English Time with Yves

Primavera Sound is one of the most famous music festivals in Europe and one of the most important cultural events in Spain. The festival was founded in Barcelona in 2001 by Pablo Soler, Alfonso Lanza, and several promoters connected to the independent music scene. Their objective was to create a festival that focused on artistic quality rather than purely commercial music. At the beginning, Primavera Sound was much smaller and took place at Poble Espanyol in Barcelona. However, as the festival became more successful, it moved to the Parc del Fòrum, a larger venue near the sea. This allowed the festival to expand internationally and attract thousands of visitors from around the world. One of Primavera Sound’s main goals is to promote independent and alternative music. The organizers are known for creating carefully curated line-ups that combine famous artists with new and experimental musicians. The festival includes many genres such as indie rock, electronic music, hip-hop, jazz, punk...

The murder of Gabriel Cruz shocked Spain and became one of the most emotional criminal investigations in recent Spanish history. Gabriel Cruz Ramírez was an eight-year-old boy from Almería in southern Spain. His family called him “Pescaíto” (“little fish”) because he loved the sea and wanted to become a marine biologist in the future. On 27 February 2018, Gabriel disappeared while walking from his grandmother’s house to his cousins’ home in the small village of Las Hortichuelas. The distance was very short, but when he failed to arrive, his family immediately contacted the police. Soon, thousands of volunteers, police officers, divers, and rescue workers joined the search. The case received enormous media attention across Spain, and many people hoped Gabriel would be found alive. Social media users shared drawings of fish as a symbol of support for the family. During the investigation, police discovered several suspicious details. Investigators found a white T-shirt containing Gabri...

PART 1 – WARM-UP DISCUSSION Discuss in pairs: Why do countries want to host the World Cup? Do big sporting events help local people? What problems can large tournaments create? Have you ever heard of Andrés Escobar? Should football players be responsible for national expectations? PART 2 – READING TEXT The World Cup: Business, Celebration, and Tragedy The FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Millions of fans travel to the host country, and billions watch the matches on television and online. Because of this, the tournament generates enormous amounts of money. Host cities usually experience a huge increase in tourism. Hotels, restaurants, airlines, and local businesses often make large profits during the competition. Governments also invest heavily in infrastructure such as stadiums, roads, airports, and public transportation. For example, countries like Qatar , Brazil , and South Africa spent billions of dollars preparing for the event....

1. Warm-Up Discussion Discuss the following questions with a partner: What countries in the Middle East would you most like to visit? Why? What makes a country memorable for tourists? Can a country be both beautiful and politically complicated at the same time? What do you already know about Lebanon? What kinds of food, music, or landscapes interest you when you travel? After discussing, share your ideas with the class. 2. Reading Text Lebanon: A Small Country with Extraordinary Depth Lebanon is one of the most fascinating countries in the Middle East. Although it is geographically small, it contains an astonishing variety of landscapes, cultures, religions, traditions, and historical influences. Many travelers describe Lebanon as a country of contrasts: modern yet ancient, glamorous yet chaotic, resilient yet fragile. One of Lebanon’s greatest strengths is its cultural diversity. Throughout history, the country has been influenced by Phoenician, Roman, Ottoman, French, and Arab civili...

Ada Colau was born in Barcelona in 1974 and grew up in a middle-class family. Before entering politics, she worked as an activist and became famous for defending people who were losing their homes during the economic crisis in Spain. She studied philosophy at university but did not finish her degree. Instead, she became deeply involved in social movements. During the financial crisis of 2008, thousands of Spanish families could not pay their mortgages and faced eviction from their homes. Colau became one of the leaders of the Platform for People Affected by Mortgages (PAH), an organization that fought against unfair evictions. Many people admired her because she seemed honest, energetic, and close to ordinary citizens. She often appeared on television criticizing banks and accusing politicians of protecting powerful financial interests instead of helping vulnerable families. Her speeches were emotional and direct, and she quickly became a well-known public figure. In 2015, Colau...