Defining Creativity

Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. Creativity is characterised by the ability to perceive the world in new ways, to find hidden patterns, to make connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena, and to generate solutions. Creativity involves two processes: thinking, then producing.Creativity is the process of bringing something new into being. Creativity requires passion and commitment. It brings to our awareness what was previously hidden and points to new life. The experience is one of heightened consciousness: ecstasy.” – Rollo May, The Courage to Create

Is this possible in business? I believe so, but you have to be willing to take risks and progress through discomfort to get to the finish line.

“A product is creative when it is (a) novel and (b) appropriate. A novel product is original not predictable. The bigger the concept, and the more the product stimulates further work and ideas, the more the product is creative.”
—Sternberg & Lubart, Defying the Crowd

Studies by Clayton M. Christensen and his researchers uncovered The Innovators DNA: Your ability to generate innovative ideas is not merely a function of the mind, but also a function of five key behaviours that optimize your brain for discovery:
Associating: drawing connections between questions, problems, or ideas from unrelated fields
Questioning: posing queries that challenge common wisdom
Observing: scrutinizing the behavior of customers, suppliers, and competitors to identify new ways of doing things
Networking: meeting people with different ideas and perspectives
Experimenting: constructing interactive experiences and provoking unorthodox responses to see what insights emerge

Sir Richard Branson has a mantra that runs through the DNA of Virgin companies. The mantra is A-B-C-D. (Always Be Connecting the Dots). Creativity is a practice, and if you practice using these five discovery skills every day, you will develop your skills in creativity and innovation.

https://www.creativityatwork.com/2014/02/17/what-is-creativity/ 

3,000,000 Visits!!!

Thank You for 3,000,000 Visits!

Today is one of those days that deserves a special post: our blog has officially reached 3,000,000 visits. To be honest, I never thought we would reach this figure...

And it is not just a number. It represents hundred thousands of moments in which someone, somewhere in the world, stopped by to read an article, learn something new, find inspiration, solve a problem, or simply spend a few minutes exploring the content published here. For that reason, this milestone belongs as much to you as it does to me.

A Journey Built One Post at a Time

Over the years, this blog has covered a wide range of English Learning Topics. From practical vocabulary sheets and educational resources to grammar explantions, links to world news, recommendations and learning strategies, the goal has always been the same: to create content that is useful, interesting, worth your time, and why not fun at the same time..

Many of the most popular posts have been used to foster students' interaction, to improve learners' pronunciation and to enhance exam performance. Readers have shared their experiences, suggestions, corrections, and ideas, helping to improve their language learning strategies.

The Real Value Behind the Numbers

While reaching 3,000,000 visits is certainly exciting, the statistics itself is not the most important achievement. The real success lies in the people behind those visits. Some readers have been here for years and have followed the blog through different stages. Others discovered it only recently. Some visit regularly, while others may have found a single article or video through a search engine that happened to answer exactly what they were looking for.

No matter how you arrived here, thank you. Your support, curiosity, and engagement are what keep this blog alive and moving forward.

Special Thanks

I would like to express my gratitude to:

• Long-time readers who continue to visit and support the blog.
• New visitors who discover the site every day.
• Followers who never miss a post.
• Readers who share articles with friends, colleagues, and family members.
• Everyone who leaves comments, feedback, and suggestions.
• Those who have encouraged this project over the years.

Every contribution, no matter how small, has helped make this milestone possible.

Looking Ahead

Reaching three million visits is not the end of a journey. It is simply another chapter.

There are still many ideas to explore, topics to discuss, resources to share, and projects to develop. My commitment remains the same: to continue publishing content that aims to inform, inspire, educate, and hopefully make a positive difference for readers.

I am excited about what comes next and look forward to sharing it with all of you. 

(from the bottom of my heart) for helping this blog reach 3,000,000 visits. Whether this is your first visit or your thousandth, you are part of this achievement.
Here's to the next milestone, new ideas, new articles, and many more infographs. Thank you for reading, supporting, sharing, and being part of this incredible journey.
3,000,000 visits and counting... 🎉🎉🎉

Miguel Ángel

Facts and Tips for your Orals

The Skill of Speaking

A good speaker can:

• Produce the particular English speech sounds and sound patterns, both in isolation and in combination
• Use appropriate words and intonation patterns
• Use appropriate words and structures to express intended meaning
• Recall words and structures quickly
• Organize his thoughts and ideas in logical sentences
• Adjust his speech according to his audience, situation and subject matter

From englishgrammarsoft.com 

1. Trust yourself. What you are saying is right. You prepared the topic carefully and chose phrases and structures seen in the textbook and in class which are the usual ones to talk about that specific issue. So, you should not be afraid of using them. It is not the first time you are talking about this. You have heard and spoken on this topic before.
2. You have revised the vocabulary sheets and words in context you found in the readings you have been doing throughout the year. You have chosen the necessary specific vocabulary dealing with the proposed topic. The moment you hear about it, a large number of words and phrases related to this field come to your mind.
3. You can pronounce intelligibly. Your classmates, language assistant and teacher understand you perfectly well, even though you mispronounce a few words. You try to avoid those words you are not sure to pronounce correctly. You participate in class whenever speaking is required and are not afraid of making mistakes (they are necessary to learn).
4. You have rehearsed at home and in class. You usually speak in front of your classmates, language assistant and teacher; your speech flows. You know how to deal with the time you have to do your speech/interaction. You have structured ideas and times and know your plan will work out well.

C1 Ideas & Tips for Mini Presentations (from TEFLlessons.com)

Mini Presentation IDEAS

How to ace your C1 / C2 writing tasks in the final exam

1. Read the rubrics very carefully and follow them strictly (topic, type of writing, formal or informal register, number of words, number of paragraphs).
2. Devote at least 10 min. to plan your writing: ideas to develop (1 idea 1 paragraph), topic sentences, (advanced) connectors, vocabulary & grammar.
3. Choose specific vocabulary & phrases and grammar to use (type III conditional, cleft sentence, inversion, tense correlation, etc.).
4. Do the writing.
5. Proofread your writing: reread rubric, spelling, intelligibility, repeated words or ideas.
6. Hand in.

Aspects to assess in the writing and speaking expression tests

WRITING
Organization: Cohesion, Linking words and Punctuation
Accuracy: Word Order, Grammar and Vocabulary
Variety: Ideas, Grammar and Vocabulary

SPEAKING
Pronunciation, Fluency and linking ideas (+ Cooperation for Interaction part).
Accuracy: Grammar Structures and Vocabulary
Variety: Grammar Structures and Vocabulary

Fulfilment of Task +  Register for both skills

Oral Mediation Activity

Your British neighbour read this computer graphics about Recomendaciones para el ahorro energético en el hogar durante el invierno and asked you to tell her the main ideas in it. She found it interesting, but she could not understand all the ideas. Send her a 3 min. WhatsApp audio message with the most relevant information.

11 keys to the Gisèle Pélicot case

Dear readers,

‌Dominique Pélicot and 50 other men have been found guilty in what is perhaps one of the most high-profile, shocking, and globalized trials of the last decade. We go over the keys to a case that leaves nobody indifferent.

This week we also bring you a one-on-one interview with Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's far-right National Rally, as she faces a make-or-break moment that could soon lead her to the Élysée, or to prison.

EL PAÍS also interviewed the American philosopher Judith Butler and the actor Jude Law. Other featured stories this week include an analysis of the group leading change in Syria, a look at Madrileños who can't afford rent and live in capsules, and a look back at Playgirl magazine's legacy.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from EL PAÍS USA Edition

You can also read:

• 2024: A bleak year for hunger and poverty, with an unexpected ray of hope
• Meet the Madrileños who move into Toyko-style capsules when they can’t pay their rent
• Claudia Goldin, 2023 Nobel Prize winner in Economics: ‘Feminism became a very bad word in the United States’
• Travel ideas: A holiday home to relax like a hobbit
• Vintage ‘jamón,’ the foodie luxury fetching up to €80,000
• We haven’t seen you in a while’: Duolingo’s passive-aggressive strategy for keeping users hooked

Discussion on Blended Learning

Read this FORBES ARTICLE and be ready to discuss about it. Write down the ideas put forward in the article and your own ones. See which precisely match yours, which markedly differ from yours and which you could broadly (not 100%) agree with.
We'll talk about this next Monday.

Name modern techniques, ideas, times, equipment, art, styles, objects, people...

Improving your Vocabulary in Writing

You can use and do use the words before the colon (beautiful / cold / doubt ...) in your daily speech. Try to use the ones after the colon (alluring woman /restaurant; crisp spring morning; considerable hesitation) in your writing tasks --your ideas, descriptions and/or opinions will be much more clearly and precisely expressed.

Topics for Conversation / Composition + a Cloze Activity

Two wonderful ideas from Cristina's Blog, Avanzado 2 EOI Santander Teacher: topics and a cloze activity about London Olympic Games. Thanks Cristina

Mediation: What it is and how to teach it

Watch this video to explore some more ideas about mediation, according to Cambridge English

C1 can do's

You can:

• Join a meeting and explain your ideas clearly
• Discuss abstract topics like economics, politics or culture
• Handle fast, informal conversations without panicking
• Write essays, proposals and detailed arguments

At this level, you're expressing your real thoughts, not just simple answers. Have a look at this checklist (By Lucy)

Discover These 9 Powerful Words From Martin Luther King Jr.

Every year since 1986, the United States has observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the third Monday in January. The national holiday honors a man who not only was an inspirational civil rights activist during the 1960s, but also one of the greatest orators of our time. (From Dictionary.com)

This evening at 7 we'll be able to listen to Wesley talking about him. But before, we can discover some facts and ideas from him knowing some of his words and quotes.

Writing Samples

ILTS Mentor

Read as many as possible, take ideas and phrases for your writing assignments. Incredibly helpful!!!

Oral Mediation Activity

Your English friend is doing some research on environmental issues and found this GREENPEACE video. He would like to know what this woman (he doesn't know her) is saying and asks you to give him a summary of the video. Send him a 2/3 min. audio explaining the main ideas expressed on it. 

Writing Task

Descriptive Writing (350 words)

Choose ONE of the following tasks:

• Write a description of an adventurous trip or journey you have been on. Include some of the following ideas

Plans you made. Your expectations. Description of main events. Your feelings during and after the trip / journey.

• Write a description of two tourist attractions in Cartagena you think that are worth visiting and one which is less worthwhile. Give reasons for your choices.

Deadline 30th Jan.

How to Be a Better Communicator (Online Talk)

Excellent communication skills are often cited as being the #1 skill required by employers, but what exactly makes for an expert communicator? In this workshop, we’ll explore this question and give you some ideas on how you can become a better communicator in English. Bringing the world to the classroom and the classroom to life ELTNGL.COM 

• With Catherine Hollings
• Next Tuesday 28th January at 6 pm
• Find the link to attend the webinar on your Aula Virtual

C2 Vocabulary

OPAL (Oxford Phrasal Academic Lexicon)

A set of four word lists for learners of English for Academic Purposes (EAP). These are the most important words to learn for writing and speaking academic English. Written words: 1200 words, divided into 12 sublists. Sublist 1 contains the most important academic words, with the next most important in sublist 2, and so on.
Spoken words: 600 words, divided into 10 sublists. Sublist 1 contains the most important academic words, with the next most important in sublist 2, and so on.
Written phrases: approximately 380 phrases, grouped by function, for example ‘specifying topics and relations between ideas’ (in terms of, in relation to, etc.)
Spoken phrases: approximately 260 phrases, grouped by function, for example ‘signposting and focusing in lectures/lessons’ (I was going to, I want to talk about, etc.)

The Oxford 3000 and Oxford 5000. The Most Important Words to Learn in English