My English competence in 2010/2011.

I think my best oral presentation was about my research project, the last one. It is titled "Video killed the radio star". I think it's the best one because I can see clearly my improvements in pronunciation, fluency and vocabulary. Also it was the one which I wasn't so nervous and my body language was good. Click here to read the text. I couldn't upload the video. I'm sorry!

I don't have a favourite writing. It is difficult to choose the best writing because I think that some of them were good. For example the news about the disaster in Japan or the news about the earthquake in Murica were very good because I've improved a lot my writings since the last two years. But also one of the good writings is about the Eurovision song contest winner of this year, which I enjoyed a lot writing about it.


To finish, I have to say that this blog can help us a lot to learn English. It is true that sometimes some people don't take the advantage of it, and I think it is beacuse sometimes it is very wiry and boring, and also very stressing. But it is the best way to learn because you have to take a lot of your time. But I think that it could have more success when the teachers give us a deadline for each of the writings (tasks AND your-says) during the term, and not a deadline for the end of the term, because everyone (including me) does the writings the last days very quickly and without desire.
And another good way to learn English is travelling abroad. I'm very sad that we don't went to London this year, only because some people didn't want to go. I'm sure that it could have helped us a lot to improve our English and also it could be a good experience.

So, that is my last writing here... I have finished my work, and I say GOODBYE! Good luck for everyone! :)

KIM

My English progress from 2009/2010 - 2010/2011

As you know, we are finishing second of batxillerat and I'm going to do some reflections about my English progress from the last two years. Time passed very fast, and we are arriving at the last part of our school time: the PAU exams!

I think my English has improved a little bit since I arrived at first of batxillerat, because I've learnt some new vocabulary and grammar. I improved the verb tenses, but I still have problems sometimes, for that, I think we should have studied it more at class.
When I compare my first composition, the letter to my teacher, and my last writing, the news about the disaster in Japan or the Earthquake in Murica, I can see some differences. One one hand, I remembered that I spent a lot of time doing the letter, because I didn't know what to write about and it was not easy for me. Also I think the ideas where a little bit "poor" and the vocabulary very easy. On the other hand, I think the news about the earthquake in Muricia or the disaster in Japan where a lot better, because I've used some technical words, the vocabulary was very rich and also the verb tenses have improved a bit. And now, at the end of the two years it is easier for me to develope a writing.

When I compare my oral presentations I also can see some differences, maybe bigger ones than in the writings. My first oral presentation in first of batxillerat was about my winter holidays on a cruiser, and I was very nervous. The body language was very bad because I haven't looked at the audience and also I was trembling a bit. The pronunciation and the structure of the presentation was not bad.
And finally, when I take a look at my last oral presentation which was about my research project, I can see some big improvements. I also was nervous, a thing which it's very difficult for me to overcome, but it was much better. I looked at my audience and my pronunciation was clear, I think everyone could understand me. It was much better than the presentation I did in front of the jury who scored my whole project. I think it was because it was the second time that I exposed it in front of some people, and I wasn't so nervous like the first time.

So, in conclusion, I have seen some personal developement because I've improved my English a bit, my pronunciation and the fluency when I speak is much better. I hope that in future I'll improve it a lot more!

Oral exam: The Joy Luck Club

Can you summarize the book in two minutes?

The novel talks about four women, all chinese immigrants living in San Francisco. All they arrived to California to looking for a better life. Each of them has an adult daughter that were born in America. The four woman decided to create „The Joy Luck Club“ where they meet regulary to play the chinese game mahjong, to eat and to tell their stories and adventures each other.

The relationship of each women with their daughters is full of sadness and they can't understand each other. The book is divided in a lot of chapters, and there are chapters where the womans are talking and some others where the daughters are telling their stories. The mothers remember their childhood in China, and their lifes in California, which were very difficult and sad. The daughters remember growing up with Chinese mothers in San Francisco. Sometimes they felt like they weren't Chinese at all, and didn't know how to deal with the Chinese culture in their homes.

The book ends with that one of the daughters returns to China to find the rest of her family, and there it has become clear the her that her real identity is Chinese and not American.

Is there a mystery sentence or a turning point in the story?

Yes. At the beginning of the book, one of the daughters say: „Over the years, she told me the same story, except for the ending, which grew darker, casting long shadows into her life, and eventually into mine“. I think it's a very important quote, because it shows that the lifes of the mothers weren't good, and that the ones of the daughters wouldn't be better.

When and where does the story take place?

The story takes place in the 1950's in San Francisco, California. The characters of the book are telling how were their lifes in pre-Revolutionary China.

Who are the main characters in the story? What’s their role?

The main characters are the three mothers, because one is already dead when the novel starts, and the four daughters. The three mothers have a good relationship and the daughters too, but mothers between daughters isn't so good.

Choose one character (main or secondary) and describe him/her.

June: She is the daughter of Suyuan Woo and she is 36 years old. She always had a bad relationship with her mother, full of troubles. She was very frustated when her mother died, and she never knew the whole story of her mother's previous life in china. At the beginning of the book she considered herself more American than Chinese, but when she traveled to China to find the rest of her family, she saw that China is a part of her identity.

Can you identify with any character? Why?

I think that I can't identify me with any of the characters of the story, because all the people that appear in it had a very very hard life, with no good memories.

Choose your favourite moment in the story

My favorite moment is when Ying-Ying remembers going to a moon festival as a young girl and finding out that the magic and ceremony is often just an act. She recognized that the „Lady Moon“, an angel who she really believed in, is only an actor.

I don't really like bad moments, when dreams broke or something similar, but these moment was very interesting because it was exciting and surprising.

Which new key words have you learnt to understand the story?

Scar: cicatriu

Chin: barbeta

Ancestor: avantpassat

Sewing: cosir

Sighed: sospirar

Provide an alternative ending.

At the end of the story, June found her half-sisters and their mother. So she felt happy because she had a new family with who she passed very good times.

An alternative ending could be that June went to China to find the rest of her family and she didn't found them. She would be very sad and go back to San Francisco to continue her poor life. She would have the same destiny as her mother: be unhappy with her life.

Would you recommend this book? Why?

Yes. I think it is a very interesting book, because it's not like usual novels with an „normal“ story. The book is structured in different chapters, where all of the main characters tell their stories from the past and with flashbacks. It is very well written. The only thing that is a bit annoying is that the chinese names are very confusing.

My 3 comments.

HELENA'S BLOG:
http://justundiscovered4.blogspot.com/2011/04/last-months-on-high-shcool.html?showComment=1305480301064#c3465977160919652368

ANNA'S BLOG:
http://annaenglishspace-2batx.blogspot.com/2011/04/news-japan-powerful-aftershock-leaves.html

ANTONELA'S BLOG:
http://remembermetonight4.blogspot.com/2011/05/internet-is-killing-tv-age-of.html?showComment=1305480775674#c827089721948443884

NEWS: Disaster of Japan

TASK

On the 11th of March 2011 was an earthquake with magnitude 9.0 in Japan. It destroyed a lot of towns with thousand of houses. Also in Tokyo some houses have collapsed and the damages are very high. The Japanese National Police Agency confirmed more than 15.000 deaths, 5.000 injured and 10.000 missed.
After the earthquake there was a big tsunami which also had damaged big part of the country and also had caused a lot of deaths and destroyed towns. The biggest problem is that the earthquake has left without electricity 4 milion households and 1.5 milion without water. Also the nuclear station Fuckushima was long time without electricity, which is very danger because the radioactivity is breaking out, and when the Japanese goverment can't stop it, it may be that there is a disaster like in Tjernobyl 25 years ago.

In my opinion, I think that we can't change the nature, so it's not our fault that there was an earthquake and a tsunami in Japan. But I think that nuclear power should be switched off because when there is a little accident it could destroy lifes of million of persons. It could have consequences for all the world and also for our children and grandchildren. So, I hope that the world has seen what nuclear power can destroy, and that in future all the nuclear power stations are going to be switched off. With renewable energies our world could also survive.

Limitless

"Limitless" is a film directed by Neil Burger. The main characters are played by Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro and Abbie Cornish.

PLOT:

Eddie is an author and he has the order to write a new book, but he can't because he isn't inspiered. His girlfriend Lindy broke up with him because she is disappointed that he isn't able to write a new story. One day, Eddie run into Vernon, who is a droug dealer and the brother of his ex-wife Melissa. Vernon offers Eddie the new droug NZT48 which has the ability for humans to access 100% of the brain's power. Eddie accepts and he was able to finish his book.
Eddie wants to have more of this droug to have more success in his life, but when he arrives at Vernon's house, the droug dealer is dead. Eddie quickly deduces that Vermon was probably killed by someone who also wants the droug. But he finds the bag with the drougs and take it with him. He becomes very famous because he is very inteligent and rich, and also Lindy wants him back. But he goes in danger, because some other droug dealer are trying to find him...


OPINION:

I liked a lot this film, it is very original and interesting. I like a little bit of science fiction, and in this case it wasn't too much. It was made very real and the director achieved that in some moments I had believed that this droug really exists. Also the actors did a very good work, I love Bradley Cooper!

27 CLUB

The 27 Club is the name of a group of singers who all died when they were 27 years old. All the famous rock singers like Kurt Cubain, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison died at the age of 27. Is it coincidence? Or want all these rock stars die at this age to form part of the group? It is a question that nobody can answer, and a lot of people only think that it is a curse...

Brian Jones: He is the Rolling Stones founder and the guitarist. He died the 3rd of July 1969 when he was 27 years and 125 days old. He is drowned in his swimming pool one week after had left the Rolling Stones.

Jimi Hendrix: He was guitarist, singer and songwriter for "The Jimi Hendrix Experience" and "Band of Gypsys". He died the 18th of September 1970 when he was 27 years and 295 days old. He asphyxiated on vomit after combining sleeping pills with wine.

Janis Joplin: She was the lead vocalist and songwirter for Big Brother and the Holding Company. She died when she was 27 years and 258 days old. Probable the death cause is an overdose of heroin.

Jim Morrison: He was lead singer, songwriter and video director of "The Doors". He died on the 3rd of July 1971 when he was 27 years and 207 days old. The autopsy said he had an heart failure, but it isn't sure.


Kurt Cobain: He was the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of "Nirvana". He died on the 5th April 1994 when he was 27 years and 44 days old. He suicided himelf with a shotgun.


But there are a lot of other famous people that died at the age of 27: Linda Jones, Jesse Belvin, Jacob Miller... it is a very big curiosity, and I think that a lot of another rock singers will die at this age, because it is almost a tradition or a honor to belong to the 27 Club.

Earthquake in Murcia

NEWS:

Last Wednesday was an earthquake in Murcia, Spain. Nine people died under the ruins and there were more than 300 injureds which caused panik in Lorca. At night, thousand of people spent the night under the open sky rather than in their homes. Eight out of ten houses in Lorca at least showed cracks after the earthquake.

Three days after the catastrophe in Lorca is now clear that more than 13.000 families can not return temporarily to their houses. Who hasn't a second home or family in the city is now homeless.
The goverment has already promised quickly help.
On Friday, in Lorca was held an official funeral for the nine victims of the earthquake.


OPINION:

It is very scary that it was an earthquake here in Spain, because it is very unusual that there is a catastrophe like this here. Normally we see that earthquakes are in Asia or America, and we only see it on TV and aren't very worried about it. But now it was very near to us, only 500 or 600 km far. It makes one think that it could happened here and not in Murica. It is a very strange feeling. Specially I was very worried because my parents were in Murcia at the same day for a boat race, but fortunately they were at another part of Murcia!
I hope that never again it will be an earthquake here!

Running Scared

NEWS:

Yesterday, 14th of May, was the Eurovision Song Contest. Every year this contest is celebrated in another country, always in the country which won the previous year. Last year won Lena Meyer-Landrut who started for Germany, and for that reason this year the song contest take place in Düsseldorf.

For this big event, a football stadium is been converted into a big concert hall where 36.000 people can fit inside. There was built a modern stage where the singers are going to present their performances. Also there were built rooms for the journalists who comes from all Europe, so they could follow the show very well.
It was used a lot of technology, electricity, lights and fireworks what made the show much better. All Europe looked at Düsseldorf last night.

The show started at nine o'clock, which was represented by the german moderators Stefan Raab and Anke Engelke. 25 countries arrived at the finals and they started to perform their songs one after another. During the contest you already could vote for you favorite song, but you couldn't vote for you own country. At the end of the show the points were distributed, and the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 is Azerbaijan with the song "Running Scared"! They get 221 points from the 43 countries that have distributed their points. On the second position was Italy with 189 points and at the third position Sweden with 185 points.
The defending Champion Lena only reached the 10th position with the song "Taken by a stranger", and Lucía Pérez, who started for Spain only reached the 23th position with "Que me quiten lo bailao".

So, next year the Eurovision Song Contest is going to be in Azerbaijan! Here I upload the winner song, enjoy it!

Big change

As you know, in some weeks we finish second of batxillerat, and another big step of our life will have done.
I remembered my first day in 1st of ESO, six years ago, and it seems like two or three weeks ago. The time passed so fast! I can't believe that in some days we won't have more exams and that we can enjoy the summer. Well, I have to work in the reception of a campsite in Empuriabrava, but I will have a lot of free time.
I think all of us will work in the summer, because now we are 18 years old and we have to bring home our own money, because almost all of us are going to go on the college in September and it is very expensive. Also we have to pay a lot when we drive our cars, because patrol isn't cheap.

In the last months were a lot of big changes in my life. In April I celebrated my 18th birthday, and now I feel a little bit more responsable, because I know that now I'm adult and I'm able to take my own decisions.
Also I get my driving licence and my father lend me his old car. It is very very old, and it has some defects, but I am happy because now I'm independent and I haven't have to ask every day my parents to bring me everywhere.

It is almost done! I hope that all of us are going to pass the PAU exams with a good mark to enter in the degree he/she wants, and that all of us are going to live a sucessfully life, because it is just beggining!

NEWS: Royal Wedding: William & Kate ♥

Last Friday, the 29th of April, was the big royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. It was the biggest event of the year, with more than 1500 guests, and more than 2.000.000 people following the wedding in front of the television. The whole celebration was in live transmition on different TV channels of different countries in the world.

The wedding was in London, and for that the goverment had to save big parts of the city, with more than 5000 policemen. Between the private guests were also some famous people like David and Victoria Beckham and Elton John.
Kates dress was white and made by Sarah Burton. Some people say that it costs more than 200.000 pounds. William wore the typical red uniform with a lot of medals.

The day started with the ceremony in the Cambridge church, where the couple was declared husband and wife. After that, they did a route through London in the same carriage as Diana and Prince Charles, with the objective that the inhabitants and a lot of tourist could see them. They arrived at the Buckingham Palace where all the royal family stayed on the balcony to salute all the people. And also it was the place where William and Kate kissed twice. A lot of people think that the kisses weren't romantic enough. At the night, there was a big party in the Buckingham Palace, where only private guests could enter. It is said that it was celebrated until the early morning.

William and Kate are totally touched by the compassion of the British people and the world. Now, they are the duke and duchess of Cambridge. We hope that this love keeps forever and that Kate doesn't had the same destiny as Lady D!

HOME

Opinion about the film

I think "Home" is a very interesting documentary about our planet. It reflects very well the consequences that humans produce on the Earth.

In my opinion, the director did a very good work because the images of the different places that appear in the film are full of emotions and very colorful. Some parts of the documentary were very sad, because they were explaining the bad consequences that humans produce using non-renewable energies, how the planet would be in 50 years and how we can work together to improve our world and to have a better life.
The voice of the woman who was explaining was very reassuring, gently and full of emotions, which maked the documentary more interesting, exciting and dramatic. In some parts it was very relaxing because they showed some very beautiful pictures from arround the world.

In conclusion, I found it a very good documentary because it could show us how our world is changing. I hope that a lot of people will see it because maybe then we will be conscious that we have to change our way of consuming and producing. I wish that it isn't too late and that our children and grandchildren... could live a good and happy life!

Dialogue

John and David are talking about their jobs in a café, and John is very sad.

-David: Why are you so sad, John? Don't you feel well?
-John: I am worried about my job, now nobody comes to my farm. Nowadays, all the people go to the supermarket to buy their milk and meat.
-David: Poor you! I don't have these problems working in the chemist's. I think farmers and shepherds will have a lot of problems in the next years.
-John: Why are you saying that?
-David: Because nowadays, the industry of our country is so big and has a lot of power that small farms don't have the opportunity to survive.
-John: So, do you think I have to change my work and sell my farm? I can't do that! Some years ago there weren't all these problems... I wish industry weren't so potent! I hope that people will see that the products of farms are fresher and in better quality than the products of industries.
-David: I hope it too! I'm sure that you will find a solution for your problem. Good luck! See you :)

Formal letter

Alberes 57
17487 Empuriabrava
Spain

14th April 2011

John Ritch
Director General
World Nuclear Organization
Regent St.
London

Dear Mr. John Ritch,

I am Kim Fengler, a student of IES Castelló d'Empúries and I am writing this letter to you to tell you my opinion about nuclear power and about the disaster in Japan.

First of all, I am shocked about what happened in Japan. I hope that they can solve all their problems and that the Japanese people recover after this big catastrophe. Also I wish that the radiation would not spread around, because it would be a big disaster wich would have big consequences for a lot of countries.
I hope that with this tragedy the world has seen what nuclear power can cause, and that from now on we will use more energies that are not dangerous.
I ask you to switch off the oldest nuclear power station that exist, because we can not do anything against nature (earthquakes and tsunamis), but we can prevent the worst by removing the stations from the dangerous zones.

In conclusion, I hope that you follow my advice and switch off the oldest nuclear power stations, because a lot of people are supporting this idea. I think our planet can survive without nuclear power... renewable energies are enough for us.

Your sincerely,


Kim Fengler