CAE CONTRIBUTION TO A LONGER PIECE

TASK

As we regularly do, we’re asking you, the readers, to add your contribution on the subject of one of our feature articles. So tell us what you think. 

Are young people given too much too soon in their lives? We don’t just mean famous youngsters, we mean youngsters in general. Are they spoilt? Do their parents indulge them too much? Is it better for them to go without certain things so that they learn the value of having to struggle to get what they want? Are they given the impression that life is easy because it is too easy for them? Or is it the opposite in a lot of cases? Is life too much of a struggle for too many youngsters? 

Maybe you have personal experience you’d like to share with the readers. We’ll print some of your articles in future editions.

Write your contribution in 220-260 words

                                   Too much too young?

Today parents are definitively different from those of yesterday when it comes to educating their offspring. I strongly believe that youngsters are over spoiled and parents too much indulgent.

Young people are obviously more and more influenced by their environment and the media resulting in a more demanding generation of children than in the past. Today watching fussy kids in a shop making scenes is pretty common. They make their parents buy them the latest trendy gadget even if they cost an arm and a leg.

I have witnessed this on several occasions and always wonder why is it that parents accept to give them everything they want. This can be due to the fact that today parents are too busy working away from home, and feel guilty not to be with their kids or not doing enough for them, so they try to compensate their love with presents.

I remember the time when I was young, I contented myself with just my colour pencils, drawing, playing with my dolls or outside with some friends. But luckily my family was always there to play with me. I have them, and it was more important than any material thing.

Another reason why I think parents spoil their children is because they want to give them a good quality of life. They have good intentions, I mean, wishing the best for their children is legitimate, but giving them all for free certainly doesn´t teach them to be responsible in life nor to work hard to achieve their goals, nor to be thankful for what they receive. These spoilt children probably even ignore that in the world there are many poor children who have no toys to play with.

The way I see it parents should teach their children real values like hard-work and solidarity from a young age, rather than spoiling them with too many, many time useless, material things.

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CAE ESSAY

Read this CAE ESSAY SAMPLE sent to us by a CAE student. Surf our web for more on CAE. We recommend How to write an Essay

TASK:
You have recently had a class debate in which students discussed whether knowledge or social connections were more useful in achieving success. Your teacher has asked you to write an essay giving your opinion on the following statement:

« It’s not what you know, but who you know that counts »

Write your essayin 220-260 words

What you know or who you know?

I strongly believe that having the right skills and qualifications is essential in order to get a good job and succeed in life. However, with the large numbers of people competing for jobs nowadays, aren’t social connections equally important?

Some parents encourage their sons and daughters to keep up with the academic work in order to acquire the necessary knowledge to get into college and obtain a well-paid job one day. These young people do their best to be the first student in the class, they qui ttheir social life and have very few friends. But then when they finish their studies, despite their impressive marks, they struggle to find a job.

On the other hand we can find a group of people who were not necessarily brilliant at college but who have the right connections. They are the ones who get a good place in a company because they know the right people. Having knowledge is undoubtedly important but I think we all need a little push from others to succeed in today´s society.

Nevertheless I want to make it clear that I believe that getting a job only because you have connections is not fair and people should not be given a job if they do not have the right qualifications. The way I see it both, knowledge and connections, are equally important.

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CAE REPORT

Read this CAE REPORT SAMPLE sent to us by a CAE student. Surf our web for more on CAE. We recommend  How to write a Report for CAE.

TASK: 
An international research group is carrying out an investigation into changing trends in the way young people spend their free time. You have been asked to write a report about the situation in your country.

Write your report in 220- 260 words

Report on the changing trends in the way young people in France spend their free time.

Introduction

The purpose of this report is to show how the new leisure trends have highly changed the way young people in France spend their free time.

From past to present

If we take a step  some  years backwards  young people used to spend their free time outdoors playing football, biking, or making friends. Today these recreational activities only belong to the past having been replaced by video games, television, and the new technologies. The digital revolution has really brought about a big change in the way people spend their free time.

A blessing in disguise 

The new generations are born and have grown up in a world governed by the media and computers. It is estimated that about 65% of young people in France, ranged between 18 and 25, spend at least 13 hours per week on the internet. They search for information, download music, play games, chat with friends and use the social networks. This, however, might be a blessing in disguise as statistics also show that this generation of young people read more, socialise more, and gets better marks at school.

Conclusion

There is a clear preference for young people to spend time with the computer instead of doing sport outside. However, this is not so terrible news.  Our study indicates that today’s young people read more than our parents did in the past and are much more involved in participating actively in on-line and real life communities.

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CAE December 2014 Writing Paper. What to expect in the exam.

Are you taking the Cambridge CAE exam in December 2014? Then you are probably wondering what to expect in the Writing Paper. Read this post to find out.


The Writing Paper of the CAE exam is divided in two parts:

Part 1 Compulsory task

Writing one of the following: an article, a report, a proposal or

a letter. 180-220 words.


To prepare for this part, visit our page How to write an article for an International Exam


Part 2 

Candidates have a choise of tasks. For questions 2-4 the 

task types used are: article, competition entry, contribution to

a longer piece, essay, information sheet, letter, proposal,

report and review. Question 5(a) and 5(b) are based on two

set texts.  220-260 words.


You will need to produce both pieces of writing in 1 hour and 30 minutes. 

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CAE COMPETITION ENTRY

Read this COMPETITION ENTRY sample sent to us by a CAE student. Surf our web for more on CAE. We recommend  How to write a Report for CAE.

TASK: 

We are planning a series of TV programmes about the 10 greatest sportmen and women of all time. Which sportperson would you nominate to be included in the series?

Write to us describing this person’s achievements and explaining why you feel he or she should be included.

Write your competition entry in 220-260 words

Greatest sportsperson competition

Zinedine Zidane is a former French footballer who is considered one of the greatest players of all times. He made a name for himself at national and international level for his outstanding performance in the game and also for the several championships he won throughout his career.  He also helped France classify to the World Cup finale in 2006, in which they were the winners. It goes without saying that this icononic player really deserves to be the candidate for a nomination in your television series.

But how did Zinedine Zidane become such an amazing player? To answer this we need to go back to his early age. He discovered football in his home town. He used to play football with his friends in the streets, where he developed some unrivalled techniques and a perfect control of the ball. Endowed with an unique ability, he evolved as a professional player and won several titles such as the Juventus of Turin and the Real Madrid ones, which led him to be voted several times as the best international football player in 1998, 2000 and 2003, as well as to win a golden ball in 2006.

I believe that what sets Zinedine apart from any the other player is his perseverance and charming personality, but above all his strength to face adversity with composure. So friendly and sociable is he that he became the favorite player of the French in 2006 who nicknamed him «  Zizou ».

At the age of 35 he was at the height of his career and, came the time for him to leave the football pitch. Since 2013 he has held the position of an assistant coach for the Real Madrid team club. If there is one thing for sure is that Zizou is now a legend and he undoubtedly deserves a place among your top ten greatest sportspeople.

Submitted by Syb
Edited by www.cpesamplewritings.blogspot.com


CAE Practice.

Now it is your turn to practise for the CAE Cambridge Exam. Write a Competition Entry using the task above. If you would like to have your writing checked for free and posted in this blog, you can send it to gustavo.albarracin.q@gmail.com

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Yulmania!

Saturday was epic- there is no other way to describe it. If you haven't heard by now, Tulane played our first home football game on campus in nearly 40 years. For the first time in recent memory, we had 40,000 tailgaters on campus. On two separate occasions, alumni from two unnamed Pac-12 and SEC schools looked around, looked at me, and nodded their heads and said; "Impressive, Tulane.
Really really impressive."

Game day Pano! 

Whenever people would ask me if there was one thing I wish we could improve about Tulane, the only answer I would give was the lack of that rah rah state-school feel you get on campus during game days. And on Saturday, at long last, we had it. It was like that last piece of Tulane's puzzle finally fit in.

So rather than tell, it's time to show. First, check out the game day video here, and then, enjoy this photo montage of my day at Yulman. The Boys are Back Uptown, and I can't stop smiling.

Ribbon cutting. Katie Yulman and I graduated together in 2005! 

Jill and Avi Glazer- can we possibly thank them enough?

Team admission at center field. 

The Glazer Family Club

The bunker suite. How cool is this- it's right where the team charges out on the field. Right before your eyes! 

The suite life.

One more from the dedication.

Gameday! Check out the tailgate.

All smiles on game day

Best. Day... Ever. 

Roll Wave!

Student Section 

From above. 

Fans! 

More Fans!

See? Epic! 

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Alumni Spotlight Part VI: Athletics

Ryan Girffin- SBNation.com

Time to get back and check out a few of our recent grads making waves (get it?) in the world. In honor of Yulman Stadium opening up this weekend, I thought this would be the perfect time for a blog about our alumni in the sports and athletics world. I've enjoyed writing this feature where we catch up on my friends, former recruits, classmates, etc. who are involved in a specific profession and have used their Tulane experiences and connections to get them to the place they are today. So far, we've met industry folks, newsies, foodies, fashionistas and start-uppers. Today... we meet six Tulane grads doing their thing in the sports world. Let's go!

Ryan Griffin - Hometown: Westlake Village, CA - Tulane Class of 2013  - Business Finance and Management double major
Occupation: New Orleans Saints Quarterback

Tulane had a killer year in this year's NFL draft and combine. There is buzz all over the league about Green Wave football grads (see: Cairo Santos with the Chiefs or Ryan Grant with the Redskins). And one of the biggest talks of the new breed of NFL QBs? Check out our man Ryan Griffin, former Green Wave QB and current understudy of the man, the legend, Drew Brees. Possible successor to one of the greatest QBs of all time? You bet. Right now he's on the practice squad with some big dreams ahead.
I got a chance to catch up with Griffin as preseason got underway. "Tulane definitely prepared me for my job in the NFL," Griffin told me.
"Experiencing the clean and quiet dorm life of Sharp, enjoying the fine dining of the Bruff Commons, and participating in modest social events like Mardi Gras all helped me make it to the place I am today." The man has a sense of humor.
"All kidding aside, I doubt I would be where I am today if it wasn't for Tulane. By going to school so far from home I was forced to grow up. The combination of rigorous athletics and academics helped prepare me for a job in the NFL. At Tulane, I quickly learned hard work in the classroom and on the field was the key to success. My teammates, teachers, and coaches constantly pushed me to achieve more. I loved Tulane and often wish I was back in college living with my 5 dirty yet awesome roommates. Through all the hard work I always knew you had to laissez les bons temps rouler. Roll Wave!"
Nice guy, and funny, too. Watch for him this season with the greatest team in all of sports, ever. Period. Go Saints!

Aja Barto crossfitmicountry.com

Aja Barto - Hometown: Houston, Texas - Tulane Class of 2011(after returning from pro baseball stint) - Communications major
Occupation: CrossFit Allstar

If you've read my blog in the past, you know I am big into health and fitness. So are many of our graduates. It's no surprise that one of the most popular fads in health and fitness has a Tulane grad among its most successful ranks. Any of you crossfitters out there will definitely recognize Aja Barto. Aja and his brother, Aryan Barto, (All Conference center for Tulane football and a 2008 grad) own a strength and conditioning/lifestyle CrossFit facility outside of Houston where they work with individuals who become better, stronger, healthier versions of their current selves.
Another alum of our Green Wave athletics program, Aja told me that he "gained a lot of maturity and mental strength being on my own and playing Division I competitive baseball for the Green Wave for 3 years. I think through this experience I learned a lot about myself, what I was capable of and to follow my passion and care nothing of what others think or believe of you. I learned to take risks even if the reward was steep. That has evolved into my belief that it's not so much about the money or the fame but rather about doing something you love and with those that you love that can make you the happiest. I cannot be happier with where I am in my life today and I owe a part of that to my experiences at Tulane."

TJ at Super Bowl XLVII in
New Orleans (from the Saint's suite, of course)

T.J. Henry, Jr. -  Hometown: Altadena, CA - double major in Finance & Business Law undergrad (2006); JD in sports law (2013); MBA in finance (2013)
Occupation: Legal and finance for the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans.

From on the court to off, Tulane grads have made their presence in the world of professional sports. T.J. is a fraternity brother of mine, and three-time graduate of the university. He now works for both the Saints and the Pelicans here in NOLA. T.J. told me that Tulane's sports law connections helped a great deal; our sports law program is ranked as the best specialized sports law program in the country. Having a background in finance as well as various marketing/business development courses and internships during his time as an undergrad,T.J. is now able to look at sports issues from a complete perspective. "Often, working in sports involves a lot of moving parts and a lot of different departments, so it's important to have at least a base knowledge of many different areas," says T.J.

Sam, looking all official. 

Samantha Carducci - Hometown: Arlington, MA - Finance and Marketing double major - Tulane Class of 2009
Occupation: Live Programming and Entertainment Manager for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Speaking of the court and the sidelines, Sam has a totally cool job. In her job as Live Programming and Entertainment Manager for the New Orleans Pelicans, she plays the main role in much of the in-game entertainment. During the season, this consists of floor managing all home games and stage managing large events including the planning, organizing and scripting that goes into all of them. Sam manages a number of entertainment teams, books all half-time entertainment and national anthems and works with players at media days to develop in-game features and crowd prompts. Sam told me that "my job requires attention to detail, hard work, communication, and the ability to multitask all the time! With the long hours I work I also have to know how to have fun and connect with people around me. Tulane did a great job providing a well rounded education, a strong work ethic and knowing how to have fun all at once (the trifecta to being successful and loving your job!)"
Check her out at any home Pelicans game!

Caroline Haas - Hometown: Cleveland, OH - Biomedical Engineering major - Tulane Class of 2008
Occupation: AFA Fit and Field Testing Manager at Oakley

Okay, Caroline has about the coolest job I have ever seen. I met up with her this past spring at a Tulane event in San Diego where she is currently working as a field test manager at Oakley. When I saw her, she smiled and handed me a pair of custom-made Oakleys in Tulane green and blue! Coolest gift ever. Caroline is a biomedical engineer by major and what she does now is awesome; she designs, builds and runs tests for all of Oakley's products. "This winter, I spent time in Sochi for the Olympics, hovering in a helicopter above our athletes, testing their bodies' reaction to our products." I mean... how cool is that? Caroline's job is to test things like heat, body reactions, wearability, durability, etc., of some of Oakley's best products from jackets to shoes. She's a proud Tulane alumnae as well, and I don't just mean because of the custom glasses she gets to make. Caroline is a great example of how a great major at Tulane can take you to a great job in the field, even if the path to that job may not initially seem totally direct. Keep up the incredible work, Caroline!

Caroline at work. Yes, at work. 

Ryan Jones - Hometown: Slidell, LA  - Musical Theater Major, Political Science Minor - Tulane Class of 2012
Occupation: Instructor for SoulCycle, an indoor cycling company, based in the NYC studios

I love to spin, and part of my love of that came from taking SoulCycle. For any of you CA or NY area spinners, you've definitely heard of SoulCycle. Just this month, one of Tulane's own became a SoulCycle instructor! Ryan was a musical theater major (who killed it in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on campus a few years back) and moved to NYC to pursue a career in theater. In addition, he teaches Soul. "One of the things I love most about working for SoulCycle is that I feel like I get to perform on the instructor bike for each class," he told me.

"I get to show my personality and encourage and train riders all at the same time. I also have gotten to bring a lot of the skills that I acquired working in the Admissions and Orientation offices at Tulane, especially when it comes to assisting people who are coming to SoulCycle for the first time. It has definitely been an asset to be able to know how to approach helping people to feel comfortable and excited about something brand new!" Check out his instructor's page here!

So there you have it! Just a sampling of the ways our grads are making their presence known in the sporting world.

See you all at Yulman!

Ryan at SoulCycle soulcycle.com

Sam, court-side at the Pelicans

Sam at the All Star Game

More of Aja in Action. Photo courtesy of therxreview.com

Ryan in the pre-season. NOLA.com

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