Saturday 30 January 2010

We weren't born to follow, Bon Jovi

You gotta stand up for what you
believe!!!

I just love this song, it has a great message. Click on the video to enlarge. It is worthwhile!



Lyrics | Bon Jovi lyrics - We Weren't Born To Follow lyrics

Sunday 24 January 2010

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the African-American civil rights movement. His main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the United States, and he has become a human rights icon. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president. King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. There, he raised public consciousness of the civil rights movement and established himself as one of the greatest orators in U.S. history.

In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means. His non-violent protests met with success as Congress passed civil rights laws (1964) and voting rights laws (1965). King’s friendship with President John F. Kennedy also helped his cause. By the time of his death in 1968, he had refocused his efforts on ending poverty and opposing the Vietnam War. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. national holiday in 1986. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, near the time of King's birthday. (Source: Wikipedia).

In this video you can watch a summary of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech. For the full speech, click on this link, and for the Spanish subtitled version, click here.



Online activities on Martin Luther King.
.

Thursday 21 January 2010

Saint Valentine's Card Contest 2010

Make Your Own Saint Valentine's Day Cards

As you know, on February 14 we celebrate Saint Valentine's Day. I want you, my students, to express your feelings to your friends, boyfriends, girlfriends or even teachers. You are encouraged to make a Saint Valentine's card and hand it in before February 9. Remember to do it in English, you can include a poem, a quote, a drawing, etc.

The easiest way to make a Saint Valentine's Day card is to fold a sheet of paper in half and decorate it. Does it sound boring? Well, it doesn't have to be. There are several fun options for decorating cards.

Use your imagination to create fancy St. Valentine's Day cards and win the contest for the most loving, touching, shocking, fabulous, and above all, original Saint Valentine’s Card!
.
.

Saturday 16 January 2010

PLAGIARISM IN BLOGS

Plagiarism: the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work. (Definition provided by Dictionary.com).
.
Plagiarism is the act of presenting other people's work or ideas as your own. Sadly, this is very common nowadays, because of the bad use that some people make of the Internet. Many people take other people's writings and simply "copy and paste", without making reference to the source. When I create a post in my blog and use other people's information, I write the source and add a link to his or her site.
.
Recently, I have found that one person keeps on copying and pasting from my blog to hers, but not only from my blog, from many others as well. This shows that she lacks originality and is unable to create anything on her own. I wrote a comment on her blog and asked her not to copy and paste without making reference to the source, and she not only did NOT answer, but she deleted it and eliminated from her blog the possibility of writing comments!!! I encourage people not to act like that, to accept advice and try to improve from their mistakes. In blogger, you can report this kind of behaviour.
.

Friday 15 January 2010

Aid for Haiti quake relief

I am still shocked after seeing the terrible images of the effects of the earthquake in Haiti, which is said to be the most devastating in 200 years. Fortunately, if this word can be used in a situation like this, the response of the different institutions and organizations all over the world is being focused and swift. Organizations are requesting monetary donations; agencies have set up phone lines, Web pages and texting for donations, which will go toward medical and basic supplies.

"...We are trying to save as many lives as possible. A major
humanitarian effort is now well underway... the international community’s response has been generous and robust, and we are gearing up rapidly and effectively despite the challenging circumstances."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in remarks to the press in New York, 15 Jan. '10

My thoughts are with the people and families of Haiti, and I really hope governments all over the world contribute to alleviate their suffering. Every little bit helps.
.

Thursday 14 January 2010

We Are the World, USA for Africa

Next January, 30 our school will commemorate the School Day of Non-violence and Peace. There are many activities scheduled and one of them is based on the song "We Are the World". This song was written in 1985 by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, it was co-produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian and recorded by a group of popular musicians known as USA for Africa.

The main aim of this charity single was to raise funds to help famine-relief efforts in Africa, specially Ethiopia, where around one million people died during the country's 1984-1985 famine. Since its release, "We Are the World" has raised over $63 million for humanitarian causes. Ninety percent of the money was pledged to African relief, both long (birth control and food production) and short term. The remaining 10 percent of funds was earmarked for domestic hunger and homeless programs in the US. (Information taken and adapted from the Wikipedia).
I hope you enjoy and like this song as much as I do!!! It gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it.


.

Tuesday 5 January 2010

Rudolph Cookies


Ingredients:
50 gr walnuts or peanuts
100 gr sugar
100 gr butter
1 egg
250 gr flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vainilla flavoured sugar
Small pretzel twists
Red and brown m&m's

Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180 celsius. Grate watnuts in the Thermomix, speed 5 for a few seconds. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix, speed 4-5, until the mixture is blended. Place the mixture on the table and make circles, I used a glass to make the circles. Press two pretzels into the top of each circle to form Rudolph's antlers. Make sure that 1/2 of the pretzel is into the cookie to ensure that it will stay put when cooked. Press two chocolate chips into the cookie for the eyes, and press one red M&M into the cookie for the nose. Bake about 15-20 minutes, or until browned around the edges. Let cool, and enjoy! These are wonderful for class or Christmas parties, and great in a tin as a gift!

I did the mixture with the Thermomix, but you can also do it without it.
.

Friday 1 January 2010

Grammar Revision for 2nd Bto.


In order to revise the grammar contents studied in the first term, first of all you may find useful this Table of English Tenses where you can see the form, use, signal words and examples of each of the verb tenses. Then, you can practise the specific contents by clicking on each of the links below.

Unit 1: Perfect Tenses

Present Perfect Simple: Practice I, Practice II
Past Simple vs. Present Perfect Simple: Practice I, Practice II
Past Perfect Simple: Practice I, Practice II
Future Perfect Simple: Practice I, Practice II
Present Perfect Continuous: Practice I, Practice II
Past Perfect Continuous: Practice I, Practice II
Present Perfect Simple vs. Present Perfect Continuous: Practice I, Practice II
Past Tense Review: Practice I, Practice II

Unit 2: Modals and Modal Perfects

Modal Perfects: Practice I, Practice II

Unit 3: Reported Speech

Reported Questions: Practice I, Practice II, Practice III
Reported Orders (Commands), Requests and Suggestions: Practice I, Practice II, Practice III
Additional information and exceptions in Reported Speech: Practice I

Happy New Year 2010!!!

May the New Year bring you much happiness and love!!!