A wonderful world,

Listen to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNO72aCnVr0

The spirals of a snail's shell! A degrowth society

‘A degrowth society’ involves doing better or more, with less. But this does not imply ever greater economic rationalization: on the contrary, it means the rediscovery of spontaneous giving and escaping the grip of purely commercial values. Deciding for degrowth corresponds to a triumph of quality over quantity. According to Illich’s prescription, we end up with ‘ the joyful intoxication of voluntary restraint’. Self-imposed limits reduce waste. ‘Live simply so that others can simply live’ said Gandhi.

Do you agree with this idea or is it a utopian point of view?

Why not talk about it in the next class?

Barchester Chronicles

We are now watching the Barchester Chronicles. You can watch the episode again on http://www.youtube.com/

Find out more about the author by clicking on http://www.anthonytrollope.com/

Did you know the author was a civil servant?
Did you know he introduced the pillar box to the postal system?

What is the BBC series about and why is it so popular? Find out more about the series and write a summary of the story. It is story about the past but it could be about the present too. Why?

MEETINGS: agreeing and disagreeing

Click on this listening exercise. Listen without the text and will the text. You will find more if you look at the BBC learning English link and click on business and meetings.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/business/talkingbusiness/unit2meetings/3agreedisagree.shtml

The snails' shell

Look at the Catalonia Today link. Click on EL PUNT DIGITAL. Go to page 40.
Read THE SNAILS' SHELL.
Now imagine you are in a meeting and most of the assistants want to expand the business in a BIIIIIIG way: more land, more factories, faster distribution, cheaper prices, more sales..you are the only one who does not agree.
Post a comment or send me an email with a short summary of what you would say at the meeting to defend the SNAILS' SHELL theory and to stop the expansion of the business before it is too late.
Remember to use the conditional: I wouldn't do this...I would sooner do this..etc..If we do this, this may/might happen...

Mystery person. Who am I talking about?

Who is this person?

He belonged to a Russian noble family and was born at Yasnaya Polyana, his parents' estate near Tula. He became an orphan at nine and was brought up by his aunts and privately tutored. At 16 he was sent to the University of Kazan, where he studied languages and law. His classes bored him, and he left without a degree. He returned to his estate in 1849 and made several abortive attempts to aid and educate the serfs there. He then began a profligate life in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Where is Tula? Draw a map of Russia and mark Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan and Tula.
What do you know about Russia?

Do you know POSTMAN PAT?

The article is predicting an end to postmen like PAT.

Listen to the song and make a transcription of the words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ-CQEF5Or4

Send the words as a comment!