36 Life Lessons I Learned Before the Age of 30_ The Observer 4th May 2015

Here's a simplified version of this recent interview that I have really enjoyed reading. I hope that you enjoy it too! It's so true!

36 Life Lessons I Learned Before the Age of 30

Sam Altman is the president of Y Combinator, which has incubated companies such as Airbnb, Dropbox and Scribd.

I turned 30 last week and a friend asked me if I had figured out any life advice in the past decade worth passing on. I’m somewhat hesitant to publish this but here is a cleaned-up version of my answer:

1.    Never put your family, friends, or significant other low on your priority list. Prefer a handful of truly close friends to a hundred acquaintances. Don’t lose touch with old friends.

2.    Time is extremely limited and goes by fast. Do what makes you happy and fulfilled. Don’t do stuff that doesn’t make you happy and cut negative people out of your life. Don’t waste time. Be a doer, not a talker.

3.    Work very hard but not so hard that the rest of your life passes you by. Aim to be the best in the world at whatever you do professionally. Don’t waste time and don’t be afraid to take some career risks, especially early on.

4.    On money: Whether or not money can buy happiness, it can buy freedom, and that’s a big deal. Also, lack of money is very stressful. Making money is often more fun than spending it, though I personally have never regretted money I’ve spent on friends, new experiences and travel.

5.    Talk to people more. Read more long content and fewer tweets. Watch less TV. Spend less time on the Internet. Learn voraciously.

6.    Don’t let yourself get pushed around. There is a big difference between confident and arrogant. Aim for the former, obviously.

7.    If you think you’re going to regret not doing something, you should probably do it. Regret is the worst, and most people regret far more things they didn’t do than things they did do.

8.    Exercise. Eat well. Sleep. Get out into nature with some regularity.

9.    Go out of your way to help people. Few things in life are as satisfying. Be nice to strangers. Be nice even when it doesn’t matter.

10. Be grateful and keep problems in perspective. Don’t complain too much. Don’t hate other people’s success.  Don’t judge other people too quickly. You never know their whole story and why they did or didn’t do something. Be empathetic.

Adapted from: http://observer.com/2015/05/the-days-are-long-but-the-decades-are-short/#ixzz3ahxqReE1 

Exam dates _ Academic Year 2014/15

Here you have the exam dates in case you want to check again:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2nhj0KV2NVWbEtINXg5T2VtazQ/edit

Inspiring Steve Jobs _Int 1 Listening

Watch the extract of Steve Job's Commencement Speech again  (12:30') and practise your listening. You can activate the subtitles by clicking on the fourth option on the left.

I hope you have found these ideas motivating. It's a relly inspiring speech from a real modern icon.

Practise your American English a bit!

Count on me by Bruno Mars

Remember to pay attention to 1st Conditional. I hope you enjoyed the song and the lyrics.

Isn't it catchy?

Oxford University _ Listening Int 1

Hello everybody!

This week we have been talking about education. As I have told you in class I am a huge fan of Oxford and Cambridge and that's why I have chosen this extra listening activity for you.

Watch this BBC video and answer the following questions:

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/britain-great/knowledge-great-part-1

1. How many of the world's top ten universities can be found in the UK?
2. How many colleges constitute Oxford University?
3. According to Sally Mapstone, which three characteristics does Oxford University have?
4. How old is Oxford University?
5. Can you name a famous writer and a famous actor that have studied there?
6. British universities like Oxford have always had a great interest in ...

Would you like to study there in the future? Why/not?

See you in class!

María.

Bridget Jones's Diary _ Listening Int 1

Hello everybody!

Last week we were talking about judging people by their appearance in class. 

I hope you enjoyed the extract of the film Bridget Jones's Diary that we watched in class and that focusses on this topic.

You can read the script as it is the first comment that you will find.

See you later!

María.

My favourite film - Int 1 Listening practice

 Listen to the speakers talking about their favourite films and do the exercises to practise and improve your listening skills.

1. Check your understanding: matching
Do this exercise while you listen. Match the speaker to the genre of film. Write a–e next to the numbers 1–5.

1…….. Speaker 1              a. A science fiction film
2…….. Speaker 2              b. A modern vampire film
3…….. Speaker 3              c. An action film
4…….. Speaker 4              d. A romance
5…….. Speaker 5              e. A romance based on a book

2. Check your understanding: gap fill
Do this exercise while you listen. Complete the gaps with the correct speaker.
1. Speaker _______________ thinks the film shows you not to judge people too quickly.
2. Speaker _______________ says the film is not too sentimental, thanks to the actor.
3. Speaker _______________ likes a film in which everything we think is real is fiction.
4. Speaker _______________ has seen their favourite film more than once.
5. Speaker _______________ prefers the first version of the film.
6. Speaker _______________ likes a film with murder, violence and blood-drinking.
7. Speaker _______________ likes a film which tells a love story over several years.
8. Speaker _______________ likes a film which shows bullying at school.
9. Speaker _______________ likes the scenes filmed in different countries.

by British Council.

Now check your answers. The answer key is one of the comments.

Have a nice weekend!