School subjects

Resolutions for this New School Year

September is a great time to reflect on the changes we want to or need to make in our studies. This is a good set of ideas for you to improve your results:

Keep a calendar

1. Stop procrastinating. Don't postpone  the work you have to do. Do it as soon as possible as tasks usually take longer than expected.
2. Commit yourself to getting good grades. Good grades are essential for  any student. They will help you get to your favourite "instituto", faculty, etc. so make your mind up and start right now.
3. If a subject is too difficult, ask your teacher outside school, study for the subject with other classmates but don't leave anything that looks too difficult for the end of the term when you won't have much time for everything.
4. Don’t do it all. It’s better to concentrate on a few things and excel in them than if you join every sport, activity and club that you comes accross. Just do a couple of things and make sure you have plenty of time for your studies.
5. Keep a calendar. Deadlines creep up quickly. And the closer the date, the more you’ll feel the pressure. You can use a traditional paper diary or use an online calendar, such as Google Calendar but all exams and deadlines should be written down.
6. Take your exams seriously and study for them on time. Waiting for a second chance is not a good idea as you will be losing opportunities
7. Don't forget handing your school reports on time and remember that a percentage of your final qualification depends on them so don't underestimate their importance.
8. Try something new. Secondary school is a great time to spread your wings. It’s about new experiences and self-discovery. You can try a new sport, learn a new language, find new topics of interest or join an NGO. Just try.
9. Explore your possibilities for the future, consider what you would like to study and find information about those studies, where they can be carried out, etc.
10. Banish the self-doubt. Doubting your own abilities only holds you back from achieving what you want to achieve. Just say no to these thoughts and others like them:
• “I can’t do this.”
• “I’m not as smart as my classmates.”
• “I’ll never get better than a 2.7 grade-point average.”
• “I’ll only get into a community college anyway”
• “There’s no point in thinking I’ll get into my first choice college.”

adapted from http://internationalcollegecounselors.com/es/10-new-year-resolutions-for-high-school-students/

Student vocabulary

Rules for students and teachers

RULES FOR STUDENTS

• You must be respectful.
• You don't have to wear a uniform.
• You don't have to have lunch at school.
• You mustn't eat in class.
• You mustn't use your phone at school.
• You mustn't cheat in your exams.
• You mustn't run inside the school.
• You have to come to school on weekdays from 6 to 16 years old.
• From 3 to 6 years old you don't have to come to school but you can.
• You mustn't speak in class.
• You must ask for permission if you want to go to the toilet.

RULES FOR TEACHERS

• Teachers must explain lessons.
• Teachers must be respectful with students.
• Teachers mustn't eat, drink or smoke in class. You can drink some water if needed.
• Teachers must follow the director's directions.
• Teachers mustn't put their feet on their desk.
• Teachers must help students.
• Teachers mustn't sleep in class.
• Teachers have to come to school on weekdays.
• Teachers must pay for the lunch if they have lunch at the school canteen.
• Teachers don't have to wear a uniform.
• Teachers and students must say please and thank you.
• Teachers mustn't hit the students.

Hilarious rules around the world.

Language courses abroad for Galician students

Cartel informativo 2018 from Ana Arias Castro

Irregular verbs

As we are about to start studying and using the past participle tense, you need to revise and learn the irregular forms of verbs. So here you are some useful websites for you to have a look at once you have read throught the list provided in class:

• TABLE of irregular verbs
• irregular verb audio list
  

  

  from lovelylanguage.com
  

  
  

• irregular verbs 3
• irregular verbs 4
• irregular verbs 5
• irregular verbs 6
• verb mix 1
• verb mix 2
• verb mix 3
• verb mix 4
• test 1
• test 2
• test 3
• fill in the gaps-senteces
• crosswords-past participles

Reading comprehension text: Internet access around the world

TEXT

Original text by Greg Sterling Marketing Land

In a new global Mobile Media Consumption report, it is said that, outside the US and UK, mobile media time spent now exceeds TV. However in the US, TV is still first. The Mobile Media Consumption research  had aboout 14,000 respondents in 14 countries. 

In emerging and especially less affluent markets, the report also confirms that mobile media time exceeds the PC internet. That’s now also true in the US.

Also consistent with other data, it is said that 61 percent of mobile internet users are on their devices while watching TV. The  figures for the US market are even more pronounced: “84 percent of smartphone and tablet owners say they use their devices as second-screens while watching TV at the same time.”

According to this research this second screening is dominated by social activity, including social networking and texting.

Outside the US and UK smartphones are preferred for conducting most types of internet activities except for “shopping,” which in the report includes all purchases, banking and travel.

The report also finds that globally people are going online primarily via mobile or spending the same internet time using the mobile and the PC. Those who go online “mostly via computer” are now a small minority:

• Mostly via Desktop — 11 percent

• Evenly split between both mobile and PC — 28 percent

• Mostly via mobile — 37 percent

• Only via mobile — 23 percent

More significantly, outside the US and UK markets, the report says that mobile media now have a greater influence on shopping decisions than TV. TV was second followed by the PC internet.

The final portion of the report is about mobile commerce, with the assertion (excluding the US and UK) that “83 percent of consumers plan to conduct mobile commerce in the next 12 months, a 15 percent increase from where we are today.”

So, in general, mobile internet time is now greater than PC internet time. Many audience segments prefer mobile to PC internet access and mobile commerce is growing.

adapted from http://marketingland.com/outside-us-60-percent-internet-access-mostly-mobile-74498

QUESTIONS:

1. Do people spend more time watching TV or using their smartphones? Is it the same everywhere?
2. Look at the first infographic. What does "the media" mean?
3. What is a "device"?
4. Where do more people watch TV and use their smartphones at the same time?
5. What is "second screening"?
6. What type of smartphone use is made while watching TV? reading books, shopping, social-media, writing emails...?
7. Are mobile media relevant for shopping decisions?
8. Do many people plan to buy goods via internet in the next 12 months? Is that your case?
9. Finally, how has internet changed our life?

Tips for learning English

by Luana Fischer-Banco Imágenes ITE

It is always a good time to try and improve the way you are learning a language. There is some advice that you might find useful in "10 Tips for Language Learning success". This is a summary of these 10 important tips:   

1. Set realistic expectations . Don't try to learn more than it is reasonable to do. Be realistic and set goals that you can finally achieve.    
2. Break study time into smaller chunks. Shorter periods of study time are more effective than longer periods, so try to find short periods for your study time several times a day or between other school subjects you have to study.    
3. Learn vocabulary effectively. Vocabulary is essential in any language, use different techniques that might help you: flash cards, a notebok, dictionaries, etc.    
4. Practice language actively, read texts and vocabulary orally or aloud because speaking helps a lot.    
5. Do homework conscientiously. Homework can be useful if you spend some extra time, look up new words, pay attention, etc.    
6. Form study groups. Work with your classmates to practice the language. All of you will benefit from one another.    
7. Identify your learning style. Every person learns differently, maybe you are better at grammar, learning vocabulary... or you remember things that you see better than those that you hear. Just identify your style and make the most of it. This website provides a questionnaire that might help you find your learning style.    
8. Maximaze your language exposure. Be in contact with English as much as possible: DVDs, television, songs, speaking to foreigners...    
9. Spend time on task, don't waste any time, try to do extra activities for learning English whenever you have finished the activity you are supposed to do.    
10. Communicate with your instructor. If you have a teacher, make the most of it. Don't concentrate on marks, try to learn