This week's talking point has to do with gestures. Before getting together with the members of your conversation group, go over the questions below (some of which are taken from iteslj) so that ideas flow more easily when you get together with your friends and you can work out vocabulary difficulties beforehand.
What everyday gestures do you use?
What's the meaning of the following gestures and postures?
a handshake - biting your bottom lip - sitting back in your chair - standing with arms crossed
What common gestures in your country aren't visitors used to?
What gestures have you found surprising in foreigners or when being abroad?
Can you think of some gestures that have different meanings in different countries?
What are some gestures you know that relate to the sporting world?
Have you ever made a social mistake using wrong gestures?
What gesture in your culture do you think is unique from other cultures?
What gestures, in your opinion, are understood by people anywhere in the world?
How much do people in your country move their hands when they talk?
Do you know any gestures you can make with your feet? What do they mean?
Why do you think people express with gestures?
Do you "talk" with your hands?
You can watch a New York Times video about how Italians talk with their hands below and read the accompanying article here.
Why do Italians talk with their hands? For many, it’s something in their blood. Some scholars argue that gestures have been in Italy for centuries. They came with the ancient Greeks that once colonized southern Italy. These gestures survived. They’ve been passed down through generations for centuries, even more than language.
Be careful.
Professor Poggi has identified around 250 hand gestures that Italians use in everyday conversation. It’s a language of its own with its own complex vocabulary.
miércoles, 14 de agosto de 2013
martes, 13 de agosto de 2013
Speakout Advanced: Freedom
In this week's video podcast from Speakout, Pearson Longman, passers-by discuss the topic of freedom by answering the questions below.
What do you do to switch off at the end of the day?
What kinds of things in your life make you feel free?
In what period of your life have you felt the most free?
Do you think young people have more freedom now than in the past?
Now it's over to you. Answer the same questions about yourself. Try and use some of the expressions you heard on the video.
You can read the transcript here.
What do you do to switch off at the end of the day?
What kinds of things in your life make you feel free?
In what period of your life have you felt the most free?
Do you think young people have more freedom now than in the past?
Now it's over to you. Answer the same questions about yourself. Try and use some of the expressions you heard on the video.
You can read the transcript here.
lunes, 12 de agosto de 2013
The world at 7 billion -BBC video activity
The UN is set to announce that the population of the planet has now reached seven billion people. But will this number continue to rise in future years - and if so, what could this mean?
Self-study activity:
Watch this three-minute BBC video and answer the questions about it.
1 When did the world's population reach one billion people?
2 What are the three reasons mentioned for the increase in population?
3 What will the earth's population be in 2100?
4 What problems is Sub-Saharan Africa facing today?
5 Why might the population decrease?
You can check the answers by reading the transcript below.
We’re living in an era of huge population growth. It took until 1804 for there to be one billion people on the planet. By 1927, that figure had doubled. In just about thirty years, it hit three billion. Then look out quickly: it rose to four, five, six and now seven billion. The world’s population is growing by 200,000 people a day.
Lack of space shouldn’t be a problem if everyone lived in one megacity the density of Paris then in theory the entire population of the planet could fit into France with room to spare. So, will our numbers keep rising? Almost certainly yes, for several decades. More people are in their reproductive years than ever before, more children survive thanks to better health care and sanitation and people are living longer. The UN’s best estimate is there will be eight billion people by 2025, nine billion by 2050 and ten billion by the end of the century. A higher UN prediction has the population at nearly sixteen billion by 2100.
Much of the increase will be driven by poor countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, many already with inadequate food and water. In the next forty years, Ethiopia could see its population rise from around eighty million to one hundred and forty-five million. Contrast that with Germany; a similar population to Ethiopia now but this could fall to seventy-five million by 2050.
Indeed there is a scenario that sees the world’s population falling. The UN’s lower estimate for 2100 is just over six billion people; a billion fewer than there are now. Why? Well, global fertility is already falling. In 1950, women on average had five children each; it’s now down to two and a half. Small variations in fertility could have a big effect on population size in the future. In much of the world, including Brazil, Europe, Russia, Japan, even China, fertility has fallen so much the populations are reliably predicted to fall later this century.
But whatever the long-term projections for the coming decades, we can expect more and more people on the planet, way beyond the seven billion milestone we're now passing.
Self-study activity:
Watch this three-minute BBC video and answer the questions about it.
1 When did the world's population reach one billion people?
2 What are the three reasons mentioned for the increase in population?
3 What will the earth's population be in 2100?
4 What problems is Sub-Saharan Africa facing today?
5 Why might the population decrease?
You can check the answers by reading the transcript below.
We’re living in an era of huge population growth. It took until 1804 for there to be one billion people on the planet. By 1927, that figure had doubled. In just about thirty years, it hit three billion. Then look out quickly: it rose to four, five, six and now seven billion. The world’s population is growing by 200,000 people a day.
Lack of space shouldn’t be a problem if everyone lived in one megacity the density of Paris then in theory the entire population of the planet could fit into France with room to spare. So, will our numbers keep rising? Almost certainly yes, for several decades. More people are in their reproductive years than ever before, more children survive thanks to better health care and sanitation and people are living longer. The UN’s best estimate is there will be eight billion people by 2025, nine billion by 2050 and ten billion by the end of the century. A higher UN prediction has the population at nearly sixteen billion by 2100.
Much of the increase will be driven by poor countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, many already with inadequate food and water. In the next forty years, Ethiopia could see its population rise from around eighty million to one hundred and forty-five million. Contrast that with Germany; a similar population to Ethiopia now but this could fall to seventy-five million by 2050.
Indeed there is a scenario that sees the world’s population falling. The UN’s lower estimate for 2100 is just over six billion people; a billion fewer than there are now. Why? Well, global fertility is already falling. In 1950, women on average had five children each; it’s now down to two and a half. Small variations in fertility could have a big effect on population size in the future. In much of the world, including Brazil, Europe, Russia, Japan, even China, fertility has fallen so much the populations are reliably predicted to fall later this century.
But whatever the long-term projections for the coming decades, we can expect more and more people on the planet, way beyond the seven billion milestone we're now passing.
domingo, 11 de agosto de 2013
Extensive listening -Standing on shaky ground
Thirty years ago, the indigenous Tao inhabitants of Taiwan's Orchid Island were told their home had been chosen as the location of a fish cannery and with it would come employment and economic growth beyond their subsistence existence.
Instead, they got a nuclear waste facility, and they now worry about the impact of a growing stockpile of low-level radioactive waste on their farms and fishing grounds. Tens of thousands of the barrels of waste are corroding, and the islanders fear widespread contamination.
Watch this Al-Jazeera 101 East documentary released in June this year and find out all the details about the growing resistance in Taiwan to this toxic nuclear waste.
You can read the transcript here.
Instead, they got a nuclear waste facility, and they now worry about the impact of a growing stockpile of low-level radioactive waste on their farms and fishing grounds. Tens of thousands of the barrels of waste are corroding, and the islanders fear widespread contamination.
Watch this Al-Jazeera 101 East documentary released in June this year and find out all the details about the growing resistance in Taiwan to this toxic nuclear waste.
You can read the transcript here.
sábado, 10 de agosto de 2013
Best books for language learners
International House is celebrating its 60th anniversary and they have had the great idea of inviting top names in the English Teaching world to give learners tips on ways they can improve their English.
In today's video, Tim Brombley, Jeremy Harmer, Scott Thornbury, Alastair Grant and Nicky Hockley express their opinion about their favourite books for learners of languages.
In early July we also published a similar International House video under the title Best TV Shows for English Learners.
In today's video, Tim Brombley, Jeremy Harmer, Scott Thornbury, Alastair Grant and Nicky Hockley express their opinion about their favourite books for learners of languages.
In early July we also published a similar International House video under the title Best TV Shows for English Learners.
viernes, 9 de agosto de 2013
Pregnancy explained -Video activity
In early July we published DNA explained, the first short documentary from BBC Knowledge & Learning series , a forthcoming project that aims to explore a large variety of subjects in engaging and accessible ways.
Today we have posted the second episode in the series, Pregnancy.
Self-study activity:
Watch the video and complete the blanks in the transcript with the missing words.
The activity is suitable for Intermedio 1 and Intermedio 2 students.
BBC Knowledge Explainer: Pregnancy from TellyJuice on Vimeo.
Each and every one of us began life as a single cell, no bigger than a full stop. From this we (1) ... into a human being made up of trillions of cells performing countless different functions. But how?
Pregnancy from conception to birth takes an average of forty weeks starting from the beginning of the mother’s last menstruation period. Development begins with fertilization when a sperm (2) ... with an egg to create a single cell called zygote. This cell holds immense potential. It is a shared genetic (3) ... from the mother and the father encoded in the genes of their combined DNA.
Over the next four days the zygote journeys down the fallopian tube to the uterus. On the way, it divides, eventually forming a cluster of cells called a blastocyst which has two distinct parts. One part will form the embryo. The other part will form the placenta, which (4) ... it. The blastocyst arrives in the uterus and within two days the cells sink in and attach to the uterine wall to continue their development.
By four weeks the embryo consists of three (5) ... that will become the baby’s organs and tissues. The ectoderm will become the central nervous system, the brain and spine. The mesoderm gives rise to deep structures, the (6) ... , cartilage and bones, and the endoderm could form blood cells and the intestines.
At around five weeks a heart beat can be detected. (6) ... begin to form, and small swellings called limb buds show where the legs and arms are growing. From eight weeks, the organs, nerves and muscles are all in place. The embryo is now referred to as the foetus.
At around ten weeks the face is taking shape and the foetus is recognizably human. Between eleven and fourteen weeks finger nails, toe nails and unique fingerprints are beginning to form. Between fifteen and twenty-six weeks the foetus begins to react to loud sounds. It is now possible to tell whether it is a boy or a girl.
Between twenty-six and thirty-six weeks the foetus will begin to react to life and to develop a (7) ... cycle. The lungs and and nerve system have matured to the point where the foetus has a good chance of survival if it is born prematurely. From now the foetus starts to put on weight very rapidly, growing (8) ... deposits under the skin, ready for life outside the womb.
From thirty-seven weeks the baby is full term and maybe be born at any time. By now, the baby is usually head down, so that they can (9) ... into the mother’s pelvis. Eventually the mother’s uterine (6) ... start to contract. The cervix shortens and opened and the baby makes its journey down to the birth canal and into the world. It is the start of its life as a physically separate being, a baby with trillions of specialized cells, and it all began from just one.
Key:
1 developed 2 merges 3 inheritance 4 nourishes 5 layers 6 muscles 7 sleep 8 fat 9 descend
Today we have posted the second episode in the series, Pregnancy.
Self-study activity:
Watch the video and complete the blanks in the transcript with the missing words.
The activity is suitable for Intermedio 1 and Intermedio 2 students.
BBC Knowledge Explainer: Pregnancy from TellyJuice on Vimeo.
Each and every one of us began life as a single cell, no bigger than a full stop. From this we (1) ... into a human being made up of trillions of cells performing countless different functions. But how?
Pregnancy from conception to birth takes an average of forty weeks starting from the beginning of the mother’s last menstruation period. Development begins with fertilization when a sperm (2) ... with an egg to create a single cell called zygote. This cell holds immense potential. It is a shared genetic (3) ... from the mother and the father encoded in the genes of their combined DNA.
Over the next four days the zygote journeys down the fallopian tube to the uterus. On the way, it divides, eventually forming a cluster of cells called a blastocyst which has two distinct parts. One part will form the embryo. The other part will form the placenta, which (4) ... it. The blastocyst arrives in the uterus and within two days the cells sink in and attach to the uterine wall to continue their development.
By four weeks the embryo consists of three (5) ... that will become the baby’s organs and tissues. The ectoderm will become the central nervous system, the brain and spine. The mesoderm gives rise to deep structures, the (6) ... , cartilage and bones, and the endoderm could form blood cells and the intestines.
At around five weeks a heart beat can be detected. (6) ... begin to form, and small swellings called limb buds show where the legs and arms are growing. From eight weeks, the organs, nerves and muscles are all in place. The embryo is now referred to as the foetus.
At around ten weeks the face is taking shape and the foetus is recognizably human. Between eleven and fourteen weeks finger nails, toe nails and unique fingerprints are beginning to form. Between fifteen and twenty-six weeks the foetus begins to react to loud sounds. It is now possible to tell whether it is a boy or a girl.
Between twenty-six and thirty-six weeks the foetus will begin to react to life and to develop a (7) ... cycle. The lungs and and nerve system have matured to the point where the foetus has a good chance of survival if it is born prematurely. From now the foetus starts to put on weight very rapidly, growing (8) ... deposits under the skin, ready for life outside the womb.
From thirty-seven weeks the baby is full term and maybe be born at any time. By now, the baby is usually head down, so that they can (9) ... into the mother’s pelvis. Eventually the mother’s uterine (6) ... start to contract. The cervix shortens and opened and the baby makes its journey down to the birth canal and into the world. It is the start of its life as a physically separate being, a baby with trillions of specialized cells, and it all began from just one.
Key:
1 developed 2 merges 3 inheritance 4 nourishes 5 layers 6 muscles 7 sleep 8 fat 9 descend
jueves, 8 de agosto de 2013
Big cat hunter
Big Cat Hunter is another report in the BBC's Real Time video series. Jonathan McGowan, a naturalist from Bournemouth, tells us about the existence of big cats in the UK.
Self-study activity:
The activity is suitable for strong intermediate students.
Watch the video through. What animals does Jonathan mention?
Watch the video again and answer these questions.
1 When did Jonathan start spotting big cats?
2 What does Jonathan do when the hair he collects?
3 Where do leopards leave their kills?
4 What does Jonathan do with the cameras?
5 What does Jonathan get every week?
6 What's people's reaction when Jonathan tells them about big cats in Britain?
7 Are big cats dangerous for humans?
To check the answers, you can read the transcript below.
We have puma, I can smell cat spray, we have leopards, and we have linx.
Interesting.
The numbers have escalated.
Looks like it.
We have so many. We have thousands of sightings a year by members of the public. This is one of my newest study areas where a lot of people have seen large black cats.
It all started with me in 1984 because I was into watching wildlife. And I got more than I bargained for. Once when I was watching a badger set, saw a puma come along and stalk one of the badgers that I actually knew quite well, and I couldn’t believe it. And so it set me on a sort of a task to find out whether there were any more of these animals in the area. I thought I’ve got to do a proper study about this and so that’s what I’ve been doing for the last 12 years now.
I’ve got some possible leopard scat here. It’s full of hair, that’s a typical find within a leopard territory. I collect lots of evidence in regards to field science, that’s droppings, footprints, scrapes from the ground and claw markings on trees.
You see, claw marks here because when cats often do scraps they often put their claws out to make the ground up.
These are all my hundreds of bags of hair I’ve collected. A very small amount of it has been analysed, yes, and some of it has proven to be puma, leopard hair. I’ve got whiskers as well. That’s possibly a whisker from a large cat. Cats have huge big whiskers like this. We have deer bones that fall out of trees because leopards often take their kills up trees just to prevent foxes from eating them. Big jaws have crunched the bones. This is a leopard skull here, just to show the teeth and how strong those jaws are.
This is one of my many trigger cameras. I’m gonna open it up and see wether there’s actually anything on there. In actual fact, it hasn’t been triggered yet at all, so I’ll put it back and I’ll return in a few weeks time.
This is one of the images I obtained. It was taken about three am, and one can clearly see there’s an animal there which I believe to be the male leopard that will often visit this pond to drink.
Every week I get reports some of which are ‘cat seen by multiple witnesses’ or cat seen by several people in different vehicles, for example in a traffic jam. It’s good just to speak to the witnesses just to relax them and let them know they are not unique, they are not mad.
People are skeptical because big cats are iconic. People think that Britain is so cold and rainy and boring that we couldn’t have big animals like leopards and pumas here.
Once you start looking for the evidence, it all falls into place. This is quite interesting here. They keep themselves to themselves, and they don’t want to touch humans, they just want to get up and get out of the way if they know humans are near.
To me it’s such a wonderful part of nature, and I feel part of nature when I see that shy elusive animal watching me. It does something which is really hard to explain, and it makes it more passionate, and you just want to be part of it.
Self-study activity:
The activity is suitable for strong intermediate students.
Watch the video again and answer these questions.
1 When did Jonathan start spotting big cats?
2 What does Jonathan do when the hair he collects?
3 Where do leopards leave their kills?
4 What does Jonathan do with the cameras?
5 What does Jonathan get every week?
6 What's people's reaction when Jonathan tells them about big cats in Britain?
7 Are big cats dangerous for humans?
To check the answers, you can read the transcript below.
We have puma, I can smell cat spray, we have leopards, and we have linx.
Interesting.
The numbers have escalated.
Looks like it.
We have so many. We have thousands of sightings a year by members of the public. This is one of my newest study areas where a lot of people have seen large black cats.
It all started with me in 1984 because I was into watching wildlife. And I got more than I bargained for. Once when I was watching a badger set, saw a puma come along and stalk one of the badgers that I actually knew quite well, and I couldn’t believe it. And so it set me on a sort of a task to find out whether there were any more of these animals in the area. I thought I’ve got to do a proper study about this and so that’s what I’ve been doing for the last 12 years now.
I’ve got some possible leopard scat here. It’s full of hair, that’s a typical find within a leopard territory. I collect lots of evidence in regards to field science, that’s droppings, footprints, scrapes from the ground and claw markings on trees.
You see, claw marks here because when cats often do scraps they often put their claws out to make the ground up.
These are all my hundreds of bags of hair I’ve collected. A very small amount of it has been analysed, yes, and some of it has proven to be puma, leopard hair. I’ve got whiskers as well. That’s possibly a whisker from a large cat. Cats have huge big whiskers like this. We have deer bones that fall out of trees because leopards often take their kills up trees just to prevent foxes from eating them. Big jaws have crunched the bones. This is a leopard skull here, just to show the teeth and how strong those jaws are.
This is one of my many trigger cameras. I’m gonna open it up and see wether there’s actually anything on there. In actual fact, it hasn’t been triggered yet at all, so I’ll put it back and I’ll return in a few weeks time.
This is one of the images I obtained. It was taken about three am, and one can clearly see there’s an animal there which I believe to be the male leopard that will often visit this pond to drink.
Every week I get reports some of which are ‘cat seen by multiple witnesses’ or cat seen by several people in different vehicles, for example in a traffic jam. It’s good just to speak to the witnesses just to relax them and let them know they are not unique, they are not mad.
People are skeptical because big cats are iconic. People think that Britain is so cold and rainy and boring that we couldn’t have big animals like leopards and pumas here.
Once you start looking for the evidence, it all falls into place. This is quite interesting here. They keep themselves to themselves, and they don’t want to touch humans, they just want to get up and get out of the way if they know humans are near.
To me it’s such a wonderful part of nature, and I feel part of nature when I see that shy elusive animal watching me. It does something which is really hard to explain, and it makes it more passionate, and you just want to be part of it.
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