Report about foreign language learning in my country Introduction The aim of this report is to explain the situation of foreign language learning in my country, speaking about the different languages we use to learn, as well as who are interested in learning them, where and how can be improved the system commonly used. Wrong methods The most frequent foreign language learnt in my country is English. Long ago it was French the language children used to learn at school, but this one has gone to the second choice. In fact it has no importance, due to the bad habits in teaching whichever the language is. It is true that we start learning a second language at the age of 4 – now even sooner- however the system used is far from being efficient. Teachers focus on grammar and basic vocabulary, not giving time to the most important aim of learning a foreign language, communication. Interest in learning After fourteen years of learning English in the school there are just a few who can say they speak the language. They are those who had a special interest and attended a language school at the time. If not, you know (almost) nothing. I am one of those who couldn’t afford a language school, but who had enough interest in international communication to learn by myself. Of course I still use grammar books, but I have friends in different countries I love to speak with. Recommendations I would suggest teachers in my country to emphasis in communication skills and, as a result, you are going to keep much more the attention of your students and they will improve faster. It is very important in the so globalized world we live in.

Writing exercise: proposal Proposal for ‘Unusual hobby’ series Introduction First of all, I would like to say that I firmly believe that a TV series about unusual hobbies is a great idea and is going to be warmly welcomed by a wide range of audience. The main aim of this proposal is to give a couple of ideas to cover some programmes in the beginning of the series. Kind of hobbies In order to have a fruitful start-up, the pilot programme should include some of the most surprising hobbies you have collect so far. This way you will improve the quality of your advertisements and thus increase the viewing figures. Mix them smartly It does not matter if you have an enormous amount of spectacular examples. In my opinion, it would be better to mix them with more popular activities. If you do this mixture you will increase the range of ages and the series would also have a longer life in television. Some examples In my case, I do not have quite weird hobbies. I dance tango and collect fossils, so I guess I would be part of the less interesting examples in the programme. However, I have a friend who grows mushrooms in his garage. He is an odd person, so that he would be perfect for an interview. Conclusion These programme suggestions would probably be of interest to everyone in the country. If successful, it could mark the beginning of a regular programme.

Review of a novel Ender’s game by Orson Scott Card Ender’s game is a novel published in 1985 but with a futuristic view of the Universe. It is set in 2070, when the Earth has already been attacked by an alien race dubbed the “buggers”. Since then, the mankind has been constantly preparing themselves for a possible second invasion by training children since they are around 8 years old. But Ender is special. He was called to begin the traineeship at the age of 6. I have always been fascinated about science fiction as I read my first Asimov’s novel. However, Ender’s game is thoroughly different because it is focused on the social behavior and talks about a sensible brain evolution. It shows how mature have become children, who have practically lost their childhood as we see it. It is also extraordinary the way the author tells us the quick development of Ender in the academy and how we can get to involve in the character’s feelings. Ender’s life has been tough since he was born. In the society described in the story it is banned to have more than two children. Ender is a ‘third’ and was conceived to be the chosen one. He has two siblings, who represent the two extremes of Ender’s character. His sister, Valentine, is very intelligent and sweet, whereas Peter, his oldest brother, has an uncontrollable, evil aggressiveness. Together, they will have a parallel story with deep politic and social connotations. You will really love this book whether you are 10 or 90 years old. It has everything you like in a novel. If you are passionate about futuristic views and science fiction stories, as I am, you will enjoy this one the most.

Competition entry To whom it may concern, I am writing in response to your ‘Heroes and heroines at work’ announcement. I would like to nominate a professor of my University in Madrid. He has done a really great job during his professional life in the city for the last twenty years, but what he did last year goes much further from that. His name is Perico Palotes and everyone knows him in the campus. Perico is the typical motivating professor, always with a smile in his face inculcating students with the best moral principles in our future profession. It happened one cloudy day of October that a group of students were sitting on a bench in a hidden side of the campus park. Suddenly, one of them started feeling ill and fell down. Professor Palotes saw what happened from the window of his office and ran at top speed. An ambulance drove the student, who had suffered a kidney failure, to the hospital, where the professor was waiting in the operating room to donate one of his kidneys to him. I am not nominating professor Palotes because of his heroic action, not even because of his amazing skills as a professor at the University. What I find more admirable from him is that he takes advantage of his situation to inculcate humane values to a lot of young people. Perico showed us that there is still hope for the human race. I hope you will agree that Perico Palotes deserves to be included in your series of profiles. Yours faithfully, ---

Essay about technologies, children and relationships Some people believe that modern technologies are creating a zombie society. The others just think that those ones don’t even understand how the new generations work. What I feel is that sooner or later a sapiens 2.0 is going to lead the world to a completely new understanding of living. So the first thing I believe we should do is to try to put ourselves in their shoes. I mean the shoes of those who have borned with a smart phone in their hands. They, the sapiens 2.0, have a thoroughly different lifestyle than we do. They don’t know what means having to wait for an answer for more than five minutes, for example. That brings me to how they get on with relationships. It can be argued that those children we see nowadays have nothing to do with our childhood, that they don’t spend time together as we did. It is sometimes suggested that they don’t even have friends. It goes without saying that these children spend more time with machines than with real people. In my opinion, there are a number of arguments against this. Firstly, they undoubtedly communicate between them, but they do it in a different way. In fact, they do it practically in real time no matter how far they are each other, while our ancestors had to wait days or even weeks to receive a letter. In addition to this, we also know that they manage to be up to date with a huge number of friends through the social networks. To some extent, the other human beings are taking the same steps as their children, although we will never know what means having been borned with all these technologies.

Article about exams Hi! I need some help with my writing skills. I have been studying by myself, so I don’t have a teacher who tells me if I have done it well or wrong. This exercise asks me to write an article responding to a letter received in an international English-language magazine. That letter is the following: "So, with important exams coming up in the next few months, I need practical tips to help me revise. I know from experience that as the time gets nearer, I will get more and more nervous, so I’d be particularly grateful for advice on dealing with stress." And my article is this one here: THE PERFECT FORMULA TO MAKE PERFECT EXAMS There is nothing like exams to show people the best and the worst from ourselves. Actually, I haven´t done an exam since years ago, but I still remember how nervous I felt. However, you shouldn’t be worried about that terrifying feeling because the more nervous you get, the more relaxed you will end up when you have already answer all the questions. Undoubtedly, it is a fact that you are more likely to succeed whether you are able to visualize the forthcoming moment in which you have actually succeed. It is sometimes suggested that, to some extent, this is enough to do a good exam. Nevertheless, what we want to do are several perfect exams in a record time. According to this, I have two advices to give you. Firstly, be organized. Before you start studying make a full timetable including all your exams and keep to it. Secondly, be systematic. It goes without saying that systematization of your study will leave enough room in your brain for all the information it needs to contain. In addition with this to tasks, you should also consider three habits in your day to day. In my opinion, the most useful advice I have ever heard against stress and I still use is that we need to enjoy the meals. We must take advantage of that relaxing moment without thinking on all we still have to study or work. Physical exercise and a good sleep are obviously healthy habits that will help you dealing with stress. You already have the tools. Use them and you will succeed without a doubt.

Con Ñ de España

Un truco para aquellos que no contáis con la letra Ñ en vuestros teclados:

 

Con la tecla 'Alt' pulsada, escribe en el teclado numérico '164'.

 

Normalmente se entiende la palabra aunque pongáis N en lugar de Ñ, pero hay que tener en cuenta la enorme diferencia que existe entre la palabra AÑO y la palabra ANO  :D