ROB'S CLASSES

You will have your conversation classes with Rob from 10.15to 11.15 on the following Fridays:
4th April / 18th April / 23rd May
We will have him in class on 11th April (The Kite Runner will be on 9th April) / 16th May (instead of the class 15th May)

LOOKING FOR A JOB?

I've been asked about students who speak good English, German and/or French who might be interested in working as a tourist guide in Huelva and surrounding area. I immediately thought about those of you who are unemployed and looking for a job. Do I need to give names???

Get in touch with SARA RODRIGUEZ CABRITA sararod68@hotmail.com or 696431071.

Good luck!!

I'M BACK!!

I've been neglecting you and the blog lately, haven't I? I've been a bit too busy, even at Easter.
Right, we're about to finish U.6 about MIND.
Some of the material I've handed out in class can be found below:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_50gmj5fff3
The other day we corrected a "test" which you had to do at home, but as if you were in class (not to waste class time, you know I trust you). This is the test, for those of you missing those days.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_49hs48p9ct + a photocopy revising Wish Sentences not available at the moment (class file).
Homework for the following day: Inside Out p.59 Reading "The Canine" +ex. 1/3+p.60 Close up ex.1/3/4/5/7.
See you next Tuesday.

MIND. UNIT 6

HOMEWORK:
- http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_4659ss7qfk
- reading on page 56 in your books together with p.56 lexis 1.
- reading the following text about BAD LANGUAGE, we'll be working on that with Jessica.http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_47fg9zk7gt
- I also handed out the following document, it will be the second part of Jessica's class.http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_48fb6dbcc8
- finally we're interested in knowing more about the Tourette's syndrome and Oliver Sacks, if you want.

EOI MIERES

I came across an interesting blog by a teacher in EOI Mieres, her name is Carmen, and she shares her blog with her students. I think it's a very interesting thing to do, so I may start sharing my blog with you. Ready?? I want to get your opinions about this.
http://web.educastur.princast.es/eoi/eoimiere/myweb/blog/ . As you can see students post their own review of the books they are reading.

Don't miss the other activities for the 5th year in the same blog, English department.

ST. PATRICK'S CLASS

On Monday 3rd we had a class with Robert, who tried to show us a bit of the Irish Culture related to the history and nowadays' celebration of St. Patrick's Day. Some of the material used in the class will be found in the following links.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4xnb9AmY28 SHORT CLIP FROM IRISH FILM
http://www.irelandseye.com/animation/explorer/leprechaun.html FAIRIES
http://holidays.kaboose.com/patrick-history.html HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Video_Clips&content_type_id=1328&display_order=6&mini_id=1082 VIDEO (4 mins)
http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/quiz.htm QUIZZ
http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/hisfarmzo1/l/blquizholstpat.htm QUIZZ WITH BASICS

The following is some information Robert also gave you, but, unfortunately I cannot remember the site I got it from, so there you go.
We celebrate Saint Patrick's Day each year on March 17th. The festive holiday has everyone wearing green (so they don't get pinched) and chatting of four leaf clovers, shamrocks, lucky leprechauns, and kissing some big rock called a blarney stone. Does it all sound a bit strange? It did to me too but after a bit of research it all made sense. Here's what I found out.
Did you know that Saint Patrick's name at birth was Maewyn Succat? He was born somewhere near the end of the fourth century and took on the name Patrick or Patricus, after he became a priest, much later in his life. At the age of sixteen Maewyn Succat was kidnapped from his native land of Britain, by a band pirates, and sold into slavery in Ireland. Maewyn worked as a shepherd and turned to religion for solace. After six long years of slavery he escaped to the northern coast of Gaul.
In Gaul, Maewyn became Patrick (a more christian name) and studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre for twelve years. He came to believe that it was his calling to convert the pagans of Ireland to Christianity. St. Palladius was appointed to go to Ireland first but transferred to Scotland two years later opening up the door for Patrick. Patrick was about sixty years old when he arrived in Ireland and it is said that he had a winning personality that helped him win converts. He used the shamrock, which resembles a three-leafed clover, to help explain the concept of the Trinity (father, son, holy spirit).
Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries and setting up schools and churches to aid in converting the Irish country to Christianity. Legend has it that Saint Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland. Evidently, they all went into the sea and drowned. The snake is a pagan symbol and perhaps this is a figurative tale explaining that he drove paganism out of Ireland.
Patrick's mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. He then retired to County Down and died on March 17 in 461 AD. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since. The first year St. Patrick's Day was celebrated in this country was 1737 in Boston, Massachusetts. As the saying goes, on this day "everybody is Irish!" Over 100 U.S. cities now hold Saint Patrick's Day parades.
Shamrock
St. Patrick used the shamrock leaf to symbolize the Trinity, and today many people wear a shamrock to commemorate Saint Patrick's Day.
Blarney Stone
So what's all this talk of kissing the Blarney Stone?
Blarney Castle is located in County Cork, Ireland. Built in 1446 by Cormac Laidhim McCarthy (Lord of Muskerry) the Blarney stone is located in the southern tower wall between the main castle wall and the parapet. In order to kiss the stone one has to lie on their back and bend backward (and downward), holding iron bars for support. It is said that the Blarney stone has magical properties. As legend has it an old woman cast a spell on the stone to reward a king who had saved her from drowning. Kissing the stone gave the king the ability to speak sweetly and convincingly.
Leprechauns
Just what does a Leprechaun look like and why are they so special? A Leprechaun (Irish fairy) looks like a little old man. He's about 2 feet tall and dresses like a shoemaker with a cocked hat and leather apron. A Leprechaun's personality is described as aloof and unfriendly. They live alone and pass the time by making shoes. They're special because they also possess a hidden pot of gold.
If you listen closely for the sound of their hammer you might be able to capture one. If you do you can force him (with the threat of bodily violence) to reveal where he's hidden his treasure. Be careful! Do not take your eyes off him for if you do he will surely vanish and your hopes of finding his treasure will vanish with him.
Green
So why do we all wear green?
Probably because you'll be pinched if you don't! School children started this tradition. Green is also the color of spring, the shamrock and is connected with hope and nature.
The luck of the Irish
Want to be lucky this St. Patrick's Day? Follow this advice:
1. Find a four-leaf clover. 2. Wear green (so you don't get pinched). 3. Kiss the blarney stone. 4. Catch a Leprechaun if you can.
In honor of the festivities we leave you with this Irish blessing: May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow and may trouble avoid you wherever you go!

Once Robert left we did a listening from your books, p.48 "A lucky break", together with the exercises in the "close up" p. 49 1,3 and 6.
As part of your homework I asked you to do some more grammar exercises. I cannot upload the copies, sorry!! But I'm uploading the revision of unit 5 in the following link.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_44gf39cqhp

Remember there won't be a class next Thursday!! See you on Tuesday 11th March!