GLOGGING WITH GLOGSTER

Glogster, another interesting tool for my English classes. It is a social network that lets you create multimedia posters called glogs. A glog can include a combination of text, images, photos, MP3 audio, videos, links and other features based on Adobe Flash elements, so it is possible for readers to interact with it. 

The following glog is an experiment I did to become familiar with the tool. I wish I had known about it when my 2º BACH students were working on their political speeches in December. That oral task was the inspiration that led me to do this. Things can only get better with experience. Or, at least, that's what I hope.

JOKE OF THE DAY

A Swiss man, looking for directions, pulls up at a bus stop where two Americans are waiting. “Entschuldigung, koennen Sie Deutsch sprechen?” he asks. The two Americans just stare at him. “Excusez-moi, parlez vous Français?” he tries. The two continue to stare. “Parlare Italiano?” No response. “¿Hablan ustedes español?” Still nothing. The Swiss guy drives off, extremely disgusted. The first American turns to the second and says, “Y’know, maybe we should learn a foreign language.” “Why?” says the other. “That guy knew four languages, and it didn't do him any good.”

BLOG STATS

Not bad for a four-week old blog!!! I wonder what the American, Russian and German visitors have to do with this joint. I'm just as curious as they are.

MOSQUITO SOUND TEST

Our hearing ability ranges from 20 Hz up to 20,000 Hz. As we get older, the 20 kHz upper limit decreases. This phenomenon is medically known as presbycusis. Therefore, it is possible to generate high frequencies that are audible only to teenagers. Since these high pitched sounds are uncomfortable to withstand, they can be used -for example- to repel loitering teenagers in the street, as in the case of street-drinking parties, popularly known in Spain as botellones. In contrast, these sounds are also used as ringtones by a considerable number of youngsters who don't want their incoming calls to be detected by their teachers.

If you can hear this mosquito sound, it means you either are young or your ears are still in very good condition. So press PLAY and tell us about your experience!

                                       

Well, there seems to be a problem with the previous recording because even I can hear the noise, so now I'm including this second test which I'm sure most people won't pass. Turn on your loudspeakers and clean the wax off your ears. Ready? Here we go again...

EXPERIMENTING WITH VOKI

Click PLAY to listen to my message.

As you can see, that is not my real voice, but it is possible to make your own recordings if you like.

SUMMER COURSES FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDENTS

The Xunta de Galicia has recently announced the concession of grants for students in public schools who want to improve their foreign language skills through summer courses.

            

These courses are either in English or French. They are held in Galicia for E.S.O. students and abroad (Canada, France or the UK) for Bachillerato and Vocational Training students. The duration varies from two to three weeks.

For further information, you can check both of these links:

https://workspaces.acrobat.com/?d=wGGtzj9bgKuTTbubM-ZBTA

https://workspaces.acrobat.com/?d=eH31060bAeCyIR81IWmJAw

APRIL FOOL’S DAY

Last Thursday, an English teacher was abducted by aliens as he was driving home from a procession in Boiro. Two witnesses reported to have seen his car being lifted in the air and swallowed by a U.F.O. which left the area at the speed of light immediately afterwards.

Two days later, the police found his car lying on the roof of an old barn two miles away. What’s more surprising, they received a phone call informing them that the teacher had arrived home. A medical check-up confirmed that he was in an excellent physical condition. The doctors, however, are not too sure about his mental state. They base their suspicion on their own observations and the information provided by the people who are closely related to him. They all agree that the man does not behave as he used to. Prior to his abduction, he was renowned for his strictness. “A real hard nut”, his pupils always say. “Impossible to get an A, or even a B, with such a bloke".

The teacher, whose name cannot be revealed to protect his family's request for privacy, now intends to make up for his stern past. In a recent chat with one of his colleagues, he stated: "I feel sorry for what I've done to those kids. The aliens made me listen to that goddamned song over and over again, till I finally realised what a pain in the ass I was. The time for me to change has come".

Here is the song. You can judge for yourself.