Set your creativity free

Despite the harsh reality, one of the few positive things that the current health crisis has brought about is doubtlessly the fact that the lockdown has allowed - or even forced - many of us to take time out to listen to our inner self and let those creative bits we all have to find a way out and manifest themselves through music, writing, cooking, DIY, handicrafts ... you name it. In this talk by classical pianist James Rhodes you may learn a bit about what he claims music can do for you and how accessible it should be.
Wouldn't it be nice to always set aside a little time to explore what's inside us and then try to materialize those parts of ours that are usually hidden or left to rot? Can people be taught to be creative? How important should creativity be in our lives? Go on, let us know what's inside you.

Monarchy or Republic?

Hello there,
Just to steer away from the pandemic for a while, let's focus on an altogether different topic such as the two most popular political and institutional models out there, and their specific manifestations in the US or France (a republic, with a Presidential government) and the UK  or Spain (a monarchy, with a Parliamentary government). Which system do you believe is the fairest? Watch the video to find out what a great American comedian thinks about it.

On the other hand, I've just had the chance to watch a fantastic series on Netflix called The Crown, which has helped me gain a deeper insight into the role of the British monarchy and the institution in modern times. Here you can find some articles and podcasts on the history of the English monarchy and the TV show. Take some time to reflect on it and then leave us your comments. Which type of government are you in favour of?  

The power of mindfulness and altruism

Sadly, the COVID-19 has caused the deaths of thousands of people worldwide and the loss of some of our loved ones and the lockdown are taking its toll on our mood and wellbeing. That's why it can be comforting to draw on the power of mindfulness and altruism to raise our spirits in these challenging times. These videos give us some tips on how they can help us overcome gloom.

How can mindfulness help us to be happier? Why does helping others make us feel better? Let us know what you think ... 

Can we trust what we see (and hear)?

Hello there,
As more and more people rely exclusively on Internet news sites and social media to find out about what's going on around us, the damage a lie, hoax or fake news story can do to a person's reputation is increasingly greater. As the following video demonstrates, 'deep fakes' can look really genuine.

Who might be interested in creating and spreading fake news? Where should we be getting our news from? Should we think twice before we share or spread some news which we know might not be true? You may want to download and listen to this report as well and then leave your comment. Go on, spread the news!

Book & film reviews

Hello there,

I guess one of the best things we can do if we have to spend a lot of time inside is to read and watch new books and films or even revisit those books and movies or TV shows that really made an impact on us. Do you have an all-time favourite book, movie or series? Have you seen or read any good ones recently? If you have, I'd really appreciate it if you let us know about them here, so that other students may give them a try and also you might compare each other's preferences. What are you waiting for? Let us know about them!

As a plus, you might as well check out this great YouTube channel where you can learn new expressions and practice your English with great classic films, such as Forrest Gump - hope you'll enjoy it!

Could the current crisis have been avoided?

Hello there,
Although we're all a bit overwhelmed by the dramatic situation we are living, I think it's also important that we don't let this pass and allow the people who have the power to change things go 'unscathed' once more. As you can see in the TED talk below, 5 years ago Bill Gates made an uncannily accurate prediction and warned us of the threat we were facing. I'd like you to watch it and then answer these questions: could this health crisis have been avoided? Should we blame world powers and local governments for their lack of action? What could we do as global citizens to stop this sort of epidemics from happening again? Go on, leave your comments.

The Benefits of Working from Home

Hello there,
We're living in trying, tough times. We've all been suddenly forced to stay in and figure out ways to carry on with our lives, our jobs and our social life. So, although everything seems to be falling apart, we must do our best to turn this crisis into and opportunity to try out new ideas, to do those things we don't usually have much time to do and to take on this challenge and make the most of it.
That's why I'm going to give this neglected -though still useful- blog a chance so that we may be able to carry on with our course, by giving you a topic for discussion, some audiovisual material to get you started and then encourage you to post your comments and interact with your classmates as much as you can. If you are not familiar with the blog, you can see there are a lot of links to interesting websites which can provide plenty of opportunities to practice your English skills, so let's not miss out on all this.
Our first question for discussion is going to be this: what are the pros and cons of working from home? To get you started, Id like you to watch this short TED talk on the issue - and also perhaps this different take on the issue. Then , leave your comments please!

The best way to ...

I guess I could call myself a dabbler - you know, someone who has had a go at too many different things but never really managed to 'master' a skill. I've tried to learn to play several instruments, I've given quite a few sports a try, I've dabbled in cooking, Danish and, as you can see, blogging, but I don't seem to have the courage and the determination to keep going at it and carry the task through successfully. So, in case I decide to give some other skill a try, I'd really like you to give us some tips on how to do ... whatever you are good at. 
Check out this web if you are willing to learn something new and send us your advice as a comment below. Who knows, I might finally find my skill!

Hate the pet peeve!

If I have to choose one thing that really annoys me these days is... how easily so many people get annoyed about everything these days! It seems that nothing is good enough for anybody anymore and everybody has the right to complain about even the tiniest, most insignificant flaw they are likely to come across whenever they purchase something or require some kind of service from somebody. Call me easygoing if you like, but I'm sick and tired of having to put up with all those bloody, fussy people who just can't take things as they come. Are you one of those, like Simon or Ruth? Come on, vent your anger, we're all ears!

Food for thought

Dear students,
In order to get some extra practice with the vocabulary and your listening skills, you can try to do the following activities:

• White in the inside, green in the outside... If you can't remember the name for something, you can always try describing it.
• Your daily diet. Listen to Todd talking about the food he likes eating. What do you think about his eating habits, are they healthy enough?
• Watch this video by a famous British chef and his commitment to make healthy food popular in Britain. Why don't you have a go at cooking this simple omelette?
 

Also, as an ideal 'topping' for the unit, why don't you tell us about your favourite dishes and how you like them served? Leave your comments!