Test your news knowledge: 2011 End of Year Quiz

How much do you know about the stories that made news in 2011? Take this quiz to test your knowledge of some headlines from 2011.

 

Google Zeitgeist 2011 Year in Review Video 

2011 Year in Review / Reuters.com

Bang Bang - My Baby Shot Me Down (song)

Bang Bang (Nancy Sinatra) - YouTube 

(two versions - three pages) I used this worksheet as a follow up activity after teaching "used to" and "would" for past habits. The students listen to the song once and number the pictures in the correct order. Then they listen again and complete the lyrics with the past simple of the irregular verbs in the song. In the second version they have to sort a number of words into rhyming pairs and then complete the lyrics with these words. I have also included a few comprehension questions.

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/75246259/Bang-Bang-My-Baby-Shot-Me-Down-Song 

Nov. 17th, 1973: Athens Polytechnic Uprising

 

The Athens Polytechnic uprising in 1973 was a massive demonstration of popular rejection of the Greek military junta of 1967-1974. The uprising began on November 14, 1973, escalated to an open anti-junta, anti-US and anti-imperialist revolt and ended in bloodshed in the early morning of November 17 after a series of events starting with a tank crashing through the gates of the Polytechnic. [from Wikipedia]

The Hellenic National AudioVisual Archive in cooperation with the Library of the Hellenic Parliament participates in the celebration of the anniversary of the Polytechnic uprising, presenting the film "Polytechnic 1973" with rare archival audio and video material.
Polytechnic 1973 (Part A) 
Polytechnic 1973 (Part B) 

You can also watch a BBC documentary called Greece - The Seven Black Years (of the military junta) on Adam Curtis Blog.

This Day in History: The Fall of the Berlin Wall

 

On 9th November 1989 East German officials opened the Berlin Wall, allowing travel from East to West Berlin. The following day, celebrating Germans began to tear the wall down.

Video: Moments in History - The Fall of the Berlin Wall

Watch the video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM2qq5J5A1s

Visit a CGI animated website with additional information, on-line interviews, and stories. 

http://www.cbc.ca/passionateeye/blog/berlin-wall-interactive

BBC News: The world at seven billion

The world's population is expected to hit seven billion in the next few weeks. After growing very slowly for most of human history, the number of people on Earth has more than doubled in the last 50 years. Where do you fit into this story of human life? Fill in your date of birth to find out.

Click on the image below.

Fairy Tale Gone Bad by Sunrise Avenue (song)

Listen to the song on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUyfQLd3bCs&ob=av2e

Here's a worksheet based on the song Fairy Tale Gone Bad by the rock band Sunrise Avenue. The students listen to the song and put the pictures in the right order according to the lyrics. Then they listen again and fill in the missing words.

 Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/71014610/Fairy-Tale-Gone-Bad-by-Sunrise-Avenue  

You can find an online version here:  http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=7041

Personality Adjectives

Study Adjectives used to describe people and personality traits - Free Study Guides | Word Dynamo

A look back at the life of Steve Jobs

Watch the video here:

https://www.nbcnews.com/video/a-look-back-at-the-life-of-steve-jobs-44462147781

 

Here's the worksheet I made on the NBC News video about Steve Jobs' life. It contains a gap-fill exercise, a vocabulary matching exercise and a reading comprehension exercise where students are asked to fill in the key dates in the timeline of Steve Jobs' life. 

 

 Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/68129896/A-Look-Back-at-the-Life-of-Steve-Jobs

 

Greek protester explains why she is against the austerity measures in Greece

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/15190124

European leaders meet over Greek debt crisis 
Here's a worksheet based on the following Al Jazeera news video. It contains a cloze text and a set of comprehension questions.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/10/2011103105748646237.html

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/67366886/European-Leaders-Meet-Over-Greek-Debt-Crisis

Would - used to - be used to - get used to

A clear and simple presentation of the form and usage of "would", "used to" and "be used to"

Would, used to, be used to from Areti Gavalaki
 

Troy Davis Execution

Troy Davis execution goes ahead despite serious doubts about his guilt.

Is the euro crumbling? The US economy: A lost decade?

Soup Ladle Stops Tiger Attack (reading + passive voice)

This worksheet is based on a BBC news article. It contains a True / False comprehension exercise, a crossword puzzle, two exercises on passive voice, a cloze test to practise articles and a roleplay task.

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/64985579/Soup-Ladle-Stops-Tiger-Attack 

You can find an online version here:  http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=6763

9/11 Ten Years Later

TRANSCRIPT:
The English Blog 

Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton

Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton, by serene
Find this and other songs exercises in English Exercises .org

Today in History for September 6th

Steve Jobs steps down as Apple CEO

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has resigned as chief executive of the technology giant and will be replaced by chief operating officer Tim Cook.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14659127

http://www.englishblog.com/2011/08/cartoon-iquit.html

Cartoon: A Tale of Two Britains

http://www.englishblog.com/2011/08/cartoon-a-tale-of-two-britains.html

Chile Mine Rescue Anniversary

Chilean Miners: Still Trapped?

One year after the dramatic rescue of 33 miners from deep beneath the ground Lucia Newman returns to Chile.

Watch the video here:
Al Jazeera Correspondent - Chilean Miners: Still Trapped? 

East Africa hunger crisis

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14249733
The UN has declared a famine in parts of Somalia - the first in East Africa this century. Two years of drought have displaced 25% of Somalia's population, while other countries in the region have also been badly affected.

Raising awareness about the famine in Africa
Watch the video: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/44148244#44148244

"FEWS Eastern Africa July-September projection" by Famine Early Warning Systems Network - USAID - http://www.fews.net/pages/region.aspx?gb=r2. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

Crime and Punishment - The Justice System

This is a set of two separate worksheets (not to be used in the same lesson), whose aim is to practice vocabulary related to the justice system and the trial process. There is a crossword puzzle in the first worksheet. The second contains a matching exercise and a cloze exercise.

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/62362506/Crime-and-Punishment-the-Justice-System 

You can find an online version here:  http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=4573

The 8 secrets of success

This worksheet is based on a TED Talks video (Richard St. John´s 8 secrets of success). It contains three exercises. 1. The students listen for the 8 secrets of success and write the words in the spaces provided. 2. They fill in the gaps with the missing words 3. They match the people with their occupations.

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/62345395/The-8-Secrets-of-Success 

You can find an online version here:  http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=3178

The Cutty Sark (reading + passive voice)

On the first page there is an article taken from CBBCnews followed by two comprehension exercises (True/False statements and Find Synonyms in the text) and an exercise on passive voice. On the second page there is the story that inspired the naming of the Cutty Sark. It is followed by two vocabulary exercises (students practise guessing meaning from context).

Download:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/62340546/The-Cutty-Sark 

You can find an online version here:  http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=4076

Grammar and Vocabulary Jeopardy Game

This is a game I've created using Flash Jeopardy Review Generator

Game categories:

• Present Simple or Continuous
• Stative Verbs
• Personality Adjectives
• Word Formation (Negative Prefixes)
• Phrasal Verbs with Up

Click on the picture below to play the game.

 

https://www.superteachertools.us/jeopardyx/jeopardy-review-game.php?gamefile=399734#.VfK4Tn02FIE

The Berlin Wall's 50th anniversary

The Berlin Wall was erected almost overnight on August 13, 1961 - dividing the German capital in two.
Five decades later, commemorations are today being held, attended by politicians and civic dignitaries.
German historian Michael Stuermer talks to Al Jazeera about the legacy of the wall, and the divisions it created.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNH8ahjoH6o&feature=player_embedded#!

 
"Berlinermauer" by Noir - http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Bethanien06.jpg Original source: "selbst fotografiert". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

World Wide Web celebrates 20th birthday

BBC NEWS 6 August 2011 Last updated at 07:52 GMT 

Twenty years ago today a modest British scientist launched his new invention. At the time, almost no-one noticed, but it has since revolutionised our lives.
Tim Berners-Lee called his invention the "world-wide-web".
Richard Westcott has been taking a look back at the technology that went on to change the world.

Watch the BBC NEWS video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14430076

There is a 6 Minute English lesson with audio and text to download here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/08/110817_6min_english_web_page.shtml 

"Tim Berners-Lee- Mosaic by Sue Edkins at Sheen Lane Centre" by Robert Smith - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

“Loose Verses and Twisted Logic”

A poem by Frank and inspired by Serene

Anything big or small will be fine
As long as it comes from your soul
Dimensions really aren’t important
Unless they help you achieve your goal.

Raindrops beating on a window pane
Can be seen in many different ways
Restriction for all those sun worshipers
And romance for those who love rainy days.

A leaf fluttering in a stiff breeze
Can be great inspiration for a poet
But it is only more work for a road sweeper
Even if he doesn’t yet know it.

Teachers are merely life’s great messengers
Passing on the lessons they have learned
Life’s flame of knowledge torch bearers
Giving back the knowledge for which they yearned.

The meaning of life varies for each of us
No two of us are exactly the same
We’re individual snowflakes in a blizzard
Just players in life’s great game.

Ageing is just a simple sign
That the wheel of time is slowing
It will soon be time to pass on the torch
Time for us to get going.

Death is life’s only certainty
Inevitable, final and permanent
The only ones who should fear it
Are the ones who aren’t so innocent.

So anything big or small was fine
Because it came from deep in my soul
Thank you dear, for the suggestions
They helped me achieve my goal.


More poems by Frank Letras here.

Japan Earthquake

I used the following special edition of CNN Student News video as the basis for a class discussion about the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on Friday, March 11, 2011.

Unfortunately, the video is not available on CNN and YouTube any more. However, I have saved the video in my Dropbox so you can view it there. Here is the link https://www.dropbox.com/s/yda8o8zk6fdhx7j/Japan%20Earthquake%2014-3-2011.mp4

The worksheet contains a set of comprehension questions, the links to the video and its transcript, as well as an Answer Key.

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/62312753/Japan-Earthquake

RELATED ARTICLES
Japan earthquake: Footage of moment tsunami hit (BBC News video)
Rare Video: Japan Tsunami (National Geographic video)
Photos - Massive earthquake hits Japan (Boston.com)
Photos - Japan Earthquake: before and after (ABC News)

Summertime ...

Enjoy your summer holiday!

What I did on my holidays ...

The Show Must Go On - Queen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ADh8Fs3YdU

This worksheet is based on the song The Show Must Go On by British rock band Queen. Before listening, the students are given a number of words from the lyrics and are asked to rewrite them in rhyming pairs. Then they try to complete the lyrics using these rhyming pairs. They listen to the song and check their answers. Finally, they do a vocabulary matching exercise so that they can understand the lyrics better.

Download:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/61257414/The-Show-Must-Go-on-Queen

Steve Jobs´ Stanford Commencement Address (2005)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtbJM9ksxo8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLl59Q2GuC0

This worksheet is based on the video of Steve Jobs´ Stanford Commencement Address (2005). On the first page there is a set of comprehension questions for the students to discuss after watching the video. On the second page there is a brief but clear explanation of the third conditional for the students to read before they complete a number of conditional sentences about Steve Jobs´ life.

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/61088712/Steve-Jobs-Stanford-Commencement-Address

Colin Firth and The King´s Speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHTZWMr0xn8

This is a set of comprehension questions based on a short (14 min) extract from a CBS 60 Minutes TV show video. Besides the interview of Colin Firth, the video presents very interesting information about the real story behind the movie as well as some historical footage of the actual king´s speech at the outbreak of World War II in 1939.

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/61532114/Colin-Firth-and-the-King-s-Speech

Brothers in Arms-Dire Straits

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhdFe3evXpk&ob=av2e

This is a worksheet on the classic anti-war song by Dire Straits. It contains a gap-fill listening activity, a vocabulary exercise and comprehension questions. Teacher´s notes with a pre-listening activity and an answer key have been included.

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/61430828/Brothers-in-Arms-Dire-Straits

Grenade - Bruno Mars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR6iYWJxHqs&ob=av2el

This worksheet contains a variety of listening tasks (fill in the blanks, put the lines in the correct order, correct the mistakes), a vocabulary exercise, a grammar exercise on second conditional, and a set of comprehension questions.

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/61458551/Grenade-Bruno-Mars

Crime and Punishment - The Death Penalty

Apart from an article based on a true story, the worksheet contains a set of comprehension questions, two vocabulary exercises, a roleplay task and some questions for class discussion.

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/60253812/Crime-and-Punishment-The-Death-Penalty

New Zealand quake

http://www.newsy.com/videos/christchurch-quake-new-zealand-s-darkest-hour/

This worksheet is based on a short video about the New Zealand earthquake (Feb. 22, 2011). It contains a set of comprehension questions, a gap-filling exercise and a vocabulary exercise.

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/60209673/New-Zealand-Quake

So-such-too-enough

I prepared this ppt to help my students understand clauses of result with so/such...that, as well as the use of ´too´ and ´enough´ (adverbs of degree). I tried to give some clear explanations with many examples. (11 slides)

So - Such Too - Enough from Areti Gavalaki
 

Personality Adjectives

This is a worksheet to revise personality adjectives (ambitious, arrogant, generous, etc.). It contains a crossword and a gap fill exercise for extra practice.

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/61515173/Personality-Adjectives 

You can find an online version here:  http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=3220

Perfect Prague

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FrXez7Xk0k

After watching the video the students are expected to number the attractions in the correct order and then to complete the answers to a set of comprehension questions.

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/60119637/Perfect-Prague 

You can find an online version here:  http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=3819

Greece (European Languages Day)

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/60026289/Greece

Gever Tulley teaches life lessons through tinkering

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/gever_tulley_s_tinkering_school_in_action.html

This worksheet is based on a TED video about a different kind of school. It contains a vocabulary matching activity (to be done before watching in order to enhance the students´ comprehension of the video), and a set of comprehension questions. After watching, the students are asked to complete the answers with the missing words or phrases.

Download:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/59979062/Tinkering-School 

You can find an online version here:  http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=3449

Croc-wrestling granny wins award

This is a reading comprehension worksheet. The exercises are based on an article taken from CBBC Newsround. There is a pre-reading activity, a gap-fill grammar exercise on the past tenses, a true / false comprehension exercise, a vocabulary matching exercise and a roleplay activity.

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/59939915/Croc-Wrestling-Granny-Wins-Award

You can find an online version here:  http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=2222

Lost without you - Delta Goodrem

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMYUYtsUGgg&ob=av2e

This song worksheet contains a gap-fill listening exercise, some vocabulary definitions - accompanied by a vocabulary exercise - and a few comprehension questions.

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/59927270/Lost-Without-You

Bear Guilty of Stealing Honey

This worksheet is based on an article taken from CBBC Newsround. There is an exercise on prepositions, a true / false comprehension exercise, a vocabulary matching exercise and a phrasal verbs exercise.

Download: http://www.scribd.com/doc/59884781/Bear-Guilty-of-Stealing-Honey 

You can find an online version here:  http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=2349

Around the World in English

Hello and welcome! I am an EFL teacher from Greece. I decided to start a blog because I wish to share with my students and my colleagues "what I believe to be of value" as well as my materials and my favourite EFL websites. I hope you can find something useful here.