Welcome to class. 2nd ESO

Watch this trailer and comment what surprised you the most.

Keep reading!

The Secret Garden

Welcome to the class. 4th ESO A

Watch the video below and answer these questions:

1-What's St Patrick's real nationality?Justify.

2-Why are snakes mentioned in this video? 

3-What did he use the shamrock for?

4-Where was the first St Patrick's day celebrated? Why?

Click on this link. 

Happy St Patrick's Day

Reading. 2nd ESO

As you all know, on Thursdays we are reading The Secret Garden. This is a great opportunity to improve your reading skills as well as you develop your creativity. Just click on the link below, pay attention to the listening and write down what you don't understand. If you want to get extra marks, you can draw a comic strip showing part of the plot. Have fun!

The Secret Garden

Reading is fun!

Revising phonetics

Today I've found this great interactive chart to help you with your pronunciation. If you are interested in improving it, just click here.
This reminds me of Pygmalion's myth to read.
Below, George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion (1913). His play was successfully filmed in 1964 by George Cukor. This new version turned into the famous musical My Fair Lady. If you want to watch it, just play the following video. (Moisés Antón's courtesy on YouTube for pedagogical purposes).

 

Reading-3rd ESO. Group D.

 

This is my present for my students in the third year of CSE. Continue the story. Deadline:24th October
Picture on the left. Fishermen at sea (1796) by William Turner.

My first most vivid and broad impression of the identity of things, seems to me to have been gained on a memorable raw afternoon towards evening.(...)
"Hold your noise!" cried a terrible voice, as a man started up from among the graves at the side of the church porch. "Keep still, you little devil, or I'll cut your throat!"
A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints, and stung by nettles, and torn by briars; who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin.
"O! Don't cut my throat, sir," I pleaded in terror. "Pray don't do it, sir."
"Tell me your name!" said the man. "Quick!"
"Pip, sir."
"Show me where you live," said the man. "Point out the place!"
"Once more," said the man, staring at me.(...)
"Now look here!" said the man. "Where's your mother?"
"There, sir!" said I. (He did so, pointing out to his mother's tombstone).
"Ha!" he muttered then, considering. "Who do you live with ?"
"My sister, sir - Mrs. Joe Gargery - Joe Gargery's wife, the blacksmith, sir."
"Blacksmith, eh?" said he. And looked down at his leg.
"Now look here," he said, "the question being whether you're to be let to live. Do you know what a file is?"(...)
"Get me a file." He tilted me again." "Bring it to me." "Or I'll have your heart and liver out." (...)
"Yes, sir."
Adapted text taken from one of Charles Dickens'  most famous novels. Do you know its title?

Reading-2nd ESO. Group B

Hi to everyone! As I promised I've found the perfect activity for your "break" time. It's an optional activity, but it always scores =)
I'm sure you'll love it. Choose only ONE of them. Have fun and remember...

1-Abbey's daily routine is very busy, but she hasn't got too healthy habits. Continue her story, suggesting new ones.

Abbey gets up at 7:00 am, feeds the dog, and

has cereal and a glass of juice for breakfast.

She walks to school with her friend, Julia.

She has a package of chips for a morning

snack. She drinks some water from the water fountain,

and she has a chicken and lettuce sandwich with

a banana for lunch. She likes playing soccer

with her friends at lunch and morning break

time. She walks home with Julia and there she has some

crackers with cheese and fruit juice for

afternoon snack and she plays with the dog for a

while. She plays computer games for an hour

or two before dinner. Later, she has a shower and she

does her homework. She watches her favourite

television show for an hour; then she usually goes

to bed at about 9:30 pm.

 

2-Create your own comic strip and share it with all of us. The topic is "daily routine".This is an optional activity. Do you accept the challenge? If so, please click on this link and follow the steps. Then, print it and hand it in.  The deadline will be due 24th October.

At a restaurant

Click here to listen to the reading of this menu.

Sources:Professional English. Hotel and Catering. Penguin English Guides &
Quizlet.com

Tastes and Texture

Read the following conversation between Peter and Juan in a restaurant in Yorkshire. Peter is describing the different tastes and textures of the dishes on a menu. Focus on the words/phrases in BOLD and think about their meaning.

Peter: 'So Juan, what do you fancy having?

 

'Juan:

'I'm not sure. There's lots of food and dishes from around the world on this menu. You've eaten here before, what's the chicken vindaloo curry like?'

Peter:

'It's very hot. The last time I had it, my mouth was burning for about 15 minutes. To be honest, it's a bit bland, it doesn't really taste of anything. If you want to have a curry, I would recommend the tika masala, it's spicy, they use about 15 different spices in it, but it's not hot. I like it, it's really tasty.'

Juan:

'I'm not sure I want Indian food. And the fish and chips?'

Peter:

'Although I'm English, I don't like it, it's greasy. It's covered in too much oil for me.'

Juan:

'What are the salads like here? They have a Caesar salad, is it ok?'

Peter:

'Well, yeah. I had it a couple of years ago. They use fried bacon in the salad as well, which is strange. The iceberg lettuce and the bacon were very crispy, they make a noise when you first chew them. It has fried croutons, which were so crunchy, it was almost like eating a savoury biscuit. But for me, the Caesar sauce was too creamy, they used too much cream. There's another salad that I had the last time I was here, called the Naples salad. It's got so many different things in it, it has anchovies that are very salty, but it also has small pieces of lemon that gives the salad a bit of a sour taste. Because it's in theory Italian it also has pieces of parmesan in it, the hard cheese that they grate on top of Italian pasta. It doesn't sound good, but the combination works very well.'

Juan:

'I'll order that. Have you looked at the desserts? They have a coffee cake, I like coffee, but the last time I had one was in Spain and it had a very bitter taste, it was like I was eating coffee without the cake.'

Peter:

'I don't know. I've never tried it. I've had the toffee ice cream, which was really good. The ice cream is very creamy and it has small pieces of toffee in it, they are really chewy, they get stuck in your teeth. There's also the butter croissant, which is really flaky and it comes with a smooth raspberry sauce.'

Juan:

'And the chocolate cake?'

Peter:

'It's very rich, it's almost like you're eating a bar of chocolate.'

Source: This dialogue has been taken from: blairenglish.com

Happy World Book Day!

A Spring suggested title: The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. Just for fun =)

Reading training

I've been having a look at some handouts I thought I had lost long time ago. They deal with training fast reading, getting information between the lines and improving your summarizing skills. Are you interested? If so, why don't you try these easy tasks? They will only take you some minutes. Ready?
For further information, look up CAE Reading Skills. C.U.P.

The aim of this unit is to focus on:
- understanding a text as a whole and identifying the aim of the text;
- skimming a text for the main ideas without reading in detail. Steady?

1-Look quickly at the text and decide which of the following you are likely to find it in:
a) a newspaper; b) a tourist brochure; c) a safety leaflet; d) a science magazine; e) a guide book.


2-Which of the following does the text aim to do?
a) present research results on hypothermia.
b) warn people of the dangers of boating.
c) instruct people on what they should do if they fall into cold water.
d) describe a boating accident.

3-Look quickly through the text and decide which sections are about the points below. Some of the sections may be used more than once, while others may not be used at all. (Time limit: 5 minutes).

1. children's survival time
2. how a lifejacket influences heat loss
3. the importance of shivering
4. how movement influences body heat loss
5. how body position can influence survival time
6. what to do with someone who has been immersed in cold water
7. how body size influences heat loss
8. the cause of death                                                  GO!

Cold Water Survival (Extract taken from CAE mentioned above).

A-

Hypothermia is the lowering of deep body temperature that places the body in a general state of shock, which in turn depresses normal body functions.

In cold water, the skin cools very rapidly. However, it takes 10-15 minutes before the temperature of the heart, brain and other internal organs begins to drop. Intense shivering occurs in an attempt to increase the body's heat production and counteract the large heat loss.

Once cooling begins, the body temperature falls steadily and unconsciousness can occur. Cardiac arrest is the usual cause of death when the temperature cools to below 30ºC.

B-

The experimental average predicted survival times of average men and women holding still in ocean water and wearing a standard lifejacket and light clothing is about 2 1/3-3 hours in water of 10ºC (50ºF). Predicted survival time is increased by extra body fat and decreased by small body size. (Woe is me! LOL). Although women generally possess slightly more fat than men they cool slightly faster due to their usually small body size.

Children are particularly vulnerable to cold water, because they are smaller and have less fat than adults. In the event of a family being immersed, it is important for the parents to either get children partially or completely out of the water or on some form of flotation (e.g. an overturned boat). A little boy should be pulled out of the water first because he loses heat faster than his twin sister. If no flotation is available the adults should sandwich the child between them to help equalise the cooling rates of all involved.

Flotation lifejackets provide significant thermal protection and increase predicted survival time by more than 75%.

C-

No! Although the body produces almost three times as much heat when swimming slowly and steadily in cold water compared to holding still, this extra heat is lost to the cold water due to more blood circulation to the arms, legs and skin. Results show that the person swimming in a lifejacket cools 35% faster than when holding still.

D-

On occasion, the shore may be close enough to reach despite a faster cooling rate with this activity. Tests conducted on people swimming in ocean water of 10ºC (50ºF) and wearing standard lifejackets and light clothing showed that the average person could cover only a short distance before being incapacitated by hypothermia. This distance will obviously be affected by one's swimming ability, amount of insulation and water conditions. It is not easy to judge distance and the shore may appear to be closer than it actually is.

In cold water, an individual is likely to be able to swim a distance of no more than 1/10th of what he or she could easily swim in warm water.

In most instances, the best advice is to stay with the boat!

E-

In this unfortunate situation, one is forced to adopt the "anti-drowning" technique of treading water.

Treading water involves continuous movement of the arms and legs in various patterns in order to keep the head out of the water. Test results show an average cooling rate of persons treading water that was 34% faster than while holding still in a lifejacket.

F-

The head and neck are the most critical heat loss areas. Infra-red pictures show that the sides of the chest and the groin are also major routes for heat loss. If an effort is made to conserve body heat, these regions deserve special attention.
G-
Based on the heat loss information in section F, two techniques were tested that attempted to reduce heat loss from critical areas.
-HELP (Heat Escape Lessening Position) and
-Huddle (Sides of the chest of different individuals are held close together).

The keys will be provided to those submitted answers. I'll be delighted to help you solve your doubts! If you are fond of this sort of activity, please let me know.

Poetry for Saint Valentine's

As far as I know, the school contest is still on. Due to the fact that 14th February is approaching and Carnival is about to start too, these celebrations could be used to keep on changing our class image. 

This time the motto is on Saint Valentine, say it with a poem. Perhaps you may have been thinking about redecorating your classroom for this event. On this occasion, you can show how imaginative you are by choosing a poem and then, hang it on your wall on a heart frame. It could work, couldn't it? Just surf the net or click on the following websites. Have fun!

POEMS  

• 1 
• 2
• 3

   

World Book Day

 This date commemorates the death of two universal writers: Shakespeare and Cervantes.

I have got very good quotations on books some lines below next paragraph. 

Although if you want to start your own reading adventure, I've found this interesting blog: Click here and you'll be able to choose as many titles as you want.

As an Indian proverb says,
a book, opened, it is a speaking brain;
closed, an awaiting friend ;
forgotten, a forgiving soul;
destroyed, a crying heart.

Books let us into their souls and lay open to us the secrets of our own.  William Hazlitt.

Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book.  Author Unknown.

Love the heart that hurts you, but never hurt the heart that loves you. Hindu proverbs.

Keep five yards from a carriage, ten yards from a horse, and a hundred yards from an elephant; but the distance one should keep from a wicked man cannot be measured.

Making predictions

Do you think future is written in the stars? Do the features related to your zodiac sign fit into your own personality? What about your Chinese sign? Has it foreseen any event in your life?
Read your horoscope thoroughly and write your own opinion using the first conditional and the future simple tense.

AQUARIUS (Independent, critical, inflexible and rebellious).
Something you have taken for granted may no longer be an option. Make life easier for yourself.


PISCES (Creative, emotional, kind and intuitive).
Take care with a sensitive soul or you could put your foot in it. Check arrangements you have made for the weekend.


ARIES (Active, straightforward, energetic, honest and aggressive).
Don't let the risk of failure hold you back. Just be yourself and enjoy whatever comes along.
 
TAURUS (Possessive, loyal, inflexible and strong).There is something you are dying to ask someone, why don't you try to make a phone call? Do it and it will lift a weight from your mind.


GEMINI (Intellectual, flexible, optimistic and volatile).Make a list of your best points, now do you see why someone is so fond of you? Let them back into your life before they give up.


CANCER (Perfectionist, over-sensitive, secretive and emotional). Try to see the funny side this week. Be more flexible and don't expect perfection.


LEO (Generous, caring, arrogant and self-centred).Spring cleans your mind and gets rid of the clutter. This weekend will bring a happy memory.


VIRGO (Observant, organized and shrewd). Talk to other people, they share your hopes and concerns. What you need is a bit more security.


LIBRA (Understanding, diplomatic and charming). Other people seem to have all the luck. Count your blessings. Make friendships stronger by more regular contact.


SCORPIO (Jealous, courageous, determinant and possessive).The easiest way forward is not always the best. Like chess, making the wrong can set you back.


SAGITTARIUS (Innovative, practical, optimistic and generous). More effort and your prospects will change dramatically. Give more of your time and less of your cash. Relax at the weekend.


CAPRICORN (Introvert, reserved, patient and spontaneous).Just sitting around is not an option. Get together with a friend and bring a sense of ridiculousness to get rid of an old problem.

CHINESE HOROSCOPE

On the road

Bus driver gets black eye after collision.

A motorist gave a bus driver a black eye after a collision between their vehicles at the junction of George Street and High Road in Croydon. The man appeared in court yesterday morning. He got a suspended prison sentence and had to pay compensation to the bus driver.

Randolph Green, aged 28, an electrical engineer, of Blackthorn Road, Tooting, admitted hitting Mr. Michael Teal.

Mr. Charles Smith, who was outside the cinema in High Road when the accident happened, gave evidence at the trial. He said: “After the collision between the bus and Green’s car there was an argument about the cause of the accident and the two men got very angry. Green jumped on the bonnet of the car, put his hand through the open window of the bus and hit the driver in the eye.”

The judge sentenced Green to 28 days imprisonment suspended for a year and ordered him to pay £50 compensation to Mr. Teal.

AFTER READING THIS ARTICLE, ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:

a)Where were the bus and the car when the accident happened?

b)Who were the two men involved in the accident?

c)How much compensation did Mr. Green have to pay Mr. Teal?

Heroine full time

Tobacconist heroine fights armed robber

Sixty-nine year old Monsalud Cabrera didn't think twice when faced with an armed robber in her Malaga shop on Tuesday. She defended herself with the first thing she had to hand: rolls of gift wrap. The tobacconist, who was behind the counter with her assistant at the time, started hitting out at the gun with the paper shouting "That's not real". A shot was fired, shattering the glass at the front of the counter, but by then, the robber had been sufficiently intimidated and left the premises empty-handed. "Divine intervention" was Monsalud's explanation for her instinctive reaction. 
Article taken from El Sur In English, by J.Cano.

Answer the following questions:
What happened?
Where did it take place? When?
What did the woman do?
What do you think of security measures at grocers' and department stores?

Traditional tale

Long time ago, I told you this tale from the Ivory Coast. As my new pupils don't know about it, I want them to share this experience with us. The picture, on the right, was painted by Paul Gauguin, 19th century.

Nowadays it's very common to study languages. But do we really know our mother tongue?

Zogloboló, an African king who took himself far too seriously, forbade his subjects to speak to him. They could only communicate with him through signs. One day, Zogloboló began a trip to meet with African kings in a nearby city. But he felt the urgent call of nature in his way and stepped aside to retrieve himself. As he was in a hurry, his cloak got tangled up and without realising it, he did it on himself.

When he returned to the road, there was great laughter: "Hahahahaha!"...His subjects tried to warn him with signs but Zogloboló didn't understand what they meant. So he appeared for the meeting with a foul-smelling "cake" on his cloak. The other kings began to hold their nose but Zogloboló, who didn't bat an eyelid, spoke: "I'm here to...", he began his speech, which was soon interrupted by another king: "You are a great leader, but I have to tell you that you have a "cake" on your cloak and we can no longer stand the terrible smell". Then, Zogloboló turned around and when he discovered it, he felt so embarrassed that he ran away from the group. Ever since, all his subjects had the right to speak and the king listened to them with patience and attention.

Fortunately, there's freedom of speech, but do we know how to speak and listen?

Source: Sofia Adalid's Collection of Tales of the World.

Bloomsday

All 16th June, Dublin remembers this same date in 1904 in Leopold Bloom's life, the main character of James Joyce's novel Ulysses.

This day is known as Bloomsday. The novel is the excuse for Dubliners and their visitors to relive Bloom's adventure which takes place during a day in different settings in Dublin. Thus, it's a tradition to visit his birthplace, have a walk along the Liffey or go down to the beach of Sandycove. If you go to the city centre, don't miss O'Connell Street, Belvedere school or Monto. These are remarkable landmarks in Joyce's life and novel and the scenery for many performances as well.

If you want to enjoy, a look on Ulysses is a great idea to start with.

More information, Bloomsday Festival 2010

The Three Waves

Traditional Norwegian tale.

Once upon a time, there a was a young fisherman called Olaf who lived happily with his parents. He had mysterious powers to look beyond reality and in addition, he could make himself invisible just by putting his hands over his eyes.

One day, Olaf's father went out fishing, but he never returned. The young man grew up and a ship hired him as a crew member. Before sailing, the sailors went to have some fun...except for Olaf, who stayed as a guard. Then, he saw some black crows come on the ship. Olaf made himself invisible and listened what they were saying: "Nobody knows that we're witches, and when the sailors go to sea, three giant waves will come up and they'll die. Ha, ha, ha!", the birds laughed outrageously, and went on, "And what they don't know either is that to save themselves they'll have to throw a birch beam over each wave".

Olaf quickly went for the birch beams and put them on the boat. And as it was planned, when things were most peaceful on deck the enormous waves rose up. Olaf told the sailors to throw the beams, one after the other..., and that's how they were saved. They reached the island of the castaways where Olaf found his father and took him back home.

If you go to the beach, be careful of the tides and the jellyfish! Enjoy the sea!
Source: Sofia Adalid's Collection of Tales of the World.

The Girl in the Portrait

The girl in the portrait

Traditional Baltic Tale

The natives of many cultures thought that if someone made a portrait of them, they were robbing their soul. Could there be some truth in this?

A young sailor found a phantom ship adrift. When he went on board, he came across a series of useless objects...except for the portrait of a mysterious girl who seemed to look at him from the bottom of her soul. The sailor hung the painting in his house and from then on, no longer felt so alone. The girl, apart from looking at him, cooked and did the housework when he was away. One day the sailor visited a witch: "If you want the girl to stay with you, wait until she steps out the painting, and then, keep the empty frame, under lock and key, in the basement".

The sailor followed her advice and a few days later, he married the girl. In nine months, they had a son who also became a sailor. They lived happily for many years until the old sailor died. That night, when the woman was preparing the shroud, she found the key of the basement. There, she discovered the frame and returned to the painting where she had always been. When the son came home after a long voyage, he looked for his parents everywhere, even in the basement, where he found his mother's portrait when she was much younger. Then, he understood everything: he hung the portrait in the ship so that she returned to the sea.

Maybe portraits don't have a true soul, but they do have something that unsettles and attracts us.
Source: Sofia Adalid's Collection of Tales of the World.