In the heart of Andalusia, a revolution in education is taking place. As reported by Judit Laguna in February 2026, IES Fernando III (Website / Twitter / Facebook), located in Martos, has consolidated its position as a national leader in Vocational Training (VT). This institution belongs to the elite National Network of Centres of Excellence, a group consisting of only 66 centres in Spain. This network, which is funded by the Ministry of Education, was established to modernize facilities and promote cutting-edge pedagogical techniques.

The high employability offered by the institute is truly staggering, turning Martos into what many experts call the "Industrial Hub of Southern Spain." Manuel Caballero (Twitter), the director to whom the centre's strategic vision is often credited, stated that they frequently received calls from companies across the country. He remarked that some firms had even offered free housing to attract their graduates. If the school had not fostered such strong ties with the industrial sector, it would not have achieved these record-breaking placement rates.

Currently, three Higher Vocational Training Cycles (Grados Superiores) are driving this demand:

⚙️

Industrial Mechatronics

A field in which mechanics and electronics converge to automate production.

💻

Multi-platform Applications Development

It is said that software developers are currently the most sought-after professionals in the digital economy.

🔩

Design in Mechanical Manufacturing

A cycle that has become a cornerstone for local giants like Valeo or the world-renowned Meltio, a pioneer in 3D metal printing technology.

Furthermore, the institute's international prestige is bolstered by its Erasmus+ partnerships. Students are encouraged to complete their internships in countries such as Germany or Turkey, sharing innovative projects with European peers. It must be noted that these mobility programs, which are actively showcased on their 📘 Erasmus Projects Facebook page, have allowed the centre to stay at the forefront of technology. "We are looking to join a European network soon," Caballero explained, adding that it would be a logical step for their project.

Students at this centre, many of whom receive grants of up to €500 per month, also participate in "technological recycling" projects. These initiatives, which give a second life to electronic waste, demonstrate that sustainability and high-tech education can go hand in hand. Had these innovative programs not been implemented, the students' connection with environmental ethics might have been overlooked.

In conclusion, IES Fernando III is not just a school; it is an industrial engine. Its commitment to excellence ensures that its graduates will always be prepared for the challenges of a globalized workforce.

Stories of Human Interest - Angelica Shalagina: Beyond Survival

Identity Quest

0% Recovered

Stories of Human Interest:
Women Worth Admiring

@NeuroEnglishMMP

🧠 Concept Activation

🔥 Adversity

Extreme difficulties or misfortune. / Adversidad.

🩹 Trauma

A deeply distressing experience or injury. / Trauma psicológico.

📖 Memoir

A biography written from personal knowledge. / Memorias.

🆔 Identity

Being who or what a person or thing is. / Identidad.

🛡️ Testament

Evidence or proof of a fact or quality. / Testimonio.

⭐ Task 0: Beyond Survival

"Angelica’s early years were defined by severe trauma and a lack of safety and love in her home, including abuse from her grandfather. Not only did she endure these challenges, but she also suffered within a domestic environment where she felt unprotected."

The Raw Truth of Angelica Shalagina

It is widely acknowledged that true strength is forged in the fires of adversity. This is perfectly exemplified by the social media influencer Angelica Shalagina, who has recently released her harrowing memoir, Alive. This story belongs to a woman who grew up in the Donbas region of Ukraine, born as Marina into a life of poverty and extreme hardship during the 1990s—a time of economic collapse in post-Soviet Ukraine.

Angelica’s early years were defined by severe trauma and a lack of safety and love in her home, including abuse from her grandfather. Not only did she endure these challenges, but she also suffered within a domestic environment where she felt unprotected. Were it not for her passion for books and writing, which became her escape and later her source of strength, she might never have survived the psychological toll of her youth. It was through these words that she eventually found the strength to reclaim her identity, choosing the name Angelica as a way to separate herself from the trauma associated with her birth name.

Angelica’s journey of self-discovery and resilience is deeply intertwined with her identity as a Ukrainian. Growing up in a heavily Russified environment, she initially struggled with her cultural identity. However, it was the war in Donbas whose impact finally forced her to confront the loss of her city, her childhood, and her sense of belonging, ultimately leading her to embrace her Ukrainian heritage. If she had not lived through the brutal reality of the four-year Russian occupation, she might not have become the powerful advocate she is today.

Her writing is raw, honest, and deeply personal, reflecting her pain, strength, and determination to share the truth about her life and the region she calls home. "You’d rather face a painful truth than live a comfortable lie," Angelica seems to suggest through her prose. Through her words, she seeks to give voice to the forgotten stories of Donbas and its people, offering a glimpse into the resilience and humanity that persist even in the face of unimaginable suffering.

Such is her determination that her story has become a reflection of the struggles faced by many in Ukraine. Her writing stands as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of those who survive, resist, and rebuild, reminding us of the humanity that remains even when the world seems to have turned away.

Author: Maria Drutska

🎧 LISTENING TASKS

Angelica: The Name Shift (2:00)

"I spent the first twenty years of my life as Marina, a name that eventually became synonymous with fear and the abuse I suffered at the hands of my grandfather. Growing up in the poverty of the post-Soviet 90s, I felt like a ghost in my own house. But then, literature arrived. I remember hiding under the covers with a flashlight, reading stories of distant lands. I started writing to build a world where I was safe. When I finally decided to leave that life behind, I needed a new name to mark the boundary between the victim and the survivor. Angelica wasn't just a choice; it was a reclamation of my soul. In my book 'Alive', I describe this transition not as a simple name change, but as a biological necessity to stay sane during the occupation of Donbas. Every time someone calls me Angelica, it reminds me that the fires of adversity did not consume me; they forged me into someone stronger."

Critic Review: Ukraine's Soul (2:00)

"Angelica Shalagina's memoir 'Alive' is a landmark in contemporary Ukrainian literature. What makes her work so powerful is her journey from a Russified youth in the Donbas to becoming a fierce advocate for Ukrainian heritage. For years, the region was subjected to a narrative that denied its true identity. Angelica lived through the loss of her city, her childhood, and her sense of belonging during four long years of Russian occupation. Her prose is raw and honest, refusing to sugarcoat the reality of life behind enemy lines. As she suggests in her book, facing a painful truth is always preferable to living a comfortable lie. This is a story that reflects the struggles of millions. It stands as a powerful testament to the spirit of a nation that refuses to be broken. By sharing the forgotten stories of her people, she offers a glimpse into a humanity that persists despite unimaginable suffering. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the human cost of the war and the resilience of the human spirit."

🧠 Metacognition Check

Reflection is the engine of deep understanding. How did you process Angelica's story?

I used scanning to find the specific decade Angelica was born in.

I checked the pink brain icons to understand the logic of the Passive Voice.

I identified the symbolic meaning behind the change from Marina to Angelica.

I now understand why cultural heritage is vital for personal identity.

📚 Stories of Human Interest Library

🎨 Elena Osipova: Art & Resistance 🕊️ Tribute to Osipova's Bravery 🌍 Erasmus Voices: IPEP Jaén 🇲🇼 Education in Malawi: Journey of Hope

NeuroEnglish for YOU!

4 mar 2026

64. PAGS MOCK EXAM.PIONEERING SUCCESS: HOW IES FERNANDO III IN MARTOS REDEFINES VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Pioneering Success:
How IES Fernando III in Martos
Redefines Vocational Excellence

🧠 Warm-up: Core VET Concepts

⭐ Task 0: A National Leader in Martos

Pioneering Success: How IES Fernando III in Martos Redefines Vocational Excellence

Industrial Mechatronics

Multi-platform Applications Development

Design in Mechanical Manufacturing

🎧 VET Voices (Fenrir Model)

Student Testimony: Carlos (Martos)

Director: Manuel Caballero (IES Fernando III)

🧠 Metacognition Check

🎓 Elevate Your Expertise: The VET Library

Rate this task 🌟

1 mar 2026

63. PAGS MOCK EXAM. STORIES OF HUMAN INTEREST. WOMEN WORTH ADMIRING: ANGELICA SHALAGINA

Stories of Human Interest:
Women Worth Admiring

🧠 Concept Activation

⭐ Task 0: Beyond Survival

The Raw Truth of Angelica Shalagina

🎧 LISTENING TASKS

Angelica: The Name Shift (2:00)

Critic Review: Ukraine's Soul (2:00)

🧠 Metacognition Check

📚 Stories of Human Interest Library

Rate this Task 🌟