John Lund, english teacher

Dear Reader,

I often have my classes do an exam-type writing together on the board.  These days, with the new computers and projectors that we have in our classes, I do the typing while the class tells me what to write.  I think it is quite a useful process as everyone throws in their ideas about what to write and the class selects the best of them.  By the time we have finished, the class has usually learnt something about planning and constructing a particular type of writing.  The one below is a Cambridge Advanced Exam writing task that my Eso4 class wrote.  I include the question below so the reader can understand the context of the writing. 

CAE Question

“You would like to start a monthly magazine in English for students at the college where you are studying.  You have decided to send a proposal to the college Principal asking for permission and financial support.

-         why you want to start the magazine

-         what the first issue would include

-         what support and financial help you need from the college

Write your proposal.”

A Proposal for a Monthly Magazine in

English for Our College

In response to general sentiment, I am writing this proposal in order to suggest the creation of a monthly magazine for students with the purpose of improving the level of English in our college.

            Starting the magazine would be a good idea, firstly, because it would allow the improvement of English skills in both readers and writers.  Secondly, it would keep students informed of college news and make English a more concrete part of their daily lives. Finally, contributing to the production of the magazine would also help students to develop a sense of responsibility. 

            Regarding the magazine’s contents, there are numerous options we could consider for the first issue.   College news and sports events could be covered as a regular part of the magazine.  Apart from this, articles dealing with student issues and advice for new students, written by their peers, would be a good addition to the magazine’s contents. Secondary contents could include: interviews with college staff; competitions, e.g. poetry in English; and crosswords written using vocabulary from English classes.

            Obviously this magazine cannot be produced without help and financial support from the college.  We would need to buy a laptop, publishing software and a digital camera as basic equipment. Help from teachers to proof-read and correct the articles and time out from classes would also be needed.

            With your permission and help, we would be able to produce the above-detailed magazine, which could prove to be a valuable asset for the college.

Andrea Navarro, 2º ESO E

El viernes 21 de Mayo, en clase inglés de la profesora Ana, los alumnos de 2º ESO E tuvimos que representar una escena del libro ABOMINATION, cuyo autor es Robert Swindells y que leímos entre la segunda y la tercera evaluación.

Nos dividimos en cinco grupos de tres  o cuatro personas y representamos la escena que cada grupo eligió.

Para hacerlo mejor, cada persona se ponía una prenda de ropa o algún complemento característico del personaje que les tocaba representar;  así, las enfermeras se ponían una bata o utilizaban tiritas y la cajera del supermercado una peluca o unas gafas, por ejemplo, y algunos ¡hasta trajimos comida para hacer que estábamos de verdad en el supermercado!

Fue una clase muy amena y divertida y todos nos lo pasamos muy bien.

A group of students from 1st of ESO of our school have prepared tour wonderful ‘Theatre Sketches’ to delight the rest of our groups which have just finished 2º evaluation exams.

Click here to read more »

Paloma Petit de Prado, 2º ESO E.

This book tells us the story of a girl called Martha. She is dominated by her parents´ rules, imposed by the religious sect of the Righteous.

Click here to read more »

By Michael Harvey, Head of Languages (Secondary)

Teachers often ask themselves how they should teach, motivate students, explain concepts and keep discipline. Possibly less often, yet more interestingly, they think about how people learn their subject. Click here to read more »