GETTING READING FOR YOUR DREAM JOB?

Are you getting ready for your dream job? You can read these some useful guides on the following page: HackCollege.com. Have a look at it. There are also very interesting videos (for Advanced English students)

HACK COLLEGE CAREER SERIES: Lots of career guides here!

Songs for summer 2013!

Well, fancy a bit of karaoke?
And, next time you listen to them on the radio, you will know what they are saying!!!



Rihanna- Diamonds Lyrics Video

Audiobooks to practise your English

Check the following links:

- Audiobooks for free

- Books should be free

- Librivox

- Free audiobooks on Youtube

- Open culture

TEACHING ENGLISH

Check this page: Teaching English.
You will see videos, find free graded readers, read comics and so on! I hope it is useful for you!

Here is an example:

Impressive speech indeed!

You can watch the video here:




If you click on the following link, you can read to what she says at the same time as you listen to it:

Harvard magazine: J.K.Rowling

"resources a la carte"

A good link to find other useful pages:

SPEECHY PROJECT

English/Spanish and the wine world_ Inglés/español y el mundo del vino

I have recently created some new material which may help you to practise both your English and Spanish in relation to the winemaking world, so important in our land!The idea is mine, although some pictures are not! Thanks to them, my games look prettier! So, thanks a lot to their owners! Consequently, you can use all this material just for educational purposes!That is the reason why I am including it here and not on the other blog, the one about La Rioja. Sorry about tablet users, as some of the following activities can just be enjoyed on a computer! Maybe I should learn how to create apps for tablets!... I'll study that idea! ... (One personal comment about technology inside my blog: "First, I should comprehend why the paragraphs I create do not come out separated, as I they used to appear in the past. Now, everything comes out in a short of bundle...!!!Consequently, I have added lots of pictures to separate the documents!!!!") You can practise the vocabulary alone or you can play the games with friends, lots and lots of new vocabulary are waiting for you!

AROMAS AND FAULTS.pdf

1. AROMA CARD VOCABULARY/ VOCABULARIO CARTA DE AROMAS

2. VOCABULARY: COLOUR, NOSE AND PALATE / VOCABULARIO: COLOR, EN NARIZ Y EN NARIZ Y BOCA

3. GAME: FROM THE GRAPE TO THE BOTTLE

4. GAME POWERPOINT: FROM THE GRAPE TO THE BOTTLE

5. GAME GLOSSARY

6. AROMAS PRONUNCIATION DOMINO GAME

7. SOMETHING ABOUT WINE POWERPOINT

***** AND NOW... Why not practising English through a Reading about our most famous festival: San Mateo? 8. Click next: SAN MATTHEW IN LOGROÑO

+++++ DO YOU LIKE COOKING? 9. Try this easy "pincho" after you do the Listening task, thanks to Txori:PINCHO GAME NOTE: To do the Listening exercise, you need to watch the following video: "Going for pintxos at Txori, the tapas restaurant of Seattle" (embedded below). You can also do a pairwork activity instead, or you can do both tasks!

English fairy tales

You can read and listen to several English fairy tales (youtube. There are several parts. I am including here the link for pat 1: - Part 1 - English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs (Chs 1-17)

Exam samples

Check the following link to have a look at some exam samples from Asturias: MUESTRAS DE EXÁMENES 2011

Don Quixote

Monday 23rd April is "the Day of the Book". We are going to celebrate it by reading Don Quixote in English. Well, to be more precise, an abridged version in the case of my 2nd year Basic level students! Here is the link to that abridged version.

Short stories

Click on the following link and you will be able to watch famous people read aloud some stories. And you can also read the story while you are listening to it.

STORYLINEONLINE

"... between what is right and what is wrong ..."

This year, our school is going to collaborate with Amnisty International, an international organization which works in favour of human rights all over the world. In this video, the actor Jeremy Irons reminds us about human rights in a very clear way.

"HUMAN RIGHTS ARE FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING"

Jeremy Irons on the death penalty from Amnesty International on Vimeo.

Click next to read its transcript:
TRANSCRIPT

There are more interesting videos and reports. Check its web page in English:http://www.amnesty.org.uk/

POETRY

Thanks to Leah, our Foreign Language Assistant (British English),you can read the following poem at the same time as you listen to it:



Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone

by W. H. Auden

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message: He Is Dead.
Put crepe bows around the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East, my West,
My working week, my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack away the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can come to any good.

SOURCE for the poem:http://homepages.wmich.edu/~cooneys/poems/auden.stop.html
SOURCE for the videos:http://masqueclases.blogspot.com/2011/05/recital-de-poemas-2011.html

Happy New Year 2011!!!!!!!

(Thanks to the author's original image:http://www.todoavatar.com/happy-new-year-2011-girasol/)

- You can watch this video by U.S. president Obama while you read the transcript in English:


- Now, try to understand his New Year's speech (There are no subtitles):

Time to dance and sing!

---- Well, today is Saturday and some people may go dancing tonight. Next time you listen to these songs, you may feel tempted to sing along! Or at least, you will know what they speak about, thanks to lots of contributors on youtube!Here are a few:

*** Say Hey (I Love You) Lryics Michael Franti & Spearhead (video clip above, thanks to youtube (VEVO)

*** FloRida - Club Can't Handle Me ft. David Guetta + [ Lyrics On Screen ] - HD/HQ

*** David Guetta Ft. Kid Cudi - Memories Lyrics

*** DJ Got Us Falling In Love Again Lyrics HD | Usher feat. Pitbull

*** Enrique Iglesias - I Like It ( ft. Pitbull ) + [LYRICS ON SCREEN] - HQ/HD

*** Katy Perry - Teenage Dream + [ Lyrics on Screen ] - HQ/HD (NEW SINGLE SONG 2010)

*** Lady Gaga - Alejandro lyrics

*** Replay By Iyaz with lyrics

*** David Guetta - Sexy Chick (Featuring Akon)

*** David Guetta & Chris Willis - Love Is Gone - Music Video
(a very funny video, even if the topic is sad!)

*** Tubthumping (I Get Knocked Down) Lyrics

*** Meet Me Half Way_Black eyed peas(With Lyrics)

*** Empire state of mind Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys

*** david guetta ft. kelly rowland -when love takes over lyrics

*** Bon Jovi - It's my life (lyrics y subtitulos en español live!)

---- Or you may just enjoy singing and reading the lyrics of a song at home!(a good pronunciation exercise, by the way!)



*** Fireflies-Owl City music video w/ lyrics

*** OCEANA - cry,cry (lyrics)

*** Katy Perry - Firework Lyrics HD

*** Bruno Mars-Just The Way You Are With Lyrics

*** Black eyed peas - where is the love (lyrics)

---- Or you just may want to have a laugh while trying to understand what they are saying! Don't miss next video, then:

*** Beyonce & Justin Timberlake - Single ladie (With Georgian style)

Enjoy yourselves!

25 november 2010: Thanksgiving

Next 25th November, most people in the United States of America will celebrate their Thanksgiving day.
Click on the following links to learn more about it and answer the questions about it.

The history of Thanksgiving

Questions

Books to read and enjoy!

As you probably know, we always suggest reading at least one book per year. They will be available at the school library, so you can either buy it or borrow it from the library.

The books we have chosen for this year at our school, depending on the student's level are the following:

BOOKS TO READ AND ENJOY!

*** You can watch, listen and read this beautiful story written by a boy. Now, he is a soldier who was kidnapped back to 2006, when he was 20 years old:



If you want to read and know more details about this story:
** in Spanish: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilad_Shalit
** in English: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilad_Shalit


*** Now, you can watch Vaughan and listen to him telling you about two very important books he is reading. He also compares both books in size and length, so this way you can revise your knowledge about comparisons in English.

Click here to watch part 1

Click here to watch part 2


*** Now, you can watch Lev, who intends to write "The Best Book Ever". He is fun!




*** Click on next link: How many of the novels this person recommends have you read? Have you read any of them in English yet?

*** Watch this video about the books some people would recommend (Advanced level)

*** Story reading: Have some fun listening to the story of the three funny ladybugs!

Now, more serious tasks:
*** You can listen and read the story about "The princess and the tin box" by James Thurber (Intermediate level)

*** Now, you can listen and read: First chapter of Oliver Twist (advanced level)

Reading and Listening skills

Have a look at these blogs to practise both your Reading and your Listening skills, thanks to the teachers who take part in the programme of Collaboration between Oficial Schools of Languages in La Rioja (EEOOII from La Rioja) and Secondary Schools in La Rioja (IIEESS from La Rioja).

Every month, they add a new listening and a new reading activity on the blog, with key. They will help you to prepare for your Certificate exam:

Programa de Colaboración con IIEESS: Nivel Básico

Programa de Colaboración con IIEESS: Nivel Intermedio

Mysteries of the world: Atlantis (Atlántida)

SOURCE: Image found in http://www.unmuseum.org/atlantis.htm

"In Plato's book, Timaeus, a character named Kritias tells an account of Atlantis that has been in his family for generations:
There had been a powerful empire located to the west of the "Pillars of Hercules" (what we now call the Straight of Gibraltar) on an island in the Atlantic Ocean.The nation there had been established by Poseidon, the God of the Sea. Poseidon fathered five sets of twins on the island. The firstborn, Atlas, had the continent and the surrounding ocean named for him. Poseidon divided the land into ten sections, each to be ruled by a son, or his heirs.
The capital city of Atlantis was a marvel of architecture and engineering. The city was composed of a series of concentric walls and canals. At the very center was a hill, and on top of the hill a temple to Poseidon. Inside was a gold statue of the God of the Sea showing him driving six winged horses.
About 9000 years before the time of Plato, after the people of Atlantis became corrupt and greedy, the gods decided to destroy them. A violent earthquake shook the land, giant waves rolled over the shores, and the island sank into the sea, never to be seen again.
So, is the story of Atlantis just a fable used by Plato to make a point? Or is there some reason to think he was referring to a real place?"
(If you want to read this article, go to the source: http://www.unmuseum.org/atlantis.htm)

***** Glossary:
- Character (noun): personaje
- Straight (noun): Estrecho
- Heir (noun): Heredero
- Greedy (adjective): Avaricioso
- Earthquake(noun): Terremoto
- Shore (noun): Orilla

*** Play this game:




***** Watch two videos about it in discovery channel:

VIDEO ONE : Solving History with Olly Steeds: The Atlantis Mystery - (01:17)
Plato wrote the first account of this mighty (poderosa)city brought down by nature's fury and Olly is determined (decidido)to test the truth behind the tale.

Added: 12-May-2010


VIDEO TWO : Solving History with Olly Steeds: The Ruins of Atlantis - (02:22)
Standing atop the island of Santorini, Olly makes a strong case that this site matches Plato's description of where a great city was swallowed (engullida, tragada) by the sea.

Added: 12-May-2010

***** Further reading about the topic:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantis
http://www.skepdic.com/atlantis.html

***** Books on Atlantis in Amazon (in English):http://www.amazon.com/The-Best-Books-on-Atlantis/lm/LCUY1RVHQ1ZF

*** Have you read "Atlántida", by Javier Negrete? I have enjoyed this book very much myself! It is great! I strongly recommend it to you.

***** You may fancy watching the trailer of the novel(in Spanish): (I would love to see the film!)

NB 2: Reading: Halloween

*** Task 1: (Reading comprehension)Read the following text an answer the questions:

The Story of Halloween

Halloween is one of the oldest holidays with origins going back thousands of years. The holiday we know as Halloween has had many influences from many cultures over the centuries. From the Roman's Pomona Day, to the Celtic festival of Samhain, to the Christian holidays of All Saints and All Souls Days.

Hundreds of years ago in what is now Great Britain and Northern France, lived the Celts. The Celts worshipped nature and had many gods, with the sun god as their favourite. It was "he" who commanded their work and their rest times, and who made the earth beautiful and the crops grow.

The Celts celebrated their New Year on November 1st. It was celebrated every year with a festival and marked the end of the "season of the sun" and the beginning of "the season of darkness and cold."

On October 31st, after the crops were all harvested and stored for the long winter, the cooking fires in the homes would be extinguished. The Druids, the Celtic priests, would meet in the hilltop in the dark oak forest (oak trees were considered sacred). The Druids would light new fires and offer sacrifices of crops and animals. As they danced around the fires, the season of the sun passed and the season of darkness would begin.

When the morning arrived, the Druids would give an ember from their fires to each family, who would then take them home to start new cooking fires. These fires would keep the homes warm and free from evil spirits.

The November 1st festival was called Samhain (pronounced "sow-en"). The festival would last for 3 days. Many people would parade in costumes made from the skins and heads of their animals. This festival would become the first Halloween.

During the first century the Romans invaded Britain. They brought with them many of their festivals and customs. One of these was the festival known as Pomona Day, named for their goddess of fruits and gardens. It was also celebrated around the 1st of November. After hundreds of years of Roman rule, the customs of the Celtic's Samhain festival and the Roman Pomona Day mixed, becoming one major fall holiday.

The next influence came with the spread of the new Christian religion throughout Europe and Britain. In the year 835 AD the Roman Catholic Church would make November 1st a church holiday to honour all the saints. This day was called All Saint's Day, or Hallowmas, or All Hallows. Years later the Church would make November 2nd a holy day. It was called All Souls Day and was to honour the dead. It was celebrated with big bonfires, parades, and people dressing up as saints, angels and devils.

But the spread of Christianity did not make people forget their early customs. On the eve of All Hallows, Oct. 31, people continued to celebrate the festivals of Samhain and Pomona Day. Over the years the customs from all these holidays mixed. October 31st became known as All Hallow Even, eventually All Hallow's Eve, Hallowe'en, and then - Halloween.

The Halloween we celebrate today includes all of these influences, Pomona Day's apples, nuts, and harvest, the Festival of Samhain's black cats, magic, evil spirits and death, and the ghosts, skeletons and skulls from All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day.

Source: http://www.holidays.net/halloween/story.htm

Questions:

1. Who had the sun as their god?
a) The Celts
b) The Christians
c) The Romans

2. What did the Druids do at the top of the hill?
a) They sacrificed their pets
b) They started lighting new fires
c) They stayed in the oaks shade to avoid the sun

3. Why did the Druids give an ember to each family?
a) to help them light a fire at home
b) to prevent them from being cold or in danger
c) Both reasons

4. What day of the month is Halloween celebrated nowadays?
a) 31st October
b) 1st November
c) 2nd November

5. What kind of influences has this festival had?
a) Celtic influences
b) Roman Influences
c) The two above and also Christian influences



*** KEY: 1A 2B 3C 4A 5C

*** Task 2: (pronunciation). Classify all the regular verb "-ed" endings according to the way "-ed" must be pronounced. All these regular verbs are written in bold. Watch out!: "sacred" is an adjective, not a verb!
Also, include those regular verbs that you find throughout the text and questions, as if they were written in the past or past participle.

*** KEY:



(Questions and tasks created by Olartia)

You can also see this document in scribd.com:

The Story of Halloween