Saying goodbye...for now

Dear students past and present, and readers of this blog,

This is the last working day for us of the year 2010. We won't see each other again until next year, 2011. It has been a good year, hasn't it? We have learnt lots of new things, shared lots of videos, comments, songs, met lots of wondeful new people...but the time comes now to go back home, stay with the family and friends, and why not, rest a little bit. Before saying goodbye until next year, let me share a few things with you.

First of all, I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to all those who came to the Christmas Party we threw at the school. We had lots of fun, and many people shared such a special moment with us. We hope to have many more like this. Without you, these events would not exist!!

On such a day, we watched a very funny video, that I strongly recommend to you. Please take a look at it:

Music is always a good idea, right? But this time not the traditional Christmas carol. I give you Christmas lights, by Coldplay.

Christmas Lights

Christmas night, another fight
Tears we cried a flood
Got all kinds of poison in
Poison in my blood

I took my feet
To Oxford Street
Trying to right a wrong
Just walk away
Those windows say
But I can't believe she's gone

When you're still waiting for the snow to fall
Doesn't really feel like Christmas at all

Up above candles on air flicker
Oh they flicker and they float
But I'm up here holding on
To all those chandeliers of hope

Like some drunken Elvis singing
I go singing out of tune
Saying how I always loved you darling
And I always will

Oh when you're still waiting for the snow to fall
Doesn't really feel like Christmas at all

Still waiting for the snow to fall
It doesn't really feel like Christmas at all

Those Christmas lights
Light up the street
Down where the sea and city meet
May all your troubles soon be gone
Oh Christmas lights keep shining on

Those Christmas lights
Light up the street
Maybe they'll bring her back to me
Then all my troubles will be gone
Oh Christmas lights keep shining on

Oh Christmas lights
Light up the street
Light up the fireworks in me
May all your troubles soon be gone
Those Christmas lights keep shining on

MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!!

A recommendation for this Christmas season: The King's Speech

Dear students and readers of this blog,

Sorry for my absence, but I've been incredibly busy these last few weeks. As the Christmas holidays are approaching, I want to leave you with "homework" to do. Don't worry, I'm not going to make you work. But I'd like to recommend you a film that will be released on 22 December:

Watch the trailer of THE KING'S SPEECH, with Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham-Carter:

Plot

After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth) who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future Queen Mother, arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually form an unbreakable bond. With the support of Logue, his family, his government and Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall), the King will overcome his stammer and deliver a radio-address that inspires his people and unites them in battle. (source: wikipedia)

Learn about the two main characters of this story, King George VI (a.k.a "Bertie") and Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue. Click on their photos:

If you go and see it, write a comment with your opinion on the film. Merry Christmas!!

1º NB (A1) - Of jobs and the family

We are now studying vocabulary about jobs and the family in our class. So here you have some help to learn extra vocabulary on these two topics. Enjoy!!

Click here for a list of common jobs (with pictures!)

And now, watch the video below: jobs




We are also studying vocabulary about family and its members. So maybe you'll like this video:

So now, you can speak about your family and their jobs.

Here you have an example of how you can do that:

"My father's name is Joseph. He's 76 and he's retired. My mother's name is Angela. She's 70 and she's a housewife. I've got one brother and one sister. Their names are Peter and Chloe. Peter is 42, and he's a film director. Peter has a partner. Her name is Louise. She's 41. They are not married and they haven't got any children. Chloe is 46 and she's a psychologist. She's married. Her husband is my brother-in-law, and his name is Stephen. He is a bank manager. They've got two sons: Hector and Albert. Hector is 16, and he's a student. Alberto is 12, and he's also a student. This is my family."

Soon, you will have to tell me about your families!!!

Christmas 2010 is coming!!! Let's get ready for it...

Christmas is almost here!!! So, as you know, we should get ready for it. Here you'll find whatever is necessary to make the most of the incoming Chistmas season.

First, we would like to invite you to our traditional Christmas Party, which will take place on the 20 December, from 7 p.m. onwards, in room 4.

There will be:

• 
  
  A cooking contest: there will be a prize for the best savoury dish and for the best sweet dish. Click here to read the contest rules.



• 
  
  A Christmas card contest: there will be a prize for the best card, which will be sent to wish a Merry Christmas to the other Official Language Schools in Andalucía. Click here for the rules to participate.



• 
  
  A Christmas Trivia contest: let's see how much you know about Christmas in English and French-speaking countries!



• 
  
  There will be Christmas carol singing: the students belonging to each level will be singing a different carol.

SO WE REALLY HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!! DON'T MISS IT!!!

So, before watching a couple of videos with the Christmas Carols, let's learn a few facts about Christmas:

• 
  
  Click here to watch some Christmas videos on history.com



• 
  
  Visit Santa's village on northpole.com. You can write your letter to Santa, chat online with two of his elves, play interactive games...



• 
  
  What is "Boxing Day"? Find out by clicking here.

And now, without further ado, let's get to business. SINGING!

This is the carol for the singers of 1º de Nivel Básico: THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS.

Below you have the video for the singers of NIVEL INTERMEDIO: GOD REST YE, MERRY GENTLEMEN.

Don't miss the party!!! It will be fun!

Were were you, and what were you doing, on December 6, 1978?

Dearest students and readers of this blog,

It is not usual for me to deal with issues that have to do with Spain and its culture in this blog, because, as you know, it is dedicated to "All things English" or in English, at least. But this time I'm going to make an exception. I have been asked to prepare a little something that has to do with the Spanish Constitution, whose making we are celebrating next 6 December.

As you know, the Spanish Constitution is "the fundamental law of the Kingdom of Spain. It was enacted on foot of the 1978 referendum, as part of the Spanish transition to democracy. It was preceded by many previous constitutions of Spain.

The constitutional history of Spain dates back to the Constitution of 1812. After the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, a general election in 1977 convened the Constituent Cortes (the Spanish Parliament, in its capacity as a constitutional assembly) for the purpose of drafting and approving the constitution.

A seven-member panel was selected among the elected members of the Cortes to work on a draft of the Constitution to be submitted to the body. These came to be known, as the media put it, as the padres de la Constitución or "fathers of the Constitution". These seven people were chosen to represent the wide (and often, deeply divided) political spectrum within the Spanish Parliament, while the leading role was given to then ruling party and now defunct Unión de Centro Democrático (UCD).

Gabriel Cisneros (UCD)
José Pedro Pérez-Llorca (UCD)
Miguel Herrero y Rodríguez de Miñón (UCD)
Miquel Roca i Junyent es:Miquel Roca (Convergència i Unió)
Manuel Fraga Iribarne (Alianza Popular)
Gregorio Peces-Barba (PSOE)
Jordi Solé Tura (PSUC)

The writer (and Senator by Royal appointment) Camilo José Cela later polished the draft Constitution's wording. However, since much of the consensus depended on keeping the wording ambiguous, few of Cela's proposed re-wordings were approved. One of those accepted was the substitution of the archaic gualda ("weld-colored") for the plain amarillo (yellow) in the description of the flag of Spain.

The constitution was approved by the Cortes Generales on October 31, 1978, and by the Spanish people in a referendum on December 6, 1978. 88% of voters supported the new constitution. Finally, it was promulgated by King Juan Carlos on December 27. It came into effect on December 29, the day it was published in the Official Gazette. Constitution Day on December 6 has since been a national holiday in Spain." (Source: wikipedia)

If you are interested in reading the Constitution, or at least, in flicking through it and reading some of its articles, click on the Constitution page above. (In Spanish)

Here you have some important events that took place in 1978:

• 
  
  February 1: Hollywood film director Roman Polanski skips bail and flees to France, after pleading guilty to charges of engaging in sex with a 13-year-old girl.


• 
  
  February 15: Serial killer Ted Bundy is captured in Pensacola, Florida.


• 
  
  March 1: Charlie Chaplin's remains are stolen from Cosier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland.


• 
  
  March 3: The New York Post publishes an article about David Rorvik's book The Cloning of Man, about a supposed cloning of a human being.


• 
  
  June 19: Garfield, which eventually becomes the world's most widely syndicated comic strip, makes its debut.


• 
  
  September 17: The Camp David Accords are signed between Israel and Egypt.


• 
  
  September 28: Pope John Paul I dies after only 33 days of papacy.


• 
  
  November 7: Indira Gandhi is re-elected to the Indian parliament.


• 
  
  November 27: In San Francisco, California, Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk are assassinated by former Supervisor Dan White.

So the question, at this point is:

HOW OLD WERE YOU, WHERE WERE YOU, AND WHAT WHERE YOU DOING ON 6 DECEMBER 1978? Please WRITE A COMMENT WITH YOUR ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION.

Students become poets against gender-based violence

Last Wednesday and Thursday we dedicated part of our class to remember those women who are abused, battered, humiliated, raped or, simply, murdered. Our students were asked to write a poem that responded to the phrase "No to gender-based violence." Enjoy the result.

Say no to gender based violence

View more presentations from leticiaeoimairena.

Things to be thankful for. THANKSGIVING 2010

Thanksgving, one of the most important festivities in the US, is almost here. The time is come to learn about how people celebrate it.

Did you know that...

...Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November?
...in Canada, Thanksgiving is in October?
...the turkey, the cornucopia, the corn or the pumpkin are the symbols of this holiday?
...people give thanks for everything good in their lives?
...every year, the President of the United States pardons the life of a turkey, which ends up in Disneyland?
...every year, there's a spectacular parade in many American cities like New York or Chicago?

If you want to read about Thanksgiving traditions, click on the image below:

Now some history. What's the origin of this festivity? Where do its main traditions come from? Take some time to watch this video:

YOU ARE THE HISTORIAN. Hey, don't miss this!!! Click again on the picture below if you want to find out more about the festivity. It will be worth your time, believe me!!

And to finish, let's have some fun:

For all of you, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

NI (B1) - Gradable and non gradable (strong) adjectives

Hello everyone!

Next week we're going to speak about two different categories of adjectives: GRADABLE & NON GRADABLE. You have a fairly comprehensive summary of the main points related to this topic in your books, but there are a few websites you might find interesting to have a look at.

So here we go!

First, from the British Council website, with exercises. Click here.

From Englishclub.com, check what you need to know about gradable/non gradable adjectives by clicking here and then practise with this quiz.

Absolutely amazing, isn't it?

NI (B1) - Question tags are interesting, aren't they?

Question tags: In English, it is a phrase added to the main part of the sentence, inviting the listener to confirm or give an opinion about the comment. It is composed of two parts: the auxiliary verb, determined by the principal verb, in negative form (or affirmative if the principal verb is negative), followed by the pronoun, determined by the subject. (source: worldenglish.org)

We have seen question tags in class, but I'm pretty sure you could use some extra help, couldn't you? So here you have a very interesting video and some useful link to practise question tags further. Alright, let's get to work, shall we?

Here you have a very interesting and clarifying video about question tags. Enjoy!



Now, read a summary of the rules you have watched in the video. Click here.

For some practice on the intonation of question tags, click on Grammar Challenge from the BBC Learning English website.

And for some extra practice, click on the following links:

• English-hilfen.de
• English grammar 4 u
• saberingles.com
• auto English

1º NB (A1) At the airport

In the practical English section of our student books of 1º and 2º de nivel básico we study the vocabulary of airports, of flying. As we travel a lot nowadays, we might find this extremely practical. If you want to go deeper into this subject, go ahead and have a look at these videos:

Apart from this, if you want to go a little bit further, GO TO THE BLOG ARCHIVE, AND LOOK FOR THE ENTRY POSTED ON 11 NOVEMBER 2008.

Enjoy your flight!!

El País in English!

From this week the English version of EL PAÍS is available to read online. Enjoy a selection of news, business, culture, sports and comment, taken from Spain's top daily. Click on the logo to read the paper.

There will be a permanent link on the sidebar of this blog. Enjoy!

Royal Engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton

"At last!!!" must have thought the British people and, most particularly, the bride-to-be. After seven years of "unofficial" relationship, and even a temporary break-up, His Royal Highness Prince William, the eldest son of Prince Charles of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer, and second on the line of succession to the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, has announced his engagment to Miss Catherine Middleton, whom he met while stuying at the University of St. Andrews, in Scotland.

Here's the statement announcing the engagement:

His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton are engaged to be married

16th November 2010

The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton.
The wedding will take place in the Spring or Summer of 2011, in London. Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course.
Prince William and Miss Middleton became engaged in October during a private holiday in Kenya. Prince William has informed The Queen and other close members of his family. Prince William has also sought the permission of Miss Middleton’s father.
Following the marriage, the couple will live in north Wales, where Prince William will continue to serve with the Royal Air Force."

Source: http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/

Did you know that...

"The Act of Settlement (1701) lays down that only Protestant heirs of Princess Sophia, granddaughter of James I,may succeed to the British throne. Neither Catholics, nor those who marry a Catholic, nor those born out of wedlock, may remain in the line of succession."

This means that no Catholic, or person married to or descending from a Catholic can ever become a monarch of Britain!!

Well, let's take advantage of the situation to learn VOCABULARY ABOUT MARRIAGE AND WEDDINGS. Click here.

Here you have a video with the first appearance of the couple after the engagement, at the traditional photocall:



As the sound is not very good (the flashes of the cameras are too loud!), here you have the transcription of what was said during this meeting with the Press.

Now, watch the video of the first interview of the happy couple after the announcement:

Interview to H.R.H. Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton on their engagement.




Would you like to see other weddings in the British Royal Family? Watch the video below:

We'll keep you updated with the news about this Royal Wedding!

Gunpowder, treason and plot...

"Remember remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason why gunpowder, treason

Should ever be forgot..."

November 5, 1605, a solitary figure is arrested in the cellars of Parliament House. Although he first gives his name as John Johnson, a surprising series of events begins to unfold under torture. Guy Fawkes, as he is really called, is one of thirteen who have conspired to blow up the parliament, the King, and his Lords...

This historical event originated one of the most characteristic festivities of the UK, BONFIRE NIGHT. Do you want to know more? First, the history. Watch the video below:



If you want to read the history behind Guy Fawkes' Night, click here.

Then, the festivity itself. Bonfires, fireworks, 'a penny for the guy...' Find out more. Click on the picture:

AND NOW, YOU CAN PLAY THE GUNPOWDER PLOT GAME. Discover the barrels of gunpowder and stop the conspiracy. SAVE ENGLAND AND THE KING!!

Seville European Film Festival - Let's go to the cinema together

As it is tradition, the school is going to the cinema. Every year Seville hosts an European Film Festival, and we have selected one film for you to go and see. Remember that all films are subtitled in Spanish!! So don't worry!

This year we're going to see Mr Nice, directed by Bernard Rose. UK. 121 min. To go the the official website of the film, click here.

Cast: Rhys Ifans, Chloë Sevigny, David Thewlis, Elsa Pataky and Luis Tosar.

Plot: The film tells the story of Howard Marks, an elite British drug smuggler. To know a little bit more about the real Howard Marks, click here.

Here you have the trailer:

NI (B1) A Halloween story made by the students of Nivel Intermedio B

Last Thursday, I asked my students in Group B of Nivel Intermedio to make up a good Halloween story. I gave them the beginning, and they created a scary story with their personal touch. This is the result. Good job!!

A scary story

View more presentations from leticiaeoimairena.

I am stretched on your grave...

Just by chance, I found this song while I was looking for materials for my class of the evening. I didn't know it, I had never heard about of the singer either. But it seemed to me a deeply moving, really beautiful song. And it's the story of a lost love. Since we're celebrating All Saints' Day next Monday, I thought this was the right time to play this song about loss. So here you have it. It is called "I am stretched on your grave," and this version is by Kate Rusby (see picture).

"I Am Stretched on Your Grave" is a translation of an anonymous 17th-century Irish poem titled "Táim sínte ar do thuama". It was translated into English several times, most notably by Frank O'Connor. It was put to music by musician Philip King in 1979.

While the translation and tune had both existed prior to its first recording as a whole, and in various versions of melody and lyric (and all or most likely possessing a strong similarity), the popular and current versions are influenced or rely heavily on the adapted version by King.
Since then it has been played on recordings and in performances by many professional, semi-professional, and amateur musicians, students, and hobbyists.

Enjoy!

I am stretched on your grave

And I'll lie here forever

If your hands were in mine

I'd be sure they would not sever

My apple tree, my brightness,

It's time we were together

For I smell of the Earth

And I'm worn by the weather.

When my family think

That I'm safely in my bed

Oh, from morn until night

I am stretched out at your head

Calling out unto the earth

With tears hot and wild

For the loss of a girl

That I loved as a child.

Do you remember the night

Oh, the night when we were lost

In the shade of the blackthorn

And the touch of the frost?

Oh, and thanks be to Jesus

We did all that was right

And your maidenhead still

Is your pillar of light.

Oh, the priests and the friars

They approach me in dread

Oh, for I love you still

Oh, my life, and you're dead

I still will be your shelter

Through rain and through storm

And with you in your cold grave

I cannot sleep warm.

So I am stretched on your grave

And I'll lie here forever

If your hands were in mine

I'd be sure they would not sever

My apple tree, my brightness,

It's time we were together

For I smell of the Earth

And I'm worn by the weather.

Here you have another version of the same song, by Sinead O'Connnor:

Which one do you like the most?

Recommended readings for NIVEL BÁSICO 1 & NIVEL INTERMEDIO

Hello everyone,

As you may know through your teacher, the English Department has already published the recommended readings for this year. Here you have the readings for 1º de Nivel Básico:

A Connecticut Yanakee in King Arthur's Court, by Mark Twain. Comic strip. Oxford University Press.

Plot summary: Hank Morgan is a happy young man in Connecticut, USA, in 1879 until one day someone runs into his office and and shouts "Come quickly, Boss. Two men are fighting." After this, something very strange happens to him, and his life changes forever."

The Black Cat, by John Milne. Macmillan Readers.

Plot summary: Yesterday morning, an archaeologist was found dead in a Cairo hotel. The archaeologist was called Pearson. The police are making inquiries...


In Nivel Intermedio we are going to read:

Changing Places, by David Lodge. Penguin.

Plot summary: Changing Places is about Philip Swallow, an academic working at Rummidge University and Morris Zapp, Professor and and expert on Jane Austen at Euphoria University. As part of their exchange programme, these two gentlemen swap places and assume the job of the other. Swallow is excited with this as he gets an escape from his drudgery, his wife and his kids. He remembers the time when he visited America last and he looks forward to having a wonderful time alone at the States. Zapp, on the other hand, is already tired with his journey and has agreed to this only because his wife has agreed to postpone their divorce if he moves out of their house for six months.

As the both of them settle down with their new jobs and surroundings, they also experience some amount of cultural shock. While Rummidge is a small, rural town where all the people live like one big, family, Zapp misses his night clubs and adventures. Swallow is overwhelmed with the freedom in Euphoria. Both the gentlemen end up having an affair with the other’s wife. Some incidents and events in both the places make them want to stay on in their new place rather than go back to their previous lives.

HAVE A NICE READING!!!

On the night of the 31 October...

Next Sunday 31 October many people celebrate the night of the Dead, the night where evil spirits and witches run free among the living.

As it is traditional, we want to celebrate it in our school. But as you know, this year Halloween falls on a Sunday, and we're not going to be here, are we?

So please join us for a party on THURSDAY 29, from 6.30 to 9 pm.

There'll be lots of fun with:

- A pumpking carving workshop: we'll give a prize to the best carved pumpkin!!
- Costumes: every person who comes disguised will be given a little treat ;)
- Storytelling: Lauren, our language assistant, and students of 1º de Nivel Avanzado, will be reading some scary stories
- Face painting
- Halloween videos & music
- And some food & drink (don't forget to bring a little something; we'll buy the rest)

... Lots of fun. DON'T MISS IT!!!

Did you know that...

• Halloween has Celtic origins? The Celtic festival SAMHAIN [pronounced /saun/] celebrated the end of the year, which finished in October.
• the Celts believed that ghosts, witches and evil spirits entered the world of the living on the night of the 31st October?
• people wore costumes to scare the evil spirits away?
• orange and black are the colours of Halloween?
• the word "Halloween" comes from "All Hallows' Eve", which is the day before All Saints' Day?
• in some English-speaking countries people wear scary costumes and masks and go to parties?

Now watch the video below about the origins of Halloween. No subtitles. Try to get the most important words and follow the images!

Jack-O'-Lanterns are made out of pumpkins. People put Jack-O'-Lanterns in front of their windows or in their gardens, to frighten evil spirits. Did you know that this tradition originated in Great Britain and Ireland and that, originally, people used turnips?

Now watch the following video. You will see how a Jack-O'-Lanternt is made:

Another of the most characteristic activities of Halloween is TRICK-OR-TREATING? Children go, between 6 and 8 pm, to their neighbours' houses, wearing costumes, asking for sweets (or candy, as they say in the USA). Be careful. If children go trick-or-treating to your house, and you don't give them sweets, they'll play a trick on you...and some are NOT funny...

Watch this old 1952 Donald Duck cartoon about trick-or-treating.

Now, enough of history. Now let's have some fun. LET'S PLAY! Try playing these games...

Do you like SCARY STORIES? Here you have some...

And finally, let's SING A BIT...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Kids, would you like to hear the story of how I met your mother?

One day, in our Nivel Intermedio class, this extremely popular American TV show came up. As, thanks to the Internet, we can watch almost anything online in the original version, here you have a couple of links where you can watch the episodes of this thrilling sitcom online. But, first of all, would you like to read a summary of its plot?

Created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays, the comedy series “How I Met Your Mother” is “a love story in reverse“. In 2030, Ted Mosby tells his daughter and son the story of how he met their mother. This sob story begins in 2005 when Ted, a single 27 year old architect, finds out that Marshall Eriksen, his best friend, is proposing to Lily Aldrin, a kindergarten teacher. Ted realizes that is also the time for him to make the big step, but this involves first finding the great love. The one who helps him with the search is his friend Barney Stinson, a womanizer with an unnamed corporate job. He introduces Ted to Robin Scherbatsky, an ambitious young reporter. Although Ted is convinced that it’s love at first sight, Robin isn’t ready to have a relationship. Destiny has something else in store for them. (source: cucirca)

Here you have a sample of it:

If you want to watch the episodes with Spanish subtitles, click here (and please, ignore the Spanish dubbed episodes).

Nevertheless, if you are bold and enjoy challenges, and want to watch it with no subtitles, click here.

NI (B1) - Happiness club

"If you can't make it better, you can laugh at it." Erma Bombeck

This week, in class, we have been speaking about the benefits of laughter, which is said to be the best possible medicine. But before discussing the advantages of a good laugh, let's have a look at the dictionary:

laugh verb [intransitive]:

to make the sounds that show you are happy or amused

• His jokes always make me laugh.
• to laugh out loud

laugh at sb/sth:

1 to show, by laughing, that you think sb/sth is funny

• The children laughed at the clown.

2 to show that you think sb is ridiculous

• Don't laugh at him. He can't help the way he speaks.

laugh noun [countable] 　
1 the sound or act of laughing

•We all had a good laugh at what he'd written.

laughter - noun [uncountable]

the sound or act of laughing

• Everyone roared with laughter.

(c) Oxford University Press

Now that we know exactly what "laughing" implies, would you like to learn about the benefits of laugher? Click here.

And students have even created their own Happiness Club. Here is an example of a Laughter Class (at the end of the recording the teachers speak in German, do not worry, you are not supposed to understand it)

Both groups (B & C) were required to create a Happiness Club taking into consideration the following points:

- a name for the club

- number of different rooms, areas or locations

- activities people can do in each space

- music, food, drink, furniture, decoration, etc

- any other ideas

WRITE A SUMMARY OF YOUR HAPPINESS CLUB IN THE "COMMENTS" SECTION.

NI (B1) - What makes you happy?

In our Nivel Intermedio class, in the first unit of our book. we have been talking about those things that make us happy. One colleague of the Department, Rosa Benavides, found this video, a short film about what makes people happy, and I thought you might like it. Enjoy!

Have you got what it takes?

As you all know, in two years' time, that is, in the year 2012, London is going to host the next summer Olympic Games. And they need volunteers to work there. So...

HAVE YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES?

If you are interested in working as a volunteer in the Olympic Games in London, you have to follow three basic steps:

STEP 1 - Click here and watch the video. Don't worry if you don't understand everything. You can watch the video and read the transcript if you click here.

STEP 2 - Registration: Once you have seen the video, agree on the terms (bottom of the page, to the left), click on ‘Apply now’ (bottom of the page, to the right) to register. You’ll need your own email address and must make sure no one else uses it for their own registration. You’ll also need to create a password. This cannot contain the words 'Olympic' or 'London2012'.

STEP 3 - Application: This will take 30–40 minutes. If you don’t want to finish it all at once, you can click ‘Sign out’ to save what you’ve done so far and return to it later.

IMPORTANT! REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE UNTIL THE 27 OCTOBER TO APPLY!

And now that we are talking about the Olympic games, how many words do you know for Olympic sports? Click on the picture below, and see how many you know. What's your favourite sport? Why don't you write a comment telling what your favourite sport is, and why?

Meet Wenlock and Mandeville - the official London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic mascots:

Now, how much do you know about the history of the Olympic Games? This is the test we took in class. It is not easy, I must warn you! Click here.

Remember, you can be part of the London 2010 Olympic Games. BE A GAME MAKER!!

Learn ENGLISH, French, German or Italian with busuu.com

Dear students of all levels and other followers of the blog,

A friend of mine recently sent me a mail with a link to a website busuu.com, a lenguage-learning website. I had a look at it, and I find it really interesting, so I want to recommend it to all of you. You have to create an account, and then, you select the language or languages you want to learn, and the level. You have the option to learn vocabulary and phrases, to listen to conversations and answer comprehension questions, to read in the language, even to write and have other users correct your texts. Please take some time to have a look at this website. It's really interesting and it might help you with your English!!!

To learn a little bit more about this online lenguage-learning community, watch the video below:



There will be a permanent link to this website on the sidebar of this blog. Enjoy!

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Éirinn go Brách

...or, in English: "Ireland Forever". Would you like to know how to pronounce it? Click here.

Well, today, in class, one of my students in 1ºB, Rafa, asked about ULSTER. He wanted to know what it was. And then I promised to look for some information. Well, here it is.

Historically, Ireland was divided in FIVE provinces, namely: LEINSTER, MUNSTER, ULSTER, CONNACHT & MEATH. Meath, the smallest one, was eventually absorbed by Leinster. These provinces were suplanted by the present system of counties.

Some people identify the ULSTER with Northern Ireland. This is not exact. The province of Ulster consists of nine counties: Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Donegal, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Monaghan & Tyrone. Six of these counties, Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry & Tyrone form present-day NORTHERN IRELAND.

And when was Ireland divided?

The Partition of Ireland took place on May 3, 1921 under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. The entire island of Ireland provisionally became the Irish Free State on December 6, 1922. However, the Parliament of Northern Ireland exercised its right to opt out of the new Dominion the following day. Partition created two territories on the island of Ireland: Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland. Today the former is still known as Northern Ireland and while the latter is known simply as Ireland (or as the Republic of Ireland). (source: Wikipedia)

If you have not seen it, I recommend you to watch the film "Michael Collins", starring Liam Neeson, Aidan Queen & Alan Rickman. It's the story of one of the men that actually contributed to the independence of what would be the Republic of Ireland and the man who negotiated the partition. It not totally exact historically, but it helps to understand the present situation in Ireland. Here is a fragment.

1º NB - (A1) Of countries, nationalities and languages

What is the right question to make when you want to find out someone's country or nationality?

In which countries can you speak English?

What exactly is "England"? And "Great Britain"? And "The United Kingdom"?

Is it right to call everyone in Great Britain "English"?

What are the names of the other countries in the world in English?

If you want to know the answer to these questions...HAVE A LOOK AT THE PRESENTATION BELOW!

Of Countries, Nationalities And Languages

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Tony Curtis in heaven above...

Bernard Schwartz, best known as TONY CURTIS, American actor, has just died. Earlier today, on 29 September, he suffered from a cardiac arrest and died in his house in Las Vegas. Curtis participated in many films, such as Spartacus or Some Like it Hot, a fragment of which you can watch below. And he is also well-known for having a turbulent personal life that took him to marry several times, some of them with much younger women. But let's remember him for his outstanding career.

If you want to read further about Curtis's death, click on his photo (source: bbc.co.uk)

Now, watch how it was told in the news reports. This one, from the American TV channel CNN:

Some Like it Hot is one of my favourite films of all times, if you don't mind my saying. It was directed by Billy Wilder in 1959 starring Curtis along with Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe. It tells the story of two jazz musicians, Joe (Curtis) and Jerry (Lemmon), who witness the St Valentine's Massacre, and because of that, they are forced to flee disguised as women as part of a female orchestra that's performing in Florida. Things get complicated when Joe tries to seduce the leading vocalist of the orchestra, 'Sugar' Kane Kowalczyk (Monroe) and when Jerry/Daphne gets wooed by Osgood Fielding III (Joe E. Brown)...

The extract you are going to watch belongs to the moment when Joe/Josephine and Jerry/Daphne are going to board the train that's going to get them to Florida. No subtitles, sorry. Just listen and see what you can understand. ENJOY!!! And remember...

NOBODY IS PERFECT!

Rest in peace, Tony!