BITS AND PIECES

AWEINSPIRING BLOG!!

2008-06-10T00:44:00.002+02:00

I've come across a beautifully pictured blog by a person who is in her 60's, I think it's well worth a visit. http://60b460.blogspot.com/ I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. Don't you think her drawings are great?

MARKS AND APPOINTMENTS FOR ORAL TESTS!!

2008-06-10T00:08:00.003+02:00

You can already see your marks in the Reading, Writing and Listening Tests together with your appointed time and date for the ORAL TEST. Go to http://huelva.eeooii.org/ ACTUALIZACION CONTINUA: TABLON DE ANUNCIOS / DEPARTAMENTO DE INGLES. I hope you can easily find it.

See you soon.

KEY TO LAST CLOZE TESTS

2008-05-28T12:49:00.000+02:00

The following links are the key for the cloze tests I gave out in class last Tuesday.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_76hmr87gfx
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_77d86dpmhn
Remember tomorrow Jessica will have her last conversation class. Don't you miss it!!
After that we'll have our last class. I hope to see you all there.

JESSICA'S LAST CLASS

2008-05-22T17:44:00.000+02:00

Although Jessica is having a conversation class with you next Thursday, it was her last class today. We had fun, as usual with her, talking about American English and British English and her story about her English friend's pants.

The following document shows what we've been doing in class today.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_75gtsv3nhj .It includes the original text "An Englishman in New York" and the answer key.

Remember about the end-of-the-year party next Thursday 29th May from 19.30 to 22.30, it includes music and a band, a cooking contest... And it is a good chance to meet Jessica before she says goodbye.

LISTENING PRACTICE

2008-05-20T19:36:00.001+02:00

I haven't posted interesting stuff for a long time. In this case it is a site with a lot of LISTENING, WATCHING AND READING. Try some of them, depending on your taste or mood of the moment. Definitely, enjoy them!
http://www.kantalk.com/lesson/View/ID/237 Particularly this one is about FLORENCE. You can find many others in http://www.kantalk.com/Lesson/ Don't you trust the rating, when it says intermediate, it doesn't really mean it. Believe me!!

LESSON CANCELLED

2008-05-15T20:09:00.000+02:00

Sorry, but there won't be a lesson tomorrow Friday 16th. Family reasons!! I will explain next Tuesday 20th. Rob will be coming, so you will have a conversation class at 10.15, plus our class at 11.15.
Sorry about the inconveniences.

EIGHT LESSONS TO GO!!

2008-04-30T19:40:00.000+02:00

We need to bear in mind that there are less than 8 classes to go. We did quite a lot in class the other day:
- We decided that from the 13th May onwards, we will start our classes with NEWS DISCUSSION. It means that every day 3 of you will come to class at 11.00, I'll give you a different piece of news to read, and we'll start the lesson at 11.15 by talking in turns about the news you read, and end up discussing your partners news. Just a little bit of practice for the oral exam in June.
- We did the listening on p.106 about a CHANGE OF PLAN, and revised the structures on p. 105 "Language Reference: the future seen from the past" As part of your homework for the following day you have to do ex. 4 on the same page. This is the round off for the unit about the future (U.8).
- Then we did another listening, back to p.25 7, and focussed on the Language Reference: hedging. This is very useful for our NEWS DISCUSSION and led us to U.9 which deals with the news and headlines. As part of your homework I gave you "some" handouts:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_73xwcj89ch ABOUT HEADLINES
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_74gfffmmfb CLOZE TEST

CONGRATULATIONS

2008-04-30T19:29:00.000+02:00

I wanted to congratulate you all for your book presentations last 24th April. They were very good, and I think you have plenty of things to do once you finish your studies with us, for example reading that book you liked so much!

In the link below you will get a cloze test which Veronica kindly prepared for us.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_72fhvv8nfx

OUT FOR A DRINK

2008-04-20T22:28:00.001+02:00

Last Thursday we went for a drink and some tapas. We had a few good chats. Carolina, you know whatever you decide it will be the best. Big hugs from everybody!! And cheer up!!

DR JEKYLL & MR HYDE

2008-04-18T15:46:00.000+02:00

On Monday 28th April you will have the chance of watching the play
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. It will take place in Gran Teatro at 18.00. You can get your ticket in class next week or at the gate just before the performance starts. Hope to see you all there.

AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH

2008-04-18T12:20:00.000+02:00

After watching this documentary about global warming we had a bit of a discussion with Jessica. As part of your homework, there you go the correction of "Global Warming".http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_70gtvtzcfg

SMS TEXT

2008-04-14T11:15:00.000+02:00

Last Friday 11th April Robert was in class with us. He taught us about sms texts in English. In the following link you can find some of the material used for it.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_58fvct3hg8

We also learnt some idioms and proverbs.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_59dp326pdq

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_64cc9rk8g3

As part of your homework, I handed out the following documents, don't try to do the cloze test without doing the exercises. http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_696z8pvnhn

CUTOMORO

MY PORTFOLIO UNITS 6/7

2008-04-08T10:25:00.000+02:00

As a round off for units 6/7 there you have the portfolio so that you can decide what you will have to work a little harder on. http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_57gzmcssc6

We will start unit 8 by watching a video about Stephen Hawking. Remember tomorrow we will have a special class to watch THE KITE RUNNER (10.15-12.15 in the lab) and Jessica will come with us after that to share our thoughts about the film.

I'll ask you to send me the composition by Thursday morning, before 10 a.m. because, otherwise, I won't be able to correct it to hand them back to you on Friday. Don't you hate me too intensely, please!!

JESSICA'S CLASS

2008-04-03T13:46:00.000+02:00

Jessica was with us today, and we did the following activities.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_53cbzswjdw

Then we did exercises 1/2 on p.61 together with the listening on p.62. I also handed out the following document about different ways to request things politely (MIND).
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_56fb8bm6cn

As for homework: In your books p. 63 ex.1/2; p.64 1/ p.66 ex.1

See you next week! Remember we're having class on Tuesday, Wednesday (10.15-13.15 Film+discussion) and Friday 11.15-13.30 (Rob in class with us).

PETS AND ANIMALS

2008-04-01T13:39:00.000+02:00

We've corrected homework from your books pp. 59-60 and I've handed out a xcopy about PARTICIPLE CLAUSES (grammar point in the unit) taken from Grammarway 4, together with some exercises (16/17).

Then we started a discussion about the use of ANIMALS FOR PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT. That's the second part of the following file. In the first part you can see exercises about vocabulary related to ANIMALS. HOMEWORK http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_52pgnqbdfh

Jessica is coming to class on Thursday, and we'll listen to a song, play bingos... It should be fun, don't miss it!

ROB'S CLASSES

2008-03-31T13:29:00.000+02:00

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?

2008-03-28T15:22:00.000+01:00

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!!

2008-03-28T12:04:00.000+01:00

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

2008-03-11T13:49:00.000+01:00

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

2008-03-10T22:06:00.000+01:00

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

2008-03-04T12:06:00.000+01:00

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!

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE STILL YOUNG

2008-02-26T21:54:00.000+01:00

The following link will take you to a site where you can get information about SCHOLARSHIPS for young English learners (18 to 30 y.o.) for next summer.
MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN Y CIENCIA (Orden ECI/ /2008, de 4 de febrero)

Those of you who are still young, and are scholarship holders, as Estela points out, don't miss this oportunity! I wish...!

TODAY'S CLASS

2008-02-26T10:59:00.001+01:00

THESE ARE THE KEY FOR THE OTHER DAY'S HOMEWORK FROM YOUR BOOKS AND HOMEWORK FOR NEXT MONDAY (WITH ROBBERT)
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_43gsvt5zg2
THESE ARE SOME REFERENCE SITES FOR YOU TO REVISE AND WORK WITH CONDITIONAL SENTENCES.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv342.shtml
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-sentences
http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.html
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/if.htm

WE DID SOME WORK GROUP USING THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_41c44ptwpz
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_42hm45rncz

VIDEO NATION AGAIN!

2008-02-25T00:01:00.000+01:00

THIS IS JUST TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU SHOULD OPEN THIS DOCUMENT AND WRITE DOWN YOUR NAME AND THE TITLE OF THE VIDEO YOU'VE CHOSEN.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_33d3tgm6hb&pli=1

A TRIP TO DUBLIN

2008-02-22T12:42:00.001+01:00

We're setting up a trip to Dublin. Dates 8th -11th May. 500euros.
The price includes all kinds of transportation from Huelva-Málaga. And once in Dublin from airport to city centre and the other way around when returning back to Spain. The lodging would be in double rooms in the Harcourt Hotel and breakfast is included. http://www.harcourthotel.com/
The flight from Malaga leaves midday and gets there 3ish. So you will have part of the afternoon and all evening free to start tasting the city. As for the flight back it leaves at 6.30 in the evening, still time in the morning and afternoon to sightsee a little more, you should forget about shopping because it is a Sunday. The flight will arrive in Malaga at about 10.30 p.m., and back to Huelva.

I know it's not a bargain, but as prices go in Ireland... It's a good chance to practice your English and move around Joyce's city. I've heard some students would be interested in organising some money raising, verbena , t-shirts...

I'd like to know your opinions here. Would you like to go? Can you go?...

One more thing, you may be wondering why the flight is leaving from Malaga and not from Faro or Sevilla. Easy answer, it's a matter of budget. Over 100euros more expensive than from Malaga!

SECOND READING OF THE YEAR!

2008-02-21T20:25:00.001+01:00

In the following file you will see a list of my suggestions for your second reading. You have up to 3rd March to decide which of the books you'd be interested in reading, and why. In order to make up your mind you can try to find information in the net. I haven't read all of them, but I think there's a wide offer to fit everybody's interest. As a follow-up of the reading, you will have to convince your classmates to read "your" book in the future. I may add some new titles if they come to my mind. IT'S OK WITH ME IF TWO PEOPLE WANT TO READ THE SAME BOOK.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dgb2k5np_40kqkg86dc&hl=en
See you next week, and remember Robert is not coming on Monday 25th, but on Monday 3rd March, so our next class will be on Tuesday 26th. See you all, because I keep missing some of you!

LUCK

2008-02-19T13:54:00.000+01:00

I've missed many of you in class today. We've started the new unit which deals with the idea of Luck. We've corrected the fill in the gap about MONEY. This is the key http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_34zthpgbfz

We've also practised some listening from VIDEO NATION, about money
GROW ON TREES http://www.bbc.co.uk/videonation/articles/b/bradford_growontrees.shtml
OUT OF DEBT http://www.bbc.co.uk/videonation/articles/s/southern_outofdebt.shtml

After that we were talking about what we thought good/bad luck was. I handed out the following document form "breakingnewsenglish" http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_35fp5mfnf3 . The listening is part of your homework.
As part of your homework, you will also have to revise your CONDITIONAL SENTENCES, from Grammarway pp.126 et al. and do exercises 7,8 and 10 in that unit. That's not to be corrected in class, because you're supposed to know this grammar point. If you cannot handle conditional sentences well, there is no way we can work with WISH, RATHER and REGRET.

To finish the class we did a CLOZE TEST in pairs, so that you could help each other. This is it, http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_36cqs8m8pq, the exercise about word formation is for you to do at home. Remember Jessica will be coming to class next Thursday and we'll talk about WEDDINGS. So, it would be a good idea if you thought about your favourite wedding.
To round this off, you will also have to do the READING in your book, p.45 and exercises p.44,1); p.45,3) and p.46 1),3),4) and 5)

I know this is loads of homework, but I'm afraid we're back on the road! We have a long way to go. See you all next Thursday! You're excused Lourdes, I hope you're getting better soon.

AFTER THE EXAM...

2008-02-18T14:23:00.000+01:00

Once the exams have been corrected and we know the marks, what can we do to continue improving and working? I came accross some good websites which will help you:

* IMPROVE YOUR DESCRIPTIONS. PLAY THE “LONELY HEARTS” GAME IN http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/interestsentences/adjectives/game.shtml

* IMPROVE YOUR WRITING BY WORKING WITH COMPOUND SENTENCES IN http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/interestsentences/compoundsentences/game.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/interestsentences/compoundsentences/worksheet.shtml

* IMPROVE YOUR USE OF TENSES DO IT IN http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/tenses/getting_the_right_tense/game.shtml LEVEL 2

* PRACTICE CLOZE TESTS http://esl.about.com/library/weekly/aa020601a.htm

TALKING ABOUT AUSTRALIA

2008-02-14T18:32:00.000+01:00

Australia is lately coming up very frequently in my life. I told you about the film
THE RABBIT-PROOF FENCE

THE SUBJECT is new to most of us.

THE MAKING OF THE MOST PAINFUL SCENE is worth watching as well.

THE MUSIC is a welcome to Peter Gabriel

VIDEO NATION

2008-02-14T14:20:00.000+01:00

In the end I've decided to invite you as collaborators, so that you simply have to open the document below, choose the date and write the title of the chosen video together with your name. That's all folks! Let's see how it works.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_33d3tgm6hb

LATEST NEWS ABOUT THE ORAL EXAM

2008-02-06T16:03:00.000+01:00

I’ve been thinking about next week and how to organise the oral exam so that we can still fit our assistant teachers in. I don’t think we should spare either Rob’s (Monday 11th Feb) or Jessica’s class. Therefore, and to do that, we’ll have to get you divided into three different groups for the oral section and in three different days as you will see in the attached file.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dgb2k5np_32gfsp58ct&hl=en

You will be allowed to swap places, but you will have to tell me beforehand. We can shortly discuss the possible changes tomorrow before the exam in case somebody had a problem.

As I told you in class, it will mainly be an ORAL PRACTICE with your classmates, as we’ve been doing since October. We’ll all be in Room 9 and I’ll give you a different piece of news for each of you, you’ll have 15 minutes to read and get ready to:
GIVE A SHORT SUMMARY
GIVE YOUR OPINION ABOUT IT
RELATE IT TO ANY OTHER UP-TO-DATE NEWS OR INCIDENTS

Remember previous to the exam we have a different activity everyday:
7th Feb. 11.15-12.15: WRITING TEST
11th Feb 11.15-12.15: ROBERT’S CLASS
14th Feb 11.15-12.15: JESSICA’S CLASS (about “Weddings”)

I hope on 19th Feb we can have some time to correct the exam as a group and to have some feedback about expectations and opinions about it.

TOP WRITINGS!!

2008-02-05T11:31:00.000+01:00

Here I come again! I've just finished correcting your compositions. In general terms they are very good, I can see hard work and how much you are learning. I cannot help but showing you some of these "treasures".
LOURDES': http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dgb2k5np_30gfs4nrc6&hl=en
VERONICA'S: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dgb2k5np_31g4nqk7gx&hl=en
ELO'S is on the way, so keep checking for it.

The idea of publishing these writings is, again, for you to have a reference of other partners' writings. Enjoy them!

MY LATEST DISCOVERIES IN THE NET

2008-02-04T22:26:00.000+01:00

As Rob told us the other day in class there is a web site where you can see MANY films and tv comedies. I tried it and came across one I just LOVE! It's called Samantha Who? And to make it short, it's the story of a 30-year-old successful vicepresident of a real estate company who suffers from amnesia after a car accident. There are only 9 episodes yet (I have already seen all of them, by he way) and they are just 23-minute long. It's American English but not difficult to follow. ENJOY THEM, AND DON'T FORGET, IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT WAY TO PRACTISE YOUR ENGLISH!!!

http://www14.alluc.org/alluc/

Interesting as well the documentary about Spain!! Same site, different section.

"GOD'S WAITING ROOM". Totally different topic: A brilliant documentary by Channel 4 in the UK about an Islamic Funeral home run in London. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8312558074382407564&hl=en

Ramadan: A Modern Muslim. A BBC documentary run in the UK to show ramadan in the uk for some Muslims. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3571021111378471616

ELENA'S GRANDSON

2008-02-04T11:04:00.000+01:00

We have a proud Grandma among us. Elena is sending a short video about "her big man".

So cute!! Congratulations, Elena!!

GROUNDHOG DAY

2008-01-30T00:06:00.000+01:00

The following is a trailer from The Groundhog Day. Jessica was telling us about it and about the weather. Next week there will be a copy of the film for you to borrow.

These were Jessica's handouts about the history of Groundhog Day and some vocabulary about the weather. Included in the file you can also see the listening we did at the end of the class.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_27f7b45rdz
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_2657hzggfj
Remember we also mentioned Candlemas, and I also found out its relationship with Irish customs.
http://www.schooloftheseasons.com/candlemas.html
There's also a conection between Candlemas and Groundhog Day, related to weather lore. See the following link:
http://http//www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/candlemas.shtml

Changing topics, the timetable for the exams is the following:

TUESDAY 5TH FEBRUARY 11.00-13.30, ROOM 9: READING / CLOZE / LISTENING
THURSDAY 7TH FEBRUARY 11.15-12.15, ROOM 9: WRITING
THURSDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 10-11.30 / 11.45-13.15, ROOM 9 : GROUP SPEAKING

REBUILDING BAMIYAN

2008-01-29T23:19:00.000+01:00

Thanks to Carolina for sharing with us these exceptional videos about the Buddhas. If you can spare a little time, they're very worth watching, because we realise how much we have learnt with everybody's presentations as well as with the reading of The Kite Runner. I bet you some months ago we couldn't even pinpoint Afghanistan in a map.
There you go the videos, I hope you enjoy them. They provide excellent listening practice.

Carolina also recommends the book 'Swallows of Kabul' by Yasmina Khadra and a friend has recommended her 'The Bookseller of Kabul' by Asne Aseierstad, which was a best-seller years ago. Thanks for the hint, Carolina!!

FATHER TED: IRISH HUMOUR

2008-01-26T06:14:00.000+01:00

The following are some trailers from Rob's favourite Irish comedy, it's called "Father Ted". Some episodes can be seen in www.stage6.com .On Monday, Robert will introduce the characters and will give us a little background information about it. Enjoy them!!

THE VERY FIRST BIT

THE MILKMAN

LINGERIE ESCAPADE

THE KITE RUNNER AND YOU

2008-01-25T04:15:00.000+01:00

Thanks a lot to all of you. I'M VERY PROUD and I really appreciate your great effort. I think it's been worth it because we have learnt a lot about the following topics:
1. "THEMES IN THE KITE RUNNER". Jessica made us talk about loyalty,sin,immigration, war,... among other topics that are repeated again and again in this novel. Thanks Jessica for getting involved.
2. "DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS IN AFGHANISTAN". Nuria started with some background needed to understand the reasons for a war in Afghanistan. Then it was Carolina's turn to teach us something about the PASHTUMS and to round it off Lourdes told us about the HAZARAS. Excellent work! Well explained and clearly.
3. "THE PHYLOSOPHY BEHIND ISLAM". With Luís we've learnt a little bit about SUFISM, NASRUDIN and MUSIC. Beautiful music he brought, didn't he?
4. "WOMEN'S LACK OF RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN". First of all it was Elena who was setting the background for her group mates. Sometimes computers make us suffer. Sorry,Elena if you've had a rough time today, and even though we could not see all the pictures you had prepare for us to see, I'm sure everybody appreciates the information you've shared with us. We'll try to find a way for you to show some of them in the blog. HERE WE HAVE ELENA'S PRESENTATION.http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_28cs43bvcd&btr=EmailImport. http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_29cjftnzr5&btr=EmailImport
Then Juanma and Eloisa came with their Powerpoint presentation to try to draw some light on the reasons why women in islamic countries have NO RIGHTS. Very interesting information you all offered, and a serious invitation for reading ONE THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS.
5. "HOW TO FLY A KITE". I'm sure all of you will agree that Verónica's presentation was awesome, the music, the pictures, the words she wrote... She's an artist, and as an artist she still gets nervous before every show. A bit bossy as well, but we'll excuse her, won't we? Then came Carmen, who was explaining the origins of the kite. And finally for today, Lucía illustrated us on how to fly a kite,which, by the way is not the same as "go fly a kite". Excellent job yours too!
We still have one group to go, that would be next Monday, let's say at about 12ish. I'm sorry but we were working under pressure because of time and Luisa, Estela and Feli will be so kind as to tell us about "THE KITE RUNNER: THE FILM".
Ata will also tell us about one of the topics in The Kite Runner, but I don't know which one yet.
I think it would be a good idea if we could upload this information in the blog. To do that I will need your help. We'll set it up in class.
ONCE AGAIN THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR WORK, I REALLY ENJOYED EVERY ONE OF YOUR PRESENTATIONS!!!

AWESOME SOUNDTRACK!!

2008-01-13T19:59:00.000+01:00

I've just learnt from Eloisa's mail that The Kite Runner has been nominated for The Golden Globes as the Best Foreign Film. You can check on that in the following link: http://www.thegoldenglobes.com/

Does the following music ring a bell to you?

It's Alberto Iglesias' score for a Balay's advert. I've also learnt that The Kite Runner has been nominated for its Original Score and guess who its composer is. Exactly, Spanish musician Alberto Iglesias, if you click below you will have the chance of listening to something awesome. It's called "The Kite Tournament" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHLvTNi5ml0

If you want to listen to some other scores by Mr Iglesias, click below.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/radio/B000VLPV0M/ref=pd_krex_listen_dp_img/002-3118685-4671267?ie=UTF8&refTagSuffix=dp_img
http://musictonic.com/music/Alberto-Iglesias

I'm really looking forward to watching the film, so we must prick up our ears for its premiere in Seville.

FAMILY AFFAIRS

2008-01-10T13:28:00.000+01:00

Unfortunately Jessica was ill today and we couldn't talk about THE KITE RUNNER, we'll do it all together on 24th January, instead of 17th as we had previously arranged.

We were working with http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/0511/051123-stress.html and talking about working mothers before watching a video from INSIDE OUT.

As part of your homework you were asked to get ready to talk about your relationship with your parents and to ask Robert questions about his relationship with his relatives. The idea is for us to compare SPANISH FAMILIES WITH IRISH FAMILIES.

A cloze test for you to fill in can be found in the following link:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_24gwqzj2dx

Remember our next class in ON MONDAY not on Tuesday as usual, because Robert is coming to be with us.

GIVE YOURSELF A TREAT!

2008-01-09T11:35:00.000+01:00

The following link will take you to the awe-inspiring Oslo. If you try Easter season, the ticket fare is 192 euros. The problem may be lodging, which for a week may be a bit expensive. What do you make of this?

http://www.sterling.dk/es/flight

NEW YEAR'S REVOLUTION

2008-01-08T14:38:00.000+01:00

I came across this video in You Tube. I couldn't find the lyrics for the song, but I don't think it will be difficult for you to follow. Enjoy it. There's some more interesting information about the authors in the net.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eOu-jVuuxo

Apart from watching this video we went through the lyrics in the following document:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_22cxvvn2fr

The following activity had to do with one of the listenings in breakingnewsenglish.com:

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/0801/080101-new_year.html . But before doing the listening go through the WARM UPS and BEFORE LISTENING activities in the following file:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_23dnv5csfh. There is some homework for you to do in that file.

Let me remind you that by 17th January you will have prepared one of the topics to talk about THE KITE RUNNER, and hopefully, if Jessica feels well, she will tell us about this novel as well.

A PLACE WHICH MADE AN IMPRESSSION ON LOURDES

2007-12-28T16:35:00.000+01:00

The document below contains the composition Lourdes wrote and the final part of which made an impression on me.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dgb2k5np_21d2jt9hd2&hl=en

"A place which has made an impression on you"

2007-12-19T17:10:00.000+01:00

The following link shows some of the sentences taken from your writings about "A place which has made an impression on you". I think you can easily improve them, we'll try and correct them tomorrow in class once Jessica leaves.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_20g6q63zc7

THURSDAY 13TH DEC

2007-12-13T18:08:00.000+01:00

We started the class by comenting on the changes in the Evaluation system, previous to that Verónica informed everybody about the class representatives meeting last Monday.

Today it was basically correction class. We went through the correction of the cleft-sentences left from the other day, we corrected inversion homework, both from your books p.28 and from the photocopies. Finally we corrected the lexis exercises from p. 26-27 in Inside Out. To round emphasis off I asked you to do some extra homework about both cleft-sentences and inversion. I'm also attaching the key, so we will only correct those examples/exercises which you arises some kind of doubt.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_19fwwngmdg

I remind you that Thursday 18th is the deadline for your composition, "A place which made an impression on me". The instructions are in Inside Out p. 29 Anecdote.

REFURBISHING. THE PICTURE

2007-12-11T13:32:00.000+01:00

Remember when I showed you the picture of a painfully disastrous living room?? I think I finally found the way to show it to you!! Keep your fingers crossed!!
http://docs.google.com/PresentationEditor?id=dgb2k5np_17c4k8jgx
You will have to enlarge the image using your mouse, this is the best I could do!!

EVALUATION SYSTEM 2007-08

2007-12-11T13:10:00.000+01:00

The following document is for you to be informed of the changes in the evaluation system since we started our classes at the end of September. Due to new legislation our previous ideas had to be slightly changed. Read it carefully and in case you have a doubt POST A COMMENT!!
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb2k5np_16dvwg5qdm

TODAY'S CLASS

2007-12-11T00:50:00.000+01:00

First of all Verónica told us about Queen Elizabeth from www.breakingnewsenglish.com.

Then Robert showed us his Power Point presentation about Limerick and we could learn quite a few things about his city.

In the second part of the class we went down to work with grammar. First we revised some of the Cleft Sentences due for homework. We introduced another kind of emphatic structures, INVERSION. These are the handouts with the grammar explanation together with the exercises to practice it.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dgb2k5np_14g4b863gt&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dgb2k5np_15dbcqxsf6&hl=en (HOMEWORK)

This is part of your homework too. In this case it is a description of Kabul and it will help you revise and learn some vocabulary to describe a city.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dgb2k5np_5fv3npb&hl=en (HOMEWORK)

The writing for the unit is due for Tuesday next week, and it is explained in Inside Out p.29 Anecdote ex.1"A Place that has made an Impression on You". It doesn't necessarily have to be a description of a visit to a city, it can be any place which has made an impression on you. (IT IS A PLACE WHICH HAS MADE AN IMPRESSION ON YOU THAT YOU HAVE TO WRITE ABOUT. What's this??) 150 to 200 words, I prefer quality to quantity!! Remember my expectations on you are high: some way to show emphasis, special adjectives to describe a city, not to forget compound words, adverbs, phrasal verbs... and so many things you have already learnt.

I haven't forgotten about the key for the Cleft Sentences we didn't correct in class, but I forgot my pen at work, I promise I'll try to post it tomorrow.

Last but not least, remember you're having conversation class with Jessica next Thursday at 10.15. Am I wrong??

See you ALL in class the following day!

TOO LATE FOR THANKSGIVING??

2007-12-03T19:06:00.000+01:00

Remember when Jessica came to talk about Thanksgiving and I told you about some background information about this celebration?? There you go!! You can have a go at the quiz!
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dgb2k5np_3d35v34&hl=en

AMIR'S HOUSE from The Kite Runner

2007-12-03T18:52:00.000+01:00

At last! I think I've been able to upload one of the handouts without showing all the text. Click below and you will hopefully see part of your homework.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dgb2k5np_7dv5dq9&hl=ens

LEARNING ENGLISH THROUGH MOVIES

2007-12-03T17:31:00.000+01:00

Talking about houses!!! As you watch the following short movie draw your attention to the house items. Another caotic man, and this is not the IKEA's one!
The link below is very useful because you can watch this movie and many others with or without subtitles, you can try the quizzes and that's a different way to learn English and enjoy yourselves.
http://www.lingual.net/lingualproductitems/viewmovie.php?productid=3

The commercials are particularly worth watching!! Don't you miss "Molson-My name is Joe, and I am Canadian". This ad, which poked fun at Americans’ faulty perceptions of Canada, was an instant hit.
http://www.lingual.net/lingualproductitems/

CLASS: TUESDAY 27TH

2007-11-27T13:35:00.000+01:00

We rounded off unit 2 by correcting some of the sentences from your writing about Larry Dunman's wife's account of the restaurant incident.

Carolina told us about her piece of news "Many health foods saltier than Big Macs" that you can listen to and work with in http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/0708/070801-healthy_eating.html

Then we started the new unit, which will deal with the idea of dwellings. Including HOUSES, CITIES AND THE WORLD. Some vocabulary to describe worn out furniture and parts of the house that need to be refurbished. As for grammar, I handed out a xcopy with some structures such as HAVE SBDY DO STHG / HAVE SBDY DOING STHG/HAVE STHG DONE/ STHG NEEDS DOING OR TO BE DONE. The attached document was handed out in class and it includes part of your homework
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dgb2k5np_9f8wrth&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dgb2k5np_11cbtjb3&hl=en CLOZE TEST

There's plenty of homework to do, mostly dictionary work. Jessica is coming to class next Thursday and we'll be talking about "Houses in the States and in Spain", we'll watch the IKEA advertisement again, so that we can learn some more vocabulary. I love it!! We will go through the vocabulary of different types of houses to compare American English and British English... I don't know what else can we do in just one hour??

I think this is all!!

A MAN AT HOME ON HIS OWN

2007-11-26T10:24:00.000+01:00

The new unit deals with the idea of HOME, CITY AND HOUSES. This is a great video to describe what can go wrong in a house. As you watch it try to think about the vocabulary you would be needing to describe it.

KABUL BEAUTY SCHOOL

2007-11-25T01:33:00.000+01:00

This is a beautiful story about some women helping different women. Both videos are related to Afghanistan.

6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="426" height="260" id="embedded_player16x9">

The quality of the following video may not be excellent, but it's very moving.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiEZY1jOvks

SOMETHING A BIT MORE TRIVIAL

2007-11-25T00:16:00.000+01:00

This is how the SHUT UP sentence from King Juan Carlos was seen abroad. Don't you miss the ringtone either.
I hope you enjoy it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7080000/newsid_7089100/7089186.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm&asb=1&news=1&ms3=60

THE KITE RUNNER: A PROJECT WORK

2007-11-24T23:14:00.000+01:00

The following are some interesting sites to learn a bit more about the novel we're reading, its author and Afghanistan and its people. Now, don't you panic! The idea would be for you to get divided into small groups and start to work and research on one of the topics below, or any others you may consider interesting.

* Films about Afghanistan. I was trying to get them in amazon.com but the DVD is zone 1 so it cannot be seen in Europe. I haven't been successful with emule yet. I'll keep on trying. If any of you were lucky enough...
http://www.makhmalbaf.com/movies.php?m=59
http://www.beautyacademyofkabul.com/
* Listenings. Apart from the audiobook of The Kite Runner, you have the chance of listening to the author talking on a radio program in the following sites.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4795618
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1358775
*Videos. Apart from listening to him, remember you can also watch him in the following sites, I'm afraid it's a bit too long but you can always choose what you want to listen to.
http://fora.tv/2006/06/17/BGE_Opening_Salon_with_Khaled_Hosseini
* Afghanistan in Photos
http://www.canajun.com/rmcguire/travel/asia/afghanistan/
Get a look at traditional life in Afghanistan in the early ‘70s thanks to the photographs on
this website.
* Read tales from Afghanistan and explore the similarities of these tales to others you have already read.
www.afghan-web.com/culture
* A bit of history about the talebans
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_144000/144382.stm
* Afghani Recipes. Try making a traditional Afghanistan dish with one of the recipes that can be
found at this website. Also includes information about the culture of
Afghanistan, parables, superstitions, and general information about the food
of the county.
http://asiarecipe.com/afghanistan.html
* Exploring the Islamic Religions.
http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/2001/fyi/lesson.plans/09/28/islamic.explainer/