The programmes — Level 3

Click on a cover to see a summary of the programmes.

1. It's All About Me: Part 1

Horse riding

This programme follows a day in the life of Emma Kent, a keen horse rider. Emma has a rare genetic disease called Holt Oram Syndrome. She has problems with her heart and severely shortened arms. The name for the syndrome comes from the names of the two doctors who discovered it in the 1960s.

Emma rides at a centre that is specially equipped for disabled riders. There is an association in the UK called the Riding for the Disabled Association. To find out more about their work, have a look at their website www.rda.org.uk.

2. Life Swap: Part 1

A flight attendant

This Life Swap is about two adults (Stephanie Kent and David Fenton), who do each other's jobs for the day. Stephanie is a flight attendant and David is a professional graffiti artist. In this programme we see what happens when David goes to Stephanie's company and learns how to become a flight attendant.

3. It's All About Me: Part 2

The riding centre

It's All About Me: Part 2 follows a day in the life of Emma Kent. This time we see Emma training at the riding centre and hear about the other people who use the centre. We also hear Emma talking about her achievements, and her ambitions, which include wanting to participate in Great Britain's riding team at the Paralympics. The 'para' in 'paralympics' derives from the Greek meaning 'alongside' so it refers to the way the Games run in parallel to the Olympic Games. For more information about the Paralympic Games, have a look at www.paralympic.org.

4. The Mag

An eco house

In this programme, Rebecca and Anand visit the home of a London architect, Alex Michaelis, who designed and built an environmentally friendly 'eco house'. It was built on a plot of land in one of the most fashionable parts of London, Notting Hill. Due to building restrictions, he wasn't allowed to build in the conventional way, so he built the house underground. For more information and some excellent photos of the house, go to this website.

5. Life Swap: Part 2

A graffiti artist

David Fenton is a professional graffiti artist. His artistic name, or tag, is 'AKS'. He teaches graffiti to young people and is commissioned to create special art works at festivals and for local councils. You can find out more about David Fenton at www.topdogpromotions.co.uk/aks. If you have access to the Internet, students might find this interesting either in relation to this programme, or in relation to the Culture in Mind in Unit 9 of English in Mind. It is advisable to do that reading task before watching the programme as it is about graffiti and introduces some of the specialised vocabulary used by David in the programme.

6. The Mag

The White Horse

In this programme the presenters of The Mag, Rebecca and Anand, find out about the history of the White Horse of Uffington. The White Horse is one of several white horses that can be found on hillsides in Britain. The history of these and other hillside carvings remain a mystery. If you or your students want to find out more about the White Horse of Uffington, there are several sites you can visit, for example www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/majorsites/uffington.html.

7. The Hub: Part 1

Joe makes mistakes

In this episode of The Hub, there are only three weeks to go before the big event, the show. Joe is the assistant director of the show, and he is under a lot of pressure to get everything ready. Joe becomes unpopular among the students as he grows increasingly bossy and impatient. Several students imitate his behaviour and even Kelly has no success as she tries to help him.

8. The Hub: Part 2

Joe needs help

The Hub: Part 2 follows the story of Joe as he struggles to deal with his duties as assistant director. In Part 1 Joe alienated a lot of people by being insensitive and bossy. In this programme Kelly helps Joe to realise that his behaviour is affecting the whole cast of the show. He recognises his mistakes and changes his ways, helping the show to become a success.