Happy Women's Day.

Happy Women's Day to all the women who fight for a better world around them, who fight to make a difference. At school, at home, at the workplace, wherever.

“We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.”– Marie Curie

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”– Maya Angelou


“A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.”– Melinda Gates

Smart women love smart men more than smart men love smart women. - Natalie Portman

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” _ Charlotte Brontë

“I'm tough, I'm ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay.” - Madonna
“I like men who have a future and women who have a past.” 

- Oscar Wilde

YOU can CHANGE your LIFE. Welcome back!

.........And REMEMBER:........

The Best Summer Homework List

A summer homework list assigned by Cesare Catà of Don Bosco High School in Fermo, a small town on the Adriatic Sea in northeastern Italy, is currently going viral across that country.

1. Sometimes, in the morning, go take a walk along the seashore completely alone: look at the way sunlight is reflected on the water and think about the things you love the most in your life; be happy.

2. Try to use some of the new words we learned together this year: the more things you manage to say, the more things you’ll manage to think; and the more things you think, the freer you’ll be.

3. Read as much as you possibly can. But not because you have to. Read because summers inspire adventures and dreams, and when you read you’ll feel like swallows in flight. Read because it’s the best form of rebellion you have (for advice on what to read, come see me).

4. Avoid things, situations and people who make you feel negative or empty: seek out stimulating situations and the companionship of friends who enrich you, who understand you and appreciate you for who you are.

5. If you feel sad or afraid, don’t worry: summer, like every marvelous thing in life, can throw the soul into confusion. Try keeping a diary as a way to talk about how you feel (in September, if you’d like, we’ll read it together).

6. Dance, shamelessly. On a dance floor near your house, or alone in your room. Summer is dance, and it’s foolish not to take part.

7. At least once, watch the sunrise. Stay silent and breathe. Close your eyes, be thankful.

8. Play a lot of sports.

9. If you meet someone you find enchanting, tell him or her as sincerely and gracefully as you can. It doesn’t matter if she or he doesn’t understand. If they don’t, she or he wasn’t meant to be; otherwise, summer 2015 will be a golden time together (if this doesn’t work out, go back to point number 8).

10. Review your notes from our class: Compare the things we read and learned to the things that happen to you.

11. Be as happy as sunlight, as untamable as the sea.

12. Don’t swear. Always be well-mannered and kind.

13. Watch films with heartbreaking dialogue (in English if you can), in order to improve your language skills and your ability to dream. Don’t let the movie end with the final credits: live it again while you’re living and experiencing your summer.

14. In sparkling sunlight or hot summer nights, dream about how your life could and should be. During the summer, always do everything you can to avoid giving up, and everything you can to pursue your dream.

15. Be good.

So... Get Off The Computer And Complete This Italian Teacher's Summer Assignment. 

You Won't Regret It!

Are we consumed by our phones and social networks?

This video will probably make you put your phone down for a minute. It hits the nail on the head when it comes to describing how our generation is missing out on so much in life because our current obsession with social media and mobile devices. It has changed our lives, but in some cases it may have changed it for the worse.

Wonderful 'Love Has No Labels' Campaign.

This Valentine’s Day, the Ad Council, HelpsGood.com and R/GA teamed up to show the world that Love Has No Labels. The screen showed skeletons in acts of simple love that make you go Ah! then people emerge from around the corner to demonstrate that love has no boundaries, no gender, no race or age.  

TEAM UP = trabajar en equipo

EMERGE = salir, aparecer

BOUNDARY = frontera 

This viral video has counted more than 1.1 million views in just 24 hours. Focusing on the subjects of diversity and inclusion, the clip opens with gorgeous views of Santa Monica, Calif., shot on Valentine's Day last month.

DIVERSITY and INCLUSION = diversidad e integración.

While the vast majority of Americans consider themselves unprejudiced, many of us unintentionally make snap judgments about people based on what we see—whether it’s race, age, gender, religion, sexuality, or disability. This may be a significant reason many people in the U.S. report they feel discriminated against. Subconscious prejudice—called “implicit bias”—has profound implications for how we view and interact with others who are different from us. 

SNAP JUDGEMENT = juicio precipitado

BIAS = prejuicio, preferencia 

The important thing is to educate ourselves and watch for biases when they surface.

CAN YOU SPOT IMPLICIT BIAS IN YOURSELF? Try the quiz on Love Has No Labels  website

  

................................................. From: http://www.thebacklot.com/love-has-no-labels/03/2015/

...................................................................http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_Council

The Advertising Council, commonly known as the Ad Council, is an American non-profit organization that produces, distributes and promotes public service announcements on behalf of various sponsors, including non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations and agencies of the United States government

The Power of Positive Thinking

Are you tired of studying?

By Remez Sasson

Positive thinking is a mental and emotional attitude that focuses on the bright side of life and expects positive results.

A positive person anticipates happiness, health and success, and believes he or she can overcome (=superar) any obstacle and difficulty.

Positive thinking is not accepted by everyone. Some, consider it as nonsense (=tonterías), and scoff at (=burlarse) people who follow it, but there is a growing number of people, who accept positive thinking as a fact, and believe in its effectiveness.

It seems that this subject is gaining popularity, as evidenced by the many books, lectures and courses about it.

To use it in your life, you need more than just to be aware of its existence. You need to adopt the attitude of positive thinking in everything you do.

(...)

Positive Thinking Practical Instructions

In order to turn the mind toward the positive, some inner work is required, since attitude and thoughts do not change overnight.

1. Read about this subject, think about its benefits, and persuade yourself to try it. The power of your thoughts is a mighty power that is always shaping your life. (...) You have nothing to lose, but only to gain.
2. Ignore what other people say or think about you, if they discover that you are changing the way you think.
3. Use your imagination to visualize only favorable and beneficial situations.
4. Use positive words in your inner dialogues, or when talking with others.
5. Smile a little more, as this helps to think positively.
6. Once a negative thought enters your mind, you have to be aware of it, and endeavor to replace it with a constructive one. (...) Persistence will eventually teach your mind to think positively, and to ignore negative thoughts.
7. In case you experience inner resistance and difficulties when replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, do not give up, but keep looking only at the beneficial, good and happy thoughts in your mind.
8. It doesn't matter what your circumstances are at the present moment. Think positively, expect only favorable results and situations, and circumstances will change accordingly. If you persevere, you will transform the way your mind thinks. It might take some time for the changes to take place, but eventually they will.
9. Another useful technique is the repetition of affirmations. This technique is similar to creative visualization, and can be used together with it.

............................................................................................From:  elmostrador.vidaenlinea

The Power of your Mind

DEDICATED TO 2º BACHILLERATO.

I want you to make that dream became a reality because if you don't, you will be working for somebody else to make their dreams become a reality.

CHALLENGE YOURSELF!!

THE PATH TO SUCCESS

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS and NEVER GIVE UP

Acknowledge and commit to your dream. FULLY.

Spend time everyday taking action towards your dream. CONSISTENTLY.

Surround yourself with positive people that believe in your dreams. TOTALLY.

Find small ways to live your dreams daily. CREATIVELY.


...................................

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY.

A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health, and favorable results.

With a positive attitude we experience pleasant feelings, and we visualize the results we want to achieve. Negative thoughts, words and attitude bring up negative and unhappy moods and actions.

Put your heart and soul into everything you do, always.

Be positive, always!

GOOD BYE MADIBA. REST IN PEACE.

Nelson Mandela was born in 1918. He spent 27 years in prison (from 1962 to 1990) for trying to overthrow the pro-apartheid government. After he left prison, he worked to achieve human rights and a better future for everyone in South Africa. He became President of South Africa in 1994, and retired in 1999. Nelson Mandela died on 5 December 2013 following a lung illness.

OVERTHROW =
ACHIEVE = LOGRAR, ALCANZAR

 Nelson Mandela became famous for his long fight against bad government and racial prejudice. He became a hero to people all over the world. As South Africa's President, he was respected for his courage and wisdom in bringing people together to live in peace.

COURAGE = VALOR
WISDOM = SABIDURÍA

Nelson Mandela is known as "Madiba," which is the name of the Xhosa tribe to which he belonged. It is considered an act of honor to refer to somebody by the name of his tribe.

A South African chain store has laid on one of the most touching tributes to Nelson Mandela we've seen in the past week – and it was in the form of a flash mob.

Woolworths teamed up with the Soweto Gospel Choir, who posed as shoppers and store workers at the Parkview store in Johannesburg. 

This song was written during Mandela's incarceration as a call for his freedom. 

Asimbonanga [we have not seen him]
Asimbonang' uMandela thina [we have not seen Mandela]
Laph'ekhona [in the place where he is]
Laph'ehleli khona [in the place where he is kept]

Asimbonanga
Asimbonang 'umfowethu thina [we have not seen our brother]
Laph'ekhona [in the place where he is]
Laph'wafela khona [in the place where he died]
Sithi: Hey, wena [We say: hey, you]
Hey, wena nawe [Hey, you and you]
Siyofika nini la' siyakhona [when will we arrive at our destination]

................................

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

................................................................................................................   NELSON MANDELA

.................................................................

BE POSITIVE.

TWENTY THINGS WE SHOULD SAY MORE OFTEN.

Rise and Shine

Check out this motivating video recommeded by Miguel Martínez Baz, 3º ESO 

What is it you're looking for ?

FIGHT FOR YOUR DREAMS

Welcome to the 2013/14 Academic Year . FIGHT for YOUR DREAMS!

Alejandro Arévalo Ramos: ejemplo de superación.

(...) Otro amigo, Pepe Mendoza, estupendo articulista en El Diario de Cádiz, me escribe para contarme la historia de su sobrino, Alejandro Arévalo Ramos. Alejandro tiene 18 años; nació con un 84% de discapacidad física (o de diversidad, que es la palabra que prefieren usar las personas pertenecientes a estos colectivos) y a los dos años le amputaron las dos piernas. Iba a decir que psíquicamente es igual que cualquiera (el año pasado terminó segundo curso de Bachillerato), pero es obvio que no es igual que cualquiera, sino muchísimo mejor: mucho más centrado, más fuerte, más maduro, más valiente, más sabio. Además de cursar los estudios que le corresponden, Alejandro se ha hecho un as de la natación. Hoy, pese a su juventud, es un reconocido deportista en el mundo paralímpico y ha ganado un buen puñado de medallas autonómicas y nacionales (...)  Es una historia conmovedora y asombrosa, y lo más increíble es que en el mundo hay muchos más Alejandros de lo que nos creemos. Heroicos luchadores que cada día se ganan a pulso su existencia. Ver este rap enseña más e infunde más ánimos que media tonelada de libros de autoayuda. Porque para autoayudarse no hay como confiar en tu propia fuerza (...)  O, como dice mi amigo Pepe Mendoza: hay que borrar del lenguaje la frase 'no puedo', “como nosotros hemos hecho desde hace 18 años”.
 .....................................................................................................ROSA MONTERO EL PAÍS SEMANAL, 13 SEP 2013 

.......................................................................................NEVER GIVE UP!

If you want someting... GO and GET it! Period.

WILL SMITH's  secret for SUCCESS

"Don't ever let somebody tell you... you can't do something, not even me, all right? If you've got a dream, you've got to protect it. You want someting... GO and GET it! Period."

You are what you eat.

Freegans: Creative Living Outside of Capitalism

Everyday, supermarkets throw away a huge amount of food because it's past  the sell-by date. 'Freegans' are a group of people who don't agree with this food waste. They take food from the supermarkets' rubbish bins, and eat it. Would you...?

Watch the documentary below and try to fill in the gaps:

1. I was in the .................. for years before I told my .....................
2. I cooked them up a ................. big dinner, with stuff I'd gotten from ...................................
3. They really .................. this. Then, I told them it was.......................... Now, we don't ..................so much any more.
4. Freeganism is something that most people tend to ....................................
5. They imagine the media created the image of a........................... person rummaging through ............................ It's not like that .........   ..........

.....................................................