Yolanda's blog

The Pilgrims were English Separatists . In the first years of the 17th century, small numbers of English Puritans broke away from the Church of England because they felt that it had not completed the work of the Reformation. They committed themselves to a life based on the Bible. Most of these Separatists were farmers, poorly educated and without social or political standing. One of the Separatist congregations was led by William Brewster and the Rev. Richard Clifton in the village of Scrooby in Nottinghamshire. The Scrooby group emigrated to Amsterdam in 1608 to escape harassment and religious persecution. The next year they moved to Leiden, in Holland where, enjoying full religious freedom, they remained for almost 12 years. In 1617, discouraged by economic difficulties, the pervasive Dutch influence on their children, and their inability to secure civil autonomy, the congregation voted to emigrate to America. Through the Brewster family's friendship with Sir Edwin Sandys, tr...

It's been 30 years since one of the 20th century's biggest historic events: the fall of the Berlin Wall. Although the East German dictatorship subsequently collapsed, cultural and political divisions remain, more than a generation after reunification. Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports on the wall's legacy, the polarizing issue of immigration and the lingering stain of anti-Semitism.

What is Armistice Day, what time are we silent and why is it for two minutes?  READ MORE...

Alt-rock icon Amanda Palmer believes we shouldn't fight the fact that digital content is freely shareable — and suggests that artists can and should be directly supported by fans. Don't make people pay for music, says Amanda Palmer: Let them. In a passionate talk that begins in her days as a street performer (drop a dollar in the hat for the Eight-Foot Bride!), she examines the new relationship between artist and fan.   TRANSCRIPT: CLICK HERE

If you’ve never heard of the American singer-songwriter known as Rodriquez, perhaps it’s because he reached his height of unlikely popularity in South Africa during the 1970s. After two albums that flopped in the U.S., Rodriquez’s songs improbably made their way to South Africa and spread like wildfire via bootlegs, motivating a generation of youth to join protests against the Apartheid regime of the time. Searching for Sugar Man  is a 2012 Swedish–British–Finnish documentary, directed and written by Malik Bendjelloul, which details the efforts in the late 1990s of two Cape Town fans, Stephen "Sugar" Segerman and Craig Bartholomew Strydom, to find out whether the rumoured death of American musician Sixto Rodriguez was true and, if not, to discover what had become of him.  On 10 February 2013, the film won the BAFTA Award for Best Documentary at the 66th British Academy Film Awards in London, and two weeks later it won...

   

Watch the video and find out how global warming and deforestation are melting the vast snow fields of Mount Kilimanjaro. Complete the following statements: 1-Mount Kilimanjaro is also known as __________________. 2-It is located in ____________________. 3-People travel there to ____________and______________. 4-Ernest Hemingway described the ice fields as________________. 5-The glaciers are a vital source of ___________ and __________ water. 6-Since 1912, the glaciers ________________ by more than 80%. 7-The NASA satellite has been taking pictures for _____________. 8-As the Kilimanjaro is located in the tropical area, glaciers _____. 9-Deforestation means that trees _________ in large quantities. 10-Some consequences of the loss of the glaciers include: __________ and__________. KEY: 1-the roof of Africa 2-North Eastern Tanzania 3-climb the mountain_and view the gracier-covered peak 4-wide as the world, great high and unbelievably white in the sun 5-drinking_ and ...

A fertility doctor says that he can help parents choose a lot more than the baby's gender. Hattie Kauffman reports on the controversy surrounding designer babies. PGD was created to screen for _____________________. It was then used for ___________________. By next year eye-colour will have been determined with an 80% _____________. Dr Jeffrey Steinberg is a pioneer in ___________________. Kirsten and Matt Landon used Dr Steinbers’s clinic to select ______________. Most people support PGD when it comes to ___________________ serious diseases. Dr Steinberg is in favour of using technology for _____________________. Dr Caplan thinks we will be able to choose certain characteristics just because we will have a(n) _____________________ for them. Dr Caplan disagrees with the idea that a doctor has the obligation to offer his patients the possibility to choose if the technology is ______________________. Dr. Caplan wonders if everything is ____________________ at the fertil...

When we talk about social networks, we think of Facebook, Twitter, _____________________, etc. When Gerry uses the word social , he is thinking about _____________________ encounters. When Gerry was growing up, he used to _____________________ to meet his friends. The difference between children these days and children 50 years ago is that today’s children spend all their time _____________________. There is much less social _____________________ nowadays. People have fewer social _____________________ than they used to. Dave states that playing _____________________ is not a face-to-face activity. In Dave’s opinion, social networks are just a(n) _____________________. If there is a problem, it is the people who are using them who are _________________ for it, not social networks. According to Dave, social networks can be used in an anti-social way, for example: stalking a(n) ______________________. online ______________________. However, social networking __________...

1. The Mesoamerican barrier reef stretches from Cancun to __________. 2. The barrier reef faces different threats, for example _______ and ______. 3. Jason Decaires Taylor is trying to help to protect the reefs through ______. 4. His project involves sinking _____________. 5. Taylor wants to attract tourists to these artificial reefs and keep them away from__________. 6. The fish can use the sculptures to _____________from predators. 7. This museum is atracting a growing number of ___________________. 8. The museum will add sculptures as long as ____________________. KEY 1-HONDURAS 2-POLLUTION, WARMING OCEAN TEMPERATURE, OVERFISHING, TOURISTS 3-ART 4-400 STATUES/SCULPTURES 5-THE NATURAL REEFS 6-HIDE/ESCAPE 7-DIVERS 8-FUNDING IS AVAILABLE

These videos might help you with your oral exam. Check them out! Illegal downloading Work conditions Stress  (B1) Parental Relationships  (B1) Sports  (B1) Animals and pets  (B1) Education  (B1) Stereotypes  (B1) Travelling  (B2)  Mad about shopping  (B2) Science and technology  (B2) Breaking the law  (B2) Relationships  (B2) The world of work  (B2) Environment and climate change  (B2) Healthy eating Living in a city or the countryside? Leisure The media circus  part I (C2) The media circus part II (C2)

For And Against Essays Guide from monira21 Choose one of the following topics and write your composition. (200 words approx.) The internet as a source of news and information. Study-abroad programs.

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CLICK HERE  and you'll find an explanation and exercises MORE EXERCISES

Just saw this and thought I'd share: I'm very ugly  So don't try to convince me that  I am a very beautiful person  Because at the end of the day  I hate myself in every single way  And I'm not going to lie to myself by saying  There is beauty inside of me that matters  So rest assured I will remind myself  That I am a worthless, terrible person  And nothing you say will make me believe  I still deserve love  Because no matter what  I am not good enough to be loved  And I am in no position to believe that  Beauty does exist within me  Because whenever I look in the mirror I always think  Am I as ugly as people say?  (now read bottom up). By Abdullah Shoaib

Considered the best theatrical director of the 20th century and one of the great renovators of contemporary theatre, Peter Brook, who has also directed opera and film, has worked on stages throughout Europe and in countries such as India, South Africa and Iran, among others. His works, which embrace almost all theatrical styles, include titles such as  Measure for Measure  (1950),  The Tempest (1955) and  The Visit  (1958), as well as  King Lear  (1962),  The Screens  (1964),  Marat-Sade  (1964),  Timon of Athens  (1974),  Ubu Rey  (1977),  The Cherry Orchard  (1981),  The Conference of the Birds  (1976) and the opera  La Tragédie de Carmen  (1981)

Reading: Modelo 2 avanzado comprensión de lectura

EXPLANATION AND EXERCISE A MULTIPLE CHOICE EXERCISE ONE MORE EXERCISE ANOTHER ONE...

For the last 14 years, Kevin Crowe and Simon Long have been running what is claimed to be Britain's most remote bookshop, in the Scottish Highlands. But now they have decided to close this chapter of their lives - and have put Loch Croispol Bookshop on the market. Watch the video HERE and answer the questions below: 0 Kevin has had books since _________.  1 Kevin and Simon have _________ for 14 years.  2 Before being a book shop, it used to be a shop run by _________.  3 Simon has always been keen on _________.  4 Some people found the idea of their living in this place _________.  5 They sell more books from late spring to early autumn because_________.  6 Apart from books and food, they also sell _________.  7 They are considered ‘book detectives’ because they do _________.  8 A professor from Beijing once ordered everything they had about _________. 9 The reasons for selling the business are Simon’s age and Kevin’s ___...

EXERCISES: CLICK HERE

Useful language for letter requesting information: Opening remarks: I am writing to enquire about ...; I am writing in connection with ... Introduce first request: Could you possibly send ...; I would be grateful if you could...; Would it be possible for you to tell/send me...; I would appreciate some information about... Introduce further request: Could you also please send me...; Another matter I need information on is ... I would also like some information on... Closing remarks: I look forward to receiving...; I would appreciate it if you could inform me as soon as possible. MODEL You have just seen this advertisement in a Pet’s magazine and you would really like to take the course. However you feel you need some more information before taking the course. Write a letter between 120 to 180 words in appropriate style. DOG OBEDIENCE CLASSES  Train your dog in our special classes. Register now for the autumn course. For more information write to: Smart D...

EXPLANATION AND EXERCISES STATEMENTS QUESTIONS ORDERS REPORTING VERBS 1 REPORTING VERBS 2

NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES    NEWSPAPERS (Vocabulary and exercises)    TV

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has spent tens of billions of dollars to fund improvements in global public health. Melinda Gates sits down with Jane Pauley to discuss her long-held commitment to science and data, and how it is vital to combating hunger, maternal and infant mortality and malnutrition, and to improving access to education and family planning.

An example Tips on how to write an effective cover letter EXERCISE Now it's your turn.   Choose one of the job listings below and write a cover letter to apply for the job.  Include your purpose for writing the letter,  where you saw the ad and 3 qualifications that make you the right person for the job.  180 words approx. Animal care specialist National Zoo requires experienced person to feed, water and clean the cages of small animals. Duties also include conducting tours for young visitors. Send resumé and cover letter to Cassandra Beck, National Zoo, P.O: box 42, Metropolis city MA 02210 International Tour Guide Tour leaders needed for our small-group luxury tours to Hawaii, South America and East Asia. Excellent salary and benefits, plus unlimited free travel. Contact Melinda Lee, Starline Travel, 16 Bayfield Drive, Mayfield NY 22267 Personal Shopper Macy’s Department Store is looking for people with a great sense of style to help our custom...

. EXERCISE: CLEFT SENTENCES EXERCISE: SO/SUCH 

EXERCISES     MORE EXERCISES SO/SUCH...THAT: EXAMPLES

Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. St Patrick's Day is March 17 . How much do you know about this celebration?. Have a look at some of these websites and find out more... http://edition.cnn.com/EVENTS/1996/st_patrick/history/index.html http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/saint-patrick.htm http://www.infoplease.com/spot/irishflag1.html http://www.irishabroad.com/stpatrick/life/factfantasy.asp http://www.irishabroad.com/StPatrick/IrishQuiz/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5X5IrA0zEs&feature=related (Danny Boy by The Pogues) COMPLETE THESE STATEMENTS:  1.   St. Patrick’s Day is a ___________________ of spring. 2.   It’s a celebration of the ____________________ patron saint. 3.   In the 5th. century, a boy, Marwin Sagat was ________. 4.   He worked as a ________________ for 6 years. 5.   Years later, he had a visión and became _______________ and adopted the name Patrick. 6.   He con...

As the job market becomes redundant with candidates, companies are finding it difficult to hire the right employee for the right job. With the vast interview advice and CV resources available online, job seekers are able to design a very attractive CV and prepare & rehearse answers to questions in the interview. With the growing cost of a poor hire, it is imperative to select a candidate that will prove to be beneficial in the long term. The Dutch brewing company Heineken took interviewing candidates to the next level in order to hire the right employee. On May 25th, 2013, Heineken needed to hire an intern for its Event & Sponsorship Marketing team to prepare for the Champions League final. Heineken received a staggering 1,734 applications for this position. They faced the question how to choose a right talent amongst 1,734 candidates, who not only have good knowledge but also suitable behaviour, thinking style and interests to do the job. Finally Heineken decided not to fol...

On International Women’s Day (8 March 2019), UN Women calls on the world to “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change.” This International Women’s Day, UN Women focuses on innovative ways in which we can advance gender equality and the empowerment of women, particularly in the areas of social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure. With the IWD 2019 theme of “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change,” we are calling for transformative shifts, integrated approaches and new solutions to ensure that no woman or girl is left behind. Innovation and technology provide unprecedented opportunities, yet trends indicate a growing gender digital divide. Women are under-represented in the field of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and design. These gaps prevent them from developing and influencing gender-responsive innovations to achieve transformative gains for society. From mobile banking to artificial intelligence and the inter...