HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

BEST WISHES TO ALL MY STUDENTS FOR A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!

CHRISTMAS SONG NO. 8

Who does not know this, most famous Christmas song of all!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xubmk_bing-crosby-white-christmas_music

CHRISTMAS SONG NO. 7

This song: Happy Xmas, War is Over, by John Lennon is in my opinion definitely the best Christmas song ever. However, it is very, very hard to watch as it shows appalling images of the effects of war on children, women and men. As Gandhi said, “An eye for an eye will make us all blind”.

http://youtu.be/yN4Uu0OlmTg

Grammar unit 6.3

New grammar for unit 6.3.

http://www.pearsonlongman.com/totalenglish/pdfs/resources/upper-intermediate/upp-int_unit_6_grammar_3.pdf

Grammar unit 6.1

Some grammar practice for unit 6.1

http://www.pearsonlongman.com/totalenglish/pdfs/resources/upper-intermediate/upp-int_unit_6_grammar_1.pdf

CHRISTMAS SONG NO. 6

The wonderful voice of the late Amy Winehouse singing the classic: I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus last night.

http://youtu.be/Ta2TQkZ9PIA

CHRISTMAS SONG NO. 5

Beyonce´s version of the classic: Silent Night

http://youtu.be/KtbbC6gmSKM

True Life Adventure: 16 year old skies to South Pole

Read about the daughter of a British explorer, aged 16, who has just skied to the South Pole! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/antarctica/8945691/Amelia-Hempleman-Adams-breaks-record-to-become-youngest-to-ski-to-South-Pole.html

Two speed Europe?

Oh, Mr Cameron, what on earth are you up to? Is Britain now isolated in Europe? What are your views on Cameron´s dramatic veto?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/clegg-rages-at-camerons-spectacular-failure-6275512.html

CHRISTMAS SONG NO. 4

An old favourite sung by Celine Dion: Oh Holy Night

http://youtu.be/8O1siM3Nm-k

Facebook´s Top 20 News Stories of 2011.

Here is a list of what Facebook considers to be the best news stories of 2011 – some are news, but others are just crazy! ENJOY!!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/dec/08/facebook-population-growth-tattoos

CHRISTMAS SONG NO. 3

Another old Christmas favourite Last Christmas, by Wham.

http://www.google.es/url?q=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DE8gmARGvPlI&sa=U&ei=qx3hTt3pKKH24QTSkbydBw&ved=0CBsQtwIwAA&sig2=vnrIHH7vW_0x9K_eDZ7p1A&usg=AFQjCNFNvWY1gwibla7qo8FNTMyVJPHGjw

CHRISTMAS SONG NO. 2

Here´s another well known Christmas song, by Mariah Carey: All I want for Christmas is You. Enjoy singing!

http://youtu.be/RengWX0P5KA

CHRISTMAS SONG NO. 1

Yes, Christmas is coming, and up till the BIG DAY I will put some well-known Christmas POP SONGS here. This is a very famous CHARITY SONG (Money went to the famine in Ethiopia) from 1984. Do you know some of the singers (27 years ago, and some are still singing!!)

http://youtu.be/w5cX_ncZLls

Preparation UNIT 6

Hi everyone

We´ll be starting unit 6 very soon, so why not take a look at this reading about travelling and exploration to prepare for the unit?

http://www.pearsonlongman.com/totalenglish/pdfs/resources/upper-intermediate/upp-int_unit_6_warmer.pdf

Happy Teacher´s Day!

Hello, everyone!

Don´t forget that on Monday (for the Monday/Wednesday classes) there is no class as it is TEACHERS´ DAY!! Best regards from me to all my students who are teachers.

I found this little story some time ago from Nepal which I´d like to share with you. ENJOY..

Happy Teacher´s Day... from Nepal!

“Today was a different day for me because I am a teacher. I have been a teacher for more than twenty years. And every year this day adds fuel to my life as a teacher. The reason is today is Teacher´s Day in Nepal. It is celebrated by students on the full moon day of the Nepali month Ashad.

At seven in the morning, one of my former students made a surprise visit to my suburban home in Kathmandu. He came, wished me a Happy Teacher´s Day and gave me a bouquet of flowers and sweets. Though such things are not of much value in themselves, they became special on this particular day.

In the late morning and afternoon, I received so many text messages that I could not reply to them all. All the messages were best wishes from my dear students. One read: To wish you a great, prosperous, blissful, healthy, bright, energetic, terrific and extremely happy Teacher´s Day!! It brought out the love that this student had for me.

In Nepal, teachers are respected as gurus. So students either visit their teachers with flowers and sweets or organize a function at school to mark the day. They literally worship the teacher, placing him or her on a special chair, smearing red colour on the face, decorating them with garlands and offering them sweets. Some will recite poems and others will offer words of praise for their gurus”.

HAPPY TEACHER´S DAY, EVERYONE!!

OUR CHRISTMAS TREE MESSAGES

Christmas is coming!

This year, we´d like you to help us decorate our CHRISTMAS TREE…but with a difference.
Our decorations will be based on BOOKS we´ve read recently in English – all you need to do is:
Choose a book you enjoyed reading.
Photocopy the front cover of the book OR design a picture related to the book (e.g. a character, a place, an object) and cut it into a Christmas shape.
Then stick it on card (max. size: 10 x 15 cm).
Next, EITHER: write a message on the back, dedicating the book to someone you love, OR: choose a line or quotation from the book which you want to share at Christmas.
Finally, hang the decoration on the tree!

MORE DETAILS FROM ANNIE!

EXAM PRACTICE 2

Hi everyone

I hope you have been doing the READING exam practice tests I sent a little while ago. This week I will be giving you a listening test so you can get an idea of the level and format to expect in our exam in January.

Here are some LISTENING tests at the level you should expect to reach by the end of our course. When you click the link, one test will appear. Then you can do other tests from the same link when you have finished. But not too many at a time! You have time to practice over the Christmas holidays!!

http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fce_listening_part1.htm

Shocking news story: Obsessive Internet use

A truly shocking story about a couple who let their baby starve to death as they “raised” a virtual child. A horrifying reminder of the dangers of compulsive Internet use….

http://click.mail.guardian.co.uk/?qs=eb20032a8672e9ebf11aa287337033b102add521e8a4648204e3aa8c272f8a4e

Saturday Market at The Holy Trinity Church

On Saturday 3 December there will be a RASTRO – market – at the Anglican Church in Las Palmas, calle Rafael Ramirez, in Ciudad Jardin. A great opportunity to buy second hand books and other things, such as crafts or have a nice cup of tea and delicious English cake, or even lunch!!

See you there.

20 Predictions for the next 25 years

Just came across this interesting list of predictions for the next 25 years…and you all know how much I love LISTS! Take a look- some are related to economics, science, the environment, society, etc, and some may not interest you, while others will.

There is a comments section following it where readers of the newspaper (The Observer, a quality Saturday newspaper in UK) comment…. and I must say that I often find these more interesting than the article itself!

What are YOUR predictions for the next 25 years?

http://click.mail.guardian.co.uk/?qs=eb20032a8672e9eb9410108e79f14ca6c64f57cf88f7dd381e8ad1807d33f725

Monday/Wednesday group: Reading Circles

Hi guys. Just to remind you that as we didn´t finish talking about our stories on Monday, we will continue for another 20 minutes or so on Wednesday, so please bring your readers.

Thanks!

St Andrew´s Day

November 30 is St Andrew´s day in Sotland - find out more in this interesting link!

http://www.scotland.org/culture/festivals/st-andrews-day/

READING CIRCLES: HOMEWORK NEXT WEEK

Hi everyone. For students who did not come to class on Tuesday/ Wednesday, just to let you know that for next Monday / Tuesday you should read the next two stories in your reader (Taste, Platinum, Crime) and the next story for True Adventure.

Hope you´re enjoying the stories!

Grammar Unit 5.1

We´ll be starting unit 5.1 this week, so take a look at exercise 1 and see if you can do it!

http://www.pearsonlongman.com/totalenglish/pdfs/resources/upper-intermediate/upp-int_unit_5_grammar_1.pdf

EXAM PRACTICE !!

Well, on Thursday and Friday last week we started with some Reading exam practice in order to give you an idea of the LEVEL and FORMATS used in the exams this year in Intermediate 2. Don´t worry of you found it high, we have plenty of time left to improve!

I found this website today with FCE exam practice material online which I think is useful as the formats used in the exams and the level are both similar to ours.

So, take a look at the READINGS first, to see how you get on. A little practice frequently will go a long way!

Don´t try to do too much at the beginning.. maybe one text per week to get used to the level.

GOOD LUCK!!

PS: We´ll start with listenings soon, so don´t start that section yet, please. Thanks!

http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fce_reading.htm

7 Wonders of the Natural Word

Seven wonders of the natural world – in pictures. A list of the new seven wonders of the natural world is about to be announced following a global poll. But which sites will make the cut? We present the 10 most likely candidates. ENJOY THESE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES!

http://click.mail.guardian.co.uk/?qs=d918bfddd390b6c8797aef8006e6326ca90b6ce0674e322605069ce5a80f2349

Would you add any other places to the list? Comment here!

Christmas Story

It may seem early, but the Christmas spirit is already starting to make itself felt. Not felt it yet?? Well, here´s a taste of things to come in the mad rush up to the 25th of December.
An American short story by O. Henry, The Gift of the Magi. This is part 1, next month we´ll have part two! Click here then on The Gift of the Magi part 1.

http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/listening/serialized-macmillan-readers/macmillan-literature-collections/american-stories/the-gift-of-the-magi?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=Body&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2BNov%2B11

READING PROGRAMME

Hello, everyone. Well, as you know we´ve had some problems with the Reader PLATINUM, - it´s taking a while to arrive, and this weekend at my Conference, I spoke to the Representative from Oxford to complain about this. He said he would look into it…let´s see…!

Anyway, because of the delay, we haven´t been able to start our reading project yet. However, I am confident that VERY SOON we will be on our way.

I have prepared a TIMETABLE with dates from NOVEMBER 14 / 15 TILL THE EXAMS IN MAY which will allow us to read the 4 books.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h9wQXmtT526t4NlT4egZOEOrIGJH8LOIUTTVw0me2KM/edit?hl=en_US#

Song: Manic Street Preachers

Here is a “serious“song (using the First Conditional) by the Manic Street Preachers called: If you tolerate this, then your children will be next.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZFeO2t4luQ
Food for thought…..

Poppy Day/ Remembrance Day/Armistice

Have you heard of Poppy Day, as it is called in Britain? Maybe you´ve noticed, if you watch the BBC, that the news presenters wear “poppies” in their button holes in the week before Remembrance Day which is on 11 November ?

Read this text and do the exercises to find out more!

http://www.eslholidaylessons.com/11/armistice_day.html

BONFIRE NIGHT!

Have you heard of Bonfire Night, also known as Guy Fawkes? This is an event celebrated in Britain on November 5th every year with the building of bonfires, making of “guys” and setting off of fireworks.

I remember as a kid in Scotland that no sooner had Halloween finished, with our dressing up as ghosts and witches and going round the neighbour´s houses in the cold October evening asking for sweets and nuts, singing a song and “dooking for apples”, than Bonfire Night arrived a few days later. We used to build bonfires in gardens where we baked potatoes and roasted sausages, then dressed up a “guy” and took it round the neighbours´ houses (again!) asking for a “Penny for the Guy”. A great time, despite the cold evenings!

Read here about the history of this festival. http://www.insideout.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/IO492-The-gunpowder-plot.pdf

The answers are in the next link. http://www.insideout.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/IO492T-The-gunpowder-plot.pdf

Grammar Unit 4.1

Do you think you know the CONDITIONALS? Well, try this first exercise here to see. We will be starting with the conditionals next week in class!

http://www.pearsonlongman.com/totalenglish/pdfs/resources/upper-intermediate/upp-int_unit_4_grammar_1.pdf

Succession to the Throne

Here´s a short video with David Cameron talking about the change in the laws of succession to the British throne,making it possible for first born females to acceed to the throne- which is also going to be an issue in Spain. Any opinions?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2011/oct/28/commonwealth-reform-royal-succession-video?intcmp=239

Reading Circles: starting on 9 and 10 November

Just to let you know that we´ll be starting our Reading Circles on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 November.

Please make sure you have your book and that you have read the first short story, which you will discuss in your circle!

A great short story for Halloween! Edgar Allen Poe´s The Black Cat.
(Don´ t read it alone, ha, ha!)http://www.tes.co.uk/Download.aspx?storycode=3006323&type=X&id=6196025

No Class on Friday 4 November

There will be no class for the INT 2 Tuesday / Thursday groups next Friday as I will be attending a Teaching Conference.

Change to tutorial time

Just to let you know that from now on, my tutorial hour will be Tuesdays from 6- 7.

I am on library duty on Thursdays.

The Top 10 Classics!

Here is an interesting article from the Guardian newspaper in which Readers are asked to vote for their favourite classics.

http://guardianmail.co.uk/go.asp?/bGUA005/xJ86V35/q950V35

Do you know any of these books? If not, why not check in the library and see if any are available in SIMPLIFIED VERSIONS?

If we did a survey of the best books in the Spanish language, which would be your favourites?

Please send me your ideas!

Grammar activity for Unit 3.1

Try this grammar activity for Unit 3.1.

http://www.pearsonlongman.com/totalenglish/pdfs/resources/upper-intermediate/upp-int_unit_3_grammar_1.pdf

Vocabulary activity for U 3.1

Try this vocabulary activity to see how much you remember from Unit 3.1.

http://www.pearsonlongman.com/totalenglish/pdfs/resources/upper-intermediate/upp-int_unit_3_warmer.pdf

Baz Luhrman´s Romeo and Juliet

Here is the trailer of Baz Luhrman´s modern version of Romeo and Juliet, with a VERY young Leonard di Caprio!

http://youtu.be/sMel13nY0PE

David Bowie Heroes

Here is Bowie´s HEROES for you to sing along at home!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9XAywZGids&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLADC78E6B5F517477

My Hero

An interesting website:

http://myhero.com/go/home.asp

"The mission of MY HERO is to use media and technology to celebrate the best of humanity and to empower people of all ages to realize their own potential to effect positive change in the world".

TAKE A LOOK!

LIBRARY OPENING

EOI library will open on Monday 24 October, so you can start borrowing books from that date.

Saturday Market at The British Club

Do you know the British Club? No? Well, this is your big chance! On Saturday 22 October there will be a "mini rastro" there-calle Leon y Castillo, 274. A great chance to visit this historic building and find out about its history! See you there!

SABADO 22 DE OCTUBRE
1200 HORAS

Mini-rastro de otoño
The British Club
Club ingles
León y Castillo 274, Las Palmas

Tómbola, Rifa, libros, bisutería, pastelería y otros productos caseros

Almuerzo buffet 9 € a partir de las 1300 horas
té y pastas al estilo inglés

Interested in finding out more about the historical links between the Canaries and the UK?

Here´s an interesting link which goes into the subject in detail:
http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/educacion/culturacanaria/inglesa/ingleses.htm#club

Search for the Hero Inside Yourself

A well- known song by M People about the need to find the hero in yourself. Inspiring!

http://youtu.be/Ie78VtBtwBI

Elections for Class Representatives!

Elections are definitely in the air these days! On 17 and 18 October we will be holding elections for class representatives. Are you interested? Find out more on Monday and Tuesday in class.

Crazy Mobile Phone:Sumsing

Here is a crazy advert for the wonderful Sumsing 3000 xi multitask mobile phone. How can the iphone 5 possibly beat it?? Click here to view:

http://youtu.be/wS1U81-injA

Reading Project

We will shortly be starting our Reading Project. In our next class, I will explain to the groups which books we will be working with and how the Reading Circle system works.

Later I will let you know about the fun activities planned for the reading project – I´m sure you will enjoy reading this year!

Click here to find out more about the reading project:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dtEbIJCdQaGCaMP8OKUQyONbi5PELlO6IJvQY3S3zMA/edit?hl=en_US#