Blog posts

Writing a blog has become an old-fashioned way of publishing certain texts. Not many people host a blog nowadays, but we thought it would be a good practice, given that students would be able to write about different topics that may interest them. We want to show you some of the tasks provided in this post.

blogpost2 by Lidia Gonzalo on Scribd

blogpost3 by Lidia Gonzalo on Scribd

Blog Post by Lidia Gonzalo on Scribd

blogpost4 by Lidia Gonzalo on Scribd

Blog Post by Lidia Gonzalo on Scribd

blogpost5 by Lidia Gonzalo on Scribd

blog post by Lidia Gonzalo on Scribd

2223 Blog Post by Lidia Gonzalo

Travel blog by Lidia Gonzalo on Scribd

Informal email

Written communication has changed a lot in recent years. Instead of letters, we send each other emails more and more often. Apart from instant messages apps, we also use emails. Here you can see a selection of them, written by 4th ESO students.

Hi Pedro

How are you? I’m really happy because i’m visiting Panama next week. this week i'm doing a surf camp. What do you think?

At first I thought was not going to like it but then I started to like it. And this week is already the third that I am in the camp. I have also made many new friends and I am getting very motivated to continue practicing this sport.

For me it is an unforgettable experience because it is a sport that I really liked and the people who are very nice and I recommend you try it sometime.

Anyway, I’va got to surf now. Keep in touch.

Take care,

Nicolas

Hi Maria,

How’s it going? It seems like we haven’t seen each other for years and I have a lot of thing to tell you! Do you remember when I said I wanted to try something new? Well I did.

I used to do ballet but it becomes to be boring, so I decided to try Hip Hop. First day I was terrified because it was my first time at all and I didn’t know anyone. After the first class I felt really good and I loved it. I’ve been going to hip hop classes since then and I realized that is something that I really want to do. I have to say that I thought that It will be more difficult but, the truth is, that it isn’t as hard as I imagine. I really like it and I want to get better and have fun. And you won’t believe it but people are very nice and outgoing, I made a lot of friends and I feel more confident.

Has that ever happened to you? I mean, to try something and ask yourself why you hadn’t tried it before? Because that is exactly what happened to me.

Anyway, I wanted you to know this because you’re a very important person for me and I have more thing to tell you so I hope to see you soon!

Love,

Natalia

Hi Marti,

How are you? What have you been doing since I last saw you? You won’t believe it, but I’ve been studying all summer.

My mom made me study all summer so last year as you know it didn't go very well even though I passed the course. Well I’ve been studying at an academy in the mornings and in the afternoons playing football, so it hasn’t been a very easy summer for me, that if I go back to school like never before because I studied everything in the summer.

Has it ever happened to you that they made you study more than in your whole life? Well it's up to me in this one!. If you want me to give you an opinion on something you already know, say it!

Anyway, my mother already calls me to go study, see you keep it touch!

Take care,

Aleix 

Hi Natalia,

How are you? What have you been doing since last month, when we met? You won’t believe me but I’ve founded a charity, and Maria is helping me to organize all. Did you talk to Maria?

I used to think the charity was a waste of time but I decided to speak with Maria anyway. Well, I'm happy because I never thought I could do something like that to help other people. I thought that I had to do something and I started. The people think that it’s to easy to wear an organization but I don't think so, we have to talk with another organization, we have to go to houses to give information and ask for money to send them to poor countries…

Has that even happened to you? I mean, have you had the necessity of doing something good for the others. I'm texting you because I want to know if you're interested in working with us.

Anyway, I’ve got to go now, I’ll be late for Maria’s meeting. Keep in touch!

Take care,

Carla

Hi Peter,

How it’s going there in Rome? I am missing you every day. I know you won’t belive it, but last month I started to played the piano.

You know I Iove playing the guitar, I mean, all type of instruments seem interesting to me, so I decided to ask for information about piano classes and my music teacher offered a good teacher. The first day I went I was scared and a little shy, but now I am more confindent about me and I practise almost every day. Anyway, piano is my only a hobby but I would love to do a recital.

Do you think piano is a good hobby? Would you like to practise one day with me when you will returned? Basically now my routine consists in going to school, having breakfast and then playing the piano or the guitar

I’ve got to go now, my mother is waiting me because we need to go shopping, but tomorrow I will call you at night and I would like to hear you happy.

Love you,

Marina

Hi Abril,

How are you? What have you been doing this weekend? Surprisingly, I’ve been taking dance classes!

I know you won’t believe it, but I’ve been really interested in dancing since I was little. I never had the encouragement to do it because I was really shy and afraid of what they might say, but my mom said it was a good idea so… I did it!

We were looking for a dance studio near home and it was unexpectedly easy to find it. I started with some hip-hop and I’ve learned many steps I didn’t even know they existed.
I thought it would be really hard for me because I had never tried it but it was easier than I thought. Even though I was new, they tried to help me because I arrived later. They were really supportive, and I think that is the main reason I succeeded.

I’m glad I took those classes; I’ve met amazing people since then and I wish I could present them to you one day. Dancing has made me feel more confident about myself and I’m eager to learn more about it.

Anyway, I’ve got to go for lunch, but I’ll keep in touch!

Take care,

Ona

Hi Mitch.

How are you? How about is your girlfriend, Jamie?  You aren’t going to believe me I joined an organization that helps abandoned dogs to find a new home.

I’m sure that this notice will surprise you, because you know that the dogs have frighten me for all my live but now, I think that are the most beautiful animals of the world. Also, some years ago I thought that this organizations were a manner to defraud people, but now that I work there, I know that it wasn’t true. I go there two times a week and I help to wash the abandoned dogs before the new owners come to see it, and when I see that these dogs have again a home and the happiness faces of the new owners, I used to cry. Because these moments are too emotional and very beauty, and I think that see all these moments have made a difference on me. 

Have you ever done something like these? I suggest you to try it, because, like I said in the last paragraph, is a very beautiful experience that you should live at least one time in your life.

Anyway, so I have to live now, I ought to arrive at time to my football match. Have a nice weekend friend.

Take care, 

Samuel

* We don't owe any of the pictures in this post. Please, tell us if they are yours and you want them to be removed.

 

 

Lady of Shalott (II)

The second part of the task was to write a story based on the painting Lady of Shalott. Students were asked to use a wide variety of tenses, right connectors and the passive voice somehow.

In this post you can read some of the texts they produced.

Lady of Shalott Inspires by Lidia Gonzalo on Scribd

Inspiring story

The kiss (I)

I believed my students may be getting bored these days, so I thought about an activity that they may do just using their laptop (or any other electronic device) and the internet.

Based on this picture, I asked them to write a story that finished with the sentence ‘Definitely, it had been a good day’.

They had to include different verb tenses (present, past and future), active and passive voice.  It is necessary to use right connectors, too, such as:

As soon as      Finally      To start with     On the other hand     Apart from this       Whether      When     If      After (that)     Before (that)      Firstly        In addition to     Besides     Because of     Due to / due to the fact that     Therefore     Although (Though)     However     Unlike     …

There was no limit in extension, but it had to be at least 150 words.

The genre could be drama, science, fiction, horror, romance, thriller, mystery, comedy, dystopia…

Here you may find some of the pieces of work produced. Enjoy and inspire others to write.

A good day by Lidia Gonzalo on Scribd

Lady of Shalott (I) 

 My 4th ESO studens were also asked to write about the painting Lady of Shalott, by the the English artist John William Waterhouse. They wrote some presentations, including, too, information about the painting, a short biography of the author and some more paintings by the same artist. You can see a brief selection of the productions here.


 

Lady of Shalott from LidiaGon

Lady of Shalott from LidiaGon

Lady of Shalott by Lidia Gonzalo on Scribd

Lady of Shalott from LidiaGon

Lady of Shalott from LidiaGon

Lady of Shalott from LidiaGon

The kiss (II)

Also inspired by the kiss (Il Bacio), by Francesco Hayez, my students were asked to do a powerpoint presentation. They had to analyse the picture, include other paintings by Hayez and write a short biography about the artist. You may see some of the works produced in this post.

Instead of producing a powerpoint presentations, some students decided to use other ICT tools such as Prezi. You may find one example clicking  here. 

The kiss from LidiaGon

The kiss from LidiaGon

The kiss 3 from LidiaGon

The kiss from LidiaGon

The kiss (Il Bacio) from LidiaGon

My list of things I want to do before death is the following:

-Go to the moon

-Become a cloth designer

-Go to the Bahamas

-Have children

-Plant a tree

-Do volunteering

-Practice skydiving

-Go to Tomorrowland music festival

-Swim with dolphins

-See the Grand Canyon

-Go on safari

-Shower in a Waterfall

-Walk the Great Wall of china

-New year’s eve in times square

-Visit seven wonders of the wold

-Ride a Jet ski

-Float in the dead sea

By: Estel 

How important are friends for you?

They are very important for me because they make me feel happy.

One day we went to the mountain of Burriac. We met in Cabrera, and we prepard the dinner to carry to the mountain and eat it on top of the castle. While we were climbing a friend slipped  and he broke his ankle.

The four of us decided to take him to our friend's house. It was a long way but we had no choice. When we arrived we took ice and we put it in his ankle. He called his parents to come and collect him from hospital. Some days later at school people asked him what happened to his ankle and why he was using a wheelchair. Many of us started joking about going with a wheelchair, but finally he thanked all of us.

by Arnau

My friends are important for me because they are the family that I chose. They are there for me in the good and the bad times. If I am sad I can trust my best friends and they help me and they cheer me up. And last year I had family problems and my best friend helped me a lot because she gave me advice that my parents couldn’t give me.

With my friends I have spent the best moments in my life up till now. I love meeting with my friends, going out with them, going to the beach, travelling, basically for me friends are essential because with them I can do things that I can’t do with my parents for example going to parties, singing and dancing a lot.

I know a lot of people but I only have a few good friends that I can trust because some of my old friends let me down and thanks to that now I know who my real friends are. I have a lot of fun with my friends and I love them.

by Carlota

Friends are very important to me. If you have got good friends they are like your family because you love them like a brother or sister. You usually have five or six good friends who will never hurt you.

Although I have those that I enjoy meeting with a lot and doing things with them, like going to my swimming pool, having an ice-cream, I have also got friends that I only see in winter, for example, when I ski. Also, I have summer friends who spend summer in the same place as me.

I remember a good experience with four friends. Last winter we went all in a car to Cerler, which is a little village in the mountain, and skied together. I have got an apartment there and we stayed there for one weekend. We had a lot of fun and we laughed a lot about our falls in the snow.

To sum up, I think that a friend is a person to have fun and enjoy moments with, but also a person who listens to your problems, and helps you. And I’m grateful for the friends I have !

by Pia

Friends are very important for me because they are my point of support in a good or bad situation.

They are very honest when they give their opinions, and they transform a bad moment to good, they are the joy of my life.

An example would be when I had appendicitis on final party of the primary school, I was very bad I was very tired and I went to the hospital of Mataro, they gave me a lot of painkillers, of course I did not feel any pain and they sent me home. My mother didn’t see me very well and she  took me to the hospital of Sant Joan de Deu where they operated me urgently.

When I woke up I met my best friends in the hospital room with presents and making me support all day, the next day I received a call from my teacher with all my classmates where they gave me all their support.

When I got back and went to school I found my friends and colleagues at the door to ask me how I found myself if I was better and they gave me a huge card with dedications and signatures.

It was a happy ending for me that I had commenced with a tragedy that had not been possible without the support of my friends.

by Sara

My friends are very important for me because they are always in the good and bad moments.

My friends make me feel comfortable with them, because I can be myself.

Having friends you can trust is a wonderful thing, you can explain your problems to them and they will understand and help you even if it’s a bad thing or act you have done.

 They were there when I was sad because my mum was leaving the town where we had lived for 10 years.

I was very sad and they did the best they could to see me smiling and make me have a good time with them.

They also are the ones who I spend the most time with.

We are always spending a lot of time together doing things like eating in a restaurant, dancing at the disco, and meeting in the park, going to my or their home to play videogames or playing football.

I’m very proud of having friends like them, because maybe I haven’t got a big number of friends, but the few that I have I’m sure they love me like I love them and I also know that we  will always be together 

by Alejandro

In my opinion, friends are an important part of our lives. And unlike the family, you choose your friends, which means that with them you can be who you are without fear.

I think that a real true friend is a treasure. With my best friend we have grown and walked through life together.

When we face difficult times, there are friends to put things in perspective and help us. Last year I had a bad season, and my best friend was always by my side helping me with everything she could and more. Because a true friend fights against everything that happens to you.

With a single look we can say many things. We can know our mood, we can support ourselves and we can say things that we don’t want anyone to know.

Finally, with good friends and a healthy friendship in our lives, we will live better and prosper. And I feel very lucky to have a friend like the one I have.

by Georgina

For me friends are one of the most important thing in my life. I think they are the people that we need in our days. The people that help us, listen to us and they are always there.

When we have a problem the most of us, need to talk with someone and not always we want to talk with family. Sometimes we need a friend to talk to and show us the best part.

And as we all know, when we are ok we have a lot of friends. But when we have real problems is where we know our true friends. And basically friends are important for me because they are always there, they listen to me, I have fun with them and I know I can trust with them any time I want. And the most important part because I love them a lot, and I know that they love me a lot to!

I don’t imagine any day with my friends, because they are one of the most important thing of my life.

by Aida

My friends are important for me because they help me when I need, because they make me happy when I need it, because they are beside me good and bad…

My friends aren’t for school, and all are older than me. They take care of me and they would not let anything happen to me.

I have a great time with them, they make me laugh and enjoy every moment. They are very different people, but they all know how to have fun and be affectionate when necessary.

I have a friend who knows me perfectly. He knows when I'm wrong and how to make me smile. Know my tastes and my fears, and it is always there when I need to give me a hug or spend time watching a series or a movie. He is 18 years old but is like a child. He spends the day doing nonsense. But despite the discussions and everything, thanks to him I have learned many things and he has helped me to see things differently, and to be braver and happier.

My friends will not be the most normal people in the world, but that is not important, because even if everyone looks at us badly or thinks we are crazy, together we are the happiest people in the world.

by Anna

In my opinion, friends are the most important thing, especially in adolescence. You have the opportunity to choose who your friends are, while you cannot choose your family. So, it's your decision with whom you want to share your life.

What do I think a friend is? I think a friend is someone you don't need to talk to everyday, but you know they are there. A friend should be someone you can have a little space with but can still go to them for anything.

When you are little your friends change a lot, because you change schools, cities or sports... Once you are older, you see who your real friends are and who are only acquaintances.

I think a person doesn’t have to have a lot of friends so long as the ones you have are good friends. In my case, I have my little group of friends in school and another one in volleyball. I also consider my older sister like a friend because I can trust her with everything.  

So finally, friends are the ones who you know are going to be there for you, whatever happens.

by Laia

There are some essential things in my life that I can’t live without. One of those things are my friends, they are my support. Whenever I’m bad or happy they are just there.

You know that moment, that you just want to get apart from de world and feel like there are no limits, you know that only your friends can make you feel like that.

My friends are necessary on my daily life for three reasons:

They guide mi when I feel lost, they just make me forget the whole world and they make me feel unique. When I’m happy they have fun with me even when I’m not happy they keep trying to make me smile. But also when I need a shoulder to cry on, they are there for me.

Friends are like a treasure and you must save them forever because they will be by your side whenever you need them.

You chose your friends because they complete you, they are the piece of the puzzle that completes your life, without them, you are incomplete.

I need mi friends today, tomorrow and always, because they just make me feel alive.

by Gisel

Everybody knows that having friends is important. If somebody says the opposite, he is lying.

Having friends give you the possibility to have a good time with them and make fun really easy with silly jokes. Having friends is really important to get away for all your problems and only get distracted. For example if you are bored in your house and you don’t know what to do, there is always a friend who would like to be with you playing football, play station or just chatting.

I think that one of the most important thing of the friends is to make jokes with each other. If you don’t jest with your friends is because they are not good friends at all.

Another reason why they are so important is because you have an emotional support in the worst moments, when you feel worried about anything they advise you without receiving nothing, if you have finish a relationship recently they invite you to a party to leave the past behind and start a new life. 

by Juan

(We don't owe the picture in this post)

THE BEST 10 FILMS OF 2017 

1. "LA LA LAND" (Damien Chazelle)

It is an American musical romantic comedy-drama film.

It stars Ryan Gosling as a jazz pianist and Emma Stone as an aspiring actress who fall in love in Los Angeles.

It has had received a lot of positive reviews.

2. "LOGAN" (James Mangold)

American superhero film, produced by Marvel Entertainment.

It is the 10th installment in X-Men film series.

Hugh Jackman stars as Logan.

It is considered one of the best superhero films of all time

3. "DUNKIRK" (Christopher Nolan)

It is a war film distributed by Warner Bros.

It is Nolan's most emotionally and powerful film.

Dunkirk portays the evacuation from three perspectives: land,sea and air.

It has extensive practical effects.

At the Globe Awards, the film received nominations for Best Motion Picture-Drama, Best Director and Best Original Score.

It was filmed in Dunkirk and Los Angeles.

4. "THE DISASTER ARTIST" (James Franco)

It is an american biographical comedy-drama film.

This film is inspired on a book.

It has recieved positive reviews, mostly for its humor.

It was distributed by A24 in the United States and Warner Bros.

It is ambiented in San Francisco.

Its stars are the brothers James and Dave Franco.

5. "THE SQUARE" (Ruben Östlund)

It is a Swedish satirical drama film.

The film is about publicity surrounding an art installation.

It was shot in Gothenburg, Stockolm and Berlin.

It won the Palm d'Or and it was selected for the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.

6. "GAVE" (Julia Ducournau)

It is a French-Belgian horror drama film.

The film deals with a young vegeterian's first year at veterinarian school when she tastes meat for the first time and develops a craving for it.

It is recomended to see it only if you have more than 18 years old.

7. "TONI ERDMANN" (Maren Ade)

It is a German-Austrian comedy-drama film.

Its stars are Peter Simonischek and Sandra Hüller.

This film was named the best film of 2016 by a lot of cinema magazines.

It won five awards at the 29th European Film Awards:

Best film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Screenwriter.

8. "MANCHESTER BY THE SEA" (Lonergan)

It is an American drama film.

Its plot is about a man who looks after his teenage nephew after his brother dies.

Affleck (the main character) won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and the film itself was nominated in four more categories at the Golden Globes.

9. "SUMMER 1993" (Carla Simón)

It is a Catalan-language film so its original title is "Estiu 1993".

It was filmed in Spain.

Its plot is about a six-year-old orphaned girl goes to live with her uncle and his family after her parents die of AIDS (an infection).

10. "YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE" (Ramsay)

It is a thriller film based on the novella of the same name by Jonathan Ames.

The film stars are: Joaquin Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov, Alex Manette, John Doman and Judith Roberts.

At the 70th Cannes Film Festival Ramsay won the Best Screenpplay award and Phoenix won the award of Best Actor.

by Carlota