Infonews n°313 from 13/10/2007
The facts
Different approaches
A public figure
Back to the point
The film : "An inconvenient truth"
Global Warming
October 15th is White Cane Safety Day (from [LII New This Week]
October 11)
October 15th to 19th is National School Lunch
Week (from [LII New This Week] October 11)
If you were a sailboat
I don't want...
I want : New York
Elllo
Song Quiz
Doris Lesling wins Nobel prize in literature
Cyber Bullying
Facts for Features Special Edition: The 2008
Presidential Election (from [LII New This Week] October 11)
Mexico for Kids (from [LII New This Week] October 11)
Wilberforce 2007 (from [LII New This Week] October 11)
Sujets du Bac
SELO, Section Européenne
On e-teach our colleague Jean Le Mauff from
Guyane recommends this site with lots of educational videos.
http://www.ovguide.com/education.html
Some are difficult to download, but with Video
Downloader or Download Helper, two add ons from
Mozilla Firefox, you may manage to get some. Here
are some video I selected for my students:
- for beginners (A1) : how to fold a paper into a
throwing star (handicraft in English)
http://www.viewdo.com/now_viewing.php?id=366
- for intermediates (B1+, B2) : Smart trash cans (environment,
recycling)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2006-10-01/
- for technicians interested in cars with a weak
level ( A1-A2) : How to jump start a car in 20
steps ( idéal pour BEP, back pro et BTS faibles)
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-jump-start-a-car-2
- for technicians interested in electronics,
level B1, for global comprehension and scanning
for information : what is a RFID tag
http://www.watchmojo.com/index.php?id=3313
- to reflect on language (B2) : the different between do and make
http://www.5min.com/Video/English-lesson--domake-3939
Thot Cursus also recommends several sites with
"how to" videos. Browse through them and make your own selection.
http://thot.cursus.edu/en/rubrique.asp?no=26625
Thot also presents a video in English presenting
science learning opportunities on Second Life
http://thot.cursus.edu/rubrique.asp?no=26605
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfsSGBraUhc
You can also appreciate this introduction to
Second Life in English with most of the text that is said written on
the screen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZAj8Cg4bLo
The facts
Al Gore has received the Nobel Peace Prize,
together with a panel from the United Nations:
"The former US vice-president will share the
£750,000 prize with the International Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations panel
which has worked for two decades to establish
consensus on the science of man-made warming. "from The Times :
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2644486.ece
See this video and article in the Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/oct/12/climatechange.internationalnews
For students level B1 and over, see this article
from CNN and the video of Al Gore's speech of acceptance
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/12/nobel.gore/?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail#cnnSTCText
Different approaches
But the winners have different approaches to the
problem, Al Gore with advertising (for the planet
or for himself?) and the UN panel with long
scientific researches but not enough contact with
the public . Read what a member of the panel says
in the New York Times' article entitled : "Two
winners, two approaches to spreading the word on climate"
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/13/science/13climate.html?ref=us
"“If the spectacular nature of his presentations
and the personalities involved become the story
instead of the science,” Mr. Yohe said, “then it becomes
counterproductive.”
A public figure
Al Gore is a public figure and an (ex and
future?) candidate to the presidential elections
in the US. remember this quotation from the film
(also in the trailer) : "I used to be the next
president of the United States". So most articles
in the US papers mention only Al Gore, putting
the UN panel aside, and focus on the opportunity
of his running for the elections instead of the threat of global
warming.
Al Jareeza : "Questioning Gore's 'peace' prize"
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/800DD334-3959-4440-ABC2-C2A571F924BA.htm
Washington Post : "Feats Divide Pair Linked by
Election : A Tale of War (Bush) and Peace (Gore)"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/12/AR2007101202296.html?hpid=topnews
read also this short article on c|net news blog
and the reactions from the readers
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9796510-7.html
Back to the point
Fortunately, some articles do remember that
global warming is the issue. See those articles from the Times and the
BBC:
The Times : "how science silenced the sceptics"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/global/article2645371.ece
The BBC : "Mr Gore's film on climate change, An
Inconvenient Truth, won an Oscar.
He said he accepted the Nobel award on behalf of
scientists - like those in the IPCC - who had
worked tirelessly for years to get the message about global warming
out. "
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7042423.stm
The film : "An inconvenient truth"
On the official site of the film, Climate Crisis,
you can find the trailer and documents that you can use in class:
http://www.climatecrisis.net
- for lower intermediates and above (niveau A2 en
cours d'acquisition et plus) a .pdf flier with a
picture and 10 points that you can print to use
in class to study imperative, Ving and how to give advice
http://www.climatecrisis.net/pdf/10things.pdf
- students level A2 and above can study the "take
action" pages and discuss them in class ( is it a
useful idea for us? Do you already do it? have
you tried doing this, is it possible, what does
it change in our everyday life? etc. )
http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/
- and there is a special section for teachers,
with lesson plans for one period, or for a six month project.
http://www.participate.net/educators/
In Infonews n°184, you will find critics about the film
http://lycees.ac-rouen.fr/pascal/infonews/archives/284.htm#film
Global Warming
there are many documents about Global warming,
maybe too much to choose. Here is a short selection:
- a webquest on CNN Students News Learning (for
students level B1 + and above : it can lead to a
debate in which each group or person adopts a certain profile.)
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/studentnews/10/01/pip.globalwarming/index.html#cnnSTCText
- an excellent interactive guide from the BBC
(level A1+ and above), with animations and short
written sentences about the greenhouse effect,
carbon cycle, the climatic changes from 1885 to
2099 and how the gulf stream works (central
points to global warming, also explained in Al
Gore's film, but easier to understand there):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/04/climate_change/html/greenhouse.stm
- pages presenting the problems and suggesting
solutions : from the Guardian with sections like
: 'ethical living', 'plastic bags', 'renewable
energy', 'climate change', 'conservation',
recycling, etc. or from Eartheasy, a Canadian
website, with tips and advices to reduce
consumption and waste at home, in the garden and with your car.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment
http://www.eartheasy.com/article_global_warming.htm
- on BBC Learning English : "Eu Gasses" a text,
the sound file, the script, a quiz et and lesson plans to study
further.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/2006/12/061206_climate.shtml
- on How Stuff Works : 'how global warming works"
with a video from National Geographic, a diagram
explaining the green house effect and many fact, figures and diagrams.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/global-warming.htm
- two activist sites : Greenpeace centered on
actions and Tree Hugger, centered on
environment-friendly products and lifestyle ( see transportation)
http://www.treehugger.com/
and for more resources see Michelle Henry's pages
http://www.ac-nancy-metz.fr/enseign/anglais/Henry/warming.htm
where you can find the Exxon video : a cartoon
about how oil companies act to hide the truth,
and Global WarNing, a video on the site of
Leonardo Di Caprio, also denouncing the lobbying
of oil companies and encouraging the public to remain aware... ;)
http://www.exxon-files.eu/
http://www.leonardodicaprio.org/whatsimportant/globalwarming_movie01.htm
October 15th is White Cane Safety Day (from [LII New This Week] October 11)
In honor of White Cane Safety Day (October 15)
this site describes the evolution of the white
cane "as a tool for the blind as well as a
symbol." It traces the development of the white
cane back to 1921, the use of the white cane as
an identifier in the 1930s, and how the white
cane became a mobility device after World War II.
From the National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts.
http://www.nfbmass.org/white%20cane.htm
Collection of documents concerning safety issues
for blind and visually impaired pedestrians.
Includes a fact sheet, handbook, a report on
audible traffic signals, history of White Cane
Safety Day (October 15), and related material.
From the American Council of the Blind.
http://www.acb.org/pedestrian/
October 15th to 19th is National School Lunch Week (from [LII New This Week] October 11)
Website for this mid-October event, which
recognizes the importance of school lunches in
providing America's children with access to
nutritious meals. Features recipes for five
suggested meals (including a wrap with dip, a
burger with potatoes, and a rice bowl), and an
opportunity to vote for your favorite meal.
Includes printable material about health and
nutrition aspects of each meal. From the School Nutrition Association.
http://docs.schoolnutrition.org/meetingsandevents/nslw2007/nslw.asp
[ the opportunity to explore American food in the
"menu" section : baked potatoes, roll, bun, wrap,
platter, casserole, dip, cobbler, and gelatin.... You can download a
tool kit:
http://docs.schoolnutrition.org/meetingsandevents/nslw2007/nslw.toolkit.pdf
]
If you were a sailboat
Michelle Henry de Nancy Metz has created this
online visual comprehension exercise around the
song (with the video of the clip):
http://www.ac-nancy-metz.fr/enseign/anglais/Henry/melua.htm
I don't want...
She also recommends this song "I Don't Want To Grow Up" by The
Ramones
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=6XJZM0k7Q-Q
"I don't want my hair to fall out
I don't wanna to be filled with doubt
I don't wanna to be a good boy scout
I don't wanna to have to learn to count..."
Lyrics :
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/I-DON'T-WANT-TO-GROW-UP-lyrics-The-Ramones/560A181595073C9E48256A0D002FC846
I want : New York
As a complement, Catherine Serreau from
Versailles recommends the song "New York" by Frank Sinatra to study
"want to"
The video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM52Xsvw5NQ
Lyrics :
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/f/frank+sinatra/new+york+new+york_20056380.html
Elllo
Thot recommends this week the excellent site that
we already often use for aural comprehension :
Elllo, created by Todd Beuckens, an English teacher in Japan.
http://thot.cursus.edu/rubrique.asp?no=26599
I discovered there a song : "Save me" (sound and words)
http://www.elllo.org/english/Songs/M021-Nanbanjin.htm
I also like the comprehension exercises around
the most famous cities in the USA (and one of them is New York)
http://www.elllo.org/english/Points/PT06-Cities.html
Song Quiz
Thot recommends this game called ilike :
challenge, where you hear a song and you must guess who sings it.
http://thot.cursus.edu/rubrique.asp?no=26626
Test your knowledge of popular music!
http://www.ilike.com/challenge/Multi-Genre/Level+1
Doris Lesling wins Nobel prize in literature
Around this article from the New York Times,
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20071012friday.html
the New York Times' teacher team has written a
lesson plan inviting the students to learn more
about people who got the Nobel Prize:
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20071012friday.html
You will find in this lesson plan the address of
this fascinating literary map of manhattan:
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/books/20050605_BOOKMAP_GRAPHIC/
and a list of women who got a Nobel prize, with a quotation for each of
them:
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/lists/women.html
Cyber Bullying
<>On Educational CyberPlayGround Nethappenings Mailing List, http://www.edu-cyberpg.com Karen Ellis invites educators on her list to participate in this year's fifth Annual Bullying Awareness Week. This year it will take place fromNovember 18th to the 24th. Those interested can visit these sites:Facts for Features Special Edition: The 2008 Presidential Election (from [LII New This Week] October 11)
"To mark the start of the 2008 presidential
election season, the Census Bureau has culled ...
facts from previously released statistical
reports." Data focuses on state and national
voter turnout trends, including women, military
veterans, registration methods, reasons for not
voting, and related facts. From the U.S. Census Bureau.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/010725.html
Mexico for Kids (from [LII New This Week] October 11)
This website for children explores the history, culture, government,
geography, and biodiversity of Mexico through essays, games, recipes,
and other activities. Learn about indigenous groups, music, holidays,
food, traditions, myth and stories, rulers, branches of government, and
more. Also available in Spanish, Italian, and French. From the website
for the Presidency of the Republic of Mexico.
http://www.elbalero.gob.mx/index_kids.html
Wilberforce 2007 (from [LII New This Week] October 11)
Website for the 2007 commemoration in Hull,
England, of the 200th anniversary of the
abolition of the slave trade in England. William
Wilberforce, from Hull, introduced the
"parliamentary bill to end the slave trade which
was passed in the House of Commons in 1807 and
throughout the British Empire in 1833." Includes
brief background about Wilberforce, the slave
trade between 1776 and 1807, and current human
trafficking and human rights concerns.
http://www.wilberforce2007.co.uk/
Sujets du Bac
Les sujets du bac de septembre sont en ligne sur le site d'Yvan
Baptiste
http://www.franglish.fr/bac/index.htm
SELO, Section Européenne
Vous voulez faire ouvrir une section européenne
dans votre établissement? Sur e-teach, Marina
Bureaud partage avec vous ses adresses de référence:
http://www.education.gouv.fr/syst/igen/rapports/secteuro.htm
http://eduscol.education.fr/D0121/accueil.htm
http://www.emilangues.education.fr/CMS/Site/Template/HH/HH.aspx?SELECTID=1&
http://lve.scola.ac-paris.fr/anglais/linkeuro.php
http://lve.scola.ac-paris.fr/anglais/dispopedago.php
http://ww2.ac-poitiers.fr/langues/spip.php?rubrique9
http://www.ac-nancy-metz.fr/relinter/international/sections/ouvertSE.htm
Ceci est un message de la LISTE INFONEWS
réalisé par Christine Reymond
lycée Blaise Pascal, Rouen, France
E-Mail: Christine.Reymond@ac-rouen.fr
Les commentaires et réflexions entre [ ] ne
reflètent que mon opinion personnelle.
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http://lycees.ac-rouen.fr/pascal/infonews/une1.htm
Pour consulter les sources:
http://perso.numericable.fr/~dreymondch46/infonews/archives/sourcinfonw.htm
http://lycees.ac-rouen.fr/pascal/infonews/archives/sourcinfonw.htm
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