We'll have A COOKING CONTEST, A CHRISTMAS QUIZ, CAROL SINGING...and of course, FOOD AND DRINK!!
Afterwards, we'll join the rest of the Departments of the school and we'll share some time with French and German students. A unique opportunity to relax and get to know other people!!
DON'T MISS IT!!!
We all know how people celebrate it in Spain, but maybe we are not so familiar with Christmas traditions in the UK. For example, do you know what is...
Advent?
Boxing Day?
mulled wine?
mistletoe?
If you want to learn the answers to these and other questions, click here.
If cooking is your thing, click on the mince pies below, and you'll get the recipes for lots of traditional British dishes:
Yes, but Christmas is also celebrated in other English-speaking countries. How do people celebrate Christmas in...
In our Basic level class we have worked with basic physical and character descriptions. So here you have some resources to work on how to describe a person correctly.
In the first place, how do we ask for somebody's description? Well, don't ask 'HOW IS HE/SHE?', because you'll probably be answered something like 'fine, thanks'. If you want somebody to give you a description of themselves, or of somebody else, you have to ask...
WHAT DOES HE/SHE LOOK LIKE? (For physical appearance) WHAT'S HE/SHE LIKE? (For personality)
Never EVER confuse this question with 'What does he/she like?', because the answer to that question is something like 'she likes going to the cinema' (likes & dislikes).
Click here for some useful vocabulary to describe people.
Also, if you click on this link, you'll find a nice vocabulary bank.
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":
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 aCATHOLICqueen, 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 toOPEN 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 calledGUY 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 thateven 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.
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!
'Where there is no imagination there is no horror' - Arthur Conan Doyle
Dear students & readers of this blog,
Once more, Halloween is here. It is a festivity especially associated with the U.S., although its origins are quite far from there. Anyhow, Halloween is gradually imposing again on the continent where it was born. Many of us know something about it through films or TV shows. Many others have heard about it, but don't really know much about Halloween traditions, or what people do to get ready for the night when the limit between the world of the living and that of the dead disappears. So let's find out...
...that Halloween has Celtic origins. The Celtic festival SAMHAIN [pronounced /saun/] celebrated the end of the year, which finished in October.
...that
the Celts believed that ghosts, witches and evil spirits entered the
world of the living on the night of the 31st October.
...that
trick-or-treating comes from the ancient "Souling", when poor people
used to go around asking for "soul cakes" to eat in exchange for prayers
for the family.
...that people wore costumes to scare the evil spirits away.
...that the word "Halloween" comes from "All Hallows' Eve", which is the day before All Saints' Day.
...that in some English-speaking countries people wear scary costumes and masks and go to parties.
Take a look at this video, where a London boy tells us about how he celebrates Halloween:
If we could reduce Halloween to numbers, this would be it:
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?
Would you like to know how a Jack-O'-Lantern is made? Read the instructions below:
We never think how terrifying this is for pumpkins, so we? So please, don't miss this excellent, and really scary, short film about THE LIFE & DEATH OF A PUMKIN:
(source: tlfclips.com. Thanks, Rosa!)
To finish, have you ever been to Halloween town? Watch the following video and sing along:
Not very long ago, it was Tuesday 13th, a day usually associated with superstitions and bad luck in Spain. We used this as an excuse to talk about the origins of such a belief, and why in other countries the "day of bad luck" is Friday, and we also talked about the most common superstitions in Spain, in Britain and in the world!
The first thing we did was to try to define the concept "superstition". What is a "superstition"?
su·per·sti·tion
(so͞o′pər-stĭsh′ən)
n.
1. An irrationalbeliefthat an object,action, or circumstancenotlogicallyrelated to a course of eventsinfluencesitsoutcome.
2.
a. A belief,practice, or riteirrationallymaintained by ignorance of thelaws of nature or by faith in magic or chance.
(edited from www.thefreedictionary.com)
Once we did this, we tried to learn about...WHY TUESDAY? WHY 13th?Click here to find out.
Then we talked about the typical superstitions in Spain, and students learn about SUPERSTITIONS IN BRITAIN. Click here for the most common ones.
But...what about other superstitions in the world? Have a look at the video below:
And finally, we listened to a song. SUPERSTITION, by Steve Wonder:
Would you like to try with the lyrics? Here they are:
Steve
Wonder "Superstition"
Listen
to the song and fill in the gaps with the missing words.
Very
_______________, writings on the wall,
Very superstitious,
_____________ 'bout to fall,
Thirteen month old baby,
___________ the lookin' glass
Seven years of __________ luck,
the good things in your past
When you _____________ in
things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain't the way
Very superstitious,
______________ your face and hands,
Rid me of the problem, do
all that you can,
Keep me in a daydream, keep me goin'
________________,
You don't wanna ____________ me, sad is my
song
When you believe in things that you don't
understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain't the
way.
Very superstitious, nothin' more to say,
Very
superstitious, the ___________'s on his way,
Thirteen month old
baby, broke the lookin' glass,
Seven years of bad luck, good
things in your past
When you ____________ in things that
you don't understand,
Then you suffer, Superstition ain't the
way.
These days we are revising the alphabet, and how to spell words.
These are the letters of the English alphabet. As you can see, they are the same as in the Spanish alphabet. But how do you pronounce them correctly? Would you like some help? You'll find the pronunciation between brackets. But be careful, that's not a phonetic transcription!!!!
The video below illustrates the way we traditionally learn the alphabet:
This is another video about the alphabet in English. But there is a small difference. Can you tell me which one it is?
But there are other ways to learn the alphabet. One of them is by associating the letters to a colour that rhymes with them, as you can see below:
Thanks to Maite García-Saavedra for this wonderful resource!
Here you have some famous acronyms that, of course, include letters of the alphabet:
EU = European Union CIA = Central Intelligence Agency UFO = Unidentified Flying Object L = Learner B.C. = Before Christ A.D. = Anno Domini NHS = National Health Service Ph.D.: = Doctor of Philosophy SOS = Save Our Souls IQ = Intelligence Quotient NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organization PC = Personal Computer MTV = Music Television OK = Okay (other version: zero killed) USA = United States of America UK = United Kingdom CD = Compact Disc VIP = Very Important Person/People BMW = Bavarian Motor Works DVD = Digital Versatile Disc FBI = Federal Bureau of Investigation BBC = British Broadcasting Corporation GMT = Greenwich Mean Time MPH = Miles per hour DIY = Do it yourself VAT = Value Added Tax NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration HIV = Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome IRA = Irish Republican Army MP = Member of Parliament PM = Prime Minister
This week we have started our workshops to reinforce speaking, listening and writing skills for Basic and Intermediate 1 levels. As first things come first, let me remind you where and when they are going to take place, and who they are aimed at:
Tuesdays, 17-18.15 p.m. - Basic 2 (they will be available to Basic 1 from January).
Thursdays, 17-18.15 p.m. - Intermediate 1
What are we going to do in these workshops? We'll do different activities to reinforce those skills that are traditionally more difficult for the student, that is, speaking, listening and writing, but the main focus will be on speaking.
This week, we have started with introductions, with speaking about ourselves to others. For that, I have asked the students to design their COAT OF ARMS. What is that, exactly? Let me show you an example:
This is the coat of arms of the city of Aranjuez. As you can see, it includes different elements: the cross of the Order of Santiago, and a palace or a castle, which is over some blue and grey waves representing a river. Below this, there is a scroll with a motto, that can be translated as "Royal site and village of Aranjuez", and on top of it all, a majestic crown. All of these elements represent what characterises Aranjuez: The order of Santiago built an old palace in 1387 that, in time, would become the beautiful Royal Palace of Aranjuez, key element of the city, along with the river Tajo that crosses it. The crown and the moto remind us that kings and queens lived here. That's why it is a Royal Site.
So a coat of arms tells a lot of things about a place...or a person! So I've asked the students to design their own coat of arms, with those elements that represent them the most. Of course, I designed mine, and this was the result:
We have finally started our clases. And of course, as first things come first, we have to start with the situation of introducing and giving personal information about ourselves, like our telephone number! For that, we need to know a lot of things: numbers, the days of the week, some vocabulary about ways of saying hello and goodbye...Here you sill find them all. Take a few minutes to have a look!
NUMBERS: We have studied from "0" (zero or "oh") to 1,000,000 (a million). I know that it sounds like a lot, but it really is not. Counting in English is very very easy.
Numbers from 0-20
Numbers from 21-32
20, 30, 40...
From one hundred
From one thousand
Now a little bit of nostalgia. Sesame Street's pinball. Remember? ;)
Now take a look at this video with a summary of the most usual GREETINGS, INTRODUCTIONS AND LEAVE TAKINGS.
As every year, classes have started. This time I am writing you from my new home, the EOI Aranjuez. But remember, wherever you are, and whether you are a student or not, you are welcome to this blog. Here you will find lots of resources to help you with your English.
If you are a student of mine at the EOI Aranjuez, remember, these are the books we will use this year:
Basic 1 - English File elementary 3rd edition. Oxford
Basic 2 - English File Pre-Intermediate, 3rd edition. Oxford
These will be the books we will use in class. Remember!!! You also have an i-tutor CD-Rom and a workbook that you will use to work at home.
Also, there are online resources. Please find then on the SIDEBAR of this blog.
This course has finally come to an end. The exams are done, the results are published, the revisions have been made...and now, it is time for a well-deserved rest.
As you know, it is also time for me to move on again. As Tom Hanks said in Forrest Gump, "Mama always said 'Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get'". And life now takes me to another school in another region, a beautiful historical town called Aranjuez, in Madrid.
It seems yesterday when I arrived in Plasencia, and it's been no less than four years that I've been living in the "Pearl of the Jerte Valley". Four years that are full of wonderful memories, of great colleagues, of lots of hard work and, why not mention it, lots of stress. But especially, I would like to mention my students, people that have shown me the value of motivation, and that have encouraged me to keep on improving as a teacher. People who, in spite of their busy lives, have found time to come to the school twice a week, and to dedicate some of their free time at home to study. People who have given me priceless moments of pure and simple fun.
To all of you, students, colleagues and friends, who have contributed to my feeling at home here, A BIG THANK YOU. I will miss you all, and I hope that you don't forget me too soon.
This blog will continue to work, with the old resources and some new. So of course, this will always be your home. Same as Extremadura will always be mine, no matter where I am.
I wish you all the best for the future, especially in September. This blog...will be our meeting point!
Recently we have been dealing in class with the topic of work and all related to it: job hunting, things we should ask ourselves when choosing a career to follow, how to dress for work, what makes you happy at work...Take some time to have a look at the contents of this post. It will be worth your while!!
Thanks to my colleague, Federico, for sharing all this with me!!
First of all, you have to think carefully about your future career, and what you want to do. Maybe you have to ask yourself a few questions: (source: Psychologies Magazine. September 2012) If you are job-hunting, you need to have a good CV. Click here if you want to read about the DOs and DON'Ts of CV writing. Now, click here to take a test on CVs.
First of all, what do we need to know to face a job interview and succeed in getting a job? Watch the following video:
It’s understandable to feel a little nervous before an interview. Maggie Mistal offers some practical advice to help ensure that you put your best foot forward.
Show up on time.
Dress appropriately.
Smile and try to relax! Remember, an interview is a conversation and your interviewer is a person, too.
Be prepared to answer key questions like, “Why are you looking to leave your current position?” It is key that you always stay positive, even if you are currently in a difficult situation.
A way to turn tough questions into positive talking points is to bring the focus to things you are looking for in your next job. Instead of bashing your current company for their lack of leadership or your lack of mangement experience, emphasize that you are seeking a job where you can work closely with a mentor or take on greater responsibility.
Don't get defensive if the interviewer makes a comment like, “you’re over-qualified” or “you’re under-qualified.” Turn the comment into a positive note, addressing the interviewer’s concerns behind the question: "I understand why you might feel I’m overqualified, but at this stage in my career I’m really looking to downshift and am looking for an opportunity where I can contribute but don’t necessarily have to run the show."
Get as much experience as you can (especially if you are still in school). Highlight your past accomplishments. Show how you have learned, grown and succeeded in the past. Offer references of people who can attest to your ability to learn quickly and perform well.
Do not be the one to bring up salary. Sell them on why you’re the ideal candidate first.
Be prepared to answer salary-related questions if asked by the interviewer. Checkout online salary calculators to find out what your role is worth in your geographic area.
Do not bring up benefits in the first interview; wait until you are invited back for another interview to ask about other benefits like vacation, 401K, etc.
Remember, an interview is the chance to find out if you are right for the company and if the company is right for you. Your odds of getting the job (and perhaps negotiating a higher salary) will improve if you first prove to them why you are the ideal candidate for the job.
(Thanks to our colleague Elena Rebollo for her contribution to this post!) ---
One of the most difficult issues to deal with when thinking about work and its importance in our lives, the subject of WORK-LIFE BALANCEcomes up. Please watch Nigel Marsh's TED talk and note any interesting ideas and vocabulary related to this topic.
Please note: If you wished to check the transcript or see it with (English) subtitles, click here.
--------
Once you get the job, you have to worry about what you wear for work. Have a look at the following article:
(Source: Psychologies. September 2012)
And to finish, some tips on HOW TO LOOK BUSY AT WORK.
1. Never walk without a document in your hands
People with documents in their hands look like hard working employees going to important meetings. People with nothing in their hands look like they are going to the canteen. People with a newspaper in their hands look like they are going to the toilet. Most importantly, make sure you carry a lot of paper home with you at night, this will give the false impression that you work longer hours than you actually do.
2. Use computers to look busy
Any time you use a computer, it looks like 'work' to the casual observer. You can send and receive personal e-mails, chat, read this story, and generally have fun without doing anything remotely related to work. These aren't exactly the social benefits that the fans of the computer revolution would like to talk about but they're not bad either. When you get caught by your boss – and you WILL get caught – your best defence is to claim you're teaching yourself to use new software or English, and so saving the company the cost of expensive training.
3. Untidy desk
Top management can get away with a clean desk. For the rest of us, it looks like we're not working hard enough. Build huge piles of documents around your work area. To the casual observer, last year's work looks the same as today's work. It is the amount of documents you have that is important. Pile them high and wide. If you know somebody is coming to your desk, bury the document you know they will want halfway down an existing pile and rummage for it when they arrive.
4. Voice mail
Never answer your phone if you have voice mail. People don't call you just because they want a chat – they call because they want YOU to do work for THEM. Screen all calls through voice mail. If somebody leaves a voice message for you and it sounds like impending work, reply during their lunch hour when you know they will be in the canteen – it looks like you're hardworking and conscientious. 5. Looking impatient and annoyed Always try to look impatient and annoyed to give your boss the impression that you are always busy. 6. Leave the office late
Always leave the office late, especially when the boss is still working. You could read the magazines and books that you have always wanted to read but have had no time. Make sure you walk past the boss' office as you are leaving. Send important e-mails at unearthly hours (e.g. 7.05 am, 9.35 pm) and during public holidays.
7. Sighing for effect
Sigh loudly when there are many people around, giving the impression that you are under extreme pressure.
8. Piling strategy
It is not enough to pile lots of documents on the table. Put lots of books on the floor, etc. (thick computer books are best).
9. Build vocabulary
Read some computer magazines and pick out all the jargon and new products. Use the phrases when in conversation with the bosses. Remember: They don't have to understand what you say, but you will sound impressive.
10. Have two jackets
If you work in a big open plan office, always leave an extra jacket on the back of your chair. This gives the impression that you are still in the office. The second jacket should be worn while you are away from your desk doing something more interesting than work.
Dear students & readers of this blog,
