Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Oscars 2013 - And finally, the contenders for BEST FEATURE FILM

Dear students & readers of this blog,

The Oscars will finally be celebrated next Sunday 24 in Hollywood, as usual. The American movie industry and everyone who is related to it will try to look their best to enjoy their evening.

These past weeks we've been revising the main categories, and voting for our favourite nominees for supporting actor and actress, leading actor and actress and director. Now, it is the time for the BEST FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR.



By the way, if you are curious to learn about the origin of the oscar statuette, click here.


This week, the students will stop being students for a while, and forget they are in Spain, and will become members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Hollywood. Their task, and their resposibility, will be considerable: they will have to vote for the film which will receive the oscar for best feature film of the year. For that, you will have to focus on:


  • Plot: what is the film about? Is the story appealing to the public? Is it interesting?
  • The cast: who are the actors and actresses who play the main characters? Have they received any other awards? Are the well-known? How good is their performance, in your opinion?
  • The director: is he a veteran or not? Have you seen any other films directed by him/her? Has he received any awards before?
  • The language: Is it in English or in another language?
  • Which are the reasons why your favourite film should win?
  • Any other aspects you might consider important to comment on.

And the nominees are:

AMOUR, directed by Michael Haneke




For more info on the plot, characters, cast (actors & actresses), click on:



BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD, directed by Behn Zeitlin.




For more info on the plot, characters, cast (actors & actresses), click on:




ARGO, directed by Ben Affleck



For more information on the plot, cast, characters, etc, click on:



DJANGO UNCHAINED, directed by Quentin Tarantino.




For more information on the plot, cast, characters, etc, click on:



LES MISÉRABLES, directed by Tom Hooper




For more information on the plot, cast, characters, etc, click on:



LIFE OF PI, by Ang Lee




For more information on the plot, cast, characters, etc, click on:

  • Official website (Please, select an English-speaking country to see the website in English. If not, it will detect where you are and the website will be in Spanish. DON'T CHEAT!!)
  • Wikipedia


LINCOLN, directed by Steven Spielberg




For more information on the plot, cast, characters, etc, click on:



SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, directed by David O. Russell





For more information on the plot, cast, characters, etc, click on:



ZERO DARK THIRTY, directed by Kathryn Bigelow




For more information on the plot, cast, characters, etc, click on:


AND THE OSCAR GOES TO...

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Class Diary Weeks 16 & 17 (4-14 February 2013)

Dear students & readers of this blog,

This is what we've done in class in the last week and a half:

2º NB


Contents:
- Vocabulary: house & furniture
- Grammar: there is/are
- Prepositions of place
- Pronunciation: silent letters
- Brief mention to St. Valentine's Day

Students' book:
- p. 62, ex 1 a + p. 161 (the house), ex, 2 - listening, a, b, c.
- p. 63 ex. 2 d., ex 5 (speaking)
- p. 138-139: there is/are
- p. 64, ex. 1 a, b, c & d.
- p. 65, ex. 2 a + p. 162 (prepositions of place), ex. 3 a, b, ex. 4 a, b


Homework:
- Writing p. 114: A description of your hourse for a house swapping website
- There was/ were pp. 138-139. 

Photocopies:
Vocabulary of the parts of the house & and furniture
 
Videos:
None

2º NA

Contents:
- Vocabulary: Onomatopoeias
- Talking about speculation and deduction
- St. Valentine's Day
- Pronunciation: Consonant clusters

Student's book:
- pag. 36, ex. 1 a, b, c & f
- p. 161 - Sounds and the human voice
- p. 162 ex. 2, 3 a, b, c
- p. 38, ex 4 (speculation & deduction), a + p. 142 (grammar & exercises). Ex, 5  a & c
- p. 39, ex 4 d, e, f, g.

Videos & interactive games:
Song - The Only Exception
Photocopies:
- Sound or noise

Homework:
None

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Because love is not only for couples...HAPPY ST. VALENTINE'S DAY!

'Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow airport. General opinion makes out that we live in a world of hatred and greed. I don't see that. Seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy but it's always there. Fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, none of the phone calls from people on board were messages of hate or revenge, hey were all messages of love. lf you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.'


These are the words spoken at the intro scene of 2003 British Box Office hit Love Actually.







...and these words express what St. Valentine's Day means in some English-speaking countries such as the USA: a day to celebrate love between people: not only husbands and wives or boyfriends and girlfriends. Also between friends, brothers and sisters, parents and children...



Did You Know?

Approximately 141 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine's Day the second most popular card-sending holiday after Christmas. Want to know more?

For some fun facts about St Valentine's Day, click here.

Traditions


Click here for information about St Valentine's traditions in the UK.
Click here for information about St Valentine's traditions in the USA.


Love stories

One of the most beautiful love stories I have ever read was compiled in the book The Golden Ass, by Apuleius. It is the story of EROS & PSYCHE. Venus, goddess of Love, is envious of young Aphrodite's beauty, and sends her son, Eros, otherwise called Cupid, to punish her. But instead, he falls in love with her and wants to make her his wife...Would you like to know the rest of the story? Then click on the photo below: that of the statue of Eros & Psyche by Antonio Canova, which is currently at the Louvre Museum in Paris.




Love Songs


What would be St. Valentine's Day without love songs? Bands, singer-songwriters, solo singers...all of them, in all music genres, have sung about love: passionate love, unrequited love, lost love, early love, love that still hasn't arrived, tragic love...Here you have four examples, from four completely different singers/bands. Four different types of singing to love:

 PARAMORE -  The only exception (lyrics)




SIA - My love (lyrics)


 And finally...

Best love scenes



Now I would like you to tell me about your favourite love scene from a film.


I will tell you mine. It's from the 2005 Spanish film "The Secret Life of Words" by Isabel Coixet, starred by Tim Robbins and Sarah Polley. In this film, Hannah, a hearing-impaired factory worker, gives up her first holiday in years and instead travels out to an oil rig, where she cares for a man, Josef, suffering from severe burns. Josef will slowly break her shell of silence...



My favourite scene is towards the end. Josef is waiting for Hannah outside the factory where she works. It is the first time Josef actually sees Hannah, who's been taking care of him through his convalescence, but he already knows he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. But she has been through a terrible experience, and is afraid to let herself feel anything for anyone. She tells him that she can't be with him, because she will start crying, and won't be able to stop, and then both will drown. And he tells her "I'll learn how to swim, Hannah. I swear. I'll learn how to swim." Maybe, out of context, that line doesn't mean much, but it makes complete sense when you see the whole film, and for me is one of the best, most delicate, love scenes I've ever seen.


I haven't found a video of that scene, so here you have the theatrical trailer of it (sorry for the subtitles in French, but I couldn't find a Spanish-subtitled version).


Now I'm really looking forward to your favourite love scenes, so...


PLEASE CLICK ON "COMMENTS" AND DESCRIBE YOUR FAVOURITE LOVE SCENE FROM A FILM OR A TV SHOW, TELLING WHY IT IS YOUR FAVOURITE.



And have a Happy St. Valentine's Day!

Monday, February 11, 2013

Oscars 2013 - Time to vote for the BEST DIRECTOR

Dear students & readers of this blog,

In last week's poll, it seems it was a very difficult choice, as there were three nominees with two votes, which means that, for you, there are no clear winners. These were Bradley Cooper, Hugh Jackman & Denzel Washington. Last night, the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden in London celebrated their annual BAFTA awards. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts voted for the best of the year in the British cinema industry, and they voted for Argo, directed by Ben Affleck, as the best film of the year. Ben Affleck himself won the Bafta for best director. Unfortunately, he was not nominated for the Oscar too, as you will see below. Because this week, it is time for you to vote for the BEST DIRECTOR.

And the nominees are:


David O. Russell
Silver Linings Playbook
(El lado bueno de las cosas)




                           Benh Zeitlin
                           Beasts of the Southern Wild
                           (Bestias del sur salvaje)





Steven Spielberg
Lincoln





                                       Ang Lee
                                        Life of Pi
                                        (La vida de Pi)





Michael Haneke
Amour

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Oscars 2013 - Time to vote for the BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Dear students & readers of this blog,

In last week's survey, voters decided that JENNIFER LAWRENCE & NAOMI WATTS are the two most probable winners of the oscar for best leading actress. Time has come now to vote for the BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

And the nominees are:

Bradley Cooper
Silver Linings Playbook
(El lado bueno de las cosas)

                                          Daniel Day-Lewis
                                           Lincoln











Hugh Jackman
Les Miserables                                                                                Joaquin Phoenix
                                                                                                        The Master














Denzel Washington
The Flight
(El Vuelo)

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice turns 200 - Celebrating the bicentennial of its publication

Dear students and readers of this blog,

It is a truth universally acknowledged that PRIDE & PREJUDICE, by Jane Austen, is one of the most popular books in the English literature of all time, and one of the most beloved works of this remarkable female writer who, contrary to what we might expect, never married, and got to be an independent woman earning her own living by her pen.

Jane Austen, the seventh of the eight children of Reverend George Austen and Cassandra Leigh, showed an interest in creative writing from her early childhood, which was encouraged by her family. Her favourite brother, Henry, eventually became her agent, and was the one in charge of sending her manuscripts to different editors for publication. Somewhere in 1799, she completed the first draft of a manuscript called FIRST IMPRESSIONS. Little did she know that that story would become her most popular and enduring work, and that it would be researched, commented on, and even have film and TV versions, under the name of PRIDE & PREJUDICE, which was first published on Jan 28, 1813.


P & P tells the story of lively Elizabeth Bennet, the second eldest of the five daughters of a modest gentleman, and her difficult relationship with an apparently proud, haughty and extremely unpleasant man called Mr Darcy, marked by her prejudice against him. Both will have to go a long way until they come to understand each other and realise they are perfect for one another.

If you wished to read the full novel, click here. And don't forget to read it with your favourite cup of tea!

Maybe you need some help for the reading. Here's a glossary that will help you.

How much do you know about Pride & Prejudice? Pride and Prejudice quiz: Know your Bingleys from your Bennets?

-----------------------------

To mark the publication of such landmark of the English literature, many interesting events will take place around the world. Here's some of them:

  • Pride & Prejudice READATHON:  It took place at the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, UK last Monday, 28 Jan 2013. It went on from 11.30 a.m. to 3.15 a.m. GMT (one more hour in Spain), and, despite a few technical problems, it was successfully broadcast and followed all over the world. The book, which regularly tops polls as the nation’s favourite novel, was read in short 10 minute segments by up to 140 celebrities, authors, politicians, musicians, Olympians, school children, competition winners and other personalities. 
  • The Jane Austen Festival (Bath, UK): Taking place every September also in Bath, this year it will be devoted to the celebration of P & P. (13th-21st September 2013)



  • BBC's recreation of the Netherfield Ball: A 90-minute special, recreating a 19th-century ball recreating the famous ball held at Netherfield, Bingley's estate, filmed at Chawton House, where Jane Austen lived.
  • The Free Library of Philadelphia will host a day-long celebration including lectures, film screenings & theatrical performances.
  • Goucher College in Baltimore (USA), will host the exhibition A Special Collections & Archives Exhibition: “Pride and Prejudice: A 200 Year Affair” from Monday, January 28, through Friday, July 26 at the Goucher College Library.
----------------------------

Pride and Prejudice's TV, film and free versions:
  • BBC 1995 Pride & Prejudice (series): Directed by Andrew Davies, starring Colin Firth & Jennifer Elhe. Probably, the most popular adaptation of the novel. Made Colin Firth a star!!!
  • Pride & Prejudice (2005, film): Directed by Joe Wright, starring Keira Knightley & Matthew Macfayden.
  • Austenland (film - 2012): A Pride & Prejudice-obsessed woman visits a Jane Austen theme park looking for her own Mr Darcy. 
  • Lizzie Bennet's Diaries (series): a 10-minute YouTube video series, modern-day American version. On right now and hugely popular. Don't miss it!



  • ITV 2008 Lost in Austen (series): A four-part mini series telling the story of a woman, Amanda, who enters the world of the Bennet family through a portal in her bathroom. Widely followed in the UK.



  • Bride & Prejudice (film - 2004), directed by Gurinder Chadha. A Bollywood version featuring popular Indian actress Aishwarya Ray.
  • Bridget Jones's Diary (2001 - film) & Bridget Jones's Diary: The Edge of Reason (film - 2004): Follow the adventures of Bridget Jones and her troubles with gorgeous Mark Darcy and dangerous Daniel Cleaver.

Some book sequels, adaptations, spin-offs and rarities:

  • Death Comes to Pemberley, by PD James: Elizabeth and Darcy live happily at their estate in Pemberley. Until one day, her disgraced sister Lydia arrives in histerics, saying that her husband, Mr Wickham, has been murdered...
  • Pride & Prejudice & Zombies: A parody novel by Seth Graham-Smith combining the classic novel with modern-zombie fiction.
  • Second Impressions, by Ava Farmer: Set ten years after Pride & Prejudice, the novel explores the changes to the Darcy family's life, Europe post-Napoleon, and live in late Regency England, written following Austen's style.
  • Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding. Bridget Jones trying to survive between her fantasy, Daniel Cleaver, and the man her mother wants to set her up with: top human rights lawyer Mark Darcy.
  • Bridget Jones's Diary: The Edge of Reason, by Helen Fielding. A story of very unfortunate misunderstandings between Bridget & her love interest, Mark Darcy.



Enjoy your PRIDE & PREJUDICE YEAR!!!

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Class Diary Week 15 (21 - 24 Jan 2013)

Dear students & readers of this blog,

This is what we did the last week before the exam:

2º NB

Contents:
- Talking about the past
- Expressions with go, have & get
- Revision
- Speaking practice: a memorable night and other situations in the past

Students' book:
- p. 55, ex. d and 4 b
- p. 56 - Reading 1 b & c
- p. 136-137, ex. irregular verbs
- p. 57 ex. 3 b & c
- p. 60 ex. 1 a & b
- p. 61 ex. 3 a, b & c

Homework:
None

Photocopies:
- Listening practice
Videos:
None

2º NA

Contents:
- Revision of units 1 & 2

Student's book:
- p. 31, (get) + pp. 141

Videos & interactive games:
None

Photocopies:
- Dictogloss - "Great White Shark"
- Listening practice
- Quicktests

Homework:
None

GOOD LUCK WITH THE EXAMS!!

Oscars 2013 - Time to vote for the BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Dear students & readers of this blog,

In last week's survey, we got a draw. According to voters, Alan Arkin & Tommy Lee Jones are your favourites to win the oscar for the best supporting actor.

Time to vote for your BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:


Jessica Chastain
Zero Dark Thirty
(La noche más oscura)

                                                 Jennifer Lawrence
                                                Silver Linings Playbook
                                           (El lado bueno de las cosas)    


                                                                             








Emmanuelle Riva - Amour                                                                        


                                             Quvenzhané Wallis
                                       Beasts of the Southern Wild
                                         (Bestias del sur salvaje)










Naomi Watts - The Impossible
(Lo Imposible)