Creative writing (level pre-intermediate - advanced)

Hello,
just a quick message encouraging you to start writing for the sole pleasure of writing :-)
in order to start I recommend a web page that I found really exciting, a site that gives you hints on what to write about;
on this site you'll find numbers under which there are topics and ideas you should find inspiring;

if I can help you, start with this one:
ELECTRICITY IS A RECENT DISCOVERY. THINK OF 12 THINGS TO DO WHEN THERE'S NO POWER.

off you go!

good luck :-)

Czy kiedykolwiek spaliście w namiocie?

Hi there,
some time ago I gave one of my groups a sample of present perfect/ past simple rhymes I'd written to make learning grammar more enjoyable and easier. Somehow I believe that such poems, when learnt by heart, can be helpful when you happen to forget the construction. I also hope that they are fun. And you can always try and write your own!
However, before that, think about things that you have already done or have never done in your life (first in your mother tongue). Then, read the short poems and try to find the bare form (infinitive=bezokolicznik) of verbs in bold. Finally, play with them and have fun!

Have you ever seen a ghost with huge scary eyes?

Oh yes, I have seen it twice,

Once in a horror movie and then in my dream,

It was so terrifying** I turned off the screen. *

Have you ever sat in the saddle*** and ridden a horse like cowboys?

Sure, we have. But my friend fell down and tore his corduroys****.

And what did his mother say when she saw him?*

She shouted, SUCH A BIG HOLE I HAVE NEVER SEEN!

Have you ever hummed ***** in a train or sung loudly with happiness?

No, I haven’t. But my brother has.

But one day a woman who was a bodybuilder heard his voice,*

And with her fist # she killed the noise.*

Have you ever met a man with three eyes?

Yes, I have! He was of a very unusual size!

And he asked me to give him a lift ^ yesterday.*

So did you? - Are you crazy? I ran away!*

* examples of past simple tense

** terrifying - przerażający

*** saddle - siodło

**** corduroys - sztruksy

***** to hum - nucić

# fist - pięść

^ to give somebody a lift - podwieźć kogoś

Group E32 Competition

Hi there,
read the stories I received from you some time ago and write a number (from 1 to 5) of your favourite story in "comments" (volunteers can also leave their comment/opinion). The title of the story is "Last Night I Saw a Ghost." I asked you to use 10 verbs (look, play, talk, visit, open, want, study, hurry, enjoy, prefer) in the past simple tense.
Enjoy!

1. Last night a ghost visited me, but it wasn't terrible. It actually looked nice. I asked him what he was doing, and he replied that he was looking for someone to have fun with. I invited him to play my computer, but he didn't win. However, a game of table tennis and Xbox came out better. We talked about the school a lot. He told me that he was very fond of school and preferred sciences. Suddenly, I saw a hole in the wall that sucked him into it, andhe left without saying goodbye.
Karol

2. It was a cold and rainy night.A ghost of my grandfather talked with me last night.

He looked at me and played football in my backyard.

He opened the door and visited me at midnight. He hurried to play football. I liked him and enjoyed spending time with him but he was very scary.

Bartek

3. It was a cold and rainy night. When I got up and went to toilet, I could see a dim shape in the gloom. It was a ghost of Michael Jackson. He played my guitar. I talked with him about his new songs. He visited me because I loved his songs. Michael hurried up, opened the window and flew out.

Mateusz

4. Last night I talked to a ghost. Last night I was scared. I couldn't sleep, and I heard a strange noise in my room. I woke up and I looked around my room. There was a ghost there.
The ghost said, "I am a ghost."
I said, "I knew that."
The ghost said, "Let's play football."
We started playing football. I enjoyed it. Next day I visited him in his house; I talked with him. He said that he had a "Surprise" for me. It was inside a can. I wanted to open it, but he said, "You must study History first!"
I had to hurry, because I had a History test the next day. I preferred to play computer, but that ghost was my teacher, and the "Surprise" was just peanuts.
Kazik

5. It was a rainy day. I studied English and I saw a ghost. I hurried to the bathroom. I preferred to stay in a safe place. He talked to me about visiting a small girl and he said that he enjoyed playing with the small girl, but yesterday he wished that I was his food. I opened the door and I ran out. It was terrible. I saw some people; they played chess. The ghost ran next to me. He cut my hand. I shouted very loudly...
And I woke up.
X

Making a Pop Star - Is That So Easy?

Here you have a video about making a pop star, which I expect you to watch and discuss (share your opinion) in class. Enjoy!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=irk3_p15RJY

For some background information watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FktWXipU6HU&feature=related

What role does pop music play in your life?
Is the process killing art in music?
How do you feel after watching the film?
Do you agree with the title of the film, "Money For Nothing"?

I read [red] - I read - I will read

For books are more than books,
they are the life
The very heart and core of
ages past,
The reason why men lived and
worked and died,
The essence and quintessence
of their lives.

Amy Lowell, "The Boston Atheneum," 1912

For some people books are an enormous part of their life; books sometimes become the other better more interesting and adventurous life they long for after a dull day at work. Of course there is a significant number of people, usually students who are forced to read books and cannot find pleasure in the activity in any way. However, all of us must have at least one book in our memory and hearts, the one that we liked particularly.
I'd be glad to hear about your favourite book and get to know the most fascinating story and protagonists you've ever read about.
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................

P.S. Someone once said that everyone has a book in them. Do you think that your 'book' would be a good story to put on a paper?

The Ten Study Habits of Successful Students

Successful students have good study habits. They apply these habits to all of their classes. Read about each study habit. Work to develop any study habit you do not have.

Successful students:

1. Try not to do too much studying at one time.
   
   If you try to do too much studying at one time, you will tire and your studying will not be very effective. Space the work you have to do over shorter periods of time. Taking short breaks will restore your mental energy.
2. Plan specific times for studying.
   
   Study time is any time you are doing something related to schoolwork. It can be completing assigned reading, working on a paper or project, or studying for a test. Schedule specific times throughout the week for your study time.
3. Try to study at the same times each day.
   
   Studying at the same times each day establishes a routine that becomes a regular part of your life, just like sleeping and eating. When a scheduled study time comes up during the day, you will be mentally prepared to begin studying.
4. Set specific goals for their study times.
   
   Goals will help you stay focused and monitor your progress. Simply sitting down to study has little value. You must be very clear about what you want to accomplish during your study times.
5. Start studying when planned.
   
   You may delay starting your studying because you don't like an assignment or think it is too hard. A delay in studying is called "procrastination." If you procrastinate for any reason, you will find it difficult to get everything done when you need to. You may rush to make up the time you wasted getting started, resulting in careless work and errors.

6. Work on the assignment they find most difficult first.
   
   Your most difficult assignment will require the most effort. Start with your most difficult assignment since this is when you have the most mental energy.
7. Review their notes before beginning an assignment.
   
   Reviewing your notes can help you make sure you are doing an assignment correctly. Also, your notes may include information that will help you complete an assignment.
8. Tell their friends not to call them during their study times.
   
   Two study problems can occur if your friends call you during your study times. First, your work is interrupted. It is not that easy to get back to what you were doing. Second, your friends may talk about things that will distract you from what you need to do. Here's a simple idea - turn off your cell phone during your study times.
9. Call another student when they have difficulty with an assignment.
   
   This is a case where "two heads may be better than one."
10. Review their schoolwork over the weekend.
    
    Yes, weekends should be fun time. But there is also time to do some review. This will help you be ready to go on Monday morning when another school week begins.

These ten study habits can help you throughout your education. Make sure they are your study habits.

I hope that you like the article and you will find it useful not only when learning a foreign language.

To find more see www.how-to-study.com :-)

To exercise your mind see www.memorise.org/memoryGym.htm

P31 TASK 4

Hello, the last question is very short and simple. I'm interested in what you are going to do in your life before you are 25 years old. What are your plans or dreams? What do you want to do, what do you want to achieve (osiągnąć) ? Have you ever thought about it?

P81 TASK 4

Hi, this time I want you to talk about beauty. What is it? How would you define it? What isn't definitely beautiful, in your opinion? And what about wearing make-up or coloured contact lenses, piercing and tattooing your body?

If you're interested, read this:
Years back the world might have voted Greta Garbo, Ava Gardner, Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly or Brigitte Bardot the most beautiful woman, but who would win today? In a recent poll Angelina Jolie got the most votes. Her love, Brad Pitt, has often been voted the world's most handsome man. Together, they form the world's most beautiful couple, now termed "Brangelina."

P71 TASK 4

Hi, here you have the last topic this term. We talked a lot about healthy lifestyle and recently about memory and ways of learning. We asked questions about what we should do and how we should revise before a test. But this time my question is what shouldn't you do before a test?

I'm gonna start the list with......
1. You shouldn't stress and panic..... ;-)
Now it's your turn. Feel free to write whatever comes to your mind.

Happy Easter

I treat people like chocolate bunnies at Easter!
I bite their heads off.
Happy Easter

http://www.easter-egreetings.com/history.html

Easter time fills us with hope, joy, warmth. It is a time for celebrations, for coming together with friends, family and reveling in the warmth of Spring time and rejoicing in the glory of Resurrection.

As spring comes to the world,
bringing sunshine and gladness...
...this comes to you
bringing wishes for joy.
Happy Easter

London - 10 Things You Need to Know

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16ztSXkbquo

Find out the top attractions in London, how to save money there, and more with Hostelworld.com's Colm Hanratty.

P31 WIADOMOŚĆ

GRUPO P31, NAJBLIŻSZA LEKCJA BĘDZIE DOPIERO 15 KWIETNIA !!! WESOŁYCH śWIĄT WIELKANOCNYCH :-)

P31 TASK 3

Last time we started reading a short version of a novelette "Of Mice and Men"by John Steinbeck and you got to know two protagonists (bohaterowie) and friends, Lennie and George. You already (już) know that they're very different, but they love each other and help each other (sobie) in case of problems. And my question is.. do you have such a friend? What is an ideal friend like, in your opinion?

P81 TASK 3

What is EMO? Recently I've heard you talking about and I've seen web pages presenting emo style, namely emo love, emo clothes, emo girls and boys or emo songs... Is this culture and style close to you? Do you like it? What style, if any, do you or your friends identify (utożsamiać) yourselves with?

www.emo-corner.com

P71 TASK 3

Someone once said that music is what feelings sound like. Undoubtedly, music plays an important part in everyone's life and there are so many types of music, of sounds, of instruments that produce them and people who create them and pass them on. Some of them make money on it, others work with music purely for pleasure, others (mostly teens, and that's you) come to like a particular type of music and its style and follow (podążać) its trends like a haircut, way of dressing or even speaking when among peers (rówieśnicy).
And what does music mean to you? What kind of music do you consider (uważać) trendy or good? What kind of music are you interested in?