CHICK COREA: JAZZ AND BLUES SPECIAL.

 “Like a runner loves to run because it just feels good, I like to play the piano just because it feels good,” he told the Associated Press at the time. “I can just switch gears and go to another direction or go to another song or whatever I want to do. So it’s a constant experiment.”Chick Corea.

"My mission has always been to bring the joy of creating anywhere I could."

Read article Jazz time to know who he was.

Chick Corea passes away.

1. Who was Chick Corea?
2. Watch this interview of Chick about the first time he played with Miles Davis.

REVOLUTION OF JAZZ: ELECTRIC JAZZ.

From Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_to_Forever_(Chick_Corea_album)

Return to Forever is a jazz fusion album by Chick Corea, simultaneously functioning as the debut album by the band of the same name. Unlike later albums by the group, it was released by the ECM label and produced by Manfred Eicher. The album was not released in the USA until 1975. The record is often considered one of the classic albums in electric jazz. This album features the debut of electronic instruments for Corea’s solo career.^[1]

MILES DAVIS

ISABEL AGUILERA: BUSINESS SPEECH ON COLLABORATIVE WORK

Listen to Isabel's speech on collaborative systems at work.  

 Here are some of the key words she uses: projects, resources, capability, recognition, contribution.

•  Is this topic interesting to you? 
• This presentation is rich in business vocabulary, including verbs which are used to describe changing trends and actions. Which words are key to develop the topic she's talking about? Note them down. 
• When we prepare a talk, we need to write an outline of it. An outline should include the structure of the talk + key words, ideas, examples. Listen to the talk and prepare the outline, you can write down bullet points and ideas, or draw a mindmap. 
• What's the main idea Isabel's trying to convey to the audience? Do you agree with her views?
•  Listen to her pronunciation. What kind of accent does she have? 

JIM KWIK: TIPS TO HAVE AN AGELESS MIND, TIPS TO SLEEP BETTER

AVISO: no soy responsable de los enlaces que puedan aparecer al final de los vídeos que enlazo. Elijo los vídeos por su contenido lingüístico, su temática o simplemente porque me parecen interesantes y motivadores.





BY JIM KWIK- SLEEP FASTER, SMARTER, DEEPER. 




TOPIC- SLEEPING HABITS. ( USED TO, BE USED TO, GET USED TO).

Keys File 6B Sleeping beauty- p. 59 English File Upper-Int .

68
1 T (Line 6: A lucid dream is one in which we are aware
that we are dreaming.)
2 F (Line 7: In a lucid dream, the dreamer is sometimes
able to control or influence what is happening to them ... )
3 T (Line 12: Gamers spend hours a day in a virtual
reality and they are used to controlling their game
environments, and this seems to help them to do the
same when they are dreaming.)
4 T (Line 17: Some experts believe that we have
nightmares to help us practise for life-threatening
situations in a safe environment.)
5 F (Line 19: Since video gamers already practise those
(life-threatening) situations regularly in games ... video
gamers may have less need of nightmares.)
6 T (Line 25: When they - a gamer - have a frightening
experience in a dream they don't run away like most of
us do, they turn round and fight back.)
c Put Sts in pairs, A and B, and tell them to go


VOCABULARY Quiz

1 syndrome 6 pray
2 loyal 7 gamer
3 deep 8 lucid
4 century 9 turn round
5 nightfall


FINALLY, SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT

B2: FIRST PICTURES OF BLACK HOLES

MUSIC, EMOTION, CREATIVITY: HOW DID MICHAEL JACKSON WRITE SONGS?

Watch this short video from a documentary and answer the questions:

At his recording studio ( I couldn't find this clip without subtitles). 
Follow these steps to do the activity: 
1. Listen to the video and answer the questions.
2. Then watch the video and check your answers. 

QUESTIONS:

At his recording studio:

1. How does Michael Jackson write songs? 
2. What musical instruments does he feel when he dances? 
3. How does he do "the Moonwalk"? Is it easy to do? 
4. What parts of the body do you have to use to do the step?

   

PART 2 
Follow these steps to do the activity: 
1. Listen to the video and answer the questions.
2. Then watch the video and check your answers. 

  In the garden: 

5. What was Michael's favourite pastime?
6. In which part of the garden did he write some of the most famous song?
7. Why does he like being there? 


 At the cinema: 

8. How old was Michael when his first single was released? 
9. When did he discovered that he had a special musical talent?
10. What nickname did people give him while he was performing? 
11. Did anybody teach him how to dance? 
12. What happened every time he went to the park? 

 


------SPEAKING PRACTICE: 

What's your favourite pastime?

HOW TO TALK ABOUT PERSONAL SKILLS, TALENTS AND QUALITIES.

LISTENING: MY HOBBY.

• VOCABULARY REVISION: HOBBIES ( A1-B1)

• ADVANCED VOCABULARY B2-C1: Describing who you are, your hobbies, talents, gifts.

• WORKSHEET ( ALL LEVELS) : HOBBIES, TALENTS AND GIFTS. ONLY PHOTOCOPY PAGE 4 AND 5.

• THINK YOU HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO  HAVE FUN? CHECK THIS OUT! 100  BEST FRUGAL PASTTIMES

SPEAKING: CLASS/PAIR WORK QUESTIONS: 
PRINT YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE.

AIM OF THE ACTIVITY: I CAN TALK ABOUT MY HOBBIES, MY SKILLS, MY TALENTS AND QUALITIES. 

B2: 2019 GOLDEN GLOBES ACCEPTANCE SPEECHES

GLENN CLOSE'S POWERFUL ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

LOVE SONGS:"HIGH ON LIFE"MARTIN GARRIX AND MEANING OF THE SONG

BEST THANKSGIVING SCENES FROM FRIENDS

THE HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING

B2.1 Intermediate: "Never too old to wear a Tiara"

"Fashion is about dressing according to what's fashionable. Style is more about being yourself." Oscar de la Renta.

Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/oscar_de_la_renta_441208

• Clothes vocabulary visual dictionary.
• Clothes crossword.
• Read this BBC article: " Models should show health proof". London Fashion Week models should be asked to prove they do not suffer eating disorders, a report says. Read more here.

Questions:

Should we be dressing our age?

• What did you wear yesterday?
• About how much money do you spend on clothes a year?
• Do you like shopping for new clothes?
• Do you often buy new clothes?
• Do you prefer to go shopping or just browse? Why?
• Do you think men should be allowed to wear skirts?
• What piece of clothing do you spend your money on the most? Why?
• Do you read fashion magazines? 
• Do you think it is important to wear fashionable clothes?
  • Do you think it is important to be in fashion?
• Do you wear jewelry?
  • If so, what kind of jewelry do you wear?
  • What is your most valuable piece of jewelry?
• Do you wear the same color clothes now that you wore ten years ago? 
• Do you think people feel different when they wear different clothes?
• Have you ever made your own clothes?
  • If so, what did you make?
• What are some of the strangest fashions you have seen?
• What colors do you think look good on you? 

VIDEO EXERCISE

Watch  this video. 

Listen to the video and fill in the gaps with the appropriate word:

• TO take that first step on stage...I was + -ing verb +so + ADVERB, I didn't know how to walk.
• I took so much + ADJECTIVE to do it, and I'm not even sure why.
• minute 3:41 Our country  concentrates .......+ on + NOUN. It seems that most folks look + particle + preposition (phrasal verb with look) the elderly. 
• Phrasal verbs with LOOK: WATCH THIS VIDEO, DO THE EXERCISE.

Pay attention to this structure:
So, so much + adjective.

FILE 2B- DOCUMENTARY: TRADING AGES

Watch this BBC documentary and answer these questions:
1. What is Karoline like before the makeover?
2. What is she obsessed with?
3. What does she think about the elderly ?
4. Watch the video from minute 6:20 to 7:00. What are her workmate's habits to keep in shape and stay healthy?
5. What do you think she learnt about what old age is really like?


Do exercises c, d, e and f on page 19. Check your answers at the bottom of this post.


 

HOMEWORK- READING FILE 2B- TRADING AGES.

KEYS. The article Trading Ages is about a real documentary.

b. Karoline Bell and Nick Sidney have been made to look old, so that they could experience life as an old person for one month.

e. 1 B  2B  3K  4N  5K  6K  7K  8N  9K
f. 5, 1, 3, 2, 4






VIDEO KEYS KEYS    KEYS    KEYS    KEYS

1. Her lifestyle includes going clubbing, she's vain, she has strong views ( negative connotations) on the elderly. Elder people are like aliens to her, they scare her. She's got to confront her fears and prejudices of the elderly.
2. She's obsessed with her looks, appearance, she's determined to stay young.
3. She feels uncomfortable seeing elder people.
4. She exercises every morning ( she touches her toes twelve times); she looks after her diet, she takes vitamins capsules,  she cooks every day fresh, for example:  celery, parsley, spinach, garlic, etc.

B2 Listening: Steve Jobs

 

 You are about to watch a video in which Apple and Pixar CEO Steve Jobs delivered the commencement address to graduating students at Stanford University( one of the most prestigious universities in the world)( 2005). 


Follow the instructions and complete the exercises in part A ( comprehension questions) and B ( gap-fill and use of English).
1. Part A: Watch the video once and answer the following comprehension questions. Then check your answers with the keys. 
2. Part B: Listen again, fill in the gaps and answer the questions. To check the keys, go to the last page of this worksheet.

Hope you find it inspirational.

TV SHOW (B2-C1): COMEDIANS IN CARS GETTING COFFEE

VOCABULARY- CAR COMPONENTS




MOTORCYCLE COMPONENTS

WE ARE EQUALS

SONG: SAM SMITH

"Like I Can" LYRICS

B2-C1: Aziz Ansari: On Being Single- Making Plans with Flaky People.

With his fourth stand-up special, Aziz Ansari joins a shortlist of comedians to sell out New York’s Madison Square Garden

MAKING PLANS WITH FLAKY PEOPLE
Feel free to read the article and/or some parts of the monologue script of the clip below.




TELEPHONING: 

Telephone Phrasal verbs

Talking on the phone

HAPPY NEW YEAR! NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

GRAMMAR 

WISHES FOR THE FUTURE AND PRESENT.

VIDEO AND READING ACTIVITIES.

NEW YORK TIMES (VIDEO AND ARTICLE)APPS FOR KEEPING NEW YEAR'S .ESOLUTIONS

10 TIPS TO MAKE YOUR NEW YEAR'S  RESOLUTIONS A SUCCESS.

READING. NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS: THE HEALTH INDUSTRY .

News: World Climate Summit in Paris 2015

On November 27th 1995 the King of Pop Michael Jackson released the single and video " EARTH SONG".  "Earth Song" music video featuring Michael Jackson walking through a burnt down forest singing. Includes footage depicting pollution and suffering of people around the world.
20 years later the situation is still an urgent global challenge.This issue is getting worse and worse.

30 November 2015: UN climate summit opened in Paris this morning.
I think it's about time to do something for Planet Earth.
Please watch this video and read the articles below on climate change today.




What is climate change?
Why do two degrees matter?
NASA: Climate Change evidence
NASA: Climate Change: How do we know?

Michael Jackson's poem : Planet Earth "Earth Song"
  READ PLANET EARTH POEM HERE

B2 ( BBC Radio 4 Extra): A Guided Tour of the Castle of Otranto

BBC RADIO 4 EXTRA-

You will hear a radio programme about the origins of gothic horror.
Who was Horace Walpole?  Horace Walpole biography


When Gothic was born.

Radio programme: A Guided Tour of the Castle of Otranto

Rory McGrath explores the origins of gothic horror, manifest in the first ever novel about a haunted castle, The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole.

The book, published in 1764, became the first gothic novel and heralded the start of a new literary genre.

ENJOY BY LISTENING, LEARN BY LISTENING!

B2( Vocabulary- Listening): Fashion

Lesson on Fashion and style.

Speaking questions + videos 

Vocabulary revision- fashion and clothes (easy)