INFORMAL LETTER REWRITING

21 Saint Peterson

Edinburgh G6 3FE

6 October 1997

Dear Anna,

Thank you very much for your letter, which I got yesterday. I was happy to hear from you.

The news about your interview is very interesting. You didn’t say if you got the job. I hope so.

I was sorry to hear that you have been burgled again. How many times has this happened to you? Five hundred pounds is a lot of money! Does the police know who did it?

You asked me what I’m doing and how my life is here in Edinburgh. Well, at the moment, I’m enjoying this experience very much.

Although the course is good, it’s harder than I had thought. At first, I hadn’t any friend but soon, I met the people who are in my department. In fact, I spend all the time trying to buy the books which I need for my course and I have to recognise that I don’t have them yet. They’re very difficult to find, but I’m sure that I’ll get them soon and, then, I’ll be very busy!

Well, I really must go now because I promised my friend to help him to write a letter in French. I can’t wait to hear from you!

If you come to Scotland, you have to visit me but you should remember to take warm clothes with you because of the Scottish cold weather!

Best wishes,

Serge.

ORAL PRESENTATION OF A BOOK OR A FILM: "Three Steps Above Heaven"

Google Docs Link: Three Steps Above Heaven

WRITING 3: MOVIES AND TELEVISION INFLUENCE PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOUR

Since TV’s advent at the end of nineteenth century, this set has got so much relevance that, nowadays, it has become a new member of many families. Although almost everyone enjoys with it, most of those who use it are youngsters and that’s the reason why many experts are worried because TV’s didactic aim is getting lower. Therefore, as a study shows, 80% of our daily learning comes from our visual capacity and that is why I think TV is able to influence people’s behaviour because of its visual and auditory stimuli combination.

First of all, in my view, cinema hasn’t got as much importance as TV as it doesn’t offer audience the comfort and the accessibility does. In fact, we only have to press a knob to turn it on so it’s not strange that changes in society depend on what is shown on the screen, because since our birth, we have been perfect imitators as we’ve learnt the vast majority of actions and behaviours, such as eating or drinking from those who are around us.

However, this doesn’t only refer to children but also, nowadays, it’s common to walk down the street and see teenagers who seem to follow a unique model. In my opinion, this loss of diversity is sad because the difference which exist among people make the world not so boring.

Secondly, although imitating isn’t negative because it’s the way that we can learn new things and consolidate our identity, this can become harmful when it deals which violent situations, sex, drugs…

A study has proved that a high and constant exposure to TV and cinema causes that a large children and teenager’s percentage solve their conflicts with violence. Consequently, I believe it’s very important that consumers and media consider the situation and try to recover their originals purposes: reporting and educating.

As I see it, TV and cinema have become the most influential entertainment media and even if they allow us an approximation to what’s happening around the world, they are also the mainly responsible of changes in society. I strongly believe it’s important to make people aware the benefits of being disconnect.

Summary about "Every kid needs a champion" video

This video is about Rita Pierson speech, who following her parents and maternal grandparents’, she has been an educator for forty years. For this reason, she could see the different reforms which have occurred over the years in education.

The aim of her conference is raising public awareness that even if knowing the academic failure’s causes, such as poverty, there is something that is never discussed: human relationships. Rita Pierson considers very important the communication between a teacher and a student, because the link established between them must be solid. Moreover, one of the main teacher’s concerns should be to motivate students to become what they want to be.

Although the most important teachers’ task is teaching, their work isn’t only limited to that, a teacher must know how to apologize to their students, to understand them, to pretend in front of those who they may not like, to try to strengthen their academic self-confidence and above all, make them feel someone.

Pierson wants to follow her mother’s steps who became a clear example of communication with her students because she achieved to become a reference for many of them who even went to say goodbye to her at her funeral.

I’ve gathered some phrases which Rita Pierson have been quoting during the video for three different reasons:

·         First of all, they summarize the speech.

·         Secondly, I really like them and, obviously, they caught my attention. From my point of view, Rita Pierson has a great communication quality. Due to her apparent self-confidence, everything is being announced by her is full of energy and, probably, this is one of the reasons why the speech is very enjoyable.

·         Finally, they make us reconsider if the current education system is good enough.

“Teaching and learning should bring joy.”

“How powerful what our world be if we had kids who weren’t afraid to take risks.”

“Don’t give up.”

“Understand and you will be understood.”

“Try to found a champion in every child who also deserve an adult who never give up on them who understand the power of connection and insist that they’ll become the best that they can possibly be.”

“It’s not impossible. Educators can make the difference.”

THE DAY WHEN I WAS BORN: Sunday, 22nd March 1998

WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DAY?

• World Water Day.
• ""Guardia Civil" captured "Comando Andalucía" and discovered a huge arsenal.
• "Gabriel Garcia Márquez read his memoires' first chapter in Mexico".
• "Demonstrations against a convoy of nuclear waste in Germany".
• "Brazilian government believed that the Amazon's wildfire would be controlled in 20 days".
• "Carlos Sainz celebrated 100 rallies in the World Rally Championship".

IN 1997...

• "Comet "Hale-Bopp" got its closest approach to Earth's surface".

WRITING 2: OFFICIAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL BANYOLES CELEBRATES ITS 10th BIRTHDAY.

Last Thursday, 8^th October at six o’clock, there was a speech in Auditorium l’Ateneu (Banyoles) because of the OLS 10^th birthday.

OLS is a public language school inaugurated in September 2005. It’s in 155 Llibertat Street, Banyoles. This school is opened evenings from 16:00h to 21:00h, and right now there are 400 adult students registered who have the possibility of learning English and French.

That is why this institution has four English teachers and two French ones.

For this reason, OLS provides students the possibility of learning five levels of English and three of French.

Four participants took part in the 8^th October speech.

First, the school’s principal, Annie Gili, talked about the school success and she also made a positive evaluation of the OLS achievements since it’s a kind of challenge running a language school which is so close to Girona, where there’s already one of it with great suggestions.

After her intervention, the director of the Educational department in Girona, Albert Bayot, emphasised the importance of proposing new projects and the introduction of other languages.

On the other hand, the mayor of the town, Miquel Noguer, congratulated the school and encouraged its teachers to keep working in that way.

Finally, an important linguist and communication expert, Sebastià Serrano, made a speech called: “Communication in the third millennium”.

Despite the proximity of the school to Girona and society’s economic situation, the OLS’s principal remarked proudly: “We ran the risk, but now the school is filled up”.

WRITING 1: INFORMAL EMAIL

A friend who lives in another country has invited to you come and stay with him/her on your next holiday. You are too busy to accept the invitation. Write a letter to your friend.

From: carlakarls@gmail.com

To: matthewmatt@worldnet.co.uk

Subject: Next holidays.

Hi Matthew,

I’ve just received your email which offers me the possibility of spending my holidays with you in your country, during the first week of August.

I’m very satisfied with your initiative because I’m looking forward to seeing you, but I have to tell you that I’m not able to come to Scotland at this period of time, because on those days I’m going to be very busy preparing my grandparents’ golden wedding anniversary.

We’re planning to prepare the ceremony in a ruined castle in Avignon. We want to mix different cultures, and for that reason, we’re going to practise different Spanish traditions, because my grandpa is from Granada.

On the other hand, my grandma is Indian, for that reason the celebration will end with the typical Bollywood show.

In addition we’re thinking about introducing typical Mexican food to the buffet, to have a complete international wedding.

It will be one of the most peculiar celebrations which you have ever heard about. Consequently, I want to propose you to come to my grandparents’ wedding and enjoy this special event together.

I want you to know that I expect to receive an affirmative answer.

A big hug,

Carla.