Essay: Computer games

Many people  believe that playing computer games is a complete waste of time.There are reasons for someone to think about it that way, but is that statement really true?Computer games sure have both advantages and disadvantages.

First of all, video games are a new way of entertainment that has yet to be accepted.With computer games you can have fun and spend some time,but it is not only that.Playing a video game is a new experience every time that has exceeded both movies and books ,in terms of the transmission of fear, other strong feelings and food for thought.Secondly, many believe that computer games are just for children; however, just a percentage of games is made for children.There are computer games for every age and for every type of character to enjoy.Finally,you can learn many things from video games, such as historical events, philosophers and their work, interesting information about science and physics etc.

However, there are also bad things about computer games.First of all, you might get addicted depending on your character and the game you are playing.So you need to make sure, you have a plan of how many hours you play per day and don't play too much.Secondly, you might get more weight and become unhealthy if playing video games is your only spare time activity.So you will have to also consider, going for walks or taking up a new sport.Finally,there is also the danger of violence for younger and less mature players.However, that isn't really a problem because as I said, there are computer games for all ages and the parents should control what games their child plays if they consider their child, not mature enough to distinguish between the bad and the good things a video game shows.

In conclusion, I believe, the pros outweigh the cons and that computer games surely are not a complete waste of time.Also, everyone (mostly youngsters) has to be careful with some things and play in moderation.

''The Adventures of Tom Sawyer''

''The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' is a novel, which was written by Mark Twain in 1876, about a young boy growing up along the Mississippi River. In my opinion, it is a great book. My favourite scene was when Tom cleverly persuaded his friends to trade him small treasures for the privilege of doing his work. In this scene I discovered this great law of human behaviour: in order to make a person desire a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to obtain.

David Copperfield

 My favourite scene from the book David Copperfield was when David visited Mr Micawber in prison.Mr Micawber was a very poor man that he had been arrested because he wasn't able to handle his money.David Copperfield was still very young and was being accommodated by Mr Micawber and his family.The poor man said : If a man earns twenty pounds a year and spends nineteen pounds and nineteen shillings, the result is happiness.But if he spends twenty pounds and one shilling, the result is misery.This scene was a life lesson!

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

I recently read a very interesting book by  R. L. Stevenson called Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
It is an atmospheric fantasy ,horror book which however is more like a mystery until the end and not that scary.It's topic is,being able to be someone else in appearance from time to time or just for a day and do whatever you want without consequences because no one will know it was you and nobody would be able to blame you for your actions.Doctor Jekyll had all these thoughts and decided to try a dangerous experiment with which he could achieve this dream, if everything went well.However if you changed to that other person,as time passed,you could find it difficult to be yourself again and heavily affect your personality;and there is a very interesting adventure revolving around that topic.

I  would recommend this book to everyone that likes, kind of dark, mystery and fantasy books.

A letter

Hi Patrick,
 Thanks for your news.It was great to hear from you.It' very good that you are saving up money.
  I'm very happy that I will be able to help you.I think that you should get a new TV for your bedroom.If you buy a smart TV you will have TV and laptop together.With a smart TV you can do exactly the same things that you did with your laptop and more.The best thing is that you will have a bigger screen.Now that you don't have a laptop don't worry you can use your phone instead.
 You wanted to know where to look for a TV or a laptop.There are a lot of good places.You should search in a gadget shop.Also, you asked me about where to find information.You should search online on websites and in magazines, too.
 I'm really sorry but I won't be able to meet you on Friday because my cousin is coming from Greece.Are you free next week ?Let me know soon.

Take care
Konstantina

Letter To The Editor!

           Dear Editor,
   I am writing to you to express my opinion regarding the article I read in your newspaper.
   In my opinion social media has a positive effect on teenagers and their relationships. Friends can communicate with each other any time of the day and night. Furthermore, they can keep in touch via Skype, Facebook if they live away or are on holiday. Moreover, they can communicate face to face through video calls which is easier than messaging and also you can see their facial expressions.
   Using social media does have some disadvantages, however. If you communicate with people you don't know, you must be careful, since there are many individuals who fool other people to get money or something else. In addition, you must not use social media too much, because in this way you will slowly lose your social life.
   I firmly believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. If you can control yourself, social media can offer a lot of potential.
   Yours faithfully,
   Elpidoforos Christakis.

Letter to the Editor

         Dear Editor,
 My classmates and I read the article about the change for some school lessons for example music, arts and physical education that they will be removed or that these lessons, kids will not have to stress on. We believe that it is not right and the reasons are below.
     First of all, many children express  themselves through these subjects and if they are removed , they will be be very disappointed about it. Also, the most of them do not have time or can afford to do extra lessons after school, but if at school they find time to do their pastime and with instructors to help them this would be helpful. Futhermore, these subjrcts make chlidren relax when they are tired after all the other demanding hours of lessons.
     Also, gymnastics and different types of arts help to keep an open mind and have a clear and clever thought about everything. In additin, some children want to do arts as work in the future and they will have the correct knowledge before the university because of school.
        To sum up, my friends and I believe that arts and physical education is a good way to express our selves at school nd to relax.
   


          Yours faithfuly,
                      Maria

Essay: Should a friend always be honest?

  Nowadays,some people think that a good friend is always honest,but is that really true?I think the statement is mostly true but sometimes it is not.
   Most people would agree that a friend who is not truthful to you is not a friend.That's because we like to have friends who are honest with us.Furthermore,if they lie to each other,their friendship will be destroyed. Additionally,if someone lies to his best mate,his best mate will be betrayed.
   However,every coin has 2 sides.There are times when they cannot be honest because if they are,they may hurt your feelings.For example,if your friend buys a T-shirt that does not suit him,you have to tell him that it looks fantastic on him,so you don't hurt his feelings.These lies are called white lies and you tell them to your friend in order to make him happy.
   In conclusion,I agree that a good friend must be honest,but I also agree that some times a really good friend has to lie to you.

It's Christmas time!

http://markaki-students.blogspot.gr/2013/12/christmas-activities-for-all-age-groups.html

You'll love the game:

http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/fun-games/run-santa-run

FCE SAMPLE SPEAKING VIDEO

The video:

http://youtu.be/EdeZp0n0JHw

 

Examiners' comments and description of the process:

http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/images/173977-cambridge-english-first-speaking-test-examiner-comments.pdf

An email to Sarah from Australia

Hi Sarah,
I read your email and I am happy to hear from you!I am going to tell you where I prefer to go on for holidays here in Greece.
Firstly,there are many places that Greece can offer for holidays but I'll tell you my favorite ones. The first place I like going to is my uncle's house in Chania.I like this location because my uncle's house is huge and his kids are in my age, (comma) so I can spend my time playing and chatting with them.Moreover,there is a fascinating beach near my uncle's house so we can go there whenever we want to.

(Change paragraph-the email is too long!)

Now that I told you what is my favorite place for holidays in the summer is, I'll tell you about my favorite place to go on holidays in the winter!Well, my family and I usually go to my granny's village because there is so much snow that we can play with it.But,because sometimes it gets boring, I have started taking my friends with me there, so we can all have a great time playing card games,snow games,watching TV and chatting of course.Furthermore,when winter's over,spring is next.My favorite location to spend my free days in spring is my cottage in Malia.I like going there in spring because in winters it's too cold and in summer it is too warm,so spring is the perfect time.When I spend my free time there, I always go to meet my friends and play football,basketball,volleyball,tell our news and play some video games,too.I enjoy staying in my cottage because I can visit my friends and play,go to the beach nearby and spend time with my little sister playing different kind of games and watching some nice series on television in the evening.Last but not least,my favorite destination to go in September,October or November is my friend's house outside of Heraklion.I like going there because when it rains for the first time, we can see the rain through my friend's window and drink hot chocolate or play monopoly and that is really cozy!
To sum up,I have written to you about my favorite holiday destinations,one for each season of the year.I hope it will help you. (Full stop) I am waiting to hear from you again.

Your friend from Greece,Manolis

 

INTERVIEW OF OUR FRENCH EPALS ABOUT PARIS TERRORIST ATTACKS

http://markaki-students.blogspot.gr/2015/11/interview-of-our-french-epals-about.html

WATCHING THE FREEDOM WRITERS ON NATIONAL TOLERANCE DAY

Watching, discussing and reflecting on "Freedom Writers" with my teenage students: The ideal way to celebrate the International Day of Tolerance (16th November), especially in the light of the recent inhumane terrorist attacks.

An outstanding film on the value of tolerance and the difficulty, but also glory, of learning how to co-exist. Proof of the brilliance of proper educators and the extent of difference they can make, one person at a time, one class at a time, in an ever-changing multifarious world.

Related information:

School's slides on tolerance:

http://www.slideshare.net/cm24/national-tolerance-day-a-cpe-lesson

The film on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0463998/

The trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3634888985/

Quotes as a discussion springboard:

Erin Gruwell: Maybe we should talk about art. Tito's got real talent, don't you think? You know something? I saw a picture just like this once, in a museum. Only it wasn't a black man, it was a jewish man. And instead of the big lips he had a really big nose, like a rat's nose. But he wasn't just one particular jewish man. This was a drawing of all jews. And these drawings were put in the newspapers by the most famous gang in history. You think you know all about gangs? You're amateurs. This gang will put you all to shame. And they started out poor and angry and everybody looked down on them. Until one man decided to give them some pride, an identity... and somebody to blame. You take over neighborhoods? That's nothing compared to them. They took over countries. You want to know how? They just wiped out everybody else. Yeah, they wiped out everybody they didn't like and everybody they blamed for their life being hard. And one of the ways they did it was by doing this: see, they print pictures like this in the newspapers, jewish people with big, long noses... blacks with big, fat lips. They'd also published scientific evidence that proved that jews and blacks were the lowest form of human species. Jews and blacks were more like animals. And because they were just like animals it didn't matter if they lived or died. In fact, life would be a whole lot better if they were all dead. That's how a holocaust happens. And that's what you all think of each other.

-----------

Eva: White people wanting respect like they deserve it for free.
Erin Gruwell: I'm a teacher, it doesn't matter what color I am.
Eva: It's all about color, it's about people deciding what you deserve, about people wanting what they don't deserve. About whites thinking they own this world no matter what, you see, I hate white people.
Erin Gruwell: You hate me? You don't even know me.
Eva: I know what you can do. I saw white cops shoot my friend in the back for reaching into his pocket, his pocket! I saw white cops come into my house and take my father away for no REASON except they feel like it! Except because they can! And they can, because they're white. So I HATE white people on sight

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Marcus: I've never had a hero before. But you are my hero.
Miep Gies: Oh, no. No, no, no, young man, no. I am not a hero. No. I did what I had to do, because it was the right thing to do. That is all.

-----------

Marcus: Lady, stop acting like you tryin' to understand our situation, and just do your little babysitting up there.
Erin Gruwell: That's what you think this is?
Marcus: It ain't nothing else. When I look out in the world I don't see nobody that looks like me with their pockets full unless they're rapping a lyrics or dribbling a ball, so what else you got in here for me?
Erin Gruwell: And what if you can't rap a lyric or dribble a ball?
Andre: It ain't this.
Marcus: I know that's right.
Erin Gruwell: And you all think you're gonna make it to graduation like this?
Andre: I made it to HIGH school ain't nobody stop me.
Marcus: Lady I'm lucky if I make it to 18, we in a war! We graduating every day we live because we ain't afraid to die, protecting our own. At least when you die for your own, you die with respect, you die a warrior.

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Erin Gruwell: So when you're dead, you'll get respect, that what you think?
[murmurs of 'yeah' from the class]
Erin Gruwell: You know what's gonna happen when you die? You're gonna rot in the ground, and people are going to go on living, and they're going to forget all about you. And when you ROT, do you think it's gonna matter whether you were an original gangsta? You're dead, and nobody, NOBODY, is gonna want to remember you, because all you left in the world is this.
[holds up Tito's drawing]

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Miep Gies: You are the heroes. You are heroes every day.

---------

Margaret Campbell: You can't make someone want education.

Personal Questions

1.What sport do you enjoy and why?
Answer;The sport I enjoy the most is volleyball,I like volleyball because it is based on your teammates and the cooperation you have.Another reason I enjoy playing volleyball is that it trains your whole body and brain and you can have fun at the same time.

2.What's your favourite TV programme and why?
Answer:Although I rarely watch Tv programmes,you could say that my favourite TV programme is the greek comedy ''Μην αρχίζεις την μουρμούρα''.I like it because it is shown at a very comfortable time that my family and I can watch all together.I also like it because it makes fun of things that is possible to happen at our lives,too.

3.Are there a lot of interesting things to do in your town at the weekend,what are they?
Answer:I believe that there are not a lot of interesting things that you can do at my town at the weekend.Heraklion is a town that you can see all its landmarks in one day,and you don't have many things to do at the weekends.Some things that you can possibly do on Saturdays and Sundays  is paying a visit to Knossos museum which is really interesting or going for a walk at the castle made by Venetians,Koules.

4.What are you planning to next weekend?
Answer:My family and I are going to go on a vacation at Chania next weekend.We are planning to go to a tavern so we can eat Chania's special foods,secondly we will probably go for a walk to Chania's main town to see  its landmarks and sights.After that,we will be drinking a coffee at a coffee.Finally,we are going to visit my uncle's house to say ''Hallo'' and then leave.

5.Is there something you would like to learn in the future and why?
Answer: Well,yes there is something that I would like to learn to the future,this thing is mountain biking,I'd like to learn how to ride a mountain bike because I want to visit Greece's famous mountains as a guy who does extreme sports.Another faction that led me to this decision is that mountain biking is super fun and it trains your whole body while seeing the amazing view.

6.What would you like to do when you leave school and why?
Answer:When I leave school,my first priority will be to join a good university so I can take a good degree in order to find the job I like the most.Another reason that I want to join a university is to gain more knowledge because I firmly believe that knowledge is the strongest weapon nowadays.