Wanted: Young Volunteers

Taken from http://www.hacesfalta.org/noticias/detalle/?utm_source=BandejaCorreo&utm_medium=Mailing&utm_campaign=BoletinHF&IdPost=3055.

¿Eres menor de 30 años, licenciado y no tienes trabajo? Si quieres vivir una experiencia de voluntariado internacional pero en estos tiempos que corren no puedes permitirte el viaje, aquí tienes algunas opciones que pueden resultar interesantes...

 La crisis te ha pillado de pleno. Eres joven, licenciad@ y no tienes trabajo. Te apetece hacer voluntariado, no te importaría cruzar el charco, pero no tienes recursos para pagarte el viaje. Tranquil@, que como dice mi abuela, todo en esta vida tiene solución. Puedes optar por alguna de estas opciones, que te permitirán hacer un voluntariado internacional, practicar idiomas, reforzar currículum y, además, ¡te cubren todos los gastos!

• Servicio Voluntario Europeo: dirigido a jóvenes de entre 18 y 30 años para realizar una experiencia de voluntariado a tiempo completo en algún país distinto al tuyo (normalmente de la Unión Europea). La estancia es de dos a doce meses, e incluye apoyo lingüístico para que aprendas la lengua del país de acogida.
• Programa Jóvenes Cooperantes: para jóvenes de hasta 30 años, este programa proporciona un contrato de 9 meses para trabajar en un proyecto de cooperación de la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID). ¿Qué requisitos debes cumplir? Estar inscrito como demandante de empleo y ser licenciado en alguna de las carreras que se piden en cada edición.
• Becas de la AECID: la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo ofrece a los jóvenes varias oportunidades. Por un lado, puedes acceder a una beca de formación en la sede de la AECID y en alguna de sus Unidades de Cooperación en el Exterior, si eres menor de 30 años y tienes formación en cooperación; o puedes optar por una plaza de Joven Experto de Naciones Unidas, en función de tu formación y de las plazas abiertas.
• Programa de Voluntariado de Naciones Unidas: en este caso, el requisito de edad es de mínimos (25 años), pero no hay techo. Debes ser técnico o titulado universitario y es recomendable que ya hayas participado como voluntario en terreno.

Conseguir plaza en uno de estos programas no es fácil, pero no te desanimes. Ten en cuenta estos consejos a la hora de postular y ponle muchas ganas. ¡Suerte!

Deadly E. Coli Strikes Europe

Some news about heatlth and food from the 3rd June.
Make sure you understand all the highlighted words and expressions.

The deadly bacteria that has killed 18 people in Europe is a new form of E. coli, the World Health Organization (WHO) says. Scientists are scrambling to find out more about the deadly strain behind the European outbreak. As well as the dead, more than 1,600 people are sick. This new outbreak is the deadliest in modern history and is the third in terms of the number of people made ill because of it. The source of the outbreak remains unknown. Germany was quick to blame Spanish cucumbers but this now appears not to be the case. Most of the sick and dead either live in Germany or recently travelled there. Authorities believe the bacteria is on salad vegetables and warned people to avoid eating salad and cook all vegetables.
The WHO says the new E. coli strain could be from a genetic merger of two different E. coli bacteria that has resulted in a super-strong bug. E. coli mostly spreads via food contaminated with human or animal feces. It leads to diarrhoea and vomiting, and can lead to kidney failure and death. Doctors say it is essential for people to wash their hands regularly to avoid contact with the bacteria, especially before eating. The outbreak is affecting Europe’s economy. Russia has banned all fruit and vegetable imports from the European Union, a move that could cost EU farmers billions. Spain’s politicians are asking Germany for compensation for blaming Spanish cucumbers for the outbreak.

Taken from http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1106/110603-e-coli.html

School Bans Hugging and High-Fives

News from 28th, May

Make sure you undestand all the highlighted words and expressions.

A high school in London has banned students from all forms of physical contact with each other. The Quest Academy has warned students not to hug, shake hands, or give high-fives. The school was briefly the centre of attention a week ago when US president Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron visited it. The two leaders perhaps broke the school rules with their back-slapping and high-fives during a game of table tennis with students. The idea behind the banning is to help prevent bullying, according to school principal Andy Croft. He said: "Physical contact between students is not allowed at the academy because it is often associated with poor behaviour or bullying and can lead to fighting."

Students and parents are up in arms at the new rules. Student Dayna Chong, 15, received detention for cuddling her female friend. She said: "They're trying to turn us into robots." Her mother called the policy “extreme” and “ludicrous”. She said: "If the kids can't even hug each other at school some of them will never learn how to be socially interactive.” She added: “School is supposed to be where we start teaching our children how to be social - shaking hands, hugging, opening up. You need an embrace to comfort you when things go wrong. I've never heard of anything so crazy in my life." Mr Croft disagreed, saying his policy, “creates a disciplined environment which is essential for learning and respect”.


TRUE / FALSE: Read the article. Say if  a-h  below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	A London school said students cannot shake hands with each other.	T / F
b.	Barack Obama visited the school.	T / F
c.	The government put the new law in place.	T / F
d.	The school principal said physical contact led to bullying.	T / F
e.	Parents agree with the new rules.	T / F
f.	A student said the school was trying to turn students into robots.	T / F
g.	A mother said school kids shouldn’t be hugging each other at school.	T / F
h.	The principal thinks the new rules are totally crazy.

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	banned	a.	momentarily
2	warned	b.	stop
3.	briefly	c.	ridiculous
4.	prevent	d.	embracing
5.	lead to	e.	angry
6.	up in arms	f.	prohibited
7.	cuddling	g.	vital
8.	ludicrous	h.	cautioned
9.	comfort	i.	result in
10.	essential	j.	support

YOUR OPINION

1. What do you think of the new physical contact rules at Quest Academy?2. Which is / was your most hated school rule?
3. Were Barack Obama and David Cameron bad role models?
4. How often did / do you break school rules?
5. Can any rules prevent bullying?2.

Healthy news

Some latest news about health and diet.
Check that you know and understand the highlighted words and expressions:

Family Meals Keep Kids Slimmer (3rd May, 2011)

A new study shows that family meals help children stay slim. Researchers from the University of Illinois found that kids who eat at the table with their family are healthier and have a lower risk of obesity. The research team also says that sitting down for breakfast, lunch or dinner teaches children healthy eating habits. Researcher Dr Amber Hammons wrote: “Families that eat five or more meals together have children who are up to 25 per cent less likely to encounter nutritional health issues.”
Family meals also encourage other positive behaviour in children. They learn better manners sitting at the table and are more sociable because they join their parents’ conversation. This is not the case with children who eat alone or who sit in front of the television with their meal. In recent decades, more and more children sit on the sofa watching TV. This can lead to their food going cold and them not eating it. Eating alone also means the child misses out on developing social skills.

Coffee And Cola Can Lead To Strokes (7th May, 2011)

Scientists have discovered various activities that increase the risk of a type of stroke. These include vigorous exercise, drinking coffee and cola, blowing your nose, and even being startled. Researchers at Holland’s University Medical Center in Utrecht looked at 250 patients for three years to identify what starts bleeding in the brain that leads to a stroke. A sudden increase in blood pressure can cause blood vessels to burst, which can result in brain damage or death.
The researchers said drinking coffee was the most common risk factor. The lead researcher, Dr Monique Vlak, said: "All of the triggers [create] a sudden and short increase in blood pressure, which seems a possible cause for [blood vessel] rupture." The study is a reminder to us all to think more about high blood pressure. Doctors call it the “silent killer” because it can kill us before we know we have it. It is essential to have regular health checks to monitor your blood pressure.

Doctors Refusing to Treat Overweight Women (19th May, 2011)

Doctors in Florida are refusing to treat women if they are overweight. A report from the Sun Sentinel newspaper says that 15 out of 105 gynaecology clinics in Florida have a weight limit. Doctors at the clinics will not see new patients if they weigh more than 90kg. This is even if the women have no health problems. One of the excuses they gave reporters is that their medical equipment is difficult to use with obese people. Doctors say it is not against the law to refuse patients.
Many doctors and patients are furious this is happening. People say doctors have to treat anyone who enters their office. They believe any doctor who does not see a patient is letting down the medical profession. Dr Maureen Whelihan of West Palm Beach said: “If I had that policy, I'd lose half my patients.” She has a point. The USA has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world. If doctors put weight limits on patients, much of the country would be sick.

The Scientist

Thanks to this song you can learn the difference between say and tell. Pay attention to the lyrics to find out about the structure.


Coldplay - The Scientist por itami

The EOIs on TV

Talking of media and TV programmes...

Due to the 1OOth Anniversary of the first Official School of Languages, the Spanish TV programme Informe Semanal filmed a short documentary about the history of the schools, with interviews and some curious anecdotes.

Don de lenguas. Click here to watch it. 

Extra Practice Key Unit 7

G1 1

1 Sorry but I can't help you with this
2 We should make it stronger
3 can you come with us tonight?
4 You don't have to ask for this permission
5 I can use steelo in this design
6 You shouldn't bother until after lunch
7 keep that wood. It could/might be useful later
8 You have to/must use recyclable products because of the new law.

G2 2

1 b   2 c   3 a   4 f   5 d   6 e

G1,2 3

1 don't have to   2 shouldn't   3 must   4 have to   5 can't   6 can   7 must   8 could

KL 4

1 several   2 made   3 appeal   4 value   5 looks   6 aimed   7 points

V1, 2 5

1 traditional   2 designer   3 user   4 innovative   5 artistic   6 scientific   7 manufacturer   8 futuristic   9 functional   10 engineer

V3 6

1 consumerism   2 efficiency   3 industrialisation   4 streamlining   5 modernity   6 optimism