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Job interview tips

There is a lot you can do before, during and afterwards to help things go well.

When you attend an interview you are going to be asked about your educational background, work experience, skills, personal qualities etc and it will be your chance to convince your potential employer that you are the perfect candidate he or she is looking for. So, it is important to be well prepared and learn different tips and strategies that will help you succeed and get the job.

Before the interview

1. Take time to find out information about the company. Why? Because, you may be asked questions specifically related to the company and it may be easier for you to answer them if you have that information in advance.
2. As you are going to talk about yourself, about your work career etc...prepare it previously so later, you can do it in detail and accurately.Talk freely but try to be precise and concise.
3. Review typical questions you are most likely to be asked and think carefully about the answers. If you can anticipate obvious questions you can plan your answers and you will feel and sound more confident.
4. Make a list of questions you want to ask at the interview. If you are nervous and you will be, you may forget about them.
5. Dress formally. Don't wear casual clothes.If you look smart and well groomed it will mean that you are taking the interview seriously.
6. Check day, time and where it is. It could be awful if you went on the wrong day!
7. Arrive in good time. Try to be five or ten minutes earlier than your appointment time.
8. Just before the interview, focus your attention on your breathing, long slow deep breath should help calm down your butterflies!

During the interview

1. Good impressions are important.When you come into the room, the first impression you are going to make on the interviewer can be decisive for the rest of the interview. So, introduce yourself, shake hands firmly, and be friendly and polite. A smile to start with, can relax you and everyone else.
2. Try to stay relaxed, it´s difficult because you want to do well and be chosen for the post but you should be able to control yourself.
3. Pay atention to your body language. Body language can give the interviewer a lot of information about you. Maintain eye contact with your interviewer, don't slouch and don't fidget with your hair or jewellery!
4. Always tell the truth and be honest.This is a golden rule.
5. Be positive about youself.You might feel as if you were selling yourself. Don't worry, you are!. Remember, "sell your assets not your defects"
6. Avoid saying "yes" or "no" answers. Give reasons for your answers but go straight to the point and don't beat about the bush!
7. If you have questions to ask, this is the right moment to do it. Show that you are interested in the job.
8. Thank the interviewer for seeing you before you leave

After the interview

Learn from the interview. Be positive and if you don't get the job, think what and how you can improve the next time.


What do you think?

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London attack

We can't go on with our lessons as nothing had happened. Today, we have to talk about this:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/qbic/24728728/

   The New York Times

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/06/03/world/europe/london-attacks-scene.html?smid=tw-nytimesworld&smtyp=cur&referer=https://t.co/PMMuXVq7Ou

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Finland Will Become the First Country in the World to Get Rid of All School Subjects



Finland’s education system is considered one of the best in the world. In international ratings, it’s always in the top ten. However, the authorities there aren’t ready to rest on their laurels, and they’ve decided to carry through a real revolution in their school system.

Finnish officials want to remove school subjects from the curriculum. There will no longer be any classes in physics, math, literature, history, or geography.

The head of the Department of Education in Helsinki, Marjo Kyllonen, explained the changes:
“There are schools that are teaching in the old-fashioned way which was of benefit in the beginning of the 1900s — but the needs are not the same, and we need something fit for the 21st century.“

Instead of individual subjects, students will study events and phenomena in an interdisciplinary format. For example, the Second World War will be examined from the perspective of history, geography, and math. And by taking the course ”Working in a Cafe," students will absorb a whole body of knowledge about the English language, economics, and communication skills.

This system will be introduced for senior students, beginning at the age of 16. The general idea is that the students ought to choose for themselves which topic or phenomenon they want to study, bearing in mind their ambitions for the future and their capabilities. In this way, no student will have to pass through an entire course on physics or chemistry while all the time thinking to themselves “What do I need to know this for?”

The traditional format of teacher-pupil communication is also going to change. Students will no longer sit behind school desks and wait anxiously to be called upon to answer a question. Instead, they will work together in small groups to discuss problems.

The Finnish education system encourages collective work, which is why the changes will also affect teachers. The school reform will require a great deal of cooperation between teachers of different subjects. Around 70% of teachers in Helsinki have already undertaken preparatory work in line with the new system for presenting information, and, as a result, they’ll get a pay increase.

The changes are expected to be complete by 2020.

What do you think about all these ideas? I’d love to hear your opinion, so let us know in the comments.

Taken from Bright side 

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Banksy street art

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/jan/24/banksy-uses-new-artwork-to-criticise-use-of-teargas-in-calais-refugee-camp

"A new artwork by Banksy criticising the use of teargas in the “Jungle” refugee camp in Calais has appeared on the French embassy in London. 

The artwork, which depicts a young girl from the film and musical Les Misérables with tears in her eyes as CS gas billows towards her, appeared overnight on Saturday. 

In a first for the elusive graffiti artist, the artwork is interactive and includes a stencilled QR code beneath. If viewers hold their phone over the code, it links them to an online video of a police raid on the camps on 5 January.

The work is the latest in a series of pieces by the graffiti artist criticising Europe’s handling of the ongoing refugee crisis. It is a direct comment on the recent attempts by French authorities to bulldoze part of the camp in Calais – which has now been deemed unsafe – and evict about 1,500 refugees..." 

                                                                                                                  From The Guardian



Now, answer the following questions:

1. What is art? What makes art, Art?
2. How do you know if a work of art is good?
3. Is Graffiti Art?
4. Who is your favourite artist? Why?


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Christmas around the world

How is Christmas celebrated around the world? How do you say "Happy Christmas " in different languages?
Choose a place and make a poster. We'll pin them up on the bilingual board! Be creative and original!

http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/holidays/photos/christmas-around-the-world

http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/

http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/languages.shtml

By the way,
            ¡¡Felices Navidades!!
         
          Happy Christmas!!!

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Christmas traditions around the world

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/topics/christmas/intermediate/christmas-traditions.html

How do people celebrate Christmas in different parts of the world?

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The "extraordinary English learner"

Read this post from RealLife  and tell us which of the following mistakes in the list you make and what you "promise" to do so as to become "an extraordinary English learner" :)


reallifeglobal.com/12-ways-to-be-a-mediocre-and-unsuccessful-english-learner

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No teachers, no school



An interesting experiment is taking place in Hedenderson, a town in Minneapolis.“New Country school” is about a different school with no teachers.
Students don´t take lessons and they just work in an environment which looks like an office rather than a school.All the students come together into a big room, they sit at desks and they spend most of the day in front of their personal computers working on interdisciplinary projects .
There is no bell to interrupt what they are doing and they feel free to move around whenever they want.
There no teachers in the traditional way but “advisers”,adults who are seen as guides to learning.

New Country Principles:

• No classes. Students work on projects they select themselves. Projects are tailored to fulfill state curriculum requirements.
• No teachers. Students consult with "advisers" who are available through the day to guide their work. Advisers do not "teach" in the traditional sense. They guide students' work.
• No hierarchy. The school is run like an agricultural cooperative. Advisers are owners, rather than employees. There is no principal.
• No bells, no firm schedule. Time is set aside for lunch and for quiet reading. Other than that, students choose how to spend their time. If they fall behind, advisers help them get back on track.
• No walls. Students work in an open environment and can confer with other students and advisers as needed. There's no central office.
• And no janitors. Students clean the bathrooms and the rest of the school themselves.

What do you think? Would you like to go to a school like this one? What do you think education will be like in the future? Can you imagine a school with no teachers?


Now, watch the clip and listen to the song! I´m sure you´ll like it.



We don't need no education
We dont need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall.

We don't need no education
We dont need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall. "Wrong, Do it again!"
"If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you
have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?"
"You! Yes, you behind the bikesheds, stand still laddy!"


 Information from  DigiZen:Un blogfesor aprendiendo

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Horoscopes

This is an activity I like doing in the first term since it allows me to get to know my students a bit better. Besides, I find it interesting to see what opinion they have about themselves, what they think they are like.
As far as I´m concerned I´m not only worried about their academic side but also about their emotional one and I believe that sometimes things would run smoother if we tried to "humanize" our classes. By asking our students for their opinions, emotions, preferences and making them feel that they can express themselves openly, we will be creating a good atmosphere where to work positively.

Thus, we will be doing our bit to optimize results and get better students :).

The activity:

- Give each student a copy of the sheet about horoscopes (see below)

- Ask them what their horoscopes are and read them aloud. Are they accurate? Discuss it with them.

- Then, individually tell them to choose those adjectives that best describe their character




All the adjectives in the horoscopes are chosen at random but students always agree with the description they give about their personality. In psychology, it is called the Barnun effect, the descriptions are so vague or general that everybody can be realistic, artistic, imaginative, sensitive...and people accept them because they find personal meaning in statements that in fact, can apply to anyone.

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Get that job

A very interesting site with lots of activities, quizzes and tips on things like how to find a job, write a good CV and cover letter or succeed at an interview.
You can go through it step by step, from "Job Search" to "Interviews" or you can go straight to the part you are most interested in.
Come on, have a look! It will be of great help to you.




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Learning languages


"Nowadays, learning languages is necessary for our lives. Every day, English is more and more used and spoken worldwide. 

In my opinion, English is essential for business. A lot of companies have employees from different countries, so English is the language used among them. In addition, a person who speaks different languages will have more advantages to find a job. Besides, there are many people who have to emigrate to get a job and they need to speak the foreign language fluently .
Moreover, English is important to communicate with people, when we travel abroad, we can speak in shops, hotels, restaurants…

In short, it is important to study languages. Learning a new language is fun. It doesn't have to be something stressful. It depends on your willpower and motivation".
                                                                                           
                                                                                     (By Patricia Del Pino)

What do you think?  Should everyone learn different foreign languages? Should we study them at school instead of subjects such as Religious Education, Music, Art, Physical Education...? What subjects should we study at school since we are children?

Image taken from Intef

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A worthy new year's resolution: find your truth


(By Natalie Kemp)

New Year’s resolutions so often fail because they are statements about altering behaviours in order to accomplish something. “I want to stop overeating and to lose twenty pounds,” or “I will to be more attentive to my spouse,” or “I will be a better parent,” are admirable goals, but they are commonly forgotten by February.

Why? That’s because resolving to achieve something ignores one central fact: You are the person who has been running your life while you gained weight or disregarded your spouse ... and since you are still the one in control, it’s unlikely you will be able to arrive at your intended destination without examining your self—the inner set of emotions and beliefs that define your self-concept and the way you experience and understand the world around you.

See, the real hurdles between you and anything you want isn’t just “stick-to-it-ness” or determination. It’s also about finding out the truth about why you have strived in the past and fallen short.

There are people who can’t lose weight because they don’t think they’re worthy of being fit or attractive.

There are people who can’t start a business because the family lore was about people who had tried to do it and failed.

There are people who can’t show enough love to their children because they have never admitted they weren’t loved well-enough themselves and want to avoid reproducing the past.

A single New Year’s resolution may be the silver bullet that changes your life forever: Resolve to find your personal truth.

Resolve to start admitting what you really feel about people in your life.

Resolve to start admitting what you really feel about yourself—even the negative things—so that you can identify the areas of strength you can build on, and others you genuinely need to change.

Resolve to start saying more about what you really believe—spiritually and politically and ethically and morally—because to the extent that you declare your truth, you start living with honesty and conviction. And an honest person with conviction, who admits that being 30 pounds overweight is a sign of complacency, is a person who truly is ready to get fit. And once she decides to change her life in accordance with the truth, her physical fitness will become contagious to every aspect of her being.

This journey toward one’s own truth won’t be easy, but it is the most important journey you can take in your life.

Take just one step in the direction of your personal truth and you may get hooked on the whole journey. It’s the silver bullet you have been looking for that can slay the dragons of indecision and self-defeatism you have been fighting all your life.

Adapted from Fox News


Answer the following questions according to the information in the text. Use your own words:

1. Why do New Year's resolutions often fail?

2. What should you do so as to change behaviours you don't like?

3. According to the article, What's the most important journey you can take in your life?


Fin in the text synonyms for the following words:

Firm decision
Considerate
Aim
Improbable
Opinion
Obstacle
Endeavor
Deserving
Tradition
Escape from
Feelings
Belief
Trip
Addicted
kill

Topic to discuss in class

New Year's Resolutions

Composition

It is important to get to know yourself in order to be happy and enjoy life. What do you think about it?

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The end of ETA

( By Natalie Kemp)

The Basque terrorist group ETA, which over 43 years has been responsible for 829 killings in Spain and France, announced on Thursday that it has decided to put an end to its violent struggle and called on the governments of both countries to initiate a dialogue that would lead to a peaceful political solution for a Basque independent state.

In a video statement published online by the pro-independence newspapers Gara and Berria, ETA said that it has taken "a clear, firm and definite commitment" to "end the armed confrontation."

The move comes just four days after an international peace conference held in San Sebastián, where the Basque nationalist parties and the region’s Socialist group were joined by six international mediators: former UN secretary general, Kofi Annan; former Irish premier, Bertie Ahern; Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams; Pierre Joxe of France, Gro Harlem Brundtland of Norway; and Jonathan Powell of Britain.

The Spanish central Government and the conservative opposition party, Partido Popular, refused to attend and practically ignored the conference, declaring that there will be no negotiation or concessions until the terrorist group has announced its dissolution and given up its arms for good.

Meanwhile the radical pro-independence groups who took part in the conference showed their satisfaction at the conclusions reached by the international negotiators. As well as calling for an end to the violence these recommend that Spain and France agree to talk to ETA as soon as it makes a definitive declaration of the “cessation of all armed action”.

Addressing the nation, Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero welcomed the announcement, but said that the victims and violence can never be forgotten.
"Ours will be a democracy without terrorism but never without memory," Zapatero said.

The ceasefire announcement is seen as a victory for Zapatero's outgoing Socialist government, which failed at behind-the-scenes negotiations with ETA after it called a ceasefire in 2006. Zapatero broke off the talks when ETA set off a bomb at Madrid's Barajas Airport killing two Ecuatorian nationals.
Since then, ETA has been dealt a series of blows by the governments of Spain and France, being four of its leaders arrested between 2008 and 2009.

Popular Party (PP) leader Mariano Rajoy called the announcement "good news" because it signifies that violence has disappeared from the lives of Spaniards.

It is a day to celebrate democracy's great victory," Rubalcaba said, calling on all the parties to unite and work together for peace in the Basque Country.
He also gave thanks to French President Nicolas Sarkozy for cooperating in the fight against terrorism.

Despite Rajoy's position, the initial PP reaction was not as positive. Ignacio Cosidó, the PP spokesman for interior affairs, said that the ETA announcement "wasn't worth anything" because the Basque terrorists have not said whether they will turn in their weapons.

In the Basque Country, Basque National Party leader Iñigo Urkullu said that the ETA ceasefire announcement was "the only news that we had been waiting for."
"At last we are going to be able to turn the page and wake up each morning without being frightened," he told reporters. Referring to the victims, he said: "The Basque Country has crushed violence. The Basque Country doesn't owe anything to ETA."



Answer the following questions using your own words:

1.What did the Basque terrorist group ETA announce on Thursday?
2. what does Zapatero mean when he says: "Ours will be a democracy without terrorism but never without memory" ?
3. Why did the Basque National Party leader say when he learnt about ETA announcement?

True or false? Justify your answers:

1. The Spanish central Government and the conservative opposition party attended the conference held in San Sebastián .
2. Negotiations with ETA got broken because four of its military leaders were arrested.
3. All the politicians have the same positive attitude towards ETA decision of abandoning its armed activity.

Composition

What's your opinion about ETA ceasefire announcement ?

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