School uniforms

In unit 3 we are dealing with school and subjects. A quite common debate when talking about school is the use of uniforms. We don't wear uniforms at Norba school, but what do you think about them. Here you have some pros and cons of using them:


PROS:
-School uniforms save parents money.
-School uniforms save time. Kids don't have to make up their minds on what to wear every morning.
-Kids whose parents can't buy them the newest fad would not be embarrassed or harassed because of their clothes.
-Kids aren't valued by their economic status.
-School uniforms prevent gangs which use clothes to identify themselves.
-Uniforms make it easy to identify kids who belong in the school and those that don't.


CONS:
-School uniforms are expensive and have no use outside of school.
-School uniforms cut down on students' individuality.
-School uniforms make it impossible to identify missing teenagers, offenders, etc.
-Uniforms teach children that in order to get along everyone must conform to the same standards.
-Children will still ask for designer labels for outside of school clothing. (Uniforms will not make this issue go away.)
-A school uniform policy inhibits a student's freedom of choice.

http://www.youdebate.com/DEBATES/school_uniforms.HTM

A SONG ABOUT A FAMOUS CITY: NEW YORK

A PLACE TO VISIT

It's autumn. The weather is perfect: not too hot, not too cold. Next week we have a short break, so this is a good moment to organize a trip, long or short, it doesn't matter. What place do you think we should visit?




Irene: In autumn I strongly recommend you to visit the Valley of Jerte. The colours at this time of the year are amazingly beautiful, the coppers, ochres, reds and golds of the different trees; the streams, the waterfalls, the river, the light, the clouds on top of the mountains. The landscape is beautiful and the valley is just one hour's drive from Cáceres. You can stay in a hotel, in a rural house in one of the villages, in a farm or even in a shepherd hut. And you can also enjoy local food: traditional dishes prepared from very old recipes. Do you fancy going?

Les: What about going to Ireland? Its quite far away but it is very beautiful at this time of year. Glendalough is a scenic valley in the Wicklow Mountains. There are two very large lakes between two mountains and many old graves. There is a round tower and many old buildings from the time of Saint Kevin, who was a monk who lived there many years ago. You can climb the mountains, hire a boat, learn about the past in the museum or even just admire the landscape.

WE PLAYED TWO GAMES

We had fun playing two games with Les, our Irish assistant teacher. The aims of the games were to find places in a plan and missing objects in a living room. We played in groups and we did it really well. Here you have some of the cards we used.

IN TOWN

We are in Unit 2, learning about places, describing towns and villages and drawing and following plans and maps. Here we have some nice plans of shopping centres 1st year students have designed.

TEST 1. REVISION

Last week we did our first test. Some people did really well but some people need more practice. In our site you can download an exercise to revise the verb TO BE, questions, subject pronouns and possessive adjectives. If you got under 70 in the written test you have to do it for homework.

WORLD MUSIC

Today we were listening to music from different countries: Brazil, Cuba, China, Ireland, Australia. Add comments telling us about your favourite singers or groups. What kind of music do you prefer? Do you have a favourite song? Do you like its rhythm, its lyrics? Please, tell us.

COUNTRIES QUIZ

We did the quiz on p. 4 and prepared our own cards to keep playing.
True or false?
Have a look at some of our cards.

YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME

Complete with the words missing and sing along:




YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME

troubles-love-smarter-road-stronger-friendship-bed-see-folks

You've got a friend in me, You've got a friend in me
When the _________ looks rough ahead
And you're miles and miles from your nice warm _________
You just remember what your old pal said
Boy, you've got a friend in me, you've got a friend in me.
You've got a friend in me, You've got a friend in me
You've got ___________ , well I've got 'em too
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you
We stick together and we _________ it through
‘cause you've got a friend in me, you've got a friend in me
Some other ___________ might be a little bit _______ than I am
Bigger and ________ too. Maybe
But none of them will ever _______ you the way I do
It's me and you, boy.
And as the years go by, our _________ will never die
You're gonna see it's our destiny
You've got a friend in me, you've got a friend in me,
You've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

OUR TOY STORIES

These are the stories of our favourite toys. We don't play with them any longer, but they used to be our best friends. Read our comments...