Volcano ash cloud across Europe! Big chaos at airspace!!

As you have probably heard on the news, a huge volcanic ash cloud is  disrupting  a large number of flights across Europe. Here you have a piece of news from the BBC news website, where some correspondents from different European countries report  on the current situation in each country:
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8631603.stm

 Also I do suggest you to read  some of the stories  which some passengers  are still going through at some European airports:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8628289.stm

 Said  that, first of all, I'd like you to spot  all "examples" of passive voice sentences  you find in every piece of news from the first link. Secondly, I kindly request you to choose one of the stories from the second link , read it and try to sort of memorise it so that you can retell it to  us next day in class.

Good luck!!

6-Minute English! " A listening file on how people grow old"

 Hi guys!
I'm just  posting a new entry with a new listening file.Actually, I was just listening to  this audio file when all of a sudden, I noticed that I had made a terrible mistake. As you already know, I did post a previous listening called "Growing old" a couple of weeks ago, but as you all will have found out it's not about "Growing old" but " Parkour" instead. Well,  for that reason, I have decided to post this entry with the real podcast about "Growing old".

Anyway, here you have the podcast I wanted you to listen to in the first place. Click here   or paste the URL  below on your address bar:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2010/03/100325_6min_gettingold_page.shtml


Hope you can  be understanding for that terrible mistake of mine.
bye for now
JL

APRIL FOOL'S DAY PRANKS

Hi everyone!

Today is April 1st, and this is a special day in most English-speaking countries. I hope you have easily found information on what this festivity is all about. Here I am presenting you with a videoclip about some of the typical jokes people can make this day. Hope you like it!!

Could you possibly try to find one about jokes on April Fool's Day on YOUTUBE and post the URL address here and explain it in English what kind of joke is it?

Much appreciated it if you could do that so all your classmates and myself could share it too.

Videoclip on the 1st "Slow City" in Turkey.

Hi to my 1st Intermediate students!

Once you watch the videoclip, I would like you to answer the following questions on it. Let me give you a tip: I know you can listen to it as many times as you like, but do try to listen to it twice before you answer the questions below , because, as you all know, listenings will be only played twice at the final test.

1) As you already know, this "Slow City movement" began in Italy, but could you tell me why the Mayor of that Turkish town has decided to get his town into this movement?

2) In order to be credited as a "slow city", this Turkish city has to meet a long list of requirements. Could you possibly write down a few of them?

3) What is the main reason why this Turkish town wants to be part of this "Slow City plan"?

4) Are there any people from that town against this plan? If so, why?

4) What industry sector is now making a profit by getting into this "Slow City Plan"?

5) Who is going to benefit from this plan?