Be famous is really worthy? - Essay - page122

Essay

4 Write a 250 word essay on the subject below. Use the ideas from exercise 3 and the paragraph plan to help you.

'Most people think that being famous is heaven, but in fact it's more like hell.'
What do you think?

Paragraph 1: Summarize why people might want to be famous and paraphrase the question.
Paragraph 2: Why might people think being famous is 'heaven'? Do you agree?
Paragraph 3: Why might it be hell? What's your opinion?
Paragraph 4: Conclusion: summarize the main points and restate your opinion.

Is being famous really worthy?

“Money, money, money” This is one of the most famous song from 1974 sang by O’Jays group. Actually people usually link fame with money, fun and rock n' roll. Why do they think like that? Because they only can see the goals of people work. Moreover they seem unable to understand that behind the flashes there is a team working hard with their Idols. After all what would be their idols without all supporting team working?

As a matter of fact they think that after they became famous they will get a free hand to do whatever they want to do. Nevertheless, it’s not true at all. Mind you, they will handle a lot of situations like Paparazzi, affairs and some bad people on TV spreading rumours. Basically, as we can see people often aren’t aware of every problem they probably bump into.

Apparently we don’t understand that those people also do some sacrifices. Privacy for instance is a good thing sometimes. It’s virtually impossible go to the shopping mall if there’s a Paparazzi taking pictures of you all the time. Furthermore, it might be completely embarrassing if wherever place you go there’ll be a person doing whatever to take a picture of you.

To sum up, people are always thinking about success, glamour, money and all advantages that come with it. Anyway, famous people have their moment of glory and by the way, they also have bad moments worrying about their images. The real problem here is people should understand that only through hard working they can be successful and through success they can someday be famous.

Happy birthday, Newton!

This is to let you know that today's a very special day for the creator of this blog: our friend Newton!

Happy birthday and keep up the great work you've been doing here!

Xtra Practise! by Magali Guimarães

xtra practice:

TOEFL IBT INDEPENDENT WRITING - USE OF DISCOURSE MARKERS
Complete the text using once each of the following:

ironically - Although - However - Unfortunately - Despite - In conclusion - In the end - What's more - more importantly - In fact -

Is it better to learn a foreign language at home, or in the country where the language is spoken?

Many people believe that it is better to go abroad to learn a foreign language rather than study it in classes

at home. (1)_____________ , my own personal experience has been that language classes at home can be effective

and that learning a language in the country where it is spoken is not as easy as it sounds.

My first experience of studying a foreign language was at school, and I have to admit it was not a great

success. Like most children, my motivation was not very strong, and I didn't concentrate much in class.
(2) ______________ this, after five years or so of study, I passed my exam and, (3) ______________ had enough

of the language to conduct a holiday romance with a French girl who spoke no English at all.

My first job was, (4) _______________ , as a language teacher in Turkey. Knowing nothing of the language, I

studied it before a week or so before I left Britain, hoping then to pick it up when I got there. (5)

_______________ it took me over a year before I was even capable of having a basic conversation, and it was

not until the middle of the second year before I began to settle down and feel at home. (6) _____________ I

did learn to speak and to understand much of what was said around me, but I can assure you that it was in no

way an 'easy' way to learn a language.
(7)______________ , at that time I noticed that colleagues who regularly attended language classes made much

faster progress with their language skills than I did, something which should not perhaps have surprised me!

(8)_______________ , as I said, I did learn to speak and was quite fluent by the time I left, I never really

learnt to read or write the language - something which I regret.

(9) __________________ I should add that subsequent experience as a school manager in Poland for a year proved

beyond doubt to me that 'being there' was not enough. (10) _____________ , as I now have my own language

school, teaching English in Italy, daily experience has shown me that you really can learn to speak a foreign

language without leaving home. Promise!

Source: http://www.imparareinglese.co.uk

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All credits by Magali Guimarães

Give this a go!!!!!

Give this a go!!!!!

Discourse markers

Choose the correct answers.

1. Jerry will want a ticket for that concert. ______________ I think he will.

2. We should buy the leather sofa. _____________ , it is very expensive, but it will last a long time.

3. I persuaded Elaine to buy a lottery ticket, just for a laugh, and ____________ ? She won a prize!

4. We couldn't even get £500 for our old car. _____________ , it was in dreadful condition.

5. You can't expect Marc to be so patient. _______________ , he's only an eight-year-old.

6. People continue to buy things, in an ecstasy of consumption, _____________ .

7. The meeting will be from 4.00 till 6.00. Oh, ____________ , that new Italian film is on at 8.00.

8. That was one of the most boring parties I've ever been to.____________ , the music was good.

Discourse Markers!

Hello folks, I bring here the discourse markers, our subject of last class. Enjoy studying!

Basically, you're spending too much money.
(This is the most important point.)

Quite honestly, you need a better job.
(I'm going to speak to you sincerely.)

Apparently, there are good jobs in the City.
(I've heard this, but I don't know if it's true.)

Admittedly, you'd have to move.
(I know this point weakens what I'm saying.)

Surely you can understand what I'm saying?
(I don't know why you don't agree with me.)

After all, I gave you good advice before.
(Don't forget this. It explains why I'm right.)

As a matter of fact, I saved your company.
(This is a fact which might surprise you.)

Mind you/Still, that was a long time ago.
(It occurs to me that this contrast with what I just said.)

Actually, you didn't  thank me then, either.
(I'm adding some new information to what I just said.)

I mean, why should I bother about you ?
(I'm trying to make things clear to you.)

Obviously, you aren't going to take my advice.
(This fact cannot be doubted.)

At least, I doubt if you will.
(I'm correcting or changing what I just said.)

Naturally, you'll do what you think is best.
(Of course this is what I would expect.)

Anyway, It's up to you.
(I'm concluding, and not talking about that anymore.)

All in all, finding an interesting job isn't easy.
(I'm considering every part of the situation.)

The ball's in your court, so to speak.
(I'm using words that don't have their usual meaning.)

By the way, can you lend me some money ?
(This isn't connected to what we've been talking about.)

Google Translator: friend or foe?

Part of my duties as an English teacher is correcting students' written production, which can prove to be a real drag - not only for the number of mistakes we find, but also for the most fiendish tool available on the Internet: Google Translator!

I have students in all levels who insist on using that tool as their one and only resource for doing all kinds of assignments: essays, proposals, letters, advertisements... you name it!

Here's the deal: why on Earth do you think we've got so many translators (I mean people, not software) working their asses off, with bunches of pages to work on every day? The answer is quite simple, don't you think?

So, next time you think of using Google Translator, think twice. Get yourself a nice book in English or even look for lyrics to your favourite songs on the Internet. But don't try to fool yourself and write things like: "The walls of my bedroom are purple socks."

Video for relaxing after the PC1

The video I bring today is some kind of relaxing video after our test, you know, all that anxiety cause us a little distress. Today I bring a presentation on the half time of the Super Bowl's match that the band played about Videogames! I think many will like, for instance, me, Julio, Victor and probably Fernando too.

Presentations

Next Saturday May 14
Diego
Thiago

May 21
Lucas
Nathan

May 28
Thaina
Ana Lucia

June 4
Paula
Samantha

June 11
Ricardo - Collaborative Comsumption
Jefferson

June 18
Julio
Flavia

Expressions from last class!

An Icon

A famous person, who people admire, and see them like a symbol. Ex: Elvis Presley

A Sitcom

It stands for Situation comedy. The situation is usually that of a family, workplace, or a group of friends through comedic sequences. Ex: Big Bang Theory

Confessional TV

It’s TV program where people reveal secrets about their personal life. Ex: Oprah Show

The Afterlife

The afterlife is life after death. Ex: Ghost, Nosso Lar …

To ogle sth/sb

To stare or rudely look to with a strong sexual interest

Fair game for criticism

An acceptable target it isn’t unfair to criticize you

To scrutinize something/somebody

To look at it in detail/ critically

To bestow fame on somebody

To make them famous usually in the sense of give an honour

A fly-on-the-wall documentary

Where a secret or intrusive camera follows the real life of people in the documentary

Like a lamb to the slaughter

Going to meet your fate naively without resistance