TKT

Living is easy with eyes closed, John Lennon

And here I am, getting ready to write an application to Cambridge University for a "special arrangement" for my blind student expecting to take Cambridge English First exam.

It's been three years since she started coming to our school and what a challenge that has been for all of us working there. Not only because our whole paradigm of teaching did fall down but also because we wondered whether we would be prepared, trained, ready for such a student.

Having finished secondary school, her aim was to move on to become a translator, however, she came across a series of bureaucratic obstacles, which she is about to pull down in the near future. Now, as far as English studies are concerned, things have not turned up to be easy, either. How do you think she has got to this point? Have you ever seen or heard about materials and resources specially designed for blind students? It is the work of dedicated teachers from the "Resource Centre for blind and partially-sighted students" from ANEP (Uruguay) and devoted English teachers from La Casona del Sur - ELT which has enabled her to be attending university and to be ready to sit for a Cambridge University exam. None of these would have been possible without her family's support, either. It is them who, day after day, night after night, have transcribed books, articles, textbooks, written tests and the lot into Braille using Braille note-takers or a Perkins typewriter.

The University of Cambridge points out that we, teachers, should make sure our blind students practise with any sample material available. Easy said than done. How can we, teachers, have access to sample materials specially designed for our blind students? The handbooks and sample papers that the University provides are in pdf which cannot be read by the screen-reading software available to us. Neither do we possess a Braille printer. That is the reason why I am sharing this with the elt community and calling for its solidarity in case you have been through the same and/or know ways to find an appropriate pdf reader or access FCE exam papers in Braille.

 Ana Cabral

Footballer's template

By teacher Matías
Level: primary

Students choose a footballer. They colour his hair, eyes, t-shirt, etc. Then, cut and paste.

Next step: physical description.

His name is ...
He is ... years old.
He's from ... .
He's got .... hair.
He's got ... eyes.
He's wearing a ... t-shirt. 
He likes ...

Project Time: Brazuca

By Germán Rivas
Level: CAE

Brazuca, which is the official ball used in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, was created by Adidas; this brand is in charge of designing the ball for each world cup that takes place since 1970 as was set down, and this time wasn’t the exception. 

For the final match, when the last two countries are competing, “Brazuka final Rio” is going to be used. This ball has been inspired by the world cup, having a variation of colour with the original one. 

Although the original one was presented in September 2013, three days before the setting up of the groups, the Brazuka final Rio was launched in December of 2013.

A duplication of the ball was delivered to all of the teams competing on the FIFA World Cup, in order to give enough time to practice with them and letting the football players get use to the feeling of playing with this ball in a field.

Its name was selected with a poll where over a million of Brazilian football fans take part. This poll was organized by Adidas and the Local Organizing Committee. There were three different options: “Brazuca”, “Bossa Nova” and “Carnavalesca”.

Brazuca was chosen with a majority of votes. The meaning of this word is to express national Brazilian pride and also is known to be a way of naming the Brazilian people abroad. Meanwhile, “Bossa Nova” is the name of a genre in Brazilian music quite popular internationally. In addition, “Carnavalesca” makes reference to the extremely colourful carnivals that are celebrated each summer.

Two and a half years of test were needed for reach at a final result with the Brazuca. Also, is considered the most tasted ball of Adidas. It has been used by around 600 football players and 30 teams, in 10 different countries across three continents.

When presented to the public, was stated that it is more aerodynamic than Jabulani, the ball used for South Africa. The material of Brazuca is said to be better for its use, preserving the weight and shape even in the heaviest storm.

As far as I’m concerned, there’s a good chance that you find an original duplication in the market, due to the commercialism that this ball has. On the other hand, there are also a great number of fake Brazucas, being commercialized as If they were original.

The horrible quality of these fake balls is what reveals them, making them not only illegal but also a waste of money for the ones who buy it.

A number nearly to 10.000 of fake brazucas were discovered by the Uruguayan government, who later destroy a part of them and the other was donated.

Germán giving his presentation

German´s activity for his classmates: writing

Exercise: Writing

* ARTICLE:

You have seen that there’s a competition in a school magazine:

Which is, in your opinion, the best football team? 

They are all so different and so similar.

You can make your nomination 

by sending us an article, 

giving your reasons and 

expressing why you like it so much.

Write your article for the magazine (Around 120-180 words).

*LETTER:

The World Cup is taking place and you are an English football fan.  The FIFA have sent a letter asking for opinion to some fans around the world and you are lucky to receive one. 

Unfortunately, we do not have an idea of which country should be selected for the next World Cup, taking place some years ahead.

It would be excellent to have an opinion of the different fans around the world.

It is required to tell us which facilities this place could have for the football players. In addition, why the weather of this country is suitable for everyone and the economy it has for building the stadiums needed.

At the moment of writing, you are also free to add any opinion that you think would be important to let us know.

Write your letter for the FIFA in the appropriate style (Around 120-180 words).

Project time: Luis Suarez and FIFA

By Matías Pérez
Level: intermediate

•Brazil 2014 isn’t the first time that Fifa and people all over the world have discriminated Suarez.

•Fifa has  big problems with Uruguay and one of its best football players who is Suarez. Not only with the punishments against him, FIFA pretends to humiliate Suarez.

• For example..

Mexico 86, this hand was admitted by Argentina and all the world as “The Hand of God” 

And this???? People accused Suarez of “Cheater” . The referee showed Suarez the red card, which is correct, but many people started to insult him.

England Federation of Football banned Suarez for 8 games for calling Evra“Black”.

That is correct, but…

England Federation of Football   banned Terry for only 4 matches for calling  Ferdinand “Fucking Black  

Cunt”

Suarez didn’t give a handshake to Evra, or Evra didn’t give a handshake to Suarez?

Look at this… 

Evra hid his hand the moment Suarez went to greet him.

Suarez bit Ivanovic, and FA punished Suarez with 10 matches.

The same happened with Jermaine Defoe, who bit Mascherano, but the punishment was only a Yellow Card.

Matías giving his presentation.

Matías' activity for his classmates:

For questions 1-5, use the world given in capitals at the end of each line to form a word that fits in the space in the same line.

1.       In Uruguay it is prohibited to  ______ alcohol in the stadiums.                             SALE

2.       FIFA _________  to Suarez was to ban him  9 matches and 4 months without any activity related with Football                                                                                                    PUNISH

3.       Evra ________  his hand the moment Suarez went to greet him.                       HIDDEN

4.       The England Federation of Football, ________  Suarez for  8 games for

calling  Evra“Black”.                                                                                                                  BAN

5.       All Uruguayans ________that Suarez’s bite  to Chellini wasn’t

 a good action                                                                                                KNOWLEDGE

Project Time: The biggest Uruguay fan

By Camila Durán
Level: FCE

The biggest Uruguay supporter out of the country

Ivan Eginsson Esturland,   is a man  from Faroe island who has a huge crazy   passion for Uruguay.   He was recently known for starring  Oca’s* advertisement for the 2014 World Cup.

He was always interested in geography, since he was a child he studied about lots of countries and that was the way he found Uruguay and started investigating about it.

When he was a teenager he got an interest in football and when he watched by chance a video of Uruguay playing for the qualifiers  to Italy 90’s world cup he fell in love with the way of playing that the footballers had, with  the   sky-blue t-shirt but what really caught his attention were the   supporters and the passion that they showed  cheering  the team.

 Actually he knows a lot of Uruguay in general, he said that every 19^th of June** he changes his profile picture for Artigas picture, he even has an Artigas painting in his living room. He also knows a lot about Uruguayan  football, not just this generation, he knows about historical players, his idol is Luis Cubilla but he got the chance to know the famous  Alcides Ghiggia in his first visit to our country in 2008,  and got a picture with him, that picture was what caught the attention of the publicists of the advertisement.

Ivan came to Uruguay for the first time in 2008 and he came 6 times since then, he even rented a house in La Paloma during the summer and he has already been in the 19 main cities. 

 He says that he would love to move to Uruguay, even though  he thinks you have to be quite rich to live here.

He works selling things for fishers, due to his work he was able to see Uruguay playing in several countries for several events, actually he organizes his schedule according to where Uruguay will be playing.

Despite his big passion for Uruguay he doesn’t speak Spanish, but he can sing the whole anthem perfectly by heart, he even got it as his ring tone, and he yells ¡arriba la celeste!”, in an almost perfect Spanish

 His wife Kinga  in the advertisement says that is pretty difficult to be married with a Uruguay supporter because he always wakes her up in the middle of the night just to see the matches, however she  ended up being a Uruguay supporter too, she says that  she got her own sky  blue t-shirt, and  she has  made a painting of Artigas, and another  of our flag, both are hung in their living room together with a lot of posters, t-shirts, and other things of Uruguay.

Currently Ivan is in Brazil seeing the World Cup but he is planning to travel to Montevideo if Uruguay makes it to the final, he confessed that one of his dreams is having Faroes island and Uruguay faced in a match, who would he support if this got to happen?

* OCA is a Uruguayan credit card

**June 19th is José Gervasio Artigas, Uruguay national hero's birthday.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc8jX2xPdgE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqJUcrVa94k

Camila's activity for her classmates

Multiple choice:

1: Ivan got really interested in Uruguay when:

A: he started studying about it.

B: he saw the country’s football team.

c: he came to the country.

D: his wife made a painting of Artigas.

2: The thing that attracted him the most when he first watched a match was:

A the sky blue  t-shirt

B: the way of playing of the footballers

C: how supportive was the people

D: the anthem

3: His wife says that:

A: is annoying to be awaken at night because of the matches.

B: Ivan is crazy.

C: is not easy to be married with an Uruguay supporter.

D: she would like moving to Uruguay.

4: Ivan’s biggest dream is:

A: traveling around Uruguay.

B: moving to Uruguay.

C: meeting Luis Cubilla.

D: having his country and ours faced in a match.

Camila checking the answers

Project Time: Brazil & Neymar

By Nahuel Barreto
Level: Elementary

The FIFA World Cup this year is in Brazil. Brazil has played all world cups. This year Brazil is a favourite to win the World Cup. Brazil  has already won five World Cups.

—Brazil is a touristic country. Its beaches are beautiful.

Its official language is Portuguese. Brazil is the largest country in South America.

—I chose Neymar because he  plays very well.

—His real name is Neymar Santos da Silva Junior

He was born  on 5 February, 1992. Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo.

—His T-shirt number is 10(in Brazil)

—He played for  Santos Futebol Clube (2009-2013) and now he plays in Fútbol Club Barcelona.

He should play quietly.

He must score a goal

He mustn´t get a yellow or red card.

 
Nahuel giving his presentation.


Nahuel's activity for his classmates: hangman.