practice: short essay

Nowdays, modern teenagers are strongly bad influenced by social networks, high standards and their companies. Unfortunately, this situation is present in the life of many young people. Having a clean environment, enough living space and a happy childhood can help them to have a better way of life. In the opposite case, this would be the main reason of their bad habits and behaviour. The main solution for that great number of youngsters that have a bad way of life is communication and education, so that they can feel completely understood by the people around them and happy with themselves.

    Broadly speaking, many teenagers spend their spare time smoking and drinking with their friends instead of talking or doing any other activities with them. This is a tragedy because they are making themselves worse than they are. Sometimes, these bad habits cause the deterioration of their studies, which provokes at the same time having a bad future due to the lack of work, the economical crisis and the high standards of the job market.

    From my point of view, this situation should be changed. The first step may be making the youth aware of the psychological and phisical problems that involves these bad habits. There could be special events in order to promote this ideas. Information is the best weapon to fight this problem. Next, they should realize that there are lots of ways to have fun when going out with friends. A few examples might be travelling, listening to music, watching a film or any television series, playing video games or practicing any team sport.

    Nevertheless, their own problems such as falling out with a loved one, thight money, family or couple's arguments, bad marks or not be entirely understood could affect their mood. In this case, a good tip could be talking about this problems, trying to eat healthy and, specially, doing sport (because of the liberations of hormones). They have to use their spare time doing things that make them happy and entertained.

    To sum up, it is necessary to say that we should encourage the youth to break their bad habits by investing in health promotion. The main items to finish with this situation are information and willpower. Thus, as society as young people with this attitude have to solve this problem.

Je suis Charlie

Exam

Task: Write a short Problem/Solution essay (around 250 words) about any issue you consider worth analysing.

"Mens sana in corpore sano". These Plato's famous words can be considered ones of the most truthful words, especially nowdays. In the current society,  it is possible to see that many people exercises too much while others have an absolutely sedentary life. Both ways of life have the blame of the main health diseases of the First world: obessity, feeding problems and drugs.

It is noteworthy to say that the sedentary lifestyle is more and more present. People do not have enough time to do exercise or practice any sport. In addition, the great majority of them combie this with a bad alimentation, full of junk food, chocolate, coffee and fats. If we add people who smoke or/and drink alcohol, the result is the pattern of the unhealthy society of today: the classical "homo sapiens" from the twenty-first century. Nevertheless, doing exercise in excess, as the culturists do, is not a solution.

I would also like to highlight how the Goverment pretends to have stopped this dangerous situation, but, in practice, it has not achieved any change. Thus, my own thoughts are that one possible solution could be the key for all the problems: Education. If we taught the children and the youth in general about the health problems that appear when your alimentation and habits are not the appropiate ones, in the future they would not make the same erros that we actually do.

In a nutshell, it is curious how some little changes can make us live longer and better. If we solved the actual problems of obessity, sedentarism, alcoholism and smoking, our lifes could be healthier and even happier. Moreover, hundreds of deaths could be avoided. Thus, I recommend paying more attention to Education and being aware of the consequences of our acts. An utopia like this is possible.

Exam

Task: Write a short Opinion essay (around 250 words) positioning yourself against something  most people agree (but you do not).

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become acts. Watch your acts, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become your character. And watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. What we think, we become". When Margaret Thatcher said this, she probably was not thinking about video games, but it is curious how it has to be with them. This is because the majority of video games makes us feel, act and, especially, think. They make us better, but, normally, it is almost impossible to find agreement about this issue. Nevertheless, although most people agree in the belief that video games make you more violent, far from doing that, they provide you with useful and interesting information, in addition to improve your creativity and your reflectes.

First and fonemost, we can find a great variety of video games. Many of them have historical, philosophical, geographical, psychological, ideological and sentimental content. Others reflect or develop stories that have to do with literature. The main point is that all of them make us feel the experiences of their characters as if they were yours. They are like interactive books in which you can decide where to go and what to do. Another advantage is that it needs lots of work in the creation of a single video game. Thus, video games provide you with knowledge and feelings in spite of violence.

It is also noteworthy to mention that playing video games  can improve your imagination, creativity and reflectes. Depending on their type, the benefits that we obtain playing are not the same. For instance, there are strategical ones, where we only trust your intellect. In other video games, you can design buildings and decorate them. Also, your hability to think and actquickly can save you from the game over.

In a nutshell, we have to think by ourselves and ignore what people say, in many cases, with no information about the topic. It is necessary to study the advantages that we receive as a gift just for having fun and playing. Furthermore, the variety let you explore what you like and, from that point, start with this exciting amusement. Enjoying them and learning from them too is the evidence that those people wo told you "violent" (or something worse) for playing them were wrong. Be intelligent and you will be awarded.

Exam

Task: Write an outline for an essay. Include a thesis statement, supporting ideas and details.

I. Tobbaco should not be allowed in our society.

II. It is a drug.
     A. It is addictive.
     B. It is dangerous for our health.
          1. Its addiction makes us consume more and more cigarettes, so you waste more and more money.
          2. It can provoke many diseases, such as cancer, heart problems and damage in our lungs, our teeth and our lips.

III. Its advertising is directed to all kind of public, including children and young people (especially in the past, when it was not controlled).
     A. In many cases, it includes "hidden messages".
     B. It sounds healthy and elegant despite the diseases it causes.
          1. It tries to manipulate people.
          2. It makes the children see that smoking is funny. An example of this is the chocolate cigarettes that were sold in the past.
 IV. The Goverment manipulates people by this way in order to earn money.
     A. Its methods are dangerous for us.
     B. Politcians are paid in order to makebetter policies.
          1.  Adverts are everywhere: television, the newspaper, the radio, etc.
          2. Cigarettes are too expensive, and they are more dangerous and addictive than the original tobbaco.

V. Conclusion. Nowdays, in theory, the society warn people about the diseases caused by smoking, and there are smoker areas in places such as restaurants or bars. Nevertheless, in practice, its price still being high and it is not forbidden. Thus, as a result, the tobbaco industry is a business very lucrative despite the fact that it is dangerous.

Education nowdays

     As Plato said, “The direction in which Education starts a man will determine his future in life”. This is due to the fact that it is one of the most important things in our lives. It makes the difference when you have to earn a living and when you socialise. Education also provides you culture and basic skills which allow you grow intellectually. For all this reasons, it is necessary to help parents and teachers to raise and educate the children in the current society. They do all what they can, but, sometimes, it is not enough.

     Education is a complicated topic. From nursery school to secondary school and, in many cases, higher education, students are doing exams, studying for them...but it does not mind if they are hard-working people or original under-achiever. They pass long hours hearing that they do not study enough, or that their behaviour is the worst that they have ever seen. This is one of the things that I personally loathe of our educational system. It is sad because in general all the people are well educated by their family and teachers, but when this happens, anyone can lose the encouragement.

     Another fact to keep in mind is that sometimes Education do not only depens on parents and teachers. In many cases, a bad education is a result of the lack of interest of the person, or the cutback of the budget in Education by the Goverment. At the same time, the first reason can be caused by personal problems, and, the second one, by the economical crisis, the bad governance and corruption. Another fact are the high prices of getting a degree or the difficulties at the time of finding a job as a consequence of unemployment. In addition, when you submit an application, there is too much pression because there are extremely qualified people. Then, some applicants get depressed and stop studying.

     As a conclussion, I think that parents and teachers are raising and educating the youth in the right way nowadays. There are some exceptions, but, in general, his work is excellent. Furthermore, it is necessary to remember all the difficulties that they suffer because of the problems of the current society, such as the economical and emotional crisis. Thus, the Goverment should help them instead of making their work even more difficult (which is what they are already doing). Also, the students should make an effor and do our best.

My name is Shadow-short story

From time immemorial, I have followed everything. From the most insignificant piece or rock or fallen leaf to the greatest, most "evolutionated" living being: humans. Everything acts having an objective, a goal. Plants and trees, for example, look for the sunlight and the water, the things that they need for living; so animals do, and mankind is not an exception. 

I could have focussed on any other item of the existence, but these individuals made me think as any other thing since their beginning. Their intelligence made them like a kind of gods of nature. They burn, steal, catch, pollute, kill and assault everything they want, but, at the same time, they love and take care of many things. They are contradictory, as well as different from each other. They fight and kill among them because of silly reasons. See the war, that disgusting typical human habit. They are selfish and ambitious. Ones have special beliefs and others no. Many are extremists, but, despite their influence, others are not like that and, what is more, they are open minded and try to share the best of them with everyone. Their hate and envy can provoke devastating effects on them, but, over and avove that, I can claim that love is more powerful. It can change a person without limit. It is the best aspect of mankind. Love means understanding, affection, attraction, empathy. Love is care about that special one as something natural, without reward. The reward is his or her company. 

Nevertheless, this special empathy and relation can make us suffer as anything lived before, and, if it ends, it is the worst torture. It is curious, oh, the love. It can create a monster or the best living being under the Sun. There are many ways of love (familiar, frienship, couple...), but the main point is that is the world's engine. So, despite all the bad things of the human kind, there is something worthwhile.

My name is Shadow, and through this long time, I have seen horrible things. Fatal events. I am traumatised. The balance among Bad and Good is very weak. 

Well-behave people is overwhelmed by the bad ones. Big bosses cannot satisfy their greed. They want natural resources but they do not care about global warming, deforestation and endangered animals. They want a great show, and they kill animals or ignore their famous intelligence. If they want money, they will not care the cost. This last aspect is the most dangerous because money is the worst human invention even created. It has caused even slavery and the end of many civilizations. An example? Colonialism.

Never trust a human, because thy are the most unstable and unpredictable race among the others. Every person is different from any other. They are special. Their natural goal of survival has kept on evolutioning on every era. Now, they do not only want to stay alive as the rest of the animal kind do. They need culture, love, ideas, but also goods and cash. Consumerism is an evidence of that. In countless painful cases, their hands are blood stained because of their purposes.

Always on a second plane, I am the most wise existence. I have analized and learned too many things about your world. Natural laws, historical events, psichology, philosophy... Do not underestimate me, and not only me, but everything that you do not pay attention but is like an undiscovered land full of treasures...or danger... Have a nice trip, traveller, and try not to get lost on your way home. It will be full of risks, but I am certain that you will arrive there. Better or worse? That only depens on you. Nevertheless, remember: if you go alone, you may go faster, but, if you go accompanied, you will go further.

Just another year?

Sincerely, at first I didn't know about what write on the blog. I knew I had to write something, but, what? Several ideas crossed across my mind, ones better than others. Maybe because of the fear to the paper in black, or my busy head, or my tired eyes, it has become difficult for me writing here. It looks like I am angry with the blog when I do not write as often I used to on it. Then, I remembered the beginning of the course, and the illusion I had when I started this kind of job of the subject. The story I began writing (poor Adam) and the process of learning to write properly (poor me). These memories made me think about this year in general. The result? Sadness and happiness at the same time. Melancholy. Much melancholy. So I'll write about my 2014. No Indians-European critic, no new year's eve resolution, no practice of an essay about the first thing that cross my mind, no Education reflection...no kitties...well, OK, kitties yes :)

First and fonemost, I had to fight (as well as my partners and my friends) against 2nd of Bachillerato and the final boss: PAU (dramatic music). It meant not only study as hard as never, sacryfing needed sleepeng hours and the little sanity that I could had then, but also bad humour, annoyance whith loved ones and, in general, the worst of me. But I still alive! There is a famous "story" related to this. That year, they changed me the classical subject of the branch of Humanities where I was, Greek for P.E. I have never been athletic nor I have liked sport, and it was not a typical P.E.: it was a lord P.E., an optative subject = a very hard and DISGUSTING subject that I had got to do. The level was too high for me, and it difficulted me the study of the rest of the subjects, as well as my humour and my phisical state (I was always tired). But I'm here, so I cannot complain. 

Another remarkable fact of my 2014 is the change. Without a doubt, this year has been the most intense. This is more personal, so I won't speak about it. I'll just say that it has been a year full of joy and sadness; laugh and tears; anger, fear, love, new and old. Fair and unfair. Disappointment. Full of goodbyes... Some hellos. A year of contrasts. Also, I have become an adult (despite I still feeling and looking as a child), undergraduate and pre-philologist, and, as all those important stuff, I have changed (luckily, in the good sense). I have met new people and strengthen relations with my previous loved ones. I have commited mistakes and I have solved as good as I could. I have learned more than ever but I feel that it is not enough. I could say that I am not entirely happy about my advance.

It seems incredible that in some hours we will forget this year to begin 2015. Just in a few hours, whole families, groups of friends, lonely ones and all the people I know will be eating the grapes (except me, who will eat pieces of chocolate or other stuff) while hearing the famous new year's eve clock, welcoming events to come along the new calendar. New year's resolution will be though and done only the firsts days, weeks or, as maximun, months (and we all know it).

In a nutshell, I would like to wish you a happy new year and parties in general :)

11th part of my untitled story

-This is complicated to say, Mr. Brown...take a seat and I'll explain.

Adam quickly sat on his bed and looked at the man. He looked like a kind of doctor. A very serious one.

-First and fonemost, calm down and...

-Say it, dammit!

-Patience! 

-...

-You have been in a coma for five months.

Silence. Disbelief. 

-But that is not possible. 

-I'm afraid it is.

Adam delayed some minutes to accept the news. He realized that his hair was longer and tangled. He felt even more weak than before, and could touch his ribs under his white coat. His mouth tasted awful. Then, a sudden thought.

-Where is Muriel?

"If it has passed five months she must be about to give birth. Or she could has had the baby...".

-She is waiting at the door, but before that we have to make you some medical tests.

-No, I must know. What happened?

-...It's OK. It is not sure, but you fell down the stairs and, when your wife returned home she called the ambulance. Since then, you have been here, in the Glasgow Royal Infirmary under treatmen. You have been in safe hands, don't worry.

-...-it was hard to assimilate that great amount of information. But he wanted to see his wife. He was angry with himself. For his ineptitude he has abandoned her when she needed him the most. The only thing he wanted to do was see her and say how sorry he was. See how her beautiful body has changed, embracing the new and tiny life that was growing inside her. Something of himself. Something of herself. Something of both. Something alive. Something loved...but alone for too much time.

-Mr. Brown?

-Do me what you want, but do it fast.

10th part of my untitled story

White walls. White ceiling. White machines. White dressed people. Others in blue, but white everything...Then, a voice. Muriel's one. Pain in his cheat. Pain in his head. Pain in his arms, especially where some needles were connected to him. Muriel's weeping.

-What...?

-Shh...don't talk---said one of them.

 Someone was talking to his wife, but he couldn't see them. The rest where working with tools and watching a stupid screen with lines that went up and down, doing an irritating noise. Everything was confusing and overwhelming. He was static and ignorant about his condition, while those "snow and water-dressed pixies" were developing his bustling and frenzied -but organized- dance.

-Can you see me properly? How do you feel?
-Yes, I can. I'm fine. A bit dizzy but fine. Why? Where am I?
-Which is your name?
-Adam.
-Adam what?
-Adam Brown.
-Where do you live?
-In Glasgow, Scotland.
-Are you married?
-Yes, with her, Muriel. I've just heard her, where is she?
-Patience, Mr. Brown. Which is the last memory you remember?
-...
-Mr. Brown, ...
-Yes, I've heard you. It's complicated. If I told you, you would believe I'm crazy.
The man looked him strangely and wrote down something.
-It was just a bad dream, nothing serious.
He stopped, suspicious.
-So...have you slept bad?
-Yes.
-But do you remember when did you fall asleep?
-...No.
-...
-Hmm and you?  Do you know it?- Adam was beginning to feel irritated. He had lost his patience long ago, but he tried to hide it.
-This is complicated to say, Mr. Brown...

Don't forget your umbrella

     It is curious how some things affect us more than others. We can feel in the top on the world and, just a few seconds later, we have fallen and chashed into the floor. Depending on the problem, or, better said, how you see and feel the problem, it can be the biggest headache or only a tiny cloud. Thus, many times the problem has to be with us, with our weakness. Sometimes, is other living being who have the trouble. If we appreciate that person, his or her worriment can affect us more than one of your own. Nevertheless, if the deal has to be with someone unconnected, it does not mind the big is it. We won't care. We're selfish.

     Anyway, if we feel self-confident and keep our head cool (while our heart warm), we will be able to solve all these issues. Don't forget your umbrella, 'cause the raindrops are the problems. With it, you will keep in mind them, but you won't be soaked. Also, you can share your common shield with the ones who need help. 

     Don't forget your umbrella, 'cause it's raining.

Hi people!

I just wanted to recommend this website (this is not an advert). There, you can see series and movies in English with subtitles in English too.

http://ororo.tv/en

Good night!

9th part of my untitled story

(...) Next, he could feel how one of its hand catched his head and lifted him in the air, leading him to faint. Just after that, he realized that a scary voice was whispering to him. It was difficult to hear. With a last try, he focused on understand it. It was a kind of song...

"What does reflect a mirror in the dark?

How does it look?

Which secrets does it keep?

Never trust the dark.

Never trust the monster

which hides and hides and kills.

What does reflect a mirror in the dark?

How does it look?

Which secrets does it keep?

As the tree is known by its fruits

I know you

as a guilty.

Oh, may the tree have its fruits?

May the claps be butterflies

and you still alive?

What does reflect a mirror in the dark?

How does it look?

Which secrets does it keep?

Horrible. Creepy.

Horrible,

don't look inside...

What does reflect a mirror in the dark?

Never do open a door

that you are not able to close.

What does reflect a mirror in the dark?

Horrible. Creepy.

Never look inside...

First you dream;

then, it happens.

What does reflect a mirror in the dark?

Horrible. Creepy.

Never look inside...

Never dream 

or it will come.

 

What does reflect a mirror in the dark?

Horrible. Creepy.

Never look inside...

Have a wish

or a mighty

full of mistery 

dream.

It will come true.

Oh, be careful.

Cautious.

Wise.

'Cause it will come
and become it true". 

Full essay

Full essay:

  As Dalai Lama XIV said, “Human use, population, and technology have reached that certain stage where mother Earth no longer accepts our presence with silence”. Nowdays, we live in a world full of draughts, devastating famines and energy problems, which background is the one of the greenhouse effect and the change climate. This is our fault. We provoke these problems, but we do not know how to solve them. Furthermore, there are some people who does not care about this situation, and even do not want to look for any solution because they think that, to begin with, there is no problem.

     First and fonemost, it is curious how the youth is more concerned compared with the rest of people. This is due to the effective measures taken in schools and other education centres several years ago. Thus, the children and the youngsters in general learn how their acts have consequences, and how some daily actions have very negative repercussions. For instance, when I was a child, I learned how to waste less water and how to recycle. Fortunately, this has happened to me and to my whole generation. As a result, most of those children now try always not to pollute their sorroundings, so they separate recycling waste, they use biodegradable materials instead of pollution products, use the bottle bank and other recycling containers. Some of them are even vegetarian. In other words, Education is again the key to all the problems.

     After that, I would also like to highlight the necessity of making the adults and the elderly aware about the current ecologycal problems and the importance of take actions in order to solve them. As J. R. R. Tolkien said in The Silmarillion, “All have their worth and each contributes to the worth of the others”. Many people of these generations already comprehend these ideas. They are the ones who educated the youth and who try wo be always ecologycal. Nevertheless, a great percentage of non-aware people still existing nowdays. This is a problem that needs to be solved. They should take all this seriously, because, if the whole society becomes ecologyst, it would be possible to stop the change climate, deplete the ozone layer and save natural enclosures that are now harmed, such as rainforests.

     To conclude, it is noteworthy to say that, in general, the youngsters are concerned about the ecologycal problems and they normally take actions such as recycling and saving water. Both they and many adults are in the same situation. Nevertheless, it is necessary to keep on making aware the people in order to finally solve these issues. If everyone join together, we can make the difference and contribute to create a better world for the next generation. We can put an end to this world-wide problem just by embracing green politics.

8th part of my untitled story

     (...) The hopelessness put an idea between his thoughts. "Am I dead?"

      Adam could hardly breath. The effor of running so fast was exhausting for his thin body. He had never been very athletic. When he was a child, he used to prefer staying at home with his toys or watching cartoons rather than going outside and play with the other children. He was going to stop when the light seemed bigger. This incentive was enough to recover his strength.With a sudden sprint, he started a desesperate race.

     In a few seconds, the light looked as big as the Moon. It felt warm and calming. Once he was just under it, he felt hipnotized. The shine was hurting his eyes, but he did not mind. He did not realize how his legs failed to him, nor how he felt on the floor. He did not realized how everything seemed to disappear, nor how the shine got bigger and bigger. Then, a nasty sensation invaded him with no warn. He smelt something unknown and dirty, and the space around him was a little hotter. He did not want to appart his eyes from that captivating tiny Sun, but he felt that something was going wrong. The image that he saw when he did it was even more terryfing than any other of the past.

     It was the abyssal fish from the beginning. In front of him. Opened mouth. Sharp teeth. Empty eyes. Fierce hunger. 

     The only thing Adam could do is look at it. Stepping out from his body, two skelletal and amorphous arms appeared, making a sarcastic reverence. It was grotesque. Then, from the slimmy funnel that was the existant dark cavity between its lips appeared a woman, Muriel, again."Your fault", she said. But she did not say it once. She repeated and repeated that sentence as a creepy song. Adam could not resist more and he tried to move, but some seaweeds were firmly trapping his legs. "When did this happen?", he though, desesperate. He could see a rock near him, and an idea (bad or good, it did not matter) cossed his mind.

     When the hard and irregular sphere hit that monster, making it lose one of its eyes, everything got absolutely iluminated and clear. The image was devastating (and even more with the scarying shout of the hurt creature. It was the beautiful scenery of the first dream, an impressive mixure of sea and forest. Nevertheless, it was all dead. Everything. From the most little fish to the seaweeds, that were in state of decay. Rasps and skelletons were thrown everywhere. Also, the setting was not the only thing that got clare. Suddenly, Adam recovered his memory. He was overwhelmed. He was not sure whether he was dreaming or not. It was his first unrealistic dream, and he was confused about the words of her wife. The "lightbulb" of the fish, before the explosion of light, was like if it had got faulty, so, then, everything was dark and confusing. He could still feel the presence of the monster. Next, he could feel how one of its hand catched his head and lifted him in the air, leading him to faint.