What were 2012's top ten films?

Find out here.
What are your own top ten films?

Gun control and the American constitution

So you think you know the second amendment?

Should teachers carry guns?

The simple truth about gun control

This sacred text explains why the US can't kick the gun habit

The National Rifle Association wants an armed security guard in each school. Video

The great Spanish crash

This is the BBC's documentary some politicians don't like: The great Spanish crash

How to hide Christmas disappointment

Last minute buying can sometimes mean a less than ideal present, but how do you hide your disappointment with a less than perfect gift?

From that dodgy jumper from your nan, or the santa socks from the in-laws, we have some tips to help you avoid hurting your relatives' or friends' feelings on the big day.

Sophie van Brugen joins the Breakfast team for some practice. Watch the video

What is the most disappointing present you've ever received? What did you do?
When you get a gift you don't like, should you
a) say you'd rather have something else?
b) say you love it and keep it?
c) say you love it, wrap it again and give it to your least favourite relative on their birthday?
d) ...?

Santa Claus is too unhealthy

An Australian scientist writing in the British Medical Journal thinks Father Christmas is a bad role model for children because he is very fat and drinks too much alcohol.

Listen to the report
And then read the article here

Ways of speaking

Speak, say, tell, ask, answer, suggest... How many words do you know which refer to ways of speaking?
Here are a few: Ways of speaking

Speaking. Idioms

Try this exercise and learn some idioms and phrases connected with speaking.

Review D pp. 126 & 127. Key

Review D pp. 126 & 127. Key

How you say something. Key

A
1 beg / 2 confess / 3 confirm / 4 demand / 5 insist / 6 instruct / 7 report / 8 request / 9 swear / 10 urge
B
1 insisted / 2 confirmed / 3 demanded / 4 begged / 5 confessed
C
1 Gary instructed Mrs Harris to go straight back to the office.
2 He swore it wasn't him.
3 She requested that Paul send her an email.
4 He urged Steve not to drink and drive.
5 The police reported that there had been an increase in drug-related crime.

Missing words - 'He said' etc. Key

1 suggested / 2 insisted / 3 inquired / 4 demanded / 5 snapped / 6 whispered / 7 boasted / 8 shouted / 9 explained / 10 pleaded / 11 complained / 12 stammered

Ways of speaking. Key

Here's the key

Barefoot hiking

Have you ever considered barefoot hiking? Here are a few tips.

The Laetoli footprints

Watch this video on how the Getty Conservation Institute and the government of Tanzania collaborated to protect the 3.6 million-year-old hominid trackway in Laetoli.

Job application letters

Try this quiz with expressions you can use in a cover letter.

Unreal time. Key

Unreal time. Key

Social issues. Key

Social issues. Key

Global problems. Key

Global problems. Key

Technology words

Take this quiz with words you might not find in a dictionary...

Substitution and ellipsis. Key

Substitution and ellipsis

Do you need to print this document? Think of the environment -and the cost.

Letters that changed history

Imagine these letters had been written... and read?
_________________________

Dear Mr. Gaudí,

We regret to inform you that your application has been rejected. The reasons are that you are too young to join our technical college and that we consider your drawing skills are not good enough.
We recommend you to apply for a place in Law School because your exams show you are in possession of very good communication and writing skills.
We hope you become a great lawyer and have a successful career in the future.

Yours sincerely,
Barcelona Architecture School

(Cristina & Eva)
_________________________

Dear God,

First of all, I want to thank you for visiting me in my dreams yesterday. I am really proud you have thought of me as Jesus Christ's Mother, but I regret to inform you that this is not the right moment for me.
I have just got married to Jose, who is a very good man, and, as you know, it is my obligation to try to make him as happy as I can. In fact, I am already pregnant. I am terribly sorry.
I could recommend one of my neighbours for that role. Her name is Sara and she is an honest, reliable, young girl. And she is a virgin, the most important point.
I would like to wish you every success for the future.

Your humble servant,
Mary of Nazareth

(Patricia, Ramiro & Beatriz)
_________________________

Dear Mr. Adolf Hitler,

We have realized that we are causing too many deaths of innocent people. These people have not done anything bad, and we are not convinced of what we are doing with this war. Everybody should have the right to live, because they are people like us. Besides, being different could make our culture better in different ways.
For all these reasons, we have decided that we are not going to carry on with this stupid war.
We regret all the people that have died in the last months, and we wish this war had never started. So with this letter, we are telling you we are not going to support you anymore.

Yours sincerely,
The German Army

(Alberto & Irene)
_________________________

Dear Mr Schettino,

As you will probably know, nowadays we are under the effects of one of the biggest economic crisis in Italy.
Because of that, I regret to inform you that your services are no longer necessary. For this reason, your next voyage on the "Costa Concordia" has been cancelled.
On behalf of the company, we would like to thank you for all your efforts and hard work during these years.
We really wish you the best.

Yours sincerely,
Costa Cruise Director.

(Sara & Borja )
_________________________

Dear President Bush,

I have to inform you about the last important discovery our Army has made. After many hard investigations, we are ready to confirm the lack of any kind of massive destruction weapons in Iraq.
We have had a lot of conversations with the Iraqi Government and they have let us visit all their strategic places; so we are absolutely sure there is not any kind of danger.
I hope you make the right decision with this information.

Yours sincerely,
Frank Dylan,
Major General of the U.S. Army

(Roberto & Saida)

Review C pp. 98 & 99. Key

Review C pp. 98 & 99. Key

Aggression. Key

1 there / 2 evidence / 3 such / 4 in / 5 and / 6 became / 7 placed / 8 between / 9 to / 10 ruled / 11 also / 12 part / 13 the / 14 even / 15 available / 16 of / 17 came / 18 entire / 19 demands / 20 one

Did you know? Key

1 because / 2 used / 3 got / 4 yearly / 5 body / 6 getting / 7 had / 8 the / 9 could / 10 with / 11 no / 12 get / 13 roof / 14 into / 15 other / 16 sheet / 17 something / 18 would / 19 more / 20 outside / 21 kitchen / 22 added / 23 leaving / 24 they / 25 white / 26 feel / 27 show / 28 share / 29 fat / 30 caused / 31 poisoning / 32 next / 33 to / 34 loaf / 35 upper / 36 drink / 37 couple / 38 them / 39 eat / 40 up / 41 running / 42 dig / 43 reuse / 44 out / 45 found / 46 been / 47 wrist / 48 through / 49 night / 50 saved

May have gone, should have gone, etc. Key

May have gone, should have told, etc. Key

Are phone apps changing the world?

Take the quizz.

Michio Kaku

Watch these videos on time travel and string theory.

Costa Rica

Following Carmen's presentation, learn more about Costa Rica.

Why we still lose our phone connection

Here's why

An overdose of pain for Spain

An article about Spain's economy, from The New York Times.

Five Titanic myths spread by films

What is true and what is legend about the final hours of the Titanic? Find the answer in this article.

29 March General Strike

Spain's general strike shows first signs of rebellion against austerity
Spanish workers try to bring industry to halt with general strike
Scuffles at start of Spain's general strike
Unions demand government gesture or more protests will follow

The Three Little Pigs and The Guardian Open Journalism

Watch the Guardian's new ad based on The Three Little Pigs story:
Guardian Open Journalism.
For more information or to understand the advert better, click here.
These links have been contributed by Pilar Nisa. Thank you!

Relative clauses. Key

Relative clauses
Do you need to print this document? Consider the environment.

Fallen Princesses

What became of Snow White, Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty when we thought they were living happily? This might not be their true story, but what if...
Happily ever after?
Don't miss the "About the series" section.
This link has been contributed by Cristina. Thank you.

Little Red Riding Hood

Here's the video you've watched in class: Revolting Rhymes: Little Red Riding Hood
Don't miss other "Revolting Rhymes" such as Cinderella -with a twist.
And Roald Dahl reading his poem - story himself: Roald Dahl

Books and films. Key

24 Films and books
27 Talking about books
29 Film and book reviews
71 Reading - Idioms
Consider whether you really need to print these documents.

Telling stories: Pulling a sickie & Perspective

6-minute English: Pulling a sickie
Why pulling a sickie may cost you dear
Your Bad Self: Pulling a sickie
Your Bad Self: Perspective

Top five regrets of the dying

A nurse has recorded the most common regrets of the dying, and among the top ones is 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard'.
What would your biggest regret be if this was your last day of life?
Read the article and notice the use of 'I wish' to express regrets.

Survey paints portrait of black women in America

A nationwide survey about the lives, outlook and goals of black women in America helps to analyse and understand how African American women define themselves.
Read the article and notice the expressions used to show the findings of the survey.

Asperger's Syndrome

WrongPlanet.com is an online resource and community for autism and Asperger's.

I found the following sections or comments particularly interesting, but there are plenty more:

Monsterland's Blog

A Mom's eye view. Blog. Don't miss the posts 'How rude!' and 'What we have here... is a failure to communicate'.

Animal vs human non verbal communication

Read this news story in The New York Times: For Autistic Children, a School’s Coffee Shop Imparts Skills While Raising Money

And here are some videos too.

The Twelfth Night

Haven't you taken down your Christmas decoration? It's high time you did!.

Gold, frankincense and myrrh...

One Christmas staple may be a thing of the past: frankincense - central to the nativity story as one of the gifts of the Three Wise Men. The aromatic resin comes from trees that are now in danger of disappearing.

Watch the video.