1. THE BLOG
Enrique Reina Gutiérrez
297 words:
IB experience
What’s up buddies! Here your “buddiest” buddy to talk all of you about how excellent was this last year.
We all know that the end is coming… I mean… not death obviously, but the end of THE WORLD! Just kidding. The end of school is coming at an unstoppable pace.
Just realize it, you may not ever see again people who you love or you like to spend time with… however a new life it’s about to start: meet new people, college environment, freedom… Can’t wait to…or yes?
You all may be asking why I’m starting the post like this, well, we have just been asked in school to remember any moment (obviously a remarkable memory) while the English classes of IB, and that made me think about a lot things.
If I had to choose, it would be the moment when students from United States came here and showed us a lot about their culture and thoughts on different topics.
I usually think that days like that are just magical. Think about a world that is connected, that is multicultural and you are able to speak face to face with someone who lives at the other side of the globe just blows my mind.
And all of this is thanks to the IB learning program, from which I suspect less than nothing, it resulted in a great way not to only improve my English but to live and share moments like the one mentioned before.
That’s all what I wanted to say. Just want to say thank you all my readers for reading my daily mental-break outs. I just appreciate it a lot.
So this is all for today, remember stay tuned and wear the seatbelt unless you want to be some kind of rocket man.
Pilar Raposo
360 words
Speaking exams, my worst nightmare
From my point of view, during this two years, I have learned lot of grammar and idiomatic expressions, but no only English, also culture such as important problems of nowadays, as usually my teacher sent us homework which consist in read articles of different newspapers, write about a determined theme which is causing important ramifications in our society...
I am not going to lie, I am really bad at idioms, as I started learning English when I had 3 years, and sometimes I have errors which are very basic and make me feel like an idiot. Some of my class partners, have an excellent English level, so sometimes I ask for help to correct my mistakes, and in this way, I have learned a lot. Nevertheless, having an inferior English level than my partners, makes me to be insecure of myself and believe that I was not prepared to do the same exams that the rest.
On the other hand, during this two years I had to affront challenges. For example, in every evaluation we had to do one or two speaking. I am a person very nervous so have to speak English in a fluid way and the teacher examining me, it´s very difficult to me, so I think that I surpassed myself.
Maybe, you might think that I have surpassed it by doing three or four speaking, but it´s not. I am receiving an IB education since I was 13 years old, so make calculations of how many speaking I had to do. However, I continue putting very nervous in those situations, but I learned how to affront them. This means that doesn´t only help me to improve my English, also to mature myself.
In my opinion, I have to continue improving my English level, as nowadays, English is the most important language to learn, in all jobs demand you to have a good level of it, mostly if you work in a business. Also, to graduate at university, minimum you need to have a B1 level, so I encourage you to learn English and never give up.
Paula Hidalgo
IB EXPERIENCE
Hi everyone! Today’s post is about how IB programme has helped me to improve my English skills. Me, as a student, I need to say, IB English requires heavy workload! But it will have rewards!
All I can find in IB English are benefits! Researching skills. Vocab. Expressions. Idioms. Capacity to develop a theme. Look for reliable sources. Evaluate online sources. Ted talks.
The most important skill for me, was that it learnt to master my public speaking skills. We worked that in class continuously. We did debates about interesting topics. And, we had to prepare short monologues for our speaking exam. It is quite fun, just need to look for info and done! However, topics are really interesting and nowadays news.
Some of our classes in school or your participation in volunteer work may have involved giving presentations, and these can be the perfect opportunity to hone your abilities.
Another thing really important for the future is the skill of research. How many of us have trusted some webs that ended being bullshit? Who hasn’t been ridiculed in a presentation because of false statements?
To my experience, IB helps you with your English level, but also with your skills for the future. Current, because of globalisation, English is required for EVERYHING, we need to stand out to be the chosen one, and taking this advantage is really really useful.
I noticed this improvement, when I started watching TV series or films online. Like, two years ago, it was really hard for me to understand them. I needed to use the subtitles in my mother tongue (I had to read them very quickly and couldn’t see the film/serie properly). Currently, as time has passed, I can afford to see them without subtitles and understanding it. Such a difference! Now I can watch them properly!
There is a huge difference between two years ago and now (not only with series). Know I can enjoy watching my favourite films in original version, I mean, without strange voices or erroneous translation. I can enjoy them completely!
By this, I don’t think English is only useful to watch your favourite series or films, but it helps.
The major advantage of this, is the certificate you get when you finish. I mean it is a plus in your curriculum, not a lot of people have this.
Thanks for reading my blog, hope you realised the importance and advantages of this. If you have enjoyed or found useful, don’t forget to share! Leave your comments bellow!
Words: 422
2. THE GUIDELINES
Javier Basañez
Succeeding at employment interviews 101
This set of guidelines is aimed at all of my peers who are facing an employment interview so as to get a part-time job in an English-speaking country this summer. Even though these suggestions and warnings might seem overdone or finicky, keep in mind that this is not just nit-picking, as the advice I will provide can and is bound to give you an edge over other applicants who are unaware of this guidance. The following recommendations will mainly focus on language, both oral and gestural, the attitude when approaching the employer, and, to a lesser extent, your appearance.
· Let’s start with your language. Keep a semi-formal to formal language: you want to be neither too informal (it’s likely to leave a poor impression), nor too formal (so that you don’t sound like a nerd and dazzle the employer with your unparalleled vocabulary). Idioms are acceptable as long as you don’t abuse them.
· Keep the peace of the interview relatively swift. Your objective should be to tell as many positive traits about yourself in a short period of time, so concision is a must. Moreover, it’s only natural to speak with fluidity.
· Sit down properly. This goes without saying that your feet shouldn’t be placed above your knees at any moment, and that your legs should form a 90º angle.
· Keep your back straight, except when you are trying to convey something relevant about you. Then, it’s better to lean forwards to give a more personal tone and show proactivity.
· Never, and I underscore the word never, should you interrupt the employer. Even if they give you the perfect opportunity to make a point or show off, just be patient.
· Use body language to support your speech, but don’t let it be so abrupt that it distracts the employer from what you are saying. Your words should be the message.
· If you feel as if it would be of aid, write a script or a diagram when preparing for the interview.
· Finally, dress formally. If you are a man, it’s befitting to wear a suit, and if you are a woman, wear something comfortable and pretty (a shirt and a long skirt will probably do the trick, but a dress works just as well). Keep it lavish.
Once again, I assure that if you follow these not-too arduous steps, your chances to leave a good impression on the employer and winding up as an employee this summer will increase prominently. These kinds of mannerisms set triumphant employees and rejected applicants apart, so you needn’t patronise the lead they could grant you.
Guidelines for Job interviews.
As you enter the room, say a simple hi and shake hands for about 10 seconds. This will give a good first impression to the interviewer, as he will know you are formal and serious. Even if he tries to stop the handshake, you must reach the ten seconds, even if it seems forced, it is a basic element of a job interview.
Do not maintain direct eye contact with the interviewer.
Try to have good breath. Halls or mint sweets are key in order to give the interviewer a good impression.
Bring with you a meatball sandwich. People who are fed correctly have a higher probability of being accepted in a job interview.
Be self-confident, do not be scared about the fact that you are on an actual interview.
Lie as much as you can. A good lie is the base of a good job interview.
Do not leave the interviewer talk. He is going to try to put you nervous, so try to cover everything as fast as possible, so he cannot ask many things.
Demonstrate you have a wide range of languages to use by alternating between the different languages you dominate.
Sit down with your glutes on the chair border as if you were going to fall. This will make the interviewer think that you are an intelligent person who likes to live on the limit and who is ready to make any movement at any time.
Write your name on a sticker and place it on your jacket, so the interviewer never forgets your name. Your name is an important part of the interview as you are the centre oconversation.
Act as you really are. Artificial be spontaneous. If you are egocentric and cocky, the interviewer will think you are the best person for the job and everyone will love you.
Make sure you don’t sweat too much. Being fresh and clean gives a better image and makes the interviewer think you are awesome.
Carlos Pita.
In the days that we live, you don’t have the luxury to make a mistake. Every detail is crucial, from your way of dressing to the attitude towards the employer. The following guidelines will ensure your success in these situations.
Attend to the meeting at time.Punctuality might seem a pointless aspect for you, but many employers are obsessed with reaching at time to work. Missing your interview would give the boss an awful impression from you. Being late transmits impertinence and disrespect
First impression. Imagine that you go to a coffee shop and the waiter smells like a dog, has dirty hands and doesn’t seem to have cleaned his deez nuts for years. Even though you haven’t tasted it,you wouldn't like the coffee, would you? Try to impress the employer with a nice appearance, looking fresh and rested.
Self confidence. You must convince yourself that you’re gonna get the job. Negative feelings and doubts might make you tremble and mumble while being interviewed and the employer would think you aren’t skilful when speaking in public
Smile. No one likes a depressed employee. Smiling transmits good vibes to the one that surrounds you and gives yourself a feeling of confidence and motivation to afford the challenge.
Be honest You aren't going to lie anyone but yourself. Showing a fake you or making up opinions from previous bosses would decrease your level of honesty, professionalism and it will mean that honest workers would lose their job because your lies.
You can do it! You are suitable enough for the job so go there and get it!. It is a great opportunity to expand your horizons, learn new skills and make some money..
The key concept is to imagine you’re the boss. What would you want your employees to be like? Be that employee in the interview and you’ll get the job. Good luck!
3. THE ARTICLE
How you can make sure your children are aware of health education
By Julia López
Nowadays, health education is promoted by most of countries, as it contributes to building a healthier society, and therefore increase the lifespan, resulting into a welfare society. It has gotten more and more popular over the past few years, and it seems to be taking effect.
After interviewing Gabriel Celaya, a Community Health Officer, we know that families play an essential role in educating children in health. “This educational process needs to start when children are very young. This way, they’ll think of it as something natural when they grow up,” claims Celaya.
Making them brush their teeth after every meal is an example of health education. The mouth is one of the places in our body that contains the greatest amount of bacteria, so gum infections and teeth damage are common issues amongst people. However, if a person is taught to brush their teeth regularly, it is very unlikely they’ll have problems. “Showing them cartoon documentaries for kids is an effective way of convincing them when they are little”, says Celaya. “Whichever way families decide to use, they need to make sure they see what happens to an unclean mouth. They’ll become aware of it and won’t want that for themselves, so they will start doing it.”
Nonetheless, when they start attending school their attitude might change if they don’t continue to see these values in their friends and teachers. “The three most important references for a person are their family, their friends and school. We can’t control what their friends do, but we can make sure they go to the school that teaches them the values we want them to acquire.”
Washing our hands, covering our mouth when we cough or sneeze… These are ways of avoiding getting infections or passing them onto the people around us. Apart from teaching these attitudes within the family circle, students ought to see this in school; they will even start telling their friends to do it.
Not only that, but also students need to restrain themselves from sharing certain stuff. It is very common amongst girls to share their hairbrushes or, even their razors, boys included. “The usage of personal items such as hairbrushes, toothbrushes and razors should be, like their name suggests, personal”, ads Celaya. “It is better to keep them for ourselves to avoid infections.”
Even though there has been a decrease in infections such as lice and colds amongst Spanish children between 4 and 16 years old, we still need to keep contributing to raise awareness of hygienic attitudes and contribute to a healthier society.
Is your kid informed in health education?
By Elena Márquez
Recently, the school proposed to interview The Community Health Officer, and I personally offered to do such interview. We talked about many different things, however our main topic to cover, was to explain the different ways in which schools and families can contribute making students better informed about health education, the community used to highlight some very interesting points which all envelop principally the student attitude due to this information.
Firstly, workers of the Community Health Office stand out, the importance of the school’s role, which is essential in order to develop interest in the student attitude. They point out some activities to do with the students. On the one hand they tell us about bringing some health experts, to the school to impart interesting speeches on new things of health education. The idea sounds great, however it’s a hard project to develop, to bring each month a new person to talk about health education, isn’t easy, even so the science department is working hard to establish a nice calendar with different speeches!
On the other hand they commented about a really enthusiastic activity between the teacher and the students, which consists in each week one student does a research in health education, then they can do a poster to show what she or he learned and finally put the poster on the wall, so every time they’ve a doubt on some important diseases, they can just look at their wall!
Secondly, the family’s encouragement is also essential, points Hannah Baker. They all highlight, the importance of parents, describing it as an ‘essential additional bonus favourable for all students’. The activity they proposed consists in having weekly conversations with their kids on health education, whether on something that comes up in the news or about what they have learned in class, so through these conversations, students show what they learned and they feel that their knowledge is useful!
To sum up, school and family are both essential to make students better informed in health education, they won’t work correctly independently in this especial topic. However we need to keep up health education, because it is very important in our society!
Healthy patterns in childhood and adolescence promote optimal development
By Cristian García
Recently, we have all become concerned that taking care of our health, our body, and our well-being is such an important issue to consider, as being a way to improve our daily life and develop a better fitness.
Over the course of the last 10 years, ways in which schools and families could participle in making students better informed about health education have being increased considerable, according to Julia Pérez del Moral, a Community health officer. “Without a shadow of a doubt, healthy patterns in childhood could lead to optimal children health, growth and intellectual development” pointed out Julia, standing out that a good prevention is the best solution.
Health problems such as iron deficiency anemia, obesity, eating disorders, and dental caries has being declined 26% in Spanish cities and this could be reduced more if schools and families could contribute in the issue. “Food classification by distinguishing healthy and not-healthy diets is essential for a correct development of our child, where our children need to be concerned about reducing trans fats and trying vegetables such as spinaches!”
The Community Health officer highlighted that children need to do sport to develop their mental, physical and psychological conditions and it’s a job from the school and parents to promote it, as well as offering to the children different kinds of sports so that they could chose the one they are the happiest, enabling them to produce even dopamine.
“School health programs can help children attain full educational potential and good health by providing the skills, social support and environmental reinforcement.” Shared with us the expert, as well as being opposed to parents that think that it is all work of the school.
Some people refuse to accept that education is the key of the argument but we should act whether are they going to learn alone? According to scientific studies, 67% children without the ability of good education finish smoking while only 23% of children having had good education does it.
So, we must concern our children that smoking, drinking alcohol, eating trans fat and don’t doing sport is something dangerous for our bodies and let’s face it, do you want to life less than your friends?
4. THE EMAIL TO A FRIEND
Leisure
PLAN:
1.
Introduction of the party.
2.
Description of the game.
3.
Motivation for the creation of the game.
4.
Children experience.
5.
Other children’s party and new expectations.
Hello Ignacio,
It’s great having news from
you. Yesterday was the party I have told you we were going to do. Everything
went fabulous, all the children had fun and there weren’t any problem. The
celebration was beneficent and all the money has been given to a charity which
takes care of little children in Africa. We also included a little snack for 2
euros with cakes and shakes, everyone said it was delicious.
Firstly, I will explain you
how the game went. It is called the tissue and the monitors divided the
children in two groups. Each team stayed in one side of the match and every
child had a number. The adult in the middle was holding a tissue and he shouted
a number in a concrete moment. Then, one kid of each group had this number and
he started running to the middle to get the tissue. The first one who get it
and run back to his side is the winner. The one who doesn’t get the tissue or
if you are catch you are eliminated. Finally, the finalist will win a little
price.
It’s incredible, I learned
this game when I went to Spain for Erasmus and a group of Spanish teenagers
told me how to play. I think this game is perfect for children because you are
motivated, competitive and it is a team game where you are supported by your
teammates.
In conclusion, everyone was
very happy and enjoyed the game, even one of the boys told us if we were going
to repeat the party. Also, the parents were very satisfied because we take care
of their children during all the morning and the money gained has a good
purpose.
I hope you joins us in the
next party, it will be great.
Kisses Paula.
Subject: Me as a child
entertainer.
Hi Javier!
It has been long since we
last contacted each other and I miss you! How is your family doing? Is your dog
Kaiser healthier now? I remember it had an illness so I hope it is coping
better with it now.
Do you imagine me being an
entertainer? Neither do I, but my cousin’s birthday was last week and,
surprisingly, I was the party organizer. Well, in fact, I just had to organize
some kind of game for my cousin Rafael and his friends. I didn’t know my cousin
was so popular but, actually, it went on quite well.
The party was in my uncle’s
countryside, so I could take advantage of the big space there was for the game
so I chose to organize a gymkhana with certain clues so they competed among
themselves. As most of them were boys, it was based on sports, mainly on
football.
I told them to get into
groups of 5 and told them that there was a good prize for the winners. They
started asking and I told them the prize: candies for everyone who finished the
gymkhana and a 10€ voucher for a sports’ shop down in town for each of the
members in the winner group (remember what we used to do for 10€ when we were
children).
The game included phases
that consisted on running across the countryside, crossing mud, getting into
water to get clues, popping water balloons which included information inside…
The one they liked the most was the one with the ball: they had to pass it to
each other without it touching the floor and score it in a bucket, film it so I
could watch it and post it on Instagram.
Everything was going
alright, until the catastrophe came. A child fell down when trying to climb a
tree that had a clue. I thought all the mothers where going to start yelling at
me and so, but instead, he started laughing and nothing happened; he was ok.
All in all, I quite enjoyed
the experience as I had some fun and learned how to cope with children and
control them. You should also give it a try so, if you follow my advice, email
me back and we’ll have a chat about it.
Email me back whenever you
read this and let’s see if we meet.
See you,
Your friend Jaime.
-
Where: countryside, lot of children,
-
Game: gymkhana (clues) groups of 5
-
Phases: across the countryside, mud, water, water
balloons with clue inside, a child injured.
-
Prize: candies (everyone) + 10€ voucher
-
Experience: really good, fun, learned how to cope with
children and control them. + money.
5. THE SPEECH
Beatriz Pérez Peláez
Nowadays,
the overuse of electronic devices amongst teenagers is becoming an increasing
concern in our society. Astonishingly, around 85% of European teenagers between
13 and 18 years old spend at least four hours on their mobile phones per day,
and this is just as leisure time, imagine up to how many hours we would reach
including worktime. How is this possible?
Well, it
is a clear fact that technology has become an essential part of our daily schedules,
especially, their usage for communication. Mobile phones seem to have developed
to be an extra limb. Thanks to social media, these devices have become the
kings of our world.
I, as an
18 year old, am constantly surrounded by electronic devices; my phone,
computer, tablet… Mostly everyone here will agree on the fact that their phone
is inside their pockets right now, and as soon as the teacher standing near
takes their eyes off them, they’ll check if there’s a new message in their
inbox. Hopefully, there will be, at least, one.
We’re
constantly communicating with our friends, even when we’re at home and they’re
at some other place, but what about personal interaction? I have seen people
turn into friends without ever having physical interaction, they’ve learned
about each other thanks to the stuff they sent on Whatsapp.
It’s
also quite common knowing someone in person, though not really well, and start
messaging each other, talking daily and all that stuff people do, but when eye
to eye contact happens, you’ll only hear a shy “Hello”. It has happened to you,
huh?
But even
when we’re hanging out with our friends or family, we still seek our phone in
our pocket, which is probably because we are in need of the feeling of
sociability, of having lots and lots of friends.
I am no
case of exception when I talk about people using their phones constantly, yet I
think that we should, at least, attempt to avoid using our electronic devices
so much, and spend more time enjoying our friends and family’s company,
because, you know, your phone will always be around, and if it stops working,
you can always find and brand new one to fill it with thousands of pictures,
applications and whatever things you have on your phone.
Thank
you.
Javier Ayala de Miguel
Last
night, I had a dream. I was in this same room and instead of talking to you as
I am talking right now, I was giving the speech through my mobile phone, and
you were listening to me through electronic devices and making use of your
headphones. I am relieved that it was only a dream, or maybe a nightmare.
However, I still don’t have all the eggs in the basket because that could be
our society in the years to come. Are we giving up on our personal
interactions? Are electronic devices synonyms of lack of communication? The
answer to that question, as we all know, is yes.
I know
it sounds cliché but we need to do something. We are being dominated little by
little by social media and their long tentacles which trap us in a dark prison
of isolation. The worst thing about this problem is that we aren’t aware that
is happening because we are living in a lie. For instance, right now most of
the guys that are with their phones in the back of the room talking to their
girlfriend, parents…, because they are too bored of this monotonous talk think
they are maintaining a strong conversation and relationship with them. Yet,
nothing could be further from the truth.
I admit
it. Technology is very helpful in our society, even essential as everything now
runs with a software incorporated. But that is the key of the today's
statement. Personal interactions do not have a software, nor cables that can be
fixed. Of course, you can pretend that by talking with your mum through the
phone you are having a strong connection with her, but I bet you anything that
it doesn’t come close to the experience of talking face to face with her.
We can’t
cross the line. As 80% of teenagers are failing to have a relationship with
someone for more than a year because of problems with social media, we have to
watch ourselves. We are linked to technology forever, I know that, but remember
than a person isn’t just a name in your contact list. We have to be able to
differentiate between being able to talk with anyone in the word at any time
from just talking to anyone in the world at any time.
Now,
follow my orders, put your phones in your pocket and start a conversation with
the person next to you. You will find that they are a lot more than it shows in
their twitter account.
Reyes Becerra Pérez
Today, I
am here to discuss the widely spread idea that teenagers spend way too much
time with electronic devices and forget about personal interaction. In my
opinion, it is an idea which depicts teenagers as the ones who get more
affected by social media and technological devices, when we are in fact the
ones who are more aware about the damages and disadvantages of it.
To start
with, it is not actually the truth. While it is true that we are the generation
that spends the most time on technological devices, we are also the ones who
make the most of our leisure time. This means that whenever we have free time
we try to spend it with friends, doing sports or other activities that include
social interaction. The idea that we are a generation of lazy people who lay
around on the sofa watching TV series and going on Twitter for hours is just a
generalisation.
Secondly,
the majority of times we find ourselves involved with technology is either to
do something productive (such as look for information or news) or to get connected
with friends and family. We are even able to meet new people with similar
interests and passions. This means that, even if it does not mean physical
interaction in the first place, it is totally a new way of communicating. I
mean, who is going to deny the benefits of technology? I think we can all agree
that young people like us find in technology a way of keeping in touch with
your loved ones, so that physical interaction is afterwards easier and not that
awkward, without giving it less importance than to interaction by technology.
Also, it
is becoming more and more common to find articles and news that raise awareness
about the possible downsides of technology. Other than the inconveniences for
physical interaction, it is also known about the medical damage it can cause to
the human body to use technology for extended periods of time. Even we tell our
friends to stop looking at their phones so much when we hang out. So, who is
not already aware of the fact that we should not spend too much time using technology
devices? Certainly, young people are.
