Wild Wisdom

Green Renaissance

“If you spend a long time with any species in the wild, you are encountering the species as they truly are. I describe it as wild wisdom.” – Jenny Cullinan Jenny dedicates all of her time to studying and learning from bees in the wild. She believes that we need to fundamentally change how we interact with bees, from housing and feeding, to moving them from one area to another to pollinate our crops. Let’s let the wild bees show us how.

Vocabulary chunks to learn from video :

• Spend a long time
• In the wild
• As they truly are
• That allows for the understanding to be much much greater
• That can only be aquired
• I’m allergic to bee stings
• Being afraid of bees
• We spend up to 8 hours a day
• 5 Days a week
• They’re fascinating
• It’s a mystery
• Globally bee populations are crashing
• It’s a huge concern
• Many factors that contribute to that
• To enhance our relationship with bees
• Specific needs
• One should understand what they do in the wild
• Try to mimic that
• How we house them
• A synthetic material
• The whole natural order starts to fragment
• Traditional ways of keeping bees
• Tree beekeeping
• More habitats for bees
• Planting enough forage for them
• All year round
• Free to be wild
• Number one priority
• Should not be moved around from area to area
• That are genetically sound
• Live and know the conditions of your area
• Survive well
• See what comes
• Looking at Nature’s Genius
• My dream would be
• We have to free our thinking and our way of being
• On so many levels
• Our inner relationship with ourselves
• Our outer relationship with the world
• You’re a better person
• For yourself and for others

Do you paraglide to work?

Nestled in the Swiss Alps, the geography and climate make it possible to paraglide all year long in Vercorin. Which is why the tiny village in Switzerland is known as a paraglider’s paradise. Some people even commute to work attached to their gliders. We take to the sky with local resident Marie Glassey and her dog/co-pilot Maya to see why this form of transportation and recreation is so popular. #Paraglide​ #Switzerland​ #Commute

The New ECPE Writing Section – Webinar

Watch this webinar recording in preparation for the first administration of the revised ECPE. Michigan Language Assessment team members present an overview of the revised writing task and teaching strategies to help students succeed on the revised ECPE Writing Section.

Viewers :

-gain a useful framework for teaching writing focusing on C2 skills

-learn about the revision of the ECPE writing section, including the new writing task

-learn about the new scoring rubric

-learn about other resources available to develop writing skills at the C2 level.

In this webinar recording, you will learn all about the new ECPE Writing Section. We will provide a breakdown of each possible task format, the new source information provided to test takers, as well as the new rating scale. You’ll also be able to see how the new rating criteria are applied to actual test taker responses.

Michigan Language Assessment

How to pass the ECCE Speaking Exam – Tips and useful phrases – Sample videos

Sample of a complete ECCE speaking test :

[MLA]

Sample Speaking Prompt HERE

Hellenic American Union Speaking test for the ECCE test

Prompt used in following videos can be found HERE

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 2 and 3 explained in detail  CLICK HERE 

Additional Speaking Prompts HERE

Useful tips HERE

 

 

What inspires you?

National Geographic

Simon Beck is a snow artist who creates huge designs in the snow by simply walking in a pair of snowshoes. He believes that inspiration goes before motivation, and nature’s perfect patterns inspire him to create something new every time out. This short documentary by Flash Studio follows Beck’s preparations for a piece he did in Stryn, Norway, on a day of good snow. Watch and join him as he catches a first glimpse of a masterpiece that, after many steps and calculations, would most likely be covered in two days. Follow Simon on Instagram HERE

 

National Geographic

Are you ready for the ECPE Listening ?

Practise your listening skills for the upcoming exam with these sample questions :

ECPE Listening Practice # 1 CLICK HERE

ECPE Listening Practice #2 CLICK HERE

ECPE Listening Practice # 3 CLICK HERE

ECPE Listening Practice # 4 CLICK HERE

ECPE Listening Practice # 5 CLICK HERE

ECPE Listening Practice # 6 CLICK HERE

ECPE Listening Practice # 7 CLICK HERE

ECPE Listening Practice # 8 CLICK HERE

ECPE Listening Practice #9 CLICK HERE

Who Recognizes Michigan Tests Results

The Michigan Tests are accepted as official proof of English language proficiency by schools, institutions, government agencies, and businesses around the world. CLICK HERE TO SEE

^{source : Hellenic American Union}

Every day is a miracle

Green Renaissance

We must teach our children to smell the earth, to taste the rain, to touch the wind, to see things grow. Our children have always decided the future. Let them choose one that aligns with our earth.  “Encourage your kids to look for nature everywhere you go. It’s the weed breaking through the pavement, It’s the leaves forming small clumps along the side of the road. It’s the sky at any given time of the day or night. It’s the wind doing what it likes to your hair. Look around, it won’t take long to find it.” ~Penny Whitehouse

We “Green Renaissance”, make these short films as passion projects, to share inspiration. You can help us make more films like this by making a tiny donation, so we can continue this journey with you –  @greenrenaissance

Who is Green Renaissance? We are a tiny collective of 4 passionate filmmakers (Warren, Jacky, Michael and Justine). We live off-grid and dedicate our time to making films that we hope will inspire and share ideas.

Green Renaissance

Experience South Africa

 

 

Get face to face with extraordinary sharks like the great white shark on this shark cage diving and viewing experience outside Cape Town, South Africa. Swim with the sharks on this half-day shark viewing excursion near Cape Town. Spend a couple of hours viewing great white sharks from a secure and safe cage attached to the side of the boat and then take a break on the boat while enjoying snacks and refreshments and learning about these sea creatures from the onboard marine biologist

 

Strap in for 5 days of African scenery, animals and adventure on this small-group tour along South Africa’s famed Garden Route, including a stop at Addo Elephant National Park. Hit the South African tourist jackpot with this 5-day tour of the country’s Garden Route, exploring Addo Elephant National Park, Wilderness National Park, Jeffreys Bay, and Oudtshoorn. Commune with elephants, get breathtaking views, swim and surf in Jeffreys Bay, visit an ostrich farm, and possibly see big cats in the wild, all the while learning about each area from your expert guide.

Take a guided walk through beautiful Cape Town, stopping along the way to sample South African treats and to learn about the local history. Explore Cape Town on foot on this guided food-themed tour, going to local places to sample the best eating that the South African town has to offer. In between the four or five food stops, see some of Cape Town’s main sites, including Company’s Gardens, the Bo Kaap Malay Quarter, Woodstock, and Bree Street.

Take an adventurous wildlife safari on the Aquila Game Reserve near Cape Town, South Africa. Spend the day viewing the ‘Big Five’ while on safari at Aquila Game Reserve, the closest of its kind to Cape Town. On this worry-free trip, see elephants, lions, Cape buffalos, leopards, and hippos as well as zebras, giraffes, rhinos, the endangered ‘Aquila’ black eagle, and 170 other species that live here. Sit back in the jeep and let the guide explain the biodiversity of this malaria-free game reserve before heading back to your Cape Town hotel.

Essay Signposting

Signposting means using phrases and words to guide the reader through the content of your essay.

There are two main types of signposting :

MAJOR SIGNPOSTS : introductions, conclusions and outlining main arguments/ the direction of the argument in paragraphs/opening phrases.

LINKING WORDS AND SHORT PHRASES : connecting words help guide the reader through the argument by linking ideas, sentences and paragraphs.

Essay SignpostingDownload

I’m not givin’ up, givin’ up, no, not yet

 

 

 [PS22 CHORUS KIDS]

PS22 Chorus kids always like to employ good grammar, but even better is when they employ the GREAT Andy Grammer to sing along with them!! Check out this performance of Andy’s theme song to FIVE FEET APART that moved him to tears….

The Webby Award-winning PS22 Chorus was formed in the year 2000. We are an ever-changing group of 5th graders from a public elementary school in Staten Island, New York. PS22 is NOT a “school for the arts,” and the chorus is not a magnet program. PS22 Chorus just features ordinary children achieving extraordinary accomplishments — musically and otherwise.

 

Source : Andy Grammer

Lyrics

Lyrics

I will fight
I will fight for you
I always do until my heart
Is black and blueAnd I will stay
I will stay with you
We’ll make it to the other side
Like lovers doI’ll reach my hands out in the dark
And wait for yours to interlock
I’ll wait for you
I’ll wait for you’Cause I’m not givin’ up
I’m not givin’ up, givin’ up, no, not yet
Even when I’m down to my last breath
Even when they say there’s nothin’ left
So don’t give up on
I’m not givin’ up
I’m not givin’ up, givin’ up, no, not me
Even when nobody else believes
I’m not goin’ down that easily
So don’t give up on meAnd I will hold
I’ll hold onto you
No matter what this world’ll throw
It won’t shake me looseI’ll reach my hands out in the dark
And wait for yours to interlock
I’ll wait for you
I’ll wait for you’Cause I’m not givin’ up
I’m not givin’ up, givin’ up, no, not yet
Even when I’m down to my last breath
Even when they say there’s nothin’ left
So don’t give up on
I’m not givin’ up
I’m not givin’ up, givin’ up, no, not me
Even when nobody else believes
I’m not goin’ down that easily
So don’t give up on meSo don’t give up on me

Source: Musixmatch