MY TRIP TO ITALY

BANSKY FOR SALE

Banksy's "Flower Girl" mural is to be sold at an auction in Beverly Hills this month, along with four earlier works. The piece, which appeared on a Los Angeles has station wall in 2008, is expected to go for $300,000. The final price, though, could be much more. Another mural by the British artist, "Slave Labour", found behind a shop in London, sold recently for 750,000 pounds. 

Banksy is a graffiti artist, political activist, film director and painter. Hiss satritical street art and subversive epigrams combine dark humor with graffitti executed in a distinctive stencilling technique. Such artistic works of political and social commentary have been featured on streets, walls, and bridges of cities throughout the world.

 

GERMANWINGS CO-PILOT PRACTICED DESCENT ON OUTBOUND FLIGHT

Andreas Lubitz, the co-pilot suspected of deliberately flying a German airliner into the French Alps, appears to have rehearsed preparations for the plane’s fatal dive during an earlier flight on the day of the crash, the French authorities said in a preliminary reportpublished on Wednesday.

The initial findings by the Bureau of Investigations and Analyses show that the co-pilot repeatedly adjusted the Germanwings plane’s altitude dial to 100 feet during its outbound flight to Barcelona, Spain, from Düsseldorf, Germany, on March 24.

The maneuvers, which were captured by the plane’s flight data recorder, took place while the captain had left the cockpit temporarily.

“To us, it is clear that this was some kind of rehearsal,” said Rémi Jouty, the bureau’s director. “We see the same actions being taken in the same circumstances, at a moment when the co-pilot was alone in the cockpit.”

WRITING UNIT 9

Write a narrative with dialogue

Something happened a couple of weeks ago which was a real test of my honesly. I was with some friends and we were staying a bar. In the table, exactly in my chair, appeared envelope with €1000. With friends were gobsmacked did not know what to do or whom to give him or if we had to stay.

"What are this, people?" I asked. "Did you see anything?" We looked at each other, then my friend said.

I'm not sure what happened, I have not seen anything" he said. “Probably, it is someone who what has forgotten it. It would be best to give to the proprietary from the bar and if the owner of the money appears, will go here.”

The idea he gave me, I found it correct right, so we didn't.

In the end, nothing happened about the money. It wasn't a pleasant experience, but at least I felt that I'd done the right thing.

WRITING UNIT 8

Write about an experience

Last year, I have went been to in London. On the first days it was very difficult there because i didn't understand a lot of people. But after some time, I met girls and boys at the shopping centers or at the cinema. We had a very good time.

One day, In my free time, I was chosen to be a dancer in a competition. I accepted but I was frightened because there was a lot of competitivity among the players.

I found a job as a waitress in a restaurant although I was not sure they would give me the job but they took me up. I worked there for three weeks and I learnt new things.

These days, I feel much happier and I think this has been an incredible year, because I have learned the language and I have made new friends. I've worked and I've had new experiences.

WRITING UNIT 7

Giving an opinion

The government plans to introduce a new law which is about introducing school on Saturday mornings in order to imporve the level of education. In my view, this would have some negative consequences for the teenagers and a lot of people will complain to the government.

In the first place, I believe that it won’t work because the children will be very tired doing six school days and angry because Saturday and Sunday are their days for relax, to do their homework, or to stay with their family...

Furthermore I think that it will be unfair because there are more other ways to improve the level of education and five days studying at school is enough. I have no doubt that a lot of families will have a lot of problems to bring their children at school (because they are working) if this law is introduced.

In conclusion, if the aim of the government is to improve the level of the education, it seems to me that there’s a better alternative: if they spend more hours on the subject that they want to improve during the five days of the school, the children will learn more and their education will be better.

WRITING UNIT 6

Spending my time…

My name is Carlota Omedes and I’m student in Casa Nostra School in Banyoles, Catalonia. Nowadays, I'm interested in studies and the friends. But the persons who are most important in my life are those who devote part of their time with me. For example, my parents, my sister, my best friend and my boyfriend. The thing which I like best is sitting on any place with my friends and talking of all.

I don’t think that the world is a bad place, but I don’t think that is the better. There are some things that make me angry, example, when the people kicks the ground papers or when the people are rude or ignorant.

As far as the future is concerned, it sometimes worries me that we won't have peace or tranquility. I find it a bit frightening that there's always a war somewhere in the world or also, gadgets electronic that increasingly have more importance to people's lives. I'm fairly optimistic about my own future though. But in a few years' time, I don't see me anywhere, because I prefer that the time decides.

WRITING UNIT 5

The story of Converse

Converse got their name from their inventor Marquis Converse. Marquis, started the Converse Company. In 1908 when they were invented they weren't really popular. They were made from rubber and canvas.

In 1920s they became special shoes for basketball, called the Converse All Star. They were promoted by players. After that they became the official NBA shoes and they were popular with artists and musicians too.

These days, converse are less popular that they used to be. The Company was sold to Nike in 2003, and now it seems to be more popular. In total 950 million pairs were sold by 2008.

MADONNA

33 after her debut single, Madonna has released her 13th album, Rebel Heart. Both Avicii and Kayne West worked on it. There's a gospel choir, piano, guitar and reggae too! The songs have religous references, and the album cover is designed to shock. Madonna hasn't changed at all!

INTERNATIONAL GUITAR MONTH

April is the month to get your guitar our and start strumming - it's International Guitar Month! You can also listen to some of the world's greatest guitarists. From Jimi Hendrix to B. B. King, Keith Richards (of the Rolling Stones), Carlos Santana or Eric Clapton: there's plenty of choice!

THE AVENGERS

CAPTAIN AMERICA:

Created 1941.

Real name: Steve Rogers

Steve is a frail young man rejected by the US army during the Second World War. But then an army generals asks Steve to participate in an experiment: a Super -Soldier serum and radiation treatment give him a perfect body. After intense physical preparation, his first mission is to stop a Nazi agent. He recives a costume and a shield and becomes a symbol of liberty and justice - Captain America!

 

IRON MAN:

Created 1963.

Real  name: Tony Stark

Tony Stark is a businessman and a mechanical genius who is kidnapped by criminals. His captors want to force him to invent powerful weapons. But Tony creates a suit of armour to save his life and escapes. Later, he strengthens the suit with his Stark Industries technology. With the suit, he can hide his indentity and protect the world as Iron Man!

THE HULK:

Created 1962.

Real name: Bruce Banner

As a child, Bruce had to hide his anger towards his abusive father. As a young man, he is irradiated with radioactive particles during a nuclear test. From that moment, he transforms into the Hulk when he gets angry. Like the faous duo Dr Jeklly and Mr Hyde, who inspired the Hulk's creators, Hulk's personality is completely different from Bruce's: Bruce is a genius in nuclear physics; the Huk is not a very intelligent creature, but he has cunning that helps him in combat. 

THOR:

Created 1962.

Real name: Donald Blake

Thor did not start as a human - he was first a god. Thor's father sends him to Earth as a human doctor called Donald Blake. He has no memories of his past as the Asgardian god of thunder. But when Donald discovers Thor's hammer in a cave, he strikes it against a rock and becomes Thor again. Thor then starts to defend humanity from evil, but he is constantly conflicted between his divine home - Asgard - and his adoptive home on Earth. 

ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER

At 541 metres high, it is the tallest skyscraper in the USA. Discover New York's symbolic new tower...

A symbol of freedom:

 The Freedom Tower is the unoffi

cial name of One World Trade Center. The name is appropriate as the skyscraper is a symbol of freedom for Americans: it replaces the original World Trade Center, which was destroyed in a terrorist attack on 11 September 2001.

A symbolic number:

The tower's height, 1.776 feet (541m), is symbolic for Americans. 1776 is the year when America adopted the Declaration of Independence: a new nation was born, the United States of America!

Dangerus work! 

In 2014, two window cleaners got trapped inside some scaffolding while they were washing the windows. They dangled outside the 69th floor for more than an hour... until New York firefighters rescued them!

Extrem sport:

In 2014, three base jumpers jumped off the top of the tower. Their prachues opened at the 40th floor. The men were arrested, but they gighlighted security problems in the building!

EBOLA PARANOIA

Panic about Ebola virus has been gripping America. Among the many incidents cited: a teacher in Maine was put on leave becouse she went to Dallas for a conference and stayed in a hotel exatly 15 km away from the hospital where a patient died of disease; and in Mississippi, parents took their kids out school after learning thet the principal had visited Zambia, a country more than 3000km away from the Ebola epidemic in West Africa...

MIND YOUR TABLET

The number of mobile phone thefts on London's rail network and Underground has fallen by more than 80 per cent in the past five years, new figures show. That's the good news. The bad news is that the number of Kindles and tablet computers stolen from passengers has risen. Some 140 Kindles were stolen in 2013-2014 compared with three in 2009-2010. The number of tables stolen rose from 13 to 637 last year.

WILD

A young American sets off into nature on a journey of self-discovey. It is much more difficult than she realised - walking for hundreds of miles, camping alone night after night in a wilderness where, if there is a problem, there is no one to save you...

It sounds like the plot of the brilliant 2007 movie, Into the Wild, but it's not. This film is about a woman, played by Reese Witherspoon, walking the 1600km from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Coast Trail. It clearly wants to recapture the poetry of its similarly-titled predecessor, but only suffers by comparsion. It's not a bad film, but if you want to watch a film on this subject, this is not the one to see.

Ed SHEERAN

A few years ago, Ed Sheeran was busking for money. Today the redhead with the caroonisht tattoos has sold millions of records, conquered America, and written for some of the biggest names in pop - Taylor Swift and One Direction included. And the extraordinary thing is that when he plays in fornt of thousands, it is just him, his guitar and a loop pedal. No backing singers. No band. No dancers... And his fans (mainly teenage girls) love it. The guy is a born entertainer.

WRITING: Last holidays (COMPETÈNCIA LINGÜÍSTICA CURS 2011 - 2012)

Last year, my friend Sam...

He went on holiday to an exotic places: Africa, China and Sud America.

In Africa he went to saw the animals, the people of there is very sociable, generaous and interesant. When Sam there, also he went to the desert and saw the camels, he went to China and then, he went to the beach because he had very hot!

This is him holidays. And your holidays are great?

WRITING: Last night (COMPETÈNCIA LINGÜÍSTICA 2013 - 2014)

Last night I went with my friends it a large empty house. This house is abandoned. It was in a town, Banyoles. When we were stayed in the house, one firend listen a one thing. He said: "It's a ghost! I saw!". The other people scared. I think that strange, and I was scared. Well, we were scared.

I decided to phone the police. The police arrivated few minuts then. They inspectioned the house and saw one thing... One person killed. It was terrible! Then, we returend in to a town and we were going to the bed. Then a few years, when I think, I for scared!

WRITING: A short story 'The Surprise'

Write one text (80-95 words) or each of the following tasks:

Your teacher has asked you to write a short story with the title “The Surprise”.

Think about:

The beginning: who are the characters? What situations are there in?

The middle: what problem or difficulty do you have?

The ending: how is the problem or difficulty resolved?

Writing:

Last weekend it was Anna's 16th birthday and we made a "Dinner Surprise". Leo, Paul, Sara and I, we met at König, her favorite restaurant. Anna's was excited and she went to the restaurant at nine o'clock, the time they had arranged to meet.

When were having dinner all and we were it great. I remembered we had a problem... I saw realised that brought I hadn't the gift had bought!

Then, I said the situation in Leo. And he decided: went to go the house, take the gift and come back.

WRITING: Last weekend

Last weekend…

I got up at ten o’clock. Then I had breakfast and had a shower. When finished, in the morning I studied and I did my homework. Then, I had lunch and I went to a basketball match with Laia. In the night, I had soup and fish, then, one apple. I went to the bed at twelve o’clock, because whe I finished, I had more homework and more to study.

WRITING: Letter to your English auntie about your new friend

Hi auntie,

How are you? I hope you’re well. I’m writing to tell you about my new friend.

My new friend is Pol he is 17 years old. He lives in Porqueres. He is very nice and a generous person. He likes playing basketball and listening to music, but he doesn’t like playing football. He hasn’t got any pets.

Lots of love,

Carlota

WRITING: European project: Letter to a new friend

Hi Peter,

My name is Carlota and I am fifteen years old. I live in the street Camí dels Prats, Banyoles, with my parents and my sister. I like dancing and meeting my friends, but I don’t like studying and playing football.

I’m going to Casa Nostra School, which is in Porqueres, next to Banyoles. My favorite subject is Catalan.

My best friends are Irina and Aniol and we’re in the different classes. My teacher Anna Vilà is responsible, but sometimes she gives us lots of homework. After school I’m going to other lessons and then usually we go home to do my homework.

At the weekend I sometimes meet friends and I often see basketball matches.

Write soon and tell me all about yourself, your friends and your family.

See you soon. Love

Carlota.

WRITING: A postcard

Hi Clàudia!

We’re having a great holiday in Palamós.

We’re staying in my apartment in the center of the city. It’s got a swimming pool but there are many people there! There are lots of things to do. The people are the same every year, but they are very friendly.

Two weeks ago we went to the beach. Palamós is a very big, beautiful and calm place.These it’s very hot every day! And some days it's windy!

Are you having good holidays in Platja d’Aro?

See you soon

Carlota

WRITING: An invitation to a party

Hi Andrea,

I’m having a birthday party next Monday at my grandparents’ house. Would you like to come? It’ll be fun! Lots of people from my school and my group of dance are coming. You know some of them – Laia, Alba, Albert, Carla and Martina. Can you bring cocacola and chips?

My grandparents’ house is next to the hospital, “7 Carrer Major”. It’s right next to the park and it’s got a white front door.

Hope you can home and see you soon.

Carlota.

WRITING UNIT 4

Write about plans for a visit:

Hi, Clàudia

I’m just writing to check that everything’s OK for your visit.

I think you’ll like Barcelona. On Saturday morning, we’re going to Barcelona and then we're doing a bus tour with my parents because they really want to show you the city. Then, you and me go to one very famous restaurant in the city, when we finish we're meet again with my parents and we could either walk around the town or go to a museum. It's up to you. But I expect we'll end up in the shopping center. In the night, we return to my house in Banyoles.

On Sunday, we can go by motorcycle and I want to show you some pretty nice places of Banyoles, for example, “The Park of the Draga” or “The lake of Banyoles”. Also, we could go outside because there are some typical Catalan villages around here. I'll get some photos and you can have a look.

We're going to meet you in the station tomorrow, so can you remind me what time your trains gets in?

Look the photo.

Carlota

WRITING UNIT 3

Write a discussion eassy:

Are you for or against using animals for medical research?

At the moment, it is legal in some countries to research with animals, although there are arguments both for and against this practice.

One of the arguments for using experiments with animals is this: give us more information, procedures... which are useful. In addition, experiments that we can’t check with humans we can check with animals.

On the other hand, there is a moral problem with the life of the animals. Because scientists destroy almost all animals after being experienced. For this reason, one law of the European Union protects all animals vertebrates, for example: the Simis. 

All in all, I am not in favour of using animals for medical research. I believe that if it continues, we should have stricter controls on research and experiments.