Martin Luther King Day

Hi guys!!

Today is Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., who, as you many know, was an influential American civil rights leader. He is most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation on public transport and for racial equality in the United States.

How is it celebrated?

Martin Luther King Day is a relatively new federal holiday and there are few long standing traditions. It is seen as a day to promote equal rights for all Americans, regardless of their background. Some educational establishments mark the day by teaching their pupils or students about the work of Martin Luther King and the struggle against racial segregation and racism. In recent years, federal legislation has encouraged Americans to give some of their time on this day as volunteers in citizen action groups.

Background

Martin Luther King was an important civil rights activist. He was a leader in the movement to end racial segregation in the United States. His most famous address was the "I Have A Dream" speech. He was an advocate of non-violent protest and became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was assassinated in 1968.

In 1968, shortly after Martin Luther King died, a campaign was started for his birthday to become a holiday to honor him. After the first bill was introduced, trade unions lead the campaign for the federal holiday. It was endorsed in 1976. Following support from the musician Stevie Wonder with his single "Happy Birthday" and a petition with six million signatures, the bill became law in 1983. Martin Luther King Day was first observed in 1986, although it was not observed in all states until the year 2000. In 1990, the Wyoming legislature designated Martin Luther King Jr/Wyoming Equality Day as a legal holiday.

And the Oscars go to...

By the way!!! I remind you that soon we will be able to enjoy a new edition of the Oscars, the most important awards in the cinema industry. Make sure you complete your ballot!! Here you have some useful webs! 

http://oscar.go.com/
http://cdn.media.oscar.abc.com/media/2015/pdf/2015/nominees_full_list_for_oscars_2015.pdf
(printable ballot)
http://www.goldenglobes.com/

See you in class!!

Happy new year!!

Hi guys!! :)

It's been a while but I'm back to wish you a very very very happy new year! And to do so, I'd also like to show you how the new year is celebrated in some of the most popular English-speaking cities. Let's have a look!

London

New Year's Eve at London's South Bank is festive in a way you don't see for 363 days of the year. The pubs and restaurants that face the Thames are full and cheerful, as people prepare to bid the previous year adieu. Towards midnight, everyone makes their way over to the footpath for Big Ben's countdown to midnight. When the clock strikes twelve, one of the most spectacular firework displays in the UK kicks off on another of the city's most recognisable structures: The London Eye.

New York

One of the most prominent celebrations in the country is the "ball drop" held in New York City's Times Square. Inspired by the time balls that were formally used as a time signal, at 11:59 p.m. ET, an 11,875-pound (5,386 kg), 12-foot (3.7 m) diameter Waterford crystal ball located on the roof of One Times Square is lowered down a pole that is 70 feet high, reaching the roof of the building one minute later to signal the start of the New Year. The Ball Drop has been held since 1907, and in recent years has averaged around a million spectators annually. After the ball drop, there is an amazing show with many stars right in the middle of Times Square where they usually sing, among many others, a song which is considered the new year's anthem: Auld Lang Syne. 

Auld Land Syne is a very well known Scottish poem turned into a song whose title could be translated as "long long ago". Consequently "For auld lang syne", as it appears in the first line of the chorus, might be translated as "for (the sake of) old times" or, in Spanish "por los viejos tiempos".

Here I show you an extract the comedy film "New year's Eve" where you can listen to this popular song. Check the lyrics out! They are very beautiful :)

Should old acquaintance be forgot --¿Deberían olvidarse las viejas amistades
And never brought to mind --y nunca volver a recordarse?
Should all acquaintance be forgot --¿Deberían olvidarse las viejas amistades 

And auld lang syne --y los viejos tiempos?

For auld lang syne, my dear, --por los viejos tiempos, amigo
For auld lang syne, --por los viejos tiempos
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet, --brindaremos
For auld lang syne ---por los viejos tiempos

And surely you will buy your cup --y seguro comprarás tu copa
And surely I'll buy mine --y yo la mía
And we'll take a cup o'kindness yet  --y brindaremos
For auld lang syne --por los viejos tiempos

We too have run around the slopes --Los dos hemos correteado por las colinas
And picked the daisies fine --y hemos recogido margaritas
We've londoned many weary foot --hemos caminado con pies cansados
Since auld lang syne --desde los viejos tiempos

For auld lang syne, my dear, --por los viejos tiempos, amigo
For auld lang syne, --por los viejos tiempos
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet, --brindaremos
For auld lang syne ---por los viejos tiempos

We too have paddled in the stream --También hemos sorteado la corriente
From morning sun to night --día y noche
But the seas between us broad have roared --pero han rugido mares entre nosotros
From auld lang syne --desde los viejos tiempos

For auld lang syne, my dear, --por los viejos tiempos, amigo
For auld lang syne, --por los viejos tiempos
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet, --brindaremos
For auld lang syne ---por los viejos tiempos
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet, --brindaremos
For auld lang syne ---por los viejos tiempos

 

Thanksgiving

Each year on the fourth Thursday in November, Americans gather for a day of feasting, football and family. While today’s Thanksgiving celebrations would likely be unrecognizable to attendees of the original 1621 harvest meal, it continues to be a day for Americans to come together around the table—although with some updates to pilgrim’s menu.

The history of Thanksgiving:

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.

Would you like to know more? Check this link!! 

http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving Parade

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade presented by the U.S.-based retail store chain Macy's. The tradition started in 1924,tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States, along with America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit. The three-hour Macy's event is held in New York City starting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Thanksgiving Day, and has been televised nationally on NBC since 1952.

Do you want to see it?

Good luck with your exams!!! See you in class! :) 

Blanket + popcorn + movie = Sunday night

Hi guys!!

How are you doing? I have just checked the TV guide and there are some good movies you can watch today if you feel like it!! Come on! As you know, it's always a good way to learn English and have fun at the same time! Don't forget to activate the English audio on your TV!

Antena 3: 22:45

The Da Vinci Code 

Director: Ron Howard

Stars: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tatou

A murder inside the Louvre and clues in Da Vinci paintings lead to the discovery of a religious mystery protected by a secret society for two thousand years.

TVE: 22:10

The Social Network

 

Director: David Fincher

Stars: Andrew Garfield, Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake

Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, but is later sued by two brothers who claimed he stole their idea, and the cofounder who was later squeezed out of the business.

Before leaving, I wanted to show you some links where you can find some exercises to practice grammar (present and past perfect for 1º Upper secondary and conditionals for 2º Upper secondary!) 

Present perfect exercises

Past perfect practice

Conditionals

See you soon!! :)

VOA News

Good evening everyone!!

Today I'd like to show you a very interesting webpage I usually recommend to my students: 

VOA News

One of the first things I do every morning when I wake up and before going to bed is reading the news. I normally read two or three different newspapers in Spanish in order to have my own opinion of the facts and, at least, a foreign newspaper. 

That's why I believe it would be a great idea for you to visit VOA NEWS, since it is a site which is focused on English Learning through news. There are three different levels and you can read and listen to the audio to check your understanding. It's fantastic! You can improve your vocabulary about many different topics as well as your listening skills!

I hope you like it! :)

More films to watch + more writing tips

Hey guys!!

How are you doing today?? Have you been studying for the exam? I hope so! :P 

I believe at this point you know how much I love watching films and TV series. Well, guess what? Today I'd like to recommend two more great films you can watch on the TV in order to practice your listening skills. Apart from that, you can learn some new vocabulary and, what is even more important, you can have fun while you are learning English!! Actually, I know for a fact that some of you wanted to do this so...

let's cut to the chase!! (¡vamos al grano!)

16:00 TVE
Catch me if you can (Atrápame si puedes)

Biography, Crime, Drama
Year: 2002
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken.
A true story about Frank Abagnale Jr., who, before his 19th birthday, successfully conned millions of dollars' worth of checks as a Pan Am pilot, doctor, and legal prosecutor. More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264464/

And especially... 

22:00 Antena 3

Argo 

Year: 2012
Drama - Thriller
Director: Ben Affleck
Stars: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman

Acting under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1980. More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1024648/

Both are fantastic movies, with well known and talented actors. Besides, "Argo" won several Oscars, including Best Motion Picture (Mejor película) last year. Come on! What are you waiting for??

By the way, in order to help you improve your writing skills, I have uploaded several documents for you to have a look, which are the following:

Writing reference 1 and Writing reference 2 (common mistakes, connectors, brainstorming, etc.)

Especially for 1st Upper intermediate students (unit 2): How to write a Biography 1 and 2

Especially for 2nd Upper intermediate students (unit 1): How to write a narrative essay 1 and 2

More examples:
How to write a discussion essay 1 and 2

How to write a topic essay 1 and 2

Aaaand that's all folks!! See you on Tuesday and do not hesitate to leave a comment or contact me if you have any questions or doubts before the exam!! :)

Take care!

Grammar practice

Hi everyone!!

As you may know, we have our first exam next week which is why I have decided to publish a new post with some webs where you can practice what we have seen in class!

For 1st Upper Intermediate: 

Pronouns

Possessives, present simple and present continuous, questions, etc.
Present simple test
Past simple test
Gerunds and infinitives space game

For 2nd Upper Intermediate:
The past: past simple and past continuous, present perfect + past simple
Past perfect simple and past perfect continuous
Present perfect and past simple
Future will or going to

Very useful summary for Bachillerato: 
How to write compositions, questions, connectors, verb tenses, conditionals, reported speech, irregular verbs, etc.
Some great guidelines for Selectividad and some more here!

And...
More exercises with answer key
More printable exercises for Bachillerato
More interactive tests (on grammar)

And remember, if you would like to practice a little bit more, send your compositions to me and I will correct them! :)

Have a nice afternoon and see you tomorrow!! :)