School day of non-violence and peace - Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi

The “School Day of Non-violence and Peace” founded in 1964 and also known as World or International Day of Non-violence and Peace, is an initiative of Non-violent and Pacifying Education, which is now practised in schools all over the world and in which centres of education, teachers and students of all levels and from all countries are invited to take part. It advocates a permanent education in and for harmony, tolerance, solidarity, respect for human rights, non-violence and peace. It is observed on January 30 or thereabouts every year, on the anniversary of the death of Mahatma Gandhi. Its basic message is: “Universal Love, Non-violence and Peace. Universal Love is better than egoism, Non-violence is better than violence, and Peace is better than war”.

The Official School of Languages has set some boards inside the school where you are welcome to post anything you consider relevant to Non Violence an Peace (photographs, poems, messages, names of people related to non violence, lyrics, etc.)You can also email them to me and I’ll post them here!

Thank you for your colaboration

My contribution to the board will be a world-famous painting by Pablo Picasso - Gernica. Guernica shows the tragedies of war and the suffering it inflicts upon individuals, particularly innocent civilians. This work has gained a monumental status, becoming a perpetual reminder of the tragedies of war, an anti-war symbol, and an embodiment of peace.

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And now that we're talking about this, here goes my homage to two outstanding men that fought without using violence for the peace they believed in:

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

On the third Monday of January every year Americans celebrate the birth of this great man, Martin Luther King, whose main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the United States. He is frequently referenced as a human rights icon today (Source: Wikipedia).

Now, it just seems natural and appropriate to remember his words. Here you have an extract of his long-remembered speech delivered on 28 August 1963:




If you click here you'll find the full speech with its transcription. Enjoy it! It will be worth your time!

Dr Martin Luther King was assassinated in 1968. Here's the original news report from the CBS. Worth watching, even if you don't understand everything. Trust me!




MAHATMA GANDHI

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement. He pioneered satyagraha. This is defined as resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience, a philosophy firmly founded upon ahimsa, or total nonviolence. This concept helped India to gain independence, and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Gandhi is often referred to as Mahatma Gandhi, an honorific first applied to him by Rabindranath Tagore). In India he is also called Bapu. He is officially honoured in India as the Father of the Nation; his birthday, 2 October, is commemorated there as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday, and worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence. Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948 by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu Nationalist.

Listen to Gandhi's own words. Sorry, I have no transcription of it!

Who said you couldn't do it? Listen again to Shirley and David Firth on how their son, Colin, became a star

We are daring, we are not afraid of challenges. So we like to try doing new things in class, and explore the enormous potential of the Internet in our English class. And, I assure you, the BBC website is a wonderfully endless source for real-life audio files.

I have already told you about The King's Speech, a film about an episode in the life of King George VI of England. And as you know, the actor that was cast as the king and father of Queen Elizabeth was one of Britain's most famous actors in and out of the UK: Colin Firth, who has won a Golden Globe for his outstanding performance.

And Colin Firth has two very proud parents, Shirley and David Firth, who, in a radio programme, explain how it all began.

If you want to listen to the interview, click on the photo.

Please click here to see an listening comprehension exercise on this audio. Includes key.

Have fun over the weekend!

NI (B1) Workshops: Jack the Ripper - From Hell

"Dear Boss,

I keep on hearing the police have caught me but they wont fix me just yet. I have laughed when they look so clever and talk about being on the right track. That joke about Leather Apron gave me real fits. I am down on whores and I shant quit ripping them till I do get buckled. Grand work the last job was. I gave the lady no time to squeal. How can they catch me now. I love my work and want to start again. You will soon hear of me with my funny little games. I saved some of the proper red stuff in a ginger beer bottle over the last job to write with but it went thick like glue and I cant use it. Red ink is fit enough I hope ha. ha. The next job I do I shall clip the ladys ears off and send to the police officers just for jolly wouldn't you. Keep this letter back till I do a bit more work, then give it out straight. My knife's so nice and sharp I want to get to work right away if I get a chance. Good Luck.

Yours truly

Jack the Ripper

Dont mind me giving the trade name

PS Wasnt good enough to post this before I got all the red ink off my hands curse it No luck yet. They say I'm a doctor now. ha ha."

31 August 1888. Whitechapel, London. Mary Ann Nichols, also known as Polly, was found dead in terrible circumstances. A few days later, Annie Chapman appeared dead in similar circumstances. In the following weeks, other victims would appear, all of them with a deep cut in their throats and disembowelled. Meanwhile, numerous letters were received at the Scotland Yard Headquarters. Many of them were fake, but some others are thought to be authentic. Among those, the one which starts this post, known as the "Dear Boss letter." That letter was signed "Jack the Ripper." In that moment, a legend was born. As there is no doubt whatsoever that this "monster" whose real identity was never found became one of the most famous serial killers of all time, fascinating all kinds of people even nowadays.

Today, in our Nivel Intermedio workshop, we read a text on Jack the Ripper, and listened to an interview to an expert on this infamous murderer and his crimes. So an opportunity presented itself to get to know one of the blackest episodes of the history on London.

• The victims.
• The suspects.
• Jack the Ripper's letters.
• Map of Whitechapel murder victims.

Did you know that you can take a tour around the very same places where these events took place. To know more click on Jack the Ripper walk.

If you want to learn more on the mystery of Jack the Ripper, watch this interesting documentary from Discovery Channel (sorry, no subtitles!):

Would you like to watch the rest of the documentary, click on the links below:

• Part 2.
• Part 3.
• Part 4.
• Part 5.

Many films and TV shows have been made on the Mystery of Jack the Ripper. Here you have the trailer of a film by the Hughes brothers, starred by Johnny Depp: "From Hell"

And the mystery remains unsolved...

NI (B1) What have you been doing lately?

Dear students and readers of this blog,

In our Intermediate level class we've been working on a new tense: the Present Perfect Continuous, a.k.a. Present Perfect Progressive. We have also compared it to another tense we already knew, the Present Perfect Simple. They are similar tenses, with similar uses, so I'm sure you couldn't use a bit of extra help, couldn't you?

So here you have some interesting links:

• Present Perfect Continuous.
• Present Perfect Simple vs. Present Perfect Continuous.
• Present Perfect Simple vs. Present Perfect Continuous exercises (British Council).
• Practice 1.
• Practice 2.
• Practice 3.
• Practice 4.
• Practice 5.
• Practice 6.
• Practice 7.
• Practice 8.
• Test on Present Perfect Simple vs. Present Perfect Continuous 1.
• Test on Present Perfect Simple vs. Present Perfect Continuous 2.

Phew!!! Lots of exercises, huh?

Now, watch the video below:

Please click here if you want to see the key for the exercises of U. 9 of the English Grammar in Use. You will also find a text for reading comprehension on the year 2010.

So let's get to work!!

Happy New Year 2011!! Now, what are your resolutions for the New Year?

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

A New Year's resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain until fulfilled or abandoned.(Source: Wikipedia)

Do you want to know how to make your own New Year's Resolutions? Find some useful tips here.

Maybe if you watch this video you'll find some useful suggestions:

New Year's Resolution List - Click here for more blooper videos

New Year's Resolutions, 'bad for your health'? Check here.

LISTENING: Listen to Episode 23 of The Flatmates (BBC Learning English) on New Year's resolutions.

And finally, why don't we listen to a nice song on the topic. New Year Baby, by Jamie Cullum:

Click here for the lyrics.

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!!!