Sunday 27 March 2011

JOB ESSAY

There are many definitions of the word ‘job’ but, to sum up, we can define ‘job’ as a combination of the manual and the intellectual skills.
Throughout history the concept of job has been changing up to nowadays. In ancient times the job was to meet people’s need. There were agricultural workers and farmers. Then, came the jobs related to craftwork such as pottery, blacksmith, etc. Later with the Industrial Revolution, people started to work in industries.
Today with the remarkable development of technologies, mobiles phones and mass media, new jobs related to the new technological revolution such as computer programmers, technical engineers and executives have emerged.
Nowadays, culture of the consumer society push up to improve the quality of live, working not only to survive but also to pay the mortgage, to repay the loan of the car, to travel, to go out, to go shopping… but the biggest problem in the XXI century is the unemployment that affects young and old people, men and women, and this situation is the same in every area of knowledge: employees, technicians, professionals (teachers, doctors,…), executives, etc.
These days about the 20% of the population in Spain is unemployed because of the economic crisis. Spain has also the highest unemployment rate of the university graduates. Young people begin to work later and the job conditions are unstable.
The fact that young people continue with the university studies delays their incorporation in the labor market. A large number of graduated people work on temporary contracts.
From my point of view, there is too much competition and we sometimes focus our efforts in getting a best curriculum, forgetting the family and the social life.
I think we should enjoy life more!

By Paqui

SUPERSTITIONS ESSAY

People have always had superstitions along history. Since ancient times, all societies have looked for several signals to answer their life experience. The influence of religion or creed, the witch doctors or witchcraft, or just the need to believe in something make people have superstitions.

Superstitions can be defined as irrantional beliefs, especially with regard to the unknown, all things that are not based on reason or knowledge. Some superstitions can be called “old wives’ tales”, because someone thinks they are silly things. Normally they are applied to beliefs and practices surrounding luck, prophecies and spiritual beings.

Superstitions can be similar in different countries, but sometimes the same object can have a different meaning. For example, in Britain meeting a black cat means good luck, while in Spain this means bad luck.

Superstitions can be related to folklore rituals as Black Magic or Wodoo. In other times it was related to astrology, foods or animals. Nowadays, at the age of science there are still people who believe that superstitions can influence our lives. What do you think?

By Natxo

LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE ESSAY

Nowadays, people want to learn a foreign language. In Spain many people learn English, because if you know English, you can get a better job. And if you Know English, you can travel all over the world, because you don’t have problems to communicate with anybody.

Spanish people study English in the official school of languages or in an academy. But they need a lot of time to learn English.
On the other hand, kids start to study English when they are three years old. When they finish school, they are able to read and write in English, but they can’t speak it and they don’t understand English when they listen to somebody.

What is the problem? In my opinion, the problem is that they don’t need to speak English in Spain in their usual life. In their education, they have to learn English, but this isn’t enough. Not only should the Government include English lessons in primary schools or high schools, but also include English programmes in the Spanish television. And kids should practise oral English, because in a language the most important thing is communication.

So, the question is: If in Spain you need a lot of time to learn English or another language. How is the best way to learn a foreign language?
I think, if you want to learn a foreign language, you can travel to a place where people speak this language. When you need to go to the supermarket or the cinema, or you need to buy tickets to travel by bus or train, or you want to go to the restaurant... you need to speak English, and you will learn English. I’m sure!

But, not only you learn a new language, but you also know a new culture, new customs, a new country, and you meet other people.... and you are also more independent and these things will be good for you.

In conclusion, if you want to learn English, you should travel to England.
What do you think about this?

By Arantxa

Sunday 13 March 2011

SUPERSTITIONS

16th TOPIC: SUPERSTITIONS

• Spell
• Curse
• Ritual
• Witch doctor
• Black magic
• Astrology
• Cognitive bias
• Bless you
• Voodoo
• Charm/amulet
• Evil eye
• Horseshoe
• Black cat
• Tuesday/Friday the thirteenth
• To break a mirror
• To cross the fingers

SHOPPING

15th TOPIC:SHOPPING

1) Shopping bag
2) Window Shopping
3) Credit card
4) In the sales (the January sales)
5) E-shopping
6) Store
7) Shop, shoe shop
8) Supermarket
9) To do the shopping
10) New collection
11) Fitting room
12) Customer
13) Wrap
14) Size
15) How much is it?
16) Street market, out market, road market
17) Clothes shop
18) To shop around
19) Bargain, bargain basement
20) Mall, shopping mall
21) Outlet, outlet mall
22) Cheap
23) Discounted, reduced prices, special offer
24) To buy
25) To be on sale
26) “I was in shopping heaven!”

SHOPPING ESSAY

I like going shopping, especially in the sales, because you can find a lot of special prices. But there are some questions related to going shopping that I don’t like. The first thing is:
When I find a bargain, I feel strange. On the one hand, I’m happy to find something cheap, but on the other hand, I think “this is the real price for this thing, so I have paid too much for this thing all the year!” Another question related to this is: when I see, for example, a lot of trousers very cheap but nobody has bought them, I think “this is very suspicious”!
The second question is that in the sales, all the shops and the shopping malls are full of people and you must do long queues! For this, I prefer the second or the third sales, because there aren’t a lot of people and the fitting rooms are empty!
And the third question is: I don’t like the consumer atmosphere that there is in the sales. This is because, when you see a good bargain, you don’t think if you really need it, you only think: “it‘s cheap! I have to buy it!”
Nowadays, we have another possibility to buy: we can shop online. On the one hand, this is good because it is very fast and easy, because you can buy without leaving your home. But, on the other hand, you must be careful with your credit card, because, if the website isn’t safe, somebody can copy your information and buy with your money!
Finally, I want to talk about an illness related to go shopping: the compulsive buyer. These people have an addiction and they buy a lot of things that they don’t need and spend a lot of money with this.
And now, I would like to ask you: what do you think about shopping online, sales and the consumerism?

By Amparo

CHOOSING A HOUSE ESSAY

There’s no doubt that choosing a house is a big decision and you want to do it rightly.
A house is a shelter but a home is far more. It’s where you live, relax, entertain friends, bring up families and work. A home is where you spend much of your life, and so choosing a house is an enormous decision.
We need to think of several things before buying a house. For example, it isn’t the same to be single or to have a family. In each situation the needs change.
I think that living in a flat has a lot of good things because you can clean it faster and it can be very cosy. We have neighbours and we can count on them.
On the other hand, the walls in a flat are usually very thin and unfortunately you can listen to your neighbours. You have to respect them because living in a community means that there should be some rules to be respected, such as not to make noise after 10 pm or not to use any electric appliances at night.
In conclusion, I think living in a flat has more disadvantages than advantages but it’s a cheaper option than a detached house.
Nowadays a lot of people are living in big cities because it is very comfortable, as you can find everything you need in everyday life very quickly. But too many people cannot live there because there aren’t enough places for everybody.
People have to live squashed in high buildings.
For me it’s very stressful. I prefer to live in a house in a town or in a residential area because I have a lot of space to park my car, it’s a relaxing place, I can have my own garden, my child has a lot of space to play and it’s safer. Besides, when we need to buy something in the city I take my car and in twenty minutes I am in the city.
Houses in towns or in a residential area are usually bigger than a flat. Sometimes you have a garden and all the rooms have lots of space. I think that this kind of life is healthier.
You have more privacy in one’s home as your neighbours are farther than in a flat and you can feel freer.
What do you think about this?

By Anna