WHAT REALLY MATTERS

UPDATE: 1.500 YOUNGSTERS ATTENDED THE 2nd EDITION OF LQDVI-2011 A CORUÑA AT PALEXCO TODAY

Some of our 1ºBAC students will attend the lectures by Jaume Sanllorente (finantial journalist who gave up his job to found the non governmental organization "Mombai Smiles" and save an orphanage from closing down), Irene Villa (journalist and psychologist who suffered an ETA terrorist attack in Madrid when she was 12, losing her two legs and three left-hand fingers but preserved the most important: her life and the will to live) and Toni Nadal (Rafa Nadal's uncle and personal trainer, but not only a trainer in sport, but also in his life as a human being) at the 2nd Edition in A Coruña of the Congress "LO QUE DE VERDAD IMPORTA" (LQDVI) to be held at Palexco today.
The LQDVI Foundation has among its general aims to promote the development of the universal human, ethic and moral values through the promotion of social, cultural, scientific, sport activities in favour of the environment, the development of the information society and the research to approach these universal values to the public in general.
LQDVI Foundation intends to inspire awareness in youngster's consciousness by showing them inspiring examples to open up their minds towards possibilities they have in front of them, to build up their responsibility towards what surrounds them and their attitude to life.

On our etc... page, we've posted videos of Jaume Sanllorente, Irene Villa & Toni Nadal.

GOING UNDERGROUND: A JOURNEY THROUGH LONDON & ITS HISTORY

On Wednesday, 16th at 12:30h, some of our students will be attending a theatre play at the assembly hall of nearby EOI (Language school) at 12:30h. We'll be watching the play "GOING UNDERGROUND" by Moving On Theatre Company. In their typical own style, we'll be enjoying the British capital, its culture, its history, and, of course, its Underground. The show has been performed 226 times last year with total success and positive feeback.

Plot: The London Underground is the oldest and one of the biggest in the world, The history and culture of Britain's capital city are inextricably linked with its famous Underground. A train journey through its stations is a journey through time and the chance to savour all that London has to offer. Apart from 273 Underground stations in use, there are more than 40 "Ghost stations", closed to public and trains. In times of economic crisis, there are plans to convert some of these stations into underground car parks.

Bob is an eccentric teacher with a passion for the history of London. Today she is taking her students to Down Street Station so they can see its original state before the works begin to demolish it. When they arrive at the station, they find Harry, whose great grandfather built the station working there. The attempts to convince the authorities not to go ahead with the demolition will take us all on a comical, musical and educational journey through London and its history. Together, we will try and save the station and Harry's home.

Video "Going Underground" @ EOI-A Coruña, March 2011:

"EL CABALLERO DE OLMEDO", CLASSIC SPANISH THEATRE IN OUR CITY

[Photo Luís Laforga. Website: teatrocorsario.com]

"EL CABALLERO DE OLMEDO" by Lope de Vega is being performed this weekend in A Coruña at the Rosalia Castro Theatre. 1st BAC students from our school will be attending the play next Monday, 28th at 11:30h. This version is performed by the Teatro Corsario theatre company, from Castilla-Leon, directed by Fernando Urdiales. It's a comedy, where love and death depend on destiny. It's a good oportunity to watch a classic Spanish theatre play, which has been granted great critic reviews and several awards.

Plot: Lord Alonso, a noble gentleman from Olmedo, falls in love with Lady Inés at Medina's fair and lets her know by means of a go-between. But Lady Inés is also being dated by another gentleman who asks to marry her. As she's in love with Lord Alonso, she tells her father that she wants to become a nun to escape from this engagement. Knowing about what is happening and full of jealousy, Lord Rodrigo, the gentleman who wooes Lady Inés, decides to kill Lord Alonso. So he does it at night on his way back to Olmedo from Medina, unhearing the popular folk song that predicts his death.

INFINITIVE OR GERUND?, GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

Sometimes we need to decide whether to use a verb in its: -ing form, gerund (doing, singing) or infinitive form (to do, to sing). For example, only one of the following sentences is correct. Which one?

We decided to take a taxi OR We decided taking a taxi

A) WHEN TO USE AN INFINITIVE:
1-always used AFTER ADJECTIVES, for example: disappointed, glad, happy, pleased, relieved, sad, surprised...

I was happy to help them. She will be delighted to see you.

- Including TOO+ADJECTIVE: The water was too cold to swim in.

Is your coffee too hot to drink?

- It is used after ADJECTIVE+ENOUGH: He was strong enough to lift it.

She is rich enough to buy two.

2- It's used to express PURPOSE*: He phoned to invite me to a party

*For+somebody+TO DO+something: This bench is for us to sit on /

*For+ing: A knife is used for cutting

3- It's always used after QUESTION WORDS+ a verb:

I don't know how to do it. He didn't say when to call him.

4- The infinitive form is used after certain verbs:- agree, allow, can/can't afford, choose, decide, encourage, expect, forget, help, hope, learn, manage, mean, offer, plan, pretend, promise, recommend, refuse, teach, train, want...

I forgot to close the window. We can't afford to take a long holiday.

5- With other verbs the structure is: VERB+(obj)+TO* infinitive: -allow, ask, expect,

help, invite, mean, order, recommend, remind, teach, tell, want, warn...The police ordered the people to leave.

He wanted me to go with him. I warned him not to come back late.

!!*- make & let: verb+obj.+infinitive without to. Let me do it.

6- Always with MODAL VERBS+infinitive without to: - can/could, may/might, must, need, shall/should, will/would. (Except: ought to).

She can swim very well. I'll see you tomorrow. You mustn't do that.

You should go to the doctor. / You ought to go to the doctor.

B) WHEN TO USE A GERUND (-ing):
1- The -ing form is used as a noun and is the subject of a sentence or clause:

Swimming is good exercise. Doctors say that smoking is bad for you.

2- The -ing form is ALWAYS used after a PREPOSITION:
They left without saying "goodbye".

or a VERB+PREPOSITION*: - succeed in, insist on, think of...

He insisted on taking me home.

or EXPRESSIONS*: - it's no good/use, have difficulty, go+-ing...

It's no use in complaining He goes swimming every Tuesday.

!!* Watch out with:

- USED TO+infinitive: He used to wear glasses.

- BE/GET USED TO+ing: He's used to getting up early.

- LOOK FORWARD TO+ing: They are looking forward to visiting us this summer.

3- The -ing form is used after certain verbs: avoid, can/can't stand, carry on, dislike, enjoy, fancy, finish, give up, imagine, keep on, mind/not mind, miss, practise
I dislike getting up early. Would you mind opening the window?

C) Some verbs can be followed by the -ing form or the infinitive:
1) Without a big change in meaning: begin, continue, hate, intend, like*, love, prefer*, propose, start.
It started to rain. (common) - It started raining.
I like to play tennis. (it's good, right) - I like playing tennis. (I enjoy it).
!!*would like to+infinitive: I would like to live here.

!!*prefer +ing to +ing: I prefer driving to travelling by train.

prefer to infinitive rather than...: I prefer to drive rather than to travel by train.

would prefer to infinitive rather than...: I'd prefer to stay (rather than leave).

2) Others have a change of meaning depending on which is used:
- REMEMBER / REGRET

I remember posting the letter. (= He remembers having done it. After)
Remember to post the letter when you go out. (Before doing it, remind you to do it.)
- NEED

I need to do more exercise. (It's necessary for me).
The batteries need changing. (Need as a modal verb. It needs to be done.).
- STOP

I stopped to talk to him. (It tells the reason for stopping).
He stopped walking. (It tells the action which stopped).
- TRY

I tried to keep my eyes open. (Effort, attempt).
Try pressing this button. (Experiment, test).

Here are links to practice and test yourself:

http://www.edu.ge.ch/cptic/prospective/anglais/exercises/gerund2.htm

http://a4esl.org/q/f/z/zz97mkm.htm
http://www.english-zone.com/grammar/ger-inf01.html
http://academic.cuesta.edu/ahalderma/gerinfinq.htm
http://www.testyourenglish.net/english-online/grammarquiz/gerinf.html
http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/420.html
http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bl_verbform1.htm

LONDON: 10 IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW (+ some spectacular photos of London by night)

The Big Ben

The river Thames & the Tower Bridge

London's Eye

Canary Wharf

Picadilly Circus

As an extensión to the 1st BAC classroom listening of a teenager describing how is his life in London, we include this post with a video-listening with the ten most important things to know about the city before visiting it, just as we did with New York. To illustrate the post some spectacular photos of London views at night.

Video 10 important things about London:

NEW YORK: 10 IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

To practice writing about a place, 1st BAC student's book proposes a description of New York. But we can practice listening about New York, too. Here's a video with the top ten things you need to know about this amazing city before you visit it.

Video on New York:

2011, INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FORESTS

The year 2011 was declared the International Year of Forests by the United Nations to raise awareness and strengthen the sustainable forest management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.
Forests are an integral part of global sustainable development. According to World Bank estimates, more than 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods. The forest product industry is a source of economic growth and employment, with global forest products traded internationally in the order of $270 billion.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that every year 130,000 km² of the world's forests are lost due to deforestation. Conversion to agricultural land, unsustainable harvesting of timber, unsound land management practices, and creation of human settlements are the most common reasons for this loss of forested areas.
According to the World Bank, deforestation accounts for up to 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. FAO data estimates that the world's forests and forest soil store more than one trillion tons of carbon – twice the amount found in the atmosphere.
The World Bank estimates that forests provide habitats to about two-thirds of all species on earth, and that deforestation of closed tropical rainforests could account for biodiversity loss of as many as 100 species a day.
Governments, regional and international organizations and civil society organizations are expected to create national committees and designate focal points in their respective countries to facilitate organization of activities in support of the International Year of Forests.

Video about DEFORESTATION: