Ann's Language Blog

Ideas for 12th January

2007-01-11T12:12:00.000+01:00

Global warming:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6247115.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6247371.stm
Also, BBC Home page > video and audio > search “global warming”

Grammar + vocabulary:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/index.shtml
Learning English > Watch and Listen:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/multimedia/

Life explained on film:
http://www.videojug.com/

Venomous snails

2006-03-28T12:14:00.000+02:00

These are something to watch out for! Follow the link for a fascinating article (with more pictures) and try the radio programme at the same time.

radio link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/pip/s8cpb/

Jon, these are definitely for you but perhaps not for your aquarium!

Do you work like a dog?

2006-02-20T10:31:00.000+01:00

If sometimes you get that feeling try out the link and take a few minutes to play the game:

9 to 5: the game of working like a dog

And, of course, find out more in Tuesday's class!

Sea-Monkeys(R)

2006-02-02T19:50:00.000+01:00

Sea-Monkeys®
Sea-Monkeys® are a true miracle of nature. They exist in suspended animation inside their tiny eggs for many years. The instant-life crystals, in which the eggs are enclosed, preserve their viability and help to extend still further their un-hatched life span! Sea-Monkeys are real Time-Travelers asleep in biological time capsules for their strange journey into the future!

Scientists call this amazing rare process "cryptobiosis" which means, "hidden life". Among the types of life on Earth that are cryptobiotic in early stages of development are the seeds of higher plants (wheat grains from the tombs of the ancient Egyptian Kings have sprouted after being sealed in urns for more than 2,000 years), the larvae of certain insects, and the thick-shelled eggs of some crustaceans such as Daphnia, seed Shrimps (Ostracods) and Brine Shrimp (Artemia salina). Sea-Monkeys too belong in this category, since they are a variety of Artemia. A relative of Lobsters, Crabs, Fairy Shrimp and other crustaceans, instead of originating in the ocean, Artemia are found in salt lakes and salt evaporation flats. The waters of these areas are often so salty that Artemia may be the only non-microscopic animal inhabiting them.

Are they Brine Shrimp?

Because fish eat and thrive on brine shrimp, for years they were collected as eggs or alive, to be sold as an aquarium "food." Although all along, brine shrimp had the very qualities that would, at a later date, make them one of the most desirable pets ever sold, it simply never "dawned" on anyone to consider them as anything other "fish food". Now, thanks to Sea-Monkeys, this attitude has changed.

Although Sea-Monkeys are a species of brine shrimp, they are unique. We not only unlocked the most elusive secrets of their life cycle, we created new formulas to keep them alive under conditions found in the average home—an accomplishment never before achieved! Finally, after years of crossbreeding, we developed a hybrid. These amazing new hybrids grow larger and live longer than any "natural" variety of brine shrimp.

How long do Sea-Monkeys live?

Thanks to new computer-driven processing technologies and ultra-pure, non-toxic chemicals, twice as many Sea-Monkeys instantly hatch, grow larger and live longer than ever before.

An exact, pre-blended formula of "magic crystals"—and live Sea-Monkey eggs are inside the envelopes supplied in every Sea-Monkey kit. When added to water, live Sea-Monkeys will hatch. That’s why anyone can get perfect results without any knowledge of chemistry or biology. Just by following the easy instructions you create Instant Life®. The only "extra" is the water.

At birth, the Sea-Monkeys are very tiny, no larger than the "period " at the end of this sentence. That is why it’s possible to "overlook" them when they are first born. Since their fate is in yours hands, do not discard the formula if you don’t see them right away. To do so would be like "throwing the baby out with the bath water."

Are Sea-Monkeys safe?

Sea-Monkeys are in no way harmful to humans or the environment. If they somehow find their way into natural water ways or sewer lines, they simply will not be able to survive outside of the formula.

If you want to learn more...

http://sea-monkeys.com/html/aboutsm/links.html

Flash game

2006-01-24T16:43:00.000+01:00

For those of you who like games and relish a little mystery not just BANG! THUMP! WALLUP! (Does that rule you out, Jon?). Try this link.

More whales...

2006-01-24T13:04:00.000+01:00

If you liked today's class about whales and other wildlife in the Thames (or even if you didn't), try out this link to the BBC. You can hear and read how one of the rescue team repsonded to Gonzo's death. Moving stuff. And it'll help you with vocabulary.

And if that get's you going, go to the bbc news site: news.bbc.co.uk/ scroll down tha page and click on BBC NEWS: Video and audio, and in the search box that appears, type in "whale" and you'll find a number of video clips showing news about the whale. The latest suggestion is that the military military could be responsible for the whale's confusion. They had been testing heavy artillery in the area just before the whale appeared in the Thames.

See you all on Friday!

Happy Christmas to everybody!

2005-12-20T17:35:00.000+01:00

I'm off to London to practise my English. My sister always says I sound strange for the first few days and that I come out with words she's never heard of. It's a bit depressing to think that I'm a language teacher who now can speak 2 languages badly.
Anyway., I hope to come back with my batteries charged and look forward to seeing you all in the new year. In the meantime keep blogging and sticking those photos!

Photo of a mountanier

2005-12-17T11:08:00.000+01:00

I´ve forgot the photo.

Sorry after 15 minutes I wasn´t able to stick the photo. I´ll try again next time.

MY saturdays´mornings

2005-12-17T10:31:00.000+01:00

Eleven ó clock and nothing is done. You may think I´ve got up late, but life is not so easy. In fact I´ve been studing geography. It´s not a hobby. It´s a hard activity I´ve been oblied to do. Every saturday I am woken up at half past seven. I don´t know why Xabier is always awake at this time and decide that everybody should study Geography in the early morning. So he comes to our bed with his geography books and start his quiz test. As if we were in a TV contest he start his battery of questions. How big is China? What is the highest mountain in Europe? What is the lenght of Volga? and so. I´m becaming an expert in Geography. I´ve been ever fond of geography, but I´m starting to hate it.

I post a picture of my geographer. When I took it he was probably asking how high was the mountain he was in.

Looks fishy

2005-12-08T19:51:00.000+01:00

This fish looks how I feel on a Friday morning before class. I thought it might inspire you all. Perhaps Jon has prettier fishes to hand, and I'd love to see a photo of Aturo's son and Jon's little boy...

Starting up

2005-12-08T08:35:00.000+01:00

I don´t know how does it work. Even if my computer works properly. But I think this is our opportunity to become famous. Just let´s develop our skills as a writers. I expect Jon (Txoni) write a deep essay about his his fishes and Arturo jot down something about how his son is growing up. Something phillosophical, I mean something that answer questions like how can I get an automatic device to stop him crying every night? or (Txoni) Why this fish is looking at me like wondering whether I could be rid of that fast food we´ll probably eat better?. OK my son doesn´t let me to continue, he´s hungry. It´s time for breakfast.
Bye

Links

2005-12-06T13:47:00.000+01:00

The original link was this http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=Lb6eAnp0Yec&feature=Discussed&page=1&t=t&f=b
which is to a video of 2 chinese boys miming a Backstreet Boys song (I think) and is very funny. The link works for me so maybe your internet connection has a block on seeing videos - some companies do this to stop their employees wasting time! However, I've added another link to a blog which has a selection of the best Google videos. See if this one works!

My first posting

2005-12-05T08:41:00.000+01:00

Hi Ann!

I tried to see the Link you put on the blog but it's broken. If it was an interesting website, please tell us the webaddress to entere directly.

See you on friday,

Jon Landaburu

See you Friday

2005-11-30T19:59:00.000+01:00

Hope to see everyone on Friday and perhaps hear from you before. If you've got your invite to this blog, just a line from you would be great! Below I've included a link to a video clip you might like to comment on.

On Friday we'll be talking more about prison life... so that should brighten up your day...

Starting up...

2005-11-29T04:07:00.000+01:00

This is a first post to see how the thing works.