MEET OUR LANGUAGE ASSISTANTS!!

We are thrilled to introduce you to the language assistants joining us this year. Their enthusiasm, dedication, and support are essential in making our English classes more dynamic and enriching. We are truly grateful for their collaboration and for the opportunity to learn from their culture and experience. We hope you enjoy getting to know them as much as we enjoy working with them!

Nicholas:

My name is Nicholas Scibetta. I am 25 years old and I am from Long Island, New York. I went to

elementary and high school in New York, but I attended university in Pennsylvania. I decided to

move to Spain to experience the culture and also to improve my Spanish. I studied in Barcelona

during university, but I had to leave early because of COVID. Madrid is definitely better!

This is my second year teaching at IES Calatalifa. I decided to return to the school because of

the amazing students and teachers. Currently, I live in the center of Madrid and I play on two

different football teams. I love helping the students improve their English in class, as well as

speaking with them about their lives, favorite things, and football in the halls and during the break.

Gil:

Hi everyone! My name is Gil Kim and I'm from New York and Boston. These are both cities in the Northeast of the United States that are famous for their history, culture, and sports. I wanted to teach in Spain for a year because I love the city of Madrid and Spanish culture. I also would like to learn some Spanish! I taught English in Korea last year so I'm excited to continue teaching here, especially at IES Calatalifa where the students and teachers are all so nice. I'm looking forward to the rest of the year :).

Maggy:

Hi! My name is Maggy, I'm 23, and I'm from Washington DC. DC is the capital of the United States so it's where our government and our monuments are located, but it also has a lot of good food, music, and culture. 

I visited Madrid when I was younger and I loved it, so I decided to move here last year and I worked helping younger kids learn English. I'm so excited to be at IES Calatalifa this year and have the opportunity to work with older students, and I'm having a really good experience!  

MESOPOTAMIAN AND EGYPTIAN TOURIST GUIDES

 The 1st ESO students became tour guides to delve into Ancient History. Organized in groups, each team researched a monument belonging to the Mesopotamian or Egyptian culture. After their research, they prepared exhibits explaining the history, symbolism and cultural importance of the monuments. This activity fostered meaningful learning by connecting historical knowledge with the practice of essential skills such as research, oral communication and teamwork. 

MESOPOTAMIAN AND EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY

Our 1st-year ESO students recently completed an activity on ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian gods. Each student was assigned a different deity, and they researched a myth associated with their god, as well as its influence on the daily lives of people at that time. To gather this information, they used the internet, learning to differentiate between reliable and unreliable websites. This activity not only enriched their knowledge of ancient civilizations but also developed their research skills and critical thinking when evaluating online sources.

In another activity, our 1st-year ESO students had the opportunity to experience writing like the ancient Sumerians, using clay tablets to simulate cuneiform script. This activity allowed them to understand firsthand the challenges and skills required to write in ancient times, helping them appreciate the value of early writing systems and their evolution. Additionally, they developed creativity and coordination as they tried to replicate cuneiform characters, gaining a deeper understanding of the role of writing in communication and the preservation of history.

4th ESO Historical Documentary Project: A Journey Through Time

We are excited to share the incredible work some of our 4th ESO students (4ºA) have accomplished this term with their "Exploring Historical Events and Figures" video documentary project. This engaging and educational project was designed to deepen students' understanding of history, enhance their presentation skills in English, and foster creativity through collaborative work.

Our students delved into various historical topics chosen by them, creating documentaries on figures and events such as Cleopatra, Princess Diana of Wales, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., the Discovery of America, the Man on the Moon, and dictatorships in Spain.

As part of our bilingual project, "One School, One Voice", the students paid particular attention to their oracy skills. They focused on both verbal communication (tone, pitch, volume, pronunciation) and non-verbal communication (body language), ensuring their presentations were clear, engaging, and effective.

Here are some screenshots from their impressive documentaries:

         

     

         

A Wonderful Journey Through Literature: Our Reading Activities in 3rd ESO

As we wrap up another remarkable school year, it's time to reflect on the engaging reading activities our 3rd ESO students participated in.

Our dedicated 3rd ESO students presented book reviews, showcasing their favourite reads. They selected books from a wide range of genres and topics. These presentations allowed them to share their thoughts, analyses, and personal reflections on the chosen books, enhancing their critical thinking skills.

Here is a glimpse into the wonderful world of books explored by our students this term:

• Student Reviews: Each student chose a book that resonated with them, and they delved into the themes, characters, and plots, providing unique perspectives and thoughtful critiques.
• Diverse Selections: The books reviewed spanned various genres, including fiction, fantasy, and mystery. This diversity not only broadened their literary horizons but also encouraged them to appreciate different writing styles and storytelling techniques.
• Engaging Presentations: Our students didn't just read; they brought their books to life through engaging presentations. They used creative slides, captivating cover images, and interactive elements to make their reviews more engaging and informative.

 

DUBLIN_2024

 

Enjoy some pics about our Dublin experience last March 2024. We had such a great time!!!! Time with friends, time for learning English, time for living the culture and weather in this beautiful country. Looking forward to going back next year!! Wanna join us?

 

 DISCOVERING AVANT-GARDE WOMEN ARTISTS

 

Our Arts students of 2ºC and 2ºD have worked on textures while discovering avant-garde women artists. They researched about them in groups to make an infographic like the example you will see below and later they made a small presentation to their classmates. This way we all know a little bit more about all these wonderful artists.

Once the research was done, it was time to choose a painting and get to work. They had to recreate the painting only using textures and the truth is that they prove to be amazing artists, I leave you some examples of their original results.

CALATALIFA'S IV  ENGLISH LITERARY CONTEST 

On the occasion of Book Day last April, the English department organized the IV Literary Contest. Both students and teachers from the department, as well as our enthusiastic language assistants, thoroughly enjoyed the entire process. It is a great motivation for the participating students, teachers, and assistants to see how much creativity, talent, and language proficiency our students can demonstrate. Congratulations to all participants, especially the winners!

Many thanks also to our language assistants, who were involved at all times, culminating in a fun and motivating award ceremony 😀

            A TRIMESTER BRIMMING WITH JOYOUS FESTIVITIES

The inaugural term overflowed with engaging projects and festive celebrations!😊😊

Noteworthy among our endeavors was the orchestration of a costume contest for Halloween:

Additionally, we dedicated our efforts to executing projects aimed at combating violence against women on the significant date of November 25th. After dealing with the topic in the classes, some students designed and presented posters which we displayed around the building:

The season culminated in a plethora of activities centered around the spirit of Christmas, leaving us with a tapestry of cherished memories from the year 2023. Wishing a Happy New Year to all!