Sunday, December 22, 2019
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Friday, November 15, 2019
Pros and cons of animal testing
Animal testing is making use of animals in experiments carried out for the betterment of human lives. There are many arguments regarding the pros and cons of animal testing. It helps save human lives, but in turn, thousands of animals are injured or killed. There are many animal rights groups that claim killing animals is inhumane. This debate won't end till scientists find a better alternative for animal testing. This video discusses the advantages and disadvantages of animal testing. You are free to decide whether you are for, against or neutral towards it.
For more information, visit https://opinionfront.com/animal-testing-pros-cons
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Summer holiday fun
As a teenager, I am a highly active and busy person, which means that I do not have so much time to get a rest or sleep during the day. However, since I have been exercising for all those years, I have got used to those everyday valuable pastimes.
Particurarly, I do not often keep on with the same summer activities in the whole summer, so I need to take up a "summer hobby". So the exceptional summer hobby I am passionate about is hiking. I commonly arrange to hike some mountains, during those two months when we do not have so much stuff to do, with my mates for a whole day (10-12 hours).
Firstly, we start hiking the huge mountain at 7:00 in the morning, since we all hate trying to cover all that extremely long distance in the heat. Then, we certainly have some food like bananas or even to drink a small amount of hydrolytes in case water cannot give us all the energy we need. Finally, when we achieve our goal, which by all means is to arrive at the top of the massive mountain we call my uncle, who is a hiking lover, but does not have the time to do it with us, in order to give us a lift to our homes, in order to have a rest for the next day.
I would surrely reccoment that sport, since it helps you keep fit and tone your muscles. Most importanly, it provides you with an insane physical fitness, which involves a very big amount of food after all that fatigue. Finally, a real example of that is my self.
Face to face communication
These days social media are all over the world, and many teens prefer to communicate via them, but it seems like it has started to effect to our own relationships.
Face to face conversation seems more fun than texting from the phone.During face to face communication you can see the other person'expression and their body launguage but on the other hand sometimes it's pretty hard to find the time to meet with your friends, and maybe you will not be able to communicate with them.
Social media are so helpful to find someone and it helps if you're short of time, but you can easily get addicted and never meet with your friends.Actually can change your relationships and cteate trust issues.
Both ways of communicating have advantages and disadvantages but it's good to use both of them in moderation, and never get addicted.
Social media and communication of face to face
Many teens have conversation with their friends by social media or face to face. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of those two types of communication. Face to face communication is very good because you spend time socializing, talking to people, making friends and not looking all the time at a screen. Face to face communication also has some drawbacks like the fact that it is difficult to meet people who live far away. Social media are very good because they are convenient if you are short of time and can also communicate with people that are far away. But social media have some disadvantages like the fact that it is easy to get addicted to it so you probably never meet 'real' people. If you are a sociable person, it is probably better to have conversations face to face, but if you are a person that loves chatting on the phone, you are better of having conversations via social media.
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Oxford University Press Competition
An amazing photography and story-writing competition for an iPad Air as the ultimate prize! The participants must be above 18 years of age and they must take a photograph from a different angle which will be combined with a 150-word story to explain the significance of the shot. Read the official webpage of the competition for more information.
https://elt.oup.com/feature/global/wide-angle-contest/?utm_source=dotmailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wide_angle_contest&dm_i=1MVU,6GZSG,MBYQ34,POAYN,1&cc=gr&selLanguage=en
https://elt.oup.com/feature/global/wide-angle-contest/?utm_source=dotmailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wide_angle_contest&dm_i=1MVU,6GZSG,MBYQ34,POAYN,1&cc=gr&selLanguage=en
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Hi my name is Evridiki, I'm 14 years old I am from Heraklion Grecce.In my family there are the 4 of us: my parents and my sister I am the youngest one and we have a 4-year age difference.The past few years I have taken up lots of hobbies, like volleyball, dancing and so on. In my spare time, I love to hang out with my friends, so we go shopping, go to the cinema and talk about other things.My favourite subjects at school are maths and Ancient Greek,when I grow up I would like to be a psychologist.What really gets on my nerves is when people are rude and don't respect people around them.
Speaking about me!!!
Hi!!! My name is Manolis Stratakis and I am fifteen years old. I live in Heraklion. My family is considered by my parents, my little brother amd my self. My hobbies are basketball, drawing and learning English. My previous hobbies were cycling, canoeing and athletics. In my spare time I watch movies with my parents and my brother and I often read books. In the future, I want to become a car designer because in the very old days, when I was two years old, my grandpa brought me some car magazines. He was reading them to me. As a result, I knew all the car companies of the earth at the age of two!!! Also, I want to become a basketball player and after this, a basketball trainer.
Speaking about me
Hi, my name is Maria and I come from a usual family. I have a youngest sister whose name is Sevi. Sometimes I do not get on well with her because we are really jealous of each other and she hates me helping her ,but when we hang out with friends, we are like angels.
Introducing myself
Hi everyone, my name is Jim and today I am goimg to introduce MYSELF.I am 14 years old and... as a teenager many people think that I need to be on a football team or something, but... for the reason that I have taken up many hobbies I finally decided that swimming is the best for ME. Of course I am not just a passionate athlete. I am also in Markaki's school in order to devote myself to studying my English language and so on.Finally, I have been playing the guitar since the age of 10.That is all about myself. I hope to see you again and tell you about my family.
Friday, September 27, 2019
Instructions for students about how to register on Burlington Interactive Practice
1. Students go to http://webbook.burlingtonbooks.com/Login/coupon.
2. They enter:
i. The coupon code, which can be found on the inside cover of their Student’s Book
ii. Their class code
iii. Their first name and surname
3. After the initial registration, students will need their coupon code only.
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Sugata Mitra: Build a School in the Cloud
Watch the video and click on the interactive script underneath to read the speaker's words
Use this online dictionary to help you with difficult words when necessary.
Read more about Sugata Mitra.
Now write your opinion on this TED talk in a comment or in a new post:
Use this online dictionary to help you with difficult words when necessary.
Read more about Sugata Mitra.
Now write your opinion on this TED talk in a comment or in a new post:
- What is the 'Hole in the Wall' experiment all about?
- Do you agree that Minimally Invasive Education is effective?
- Could it ever replace traditional schooling?
Monday, June 17, 2019
About me
I'm Melpomeni and I'm 12 years old. I'm an only child and I really like that, because I haven't got anybody to get on my nerves or take my things without permission. I also get on really well with my parents. I'm really interested in psychology because when I leave school Iwould like to gain insight people's minds. I'm keen on singing and writing stories too, but when I grow old I would rather have these two activities as hobbies. I'm really excited about being a member of this blog and I hope you like my writings, too.
THEME PARK
So, I have not been to a theme park since I was 7 years old.In addition, my aunt works in a theme park so I am used to hearing interesting stories from her about the strangers that visit the park!
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Cities: YouTube videos as food for thought
Video links for use in a B2 discussion on cities (Stay Connected Unit 10, p. 121)
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Computer room activity on Poetry
International Day of Poetry 21st March: Dead Poets’ Society
Watch the videos, read the poem and write down your thoughts in a comment, answering the question:
Why do we read and write poetry? How will the inclusion of poetry in the national school curriculum help the development of the young minds?
(Remember to turn the profile you are using for this blog from a Google+ one to a simple Blogger profile if you are currently using your Google+ information to sign in here, as this platform is soon to be shut down. Go to the settings of your account to fix this.)
Watch the videos, read the poem and write down your thoughts in a comment, answering the question:
Why do we read and write poetry? How will the inclusion of poetry in the national school curriculum help the development of the young minds?
(Remember to turn the profile you are using for this blog from a Google+ one to a simple Blogger profile if you are currently using your Google+ information to sign in here, as this platform is soon to be shut down. Go to the settings of your account to fix this.)
Saturday, March 16, 2019
Idioms
An extract from a post on justpublishingadvice.com:
A common figure of speech often uses an inanimate object to give a figurative instead of a literal meaning.
Did you know? Figures of speech in the picture above:
1. Put all eggs in one basket = Having all of your resources in one place; putting your money or hopes or future into one thing
2. Wear one's heart on one's sleeve = display one’s emotions openly
3. An ace up one's sleeve = a surprise or secret advantage, especially something tricky that is kept hidden until needed.
4. The joker in the pack= If you describe someone or something as the joker in the pack, you mean that they are different from the other people or things in their group, and can be unpredictable.
5. Don’t trust one's own shadow= not believe or trust people easily
6. Coming out of one's ears= (figurative) very numerous or abundant. (As if people or things were coming in great numbers from many sources including unlikely ones.)
7. Spill the beans= reveal the secret
8. Red herring= A red herring is something that misleads or distracts from a relevant or important question. It may be either a logical fallacy or a literary device that leads readers or audiences toward a false conclusion.
9. Big cheese= the most important person
10. Time flies= time passes quickly
11. Piece of cake =very easy to be done
12. Can't make an omelet without breaking an egg= If you say you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, you mean that it is impossible to achieve something important without there being some bad effects. Note: `Omelette' is usually spelled `omelet' in American English.
13. Like a cat chasing its tail= chase (one's) tail To take action that is ineffectual and does not lead to progress. Refers to how a dog or a cat can exhaust itself by chasing its own tail.
14. Tie the knot= to get married
15. To be born with a silver spoon in your mouth or born with a silver spoon in your mouth= If you think that someone has a lot of advantages because they have a rich or influential family, you can say that they have been born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
16 Bird’s eye view= a view from a high angle as if seen by a bird in flight or an overall or cursory look at something
17 A stitch in time saves nine= if you sort out a problem immediately, it may save extra work later
18 Tough nut to crack (plural tough nuts to crack) = A problem that is challenging to solve. (idiomatic, by extension) A situation, person, group, etc. which is difficult to deal with. (idiomatic) A place, opportunity, etc. to which it is difficult to gain entry. An amount that is difficult to finance.
19 Ride one’s coattails= To benefit from someone else's success; to use someone else's success as a means to achieve one’s own.
20 Get cold feet= hesitate or have second thoughts about sth
21 Sth is full of holes= Unsound or flawed; having many faults that do not stand up to scrutiny or criticism. Alludes to a leaky, porous vessel—hence the related expression, "doesn't hold water."
22 The cherry on the cake= A desirable feature perceived as the finishing touch to something that is already inviting or worth having. Related Idioms : a bite at the cherry. an attempt or chance to do something.
23 Kick the bucket = to die, pass away
24 Hit the nail on the head= do or say something that is precisely right
25 Cat got one's tongue= Used when someone has nothing to say.
26 An earworm= (informal) a song that you keep hearing in your head
27 Pull your socks up = If someone tells you to pull your socks up, they want you to improve your behaviour or work.
Now visit these websites to find out about the surprising origin of most of these idioms. Then, use this information to write as many example sentences as possible in the comments below.
The Idioms - Largest Idioms Dictionary
PHRASES.ORG.UK
Idioms and phrases - The Free Dictionary
A common figure of speech often uses an inanimate object to give a figurative instead of a literal meaning.
Very often we use similes and metaphors to express an idea or concept. Idioms are another type of figurative speech.
Figure of speech examples
We often use an object to create emphasis. For example, “It’s raining cats and dogs” and “I’ll give you a hand.”
If you are a writer, you are using words and expressions both literally and figuratively all the time. You might be trying to create verbal irony, express human qualities or add colour to your text.
Some forms use word order or repetition, such as, “In the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Others can use a chiasmus, where the second part of the expression is balanced against the first. For example, “you should work to live, not live to work.”
Exaggeration, or hyperbole in literary terms, can quickly turn literal language into figurative. “I have a million things to do at the office today”, or, “it cost me an arm and a leg.”
The opposite, of course, is understatement. “It’s only a scratch” when referring to a deep or nasty wound. Or, “It’s a little fresh today” when the temperature is well below zero. Or, “Tiger Woods was a half-decent golf player in his prime.”
Other figure of speech examples include euphemisms.They are a very common form of saying something in a way that is not as blunt or direct. He passed away instead of he died. I’m going to let you go to replace you’re fired. Or, it fell off the back of a truck, when in fact, it was stolen.
Some expressions use alliteration, where a consonant sound is repeated. Examples include, “I’m as busy as a bee” and “It’s as dead as a doornail.”
 |
| Cartoon by Ella Baron in the Times Literary Supplement on Twitter. |
Did you know? Figures of speech in the picture above:
1. Put all eggs in one basket = Having all of your resources in one place; putting your money or hopes or future into one thing
2. Wear one's heart on one's sleeve = display one’s emotions openly
3. An ace up one's sleeve = a surprise or secret advantage, especially something tricky that is kept hidden until needed.
4. The joker in the pack= If you describe someone or something as the joker in the pack, you mean that they are different from the other people or things in their group, and can be unpredictable.
5. Don’t trust one's own shadow= not believe or trust people easily
6. Coming out of one's ears= (figurative) very numerous or abundant. (As if people or things were coming in great numbers from many sources including unlikely ones.)
7. Spill the beans= reveal the secret
8. Red herring= A red herring is something that misleads or distracts from a relevant or important question. It may be either a logical fallacy or a literary device that leads readers or audiences toward a false conclusion.
9. Big cheese= the most important person
10. Time flies= time passes quickly
11. Piece of cake =very easy to be done
12. Can't make an omelet without breaking an egg= If you say you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, you mean that it is impossible to achieve something important without there being some bad effects. Note: `Omelette' is usually spelled `omelet' in American English.
13. Like a cat chasing its tail= chase (one's) tail To take action that is ineffectual and does not lead to progress. Refers to how a dog or a cat can exhaust itself by chasing its own tail.
14. Tie the knot= to get married
15. To be born with a silver spoon in your mouth or born with a silver spoon in your mouth= If you think that someone has a lot of advantages because they have a rich or influential family, you can say that they have been born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
16 Bird’s eye view= a view from a high angle as if seen by a bird in flight or an overall or cursory look at something
17 A stitch in time saves nine= if you sort out a problem immediately, it may save extra work later
18 Tough nut to crack (plural tough nuts to crack) = A problem that is challenging to solve. (idiomatic, by extension) A situation, person, group, etc. which is difficult to deal with. (idiomatic) A place, opportunity, etc. to which it is difficult to gain entry. An amount that is difficult to finance.
19 Ride one’s coattails= To benefit from someone else's success; to use someone else's success as a means to achieve one’s own.
20 Get cold feet= hesitate or have second thoughts about sth
21 Sth is full of holes= Unsound or flawed; having many faults that do not stand up to scrutiny or criticism. Alludes to a leaky, porous vessel—hence the related expression, "doesn't hold water."
22 The cherry on the cake= A desirable feature perceived as the finishing touch to something that is already inviting or worth having. Related Idioms : a bite at the cherry. an attempt or chance to do something.
 |
| Taken from here. |
23 Kick the bucket = to die, pass away
24 Hit the nail on the head= do or say something that is precisely right
25 Cat got one's tongue= Used when someone has nothing to say.
26 An earworm= (informal) a song that you keep hearing in your head
27 Pull your socks up = If someone tells you to pull your socks up, they want you to improve your behaviour or work.
Now visit these websites to find out about the surprising origin of most of these idioms. Then, use this information to write as many example sentences as possible in the comments below.
The Idioms - Largest Idioms Dictionary
PHRASES.ORG.UK
Idioms and phrases - The Free Dictionary
Sunday, February 10, 2019
The evolution of art
Watch the video, having activated the English subtitles, and reflect on the following:
What is your favourite art period?
What is your favourite art movement?
What is your favourite art period?
What is your favourite art movement?
Bonus reading: Italian Renaissance facts (related to our class discussion)
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
FCE: COMPUTER BASED TEST OFFERED BY CAMBRIDGE
Free: Computer-based sample tests
- Watch this tutorial before you start.
- Check your answers as you do the test. Once the test has finished you will not be able to check them.
Answer keys:
There is no answer key for the Writing paper, but there are sample answers and examiner comments on the relevant pages of the B2 First handbook.
Saturday, January 26, 2019
The History of English
The English language spoken today has evolved over a period of approximately 1500 years, or better since the arrival of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes on the shores of England around the 5th century.
They brought with them various Germanic languages that would gradually evolve into the English we speak today.
During those 1500 years, the English language has added or ‘borrowed’ words from many other languages to create a rich, complex and sophisticated language. In some cases, an existing English word has been replaced with one from a different language, in other cases the new word has been added as a variation or alternative to the English original.
English is now a language full of ‘loan words’.
https://www.sutori.com/story/the-history-of-english
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Revising writing
Please read and reflect on these posts:
1) https://markaki-b2.blogspot.com/2017/10/webinar-on-ecce-writing-simplified.html
2) https://markaki-b2.blogspot.com/2017/10/ecce-writing-corrected-letters-and.html
1) https://markaki-b2.blogspot.com/2017/10/webinar-on-ecce-writing-simplified.html
2) https://markaki-b2.blogspot.com/2017/10/ecce-writing-corrected-letters-and.html
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