Meet Vancouver Mascots

Let's watch this video about 2010 Vancouver mascots.

Which winter sports are their favourite? Which ones are yours? Have fun!

Vancouver 2010: Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

Left, Vancouver mascots.

The Olympic Winter Games will be held from 12th to 28th of February in Vancouver, Canada. In addition to this town, Whistler will be the venue for alpine skiing, luge, skeleton and bobsleigh.

This is the second time Canada hosts the Winter Olympics. The previous one was in Calgary, in 1988. Many countries have played home to the Winter Olympics. These are the case of France (three times),the United States (four times) and Italy, Japan, Austria and Norway which have hosted the Games twice.
Although fewer countries participate in the Winter Olympics, it has become an unavoidable event that winter sports lovers cannot miss.

The Winter Olympics background

The first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France, 1924.

Figure skating and ice hockey had been events at the Summer Olympics prior to this date. The Games were held every four years from 1924 until 1940 when they were interrupted by World War II.

The Winter and Summer Games started again in 1948 and were celebrated on the same year until 1992. At that time, the Winter Games split from the Summer Games, and were begun to be celebrated on alternating even years.

The first Olympic Winter Games to be held on this new schedule was in 1994 in Lillehammer, Norway.

The Paralympics' Winter Dream

In 1976, in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, the first international winter games for handicapped people were celebrated. There were about 250 athletes coming from 14 countries. 24 years later, the first Paralympic Winter Games took place in Albertville, France, in 1992.

Which winter sport do you prefer most? Just have a look to its official site and learn more about them. Moreover, you can follow the Olympic Torch relay and know about its bearers.

2010 Vancouver Winter Games

 If you want to learn about British Columbia and its people, you will discover a melting pot of cultures as well.
Visit Vancouver

2010, Compostelan Holy Year

Since 1122, Pope Calixtus II established the Jacobean Holy Year, or Jubilee, when the feast of the Apostle Saint James, 25th. July, falls on a Sunday.

Celebrated in literature, music, art and history, this pilgrimage led to the building of hospitals and lodgings, cities and villages, and the planning of new roads, bridges, cathedrals and churches. The road became a melting pot of cultures to the spread of tendencies and ideas all over the Continent, a meeting point of peoples and languages and the supporting axis of the first European common awareness.

Nowadays the pilgrimage to Santiago represents the brotherhood between traditional and modern times within a matchless natural frame and a unique cultural heritage. There are several routes to reach Santiago de Compostela. Which one are you interested in? If you want to participate, you can get more information on this link to the official website.

From Spain, I invite you to live this enriching unforgettable experience.

Saint James' Routes

We wish you a...

Happy New Year Glitter Pictures

A different Christmas

I know we are on holiday, but it's the best time to know about other cultures.
When we study a language, we also do the same with its literature, history, culture, music, art...all disciplines go together linked through a means of expression. As we do our best to improve our productive (speaking and writing) and receptive (reading and listening) skills in English, let's mix them on this activity. First, you'll watch a sequence taken from the famous 90's tv series Northern Exposure. Pay special attention to the interaction between cultures. Then, try to write down a title which summarises the performance and the audience's reaction. Finally, try to find a historical frame to the show by answering these questions:
-Which peoples/countries are involved?
-Where and when could the action take place?
-Is there a story within a story? Why?
You can use all the information you need, but remember to find the underlying message they want to give us.

Christmas Glitter

A Hannukah traditional game

After lighting the Hanukkah menorah, it is a tradition in many homes to play the dreidel game: Each player starts out with 10 or 15 coins (real or of chocolate), nuts, raisins, candies or other markers, and places one marker in the "pot." The first player spins the dreidel, and depending on which side the dreidel falls on, either wins a marker from the pot or gives up part of his stash. The code (based on a Yiddish version of the game) is as follows:

* Nun–nisht, "nothing"–nothing happens and the next player spins.
* Gimel–gants, "all"–the player takes the entire pot.
* Hey–halb, "half"–the player takes half of the pot, rounding up if there is an odd number.
* Shin–shtel ayn, "put in"–the player puts one marker in the pot
The game may last until one person has won everything.


Build your own Dreidel

Spanish cut-out version

Happy Hannukah!

This celebration, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, and may occur from late November to late December on the Gregorian calendar.

Spanish Constitution

Today is the 31st anniversary of Spanish Constitution.

On 6th December 1978, Spaniards finished with years of repression and started a new chapter in their history walking through Democracy.We cannot forget the effort they made to achieve the freedom We, Spanish people, enjoy nowadays. For this reason, we have to work to preserve and improve it. Happy Birthday!!!