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DOCUMENTARY. BBC Panorama Britain's Homeless Families

The number of people made homeless by private landlords has tripled in the last five years. It's now the single biggest cause of homelessness in England. Reporter Richard Bilton meets the homeless families forced out by private landlords and asks whether the government's increasing reliance on the private rental sector is placing the vulnerable at risk (2014).

9z

A REVIEW

Love smells like a coffee

"El amor huele a café" is the first novel wrote by Spanish journalist Nieves Garcia Bautista. It is a romantic story, set in modern-day Spain, which has achieved to be the second best-selling novel in print and digital format, Kindle e-book.

In this book the characters are interconnected with each other. However, it is not pretty clear until late story. All start in the coffee shop called “El Confidente de Melisa” where the main characters usually go and exchange their experiences and they are also condicioned by the predictions of the gypsy, who is always standing up near the door. Therefore, it will be in this café where most of the story will unfold.

The great strength of this book is the character of Joaquín who despite having recently lost his wife and his son, he does not lose the will to live and fight for his family, his daughter and his grandson, either for falling in love again in his old age.

Not only is “El amor huele a café” an easy-going and entertaining romantic novel, but it is also hauting. Its success is due to its simple and common plot to hope for happiness.

ARTICLE

QUIETNESS IN THE BEACH

Surely, you must know and had been in marvellous beaches along the Mediterranean coast. However, I have a special inclination towards Sant Pere Pescador for different reasons that I tell in detail below.

First of all, I think that Sant Pere Pescador is the best place where you would spend your hours of leisure peacefully. Nevertheless, this does not mean that this is a boring and isolated village. Quite the opposite! This village offers a vast and varied number of activities focused on both the tourist and the villager such as music festivals in July and August or walking and cycling routes.

Secondly, because Sant Pere Pescador is located in the Rosas Bay, an unmatched natural area. It is surrounded by the wetlands of the L’Empordà and boarded by the Fluvià River. Therefore, the exceptional scenery invite you to see and enjoy it placidly, especially at dawn when the sun rices, some species of birds fly overhead and there has an unmistakable aroma from the vegetation.

Thirdly, and the most important and interesting point, for its beach which is nearly a seven kilometre in extent. It is characterized by the softly sand and the limpid water, besides, to be reference in aquatic sports and hold the Spanish National Championship Kitesurfing and the World Championship Windsurfing.

Finally, I personally believe that Sant Pere Pescador is by far the nicest of all the small villages I visited, so I suggest you coming to discover the amazing countryside and do sports. Do not hesitate! There has too much to see and to live! 

COVER LETTER

Dear Sir/ Madam,

I am writing to express my interest in the position of Teacher I have seen advertised in Indeed, on 27 January 2015.

I am a Catalan and Spanish teacher. I have extensive experience and knowlege in Elementary and Secundary Education, teaching in both traditional and alternative environments. Moreover, I have been working with small groups and one-to-one tuition. In addition, I hold the Qualified Teachers of Spanish, ELE Teacher, by “Instituto Cervantes” which enable me to teach foreigners.

My background includes teaching elementary Catalan and Spanish lessons for foreign adult students in academies and associations like “Tornasol” or “FL Academia” in Palma. In my last two positions I not only tought students but also designed programs focused especially on speaking and interactive activities to make easier the process of adaptation to immigrants students and students at risk of social exclusion.

Throughout my career I have been recognized for improving student’s performance and working with a will. I am a cheerful, enthusiastic and open-minded person who loves to create an excellent atmosphere within my colleges and pupils by means of great communicative skills.

Considering the previous information, I am confident that I have the knowledge, educational background and enthusiasm to become a successful teacher within your school. Therefore, I hope you take my petition into account and I remain at your disposal for any further information that you consider appropriate in a personal interview.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours faithfully,

Llúcia Climent

Llúcia Climent

AN INFORMAL LETTER

Dear Robin, 

I'm glad I'll see you soon!! I'm thinking of going to Canada for a few days before the sports camp and spend them with you visiting your city and going out at night.

As far as the sports camp is concerned, I'm sure it would be an exellent idea to go there, meet your friends and enjoy the countryside. Personally, I prefer to sleep in a tent. I think it would be a fantastic experience rather than staying in room, wouldn't it? Although it won't be as comfortable, we'll buy our stay for a song!! And we'll also feel more free. If you want, we can cook together in the evenings and I'll prepare special meals for us. So, I'm going to search for some recipes!! I'll accept any suggestions!!

I'm surfing the Net and checking several options to buy my tickets. But I need to decide for the best!! I cannot pay an arm and a leg for them!! So, I'll write to you as soon I've bought my e-ticket!!

I'll keep in touch!!

Warm regards,

   Carmen

TRAILER. Nights of Cabiria (1957)

ARTICLE

A classic in the top 100

Do you know what your favourite film of all time is? In my case, there is no doubt what my favourite film is. Personally, I consider "Le Notti di Cabiria" as the best film I have ever seen.

First of all, I think this film should be in the top 100 film list owing to have an exellent plot and, in addiction, a good staging of the main character, Cabiria. Cabiria (Giulietta Masina) is an enthusiastic and hopeful street prostitute. Even though her fiancé had been cheating on her, she is still waiting for a faithful love.

Secondly, because I think that Fellini is a well-known director besides being a good scriptwriter. Their stories show the rutine and the social status by means of their characters. On the one hand, he provides some of them with negative qualities to reflect corruption and materialism. On the other hand, he presents opposite characteristics in characters who are tender and naive.

Thirdly, because I consider "Le Notti di Cabiria" as a work art. This film had a warm welcome around the world and it had been awarded by the hugest and prestigious international film festivals such as Cannes or Academy Awards.

Finally, despite the fact that we have the opportunity to watch several new movies, I think that we should give more importance to classicals in order to increase our cinematographic references and enjoy with them.

Giulietta Masina

5z

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THE MUSIC CORNER

Jewel- Hands (1998)

Jewel- Hands (1998)

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we're all OK
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear.

My hands are small, I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken.

Poverty stole your golden shoes
It didn't steal your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasn't ever after.

We'll fight, not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
'Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There ours shall go singing.

My hands are small, I know…

In the end only kindness matters
In the end only kindness matters.

I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray.

My hands are small, I know… (x2)

We are never broken
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's mind
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's heart
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's eyes
We are God's hands
We are God's hands

VERBS. MAKE OR DO

VERBS
MAKE (to create/produce sth)	DO (to perform activity/job)
make a change make a choise make a decision make a mistake make a noise make a phone call make a plan make a progress make a promise make an arrangement make an effort make an excuse make an impression make friends make money make the bed	do (a) sport do (an) exercise do a course do a favour do a job do business do homework do housework do the cleaning do the shopping do work

PREPOSITIONS. AT, IN, ON

PREPOSITIONS
AT	IN	ON
at my house at my school at the airport at the beach at the camp at the concert at the festival at the hotel at the party at the seaside at the theatre at the university	in a car in the city in the country in the countryside in the hotel in the mountains in the sea in the sky in the street in the town in the world in this area in traffic jams	on a/the farm on a/the train on the beach on the bus on the floor on the island on the outskirts on the phone on the road(s) on the stage

time expressions: at/ it/ on

1. AT

w points of time (e.g. at six o’clock)

w mealtimes (e.g. at breakfast)

w weekend, Christmas, Easter

w nights in general

NOTE: ON the weekend (AmE)

2. IN

w periods of time (e.g. in December)

w parts of the day (e.g. in the afternoon)

w period of time before sth happens/ how long sth takes

3. ON

w for a particular dates (e.g. on April 18^th)

express location: at/ it/ on

4. AT

w place as a point (e.g. at work)

w event with a number of people (e.g. at the concert)

w for addresses (e.g. at 21 Wall Street)

5. IN

w place as an area or space (e.g. in Leon)

w for cars/taxis (e.g. in the car)

w with IN CLASS, IN HOSPITAL, IN PRISION, IN COURT

w forming lines (e.g. in the ticket queue)

w the world

6. ON

w position in contact with a surface (e.g. on the beach)

w with COAST, ROAD TO, THE OUTSKIRTS OF, THE EDGE OF, BORDER, THE WAY TO/FROM,…

   (e.g. on the way to Madrid)

w means of transport (no taxis/car)

w for technology (e.g. on the phone)

w with left/right (e.g. on your right)

w with PREMISES, FARM, FLOOR, ISLAND, LIST (e.g. on my list)

INTERVIEW. CNN Twins go on different diets and the get surprising results

A set of twins try out different diets and they get surprising results. CNN's Michaela Pereira has more. 

PHRASAL VERBS

clear up                     = make a place tidy by moving things from it or putting them where they
                                     should be

do up                         = repair or decorate a building so that it looks attractive

get on with                = continue doing sth, especially work

go on                         = continue

pick up                      = collect (or go and get)

wear out                   = make sb extremely tired                   

HORROR FILM. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS?

Horror comedy mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows is written and directed by - and also stars- Flight of the Conchord's Jeraime Clement and his long-time collaborator Taika Waititi. The film, which had its premiere at Sundance in 2014, is about the growing pains of a group of vampires who live together in a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand. (The Guardian)

Ÿ Every few years a secret society in New Zeland gathers for a special event: THE UNHOLY MASQUERADE. 

Ÿ In the moths leading up to the ball, a documentary crew was granted full access to a small group of this society. 

Ÿ Each crew member wore a crucifix and was granted protection by the subjects of the film.

ACTIVITY:
1) Viago is a lonely vampire. F
2) Last night Deason turned into an animal. T
3) Viago thinks that Peter should sweep up the floor. T
4) Peter is 100 years old. F
5) Viago considers that the group is not pulling their weight into the flat. T
6) Deason is a well-behave vampire. F

ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS. COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE

PAST: PERFECT SIMPLE AND PERFECT CONTINUOUS

PAST
PERFECT SIMPLE	PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Ÿ to talk about actions happened before sth which is described in the past simple ex. When he got to the party, people had already left.	Ÿ talking about sth which happened before sth and it is described in the past simple. Focuses on the length of time ex.  I needed a break because I’d been working for four hours straight.
Ÿ also with typically time expressions (as when, as soon as, after, before…) ex. He bought the car before he had got the driving licence.	Ÿ also to say how long sth happened up to a point in the past ex. She’d been playing for Milan for only two games when she scored her first goal.
Ÿ often with adverbs: already, just, never ex. I had never sailed the seas until I came to Sardinia.

PAST: SIMPLE, CONTINUOUS AND USED TO

PAST
SIMPLE	CONTINUOUS	USED TO
Ÿ to talk about actions or events in the past ex. He came to London last year.	Ÿ to talk about an activity started before and continued until an event in the past ex. He was walking and phoning Maria when he bumped into a tree.        (the activity of phoning and walking was interrupted by the problem with the tree)	Ÿ to talk about situations or states in the past (not now) ex. Helen used to belong to the chess club.
Ÿ also actions or events happened one after another ex. He saw the London Bridge and then he bought tickets to saw the tennis tournament in Wimbledon.	Ÿ also activity started before and continued after an event in the past ex. I was spending my free time with Anna when Muriel was elected president of the club.      (I continued to spend my free time afterwards)	Ÿ also about repeated activities or habits in the past (not now) ex. When I was a teenager I used to go to the swimming-pool with my friends every afternoon.     Did you use to compete in swimming?
Ÿ things which happened for a long time in the past ex. They worked in Sevilla for five years from 1998 to 2013.		NOTE: Ÿ about habits in the present we use present simple + adverb ex. I usually drink coffee instead of milk.

QUOTES

‘The last monk leaves the garden; days decrease, 
And autumn grows, autumn in everything’. 

Robert Browning

WE ARE ON THE TRAIN

EXPRESSIONS AND PHRASAL VERBS. BEHAVIOR

get hold of                  = obtain sth

have ago                    = try to do sth

keep a promise          = do what you said you would do

make up                     = say or write sth which is not true

not have a clue          = be complety unable to guess, understand, or deal with sth

sum up                       = describe the important facts or characteristics about sb or sth

take risks                    = do sth even though something bad might happen because of it

take up                       = start doing a particular activity or job

PRESENT: PERFECT SIMPLE AND PERFECT CONTINUOUS

PRESENT
PERFECT SIMPLE	PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Ÿ completion (how much of an activity is complete) ex. Have you finished your essays?	Ÿ continuation (how long the activity has been in progress) ex. I’ve been cooking all afternoon.      Marcos has been thinking about Nora all day.
Ÿ change or result ex. I’ve phoned my sister and she’s coming to my parents’ house.	Ÿ repetition ex. I’ve been phoning my friends.      Joseph and I have been seeing a lot of each other lately.
Ÿ very long or permanent states (may be accompanied by a time expession) ex. Vanessa has always lived in Japan.	Ÿ temporary (may be accompanied by a time expression) ex. You’ve been putting on diet during Christmas. Congrats!
Ÿ how many times (an action has been repeated) ex. Robert has sent his CV to IDC Company two or three times.	Ÿ process of change over a period of time (these changes are not finished) ex. I’ve been improving my skills since my boss started teaching me how the new programme works.

PRESENT: SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS

PRESENT
SIMPLE	CONTINUOUS
Ÿ describes permanent or regular situations ex. Fiona lives in Philadelphia.      They go to the beach every weekend.	Ÿ describes temporary situations or in progress ex. She’s watching the Doctors’ series.      I’m changing all my summer clothes and putting them in a loft.
Ÿ also describes states or actions a)      thoughts (know, remember, think (=believe), feel (=believe)),… b)      feelings       (love, like, hate, want, prefer,…) c)      senses       (smell, hear, taste, see, feel, touch,..) d)     possession (have, belong, own,…) e)      verb to be	Ÿ sometimes verbs think and feel appear in continues tense a)      think (=plan sth, solve problem, make a decision) b)      feel (=to experience sth physical or emotional) ex. I’m thinking about what to do in the gym.     He doesn’t want to visit the museum because he’s feeling bad.