Are we so different?

Men and women, and the everlasting question: Are we the same or different? Last week I was discussing with my students whether our brains are really different or it's just the result of the cultural biases imposed on us since we're born, and the thing is although at the beginning I was much more in favour of the latter, I was told that there's been a lot of scientific research on this issue which has proved that in fact, WE ARE different in several aspects.
I know stereotypes are usually unfair but, if they're not taken too seriously, commonplaces can also be fun. I hope you'll enjoy this stand-up monologue which show us how different our brains are.
First watch the video and then try to do the fill-in-the-gap activity below. I'd also like you to write a short comment giving your own point of view.

The King's Speech

Do you like cinema? 

The King's Speech

I love it and one of the best fims I've recently seen is "The King's Speech". Actually, I'd recommend you to go and see it if you haven't so far, of course in original version since it's a fine example of British English and you'll surprise yourselves by discovering you can understand more than you expected.

If you've already seen it, I'd like to know you personal opinion about it. Write your comments below.
Now, let's practise listening comprehension doing a gap-filling activity. You can check your answers clicking here to download the KEY.

Earth Hour

You know last Saturday 26th a large number of countries around the world, among them Spain, participated in a big switch-off to call the citizens and governments' attention to the need to save energy and reduce emissions.

Read this article published in the Guardian and do the comprehension exercise below.

Then, watch the video which offers you some tips to save energy. Do you already do any of them? What else do you do to help the Earth? What do you think you could do? Write your comment below.

Earth Hour »

How To Save Energy in the Home on Howcast

Flying

How do you feel when you take a plane? Excited? Frightened? Thrilled? I must admit I feel a little anxious, especially when the plane goes through some turbulance, that's why I always pay attention to the flight attendants when they give the safety instructions. However, I know most people never listen to them.

We're going to learn some vocabulary related to flights and planes with the interactive activities below. Then, you can do the gap-filling activity to complete the safety instructions a really witty and funny flight attendant gives to his passengers. Check your answers downloading the Key

Write your comments telling how you feel when you fly or any funny, frightening or curious experience you've had when doing so.

"Hot n cold"

You've surely heard Katy Perry's song "Hot n cold". I must admit this song makes me feel full of energy but also, listening to it made me think of a way to work on opposites (words with opposite meanings), which can help you increase your vocabulary.

Listen to the song and complete the gap-filling activity using the hints in the ? buttons if necessary. To check your answers you can use the Key.

You've probably noticed that the chorus is based on opposites, haven't you? Would you like to find some more? Do the wordsearch activity below.
Could you now use some of these opposites to make a comment here and show their meanings? I know you can!

Have you?

You know, I'm a terrible gossip! So I'm willing to know what you have done in the last months. I myself have been very busy with an online course that has helped me to create this blog and all the activities you have found in it so far. I've already learnt how to use a lot of interesting tools but I haven't finished it yet. I've also been to Liverpool with some students and two of my colleagues. We went there a fortnight ago and we had a wonderful time. What about you? What have you done recently?

Click  here before making your comment to download a presentation that'll help you revise and understand the uses of Present Perfect Simple and Past Simple tenses.

How do you learn?

Learning English is such a fun, isn't it? But it also involves working hard to improve all our skills and achieve our goal: being able to communicate in English.

Each of us uses different tools to learn. To me, reading and listening are essential to learn vocabulary and grammar patterns in context as well as correct pronunciation and English intonation.

What about you? How do you learn English?

I'd like you to share your tips with me and your peers here but first you may have a look at this presentation and give it some thought.

I'm willing to read your comments!

What kind of learner are you? on Prezi