Success, failure and the drive to keep creating

https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_success_failure_and_the_drive_to_keep_creating?language=es

1. Have you ever experienced that you aren´t good at something you really love to do?

2. Do you think that give up is the best solution for avoiding the problems?

3. Do you think it is important to work hard for getting your goals?

Thursday, June 26 2014 Discussion Topic

Please visit and read

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/apprenticeships-its-the-1950s-and-60s-all-over-again-8762347.html

The topic is all about apprenticeships. As the article says, this kind of learning was very popular many years ago and now it is becoming popular again. What do you think about it?

Please read the article more than once and look up the words you do not know. Phrases like, 'in vogue' are very useful for practical conversation.

See you in class!

Matthew

Tuesday, June 24 2014 Discussion Topic

Please visit this website and read the article. Some of the vocabulary will need to be looked up in a dictionary. Remember, read it through once without stopping. Read it through again with a dictionary. Read it through one more time without stopping.

http://consumerist.com/2013/08/09/man-tries-to-beat-bank-at-its-own-game-with-fine-print-that-gives-him-unlimited-credit/

See you in class!

Matthew

Thurs, June 19 2014 Discussion Topic

Howdy!

Please read the following article (more than once) and make sure to look up any vocabulary that you do not know. Please come prepared to discuss in class.

I look forward to the discussion and to finding out how these kinds of crimes are dealt with in your home countries.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/convicted-thieves-and-fraudsters-should-be-spared-jail-says-law-professor-andrew-ashworth-8760388.html

See you in class!

Matthew

Tuesday, June 17 2014 Discussion Topic

Hello!

Today we will begin by discussing the use of mass killers names in the media.

Please read the following article more than once and consider the questions provided before class begins. Or, you could watch the video. The video only needs to be watched to the 3 minute point.

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/straighttalk/archives/2014/06/20140606-144104.html

1. Sun News originally published he killers name in order to help the police find him and to try and keep the public safe.
    A) Do you think that the media should get involved in police investigations?
    B) Do you think that this kind of information keeps the public safe, or just scares them?

2. Sun News say that they will not publish the killers name any more, because he has been caught. Also, Sun News says that they want the attention to be on the victims, not the killer.
    A) Do you think that publishing a killer's name causes them to 'go down in a blaze of glory'? (Please look this idiom up.)
    B) Do you think the families of the victims want media attention?

3. The media does not report suicides in detail because they do not want 'copycats'. Do you think this is a good idea? What is done in your countries?

4. Sun News says that they will name the killer when they report the results of the court case. Should they report his name then? What is your opinion?

5. Do you think that evil acts become more famous that good acts? Why or why not?

Wed, June 11 2014 discussion topic

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/pregnant-women-should-eat-low-mercury-seafood-fda-advises-1.2670785

1)Do you think the pregnant women need  to carry out dietary restriction?

2)Do you care about what you eat daily?

3)If you have to carry out dietary restriction for the reasons of health, why do you do it?

4)What are some diets that you have heard of that might be a little weird?

5)Why do you think we worry about what we eat now much more than we did in the past (grandparents time)?

Thurs, June 12 2014 Discussion Topic

Please read this article twice (or even three times) and get ready to tell a story or two.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/16/toilet-dating_n_3764102.html

Yup. Toilet dating.

Thanks!

Matthew

Tuesday, June 10 2014 Discussion Topic

Please read this article at least two times and really think about your opinion. What would you think if you had a baby?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/children-should-not-start-school-until-age-six-or-seven-experts-warn-8811004.html


Thanks!

Matthew

June 5 2014 discussion topic. This one is super awesome!!

Please follow the link below and read the article. This is a very interesting article that I think will surprise all of you!

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/11/12/david-nutt-drug-hangover_n_4259086.html

I think you will love this one! Please read it more than once before class.

Matthew

Wed, June 4 2014 Discussion

This was sent to me by Michelle. Thanks, Michelle!

www.cbc.ca/asithappens/mobile/touch/2014/05/30/we-cant-treat-human-beings-that-way-after-a-night-in-solitary-colorados-head-of-prisons-wants-change

Do you like to spend time alone? What is the longest amount of time that you have spent totally alone?

 What do you think about putting prisoners in solitary confinement?

What do you think is a better for criminals, physical (just jail) or psychological (solitary confinement) punishment?

 Do you agree or disagree about putting prisoners in solitary confinement for months and years at a time?

 If the rule is changed, what should be replaced by the solitary confinement?

Do you think the role of prison is to punish or rehabilitate people?

Tue, June 3 2014 discussion topic

Hello everybody! I just found my computer and internet stick, so here is the topic:

But first, here are the instructions:

Reading the homework article

Step 1:  First reading 

Read the article all the way through without stopping.  Don’t worry if you don’t understand everything.  Just read it to the end.  Don’t stop.  Don’t use a dictionary.  When you are finished reading, ask yourself these questions.

1)    What was the main point of the article?

2)    What were some important details?

3)    Can you briefly summarise the article?

Step 2:  Second reading

Read through the article again.  This time do it slower.  Look more closely at the words, phrases, or idioms you don’t understand.  Try to work out what they mean from the context.  Don’t use a dictionary yet.  Just try to guess.  If you can understand the context you may be able to guess the meanings without using a dictionary.  This is a useful skill to learn and it’s a good thing to practice.

Step 3:  Third reading.

Read through the article one last time.  This time use a dictionary and/or the internet to search for words and idioms you don’t know.  Also, if the article mentions any people, places, events or other things such as songs, movies, or books that you are unfamiliar with, then you should do an internet search to find out who/what they are.  This will help you understand the article better and help you be better prepared to discuss it in class.

Step 4:  Think about it

Ask yourself the same three questions from step one.  Consider the theme/topic of the article.  Think about how you feel about the issues and your opinions on the subject.  Think about what you might want to say about this topic to your classmates and what questions you would like to ask them.  Think about what questions you might be asked and how you would answer them.

Step 5:  Related media

There may be a list of links to other websites which are related to this subject on your homework sheet.  If there are, you should look at them.  They will give you more information on the subject.  Otherwise, you should do your own internet search to find out more.

Remember:  You don’t have to understand 100%.  It is only important that you understand the main ideas, think about them, and come to class prepared to discuss them.

Engagement Rings Are Actually 'Insulting'

INSULTING 'TO NOTIONS OF ACTUAL LOVE,' THAT IS: TAURIQ MOOSA

(NEWSER) – Diamonds have "little intrinsic value," writes Tauriq Moosa in the Guardian, so when large South African diamond mines were discovered in the late 1800s and De Beers Consolidates Mines was formed, its investors realized they would need to conjure up demand. That they were incredibly successful with their marketing is no surprise (who hasn't heard the tagline, "A diamond is forever"?). And yet we've forgotten that it's just that—marketing. Here's the truth, per Moosa: a diamond has nothing to do with your relationship or its permanence.

Rather, it's a useless bauble, it's overpriced (it starts decreasing in value the second you buy it, and prices continue to rise), and it's "insulting to notions of actual love." One survey found that the average engagement ring costs $5,200, and almost 12% of American couples actually spend $8,000 or more. Wouldn't that money be better spent on something else? If you think an engagement ring is a symbol of your love, consider this: "Why can't a beautiful home be a symbol? Why can't long-term investments be a symbol? Indeed, would it not be more impressive to show off a house than a finger rock?" 

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff - Posted Nov 4, 2013

http://www.newser.com/story/177008/engagement-rings-are-actually-insulting.html