Saturday, 16 November 2013

UNIT 3: HANDLING COMPLAINTS

In the video below, business growth expert Adrian Swinscoe offers some practical advice for producing delight from dissatisfaction when clients complain.

Monday, 4 November 2013

UNIT 3: Mr Trebus' eviction

Write a comment to add to the blog. It could be your opinion of Mr Trebus'  behaviour, an example of Trebus-like behaviour or any other comment
Watch the video, then check who said what:

1 the scaffolders have arrived
2 they've declared the place a public health hazard
3 the council have finally moved in, but Mr Trebus hasn't come out
4 We've got a warrant to enter and clear
5 Get out of my property at once!
6 Mike thought he'd seen it all
7 Mike can only marvel at his determination
8 The police are little more than a minor irritation
9 I'm not coming down
10 That's my business, it's not yours!
11 He's basically got no water supply
12 Everyone's patience is wearing thin
13 If you prevent him from doing so, you'll be arrested.
14 Mr Trebus will spend a night in the cells.
To discuss:
a) Who are all the people involved with the old man?
b) What would you have done if you'd been one of the neighbours?




Unit 2:Learning about Spanish Festivals



Click on the icon if you want to know the way Spanish people and foreigners enjoy themselves in Buñol.
Have you ever been there or in another festival of interest?
If so, you are welcome to tell us by leaving a comment.

Sunday, 3 November 2013

Unit 2: FUTURE TENSES


If you have problems understanding the use of future tenses, click on the future icon.

UNIT 01: Describing pictures

Pictures

Saturday, 2 November 2013

UNIT 01: Art or vandalism?


WHO IS BANKSY?
Banksy is a quasi-anonymous English graffiti artist.
According to Tristan Manco, Banksy “was born in 1974 and raised in Bristol, England. The son of a photocopier technician, he trained as a butcher but became involved in graffiti during the great Bristol aerosol boom of the late 1980s.” His artworks are often satirical pieces of art on topics such as politics, culture, and ethics.
He’s gone from a teenage tagger to a well-known artist making multi-million dollar art. His style and message have, ironically, been wholeheartedly embraced by the very type of people he mocks.

Please, let us know your opinion about graffiti.
Is it art or vandalism?

UNIT 01: Describing pictures


Learning to describe paintings with:

Van Eyck, Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife, 1434

Friday, 1 November 2013

UNIT 1: MUSIC

Sinead O'Connor warns Miley Cyrus against exploitation   BBC News 3 October

Singer Sinead O'Connor has written an open letter to fellow singer and actress Miley Cyrus warning her not to be exploited by the music business. The 46-year-old wrote to Cyrus, 20, after she cited O'Connor's video Nothing Compares 2 U as an inspiration for her explicit Wrecking Ball video.
"Nothing but harm will come in the long run, from allowing yourself to be exploited," wrote O'Connor. Please, in future, say no when you are asked to prostitute yourself."
O'Connor said she was prompted to write, "in the spirit of motherliness" after "dodging phone calls from various newspapers" who wanted the singer-songwriter to comment upon similarities between the two videos.
The video for Nothing Compares 2 U is principally a close-up of O'Connor, who sheds a single tear as she performs the Prince-penned break-up ballad. Cyrus cries in the promo clip for Wrecking Ball, which shares similar lyrical themes to O'Connor's song. But the video also finds her licking a sledgehammer and swinging naked on a metal demolition ball.
"I am happy to hear I am somewhat of a role model for you and I hope that because of that you will pay close attention to what I am telling you," wrote O'Connor. "I am extremely concerned for you that those around you have led you to believe, or encouraged you in your own belief, that it is in any way 'cool' to be naked and licking sledgehammers in your videos. It is in fact the case that you will obscure your talent by allowing yourself to be pimped, whether it's the music business or yourself doing the pimping.
"It is absolutely NOT in ANY way an empowerment of yourself or any other young women, for you to send across the message that you are to be valued (even by you) more for your sexual appeal than your obvious talent. You are worth more than your body or your sexual appeal. The world of showbiz doesn't see things that way," continued the Irish singer. "They're there for the money, we're there for the music. It has always been that way and it will always be that way. The sooner a young lady gets to know that, the sooner she can REALLY [be] in control."
'Rag heap'
Cyrus, who found fame as the child star of Disney children's show Hannah Montana, has been criticised in recent weeks for her controversial performances, most particularly at the MTV Video Music Awards in Brooklyn last month.
"You also said in Rolling Stone that your look is based on mine," wrote O'Connor. "The look I chose, I chose on purpose at a time when my record company were encouraging me to do what you have done. I felt I would rather be judged on my talent and not my looks. I am happy that I made that choice, not least because I do not find myself on the proverbial rag heap now that I am almost 47 years of age.

"Whether we like it or not, us females in the industry are role models and as such we have to be extremely careful what messages we send to other women," concluded O'Connor.The message you keep sending is that it's somehow cool to be prostituted.. it's so not cool Miley... it's dangerous."

UNIT 1: MUSIC

Y Viva Espana singer dies aged 82