles of milk we had at home. I don?t know what happened, and the children at school weren?t very cooperative when I asked questions, but I?m not sure if I want to find out.
by Jero
12:07 - 20.03.2007 - {0} -
3rd assignment: write a short story
...?He regretted it?...
He was different to all the other boys in the school, perhaps it was because they were afraid of him, everybody was. He wasn?t a boy anymore, he was seventeen and this made him think why he started being like this. He was lying in his bed, trying to remember how it was two years ago, when he had friends at school, when he wasn?t like this. He had friends now but not how people should expect them to be.
He needed to think, he needed to remember when he turned to be like this. People say that you start being violent because you are shy and nobody likes you, but he thought when he was shy and when nobody liked him. He couldn?t.
He needed to go out of there, he was now afraid of himself, of what he had done, he needed a beer. He wouldn?t go to the pub down the street, people like his friends would be there and he didn?t want to listen to them, not anymore. When he arrived to a peaceful place he decided to go to a pub, there it was shabby and dusty but he didn?t sit down he went directly to the W.C. He felt sick.
He looked into the mirror and he felt ashamed of himself he hated himself? He couldn?t think of a reason why he had done this. He insulted himself, he cried, he shouted, he felt bad, very bad. He tried to convince himself that it was an accident but he couldn?t lie to himself, he had done it and that was it. He had to tell it to some one, so he went to the church, he believed the priest wouldn?t be there but it was his final chance, when he knocked the door and nobody answered, he punched the door, he cried and shouted again but that wouldn?t change anything, he had killed her; he regretted it but he had done it.
by Pelegri
12:07 - 20.03.2007 - {0} -
2nd assignment: Write a newspaper article about a) junk food. Junk food, Banned? Should Junk food be banned? This is the question that is going round the Health Ministry of Cityland. Nowadays, children don´t know how to stop eating; when they switch on TV, they see chocolate bars announced, hamburgers? or when they go outside to the street, they walk and see fast food restaurants. But really, the question is: Is it healthy? We have been researching in schools, and we haveseen children of 6 or 8 years with more of 80kg of weight. Is it normal? Of course it isn´t, or is it? You are the one that decides. We should do something to get rid of overweight children, but how can we do it? Firstly, we should stop the adverts of junk food, and start to advertise healthy things. Also, we should encourage people and children to do more sport, instead of watching TV all day. And, instead of buying junk food and chocolate, we should eat more fruits and vegetables. So, there you have the answers, what are you waiting for? by Nati
08:36 - 19.03.2007 - {1} -
3rdassignment: write a short story The Cave Man
He went to the beach, as every other day, at ten. That day he had a very strange feeling: the feeling you have when you are being watched from a long distance. He then started to walk towards the place he most enjoyed: a cave, which fills completely with water in a period of high tide. His parents always told him not to go in, but he wasn?t too obedient, so he went in. As every day he started swimming. His main objective was to get to the end, as he had never done before. He walked and walked during hours and hours. After 4 hours of intense walking, he got to the end. And there he saw it. An ugly, sinister and dull face was looking directly at him. Frightened, he started walking back towards the beach. After 30 minutes of walking, his feet were really hurting him. He thought he?d never reach the beach. Then, the water started to move slowly, and worst of all, it was moving up his feet, up his ankles, up to his knees, up to his hips... He tried using his last bit of energy to escape from the tide. When he finally got back to the end of the cave, the water was up to his neck. There he saw it again. The ugly, sinister, dull face was looking at him again. And this time he was holding a knife.
by Daniel
05:06 - 19.03.2007 - {3} -
3rdassignment: write a short story The Seeker of Revenge Ronald was standing on the other side of the road, looking firmly at the pavement. Prepared to kill the judge that he had promised to kill one month ago. The press was taking photographs of the accused man. Meanwhile Ronald was ready and waiting with his rifle for the appearance of the judge. ?Like a tiger prepared to catch his prey,? he whispered.
Suddenly a flood of lights revealed the appearance of the judge. It was only a few second?s more for the bullet to enter the judge?s body. BANG! A high-pitched noise was heard and a mass of people faced the body that was lying on the ground. It was Monday morning and Ronald was prepared to go to the court with his lawyer. He had been accused of murdering his wife and children. The lawyer was concerned that his client wasn?t totally innocent even if he had to say so. Only Ronald knew the real truth. Scotland was a rough country. It wasn?t really part of the world, no one knew about it. And Scots didn?t know about the world either. ?Harsh tough life we live! Isn?t it Ronald?? his lawyer pointed out. Ronald kept quiet. They were about to arrive at court. ?Yes, especially the hall of Scotland knows! Even the landlord that knew me since I was little. She thinks I?m the son of a Devil? Ronald ironically replied. ?You know something Ronald? Someone is behind all this! The Scottish government. I?ve seen some suspicious black cars moving about on our street. I know they are from the Scottish government because I?ve seen them before! Yes, when old Minister Crelior got murdered there was a big old bunch of them waiting outside the Hospital?s doors. They all wore suits and glasses. Sons of a Dragon!? said Mr. Marquee, Ronald?s father. ?Dad it was me who was chosen! It?s the only way their country can survive. The old Scapegoat trick! I?m fed up!? replied Ronald in an angry voice. ?Ok, Ronald I have been told that the judge is from the government and has been sent especially for this case,? stated the lawyer. ?I?m not afraid. I?m innocent the only witness is an old woman that supposedly saw me beating Margot to death! How can life be so horrible? Life is not fair! F***! What world are we living in! God aren?t you going to change things?? roared Ronald. Ronald ran ferociously and got into the car. It was the only revenge he could take for the murder of his lovely wife Margot and both his children. ?I guess the 22nd Century isn?t as good as they said it would be.? He whispered to himself. Ronald turned the car engine on and rushed to somewhere he hoped he could be safe. Spain. by Dani
04:58 - 19.03.2007 - {0} -
Write a newspaper article about b) a football match of last weekReal Madrid was sent out in 10 seconds Last night in the Allianz-Arena, Real Madrid?s wishes vanished in 10 seconds. The match started at ten to nine and Real Madrid relied on Emerson and Diarra in the center of the lineup. Just when the match started Roberto Carlos lost the ball and that passed it to McKay toscore the first goal in 10 seconds! Actually it was the fastest goal scored in the Champions League. Madrid wasn?t playing as they had expected, they needed a goal and the match wasn?t going very well. Fabio Capello changed Emerson for Guti and that gave Real Madrid speed and agility against a spectacular Bayern. In the second half Bayern was still playing much better and in minute 21 Lucio scored the second goal for Bayern. Real Madrid wasn?t playing nervously but with calm but they were doing it fine. Robinho andCassano did a great play and they prepared a pass that finished in a penalty kick that Rud V.Nistelrooy scored. In the last minutes Sergio Ramos did a spectacular shot that the referee called off because he touched it with his hand.This shot was a big deal because the referee shouldn?t have called off that goal. Why did he call it off? Maybe because of doubt but in my opinion you can?t call off a goal that will change the whole leauge. Finally Bayern München passed to the next round and will have to play against A.C Milan but every player of Real Madrid will remember that goal that may have given the opportunity of Real Madrid to win their tenth Champions League. by Pelegri
04:06 - 19.03.2007 - {1} -
2nd assignment: Write a newspaper article about a) junk food. Unhealthy addiction Many people think that food adverts should be banned; others think they should not. Let?s see the positive and negative points of this. People like junk food and are very addicted to it. Why is it that this type of food is so addictive? Why can?t some people just control themselves? Nobody knows the answer; it?s only that they can?t simple control themselves.
Even if junk food adverts were banned, all the people would still know that it existed and would still go and eat it. The health minister should do something to control what people eat. They have to start to take the children?s custody from? The parents that don?t make their children eat well. But that?s not enough. What happens with the grown-up people that don?t have anyone to look after them and what they eat? They could eat what they want but it is not healthy at all.
It isn?t bad if you go twice a month or so to a fast food restaurant such as McDonalds, BurgerKing.. But if you go every day it can get to a point in which it can be worrying. by Cova
10:20 - 18.03.2007 - {0} -
Write a newspaper article about b) a football match of last week BAYERN SENT REAL MADRID OUT
Yesterday Bayern München and R.Madrid faced each other in the Champions League. This match started with a goal of Bayern München, after this the players of Real Madrid went down and they started loosing opportunities, the first part of the match was a bit boring, but the second part got more interesting with goals of both teams, one of Bayern München at the beginning and then a penalty in favour of Real Madrid, which Van Nistelrooy scored. Then the Real Madridplayers played better and Sergio Ramos scored a fascinating goal, which the referee cancelled because he said he controlled the ball with the hand, the R.Madrid players became furious but they didn?t have any other opportunity. At the end of the match Raul, R.Madrid?s captain, seemed to be disappointed with the referee?s actions.
by Alvaro
08:02 - 18.03.2007 - {0} -
2nd assignment: Write a newspaper article about a) junk food. Roly-Poly Junk food, nowadays is a very popular type offood, whereever you go in any country on earth you will find a junk food store such as McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, etc, but is it healthy?? Nearly half of the US population suffers from overweight, but why?? The answer is junk food, not every onehas overweight because of it, but a high number of people do and it?s a problem that needs a solution Junk food contains a huge amount of fats, calories, and if you eat too much of it you can have serious health problems, that can end in death, would you like to endl ike that? If the answer is NO eat all type of products: salads, spaghetti, fruits, which are good for you. Follow the proverb ?One apple a day keeps the doctor away?. It?s true!!!! By Isa
07:49 - 18.03.2007 - {0} -
2nd assignment: Write a newspaper article abouta) junk food. Junk Food Is All Over The Place Nowadays our townsare full of fast food restaurants. Nearly in each street block there is at least one active fast food restaurant. This has great health consequences for the people that eat normally in one of those places. The most common fast food places are Burger King or MacDonald?s, but there are a lot of other places likeWendy's, Arby's, Pizza Hut, or Kentucky Fried Chicken. Experts say that the abuse of fast food can be the cause of obesity, diabetic problems or many other health problems.Many people have suffered this kind of problems for reason of irresponsible consume. It is true that all food in large quantities is not good but fast food contains far more fats that cause health problems. Why do people eat fast food? People want quick and convenient meals; they do not want to spend a lot of time preparing meals, travelling to pick up meals, orwaiting for meals in restaurants. As a result, consumers rely on fast food. Knowing this, fast food providers are coming up with new ways to advertise their products that save time for consumers. So this makes large numbers of people eat normally fast food. by Luis
07:41 - 18.03.2007 - {0} -
Write a newspaper article about b) a football match oflast weekR.Madrid waves a white flag to Bayern R.Madrid got sent off from the Champions by Bayern Munich, after loosing yesterday 2-1, even though they won in Madrid 3-2. Why? Because if there´s a tie in the global scoring, the team which has scored most goals outside from home qualifies.
R.Madrid didn?t start too awake, as in the first 15 seconds Makaay scored, after an error of R.Carlos. Bayern dominated easily the game for the first 30 minutes, when Emerson was exchanged for Guti. R.Madrid had more possession of the ball than Bayern until halftime, even though they didn?t score. Right after halftime, Bayern had a clear occasion to score a goal, with the only difference that they didn?t score. In minute 69, Lucio headed a goal receiving a ball from the corner bounced by Bayern. In minute 82, a penalty kick was called against Bayern, were V.Nistelrooy scored, and where M.Diarra (R.Madrid) and V.Bommel (Bayern) were sent off. From then on R.Madrid clearly dominated the game. Bayern stayed in their own area, paralysed by R.Madrid?s pressure. The clearest occasion came when S.Ramos scored, but the referee unjustly called it off, as he had understood S.Ramos had hit the ball with the hand. This finished the game. "It was important to get a win as the Champions League is such a major competition, but the next match in Spain is important too," as Fabio Capello told the uefa match review (20/02/2007). He continued, saying "Beckham played very well, he was very important," (Capello to the Independent Online 21/02/2007). "When he has been in the side he has always played at a high level. He created two tonight and [scored] one the other night and I recognise that." by Daniel
07:23 - 18.03.2007 - {2} -
Write a newspaper article about b) a football match of last week Liverpool sends Barcelona home
The last Tuesday, 6 of March there was a football match between Liverpool and Barcelona F.C. The match was the second round to see who passed to the quarter-finals, and on the pitch there was very good match. The first half of the time we only saw Liverpool?s? football and technique with lots of attacking plays and they blocked Barça when they attacked. Liverpool´s best player in the first half was Riise, a Norwegian player, with lots of shots to Barcelona?s goal posts. On the other side, Barcelona´s players were blocked by Liverpool´s defenders, and couldn´t create more than a couple of occasions. The only special thing that we could see from Barças part where three fabulous stops from Barcelonas goalkeeper Victor Valdes. In the second half Barcelonas players thought that they could be eliminated from the Champions League and started playing as they where expected to. They played a very good second half, but they couldn´t beat Liverpool. The final result was 0 ? 1 for Barcelona, but it wasn´t enough and they were eliminated from the Champions League. by Ignacio
05:21 - 14.03.2007 - {2} -
2nd assignment: Write a newspaper article about a) junk food.
Common questions about junk food
Is junk food really bad for us or is it not? What effects is it having on our economy and ecosystem? What will happen if we continue to consume meat at this rate?
People have different view sconcerning junk food. Those who are against it declare that because of it an increasing percentage of children are obese. As doctor Williams of the National Food Department (N.F.D.) says: ?A child that eats the amount of saturated fat that a burger has in a day will become obese in a matter of 5 or 6 months?.
Moreover, this is having an impact on our planet and environment. More land needs to be used each year to hold the crops necessary to sustain the animals that then are killed for meat, land that could be used to feed the third world.
On the other hand, those who are in favour of junk food say that as it is so cheap, anyone, including poor people, can buy it.
I think that we should not eat junk food, because it is unacceptable that people are hungry in the south because of a ?want?, not a ?need? in the north, and for the sake of our health too.
by Jero
05:14 - 14.03.2007 - {2} -
2nd assignment: Write anewspaper article about a) junk food.
Inciting Obesity
Every day junk food is finding its ways into people?s stomachs. The biggest companies like MacDonald?s and Burger King are making advertisements encouraging people to eat their fattening hamburgers. They are supplying menus that contain almost a whole day?s calorie intake. ?Now when people go home for their lunch break, they regularly take with them a ?delicious? cheeseburger that they saw advertised the night before. It?s quickand cheap and doesn?t taste too bad! Its great that people are paying four pounds for this very attractive menu that slowly turns them into hippos without them even realising it. A type of metamorphosis really,? said Danielle MacWood, Consultant Nutritionist from Birmingham City Hospital. The problem is not only caused by MacDonald?s; other companies are basically affecting people?s health, it is common to eat prepared food. But, what is really in it? And how many calories does it contain? Hydrogenated oils are often in these foods in high quantities. As well as sugar. Some Scientist?s have proved that a man aged between 20 to 30 would die at the age of 35 if he daily had a hamburger menu and smoked a packet of cigarettes a day. ?Now when children get out from school they fill up on sugars and salt and mainly on hydrogenated fats. Children and Adults are seen a false view of what they are eating. The other day I heard a small girl asking her mother to buy her a hamburger because it came with a Barbie doll. I looked at the advertisement she was referring to, and I saw this disgusting cheeseburger that had a Barbie doll sat at the top of it, I realised what children are getting into their minds. I think the government should do something against it.? Declared Austin Richard (actor and director). So what shall we really do? The government is trying to put forward solutions against this horrible propaganda, which is spreading across the British Nation and the world. by Dani
06:50 - 13.03.2007 - {1} -
1st assignment: Write a letter of application for?
a) Jobadvertisement: Teacher at the British Council School of Madrid
Dear Mrs. Flaxman I am writing in reply to your advertisement. I saw your advertisement on the internet
and thought that I would like to apply for Englishteacher of infants.
I think that I am a suitable candidate because I am a native speaker of English and
because I graduated in all myexams. Moreover I have a qualification from
Oxford University and I have three years of relevant experience.
I am of middle high class and can be contacted by my mobile phone: 609-72-35-91 at
any time of the day except from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
I look forward to receiving your reply,
Yours sincerely
Jero
*Any resemblance to persons living or dead or their mobile numbers is purely coincidental.
by Jero
06:41 - 13.03.2007 - {0} -
Hello,
this will be a blog that I am doing with my students from the British Council School of Madrid. I have been teaching a group of ten top students of the year 9 for the last six weeks to further improve their writing skills. Every lesson I ask them to prepare a short piece of written work.
I soon realized that they show more effort when they know that their work is published because they want to be proud of their writings. In addition, their pieces of work will last longer because they are given the chance to read and review it again and also compare their texts with those of their classmates.
Enjoy reading,
Katrin Schmidt.
PS: Please keep in mind that the articles originate from the students' creativity. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
01:22 - 7.03.2007 - {0} -
Hast du es schon gesehen? lustich.de ist seit kurzem ganz neu gestaltet und sieht jetzt viel cooler aus.
Musst du mal wieder reinschauen: lustich.de
01:00 - 1.01.1970 - {0} -
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