Solar tower

Yes, believe it or not, I found it for you, and with English subtitles, into the bargain. Amazing. Check it out here.

Penelope Cruz - The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Dear friend and colleague, Sara Pro, sends this. I guess you'll understand Penélope but, can you understand Ellen? Watch it and tell me about it.

Legal terms

If you want to revise and learn more about legal terms, click here to get a good glossary. With thanks to Sara Pro, friend and fellow teacher.

Writing

For those of you who failed the exam, or couldn't do it on the date it was set, or simply, you'd like to have another try, here's the task:

AN INFORMAL EMAIL

A few weeks ago you attended a speed dating event where you “matched” a person who you’ve just dated this evening. It’s been the most embarrassing situation you’ve ever lived. Write an email to your best friend telling him/her everything. Include a full description of the person you dated (200 words).

Use the appropriate structures and vocabulary.

You will have 50 minutes to complete the task.

Stormy Weather. The song.

Now that we are talking about the weather, how about a song to illustrate the point and sing along. . Click here to listen to The Voice, singing this all-time classic title.

Beautiful song. I'm yours.

My dear friend and fellow teacher, Sara, sent me this song. I found this link that enables you to watch the video while you read the lyrics. Very useful for those of us that like singing along.
http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/jason_mraz/im_yours.html

Listening comprehension. Shopping in London

With thanks to Nieves Gonzalez, fellow teacher at the school, for recommending the blog that lead me to this exercise. Click here to watch the video a do the exercises.

Extra materials for File 3A

Here is the list of all the extra materials we have seen in class or you have to do as homework. Make sure you have them all, otherwise ask your partners in class:

Vocabulary:

• Crime. Politics & Public Institutions (with key)
• Vocabulary Builder 13. Crime & Punishment
• The Alphabet Race: Crime Vocabulary

Grammar:

• The passive.

Speaking:

• Pronunciation -ough/-augh. Making conversation: Crime ¬ Punishment.
• You are the judge.

Listening:

• The Wealthy Lawyer
• The World's Most Expensive Pair of Trousers.
• A lawyer
• Earthquake in Haiti

Reading Comprehension:

• Crime Cases

About the dreadful eathquake in Haiti

Click here to the BBC Learning English Webpage that will allow you to listen to and read the story.

Extra materials for File 2

Here is the list of all the materials we have worked with, apart form the textbook. Make sure that you have them all.
Rudolf has a link to a Karaoke. You'll enjoy it.

Grammar and vocabulary:

• Adjectives. Theory and practice.
• Vocabulary builder 9. Fashion.
• Word quest. Stereotypes.
  
• Funny ha-ha. Humour.
• Health and medicine revision race.

Speaking:

• You and your clothes
• Medical jokes
• Did it really happen to you

Listening:

• Stereotypes.
• Super thin models.

Reading:

• Science gets the last laugh on ethnic jokes.
• Credit crunching fashion.
• Alternative medicine.

Songs:

• Englishman in NY
• Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer.
  

Yolanda Piñero, a classmate of NA1B, wants to share this great news

As you know, she has a winery, and one of her wines has been considered as the best value for money in the world by a Japanese specialized magazine. Congratulations!

"Equus, the world's best wine for the Japanese

Among all the markets Viña Santa Marina is present in, Japan is one of the most important in terms of sales. It's a very demanding country with well educated and truly interested consumers.

Recently, all our efforts in Japan have been rewarded:

Dancyu, one of the most important food and beverages magazine has just considered our red crianza Equus as the best value for money imported wine with 98 points ahead of other Spanish, French, Italian and other quality international wines."

To revise the topic of "Health and Medicine"

My dear friend and fellow teacher, Sara Pro, sends this link to work with the topic of Health and Medicine. It has videos and different exercises. Very helpful and interesting.

Ayo Technology

Arantxa, from NA1 A would like to share this song with you.

• Click here to watch the video.
• Click here to read the lyrics.

Stereotypes. Americans are NOT stupid.

Just for fun, with subtitles in English. Beni, a fellow student of yours, sent this. Click here to watch it.

The Alakrana is free!

To see the video, and read about it, click here

List of extra materials for File 1

Here is the list of all the extra materials we have worked with in class, so that you make sure you have them all/check what you have or haven't done.

Listening comprehension:

• Speed dating
• Psychics
• Swine flu pandemic planning
  
• Signs of Stress; What is stress + tapescripts
  

Articles:

• Psychic Scams
• Obama's Peace Price
• Obama Declares Swine Flu a "National Emergency"
• Spain resists deal with priates

Vocabulary:

• Health and Medicine Wordbank
• English Vocabulary in Use: Relationships.

Other:

• Key to Revise and Check 1.

Portfolio:

• How to use your Language Passport (p. 5)
• Profile of Language Skills (p. 7)
• Self assessment grids (p. 8 & 9)
• Can do statements for File 1 (p. 14 )
  

Writing:

• An informal email/letter.
  

National Stereotypes. The English

My dear friend and fellow teacher, Sara Pro, sends this video with activities:

Play the video and complete the sentences. To check the answers, click on comentarios below.

ð In England we have lousy weather but………

ð We live on an island, but ……………………

ð We have a Queen, but………………………

ð We built the EC, but…………………………

ð We have dominated the world, but…………

ð We invented football, but………………………

ð We have the most ridiculous police uniforms, but……………

ð We love a well-tailored suit, but…………

ð We don’t know how to cook, but……………

More about the Alakrana

If you've seen the video , click here to read the BBC article we are going to work with in class.

Piracy

Everybody knows about the highjacking of the Alakrana. There have been massive demonstrations in support of the families of the hijacked fishermen. Our support for them and our wish that they get together with their families soon.
If you want to have a deeper view of the consequences of piracy for the local population in Kenia, click here.

Unearthing Spain's history

Click here to listen to a BBC report of the unearthing of Lorca's grave.

Halloween is here

With thanks to dear fellow teacher María Martínez Candela, who sent this link. Click here to watch it.

Listening to the news, and reading, too

Nieves, my fellow NA1 teacher, sent this, which we are going to do in class:
Obama Peace Prize Award Elicits Praise, Criticism
I recommend you listen to "the Bowman report", which you'll find on the same page on the top right had corner, before reading the text. You can download it in mp3 and listen to it at least three times before reading. Then you can check how much you understood.

Stand by me, with a difference.

My fellow teacher Concha Lana, sends me this amazing recording of the famous "Stand by me", sung and played by street musicians from all over the world. Don't miss it. It's great.

Don't miss this short film, winner of the Film Festival Green:Unplugged

A fellow teacher, Antonio Marcelino, sent me this. Don't miss it. It will make you feel and think.

To make us think

Jacques sends me this, to share with you. There isn't much language, but it sure makes you think.

a link sent by Antonio Barco, fellow student of yours

It's about science, and Antonio says it's very easy to follow. It's a bit long, though. Click here to see it and tell me what you think.

Just for fun. How to take a cork off a bottle...without breaking it

My friend and colleague Concha Lana has sent me this, and I want to share it with you. It's so cool!

More on the swine flu

I found this, for you to be informed about this new global madness. See if you understand it!

Solar power? Sure. But, solar tower? In Spain?

Yes, believe it or not, I found it for you, and with English subtitles, into the bargain. Amazing. Check it out here.

Talk about extreme weather conditions!

Would you like to know what the weather in Antarctica is like? Check it out and tell me about it!

More on Michelle Obama, from Sara's webpage.

For those of you who miss English subtitles, more on Michelle Obama. Try to understand first, without looking at the subtitles.

Like to take part in a competition about Wales?

Juanma, a teacher at the EOI has set a web quest to celebrate St. David's Day, Patron Saint of Wales. Click here if you want to take part in it.

Next week, speaking exams

So remember, no class.

Here' s the list:

convocatoria a orales febrero 09

martes 17 de febrero

17.00.		Alicia Gómez Muñoz Jacques Songy Oscar Basago González
17.20		Mamen Moreno Caballero Gemma Lucía Navas Pérez José Gallardo González

jueves 19 de febrero

17.00.		Juan Carlos Celís María Garduño Chaves
17.20		Miguel Sánchez Clark Guadalupe Nieto Caballero Fernando Viñuelas Zahinos

Mrs Obama on her new life

Michelle Obama talking about her new life in the White House. Click here.

Penélope Cruz on Oscar nomination

She got a Goya Award for her role on Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Do you want to see her talking about this role, her Oscar nomination and Javier Bardem? In English, of course. Click here.

For my Monográfico students: We have class on Wednesday

It's just as I thought. We have class on Wednesday, because we celebrate San José on Friday. So, see you in class.

Barack Obama's inaugural speech

To read the speech, click here

War and Natural Gas: The Israeli Invasion and Gaza's Offshore Gas Fields

If you want to know the economic reasons behind Israel's attack on Gaza, click here.

What were the odds of this happening?

The improbable became possible. The miracle happened. An airbus crashes into New York's Hudson River and everybody survives. To see the video and read the story, click here.

Long time, no see

Happy New Year, everyone!! Long time, no see. Well, just to cheer you up I'm posting a video forwarded by my friend Ana Ramos. Here it is. Enjoy. And tell me if you like it!!