TALKING ABOUT MUSIC ON SKYPE

We loved discussing with Patricia Johnston about the music industry and her job as a musician, artist manager and company director. Teenage students of upper intermediate level were thrilled to ask her questions about her action worldwide and listen to all the exciting answers she gave us.

Links to help students blog about their impressions:

About the jazz guitarist, Gilad Hekselman: :http://taklit.net/en/on_tour/

Here is the name of the famous West African musician Patricia mentioned: MORY KANTE

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mory_Kanté

Here is the violinist she mentioned: www.linekruse.com

Here is the web site about the children's songs she produces: www.kidsfactorymusic.com

Letter of Application-Cambridge Book

Dear Mrs Benson,

  I am writing in response to your advertisement which I saw in an English Language Newspaper. I would like to apply for a position in your international bookshop.
  I am 13 years old and I speak English very well as I have been studying the language for the past five years. I like books and reading very much and especially adventure and fantasy books. I am free every day this summer and I would like very much to eam my own income.
  I had a part-time job before as a sales assistant in a bookshop. I consider myself to be a hard-working person. I work a lot and you can count on me to arrive at work on time. Moreover, I am an enthusiastic person and I like learning new things. I am also very friendly and patient with the customers. 
 If you require any further information, please contact me and I am also available for an interview.

Yours sincerely,

Eva Chrisostomaki

A Discursive Essay

Topic: Advantages and disadvantages of entering talent contests while still at school.

Nowadays, many children wish they entered a TV talent show. At first glance, it looks like a fascinating life. However, not everything is easy in life for those, who give it a successful shot.

There are many advantages of entering a talent show. First of all, more experience and fame are gained. Furthermore, there will may be new suggestions from the entertainment industry. More specifically, once children, who are obsessed with becoming famous, succeed in those kind of competitions, their fame will definitely take off.

On the other hand, though, there are many disadvantages. Firstly, school children's excitement about the show, leads them to neglect their homework. Moreover, nobody can actually understand young pupils' anxiety about their performance on stage. So, the fear of failure is directly related to the public humiliation. In addition, classmates might take advantage of the instant fame, so jealousy and competitiveness may be unearthed.

On balance, as far as I am concerned, the advantages are outweighed by the disadvantages. The exposure in the public eye, especially for tender aged individuals, only brings misery. 

Letter of opinion!

Dear Sir/Madam,

       I am writing with reference the article about the safe space for schools that I read with interest. I stronly believe that scchools have to provide a safe space for keeping students in good health, mentally and physically.

      Firstly, I could not agree more that students need a place where they can exercise and be sociable. So, I support the idea of turning the school yard into an attractive one with a lot of greenery. Due to the fact that are tired after the lesson so they need a place to relax and to breathe a sigh of relief. Therefore, in an modernplace students are able to come together and to feel up to excercising and having fun. So, boredom will wear off. Moreover, new students can easily settle into a tidy and beautifully decorated place.
   
       I also understand the fact that schools spend money on equipment for classrooms and laboratories because they aim at providing students whith a more pleasant way to learn and to pursue a dream. On the other hand, it is hazardous for students to trip over or have an accident, especially students tht are in puberty, due to the enthusiasm and the lack of attention that they have.

      Taking all of this into consideration, safe space for schools has to be on our agenta because schools have to help students learn pleasantly, provided that students have an attractive and safe place to relax after the lesson.

                                                         Yours faithfully,
                                                               Varverakis Marinos

   

New writers of this blog, welcome!

Happy name day to 50% of the class with a wonderful song!

                                                          "Wonderful World"

Don't know much about history
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about a science book
Don't know much about the French I took

But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me, too
What a wonderful world this would be

Don't know much about geography
Don't know much trigonometry
Don't know much about algebra
Don't know what a slide rule is for

But I do know one and one is two
And if this one could be with you
What a wonderful world this would be

Now, I don't claim to be an A student
But I'm trying to be
For maybe by being an A student, baby
I can win your love for me

Don't know much about history
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about a science book
Don't know much about the French I took

But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me, too
What a wonderful world this would be

La ta ta ta ta ta ta (History)
Hmm-mm-mm (Biology)
La ta ta ta ta ta ta (Science book)
Hmm-mm-mm (French I took)

Yeah, but I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me, too
What a wonderful world this would be

More safe space for schools (Letter of opinion)

Dear Sir/Madam, 

I am writing to express my opinion on the article about safe spaces in schools, which I read yesterday. I strongly believe that schools should provide more attractive places to students.

To begin with, I agree that safe spaces are important for keeping students in good health. Firstly, because they need an area, where they can relax after hard work and socialise. Apart from that, students need to exercise. So, if schools hazardous and with lack of greenery areas, the tender aged students might trip over and injure themselves.

Nevertheless, I also understand that schools may prefer to spend money on equipment (for instance laboratories), which can make the lessons more interesting, but if there is not a safe yard for children to take it easy, they may not be capable of paying a lot of attention to the lesson. So, that would be a waste of money. 

Taking all of this into consideration, I thoroughly believe that every school should offer a harmless environment to students.

Yours faithfully, 
Marina Konstantinou.