1s.11 World sports and games

This term we are going to learn about different world sports and create a YouTube tutorial on how to play them. We are going to do this project in collaboration with your PE teachers, Miguel Ángel Lorenzo and Toni Ginard, and your ethics teachers, Marga Calbet and Adriana Morell.

The sports we are going to learn about include some sports and games you have discussed in your ethics class: sling throwing, kickball, dodgeball and capture the flag.

Watch these videos and check the websites to complete the information about the sport you must work on.

1. KICKBALL

Check this website for more technical information about kickball.

2. SLING THROWING

 

Check this website for more technical information about sling throwing.

3. DODGEBALL

Check this website for more information about dodgeball.

4. CAPTURE THE FLAG

Check this website for more information about capture the flag.

1x.6 Britain's Got Talent

Britain's Got Talent is one of the most successful talent shows ever broadcast. Anyone of any age with any sort of talent can audition for the show. Acts compete against each other in order to gain audience support. The winner receives a cash prize of £500.000 (approximately €750.000) and is given the opportunity to perform in the Royal Variety Performance in front of members of the British Royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II. The final usually gets more than 50% of audience share, which makes this competition more popular than other well-known talent shows such as The X Factor or The Voice.

Watch below a selection of some of the most popular acts that have taken part in Britain's Got Talent.

1. Imagine you have to describe the acts to someone who hasn't watched them. Write 60-80 words for each act, using in each description at least 5 of the useful phrases studied in class (page 49 in your Student's Book). Try to think about which phrases suit each act best. We will discuss your texts in class. 
2. When you finish, leave a comment on the blog explaining what act you have enjoyed the most and why. Enjoy the show!

ACT 1 - Attraction (2013)

 

ACT 2 - Ashleigh and Pudsey (2012)

ACT 3 - Jonathan and Charlotte (2012) 

1x.5 Violent video games

We've just read about how a family's experience of playing Grand Theft Auto clashed with widespread beliefs and prejudices against violent video games. What are your opinions on this matter? Discuss the questions below in small groups.


- Do you usually play video games? How often?
- Have video games changed the way teenagers spend their free time? How?
- In your opinion, what positive and negative impact can video games have on people's lives?
- Human personality is shaped and defined during adolescence. In your opinion, can video games play a role in the development of teenagers' personalities?
- Do you think violent video games can influence people's behaviour? Why (not)?


Well, let's take a look at what different experts have to say on this issue. Watch this video and take notes to try to answer the questions below.



Comprehension questions:

- What did the study carried out by the Ohio State University consist of?
- What were its conclusions?

- What are some differing viewpoints that the video presents about playing video games?

- What do the students interviewed say about video games?

- What measure has the video game industry taken to help protect society from exposure to violence?

1x.4 Destination America. Life stories of today's immigrants.

1. Discuss these questions in small groups:

• Define migration. What can be its causes?
• Do you have ancestors from other Spanish regions or foreign countries? Why did they migrate to Majorca?
• How do immigrants adapt to Spanish culture?
• Imagine you must settle in a foreign country. What aspects would you find key to successful integration?

Sophia, last year's assistant teacher, participated in a workshop in which high school students like you interviewed immigrants in their schools or neighbourhoods and wrote articles about their life experiences.

2. Read one of these extracts and discuss the questions in your group:

3. When you finish, join students who read a different story and compare the three life experiences.

• In what ways are the three stories similar? In what ways are they different?
• Which story did you find the most striking? Why?
• Can you think of similar situations migrants are facing in Spain? Discuss them.

Homework

4. Read the complete story you have been assigned comprehensively and watch the accompanying video when you finish. You can find the stories here. The following online dictionaries can help you with your reading at home.

www.learnersdictionary.com

www.wordreference.com

5. When you finish reading, complete the reading file below thoroughly. You will need this file next day in class to take part in a class discussion. 

6. On June 16th 2015, a well-known American businessman called Donald Trump announced that he would be running for US President in 2016. His Presidential Campaign Announcement speech was very controversial because of what he said about immigration. Watch the video and discuss the questions below:

• Does his view on immigration match the real-life experiences you've read about? Why (not)?
• What different reactions do you think his words may have caused? Think about different types of audiences such as Mexican immigrants, American citizens, the international community, etc.
• Is this a conservative or a liberal view on immigration? Why? 
• Do you think he will become the next US President? Why (not)?

1x.3 Surviving in Japan

After learning some interesting things about Japan and listening to Malcolm's experience living in the country, I want you to take a look at this website which offers survival tips for people who would like to move to Japan.

Imagine you're planning to move to Tokyo for work-related reasons. Browse the guide summary (click here to open the website) and read the sections which are relevant to the questions you've been assigned. Take notes to discuss them in class later on.

Group 1

What important things should you do before leaving Spain?
What tips or recommendations do you consider to be the most useful?

Group 2

What type of jobs should a person who doesn't speak Japanese fluently try to find?
What important considerations related to job interviews, contracts and work should you take into account?

Group 3

What advice on free time does the guide give?
Which tips or recommendations do you consider to be the most useful?

ご幸運を祈ります! (Gokoūn o inorimasu!) - Good luck!

2x.5 Amy Cuddy: "Your body language shapes who you are"

Shaking like a leaf about your upcoming oral presentation? Harvard professor Amy Cuddy can help you! Watch her awesome TED talk and find out how her research has demonstrated that your body language shapes who you are. No need to worry - her "power poses" can help you fake it 'til you become it!

1s.10 The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

Take a virtual tour of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. What (animals, objects, etc.) can you see in the museum? Write down at least ten. Which is your favourite one?

http://www.mnh.si.edu/vtp/1-desktop/

1x.2 The good consumer

In this unit we are discussing adverts, consumer society and the art of persuasion in general. Watch the following video and take notes about what you hear on these ideas.

advertisers - catchy slogans - (to) ban - consumer society

(to) be bombarded by brands and ads - slaves to fashion

1. Which of the terms above is not referred to on the video?
2. How are the other terms connected with what you hear on the video? Explain in your own words.

Discuss and analyse the video:

1. How are the actors presented / described on the video?
2. Do you think this description matches today's consumer society? Why (not)?
3. In your opinion, are the actors on the video "good consumers"? Explain.
4. What do you think the ultimate aim of the video is?
5. What strategies do the authors resort to in order to achieve this aim? Think about all of the elements you can see, read and hear.

2x.4 Most groundbreaking inventions of 2011

Take a look at some of the most groundbreaking inventions that have been put on the market recently!

1. What inventions are discussed on the video?
2. What makes them special or different?
3. How much do they cost?

4s.5 "Liberté, egalité, Beyoncé"

After discussing different art forms and even holding our own art gallery in class, we're coming to the conclusion some of the most amazing works of art are all about breaking the mould and causing a great impression on the audience. Don't you think this sounds like a great idea for our 2014 Portfolio project? Get ready for...

1. What is the project about?

"Liberté, egalité, Beyoncé" is an English project consisting of revisiting classic works of art that are connected with freedom and equal rights. It will also be our contribution to the 2014 Portfolio school exhibition.

2. Why "Liberté, egalité, Beyoncé"?

Because it can help you discover classic works of art from a new perspective while having fun working in English.

3. What do I have to do?

You must find a classic work of art that has been reinterpreted by a contemporary famous or unknown artist. Take a look at some examples:

DELACROIX, Eugène. Liberty guiding the people (1830)

KIKIRIKILLER (blogger). Liberté, egalité, Beyoncé (2013)

BARTHOLDI, Frédéric A. Liberty enlightening the world (1886).

FELIX, E. Liberty in crisis (2014).

4. How can I find my work of art?

Contemporary artists, including bloggers, are constantly revisiting art. Classic works of art, such as the ones presented above, are often used as the basis for reinterpretations. A classic work of art may be intepreted from different perspectives:

- As new historical events occur (e.g. popular revolutions, wars, etc.)

- As new social groups are fighting for their rights (e.g. women, LGTB, African-Americans, etc.)

- As new cultural trends or fashions are set (e.g. pop culture, fast food culture, etc.)

A good starting point for your work can be Google. Your objective: find an artist who has reinterpreted classic art from a new, grounbreaking perspective. Remember your work of art must be connected with freedom or equal rights!

5. What art forms can I choose from?

You can choose from any form of visual art. The original work of art and its reinterpretation may include paintings, sculpture, graffiti, installations, fashion design, craft, etc.

6. Need help?
Your English, Art or History teachers can give you a hand!