Should we do the research-project in Batxillerat?
Stress, work, hundreds of papares, books, information, meeting your teacher at break time, running up and down with your work trying to get the missing information information... These and more are the typical skills of a Batxillerat student in Catalonia between the first and second year, the skills of people who are doing the well-known research paper. Many students aks themselves: "Is it really necessary to do it? Isn't it unfair that Catalonia is the only part of Spain where this muste be done?
From my point of view, the research paper is a very interesting work which can also bring you many advantatges for your future. On the one hand, doing a research project, as we do, is definitely something which you only do once in life. Doing all this process of looking up information, reading about something you like and about what you want to know more is an incredible experience and can, as I said before, bring you many advantatges.
The only problem: time! It is obvious that second batxillerat students have more difficult and complicated exams and that they hardly can find time to do everything. Furthermore, it is completely unfair, in my opinion, that only us, from Catalonia, have to do this amount of work, while people from other parts of Spain can concentrate themselves on their exams. What's more, it is a fact that these students have one subject less than us, minimum!
Nonetheless, it is important to say that research paper tutors are normally very strict and want their poupils do as much as possible. In my experience, sometimes tutors do not really care about the time you have and they only want you to finish as soon as possible.
In conclusion, I firmly believe that second Batxillerat students should not do the research project, even if it is very interesting and makes you learn a lot. It is just too much to do in the time they give us, basically because we have got enough work by preparing our exams and because, of course, we need a minimum of free-time.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
One Step Forward Batxillerat: Your mum speaking
These are the exercises about the video "Your mum Speaking":
1. Which expressions can you understand?
Get out of bed, brush your teeth, make your bed, you gotta feed the cat, hurry the bus is here, eat the food I put up on your plate, your i-pod - my i-pod...
2. How many of these expressions sound familiar to you?
Many of them, in fact, but which I hear the most are make your bed, tidy your room, hurry the bus is here, you'r gonna be late, do something, clean the dishes, are you hungry? are you sure that you've eaten enaugh?, are you cold, are you hot, be careful, don't arrive late, etc, etc.
3. Are these sentences necessary to raise a child?
I believe that many of these expressions are necessary because, of course, a child needs to know what he has to do and what he should better not try. But anyway, it's important to say that mothers don't abuse on these expressions. Children can also get used to it if they hear the same sentences too many times, and it also happens a lot that, the more you forbit something, the more your children try to do it. So it's important to not be too strict with them, and also give them a minimum of freedom.
4. List must and mustn'ts on how to educate a child today in your opinion/experience
MUSTS:
- Try to be stict only if it's REALLY necesary.
- Don't shout at your children.
- Until they're about 6 or so, when you want to talk with them, go down on your knees to be on their height, to look in their eyes, there's more confidence this way.
- Make them do easy work, like bringin the rubbish outside or tidy their room. You have to tell them that their room belongs to them and that they have to take care of it.
- Make sure that theyr do their homework regullary, that they go to school and try that they
enjoy learning.
- If parents argue, try that children aren't in the room.
- Don't be too nice either. If children do something wrong, they must be punished a little, but don't be too strict, but it's important that they learn what to do.
- They have to say 'please' if they want something and 'thank you'.
MUSTN'TS:
- Shout on your children.
- Force your children too much to do something they don't want to do
- Let your children go out too many hours
- They mustn't stay out when it's dark
- Don't let them go with unknown people
- Don't be too strict
- Never hit them!!
- Don't be unfair with your decisions and punishments
- They don't have to stay too many hours watching TV or playing Computer games. You have to know about the programmes they watch.
5. "Children are not properly educated by their parents today" State your opinion in 100 words.
To bring up your children is one of the most important problems of our society. More than half of the population are in the middle of these situation, and a lot of other couples already feel like having their first baby. But which is the correct way to raise them? Are a few expressions really enough to make them see what is right or wrong or to show them how they have to behave in the best way?
On the one hand, it is definitely important that you tell your children regullary what they probably better do not have to do for a correct live in society, but on the other hand it is essencial that parents don't abuse on these sentences, because a child can soon get used to them and consequently stop listening to their parents advices. Furthermore, we can prove that many kids sooner or later do what they want and don't really care about their parents advices or prohibitions.
Nonetheless, it can also be good if you leave your child to make his own experiences, with fire for example, instead of saying "NO" to everything. A kid will need to see what happens if they really touched this "so dangerous" flames, so this will probably be the best way for them to learn what's right or wrong.
In conclusion, for a correct education it is important that parents always treat their children with fairness, with some punishments, yes, but without being too strict with them. Children must also have a minimum of freedom, as I said before, and it's necessary that they make some of their experiences on their own.
1. Which expressions can you understand?
Get out of bed, brush your teeth, make your bed, you gotta feed the cat, hurry the bus is here, eat the food I put up on your plate, your i-pod - my i-pod...
2. How many of these expressions sound familiar to you?
Many of them, in fact, but which I hear the most are make your bed, tidy your room, hurry the bus is here, you'r gonna be late, do something, clean the dishes, are you hungry? are you sure that you've eaten enaugh?, are you cold, are you hot, be careful, don't arrive late, etc, etc.
3. Are these sentences necessary to raise a child?
I believe that many of these expressions are necessary because, of course, a child needs to know what he has to do and what he should better not try. But anyway, it's important to say that mothers don't abuse on these expressions. Children can also get used to it if they hear the same sentences too many times, and it also happens a lot that, the more you forbit something, the more your children try to do it. So it's important to not be too strict with them, and also give them a minimum of freedom.
4. List must and mustn'ts on how to educate a child today in your opinion/experience
MUSTS:
- Try to be stict only if it's REALLY necesary.
- Don't shout at your children.
- Until they're about 6 or so, when you want to talk with them, go down on your knees to be on their height, to look in their eyes, there's more confidence this way.
- Make them do easy work, like bringin the rubbish outside or tidy their room. You have to tell them that their room belongs to them and that they have to take care of it.
- Make sure that theyr do their homework regullary, that they go to school and try that they
enjoy learning.
- If parents argue, try that children aren't in the room.
- Don't be too nice either. If children do something wrong, they must be punished a little, but don't be too strict, but it's important that they learn what to do.
- They have to say 'please' if they want something and 'thank you'.
MUSTN'TS:
- Shout on your children.
- Force your children too much to do something they don't want to do
- Let your children go out too many hours
- They mustn't stay out when it's dark
- Don't let them go with unknown people
- Don't be too strict
- Never hit them!!
- Don't be unfair with your decisions and punishments
- They don't have to stay too many hours watching TV or playing Computer games. You have to know about the programmes they watch.
5. "Children are not properly educated by their parents today" State your opinion in 100 words.
To bring up your children is one of the most important problems of our society. More than half of the population are in the middle of these situation, and a lot of other couples already feel like having their first baby. But which is the correct way to raise them? Are a few expressions really enough to make them see what is right or wrong or to show them how they have to behave in the best way?On the one hand, it is definitely important that you tell your children regullary what they probably better do not have to do for a correct live in society, but on the other hand it is essencial that parents don't abuse on these sentences, because a child can soon get used to them and consequently stop listening to their parents advices. Furthermore, we can prove that many kids sooner or later do what they want and don't really care about their parents advices or prohibitions.
Nonetheless, it can also be good if you leave your child to make his own experiences, with fire for example, instead of saying "NO" to everything. A kid will need to see what happens if they really touched this "so dangerous" flames, so this will probably be the best way for them to learn what's right or wrong.
In conclusion, for a correct education it is important that parents always treat their children with fairness, with some punishments, yes, but without being too strict with them. Children must also have a minimum of freedom, as I said before, and it's necessary that they make some of their experiences on their own.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Writing I: Selectivitat dialogue with the last shepherd
Interviewer: Good Morning Mr. Adamson. I'm from the cultural magazine "People" and we're very interested in your hard work, just because we know that you're one of the last shepherds of our country. Do you mind if I ask you some questions?
Shepherd: Oh, of course not! I'll answer everything I can, if this helps you.
I: Oh, thank you a lot Mr. Adamson! So... can you tell us a little about your lifestyle nowadays? I mean, has it changed a lot during the last years?
S: Yes, it has, in fact. Specially because there are evry day less people doing the same as I do. When I started working as a shepherd I was really depressed firstly... I could never really sell anything and many of my sheep suffered hunger during many days... it really was a disaster!
I: Aha, I see... And how did you come out of this situation? It must have been really difficult!
S: Well, it wasn't! I soon lernt about how to take care of my animals and how to organize my life.
I: And what has changed since then?
S: Hmm... It's probably difficult to understand (laughs) but being one of the las shepherds has also many advantatges. I sell more since the last shepherds have stopped working, much more people buy my products.
I: And why do you think are so less people working as a shepherd now?
S: Hahaha... Oh, my dear, this is because times have changed! It's very difficult to work as I do... Just because many products are created with chemical materials, so every day less people are interessted in what I sell.
S: Well, you can never know what is waiting for you in the future...But I will continue with my work for the moment. I really love it (sights). You know, it's just an incredible feeling being the whole day at the fresh air, hearing the sound of the birds singing... I'ts maybe the best job I coul have...
I: Ok, thank you Mr. Adamson and good luck for your future!
S: Thank you!!
Shepherd: Oh, of course not! I'll answer everything I can, if this helps you.
I: Oh, thank you a lot Mr. Adamson! So... can you tell us a little about your lifestyle nowadays? I mean, has it changed a lot during the last years?
S: Yes, it has, in fact. Specially because there are evry day less people doing the same as I do. When I started working as a shepherd I was really depressed firstly... I could never really sell anything and many of my sheep suffered hunger during many days... it really was a disaster!
I: Aha, I see... And how did you come out of this situation? It must have been really difficult!
S: Well, it wasn't! I soon lernt about how to take care of my animals and how to organize my life.
I: And what has changed since then?
S: Hmm... It's probably difficult to understand (laughs) but being one of the las shepherds has also many advantatges. I sell more since the last shepherds have stopped working, much more people buy my products.
I: And why do you think are so less people working as a shepherd now?
S: Hahaha... Oh, my dear, this is because times have changed! It's very difficult to work as I do... Just because many products are created with chemical materials, so every day less people are interessted in what I sell.
S: Well, you can never know what is waiting for you in the future...But I will continue with my work for the moment. I really love it (sights). You know, it's just an incredible feeling being the whole day at the fresh air, hearing the sound of the birds singing... I'ts maybe the best job I coul have...
I: Ok, thank you Mr. Adamson and good luck for your future!
S: Thank you!!
News Article III
Chaplin in the spotlight
A new exhibition in Caixa Forum in Barcelona wants to give a view of the long, troubled life of Charlie Chaplin, a man who became a Hollywood icon. The main idea of this exposition called "Chaplin en imatges", which runs until the 27.04.2008, is to show the different sides of this complex character. The exposition brings together different materials such as posters, images or documents in different sections explaining and showing the way of this actor from fame to the political exile in Switzerland because of the Second World War.
A new exhibition in Caixa Forum in Barcelona wants to give a view of the long, troubled life of Charlie Chaplin, a man who became a Hollywood icon. The main idea of this exposition called "Chaplin en imatges", which runs until the 27.04.2008, is to show the different sides of this complex character. The exposition brings together different materials such as posters, images or documents in different sections explaining and showing the way of this actor from fame to the political exile in Switzerland because of the Second World War.
CATALONIA TODAY, December 20th, 2007
News Article II
Local road deaths decline 7% in 2007
This article talks about car accidents in Catalonia in 2007, which is 7% lower than in 2006.
Generally, road deaths have declined a lot in the last years, even if the number of these road deaths were still 357 in 2006, it climbed up to 608 in 2000.
This problem could have been reduced thanks to stricter fines and even prision sentences for driving violations.
For Spain, in general in 2007 there have been the lowest number of traffic accidents in fourty years.
Generally, road deaths have declined a lot in the last years, even if the number of these road deaths were still 357 in 2006, it climbed up to 608 in 2000.
This problem could have been reduced thanks to stricter fines and even prision sentences for driving violations.
For Spain, in general in 2007 there have been the lowest number of traffic accidents in fourty years.
CATALONIA TODAY, Thursday, January 10th, 2008
News Article I
The London Duck Tour
This article talks about an interessting touristic activity in London. It's called "The London Duck Tour". This tours are done with a very special vehicle called "Duck" which is amphibious, this means that it can travel on land and on see as well.
So, during the guide, tourists visit only together with a few people, the most important landmarks of the city, like the Big Ben or the Buckingham Palace, and they also plunge with the vehicle into the river Tahmes for a 30 minutes trip up to the river.
These "Ducks" exist since the Secopnd World War and they've been rebuilt and reconstructed for several times since then.
This article talks about an interessting touristic activity in London. It's called "The London Duck Tour". This tours are done with a very special vehicle called "Duck" which is amphibious, this means that it can travel on land and on see as well.So, during the guide, tourists visit only together with a few people, the most important landmarks of the city, like the Big Ben or the Buckingham Palace, and they also plunge with the vehicle into the river Tahmes for a 30 minutes trip up to the river.
These "Ducks" exist since the Secopnd World War and they've been rebuilt and reconstructed for several times since then.
From the magazine "Speak up"
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