A Christmas Card, by Mini

Mini has made her very own Christmas card from scratch! Beautiful, isn't it?

George passed the IELTS exam with flying colours!

We wish to congratulate George on his excellent performance and high scores in the IELTS exam (November 2015). Well deserved, indeed! Best of luck with your postgraduate studies and applications, George!

B for Brilliant - Our Digital School Magazine (Nov 2015)

The Impact of the Internet, by George

There is no doubt that technological advancement has brought about a new era in the way we buy and sell goods. Admittedly, the invention that has had the greatest impact is that of the Internet. The advent of the Internet gave rise to online shopping, which is gaining more and more momentum. Online shopping has transformed the consumer behaviour as well as certain aspects of their lives in both positive and negative ways.

To begin with, we should consider the benefits of buying and selling goods and services online. First and foremost, the main advantage of online shopping is its convenience. Customers do not have to show up in a store to buy what they need - rather, they do so in the comfort of their house. All you need is a device with internet connectivity, be it a computer, smartphone, or tablet. A further advantage of online shopping is that it enables you to access a much broader market - a market that transcends the narrow borders of your country. A person in Europe can purchase something in the US and have it delivered at home at the simple press of a button. This means that you have access to more products - products that may not be available at the local shops. On top of that, online shops often have various filtering sorting capabilities that allow you to quickly find what you are searching for. Another feature that makes online shopping very attractive is the fact that the products usually have detailed customer reviews and ratings. Thus customers can in some cases get a better feeling of the product quality, a capability that you do not have when you buy something at a regular shop. The experience of using a product is very different to the impression you get at the shop. By reading customer reviews you have the opportunity to learn things like the durability or the performance of a product.

 As mentioned above, the Internet has influenced the way we sell products as well. Although not as many people sell online as they buy, selling used items has become a lot easier since the advent of the Internet and especially the creation of online ads and auction sites. Traditionally, people sold belongings they did not need anymore by publishing ads in newspapers. In this time and age, posting advertisements online has become very popular. Since selling things has been made easier, more and more people are selling old belongings.

On the other hand, online trading does not have only advantages. Shopping at the local stores is also a social activity. It is for many people a good opportunity to meet up and spend time together. Now that more and more people shop online, they meet less often to do their shopping together. Another important aspect of e-shopping relates to security. There are cases where people have fallen victims of fraud - where credit card data have been stolen, and thieves have withdrawn a large amount of money from bank accounts. Today online payments are generally safe, but still there are vulnerabilities that can be exploited by internet thieves. Last but not least, online shopping has had an impact on local economies, too. The capability to buy a product cheaper and import it from another country benefit large international stores at the expense of the local ones.

All in all, the Internet has had a considerable impact on the way we buy and sell goods and by extension on our lives. It has opened a window to a broader market and has made purchasing easier and more convenient. On the other hand, as a result of this convenience people tend to meet less to do their shopping together. 

Gender Inequality in the Job Market, by George

Women and men are often considered to possess different strengths and weaknesses. This is often reflected in the job market, where certain professions are traditionally dominated by men, while others by women. In some professions the prejudice against men or women is so strong that they may even be excluded from these professions. However, I am of the opinion that, wherever possible, gender equality should be encouraged.

Moreover, in the male-dominated professions, women find it very difficult to climb the career ladder due to this discrimination. By the same token, men do not easily get promotions or pay raises in female-dominated professions.

Such examples are very common in professions that require manual labour as well as professions related to technology and executive positions. In construction, police or firefighting women are seen as lacking the physical strength needed to perform the tasks associated with these jobs. In technology-related fields like IT, there is this stereotype that men are more talented (probably because technology is usually more attractive to men than women). In the case of executive positions, men are often considered as more competitive and dynamic. On the other hand, women are considered as more strategic, forthcoming, and emotional. Thus they are preferred as teachers, managers, nurses and waitresses.

Even though it might be true to some extent that men and women possess different strengths and weaknesses, judging somebody solely based on their gender is unlikely to result in a safe or wise choice. There will always be women who will outperform men in male-dominated professions and vice versa. Therefore, in my view, it is reprehensible to reject a job candidate because of their gender. It is equally unethical when somebody cannot climb the career ladder because of their gender. If someone does a very good job and does not get promoted even though they deserve it, then they lose their motivation and feel that their work is not valued.

Managers and the people involved in the process of hiring new people have to be fair and offer equal opportunities to men and women. They should assess the employees based on their performance, their skills and experience instead of innate traits like their gender. By doing so the satisfaction of the employees would increase since they would feel that they are fairly treated.

It is true that men and women are discriminated by their gender and they are not offered equal opportunities in the workplace. Although men and women might have, in general, different strengths and weaknesses, judging them based on their gender is narrow minded and can result in dissatisfaction in the workplace.

Extended Families, by Danae

Dear Editor, 

I read the article about extended families. An extended family refers to a nuclear family that lives with other close relatives of different generations under the same roof or very close - in the same block, for example. I am writing to tell you my opinion and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this issue. I am of the opinion that living all together is not a good idea because the drawbacks outweigh the benefits.

To begin with, it is such a difficult thing to live under the same roof with other people of different ages because it may cause trouble. Older people need more rest during the day; on the other hand, kids and people of younger ages are more active. Their quite different lifestyles are bound to come into conflict sooner or later. For instance, younger people want to listen to loud music anytime during the day, while their parents or grandparents long to find some peace and quiet and relax in a tranquil environment.

Nevertheless, when living in the same place or in the same block of flats with your grandparents, uncles or aunts, it is also true that if you ever need some help, they will be there for you. For instance, if you have not got enough time to go to the bank to pay the bills, they may do it for you. Of course, they may contribute in many other ways such as by cooking or doing the household chores. In addition, one of the most significant benefits is that you find yourself in an emergency situation, they will be there to give you a helping hand.

Considering all of the above, it is clear to me that families should weigh out the pros and cons of moving in with relatives before they make up a decision. 

Yours faithfully, 
Danae Robertson

To Have a Pet, or Not to Have a Pet?, by Danae

Dear Alex, 

I read your previous letter about your considering buying a pet and I'm writing to tell you the advantages and disadvantages of having a pet - since I own one, I know both of them first hand.

To begin with, I believe that pets are a very good company for the reason that you never feel lonely. There are many activities that you may do together; for instance, you may go for a walk at the park or at the beach. In addition, you could play games together such as hide-and-seek or tag. A pet is ideal for only children as well as children who lack playmates. Moreover, a pet can develop a sense of responsibility in young people, because through this situation children and teens learn to be more mature and responsible, the reason being that they must look after their pets - clean them, feed them, take them to the vet for vaccination, and spend quality time together.

On the other hand, a pet may cause problems. More specifically, they may make noise all the time (for example, dogs may bark and annoy the neighbours) or do damage to the furniture. Cats may scratch the sofas and curtains. It goes without saying that owning a pet is also expensive because of the food you have to buy them regularly along with some bathing products, the visits to the vet, and of course some toys!

To conclude, I think that owing a pet isn't a very easy task because you'll have more responsibilities, but then again it's definitely worth the trouble as pets are the best companions.

Yours,
Danae

 

The Earthquake, by Marco

Thousands of years ago in what is now called Nepal, a young boy, who was part of a group of nomadic people, was traveling along with his friends, siblings and family to the other side of India. It was a beautiful day; the sun was shining and the birds were singing.

Suddenly, while the people were trying to cross a river, the boy heard a strange noise. He turned around and saw all the animals and birds, including the ones of their caravan, running and flying away. Then, the earth started quaking and shaking, and because no one had experienced such a phenomenon before, everyone started panicking.

Shortly after that, the nomadic group saw what we now call Mount Everest rise before their eyes. As they didn't have their animals to help them climb the mountains, they were essentially trapped and surrounded by the mountains of Nepal. The boy's family and friends along with the rest of the nomad were not able to survive this unexpected turn of events and lost their lives trying to find a way out of these huge mountains.

This legend has been told innumerable times in India and everybody is terrified when they hear this story.

B for Brilliant - Our Digital School Magazine (Oct 2015)

Convenience Food, by Danae

Nowadays there is no denying that people do not have enough time due to their demanding jobs, so they prefer to consume convenience food instead. Convenience food may be much easier to prepare than cooking from scratch, but it cannot be denied that is has some disadvantages as well.

First of all, people prefer precooked food for the reason that they do not have enough time to cook because of their tight schedules; for instance, it is ideal for businessmen and university students looking for time-saving solutions. Needless to say that it is cheaper than buying all the ingredients required for home-cooked meals such as vegetables, fruits, fish and meat. In addition, convenience food requires little preparation, often some heating in the microwave, which - as its name suggests - proves very convenient and practical.

On the other hand, when consumed on a regular basis, convenience foods are very harmful to people's health mainly due to their high concentration of preservatives and artificial substances. Not knowing much about the origin or quality of the convenience foods' ingredients means that we also lack information about the nutritious value of precooked meals.

According to doctors and dietitians, it is imperative that more people adopt a healthier diet, including more vegetables, fruit, homemade meals, and a lot of water. They should replace fizzy drinks like cola with a glass of fresh juice or water. Moreover, they should cut down on eating hamburgers, chips, and precooked meals.

All things considered, if people keep eating junk food or precooked meals regularly, they will eventually face health problems.

My Preferred School Trip Destination, by Marco

Every school has its needs and mine is no exception. If we, the students, had the chance to choose our school trip destination every month, we would enjoy our trips more than ever. I, for one, would like to mention that I would prefer to go to the planetarium rather than any other place, because it can educate children, including my classmates, about phenomena that happen in space through a big 3D screen or an OCULUS RIFT.

The planetarium is a huge building that has a big variety of equipment such as telescopes and 3D screens that can help people of all ages understand many things about space phenomena, which have to do with the galaxy, the solar system and astronomy in general. It is located in the center of Athens, Greece and it has many science and astronomy-related games and, in addition, it has many encyclopedias either online or as books that you can buy along with some apps such as solar walk or star walk. So suggesting this kind of school trip destination would not be a bad idea!

What's more, there are many reasons why I think such an idea would be beneficial to the school. It would not only educate and inform us about space, but it will also be very exciting to see and experience all the kinds of technology that are used in spaceships and if we are lucky we may be able to enter a spaceship model. Furthermore, this educational school trip will teach many things to students and teachers alike. More specifically, students will learn from playing the games or watching the documentaries available, while the teachers will do so by purchasing new encyclopedias.

To sum up, if the school council decides to take full advantage of this opportunity, students and teachers will be able to witness incredible things about our galaxy.

The Mysterious House in the Woods, by Marco

One cold and stormy night, a man was driving to his house. The rain was pouring down and there was thunder and lightning.

Suddenly, the car's engine stopped working. After multiple attempts to start the car, the man decided to walk. "Oh no" he yelled. He walked several thousands of meters hoping to find a phone booth or even shelter to spend the night.

Minutes after walking in the woods, he heard dogs barking and wolves howling. After half a mile he saw a little house in the middle of the woods. He hurriedly got closer and knocked on the door. The door opened by itself making a creaky noise, and a scary voice said "Come in" and burst into an evil laugh!

The driver started screaming and ran away. As he was running, he heard a creepy music coming from the house. He got such a fright that he slipped and fell into a puddle of mud. When he turned around, he realized that the house had disappeared in a blink of an eye. When thunder clashed again, the man woke up in the middle of the night in his bedroom next to his wife.

The next morning, at his office, he went to see his boss and when he knocked on the door it opened by itself making a creaky noise and the same scary voice said "Come in".

A Letter about a Scary Adventure, by Ernesto

Dear George,

I hope you're well and that everything is OK at home and at school. You won't believe what happened to me last Monday.

My friends and I decided to go to an old sanatorium in Athens because we wanted to scare ourselves. The weather was terrible; it was pouring rain and there was lots of thunder and lightning. We walked along the gravelly road; it was cold and dark and the dogs were barking. We heard an eerie music coming from the sanatorium.

We knocked on the door of the sanatorium, but no one opened the door at first. We tried to get in and eventually succeeded, but the door was creaky and so someone heard us. Suddenly, we heard a scary voice saying "New patients at last", we got so scared we fled. While we were running out of the building, we heard an evil laugh!

Well, that's my story. I feel very lucky I survived such a scary adventure and the same goes for my friends! Thank goodness we ran so fast! Otherwise, our story might not have had a happy ending. Have you ever had an adventure like this? Please write and tell me about it.

Take care,
Mad Max

Mobile Phones, by Marco

Nowadays, there is a growing trend for children, especially high school students, to own a mobile phone, either a smartphone or an iPhone. However, possessing a mobile phone is not always a good thing.




While it cannot be denied that it is not good for children to have a mobile phone, it is also true that doing so can sometimes prove beneficial, even life-saving! For example, in case of an emergency you can call your parents or someone for help. Another great benefit of mobiles is that when a young student is at school and their parents are not in the area, they can track their child during the school day and instantly communicate with them when necessary. Probably the greatest advantage of mobile phones is that throughout the day you can educate, entertain, and inform yourself!

On the other hand, this entertaining and pleasing device hides great dangers young people are not aware of. It is common knowledge that mobiles phones emit radiation which can cause problems to children. For example, a child that overuses their phone can start having frequent headaches or, worse still, end up having cancer. Additionally, they might start neglecting their school work as they tend to spend more time than usual texting, playing games, or watching viral videos on their mobile phones. As a result, children may not be able to properly perform at school and their grades will eventually suffer.

Whichever way one looks at the issue, it is true that having a mobile phone in your possession is advantageous, but one should use it well and wisely, so that they do not end up facing any health or school performance issues.

My Shopping Routine, by Ernesto

Shopping has always been fun for me. I usually go shopping once a month and I always go with my friends. We find the shops we like most and we always start from there when we go on a shopping spree.

I like pc games and I have a huge collection of them; that's why I like to buy pc games time and time again and as a result I have a bookcase full of games. I also love buying jackets and jeans because there is a great variety for me to choose from. 

Sometimes I pay for the items I buy with my pocket money, but my parents give me some extra money if it's something that I really need. We always look around for bargains and we buy items with reasonable prices and we don't buy anything too expensive.

Shopping is too tiring, so after the whole shopping spree we always find a nice place to stay and relax for a while; we usually have lunch and talk about our interests. What I like most of the shopping experience is hanging out with my friends!

Ernesto, 14, Iraklio

 

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Danae passed the exams and realised her dream!

We are delighted to announce that Danae did pass her English language examinations along with the rest of university entrance exams, which means that she will be able to apply for her dream studies on Tourism. Her case and results provide ample proof that hard work pays off! Congratulations Danae, you should be very proud of yourself.

Comparing Athens and Aigina, by Maria

One of the side-effects of reading Maria's delightful description of Athens and Aigina is that I now have itchy feet and want so badly to pack my things and travel around! Packed suitcase, passport, tickets, sunglasses, good company and some refreshingly cool coffee on the go.. how can I possibly weed these thoughts out of my head? (sigh) :-/ At any rate..

What is your favourite place in the world? And where, given the chance, would you like to travel to?

Διαβάζοντας την απολαυστική περιγραφή της Μαρίας για την Αθήνα και την Αίγινα δεν μπορώ να μην αιστανθώ την ακαταμάχητη ανάγκη να ετοιμάσω βαλίτσα και να πάρω τρένα, αεροπλάνα και βαπόρια για να ταξιδέψω και να εξευρενήσω Ελλάδα και εξωτερικό! Βαλίτσα, διαβατήριο, εισιτήρια, γυαλιά ηλίου, καλή παρέα και ένα δροσερό καφεδάκι στο χέρι.. πώς μπορεί να κανείς να σβήσει εύκολα αυτές τις εικόνες από το μυαλό; (αχ, Μαρία!) :-/ Τελοσπάντων..

Ποιο είναι το δικό σας αγαπημένο μέρος στον κόσμο; Και πού, εάν σας δινόταν η ευκαιρία, θα θέλατε να ταξιδέψετε;

My Favourite Season, by Ilias

Ilias's favourite time of the year is the summer; and who can blame him? School's out, the weather is just right to perfectly justify daily trips to the majestic Greek sandy beaches where children can finally play to their hearts' content and wind down with an four-scoop ice-cream in hand.

Η αγαπημένη εποχή του Ηλία είναι το καλοκαίρι, και ποιος να τον κατηγορήσει γι' αυτό; Κλειστά σχολεία, ο καιρός είναι ιδανικός για καθημερινές βόλτες στις υπέροχες ελληνικές αμμώδεις παραλίες όπου τα παιδιά μπορούν επιτέλους να παίξουν όσο τραβάει η όρεξή τους και να ξεκουραστούν με ένα θεώρατο δροσιστικό παγωτό χωνάκι στο χέρι.

Zoos: A Mixed Blessing, by Themis

Zoos are indeed a mixed blessing as they have a lot to offer to both people and non-human animals but also entail certain negative consequences which we will get back to in a minute. People benefit from their visit to zoos greatly as they - especially children -  are given the chance to see and observe from up close non-native animal species, which they would otherwise most probably see solely on book pages or a screen (unless a restless, adventurous traveler resides within them)! On a community level, people also profit from the increase in tourism that is attributed to the creation and maintenance of such wildlife parks. As far as animals are concerned, they allegedly have a lot to gain from living in captivity since they are provided with everything, from food and water to constant veterinary care, not to mention the fact that they are kept safe from hunters, predators and running the risk of extinction.

It may sound like a paradise but unfortunately this is not the case. To put everything in perspective, a zoo and an animal circus differ only in that the former usually has a research centre; other than that, for the most part they both serve as cashcow entertainment centres whose purpose is to attract visitors and part them from their money in the name of education and recreation. The burning question is, of course: what can one learn or how can one feel excitement when seeing a tortured, depressed animal confined in such small artificial spaces?

Οι ζωολογικοί κήποι φαινομενικά έχουν πολλά πλεονεκτήματα και για τους ανθρώπους και για τα ζώα που ζουν σε αυτούς, αλλά ας μην ξεχνάμε και τις ουκ ολίγες αρνητικές συνέπειες που επιφέρουν, σε μερικές από τις οποίες θα αναφερθούμε παρακάτω. Οι άνθρωποι επωφελούνται από μία επίσκεψή τους σε ζωολογικό, ειδικά τα παιδιά, γιατί τους δίνεται η ευκαιρία να δουν και να παρατηρήσουν ξένα είδη άγριων ζώων από κοντά, ζώα που κατά πάσα πιθανότητα θα βλέπανε μόνο σε σελίδες βιβλίων ή στην μικρή και μεγάλη οθόνη (εκτός κι αν κρύβουν έναν ανήσυχο, περιπετειώδη ταξιδιώτη μέσα τους)! Σε τοπικό επίπεδο μάλιστα, οι άνθρωποι επωφελούνται και οικονομικά χάρη στην αύξηση τουρισμού που συχνά αποδίδεται στην ύπαρξη μεγάλων ζωολογικών στην περιοχή. Όσον αφορά τα ζώα, υποτίθεται ότι κι αυτά επωφελούνται άμεσα από τη ζωή σε αιχμαλωσία καθώς τους παρέχονται τα πάντα, από φαγητό και νερό μέχρι διαρκή κτηνιατρική φροντίδα, για να μην αναφέρουμε το ότι προστατεύονται από κυνηγούς, ζώα-θηρευτές, και την πιθανότητα να εξαφανιστεί το είδος τους.

Μπορεί να ακούγεται σαν ένας μικρός παράδεισος για τα ζώα αυτά, αλλά δυστυχώς δεν είναι έτσι. Για να δούμε τα πράγματα στις πραγματικές τους διαστάσεις, ένας ζωολογικός κήπος και ένα τσίρκο διαφέρουν μόνο στο ότι το πρώτο συνήθως διαθέτει και ένα ερευνητικό κέντρο, κατά τ'άλλα λειτουργούν και τα δύο σαν ψυχαγωγικά κέντρα-χρυσωρυχεία των οποίων ο σκοπός είναι να προσελκύσουν πολλούς επισκέπτες και να τους πάρουν όσα περισσότερα χρήματα γίνεται στο όνομα της εκπαίδευσης και της ψυχαγωγίας. Το ερώτημα είναι: πώς είναι δυνατόν κάποιος να μαθαίνει και να ψυχαγωγείται όταν βλέπει ένα βασανισμένο, δυστυχισμένο ζώο μέσα σε τόσο μικρούς τεχνητούς χώρους;

A Postcard from Skiathos, by Maria

Did you know that some parks in Skiathos have got small lakes where you can have romantic or fun rides on boats in the shape of ducks, frogs and other animals? Well, now you know.. so hop over to Skiathos to have the time of your life and then send us a postcard, will you?

Εσείς ξέρατε ότι κάποια πάρκα στη Σκιάθο έχουν μικρές λίμνες όπου μπορείτε να κάνετε μία ρομαντική ή διασκεδαστική βόλτα με βάρκες σε σχήμα πάπιας, βάτραχου και άλλων ζώων; Ε λοιπόν, τώρα ξέρετε.. γι'αυτό πεταχτείτε μέχρι τη Σκιάθο, περάστε αξέχαστα κι ύστερα.. στείλτε μας μία καρτ-ποστάλ τουλάχιστον.

Alternative Medicine, by Themis

 (description)

About my Student Exchange Program, by Maria

Another well-written email to.. guess whom? Our beloved Christina, of course!

The information about this student exchange program in Paris, France may be imaginary, but I do hope that as soon as Maria gets old enough she will be offered the chance to participate in such a unique experience that comes probably only once in a lifetime. When the opportunity of participation in a student exchange program presents itself in the future, don't say 'no'.. OK, Maria?

Άλλο ένα καλογραμμένο email προς.. μαντέψτε ποιον; Την πολυαγαπημενή μας Christina φυσικά!

Οι πληροφορίες για το πρόγραμμα ανταλλαγής μαθητών στο Παρίσι, Γαλλία μπορεί να είναι γέννημα της φαντασίας, αλλά πραγματικά ελπίζω με το που μεγαλώσει αρκετά η Μαρία να της παρουσιαστεί η ευκαιρία να συμμετάσχει σε αυτήν την μοναδική εμπειρία που παρουσιάζεται ίσως μια φορά στη ζωή. Όταν, λοιπόν, στο μέλλον παρουσιαστεί η ευκαιρία συμμετοχής σε πρόγραμμα ανταλλαγής μαθητών, μην πεις 'όχι' Μαρία.. OK;

The National Animal of Greece, by Ilias

MORE FUN FACTS ABOUT BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS:
 

• They can live from 20 to 40 years.
• They have the largest brain to body mass ratio and their brains are even more convoluted with 'folds' than human brains are; perhaps this explains why they are one of the most intelligent animals on Earth.
• They like playing with other dolphins, masses of seaweed, humans, and even turtles!
• They can swim as fast as 6-8 km/h, but if they start jumping out of the water while doing so, they are able to exceed that speed. This is because the air has lower resistance than the water and by frequently jumping above the surface of the sea they save a great deal of energy.
• They can jump up to 8 metres high!

(Visit this site to find more interesting facts about dolphins.)

My Favourite Pet, by Ilias

Note: As you might have guessed by now, Hababubu is not the real name of Ilias's favourite pet, but from what I gather he wanted to make his dog's name sound more.. exotic!

Σημείωση: Όπως πιθανότατα να έχετε υποπτευθεί μέχρι τώρα, το Hababubu δεν είναι το αληθινό όνομα του αγαπημένου κατοικιδίου του Ηλία, αλλά απ' ό,τι κατάλαβα απλά ήθελε να κάνει το όνομα του σκύλου του να ακουστεί πιο.. εξωτικό!

Education in the Arts, by Danae

"Uninteresting coursebooks, lack of resources and creativity, ineffective and indifferent teachers making students bored stiff, who in turn cause classroom chaos.." That would be a sample of a brutally honest description of all art-related subjects in Greek schools. The fact that the art-related subjects are considered by many students and parents to be inferior to mainstream subjects like Maths, Science and Literature, coupled with the Ministry of Education's disregard for the significance of the children's proper education in the arts are the two main factors accounting for this worsening situation. Art-related subjects should receive more emphasis to the extent that we can make sure they exist in balance with the mainstream subjects in the school curriculum, thus providing students with a more solid educational background.

"Βιβλία χωρίς ενδιαφέρον, έλλειψη αποθεμάτων και δημιουργικότητας, αναποτελεσματικοί και αδιάφοροι καθηγητές που κάνουν τους μαθητές να σκυλοβαριούνται, οι οποίοι με τη σειρά τους προκαλούν χάος στην τάξη.." Αυτό θα ήταν μόνο ένα δείγμα μιας ειλικρινής περιγραφής των καλλιτεχνικών μαθημάτων στα ελληνικά σχολεία. Το γεγονός ότι τα καλλιτεχνικά μαθήματα θεωρούνται, από πολλούς μαθητές και γονείς, κατώτερα των κυρίαρχων/ πρωτεύοντων μαθημάτων όπως τα Μαθηματικά, Φυσικη & Χημεία και η Λογοτεχνία, σε συνδυασμό με το ότι το Υπουργείο Παιδείας αγνοεί τη σημαντικότητα μίας σωστής καλλιτεχνικής εκπαίδευσης, είναι οι δύο κύριοι λόγοι που ευθύνονται για αυτήν την κατάσταση που όλο και επιδεινώνεται. Θα πρέπει να δοθεί μεγαλύτερη έμφαση στα μαθήματα που σχετίζονται με τις τέχνες, σε σημείο που να μπορούν αυτά να συνυπάρξουν ισότιμα με τα κυρίαρχα μαθήματα στο σχολικό  πρόγραμμα, παρέχοντας έτσι στους μαθητές ένα πιο γερό και ευρύ εκπαιδευτικό υπόβαθρο.

An Email to Christina (about Free Time), by Maria

Mum's Household Chores, by Maria

Let me guess! When you were a child, your favourite superhero was probably one of the following: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Iron Man, Flash, Captain America, Hulk, Spiderman, etc. Isn't that right? Yes, I thought as much.

However, all those heroes we used to look up to and admire throughout our childhood for their superpowers are merely fictional characters. The burning question is: are there people with super duper qualities in real life? Yes, there are.. and they are called 'mums'! Mums have got unlimited stamina (both mental and physical), endless patience, and can even juggle a million things, from work to family issues to household chores, all at once. Well, you might claim that doing the housework is not really a superpower, but we challenge you to take on your mum's responsibilities for a week. Are you going to take up the challenge?

Αφήστε με να μαντέψω! Όταν ήσασταν παιδιά, ο αγαπημένος σας σουπερ-ήρωας ήταν πιθανότατα ένας από τους ακόλουθους: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Iron Man, Flash, Captain America, Hulk, Spiderman, κ.ά. Σωστά; Ναι, καλά κατάλαβα.

Όμως, όλοι αυτοί οι ήρωες που θαυμάζαμε στα παιδικά μας χρόνια για τις υπερδυνάμεις τους είναι μοναχά χαρακτήρες της φαντασίας. Υπάρχουν, όμως, άνθρωποι με super duper αρετές/ χαρακτηριστικά και στην πραγματικότητα; Η απάντηση είναι: ναι, υπάρχουν.. και λέγονται 'μαμάδες'! Οι μαμάδες έχουν απεριόριστες αντοχές (πνευματικές και σωματικές), ατελείωτη υπομονή, και μπορούν να προλάβουν και να χειριστούν 1 εκατομμ. πράγματα ταυτόχρονα, από τη δουλειά μέχρι οικογενειακά ζητήματα και τις δουλειές του σπιτιού. Μπορεί να ισχυριστείτε ότι το να κάνει κανείς οικιακές δουλειές δεν είναι υπερδύναμη, αλλά σας προκαλούμε να αναλάβετε τις ευθύνες της μαμάς σας για μία βδομάδα. Θα δεχτείτε την πρόκληση; 

Maria's mum is a super-heroine as well, and so Maria has drawn her in a cape with the initials "HM", which stand for "Hero Mum". In the first picture you can read about Hero Mum's  housework schedule.

Η μαμά της Μαρία είναι κι αυτή με τη σειρά της μία σούπερ-ηρωίδα, και γι'αυτό η Μαρία τη ζωγράφισε να φοράει μία κάπα με τα αρχικά "ΗΜ", που θα πει "Hero Mum". Στην πρώτη εικόνα μπορείτε να διαβάσετε για το πρόγραμμα της Hero Mum.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Usefulness of the Internet, by Sophia

Sophia is taking the IELTS exams in the coming weeks, so at this point we would like to praise her hard work and the staggering progress she has made over these last 3 months or so. Best of luck, Sophia!

Η Σοφία θα δώσει τις εξετάσεις IELTS τις επόμενες βδομάδες, οπότε σε αυτό το σημείο θα θέλαμε να επαινέσουμε τη σκληρή δουλειά και τη συγκλονιστική πρόοδο που σημείωσε τους τελευταίους 3 μήνες. Καλή επιτυχία, Σοφία!

IELTS Writing Task 1: Bar chart, by Sophia

Sophia is a young adult that is endowed with a wide range of talents and qualities including perfectionism and determination. When she sets a goal, she doesn't joke around.. she works incredibly hard 24/ 7 till she achieves the goal in question. Her latest goal? A couple of months ago she decided to take the IELTS exams in late April. What you see above is just one of the countless writing tasks she has done!

Η Σοφία είναι μία ενήλικη μαθήτρια με πολλά ταλέντα και αρετές, που πάντα επιδιώκει να γίνεται καλύτερη και το πετυχαίνει με την αποφασιστικότητά της. Όταν βάζει ένα στόχο, δεν αστειεύεται.. αλλά δουλεύει σκληρά συνεχώς μέχρι να πετύχει τον εκάστοτε στόχο. Ο τελευταίος της στόχος; Πριν από 1-2 μήνες αποφάσισε να δώσει τις εξετάσεις IELTS τέλη Απριλίου. Παραπάνω βλέπετε απλά μία από τις αμέτρητες εργασίες που έχει γράψει!

Greek Mardi Gras, by Maria

To all non-natives and prospective tourists out there: I bet Maria's description of the way Mardi Gras is celebrated in Greece every year will convince you to immediately book a flight to Greece for next February in order to join us in this great feast and have endless fun. Don't have a mask? Ask Maria to design one for you!

Προς όλους τους ξένους και τουρίστες εκεί έξω: στοιχηματίζω ότι η περιγραφή της Μαρίας για το πώς γιορτάζονται οι Απόκριες κάθε χρόνο εδώ στην Ελλάδα θα σας πείσει να κλείσετε από τώρα μία πτήση με προορισμό την Ελλάδα για τον επόμενο Φεβρουάριο έτσι ώστε να πάρετε μέρος σε αυτό το μεγάλο γλέντι και την ατελείωτη διασκέδαση. Δεν έχετε μάσκα; Ζητήστε από τη Μαρία να σχεδιάσει μία για σας!

School Uniforms, by Danae

This essay's topic is school uniforms: a doom or a blessing? How would you feel if out of the blue the Ministry of Education decided to reintroduce school uniforms across the country with effect from tomorrow? Oppressed or just relieved? Comment below.

Η παραπάνω έκθεση διαπραγματεύεται το θέμα της σχολικής στολής: εφτιάλτης ή σωτηρία; Πώς θα αισθανόσασταν εσείς αν ξαφνικά το Υπουργείο Παιδείας αποφάσιζε να επαναφέρει τις σχολικές ποδιές ξεκινώντας από αύριο; Καταπιεσμένοι ή ανακουφισμένοι; Σχολιάστε από κάτω.

St. Patrick's Day, by Ilias

My Favourite Singer, by Ilias

Ilias likes listening to many different music genres and musicians, from Eminem to.. Mitropanos!

Who's your favourite musician?

Του Ηλία του αρέσει να ακούει πολλά διαφορετικά μεταξύ τους είδη μουσικής και μουσικούς, από τον Eminem μέχρι τον.. Μητροπάνο!

Ποιος είναι ο δικός σας αγαπημένος μουσικός;

The Importance of Forests, by Danae

Little does the state and general public know about deforestation, as well as the sweeping impact the excessive clear cutting and burning of forests will have on life as we know it. It's high time the state stopped taking this environmental issue so lightly or deliberately overlooking it. Forests are so vital for all living things, including us - humans, that unless drastic measures are taken, the situation will, sooner or later, get out of hand probably leading to an irreversible disastrous chain reaction and the ultimate collapse of our ecosystems. Instead, perhaps the scientific community in collaboration with some non-profit ecological organisations should make both politicians and citizens aware about the role of forests in the ecosystems and our lives, and propose ways to preserve them.

Although Danae is neither a scientist nor a member of such an organisation, she took the lead and wrote a letter to the editor and readers of an ecological magazine.

Η πολιτεία αλλά και η κοινή γνώμη γνωρίζει πολύ λίγα πράγματα για την αποψίλωση των δασών καθώς και τη σαρωτική επίδρασή της στη ζωή όπως την ξέρουμε. Είναι καιρός πια η πολιτεία να σταματήσει να έχει 'κλειστά τα μάτια' ως προς αυτό το θέμα και να αρχίσει να το παίρνει πιο σοβαρά. Τα δάση είναι τόσο σημαντικά για όλους τους ζωντανούς οργανισμούς, συμπεριλαμβανομένων και των ανθρώπων, που εάν δε ληφθούν δραστικά μέτρα, η κατάσταση σύντομα θα ξεφύγει από τον έλεγχο μας προκαλώντας έτσι μία μη-αναστρέψιμη αλυσίδα καταστροφών και την ισοπέδωση των οικοσυστημάτων μας. Αντί αυτών, θα μπορούσε η επιστημονική κοινότητα σε συνεργασία με κάποιους μη-κερδοσκοπικούς οργανισμούς να ενημερώσει τους πολιτικούς και τους πολίτες για τον ρόλο των δασών στα οικοσυστήματα και στη ζωή μας, καθώς και να προτείνουν τρόπουν για να τα προστατέψουμε.

Αν και η Δανάη δεν είναι ούτε επιστήμονας ούτε μέλος κάποιας τέτοιας ομάδας, έκανε την αρχή και έγραψε μια επιστολή στο συντάκτη και στους αναγνώστες ενός οικολογικού περιοδικού.

My Favourite Animal, by Ilias

In this task, Ilias had to describe his favourite WILD animal; indeed, if he had been asked to talk about his favourite DOMESTIC animal I'm not sure which one he would have chosen out of the countless pet animals he currently has or used to have! As far as I know, he has had parrots, canaries, fish, dogs.. and the list never ends.

Fun fact about Ilias: He likes fishing, but he doesn't like fish soup.. or any other fish dish for that matter!

Σε αυτήν την εργασία, ο Ηλίας έπρεπε να περιγράψει το αγαπημένο του ΆΓΡΙΟ ζώο, πραγματικά, εάν του ζητείτο να μιλήσει για το αγαπημένο του κατοικίδιο ζώο δεν είμαι σίγουρη ποιο θα διάλεγε από τα αμέτρητα κατοικίδια που έχει ή είχε στο παρελθόν! Απ' όσο γνωρίζω, είχε παπαγάλους, καναρίνια, ψαράκια, σκύλους.. και η λίστα δεν τελειώνει.

Fun fact για τον Ηλία: Του αρέσει το ψάρεμα, αλλά δεν του αρέσει η ψαρόσουπα.. βασικά, κανένα πιάτο που περιλαμβάνει ψάρι!

Joanna passed the ECCE exam!

The ECCE exam results (December 2014) are out and we are happy to announce that Joanna passed! So, kudos to our student for her hard work and amazing performance!

Raising Awareness about Smoking, by Danae

Peer pressure, curiosity, having smokers in the family, and making desperate attempts to impress one's friends are just a few of the factors accounting for the ever-increasing number of underage smokers nowadays. It's common knowledge that "smoking is harmful", "smoking can cause lung cancer (among other things)" and yet a worryingly high number of teenagers acts as if smoking wouldn't affect them in the least. It's simple.. they don't know enough about its dangers, the biology behind it, the chemical reactions nicotine causes within the smoker's organism. Regardless of the source, warnings like "smoking is bad for you and can kill you" are, to teenagers' ears, just a bunch of words floating in the air and never hitting home. How can we make teenagers 'see' this reality so as to prevent them from taking up smoking or even encourage them to quit it? Danae has shared some great ideas..

Η κοινωνική πίεση, η περιέργεια, το να υπάρχουν καπνιστές στην οικογένεια, και το να προσπαθείς απεγνωσμένα να εντυπωσιάσει κανείς τους φίλους τους είναι μόνο μερικοί από τους παράγοντες που δικαιολογούν τον συνεχώς αυξανόμενο αριθμό ανήλικων καπνιστών σήμερα. Είναι ευρέως γνωστό ότι "το κάπνισμα βλάπτει", "το κάπνισμα μπορεί να προκαλέσει καρκίνο των πνευμόνων (μεταξύ άλλων" και παρ' όλ' αυτά ένας ανησυχητικά μεγάλος αριθμός εφήβων συμπεριφέρονται σαν να μην μπορεί να τους επηρρεάσει καθόλου αυτή η κακή συνήθεια. Είναι απλό.. δε γνωρίζουν αρκετά για τους κινδύνους του καπνίσματος, τη βιολογία από πίσω, τις χημικές αντιδράσεις που προκαλεί η νικοτίνη στον οργανισμό του καπνιστή. Ανεξάρτητα από την πηγή, προειδοποιήσεις του τύπου "το κάπνισμα σου κάνει κακό και μπορεί να σε σκοτώσει" είναι, στα αυτιά των εφήβων, απλά άδειες λέξεις που αιωρούνται στον αέρα και δεν βρίσκουν στόχο. Πώς μπορούμε να κάνουμε τους εφήβους να 'δουν' αυτήν την πραγματικότητα έτσι ώστε να μην αρχίσουν το κάπνισμα ή να τους ενθαρρύνουμε να το κόψουν; Η Δανάη έχει μοιραστεί κάποιες πολύ ωραίες ιδέες γι' αυτό..

Claude Monet, by Maria

Believe it or not, what you see above wasn't a project but the writing task Maria had to do as part of a test. As soon as she finished writing Claude Monet's biography, in an instant she added two lovely drawings of a paintbrush and a painter's palette. The end-result was so wonderful I just couldn't resist the temptation of scanning it and uploading it on the blog.

Είτε το πιστεύετε είτε όχι, αυτό που βλέπετε παραπάνω δεν ήταν project αλλά η έκθεση που είχε να γράψει η Μαρία σε ένα test που έγραψε. Με που τελείωσε τη βιογραφία του Claude Monet, μέσα σε μια στιγμή ζωγράφισε ένα πινέλο και μία παλέτα. Το τελικό αποτέλεσμα ήταν τόσο ωραίο που δεν μπορούσα να αντισταθώ στον πειρασμό να το σκανάρω και να το ανεβάσω στο blog.

Vacating with Friends, by Danae

Should teenagers be allowed to go on vacation with their friends, or should they spend the holidays with their family instead? Does this dilemma sound familiar to you? If so, then Danae's essay above might prove helpful to you, especially if you're a teenager secretly planning your first outing or trip with your buddies and struggling to get your parents' approval! Most parents would immediately refuse to give permission for such a venture, arguing that going on vacation without the supervision of adults is very risky and dangerous. Though, Danae doesn't take 'no' for answer, as do many teenagers her age, and in this essay she mentions only some of the benefits of letting a teen travel with his/ her friends.

Να αφήνουμε τους εφήβους να πηγαίνουν διακοπές με τους φίλους τους, ή να επιμένουμε να περνάνε όλες τις διακοπές με την οικογένεια; Σας θυμίζει κάτι αυτό το δίλειμμα;  Εάν ναι, τότε η έκθεση της Δανάης μπορεί και να σας φανεί χρήσιμη, ειδικά εάν είστε έφηβοι που ονειρεύεστε ή σχεδιάζετε κρυφά μία εξόρμηση με τους φίλους σας και πασχίζετε να πάρετε την έγκριση των γονιών σας! Οι περισσότεροι γονείς θα αρνιόντουσαν να δώσουν την άδειά τους για ένα τέτοιο εγχείρημα χωρίς δεύτερη σκέψη, ισχυριζόμενοι ότι το να πηγαίνουν παιδιά σε διακοπές χωρίς την επίβλεψη ενήλικα είναι πολύ επικίνδυνο. Ωστόσο, η Δανάη δεν δέχεται εύκολα μία αρνητική απάντηση, όπως και πολλά παιδιά της ηλικίας της, και στην έκθεσή της αναφέρει μόνο κάποια από τα πολλά οφέλη του να ταξιδεύουν και να κάνουν διακοπές οι έφηβοι με φίλους.

Social Media Addiction in Teens, by Dimitris

Dimitris was particularly enthusiastic and engaged when we read an article about the phenomenon of teenagers suffering from technology addiction (i.e. addiction to computers and gadgets, such as smart phones, tablets, mp3 players, Nintendo, etc).

This gadget addiction is palpably linked to the social media addiction in teenagers. Did you know that the "social media addiction can be stronger than an addiction to alcohol or cigarettes"? So, next time think twice before you log onto Facebook for the 65th time in a day, and find something more creative and constructive to occupy your time.

Ο Δημήτρης έδειξε ιδιαίτερο ενθουσιαμό και ενδιαφέρον όταν διαβάσαμε ένα άρθρο για τους εφήβους που είναι εθισμένοι στην τεχνολογία (δηλαδή έχουν εξάρτηση από τους υπολογιστές και τα gadget, όπως τα smart phone, tablet, mp3 player, Nintendo, κτλ).

Αυτή η εξάρτηση από τα gadget προφανώς συνδέεται με τον εθισμό στις ιστοσελίδες κοινωνικής δικτύωσης (όπως το Facebook). Εσείς ξέρατε ότι η "εξάρτηση στα social media μπορεί να είναι ισχυρότερη από τον αλκοολισμό ή εθισμό στο κάπνισμα"; Γι' αυτό, από δω και στο εξής σκεφτείτε το καλά πριν συνδεθείτε στο Facebook για 65η φορά σε μία ημέρα, και βρείτε κάτι πιο δημιουργικό και εποικοδομητικό για να γεμίσετε το χρόνο σας.