The Day After Tomorrow

Time to say goodbye is coming. We are already in the last days of June and the course is going to finish very soon.

Well, this is the last film task you have to do this year. The film I have chosen to close the school year is "The Day After Tomorrow", a 2004 American science-fiction film that shows us the catastrophic effects of global warming.

If one thinks about it, it makes you feel really scared. Anyway, once you have watched the whole film I encourage you to do the "movie quiz" which is available in the following link:

http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz18901715a4ec0.html

Once you have answered all the questions and get the results of the quiz, please use the "comentarios" section in this blog and tell me what your score has been and which type of mistakes you have made, ok? Apart from this, I want you to write your opinion of this film. Use the following questions for help:

* Did you like the film? Why or Why not?
* Would you recommend it to your best friend? Why or Why not?
* Do you think that some day - in the distance future - something similar to what happens in the film could happen to us? Explain why or why not and say what you would do now to avoid the radical weather changes that happened in the film.

Finally, your SUMMER HOMEWORK...

You have to read the article available in the following link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_After_Tomorrow

and write a summary of it in about 120 words more or less.

You can write the summary in a word document and send it to my email address or you can write the summary in the blog using the title "SUMMARY" and writing your name next to it, ok?

Well, and that's all for this year. Hope you have had fun. I certainly have enjoyed a lot with your class. What else can I say? It's been really nice to have you there every Monday and Wednesday and I really do hope that one day we can meet again in the same class.

Enjoy your summer holidays a lot!!! And see you in October...

STARS... Are they normal people?

After having watched Madonna's clip, what is your opinion of superstars? Do you think they are normal people? Or do they believe they are special? Do you admire someone famous in particular? If so, why do you admire that person? Have you heard of any scandal in which a famous star was involved?

Write you comments here and comment on the comments of other students if you want.

Poem Competition WINNERS!!!

Well, it's taken me more weeks than I expected to write the results of the Poem Competition but here they are.

So these are the results of the PET 1A jury:

* The third most voted poem has been... "The Fears"

* The second most voted poem has been... "Love Story"

* The first most voted poem has been... "Broken Love"

Congratulations to the winners!

And, needless to say, congratulations to everybody who has participated in this competition. All your poems were fantastic!!! Writing a poem is not an easy task - not even in your mother tongue... imagine in English!! - so I feel really proud of all your poems and the messages you tried to transmit.

Secret Window

This month the film we will be dealing with is SECRET WINDOW. Originally a novel by Stephen King, "Secret Window" is a psychological thriller that will make you think a lot both during and after having watched it.

Can you try to answer the following questions about the film now that you have already watched it?

1. What is the name of the motel where Mort finds Amy and Ted?

a. Motel 6   b. Motel 8   c. The Hilton   d. The Holiday Inn

2. What is featured on the front inside flap of the book jacket of "Everybody Drops the Dime"?

a. It has a picture of a screwdriver           b. It has Stephen King's picture and biography  
c. It has Mort's picture and biography      d. It is blank

3. The name of the town that Mort visits periodically to buy groceries, get mail, and see the sheriff is called Tashmore Lake.

a. True          b. False

4. In what order does Mort kill his victims?

a. Chico (the dog), Ken, Tom, Ted, and Amy   b. Chico (the dog), Ken, Ted, Tom, Amy, and Shooter

c. Tom, Ken, Ted, and Amy                             d. Amy, Ted, Tom, Ken, and Shooter

5. Finish this quote, said by Mort: "I don't respond well to intimidation. It makes me feel ______."

a. sick   b. pretty   c. icky   d. angry

6. Although Mort denies his bad habit, what brand of cigarettes does he smoke?

a. Virginia Slims   b. Marlboro Light   c. Camel   d. Pall Mall

7. The note that Shooter leaves on Mort's door says "Two days. No police. I am not joking."

a. True                 b. False

8. What is the name of the main character in the manuscript by John Shooter?

a. Todd Downey   b. Michael Hastings   c. Tommy Haverlock   d. Bubba Mustafa Armadillo

9. What is the name of the manuscript by John Shooter, which is almost identical to the story "Secret Window" by Mort Rainey?

a. Harvest Time   b. Secret Window, Secret Garden   c. Sowing Season   d. The Lovely Bones

10. Mort's housekeeper, Mrs. Garvey, is wearing a necklace. What charm is on her necklace?

a. a smiley face   b. the letter A   c. a cross   d. pearls

You will find the answers in the www.palimpalem.com/4/English4PET website. Correct your answers and send your result to your teacher using the "comentarios" at the end of this blog entry. Hope you enjoy this task... Thanks!

P.S. And if you want to do another quiz about the film Secret Window, follow this link http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz18206014d91a8.html  and answer the questions. At the end of the quiz, click for the answers and you will discover your score.

February Poem Competition

Sure you all have a favourite poem. The poem above these lines is one of my favourites. I find its message a very positive one and it makes me happy. There are as many definitions of poetry as there are poets. But what is POETRY?

Wordsworth defined poetry as "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings."

Emily Dickinson said, "If I read a book and it makes my body so cold no fire ever can warm me, I know that is poetry."

And Dylan Thomas defined poetry this way: "Poetry is what makes me laugh or cry or yawn, what makes my toenails twinkle, what makes me want to do this or that or nothing."


Poetry is a lot of things to a lot of people.

Well, now it's your opportunity to react to poetry and say something about it. To vote the best poems at www.palimpalem.com/4/English4PET you can write the TITLE of the 3 poems that you have liked best and give them a score (3 points for the best poem, 2 points for the second best, and 1 poem for the third best). Write down why you give that score to each poem, why you liked it, what it transmits to you, etc.

Read you soon!

How the Grinch stole Christmas!

Welcome back! Now the Christmas holidays are over I invite you to write your opinion about the short "How the Grinch stole Christmas".

Some of the questions you can use to help you do your writing activity are the following:

1) Who is the Grinch?
2) Does he like Christmas? If yes, why? If not, why not?
3) What happened to him as a little boy?
4) Do the people in his town like him? Why/Why not?
5) The sound of the Grinch were recorded by a man called Boris Karloff. Do you know who he is? If you do, explain. If you don't know, investigate and explain.
6) Did you like this short? Why/Why not?
7) When was the last time you watched an animated film (that is, "cartoons")? Did you use to like watching cartoons when you were a child? If so, which ones? Did you hava a favourite one?
8) Do you think cartoons are for children only? Or are there cartoons who both children and adults can enjoy at the same time? Can you provide some examples?

VIDEO OPINION: "Europe & Italy"

If you have watched the video "Europe & Italy", go to this link http://www.palimpalem.com/4/English4PET/  (Opinion Corner) and write your answers to the questions there in this "Pre-Intermediate English Blog".

Remember to write your name and group level next to it so that I can answer back. Thanks!