Friday 31 December 2010

Wham!: "Last Christmas"

"Last Christmas" is a song by the British pop duo Wham! (George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley) released in 1984. It was written by George Michael and it has been interpreted by many artists throughout the years. I definitely love this song!

Thursday 25 November 2010

Thanksgiving Day 2010: 25th November

For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!

Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Thanksgiving Day Tradition

Thanksgiving Day is a communal celebration marked as a sense of gratitude people feel for all the good things in life. This is done by offering prayers, gifting your near and dear ones. The fourth Thursday in the month of November is marked for the yearly celebration. (Source and more information: Thanksgiving-day.org).

For more information on Thanksgiving Day, click on this link. You will find Thanksgiving jokes, recipes, quotes, etc.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: 25th November


Wednesday 27 October 2010

Halloween 2010

Hi everybody! Halloween 2010 is almost here and we need to get ready to have a terrific night!

First, you can watch this video on Halloween History, by National Geographic:


Next, you can think of your what costume to wear. Some suggestions can be the following:

Now, you should carve your Jack O'Lantern. Look at this picture, choose a pattern and shoulders to the wheel!!! Finally, you are ready to go treat or treating!!!

Have fun!!!!

Friday 1 October 2010

Website for learning and practising English

I have just come across with a very interesting website for learning and practising English. Its name is Learn English with english-at-home.com. It has different sections, such as Grammar and Tenses, Speaking English, Vocabulary and Idioms, etc. I encourage you to try the Speaking English section, it is really helpful to start a conversation with an English-speaking person.

You can try this link on English greetins, this should be the first step to follow when you meet an English-speaking person.
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Saturday 11 September 2010

School year 2010-2011

The new school year is about to begin. It starts next Wednesday, September 15th and I hope all the students and teachers are ready to live a new learning adventure together.

Thursday 19 August 2010

My first marshmallow fondant cake!


I want to show you my first marshmallow fondant cake. Making the fondant is not difficult given that the ingredients are really easy to get, you just need marshmallows, powdered sugar and some water. You will also need some shortening (vegetable butter or grease) because the melted marshmallows are very sticky. For the different colours, you will use food coloring. And that's it!
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This site (About.com) contains a detailed explanation on how to make marshmallow fondant.
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Finally, I want to thank my friend Alice for helping me with the decoration! She's an artist!
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Wednesday 18 August 2010

Grammar and Vocabulary Review

Summer is about to come to its end and it is time to make a grammar and vocabulary review in order to start the new school year with the batteries fullly loaded. I recommend you the following sites:

Grammar:
- English Grammar Secrets
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English Grammar Online For You
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Saber Inglés

Vocabulary:
- English Grammar Online For You
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The English Vocabulary
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Saber Inglés
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Tuesday 3 August 2010

How to make chocolate brownies

As I am a chocaholic, I will give you a recipe for chocolate brownies. I hope you like it!


Chocolate:
How To Make Chocolate Brownies

Sunday 25 April 2010

Eurovision Song Contest Oslo 2010

Here we are again devoting a blog post to the Eurovision Song Contest. This year it takes place in Oslo, Norway. There are two previous semi-finals on Tuesday, 25th May and on Thursday, 27th May and the final, which will be held on Saturday, 29th May at 21.00 CET.
If you want to know the 39 participants to this edition of the festival, you can click on this link.
The singer who will represent Spain in Oslo is Daniel Diges with the song "Algo pequeñito" (Something Tiny).

Thursday 22 April 2010

Earth Day 2010, April 22

It is our duty as citizens of this world to take care of the Earth. And we have to do it every day. Here you are some things you can do to preserve the planet:

1. Do not pollute: keep your cities, beaches, rivers, ... clean.
2. Recycle cans, bottles and paper.

3. Help keep the air clean. Ride bikes or walk instead of using motorized vehicles.
4. Save paper.
5. Do not waste water.
6. Save energy.
7. Leave wasted batteries in the special containers.
8. Remember the 3 R rule: Recycle, Reduce and Reuse.
9. Respect animals.
10. Love and appreciate the environment that surrounds you.

And now it's time to listen to an incredible song by the king of pop, Michael Jackson. "Earth song" is part of his huge legacy and it shows how concerned he was about the environmental problems that affect the entire world.


Monday 8 March 2010

International Women's Day 2010

Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all.
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Tuesday 2 March 2010

Gibraltar: a school trip

One year later, on March 5, we are going to Gibraltar on a school trip. You will do a series of activities related to the Rock. The activities will include Maths and English tasks!!! You'll have to do these activities by asking native people, in English, of course! I hope you enjoy the trip and get the most of it. I write the link to three of my previous entries in order for you to read and get some information about Gibraltar:

Our trip to Gibraltar (last year's trip)
School trip to Gibraltar (previous information for last year's trip)
Gibraltar

Saturday 27 February 2010

Classroom rules

Can you add some more classroom rules?

Thursday 4 February 2010

We Are the World - 25 for Haiti

A few days ago I wrote an entry about "We Are the World" and I swear I didn't know it was going to be re-made. I love this song, I find it touching and I think the artists are or were all incredible! We played the song during the commemoration of the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace at our school and some of my students told me yesterday that it is being re-made to raise funds for Haiti. I haven't listened to the new version yet, it is not possible until February, 12, but the initiative is for a good cause again, and this is what really matters. Watch this video and read below for more information on the new version of the song:



Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie have arranged the re-make of the 1985 group song "We Are The World". The new version is titled "We Are the World - 25 for Haiti". It has been recorded to raise money to help the victims of the January 12 earthquake in Haiti that killed 170,000 people and devastated the poorest country in America. The new song was recorded on February 1, 2010, at Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood, California.

Richie and Jones have recruited 81 performers for the 2010 remake of "We are the World". Some of them are Celine Dion, Pink, the Jonas Brothers, Justin Beiber, Jeff Bridges, Vince Vaughn, Nicole Richie, Carlos Santana, Akon, Usher, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Josh Groban, Jennifer Hudson, Barbra Streisand, Miley Cyrus, Kanye West, Mya, Tony Bennett and Haiti activist Wyclef Jean, amongst many others.

The We are the World 25 for Haiti video will be produced in 3D and will be broadcast during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Main source: http://www.mahalo.com/we-are-the-world-haiti

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.
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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!
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.


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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.
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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!!!