INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

 What are indigenous people? Who are the Inuits, the Metis and the First Nations? Watch this video to find out: 

THE AZTECS

 How much do you know about the Aztecs? Watch these videos from an earlier post to find out 

LET'S DEBATE (PART 5)- The Israel-Palestine Conflict: How can a solution be found?

 What is your opinion on this topic? 

Before discussing it with the rest of the class, let's watch these videos. 

Once we have watched the videos, let's divide the topic into different subtopics: 

1. History and Causes

• Who has the right to the land: Israelis or Palestinians? Why?

• Was it fair to create the State of Israel in 1948?

2. Security and Violence

• Can Israel justify strong military actions in the name of self-defense?

• Is violence ever acceptable for groups like Hamas to resist occupation?

• Should attacks on civilians always be called war crimes?

3. Humanitarian Issues

• Are living conditions in Gaza and the West Bank acceptable today?

• Should the international community do more to send humanitarian aid?

• Do missions like the Global Sumud Flotilla make a difference?

4. International Politics

• Has the United Nations been effective in this conflict?

• What role should the United States and the European Union play?

• Should Arab countries normalize relations with Israel?

5. Peace and Solutions

• Is the “two-state solution” still possible?

• Could one single state for both peoples ever work?

• Can there be peace without mutual recognition?

6. Media and Public Opinion

• Do international media show the conflict in a fair way?

• How do social media change young people’s views about the conflict?

• Should schools teach more about this issue?

7. Religion and Identity

• How important is religion in the Israel-Palestine conflict?

• Can Jews, Muslims and Christians share the same land peacefully?

8. Youth and the Future

• What future do young people in Israel and Palestine imagine for themselves

• Can cultural exchange and education between young Israelis and Palestinians help create peace?

9. Water and natural resources management

• How does control over water resources influence the balance of power between Israelis and Palestinians?

• Should access to shared resources like aquifers be governed by international law or bilateral agreements?

• Can water cooperation serve as a foundation for broader peace?

10. Jerusalem’s status

• Should Jerusalem be an international city under UN administration to resolve disputes?

• How do religious claims shape the political impasse over East Jerusalem?

• Is a shared capital a realistic solution for both Israel and Palestine?

11. Refugee rights and return

• Should Palestinian refugees have the right of return after more than 70 years?

• What are the political and demographic implications of recognizing this right?

• Can financial compensation replace the right of return?

12. Security and terrorism narratives

• How do both sides use “security” to justify their actions and policies?

• Is armed resistance ever legitimate in the context of occupation?

• How do definitions of “terrorism” differ in Israeli, Palestinian, and international discourse?

13. Checkpoints and freedom of movement

• Do checkpoints enhance security or deepen resentment and instability?

• How do mobility restrictions affect the Palestinian economy?

• Should international law intervene to regulate freedom of movement in occupied territories?

14. Role of regional powers

• How do Egypt and Jordan balance peace treaties with solidarity for Palestinians?

• What role does Iran play in escalating or supporting the conflict?

• Can Gulf states act as credible mediators after normalizing ties with Israel?

Together with other classmates, speak and explore about one of the following topics. You can look online to search for information and studies on the topic. Then, share your conclusions with the rest of the class. 

Vocabulary for the Israel–Palestine Conflict 

General conflict terms

• conflict

• peace process

• occupation

• ceasefire

• tensions

• protest

• negotiation

Political

• two-state solution

• human rights

• United Nations (UN)

• international community

• self-determination

• refugee camps

• settlements

Humanitarian

• civilian casualties

• blockade

• aid / humanitarian aid

• basic needs

• freedom of movement

Violence and security

• terrorist attack

• rocket strikes

• military response

• self-defense

• war crimes

Future and peace

• dialogue

• mutual recognition

• coexistence

• youth exchange

• education for peace

LET'S DEBATE (PART 4)

 Should cannabis and other drugs be legal?

What is your opinion on this topic?

Before discussing it with the rest of the class, let's watch these two videos:

Once we have watched these videos, let's divide the topic into several subtopics. 

1- Alcohol and tobacco: history of its illegalization

2- The history of cannabis

3- Cannabis for medical purposes

4- The use of cannabis in Spain

5- Negative side of cannabis

6- Negative and positive sides of alcohol and tobacco

7- Drug dealers: the business in Spain

8- Drug business around the world

9- Cannabis for private use: legal and illegal uses

10- Cannabis and advertisements

Together with other classmates, speak and explore about one of the following topics. You can look online to search for information and studies on the topic

Share your conclusions with the rest of the class. Next, divide the class into two groups and start writing arguments for and against.  

LET'S DEBATE (PART 3)

 

What is your opinion about the death penalty?

Before discussing it with the rest of the class, let's watch these two videos: 

Once we have watched these videos, let's divide the topic into several subtopics.  

1- Death penalty around the world: countries where it is still legal and reasons these countries argue to keep using death penalty.

2- Is death penalty a deterrent? Studies about the index of criminality in different countries related to the different punishments these countries use.  

3- Death row: why do people spend sometimes such a long time waiting? What happens in different countries?

4- Death penalty in Spain: historical facts and opinion polls nowadays

5- Global Organisations (UN, EU, WHO, etc...) and their opinion about death penalty

6- NGOs and their opinion and actions for/against death penalty

7- Examples of innocent people being executed.

8- Death penalty and religion: arguments of the different religions in favour or against the death penalty. 

 

Together with other classmates, speak and explore about one of the following topics. You can look online to search for information and studies on the topic.

Share your conclusions with the rest of the class. Next, divide the class into two groups and start writing arguments for and against  death penalty. 

 

LET'S DEBATE!

 In our 2nd batxillerat classes, we will start a debate. First of all, students have to choose a topic. 

Here you have a webpage to choose topics from.

WE CAN DO IT!

 

Are you familiar with this poster? Do you know who was Rosie the Riveter? Watch this video and find out!

HOROSCOPES

  Do you know what your zodiac sign is? Look at this chart to find out:

-What do you know about horoscopes? Do you believe in them? 

- Do you agree with the positive and negative traits described in your zodiac sign?

- Do you think that all the classmates sharing the same zodiac sign are similar/ have a lot in common?

- Watch this video and write down in your dossier the personality traits that your zodiac sign is supposed to have:

 Sit in groups with the students who share the same horoscope as you and ask each other questions to find out if you share the same personality traits: 

- Are you brave/ sensitive/ practical?

-What are your personality traits/ qualities?

- Do you agree with the positive and negative traits described in your zodiac sign?

- Do you think that all the classmates sharing the same zodiac sign are similar/ have a lot in common?

 

When you finish, write a small paragraph to share later with the rest of the class: 

- Our group thinks that we share / don't share the personality traits defined by our horoscope. We are   ............................... but we are not .............................. Some students in the group agree with the horoscope because  ............. and others don't because......

In conclusion, we think zodiac signs are/ are not .......................

 

LET'S DEBATE ( PART TWO)

 DOES SOCIAL MEDIA DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD? 

 IS IT MAKING US MORE OR LESS SOCIAL? 

Read these two articles to start thinking about the topic: 

- Just how harmful is Social Media?

- Social media is making millenials less social. 

Next, watch this video called Crazy Ways Social Media is Changing your Brain: 

Watch also this video about the positive and negative effects of social media: 

Together with other classmates, speak and explore about one of the following topics. You can look online to search for information and studies on the topic: 

- Reading: does people read less because of social media?

- Communication: Do we communicate better thanks to social media?

- Friendship: do we have more or less friends nowadays?

- Manipulaton: do the social networds manipulate our way of thinking? How?

- Is it possible to live without social media?

- free time outdoors: Do we spend nowadays less time outdoors than before because of screens?

- Advertising: Has it changed? Could companies survive without social media?

- Bullying: is it better or worse than before?

-Privacy and Security: Is Social media dangerous?

- Private life exposure: Why do some people need to expose their lives so much?  

Share your conclusions with the rest of the class. Next, divide the class into two groups and start writing arguments for and against  using social media. 

LET'S DEBATE!!!

What do you think about the death penalty? Look here to find out more about this topic. 

What do you think on the topic of censorship? Should students be allowed to read about everything or should there be banned topics?

Watch this video as an introduction to the topic: 

Next, read this article on book banning.

What about social media censorship? Watch this video

Before debating whether censorship should exist or not, have a look at these topics and investigate about them, together with your classmates: 

- Censorship in Social Media

- Politically correct words

- Gender or race related censorship

- Are there topics that should never be discussed?

 -What do we do with classical works which contain ideas considered politically incorrect nowadays?

Share your conclusions with the rest of the class. Next, divide the class into two groups and start writing arguments for and against banning books/films/ works of art at schools.

 

Practise the Past Tenses with this very nice video from the film UP

 Have you watched the film UP?

Here you have the opening scene: 

And here you have the same scene with questions to practise the past tenses. 

Social Media and the Dangers of abusing it

 Watch these videos and let' s debate about them in class!

 

THE AZTEC EMPIRE

How much do you know about the Aztecs??

Watch this video to find out about their famous human sacrifices: 

And here you have another video of the "Dance of the Flyers" in Papantla: 

MY TOP 5-4-3

 MY TOP 5 FILMS

My favourite type of films are historical films and romantic comedies (romcoms). I also love distopias, which means films about the end of the world or about catastrophes.  My 5 favourite films are: 

- WONDER - A film about a boy who has a strange illness.

- THE READER- a film about a romance during the 2nd World War

- A ROOM WITH A VIEW- A film about a romance in Italy in the 19th century

 LADY JANE- a film about a girl who became Queen in the 16th century

- BILLY ELLIOT- a film about a boy who wants to be a dancer

MY TOP 4 TV PROGRAMMES

I love drama series and sitcoms! I am not into reality shows, I think they are usually full of stupid people ( sorry) and I find talk shows quite boring. I sometimes watch history documentaries and I always watch the news. I like "true crime" programs, I think they are very interesting. 

My 4 favourite TV programs are: 

- CRIMS: A true crime which explains unsolved or solved crimes from the past. Really thrilling to watch!

- GAME OF THRONES: The best series ever, full of adventure and love

- GREY'S ANATOMY: A series about doctors, I have been watching it for 18 seasons!

- OUTLANDER:  a historical series about time travelers. 

MY TOP 3 GAMES

Very easy: I don't like playing computer games, in fact I think I have never played with a computer game in my whole life ( well, maybe with the wii but I am terrible at it!). 

So I don't have any favourite game. I prefer board games!

What about you? Think about it, write it down as a draft and then explain to the rest of the class. 

Past Simple and Irregular Verbs

Do you need to practise the Past Simple?

Here you have one exercise to help you: 

Exercise 1

 

You can also practise the irregular verbs going to this post from some years ago. 

Hoping for a better future?

 How can we help young people build a better future?

Watch these videos and later we will debate on the topic: 

Poems inspired by Art

Our second batxillerat students have written poems inspired by art, here you have some of the amazing results: 

STOP WAR

 Innocent people are dying now,

 and that has to stop somehow. 

The cities are blowing smoke into the sky, 

they can’t see stars to be guided by.

 People always make war 

but they say they love peace. 

So, what if we leave the gore 

and we live without weapons please. 

The war will finish some day

 but memories will always stay. 

We could hug like brothers 

and send a smile to others

 by Claudia Boonstra, inspired by Banksy

I wake up everyday and remember dreaming about you, 

remember when we were younger, when we first met, 

you came to me with the sweetest smile but, 

What about now? What happened to those teenagers that fell 

in love in July, where are they now?

 My Romeo, I wish we could just freeze time and be free to love

 each other, with no one else but you and me.

 My love, where are you now, when I really need you. 

You are all I could wish for, who hurted you to be this hard? 

You don’t need to, we can just imagine it’s you and I,

 forever

 by Anna Martín, inspired by the Statue of Juliet in Verona

( this poem won the first prize for Sant Jordi)

It was my obsesion

the same as Degas for ballerinas

Everyone has a different way interpreting art

Him, a particular one

Through his eyes we can see

How they are subtly dancing

How they move around the room

How they love every piano note

And this marvelous sensation

the last second before going on stage

is the same one as Degas felt painting them

This type of euphoria that no one could understand

by Carla Ceprian, inspired by the Ballerinas of Degas

 Baco the god of wine, 

the god of madness, 

be like him, live without sadness. 

Live this moment as the last instant of your insignificant life, 

along with a cup of wine. 

Extremely drunk, am I?

 This world makes me feel dead

 a lot of rules to follow, 

my head is bleeding, 

my soul is running, 

and my body is still quiet

by Mario Cassany, inspired by Caravaggio's Baco

FEEL

Sometimes we just want to feel,

and reading can be our feeling.

In the most desperate moments,

when you feel lonely and sunk,

read,

forget everything,

recreate your own perfect mental scenes

and fill that great inside void.

By Andrea Rey, inspired by Daniel F. Gerhartz's painting

Let's Cook!

 Here you have some exercises to practise: 

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

CHINA

 Do you know about Qin Shi Huang?

Do these activities to find out 

Weather Vocabulary

 What's the weather like?

Do these exercises to get some practise: 

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4 

Exercise 5

Exercise 6

Exercise 7

Hangman

Comparatives and superlatives: 

Exercise 3

Exercise 5

World Records ( difficult)

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Would you like to have a Guinness World Record? Watch this video of the man with the most Guinness World Records and start thinking about which record you could beat.