WINNER: CHRISTINA ROJO MATEY (B2.2)

2012: THE OLYMPIC DREAM

London Olympic Stadium: 80,000 spectators, 5,000 meters, 12 athletes and 1 dream. With all this in my mind, I was standing on my starting line. My name, Peter, resounded in the stadium when the loudspeaker was mentioning the athletes. My mind forgot everything around me just as the referee was going to give the signal to start. I was only focus on my goal, running the 5,000meters as best I could.

The beginning of the race was very fast and I was afraid of not being able to keep up the rhyme. I thought about how much hard work had taken me to get this far. While I was running as much as I could and passing other runners, the last lap arrived. I made my last effort and I could pass my last opponent. I crossed the finish line first. Then I noticed spectators shouting and I finally realised what I had just won the competition. Despite having the raised pulse and the heart beating quickly, I ran to my parents. They held me tight and I started to cry. Then I returned to the track with a Spanish flag which my mother had given me before.

Reporters surrounded me and thousands of flashes lighted my face. Suddenly, someone shook me. 'Wake up, you are going to be late to the school' – my mother said. It all had been a dream, but this illusion may be real for many athletes at the next Olympics.

WINNER: YOLI CARRILLO (B2.1)

OUR NEW WORLD

Dear Vega,

We have not met each other yet, but we are linked in the same body, in which you are living a peaceful life in your perfect world.

Doubtless, you have been my best news of 2012. You have been in my heart ever since you were only a whish, and I have loved you from the first moment I saw your tiny heart beatig so quickly. My love is growing just like my tummy day by day.

I cannot help being worried about your future because the present situation is going from bad to worse.

This world is not as peaceful and happy as yours. We are living through one of the worst economic crises in history, and there are lots of families struggling to get on in life. This is not probably one of the best moments to come into the world, however I am thrilled about your arrival.

It is said that this year the world will end, but my feeling is that a new better one is starting. It is not a pefect world, but darling, you will learn that this life is not perfect. Despite this, we have the most important things which money cannot buy: health, family and love.

In a few months my dreams will be fulfilled and you will be my best treasure. It is going to be a big change, exhausting but exciting and incredible.
I am so looking forward to seeing your lovely face and starting our new world together.

All my love,

Your mum

WINNER: LOLY HERNÁNDEZ (Senior A1)
THE CRISIS: AN ALTERNATIVE?

I think one event in this year 2012, is the economic crisis. The crisis touches all the people and is worldwide.

The worst consequences are for the very poor people. The critical situations are felt in the families. They have downgraded their possibilities.

Now, I don't wish to study the reasons. The crisis is a reality for all the people.

Two weeks ago, in my English class, we read a theme about the Mayan predictions. For them, the last cycle is on December 2012 "the winter solstice" with many disasters. But… I like reading this belief too:

"The Mayans say that after 2012, there will be a "new age", a type of new life. Some people think December 21st 2012 will be a new positive start on Earth"

I reread the crisis and I say to myself the same as the Mayans: is the crisis an alternative for a type of new life?

There are big differences in the world. Each day there are bigger differences between the poor and the rich. The riche have more and the poor have less.

Why don't we have possibilities to live with what is necessary for us and share the rest with the others?

Can the crisis take us to a more simple life, with more to share, be more together with the Earth that gives us so much?

I think it's possible!!! Another World is possible!!! I like this idea!!!

 
RUNNER UP: JOSE LUÍS SORIA (C1.3)

2012

- Grandpa, how was 2012 like?

- 2012? It's been a long time… why do you ask?

- I have to write a composition for homework. Up to 250 words, about the year when dad was born.

- Oh, I hadn't noticed it was that year! Pretty important for all of us. I remember it like it was yesterday… every single member of our family was busy as a bee. Your great aunt was expecting her first child, your father's cousin.

- What else?

- Your grandma was also expecting. Your daddy and auntie decided to be born at once, so it was a crazy end of the year for the entire family, taking care of the little twins and their little cousin.

- Great! Just give me a second so I can write everything down.

- Sure... the Olympics were held in London. I travelled there twice just before the games, and the whole of it was a huge construction site. And a bunch of hotheads believed that world was going to end that particular year.

- Really?

- Yes, somewhat creepy, isn't it? But there is something really curious that happened just before summer…

- Please tell me!

- Just like you are doing now, I wrote a composition for a competition, whose prize was a summer course. The course was so great that I became English obsessed, using it even at home. That's the reason why you speak English so well!

RUNNER UP: EDUARDO LÓPEZ (B2.2)

ROUND AND ROUND

14 May of 2012. My mind is full of thoughts. The sun rises making to shine the green fields of Pardo's mount. The train advances with its habitual idleness that in this site seems as a present for the sleepiness passengers with distant look and distant thoughts. It is said that the big cities don't have soul. But it is wrong. Who loose their soul piece at piece are the sad passengers that don't let to the beauty to caress their eyes.

Next station: "Nuevos Ministerios". The journey is beginning in the learners' industry of Shakespeare's language. Some of exiled young from their professional career find a reason for to continue their training, a reason for to use the alarm clock, a group of therapy where to drown their dissatisfaction about their currently life. One degree, two degrees, one postgraduate degree, two postgraduate degrees, one, two, six years of working experience… Nobody told you that anything of these has value now if the English doesn't flow for your mouth yet? Is for this I require to the Sanitary Minister to declare this class of general interest. It's better than a psychological therapy and more constructive.

14 May of 2012. My mind is full of thoughts. The darkness of the night is growing and my mind rounds and rounds. Today I had known that I will be father. A good father? I think so. Am I ready? I hope so but, who are ready for this? Perhaps nobody and all people at the same time...Too optimist, I know. My world changes today quickly. My world changes today forever… and my mind rounds and rounds dreaming with a healthy child who looks the field's beauty through the train's window.

RUNNER-UP: JAVIER LUCAS (B2.1)

2012 - THE YEAR I WAS BORN

In 2012 my parents, as well as most Spaniards, were worried about the economic environment. The economic situation was becoming worse and worse. I imagine that having a baby those days must have been quite difficult. Anyhow I was born on April.

My parents told me, that 2012 was a year of change; people started thinking seriously about their situation. They started taking ownership of their problems – and this was the milestone to start changing. In fact once all of them moved in the same direction, they quickly found the solution. Honestly, I can´t tell you what this solution looked like. My parents told me more than once, for sure but I don´t pay too much attention when they start - as so often - with their fairytales about the past.

I can just recall some daily gadget that called my attention. Years ago, people used sort of metallic disposals, so called keys, to open their cars, flats or whatever they wanted to keep closed, instead of using their fingerprints, which seems the logical thing to do. And their phones…they called them smartphones - ironically I suppose, since you couldn't even pay with them or open doors. Nothing to do with our intelligent phones, as you can see.

In conclusion, things have changed for good, as I have heard it from my parents hundreds of times at home. For me these are just old stories but for my parents 2012 was a milestone in their lives, that's why - I suppose - they don´t want to forget it.

RUNNER UP: ELENA TERÁN (A2)

ROYAL CELEBRATION

Queen Elizabeth II of England meets 60 years in the Throne which is a great celebration a round the country, this is the Diamond Jubilee. It this special day, Queen Elizabeth counted with the presence representatives of the monarchies in 26 countries around the world.

Thee army has fested with the Queen Elizabeth II a colorful procession at Windsor. this procession was with more than two thousand soldiers, to reunit in the small courtyard of the Palace. In this procession were select group of guests honour.

In this moment, Queen Elizabeth II, wanted to celebrate its Jubilee privately because the popular festivities will be between 2 and 5 June with a concert at Buckingham Palace and a procession with hundreds of ships in the River Thames.

Elizabeth II may be close 2015 the longest reign in British history, only surpered by Queen Victoria, who reigned nearly 64 years.

This celebration has been marked by the absence of the reina Sofia, which has cancelled his visit to London in protest by an altercation with Gibraltar, spanish people think "Gibraltar should be spanish".

RUNNER UP: ANTONIO MUÑOZ (B1.2)

Maybe it isn't a good time for royal celebrations right now. It has been reported that the King and Queen of Spain aren't going to hold any celebration for their 50th wedding anniversary. This is probably due to the fact that King Juan Carlos seems to be having his particular 'annus horribilis', as Queen Elizabeth had some years ago; this including the elephant hunting controversy, his grandson's firearm accident, and son-in-law's justice charges.

The King of Spain was never controversial at the beginning of democracy. He has always been credited as the man who helped Spain to reach a parliamentary system, and who defended it against the coup d'état in 1981. However, nowadays this democracy is taken for granted, so Spaniards have become more critical of the King and his family's mistakes. It's also turning out that people are more concerned now than they were before about royal family expenses, especially during this long crisis.

I really think Spaniards appreciate their King as a leading representative, and therefore he will win back people's approval, but he will have to allow some time for that. Perhaps Queen Elizabeth could give him some advice.