Make you feel my love-Adele

An amazing song with touching and motivational lyrics which has literally reached a peak thanks to Adele's magical voice.

Speaking Questions- Stage 1

1) What is your neighborhood like?
First of all, I live two minutes from my English school. My neighborhood is not picturesque or attractive because there is not enough greenery and I cannot say that is isolated from the city's life because it is close to a busy avenue. On the other hand, I live in a convenient place because my school and the city centre are a fifteen-minute walk from here. Furthermore, close to my neighborhood there are supermarkets, grocery stores, cafes and generally stores that my family needs and places to chill out.

2) Do you have a large family?
In my family there are the three of us. My mother (Kalliopi) who is a teacher at a primary school,my father (George) who is a German teacher and me a 14-year-old girl who goes to Junior-High School. I also have a female dog (Candy). We have our arguments like every family does, but generally we get on well with each other.

3) What's your school like?
In my opinion, I think my school has a lack of facilities even though there is enough space. For example, we do not have science labs so we must do our experiments in the classroom and our gym and classrooms are not fully-equipped. However, the teachers are really nice and even though the building circumstances are unbearable we have a great time during the lesson.

4) How much free time do you have?
Nowadays I am focusing mostly on studing English. But, I always find some time to chill out or hang out with friends or go to my village.

5) What do you like doing in your spare time?
To begin with, I am keen on dancing and music. I practice dancing four times a week and I like listening to pop music and singing karaoke. I also play the guitar. One thing that I am really crazy about is reading books. I prefer English books because not only do I get away from the boring reality, but I also learn new vocabulary. Also, it is different to read a book in the languuage it had been written because the translation changes the book a little bit.

6) What is your school like? Are you happy with the education you get at your school? Do you look forward to going back to school when your holidays come to an end?
Well, I think my school, even though it has enough space, is provided with a few facilities. We do not have laboratories at all and a not fully-equipped computer room, gym and classrooms. As for the education I get at my school, I am very satisfied. There are expert teachers with valuable knowledge and a perfect character. The building may be in an awful condition, but the education is really good. Finally, I am looking forward to going back to school after the holidays because not only is it essential to improve our knowledge, but we also meet our friends again.

7) How long have you been studying English? Has it been enjoyable learning English? How useful will it be in the future?
First of all, I have been studying English for about 6 years. It is enjoyable learning this language, but a little bit difficult, too. English, and generally learning a new language, helps us to broaden our horizons and gain valuable information. Since English is a global language, it would be extremely useful for me in the future. It will help me to communicate with people in other countries if I travel and live abroad.

8) Do you have any ambitions? What would you like to be doing in ten years time? How easy or hard will it be to achieve these ambitions?
Firstly, I hope I succesfully graduate from High School and go to the University. In the future I'd really like to become a teacher, maybe a philologist. I think that being a teacher is exciting because you provide students with valuable knowledge. I think that I've got what it takes because I am good at theoretical lessons and remembering dates and history events. In ten years time, I hope that I will have finished my studies. Moreover, I would like to travel, find a job and create a family. Maybe it will be hard to achieve all these, but I will look on the bright side.

The Little Prince

http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/littleprince.pdf

Single-parent families

Nowadays, the number of children growing up in single-parent families is constantly rising given that the percentage of single-parent households has peaked at 16% internationally. In fact, the findings of numerous studies suggest that the cudostial parent is most commonly the mother. As regards the reasons for a single-parent family, they can be attributed to divorce, death of one spouse, adoption by a financially secure parent and artificial pregnancy. Hence, what problems does this contemporary trend unearth and are there any steps that should be taken to alleviate the situation? 

There is a wide variety of problems that children of solo parents may encounter. First and foremost, it is essential every child have two role models in order to comprehend the behavior of both sexes. if not, the child may not be prepared to assimilate into society properly and may feel extraneous. Secondly, it is a fact of modern life that women are professionally occupied and since a hectic schedule dominates every employee's life, the more a parent works, the more difficult it is to supervize their offspring. More specifically, the two aforementioned problems may result in the psychological deviance of the child raised in a single-parent family. That is, depression, loneliness, alienation and isolation might arise, not only if the child is devoid of love and affection from its parent, but also if it faces the cruelty of individuals of the same age. 

The burden of responsibility, however, lies in the hands of single parents, who are in need of special qualities to help children overcome those problems. Firstly, every parent should be understanding and compassionate, and should have the proclivity to spend quality time with their children,for instance, spend all Sunday exploring interesting parts of the city, or helping with the homework on an everyday basis. Another case in point is that both constant discussion between the members of the family and consulting a child-psychologist could contribute to annihilating psychological problems, on the grounds that the child will dispose of adverse and subliminal feelings. Last but not last, the child itself should resort to relatives, who will exhibit the conduct of the sex of the absent parent.

On balance, there is no doubt in my mind hat so many a child will be raised in single-parent families in the future. So, were single-parents to be more responsible and take action, their progeny would be just as jubilant as the children of traditional families. 

Overpopulation

In recent years, the size of global population is constantly rising given that startling evince has come to light indicating that the birth rate, that is, the percentage of children born per woman, has peaked in countries, such as Africa, at the percentage of 7.34, whereas the world average is 2.58. Hence, opinions are sharply divided over whether the government should take steps to alleviate the phenomenon of the increasing universal population. 

There are many significant reasons why overpopulation should be tackled. First and foremost, not only will people be malnourished if the population is overwhelming, since there will be food shortages, but a one-time bonanza of fossil fuels (: oil, natural gas and coal) and highly concentrated minerals will also be depleted. Thereby, global warming and famine will be aggravated. Moreover, the fluctuation of demand and supply will continue to expand; subsequently, the prices of goods and services will be extremely high and so will the cost of living. Last but not least, unemployment is to rise, resulting n the stagnation of economy. Nevertheless, how can we remedy this mammoth problem in order to avert catastrophe? 

Having overshot the Earth's capacity to sustain our current numbers, we should not resort to inhumane measures, which would infringe on people's right to create a family.That is, the government should abstain from imposing population control to reduce the birth rates, unlike China, whose President introduced a one child per family policy. So, the most sensible step for the ruling Parties to take could be to provide families with financial incentives, for instance grans, tax cuts, or benefits, so as not to have a large family, at leas. lastly, were the government to launch a campaign to raise awareness on the seriousness of the situation, the birth rates would be curbed. 

On balance, there is no doubt in my mind that overpopulation poses and is going to pose one of the most pressing issues that mankind has to harness. However, how hopeful can we be about the future? In other words, will it be mandatory to take action, and if all governments do take steps , will people comply? 

Star :)

I adore this song.Enjoy it!:) Here are the lyrics:

Star-Reamonn

Tell me if you got a problem
Tell me if it's in your way
Tell me if there's something bothering you
Tell me, what should I say
You know I'd do almost anything

You know I'd change the world
You know I'd do almost anything
For my little girl

Tell me if you got a problem
Tell me now what's inside
Show me if you broke your heartstrings
You know you never need to hide

You know I'd do almost anything
You know I'd paint the sky
You know I'd do almost anything
For you, my guiding light

You're my star, shining on me now
A love from worlds apart, I need for you
You are my shining star, my star
A love from world's apart, I need for you
You are my shining star

Once upon a time a memory
Once upon a time a girl
Once upon a time a perfect life
Once upon a perfect world

You know I'd do almost anything
For you, my guiding light
You know I'd do almost everything
To keep you in my life

You're my star, shining on me now
A love from worlds apart, I need for you
You are my shining star, my star
A love from world's apart, I need for you
You are my shining star

Just a memory
Every dream is of you and me
If I wish upon a star
Well, I hope that's where you are

When heavens turn
You know you'll shine you're in my heart for all time
When heaven turns
You know you'll shine in worlds apart

'Cause yeah, you are my star
Shining on me now
A love from world's apart, I need for you
You are my shining star, my star
A love from world's apart, I need for you
You are my shining star

Shining on me now
A love from world's apart, I need for you
You are the shining star, my star
A love from world's apart, I need for you
You are my shining star

Discussion about extraterrestrial life

The scene in which Jodie Foster is transferred to another world and manages to contact.... unknown entities!!! http://youtu.be/7pfOFCUjmEU (from the film "Contact")

A (crazy) documentary about alien life https://youtu.be/eMzGDj69g6E

I'm in love with an alien!! (song) http://youtu.be/zP4r-1cpstU

Bob Marley and Phrasal Verbs

http://markaki-students.blogspot.gr/2010/07/stand-up-for-your-right-to-more-phrasal.html?m=1

Useful Vocabulary :-)

• Notorious word lists, addling phrasal-verbs, vexing collocations and (last but not least) audacious idioms!! 

• An of course.....synonyms and antonyms!!!

Proactive lifestyle

Nowadays, the vast majority of people are turning in favor of adopting a "proactive" lifestyle, which is a way of of life led in order to sustain health and prevent ailments. However, what are the two keys to such a lifestyle? Topping my list, are working out and having a sanitary diet.

To begin with, the most significant factor for a healthy future is adopting a balanced nutrition. More specifically, an optimal diet not only includes amino acids, which exist in fruit and vegetables in abundance, and adequate quantities of B12  vitamin, bit it also avoids the consumption of saturated fats with which junk food is inundated. In addition, it is crucial we cut down on carbohydrates, on the grounds that there are many substitutes to them, which provide us with more energy and less fat. Last but least, by abstaining from utilizing harmful substances, for example, alcohol, tobacco and drugs, a wide variety of  health diseases ranging from heart disease to cancer are less likely to be developed.

The second most vital ingredient for a healthy lifestyle is taking up exercise, for instance either resorting to an expert, or trying more alternative forms of activity, such as riding a bike, jogging and strolling around the city. There are many reasons why this ingredient for a "proactive" lifestyle constitutes far and away an asset. First and foremost, incorporating physical activity in our schedule contributes to avoiding the couch potato syndrome and obesity. That is, an opportunity to maintain our cardiovascular circulation is provided instead of being wedded to a sedentary and unsanitary lifestyle. Lastly, were we to keep fit, we would be able to harness our stress and weight.

In a nutshell, there is no doubt in my mind that the remedy for a "proactive" lifestyle is exercising and maintaining a low-fat and high-fiber nutrition. Only if we make use of everything in moderation, will we achieve longevity.

Keys to adopt a proactive lifestyle

Nowadays, people have noticed that to live healthier they should be more active and maintain a healthy diet to avoid diseases. But what is actually involved in maintaining a healthy lifestyle? From where I stand, taking up exercise and having a balanced nutrition are the two major keys.

When it comes down to having an active life, most people think that is difficult to start doing a sport because of the overloaded daily routine. Actually, incorporating a proactive lifestyle without changing the timetable, is feasible. For example, instead of spending time in front of a computer screen, people can go for a walk or do a more exreme activity, like diving or climbing. In this way, they can avoid the couch-potato syndrome and brush aside the usual annoying TV commercials. Moreover, they have a cardiovascular and psychological benefit, weight and stress control. Jogging in the park may sound boring and worthless for many, but not only can you lose weight, but also control your everyday stress. Were people to do this, weight problems may be solved. No matter how busy we are, we can still work out and this should become an indispensable part of our lives,

The second most vital ingredient for a health lifestyle in my opinion is to have a balanced diet. What is the most important rule to achieve this? Avoiding junk food, snacks and red meat and eating more vegetables, fruits, chicken and generally proteins. We can eat everything, but in moderation and not overdo it. Furthermore, for having a high-fiber diet people should avoid harmful substances like alcohol, tobbacco and of course smoking. It is difficult for some people to stop using these substances, but rarely do you meet a person who has stopped using them and his life has not changed.

In brief, we have everything to gain by taking up exercise and have a balanced nutrition. There are a lot of benefits for adopting a proactive lifestyle and I think that all of us should be concerned about it.

The seriousness of climate change

Startling evidence has recently come to light indicating that global warming has a knock-on effect and the climate will extremely change. Many citizens will force a risk of flooding due to ice melting. Not only will there be lack of water, but there will also be longer periods of drought. The climate change can be attributed to the greenhouse effect and to avert disaster we must take action now.

To begin with, what is responsible for this phenomenon? The decisive factor according to scientists who studied the problem, seems to be the carbon dioxide (CO2) which is released by the combustion of fossil fuels. The gas levels have increased over the last few years and it pours out from chimneys and car exhausts. It gets higher into the atmosphere and traps solar radiation. If the ice melts, the ocean will absorb solar radiation and augment global warming. Moreover, this perilous heating effect will cause higher sea levels which means that cities like London, which is low-lying area, will be covered by sea water. To make matters worse, there will also be fiercer storms, but also hotter summers and drought which would spell disaster in agriculture. Another crucial consequence of global warming would be possibly war because of water shortages.

However, there are some steps that can be taken to improve our prospects. We could use alternative energy such as building nuclear reactors to replace power plants that use fossil fuels. The society must force manufacturers of cars, motorbikes etc to make them more efficient to alleviate the problem  and not wasting to much energy. Also, give people financial incentives. For example, help them install solar panels and solar heaters or make the latter tax-free. Furthermore, it would be effective to launch a campaign to encourage people to insulate their homes, not leaving electrical devices on standby, to name but a few. Moreover, tell them to apply the three R's: reduce, reuse, recycle. Using the car less is also advantageous, because were the public transport to be improved global warming will be alleviated.

To sum up, we should apply all these methods to harness climate change. Individuals, industries and governments must be concerned about it. Sacrifices will have to be made, but in the end saving the planet will make them worthwhile.

Global Warming

There has been a great deal of heated debate about global warming, which refers to the observed century-scale rise in the average temperature on the Earth's climate system. Startling evidence has come to light indicating that the greenhouse effect (that is, the natural process by which the atmosphere traps some of the Sun's energy) aggravates the climate change insofar as it has a knock-on effect on the environment. For instance, not only do global temperature and sea level rise, but extreme weather conditions, such as floods and droughts, also become more common, leading to the degeneration of ecosystems. However, the question that arises is: What are the primary causes of global warming and are there any steps to alleviate such an intensifying phenomenon?

As regards the causes of the rise in temperature over the last 150 years, they can be attributed to the greenhouse gases, which are: carbon dioxide (CO2), vapor and methane. The most catalytic one is CO2 emitted, especially by human activity during the consumption of fossil fuels (: oil, natural gas and coal), in cars (exhaust fumes) and factories. This greenhouse gas, the levels of which are twice what they were in 1850, pours into the atmosphere, where infrared solar radiation is trapped. Furthermore, the warmer the ocean is, the more water evaporates, and vapor is more effective than CO2. In addition, methane captured in the seabed and in frozen soil places like Alaska, exacerbates global warming, on the grounds that it absorbs 20 times more energy than carbon dioxide. Lastly, deforestation plays a vital role, since forests would otherwise store CO2 and release oxygen. 

Yet, it is claimed that temperatures may spiral out of control. To avert disaster, we could firstly fit carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to every power plant utilizing fossil fuels. This, would remove carbon from the fumes so that it can be stored underground. Additionally, the government could offer city dwellers financial incentives, for instance, either provide them with grants to install solar panels and heaters, or make them tax-free. Apart from that, a campaign could be launched to persuade people to alter their behavior, encouraging them to curb their carbon footprint (ie the amount of CO2 emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels per capita) by insulating their homes and making use of public transport, or bike. Last but not least, were the "three Rs" to be applied, that is, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, global warming would be under control. 

On balance, it is an undisputed fact that global warming poses and is going to pose one of the most pressing issues. So, sacrifices will have to be made in order to harness this mammoth problem, but this constitutes the only means of global salvation. 

The elderly

In recent years, startling evidence has come to light indicating that medical science, which remarkably evolves, has provided the number of elderly people in population with the opportunity to continue to increase. However, every coin has two sides and so does this issue.

There are many significant advantages of this medical advance. First and foremost, the older generation's offspring may benefit from their wisdom, on the grounds that they must have gained many experiences. As a result, the elderly will offer the ideal advice on life. Apart from that, since a hectic schedule has dominated every parent's life, pensioners could contribute to the upbringing of their grandchildren and to the housework, too. Last but not least, the longer people live, the more time they have to not only to spend quality time with their family, but also to enjoy their retirement by being active. For instance, they could undoubtedly travel and do some voluntary work, such as working in a charity. 

On the other hand, there are many adverse implications, which mostly concern society. Firstly, senion citizens constitute a financial burden both on their family, since the relatives are obliged to consistently take care of them, instead of resorting to a nursery home, which is inhumane, and on society itself. A case in point is that pay-as-you-go phenomenon, a social insurance system in which current contributors pay the expenses for the current recipients. Consequently, there is a shortage in employees' income and in their future pension. Furthermore, the taxpayers' many is invested in geriatric care, for example, medication and appropriate equipment in hospitals. Lastly, the problem of overpopulation may arise. 

Taking all this into consideration, there is no doubt in my mind that the advantages are outweighed by the disadvantages. It is an undisputed fact, though, that with proper planning we could reap the benefits of such  scientific improvement without exerting pressure on other societal members. 

Cloning and Genetic engineering

In recent years, scientists have found alternative ways in order to produce DNA identical to he human's one or any other type of gene. Topping their list are cloning and genetic engineering with which they create new DNA scaffolds. Albeit startling evidence has come to light indicating that these ways are efficient, the question that arises is: Are cloning and genetic engineering a blessing or a curse? As I see it, it is an undisputed fact that their impact is detrimental. 

There are many reasons why cloned and genetic engineered products should be abolished. First and foremost, although we surely live in a democracy, it is not guaranteed that it will exist perpetually. That is, if it gives way to oppressive regimes, speculative elite will make ample use of this sophisticated technological evolution in order to dominate. Apart from that, since crime rates are estimated to escalate in the future, criminals will be provided with the opportunity to commit "identity theft". More specifically, if science offers such a patent to mankind, individuals might create cloned human beings and commence pretending to be anyone they wish. However, this policy violates every person's basic right to dignity and privacy. Last but not last, by creating a new forms of life in this specific way, many perils are unearthed, which concern not only the newly born beings, but they also pose a threat to the scientists who forge them. 

Focusing on a different perspective, despite the fact that advocates of cloning and genetic engineering concede that mistakes will be made, they insist that those sort of generations will be far and way an asset. Firstly, more plants and animals will be generated, so agriculture and farming are in favor of it, since no animal will be executed and consumed by us. Therefore, hunger and famine, which pose and are anticipated to pose some of the most pressing issues, will be diminished. What seems to be erroneous about these arguments, though, is that tampering with nature and God is abnormal and unethical on the grounds that we only constitute creations of the Lord and we are not destined to upstage Him, even though technology and science remarkably evolve and offer us this advantage.

Taking all this into consideration, there is no doubt in my mind that cloned and genetically engineered DNA have many knock-on effects. Only if we refrain from utilizing them, will the shape of things to come be positive, without taking mankind into the realms that belong to God, and to God alone. 

CLONING:

GENETIC ENGINEERING: