This Week's Astrophysics (especially for Rosa Eraya)

Artist's impression. Kepler-78b hugs its parent star so closely that nothing could live on its scorching surface. Photograph: A Harutyunyan/TNG/Queens University, Belfast/PA

 

Scientists have found the most similar planet to Earth so far discovered, which is only a little bigger and seems to be made of very similar materials.

 

Describing the results in Nature, two independent teams of scientists found the planet has a diameter of 9,200 miles (around 1.2 times that of Earth), and contains a rocky interior and an iron core. That's where similarities to our home planet end, as Kepler-78b zips around its star every eight and a half hours at a distance of 1m miles, and the surface temperature on this planet is probably at least 2,000C higher than the hottest day on Earth. For more info, click here.

This Week's Something To Think About

What would happen if the Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas were to disappear? Do you care?

Watch the video here.

(Almost) Everything you wanted to know about Hallowe'en

Beatles Evening!

You are warmly welcome to join us at an evening of Beatles music on Wednesday 30th October at 8.00 pm in the library on the ground floor at the back of our building. Wear 60s clothes! Bring a friend!

Hallowe'en Horrors

A chihuahua is helped into her Hallow'een costume

For more images, click here.

This Week's Creative Idea

Answer Key NI2 CD1

A bashful baby panda

CD Track One

 

1.     3443

2.     SE1 8PB
3.     43
4.     1963
5.     Moore
6.     B
7.     C
8.     C
9.     B
10.  C

 CD Track 2:

 1.     B
2.     C
3.     B
4.     1^st July
5.     Cutting down
6.     Bad headaches
7.     (exciting) adventure
8.     Expected
9.     Determination
10.  Road
 

CD Track 3:

 1.     3 years
2.     Job
3.     Wales
4.     A
5.     C
6.     C
7.     B
8.     B
9.     A
10.  C

CD Track 4:

 1.     Techniques and training
2.     British economy
3.     Awareness
4.     Impossible
5.     Replying/responding
6.     Answering the telephone
7.     Respect
8.     E-mail code
9.     Brainstorm
10.  Countered

 CD Track 5:

1.     B
2.     C
3.     C
4.     C
5.     B
1.     22b
2.     EX15
6.     Evening after work
7.     Saturday evening
8.     Three hours.

 CD Track 6

1-4. H, F, E, B (in any order)
5.     A
6.     A
7.     B
8.     B
9.     A
10.  B

 CD Track 7

 
1.     Five
2.     50%
3.     18
4.     14
5.     In the first tutorial
6.     Relevant
7.     (very) elegant
8.     Not possible/impossible
9.     Excellent
10.  Much better

 

CD Track 8

1.     B
2.     B
3.     B
4.     C
5.     B
6.     Beyond their limits
7.     Areas of industry
8.     100
9.     Collapsing
10.  B

 

 

Week Beginning Monday 20th October

Strike Matters

There will be class as usual on Thursday, 24th October, despite the fact that I do think the Strike is important for the Spanish people.

 

 

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again tomorrow, Monday 21st October or Tuesday 22nd.

This Week's Vocabulary Idea

Help your students improve their pronunciation and vocabulary. Tell them about the new Headway Phrase-a-day App, and try it yourself! Learn useful everyday English phrases with this fun app at a pace that suits you. 365 illustrated phrases with example sentences and a 'click and listen' feature. An alternative phrase for each main entry for a wider exposure to everyday English phrases. 'Favourites' section for a personalised learning experience. A practice game in 3 different modes and challenges to unlock as you progress. Share game scores with friends and challenge them on Facebook and Twitter Only £0.69 (or local currency equivalent) You and your students can even try the Lite version for free: Find out more by watching the Headway App video here

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Important News

There will be no class this week (Monday 14th to Thursday 18th October) due to a bereavement. Please check your email for extra work.

Diane

This Week's Science

Even before he won this year's physics Nobel prize, Peter Higgs had already earned his place in history. But how did a 'hopeless experimenter' – whose original paper was rejected for being of 'no relevance to particle physics' – figure out half a century ago how elementary particles get their masses? And what is a Higgs boson anyway?

Source: The Guardian newspaper

This Week's Listening Idea

Fancy learning English through listening to good music? Why not check out this link, as suggested by Alica (NA1)? (Click on "jugar ahora) and select your level.)

World Animal Day

World Animal Day – a special opportunity for anyone who loves animals

MISSION STATEMENT – WORLD ANIMAL DAY

• To celebrate animal life in all its forms
• To celebrate humankind’s relationship with the animal kingdom
• To acknowledge the diverse roles that animals play in our lives – from being our companions, supporting and helping us, to bringing a sense of wonder into our lives
• To acknowledge and be thankful for the way in which animals enrich our lives

If you care about animals, don’t miss this special opportunity to help make animal welfare issues front page news around the globe – a vital catalyst for change!

Be part of something special – find out how you can
get involved in celebrating World Animal Day.

 

World Animal Day was started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. October 4 was chosen as World Animal Day as it is the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.

Since then, World Animal Day has become a day for remembering and paying tribute to all animals and the people who love and respect them. It’s celebrated in different ways in every country, with no regard to nationality, religion, faith or political ideology.

Since the official World Animal Day website was launched by Naturewatch UK on 4 October 2003, the number of events taking place throughout the world has increased year upon year, and with your help we can ensure this trend continues.

And that is the aim of the World Animal Day initiative: to encourage everybody to use this special day to commemorate their love and respect for animals by doing something special to highlight their importance in the world.  Increased awareness will lead the way to improved standards of animal welfare throughout the world.

Building the World Animal Day initiative is a wonderful way to unite the animal welfare movement and something that everyone can join in with whether they are part of an organisation, group, or as an individual.  Through education we can help create a new culture of respect and sensitivity, to make this world a fairer place for all living creatures.

On this website you will find everything you need to make World Animal Day a reality in your area and there’s no better time than now to start making plans! If you care about animals, don’t miss this special opportunity to help make animal welfare issues front page news around the globe – a vital catalyst for change.

Be part of something special -World Animal Day is not linked to any one individual, organisation or campaign, but belongs to everyone!