The document discusses the topic of luck and whether it truly exists. It provides reasons on both sides of the argument. It suggests that while some things in life are random and out of our control, like where we are born, other things are based on our own efforts and actions. Overall it concludes that we should focus on appreciating the good in our lives rather than worrying about good or bad luck.

1. Learning from Exams
and from others’ gifts
2nd Sciences
November 2018

2. The college is planning to introduce a
special course for students planning to
spend time studying in another country.
The college principal invites students to
send a proposal outlining any problems
students may face whe studying abroad
and suggesting ways in which the course
could address these problems. A decision
can then be made about what to include
on the course.
Write your proposal in 220-260 words in an
appropriate style.

3. Introduction
This proposal is intended to outline common
issues students have when studying
abroad, and suggest ways that a course
could help them to deal with these. The
final section makes recommendations
about what should be included in the
course curriculum.

4. Problems when studying abroad
Interviews were conducted with 20 students who
have recently completed a student exchange
programme. The majority of students were of the
opinion that overcoming the language barrier in
their new country was the biggest challenge and
nearly half also said that they experienced
culture shock. Other problems cited included
unrealistic expectations, loneliness and packing
the wrong things - particularly being unprepared
for a different climate.

5. Ways a course could address these
A course could prepare students for culture
shock by raising awareness of the
phenomenon and describing cultural
differences that students may encounter in
their host country. To aid participants with
language, a course could include some
useful phrases for the first days after
arrival, in addition to some resources for
language learning. The course could also
include a discussion about combating
isolation and adjusting expectations.

6. Recommendations
• I would like to make the following
recommendations:
• Invite students who have previously studied
abroad to share aspects of the culture they
found surprising and give advice on what to
take.
• Provide a list of useful phrases, together with
suggestions of useful resources for language
learning such as websites, blogs or e-books.
• Facilitate a discussion about engaging with
people to avoid loneliness and isolation.

7. If these recommendations are implemented,
young people are bound to feel more
prepared for their experience.

8. • If the recommendations tabled in this
proposal were implemented, how would
young people feel?
• What was the main worrying issue
mentioned by the interviewed students?
• What is the aim of this proposal?
• Why are clothes important when
travelling to a new country?

9. • Students who travel abroad should have
no contact with those who have lived that
experience before.
• The course’s only purpose is to allow
students to speak the language fluently. .

10. • Most of_________
• Problems, topics _________
• Finished, ended ____________
• Quoted, stated ________________

11. • What is the objective of this proposal?
• What could students who have already
lived abroad share with new students?
• How many students were interviewed to
get information for this proposal?
• Why are clothes important when
travelling to a new country?

12. • Students who travel abroad should have
some contact with those who have lived
that experience before.
• The college French teacher hasn’t
invited students to write proposals.

13. • Director _________
• Problems, topics _________
• To be on the verge of, to be intended to
____________
• In a foreign country, out of your own
country ________________

14. • Does Luck exist? Why do some people
consider themselves lucky and others
unlucky? Do you remember any time
when you were really lucky?
• The best European capital. What would
be in your opinión the best European
city? Why? Have you ever visited it?

15. Is it Luck?
Currently, luck is a remarkable issue in our
hectic society. Not only can we perceive
lucky moments on television or lottery, but
also on a daily basis, thus it is an
omnipresent topic, but the questions is: is
it luck really, or just a kind of reward for
our constant work?

16. … On the other hand, there are days on
which we come out of our house and feel
lucky, feel as if that day everything is
going to turn out well, no issues for just a
day. Just go to a shop and everybody
seems to be smiling, that cheerful
sensation is so infectious, I mean, it
spreads. Actually, that is real luck, not just
winning the typical Christmas box which
every year that annoying workmate wins.

17. What would the best European city
be?
Europe is lucky to have so many cities
whose avenues are full of art. In addition,
as technology has grown at the drop of a
hat, nearly every European city is
developed. But, what would be the best
one? Taking into account that any
European city could be a good choice, I
think that Paris would be the best one.

18. • In my opinion, going to Paris is a good
option because you have a lot of cultural
monuments, for example, Louvre Museum
and because you can learn a lot of
History. And also because it has plans for
the little kids, for instance, Disneyland.

19. • However, I don’t know too many
cultural places although I have a
favourite one. It is located at the
centre of the capital in a very famous
square. It is not the typical sculpture
or a piece of art, it is a fantastic
creation: an enormous carpet made
of flowers. It is very colourful and
the way the colours are mixed is
extraordinary. I think the flowers are
metaphorically alive.

20. Firstly, it is important to underline that the
Biscayan city is not only great due to its
artworks, but also for its gastronomy. In
fact, the Guggenheim Museum is
worldwide known, and also the different
mountains that surround the city. In
addition, on the last few days the
importance of this city has increased in a
huge way. The awesome MTV awards
took place here.

21. All that Shines is not Gold
• Society is always worrying about
everything. The main objective is to worry
about our problems and our “miserable
lives”. We are so selfish that we can’t see
anything but our issues. Instead of trying
to solve our problems, we just say that we
are unlucky. But does luck really exist?

22. Firstly, there are always some aspects in life that
happen randomly. For instance, we can’t decide
the country where we are born in or the family
we have. We have to be mature and greatful
enough to be aware about our situation. …
Seeing the topic from another perspective, I can
say that sometimes we make out our own luck.
In life, we have to be hard-working to get great
rewards. At the end of the day, we are people
who are going to have good days and bad days.
Notwithstanding the fact that sometimes it
seems there is not a solution, we can’t give up
and also, we have to give our best at everything
we do.

23. In conclusion, I think that we have to focus
on the good aspects of life and be happy
with that. We always think that
everybody’s life is so much better than
ours, but don’t be so secure because all
that shines is not gold.

24. Hi Peter,
It has been a long time since I last contacted
you. The truth is that I arrived in Berein
weeks ago but it took me a while to settle
down. In fact, I’m still a little bit lost and I
sometimes feel homesick.
Besides, when I arrived at the airport, I was
really surprised about the peaceful and
calm atmosphere,due to the fact that I’m
used to a hectic society. In fact, at first, I
got scared.

25. My former week was a little boring because I
didn’t have anyone to talk to after work So
I spent the evenings wandering around the
city. It was gloomy.
I was on the verge of returning home when I
saw a girl in my same situation, lost and a
bit of a loose end. I started hanging out
with her and I learnt a lot about her and
her country, Japan.

26. A week ago, I went to Madrid with my
school, we went to participate in SYMUN,
a simulation of a United Nations
conference. Our school planned to visit
some of the most important places of
Madrid but due to the fact that it rained we
couldn’t visit them, we were out of luck!

27. Currently, the issue of luck is omnipresent
as Christmas is getting near and so is the
lottery. On the 22nd December, nearly
every one appeals to their luck in many
different ways such as amoulettes,
prayers, red clothes and so on and so
forth. Although there are also people who
don’t believe in luck. But how is it
possible to win the lottery if it is not by
being lucky?

28. • However, sometimes the climate is
no so good due to the rain. But
thanks to that, the Basque
Country is full of trees that give
a stunning green colour to the
muntains.

29. • On the other hand, my best European city
is Madrid, and you could think, why
Madrid?...

30. Dear Victoria,
• I’m writing this letter to you to continue our
last conversation. In case you don’t
remember, it was about luck. We were
argueing about its existence. I said “no”
and I wasn’t able to give you reasons
about my point of view.

31. • I have been thinking about it all week long
and I have reached a lot of reasons, but
I’m just going to give you the deepest
ones.

32. • The first one is connected to our way of
thinking. Some people say the typical
thing “if I shot this ball into the paperbin,
I’m going out tomorrow” because they
want to go out but they need luck’s
approval. I mean, if luck does exist, that
ball would go straight out because you
have four exams next week, and so it
does, but you keep trying and trying till it
gets in and you say “I thought I was out of
luck”.

33. • The last reason is about the normal
sentences like “don’t pass under stairs·” or
“if you break a mirror, you’ll get seven
years of bad luck”, I mean, seriously? We
are the only species that can think and we
believe that our life is pushed by luck?
• Hope to see you soon,