SUMMER WORK. 1 BATX

Summer is long and you’ll have time for lots of things… so we highly recommend you some English readings. Choose some books from the list, read them, and write a summary, comment, opinion ... You can give it to your teacher next year, sure he/she will value it.

SUGGESTED READINGS

• THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST by Anne Tyler. Oxford University Press. Graded Readers. Stage 5

Everyday life in Baltimore, USA, is full of problems. After the death of his son and the departure of his wife, Macon’s attempts to run his own life become increasingly desperate – and more and more odd.  And, day by day, Macon’s life gets more and more complicated.

• DEADLOCK by Sara Paretsky Oxford University Press. Graded Readers. Stage 5

V.I. Warshawski, private investigator, Chicago, USA. People imagine private investigators to by tired-looking men in raincoats, but Vic is female. She’s tough, beautiful, carries a gun – and goes asking questions until she gets answered. She goes on asking questions... and more people start to die.

• DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? By Philip K. Dick. Oxford University Press. Graded Readers. Stage 5

San Francisco lies under a cloud or radioactive dust. People live in half-deserted buildings and keep electric animals as pets... the film Blade Runner was based on this famous novel.

• WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emily Bronte. Oxford University Press. Graded Readers. Stage 5 with NEW OXFORD BOOKWORMS APPS FOR SMARTPHONES

The wind is strong on the Yorkshire moors. There are few trees, and fewer houses, to block its path. There is one house, however, that does not hide from the wind. It stands out from the hill and challenges the wind.  The house is called Wuthering Heights.

•  DEADHEADS by Reginald Hill. Oxford University Press. Graded Readers. Stage 6

An English rose garden on a summer’s day. What could be more peaceful? Young Patrick grows up to be a calm man. When someone tells the police that he is killing people, Chief Superintendent Dalziel thinks it’s probably all nonsense. But Inspector Pascoe is not so sure...

• THE FLY AND OTHER HORROR STORIES. Retold by John Escott.  Oxford University Press. Graded Readers. Stage 6.

Flies are a nuisance. They are annoying when they buzz around you but you can brush them away with your hand. After all, a fly is only half the size of your fingernail. But, suppose it wasn’t ...

• PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen. Oxford University Press. Graded Readers. Stage 6  with NEW OXFORD BOOKWORMS APPS FOR SMARTPHONES

“The moment I met you I notices your pride, sense and superiority and your selfish disdain for the feelings of others. You are the last man in the world whom I could ever be persuaded to marry” said Elizabeth Bennet. And so, Elizabeth rejects the proud Mr. Darcy.  This famous novel by Jane Austen is full of wise and humorous observation of the people and the manners of her time.

• THE WOMAN IN WHITE by Wilkie Collins. Oxford University Press. Graded Readers. Stage 6

The woman in white first appears at night on a lonely heath near London, and it’s next seen at a grave-side in Cumberland. Who is she? Where has she come from and what is her history? This famous mystery thriller by Wilkie Collins has excitement, suspense, romance and a plot that twists and turns on every page.

REMEMBER, THIS IS ONLY A PROPOSAL. IF YOU HAVE ANY BETTER OPTION, YOU CAN READ IT. You can also try with “real” books in English, non-adapted to students, I mean. You may find some ideas in the following link. http://www.penguinclassics.co.uk/

You can also try to practice with Oxford Plus Website or to do some PAU EXAMS. Here you have the link, too.

http://www.gencat.cat/economia/ur/ambits/universitats/acces/vies/pau/examens/index.html

And, of course, if you remember, you can always send a photo of your summer holidays with a comment for the blog... if you do, it’ll be active during summer, too! Remember the mail:

lurdespujadas.jmj@gmail.com

AND A POSTCARD OF YOUR HOLIDAYS TO DECORATE THE CLASS NEXT YEAR!!! Everything will be welcomed!!!

Thanks a lot in advance for your work… and … ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!

Lurdes Pujadas

SUMMER WORK. 3 ESO

Summer is long and you’ll have time for lots of things… so we highly recommend you some English readings.

Choose some books from the list, read them, and write a summary, comment, opinion … about it.

You can give it to your teacher next year, sure he/she will value it.

SUGGESTED READINGS:

All the books in the list belong to the collection OXFORD READERS. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS. They are LEVEL 2 (you may try some higher levels if you want). 

• Ariadne’s story  by Joyce Hannam

“When he went home to Athens, the great prince Theseus left me on the island of Naxos. But, why did he leave me?” Ariadne’s story is one woman’s tale of secret love, adventure and of escape, many years ago in Ancient Greece.

• The bird of happiness and other wise tales  by Tim Herdon

What is the secret of happiness? How can you change dirt into gold? The eight wise tales in this collection can teach us some important  lessons  about life.

•  A Close Shave. By Aardman. Text adaptation by Bill Bowler. (also available on DVD)

When Wallace, the inventor, meets Wendolene in her wool shop, he falls in love with her at once. Why does her dog, Preston, hate Wallace’s dog, Gromit? … Can Gromit save Wallace from the danger of a “close shave”?

•  Green Planet  by Christine Lindop

Once “green” was just a colour. Now we use it to talk about a way of looking at our world, and thinking about the environment. But, how green is our planet today? Read the book and maybe you too  can help to make our planet greener.

• Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and other stories  by Oscar Wilde

The three stories in this book are about ordinary people, people like  you and me, but they find themselves in surprising situations

• Emma  by Jane Austen

Emma Woodhouse is beautiful, clever and rich … When she meets Harriet Smith, a poor girl with no family, Emma decides she must find a husband for her. Harriet is pleased to be Emma’s friend – but will Emma’s matchmaking make Harriet happy?

• Sherlock Holmes. The Norwood Mystery  by Arthur Conan Doyle

“For me, Watson, life is not so interesting” says Holmes… “ I loved to read the newspapers, hoping to find some news of an interesting crime for me to investigate. Where are those clever criminals these days?” But, life for Holmes suddenly starts to get interesting.

• Typhoon by  Joseph Conrad

“There is some bad weather out there” Captain McWhirr said to himself.  ,,, the typhoon brings out the best on some men in the ship, and the worst in others.

REMEMBER, THIS IS ONLY A PROPOSAL. IF YOU HAVE ANY BETTER OPTION, YOU CAN READ IT. YOU CAN EVEN TRY TO READ "ORIGINAL VERSIONS" ... SURE YOU CAN!

APART FROM READING, IT'S ALSO INTERESTING TO WATCH SOME FILMS/SERIES IN ENGLISH, TOO. 

IF YOU HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH YOUR GRAMMAR, REMEMBER YOU CAN FIND EXTRA ACTIVITIES IN YOUR OXFORD PLUS WEBSITE . It will help you not to forget what you have learnt!

Thanks a lot in advance for your work… and … ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!

Lurdes Pujadas

MY FAVOURITE BOOK Genís F. (3 ESO A)

 “A life in Alcanar”

I’m going to explain you what is my favourite book and why I like it as my favourite. Well, my favourite book is called “A life in Alcanar” and it was written by my favourite novelist: Pasqual Ulldemolins.

 I bought it in a market near my grandfather’s house (in Alcanar) when it was summer.  I remember it, because that day was my grandma’s birthday and we (my parents and me) were looking for a present to give her, but we only found this book that I like.

  The principal characters of the story are two French boys who are friends. They travel to Alcanar for business, but they lose their car and they don’t have any money. But fortunately for them, an old woman welcomed them to her house and let them sleep there. They pay to her working and helping her in the housework.

 The book’s ending is very exciting, because they have enough money to go back to their big houses in Paris, but both of them decide to continue living in this traditional village and helping this poor old woman. 

GENÍS FIBLA

3 ESO A

MY FAVOURITE BOOK Paula M. (3r ESO C)

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

·        Directed by: Joe Wright

·        Produced by: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Paul Webster

·        Written by: Deborah Moggach

·        Based  On: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

·        

      Starring          

·        Keira Knightley

·        Matthew Macfadyen

·        Donald Sutherland

·        Rosamund  Pike

·        Jena Malone

·        Talulah Riley

·        Judi Dench

·      Music by: Dario Marianelli

(Piano performed by Jean-Yves Thibaudet)

·         Running time: 127 minutes

Synopsis

The five sisters of the Bennet family have been all educated with one simple objective: finding a husband. But Elisabeth (Keira Knightley), one of them, knows lots and lots of reasons why she shouldn’t get married.

While Mr. Bennet starts looking suitors for his daughters, Mr. Charles Bingley, one of the richest mens, is moving next to Bennet’s house. In one of the popular parties they do in the village, Mr. Bingley falls in love with the beautiful Jane, the biggest sister.

When the two lovers meet, Jane requests Lizzie to go with her so she will meet another man too; this man is Mr. Dancy, a very rich guy who at first sight looks despicable, dull but also attractive. These two immediately dislike each other, but after some appreciable things that Mr. Dancy does, Lizzie sees that this “despicable” man is not what she thought at first.

Opinion                                                                                                                                        

As one of my favorite films, I can say that it captivates very much, my favorite thing is the soundtrack, which makes me feel like I am dancing and speaking with the characters.  It’s a special film where you will see that you cannot judge anyone at first sight, this film is massive and unique, 127 minutes that you want miss if you watch it,.  I appreciate Knightley's performance because she makes the story almost realistic, without her the film wouldn’t be that great.

One of the things I would change is that in the ending you cannot see how they get married, but I understand that that’s what the director wants to make you feel, as you want more. I strongly recommend this film cannot see how do they get married, but I understand that that’s what the director wants to make you feel, as you want more. I strongly recommend this film if you want to have a really good time, because it’s a strange feeling, but, this film makes you feel better inside.

PAULA MONTESINOS

3r ESO C

MY FAVOURITE FILM. Laura J. (3 ESO A)

Life is beautiful

My favorite movie is ‘life is beautiful’. This film is old, it is dated on 1997. The history happens in the Second World War and nazi era. It is very emotional because it talks about a father and his son who are Jews and they are taken to a concentration’s camp. The father tries to hide the sad reality and tells him that everything is a game.

This film is very emotional when the father makes all as possible for the child not to realize the reality surrounding him. The film has funny scenes but the history is very dramatic.

The soundtrack is wonderful!!

I recommend it to those people that like the romance and the emotivity, comedy and drama and wanting to know what is happiness and sadness at the same time. It makes you think that even if you live very hard situations, with joy, positivity and love, all is exceeded.

                                                                                          Laura Jordà

                                                                                     3r ESO A