Brush it up

bloguer

2007-10-25T02:23:00.000-07:00

blog spot

The best cook

2007-05-06T07:06:00.000-07:00

The hotel Catalonia Berna located at Roger de Lluria in Barcelona needs a new cook. Applications are invited for one cook post.

First task
You have to write a recipe for a first course, a second course and a dessert.

You are recommended to use the following web: http://www.wikiwax.com/
You have to write the word recipes and click onto wikibooks cookbook.
Another web which could be used is http://cocina.lasalvacion.com/. As the recipes are in Spanish, they should be translated into English by using the translator.

Second task
You'll learn vocabulary about:
1. Cooking techniques (poaching, roasting, grilling, baking..... )

2. kitchen tools ( pots and pans, cutlery, crockery ...... )

3. Nutrition (antioxidants, calories, fats, fiber, minerals, proteins, vitamins)

4. Basic food groups (dairy products, cereals, fruit, special diets )

Third task
We will work about Nutrition along with the Science department. The healthiest recipes according to the nutritional value will be chosen

Writing-Selectivitat (using the dictionary)

2007-04-18T09:44:00.000-07:00

Choose one topic. Write either 1 or 2. Minimum length: 100 words. (0-4 points)

1. Imagine you are a journalist interviewing Wangari Maathai. Write an interview where you ask about her project and its acceptance by African governments.

2. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper explaining the need to apply Maathai’s planting method of land protection in your own country. Explain the reasons why her plan would be beneficial for land, family and community improvement..

1st sample

Newspaper
C/ Doctors 12
08012 Barcelona
20^th June 2005

Dear Editor,

I am writing to you because I feel it is absolutely necessary for our country to apply a planting method of land protection and I have a suggestion you would probably find interesting.

This planting method has been carried out by a Kenyan environmentalist, Wangari Maathai, and has had successful results in her country.

Maathai method would not be good only for land but also for a lot of families who would improve their social life. We can not forget our huge problems related to dry fields and some cases of deforestation which need a lot of help. In my opinion, planting trees around our country would improve our situation.

It would also help poor families to do something for our society as well as their own families. This method is a good way of given people a good sense of social concern.

It would be very kind of you if you could think about it for a while.

Thanks a lot for your attention.

Yours sincerely

___________________________________________________________

2nd sample
LaVanguardia
Av. Diagonal 347
08024 Barcelona

20th of June

Dear Sir/Miss,

I am writing to explain a project that has been developed in Kenya since 1977, and I personally think, would be useful in our society.

I am sure you have read about it in newspapers, it is Wangari Maathai’s project. In my opinion, this plan could be beneficial for land, now that our country is starting to be devastated by motorways, which will affect us enormously in a short period.

Second of all, I think that Catalan women are not independent enough, not as much as men, and I am sure this project would help them a lot.

Finally, I think that the community in general would agree to apply this plan, because there is not much vegetation in big cities, and this makes them very boring.

I hope the idea is cheerfully accepted.

Yours sincerely

________________________________________________________________

3rd sample

Greenpeace News
Ladybird Street, 89
4301 Oxford (UK)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you in regard to a new planting method that would help fighting against deforestation and land erosion in our country.

Taking the original idea from Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan environmentalist, the plan would consist in beggining to assume the task of tree plantation. This simple task , as many African countries have already proved it is obviously beneficial for land, but also for the community improvement, since __ helps people being aware of social and environmental problems and by getting conscience of the problems the solution gets closer.

In addition, the Green Belt Movement would help the country’s economy and this way it would improve the quality of life too, since the benefit taken from the wood would be shared regarding to each family’s need.

I hope you seriously consider the idea and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully

Bridt Wülfen

___________________________________________________________________

4th sample

______________

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to you to tell you I think the Maathai’s planting will be good in our country. Nowadays there are a lot of buildings and in fact they are making more and more residential buildings and using a green areas to do that. I think that if we use the Maathai’s planting method we will have more green areas and in the other hand we will combat the erosion and we will produce sustainable wood for the uses that we need more. And if we do that we will helping the environment of the country and world. I wish you understood me because I think that is a good idea for all I said. You have to think that the environment will be the future of the humanity and we have to do anything now. It is right, other countries are worse than Spain and all the countries must begin to work in the environment now because with some years __ will be so late.

Yours faithfully. (Thanks for all)

_______________________________________________________________

4th sample

-Hello Wangari

-Hi

-You have been recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the creation of the Green Belt Movement. Could you explain us a little bit about what this organization is?

-Basically, The Green Belt Movement is an organization which employs women with poor resources in the area of Sudan and Kenya. Those women’s jobs are to plant trees and, in this way, help protecting the forests and the land.

-So, how could you recive a peace prize for such an organization?

-Well, because the Green Belt Movement isn't only an organization to protect the environment. The reforestation prevents conflicts which are caused by the lack of fertile soil.

- It seems as your organization helps society in many ways. Are there more benefits you would like to tell us about?

- Yes. By employing women we help them to become more independent and this benefits all the family structure.

- Thanks for giving us such impressive and amazing explanations.

- Thanks to you. Bye!

-Bye!

_____________________________________________________________

5th sample

Dear director,

One__ __ reasons of my letter are __I think the Maathai´s planting method of land protection may be beneficial to our country.

You know that our country has got a lot of slabs of arid soil, the women don't work because the gobernment don't want it and the family is very destroying.

The Maathai's planting method has resolt this problems on other country. and I think that it may do in the our country too. I know very well the problems of women, of arid soil and of family, and if the country no to stop this problems, it will increasing very much.

Love

Writing a poem

2007-03-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

When you are writing a story or a poem, think about the thing you are describing. try to see the thing in your head like a photograph. Then describe the thing as if you can see it and tell your reader what it looks like.

Use your other senses, too - smell, touch, hearing and

Read this description of strawberries:

I love ripe, juicy strawberries!

they smell sweet like candyfloss

and they shine like jewels.

I love the way they squash in my mouth

and all the juice explode onto my tongue

TASK

Write a similar description of cherries

Analyzing an advertisement

2007-03-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

Dressing to impress

Summer is here, and for many of us, that means moving the dining table outdoors at every opportunity, and ejoying summer's crisp salads and full flavoured dishes al fresco. Extra virgin olive oilis the obvious accompaniment - a healthy, tasty and richly flavoured ingredient to complement any dish.

Spain produces more than half of the world's olive oil and has spent hundreds of years perfecting its "liquid gold". Carbonell, a household name in spain, has been producing consistent, quality olive oil in Cordoba, in the south of Spain, since 1866. Carbonell's special selection extra virgin olive oil is created from the first pressing of freshly picked and selected olives from the region. It has flavours of exotic fruits and melons with a sweet , slightly, peppery aftertaste.

When you lay the table for a meal or a barbecue this summer, make sure you have a bottle of Carbonell extra virgin olive oil to hand to drizzle over fresh salads and lightly cooked vegetables for a subtle tangy flavour. Or use it as a marinade for poultry and fish to give added tenderness and flavour.

Bring a splash of Mediterranean sun to your food every day.

TASK

Write two adjectives which qualify the noun "ingredient"
Spot two adjectives which qualify the noun "oil" -paragraph 2-
Write down all the adverbs you come across in the advertisement.
Can you write the past simple of the verb "lay" -paragraph 3-
ind out a noun whose suffix is -ness. Can you write other examples?
Why is "has been producing"-p.3- used in the sentence?
Why are there so many adjectives in the text?
Write an advertisement ( food, drink..)

You can have some references clicking here

Writing letters

2007-03-26T03:12:00.000-07:00

Write a letter to your friend, telling them about your trip to the zoo

Remember:

Use informal language
use interesting descriptions
Finish your letter with "Love" or "Love from"

Ideas to include:

Your favourite animal
Did you see any animals being fed?
Did you buy anything at the zoo shop?

English humour..

2007-03-17T04:54:00.000-07:00

A good example of English humour. Do you want to have a look?

Hi, languageaholics!!

2007-03-17T04:03:00.000-07:00

If you want to chill out a bit you´ve reached the site where you can wander through a path of readings, grammar and vocabulary work. Give it a whirl, let me know and enjoy language.