Happy Thanksgiving 2015 everyone!!!

Thanksgving, one of the most important festivities in the US, is 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:

Want to know some facts about the ship that took the Pilgrims to America? Watch the video below:

Millions of turkeys will be stuffed, roasted, and served this Thanksgiving. But yesterday, one lucky bird got free to live in a farm thanks to the traditional Presidential pardon. Please know the lucky winners:

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 end on a humorous note, don't miss "I will survive":

For all of you, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Remember, remember, the 5th of November - TODAY IT'S BONFIRE NIGHT!

"Remember remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason why gunpowder, treason

Should ever be forgot..."

Dear students and readers of this blog,

Nowadays, we all identify the city of London with on of its most impressive landmarks, the Houses of Parliament, and the UK with its King or Queen. But a long time ago, in the year 1605, on a day like this, that could have changed...dramatically. History was about to be very different. And if was all the making of a few men, of which the most famous was...GUY FAWKES NIGHT.

 

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

1600 - Elizabeth I dies. James I is the new King of England.

James I was the son of a CATHOLIC queen, Mary Queen of Scots. But he was PROTESTANT. And he passed (aprobó) some LAWS against Catholics. They had to practise their religion IN SECRET. So they weren't happy, and they felt the situation had to change.

AND SO...

...a group of men decided to KILL THE KING, HIS FAMILY AND ALL MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT (MPs) on the 5 Nov 1605.

How? The king had to OPEN PARLIAMENT that day, so the CONSPIRATORS (conspiradores)  decided to BLOW UP (volar -with explosives!) the Houses of Parliament with the King inside, by using 36 BARRELS (barriles) OF GUNPOWDER (pólvora). They hid (escondieron) them in the CELLARS of the building. And a man called GUY FAWKES was left to WATCH (vigilar) over the barrels, and light (encender) the FUSE (mecha).

One of the conspirators sent a LETTER to a MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT telling him everything about the plot. And so the King FOUND OUT (lo averiguó). Guy Fawkes was the first one to be ARRESTED. All the CONSPIRATORS were killed.

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

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

WHAT WE CELEBRATE TODAY, AND HOW

People light BONFIRES ( hogueras) and they burn EFFIGIES (= efigies) of Guy Fawkes. Children go around asking "A PENNY FOR THE GUY", and with the money they get, they buy FIREWORKS (= fuegos artificiales). There are also FIREWORKS DISPLAYS (= espectáculo de fuegos artificiales) IN THE STREET! Read more. Click on the picture:

Did you know that even today, before every STATE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT, the YEOMEN OF THE GUARD (a.k.a. BEEFEATERS) SEARCH (buscan) in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament by the light of old candle-lanterns?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT? Click HERE for an online tour.

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

This even, as you can imagine, has inspired many books, plays and even films, among which is Alan Moore and David Lloyd's graphic novel V FOR VENDETTA, divided in ten parts and published between 1982 and 1988. It tells the story of an anarchist avenger who fights the dictatorial government ruling in Britain. This man will take up the appearance of a modern Guy Fawkes, becoming a sort of defender of the people against tyranny and oppression.

Happy Bonfire Night!!!

NB1 - Practical English: At a hotel

Dear students & readers of this blog,

These days, in our Basic Level class, we are revising some useful phrases to use when we check in at a hotel. Here you will find a sample dialogue and a few videos you might find interesting. Take a minute or two to have a look!

SAMPLE DIALOGUE:

Receptionist: Welcome to the Wyatt Hotel. How can I help you?
Guest: I'd like a room, please.
Receptionist: Would you like a single or a double room?
Guest: I'd like a double room, please.
Receptionist: Can I have your name, please?
Guest: Timothy Findley.
Receptionist: Could you spell that, please?
Guest: Sure! It's F-I-N-D-L-E-Y.
Receptionist: How many are you?
Guest: Just two.
Receptionist: Just for tonight?
Guest: Yes, that's right.
Receptionist: How will you be paying?
Guest: Is Visa okay?
Receptionist: Yes, sir. Would you like a wake-up call?
Guest: Yes, please. At 6.30.
Receptionist: Here's your key. That's room 405 on the 4th floor. The lifts are over there. Enjoy your stay, Mr Findley.
Guest: Thank you!

Here you have some videos you might find useful:




The following video recreates a real check-in situation. (In American English. Please note that the word "guys" is quite informal). Have a look!



And to finish, some humour with Mr Bean: