28 December 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Watch how people around the world celebrate the New Year. Then, you can answer the question:

What is the New year like in your area?





After watching it, why don't you try this WORD SEARCH online? Have fun......

http://www.quia.com/ws/2159352.html?AP_rand=2021799395

17 December 2010

Sunscreen

One of my students has recommended this video. I think it is really nice. Don'tyou agree?

14 December 2010

FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS

YOU SUCK AT POWERPOINT!
View more presentations from @JESSEDEE.

SMOKE - The Convenient Truth (winner of the World's Best Presentation Contest)

Fancy another Christmas song?


These Christmas we can enjoy a brand new song by Coldplay named "Christmas Lights". Don't miss it.

This song was released this December, and it's still not clear if it would be part of a new album or not. To the right you can see the "Press Release" by the band for the song.....

You can also enjoy the video and the lyrics!

What do you think about it? Do you like it? hope to read your comments soon....

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you.....!!!!!!






13 December 2010

Jingle Bell Rock- Lyrics

God rest ye merry gentlemen


In the UK, the de facto baseline reference version is that adopted by Carols for Choirs, OUP, (1961):

1. God rest ye1 merry, gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray:
O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
2. In Bethlehem, in Israel,:2
This blessèd Babe was born,
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessèd morn,
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn:
O tidings ...
3.From God our heavenly Father
A blessèd angel came,
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name:
O tidings ...
4. The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoicèd much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway,
This blessèd Babe to find:
O tidings ...
5. But when to Bethlehem they came,
Whereat this Infant lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling,
Unto the Lord did pray:
O tidings ...

Jingle Bells...Frank Sinatra

Jingle Bells

02 December 2010

The twelve days of Christmas

The twelve days in the song are the twelve days starting Christmas day, or in some traditions, the day after Christmas (December 26) (Boxing Day or St. Stephen's Day, as being the feast day of St. Stephen Protomartyr) to the day before Epiphany, or the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6, or the Twelfth Day). Twelfth Night is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as "the evening of the fifth of January, preceding Twelfth Day, the eve of the Epiphany, formerly the last day of the Christmas festivities and observed as a time of merrymaking."



29 November 2010

Are wi-fi hotspots reliable?



Do you connect yourselves to various wi-fi hotspots? If so, you should read and watch the following article from the BBC.

Fake wi-fi 'steals data and numbers from smartphones'


23 November 2010 Last updated at 06:58 GMT

A fake wi-fi hotspot run by criminals could allow them to steal passwords and log into social networking sites.
Tom Beale from security firm Vigilante Bespoke shows the BBC's Rory Cellan-Jones how easily data can be stolen from a smartphone.
Facebook has responded by saying it advises people to be careful with what data they give out to unknown networks, "in the same way we look to draw out cash from legitimate ATM (cashpoint) machines".
It also pointed out that it asks members whether they want to give Facebook access to contacts stored by email providers before downloading such information from other organisations.
Apple has responded to the way that the latest iPhone is unlocked in this video, by saying that a recent update can be downloaded to prevent this.


25 November 2010

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

25 November : Why do we celebrate it on this particular day? Read and you'll find the answer.



In 1999, the UN General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Violence against women and girls is a problem of pandemic proportions. At least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime - with the abuser usually someone known to her.

Women's activists have marked 25 November as a day against violence since 1981. The date commemorates the brutal assassination of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, in 1960 on orders of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).



Mirabal.jpg

24 November 2010

What the "ain´t" is "ain´t"?

The contraction of negated auxiliary verbs in English is most often achieved by suffixing n't, an abbreviated form of not, to the root of a verb with or without changes to the root. Examples of negated auxiliary verbs in standard English are several...

In this song by Nina Simone, AIN´T stands for "I HAVEN´T"




Can you find song lyrics with examples? What other forms does AIN´T stand for?


Nina Simone - Ain't Got No (I Got Life)
Ain't got no home, ain't got no shoes
Ain't got no money, ain't got no class
Ain't got no friends, ain't got no schoolin
Ain't got no worth, ain't got no job
Ain't got no mind

What have I got?
Why am I alive anyway?
Yeah, what have I got?
Nobody can take away

I got my hair, I got my head
I got my brains, I got my ears
I got my eyes, I got my nose
I got my mouth, I got my smile

I got my tongue, I got my chin
I got my neck, I got my booties
I got my heart, I got my soul
I got my back, I got my sex

Ain't got no father, ain't got no mother
Ain't got no children, ain't got no faith
Ain't got no earth, ain't got no water
Ain't got no ticket, ain't got no token
Ain't got no love

What have I got?
Why am I alive anyway?
Yeah, what have I got?
Nobody can take away

I got my hair, I got my head
I got my brains, I got my ears
I got my eyes, I got my nose
I got my mouth, I got my smile

I got my tongue, I got my chin
I got my neck, I got my booties
I got my heart, I got my soul
I got my back, I got my sex

I got my arms, I got my hands
I got my fingers, Got my legs
I got my feet, I got my toes
I got my liver, Got my blood

I've got life, I've got my freedom
I've got the life

18 November 2010

Free travelling from your computer. Superb pictures of London!!!!!!!



Jeffrey Martin shot 8,000 photographs of London and then spent six weeks stitching them together to create this amazing seamless 360-degree panorama of the city. You can zoom in and lose yourself looking at details, or zoom back and admire the city as a whole...

You  can open the map to find specific places, or just take a tour.

http://www.360cities.net/london-photo-en.html

15 November 2010

How do you pronounce the word "PSYCHOLOGICAL"?


There are times ..... when we've got problems pronouncing certain words in English. That usually happens with long words where we find ourselves "lost" in trying to pronounce them.

This might help you. Our generation, those who were born in the 60 and 70s, owe music groups such as Supertramp part of our English knowledge.

Therefore I will like to share it with you. This is the link, and it's been followed by the lyrics. After that try to sing it along.......
http://www.goear.com/listen/d573679/the-logical-song-supertramp


When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful,

a miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical.
And all the birds in the trees, well they'd be singing so happily,
joyfully, playfully watching me.

But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible,
logical, responsible, practical.
And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable,
clinical, intellectual, cynical.

There are times when all the world's asleep,
the questions run too deep
for such a simple man.
Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
but please tell me who I am.

Now watch what you say or they'll be calling you a radical,
liberal, fanatical, criminal.
Won't you sign up your name, we'd like to feel you're
acceptable, respectable, presentable, a "vegtable"!


At night, when all the world's asleep,
the questions run so deep
for such a simple man.
Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
but please tell me who I am.

The Human Face

TinyFotos.com
The Human Face is a 4 part BBC series released in 2001, that examines the importance of human faces. John Cleese, actor, comedian, visiting professor, and best-selling author on psychology, talks about the mysteries of identity, perception, creativity and sexuality.
Part Three has been titled " Survival of the Prettiest" and asks us this question: "What is beauty?" Is it just a matter of personal taste? Apparently not; John Cleese discovers that the same things attract lovers all round the world. A pretty face is a fertile face and ugliness suggests poor health. Big eyes, smooth skin and symmetrical features will win you fans everywhere, you'll get a better job, more money, and better sex!


09 November 2010

CAMBRIDGE EXAMS

Are you taking First or Advanced at school? Now you can go to the school office and get your "Confirmation of Entry and Timetable", "Notice to Candidates" and "Summary Regulations". You all know the dates for Papers 1, 2, 3 and 4. Now you'll also know the date of your Oral Exam. GOOD LUCK!

KEN LEE........

Do you know what a  MONDEGREEN is? I bet most of you do already know it, but ..... 


A Mondegreen is basically the same as misheard lyrics, that is a word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something said or sung . The online dictionary Merriam Webster uses as an example :very close veins” is a mondegreen for “varicose veins”.


We can't forget "ken Lee...."





Now it's your turn. Think about yourself: haven't you ever sung an English song believing that what you say is the "correct" version of the song?


 If you have, share it with us.... Write your mondegreen, the one you are really proud of. Write the line in your comments, together with the title of the song and if possible, the link to it. THANKS!


08 November 2010

TO TEA OR NOT TO TEA


If you want the transcript:http://en.yappr.com/welcome/Video.action?videoGuid=89D9E4AC-8D4A-4381-ACC1-77A88D31C475

01 November 2010

B-SS is getting closer ... as your exams are......!!!!!! watch out 2º students

ULTRA MARATHONS
If you have ever run, like those held  annually in places like London and New York, then you’ll know that this is an extremelly challenging thing to do. If you are going to finish the 26-mile course, then you need to do months of preparation to ensure the necessary level of fitness.  Spare a thought then for people who go in for what are known as ultra marathons. These are longer than traditional city marathons and are  run over difficult terrain, often in inhospitable places like deserts where competitors may have to run across sand or stones, in weather conditions ranging from baking heat to torrential rain. For example, the 135-mile Badwater Marathon is a real test of endurance, taking runners from the lowest point in  continental North America to the highest, passing through Death Valley on  the way.

 

31 October 2010

big secrets.....


For 1º MCM - level 2 you'll find a small writing in the exam that you can prepare beforehand. The topic is education, and more specifically, what you think are the most important things in a school  for children under 11. There is a list in the book (pg 31.) with some items and you have to choose some of them and argue which ones you think are important and why. You'll have to write in a narrative way, and using around 80 to 100 words.

Well, hope it works!

28 October 2010

LEVELS 2!!!!!! WATCH OUT!!!!

Watch out ! Yes, do watch out in the blog for important information and guidelines on your next exams. Do not miss them! But, shsssssssss! don't tell anybody, it's big SECRET!!!!!!!!


going xtreme!!!!!!!


After working on the Parkour text in class,  it will be useful to clarify certain terms.


Le Parkour, primarily considered a philosophy, includes the physical practice of traversing elements in both urban and rural settings. The goal is to move from one point to another as quickly and efficiently as possible. This discipline was created in France.It was then spread worldwide by films, television reports, and amateur videos on the Internet.
The term freerunning is sometimes used interchangeably with parkour.Freerunning includes flips and spins.
The definition of parkour founder, French David Belle, matches the definition given by Wikipedia, for Sébastien Foucan,co-founded of parkour, differs and his view is associated with freerunning.


However, all extreme sports look very attractive when they are performed by specialists. But you should  beware of the dangers too..... If you look at the video, "it gotta hurt"

19 October 2010

First Certificate speaking exam practice . PAPER 5 PART 2

Those of you thinking of taking the FCE exam will find this video useful.

It's worth watching it.

Candidates are given the opportunity to speak for about ONE minute without interruption. Each candidate is asked to compare and contrast two colour photographs, commenting on the pictures and giving some personal reaction to them. It's not necessary to comment both photographs in detail.

14 October 2010

CHALLENGES!

This is really a challenge......



Please, watch it, think about it and comment it....

These men are INNOCENT!

To all our students in 1º MCM, level 2 and any of you interested.... here you will find a lecture given by Richard Reed in 2008.
Richard Reed was the co-founder of Innocentdrinks.ltd, a smoothies company. His talk is divided in three parts: how the company was created, the ethical criteria in the company and the personal opinion about the future of Innocentdrinks.


After reading the text in class, it's good practice to listen to him and makes the reading activity real! Enjoy!

12 October 2010

DO YOU LIKE MUSIC? TRY LYRICS TRAINING!



Lyrics training is an easy and fun method to learn and improve your foreign languages skills, like English, through the music and the lyrics of the songs..... TRY IT !!

There is a myriad of songs: recent, old hits, ...... 


10 October 2010

WHERE DO GOOD IDEAS COME FROM?

Why was tea and coffee so important in the seventeenth century?
Do you know why some incubators were built out of automobile parts?
Have you ever had an epiphany?
How was GPS born?

08 October 2010

What is the difference between "rainy" and "showery"?

If you really want to know the difference, do not miss the following answer given by  Catherine Chapman,  who works as an ELT writer for BBC Learning English.

You've got the possibility of listening to her, reading her answer and do an online quiz to check your understanding! All three in one! It's really practical.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/ask_about_english/081007/




A beach in England with a cloudy sky

07 October 2010

05 October 2010

English First Certificate DOES NOT EXPIRE

Relax, folks!

False rumour! When you get those Certificates, you get them FOR LIFE.
University of Cambridge ESOL confirms that
"These certificates never expire"(third paragraph)



CAMBRIDGE EXAMS: Last days for registration

This is a bit eerie, as if he is talking to ghosts. Nice guy and good for rehearsals, anyway.
And don't forget to go to the school office if you want to take your Cambridge exams at school! (Deadline: Friday)

27 September 2010

Does that unsolved Rubik's cube get on your nerves?
I love this guy. He's a great communicator.

U2 concert in San Sebastian!!!!!! Watch them perform "Spanish Eyes" live yesterday in Anoeta

Video of U2 performing Spanish Eyes live from San Sebastian



Yesterday night U2 performed Spanish Eyes for the first time on the 360° Tour. It was last performed on 8 August 2001. Here is the clip taken last night at the concert in San Sebastian:


23 September 2010

EAT PRAY LOVE

The film version of Eat Pray Love is about to be released in Spanish cinemas on September 24th. The movie is based upon the international bestseller by Elizabeth Gilbert, who wrote her experiences on her journey around the world in search of herself after a difficult divorce. She spent four months in Italy, eating and enjoying life (Eat), and another four months in India, finding her spirituality (Pray). Elizabeth ended the year in Bali looking for "balance" of the two and found love (Love).

The 2010 Donostia Award winning American actress Julia Roberts plays Elizabeth on the screen.


22 September 2010

FCE Speaking Exam

Facebook nightmare

A 14-year-old girl from Hertfordshire who included her address on a Facebook invitation to her party was alarmed when 21,000 said they would be coming.

The party was cancelled when the school pupil was swamped by RSVPs from unwanted would-be guests on the social networking site.

The girl, from Harpenden, had reportedly only intended to invite 15 friends to her 15th birthday party.

Police said officers would patrol the area on the day of the planned party.

Although the original invitation was removed from the site, a new version was visible to all Facebook users on Monday.

The event was not created by the girl herself but her address was again posted on the site for all to see and 19 people had confirmed their attendance.

The incident follows criticism of Facebook's privacy settings, with concerns being raised that they are too complicated.

A spokeswoman stressed that the privacy settings available for events created on the site are separate to those for users' profiles, on which they post information about themselves.

20 September 2010

Is it one of your friend's birthday today? For people with a sense of humour and not easily depressed.

If you don't understand the lyrics, look here:
http://en.yappr.com/welcome/Video.action?videoGuid=B7DAC879-F10E-4579-8B22-D8158C819671&emailCode=AA621046-3A21-4080-8A36-57080633E970
GREAT WEBPAGE FOR LEARNING ENGLISH!

ELLIS ISLAND


Ellis Island is an island in New York Bay off Manhattan Island. First it was used as an arsenal and a fort; but from 1892 until 1943 it served as the main US centre for immigration control. It became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. More than twelve million immigrants passed through Ellis Island; it has been estimated that close to 40 percent of all current U.S. citizens can trace at least one of their ancestors to Ellis Island.



Ellis Island: Then and Now


http://www.history.com/interactives/ellis-island


Move the slider to compare views of Ellis Island from one hundred years ago and today. (Photo Credit: Bettmann/Corbis)

16 September 2010

Nadal supports Athletic?


We all know that Rafael Nadal defeated  Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles final of the U.S. Open in New York on Monday night after six long hours. We also know that rain interrupted the second set for about two hours. And also we know that he already has nine Grand Slams....... BUT ........ did you know that he supports Athletic de Bilbao?
If you don't believe it, WATCH THIS VIDEO.......

14 September 2010

The city of Glasgow

2º MCM FCE expert longman.......

Remember the questions:
1) What type of city is it?
2) Who made the video? What for?


13 September 2010

The Golden Girls

Today, RTVE is airing a new sitcom based on "The Golden Girls"a hit American situation comedy that originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. The show was centered on four older women sharing a Miami home. It has been listed as one of the greatest and most influential shows of all time.


Golden Girls title card.jpg



In 1996, RTVE launched a Spanish remake titled Juntas pero no revueltas, Together, but not mixed, with Mercedes Sampietro as Julia (Dorothy), Mónica Randall as Nuri (Blanche), Kiti Manver as Rosa (Rose), and Amparo Baró as Benigna (Sophia). Low ratings made it disappear after one season.

Now, in 2010, this remake with the title Las chicas de oro (The Golden Girls) has been produced by José Luis Moreno and with Concha Velasco as Doroti (Dorothy), Carmen Maura as Rosa (Rose), Lola Herrera as Blanca (Blanche) and Alicia Hermida as Sofía (Sophia).


Here you can hear the song and watch some scenes from the original sitcom. This is for you guys, all of us who watched the show at the time and loved it and still do!







DECEMBER 2010

Plazo de matrícula para los exámenes: 13 septiembre al 8 octubre. Las matrículas se entregarán en secretaría.

12 September 2010

Five clues that you are addicted to Facebook

 /health


The CNN has published a list of 5 clues to discover if you are hooked on Facebook or not.


The problem exists when a Facebook user crosses the line from social networking into social dysfunction.

You know you're a Facebook addict when ..


1. You lose sleep over FB

2. You spend more than an hour a day on FB

3. You become obsessed with new/old loves

4. You ignore work in favour of FB. You don't study or do your work.

5. The thought of getting off FB leaves you in a cold sweat



If you want to read the full article:
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/23/ep.facebook.addict/

11 September 2010

Ground Zero, New York

ground_zero_11.jpg


We all remember 9/11. We all do. Looking at this picture we can see that construction continues at the World Trade Center site with memorial footprints of the twin towers. Not only construction continues, but life too. This picture was taken on September 7, 2010 in New York City. Getty Images / Mario Tama

10 September 2010

WORLD HERITAGE SITES. BONUS POINT COMPETITION !!!!!!!

I bet 2ºMCM level 2 students can answer the question, but for all of you: Which World Heritage Sites can we find in the Basque Country?

Anyone answering the question will get a bonus point (with me, arrate) if the answer is posted before tuesday 14th. (POST A COMMENT)

Now the ball's in your court...........................


I really MUST include this. Thanks for the tip: Iñigo, Ian, Diego ...
The differences between the subtitles and what they actually say are really interesting.

09 September 2010

Google INSTANT! a new search engine

Google Instant promises live search results, we'll have to see it.... But for now you can watch this video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11239037

Did You Know? 2.0 - 50 Translation(s) | dotSUB

DID YOU KNOW? Shift happens. We live in an age of exponential changes.

Did You Know? 2.0 - 50 Translation(s) | dotSUB

07 September 2010

First day of school

Remember the film "Finding Nemo"? Watch this scene..........

Marlin, Nemo's dad drops him at school on his first day. Who is more afraid?




PS: sorry for the ad in the video.........

ENGLISH ALL OVER!

This is the name of Rosa's blog. Fine stuff, great links, great fun for all of those who want to improve, practise their English.

Here goes the link but there will be a permanent link too on your right.....
http://rosa58.blogspot.com/

WELCOME!!!!!


Welcome to this blog!

This is a blog that might be helpful for all of us. It will include a wide variety of things, from videos to listenings or reading texts or even links to different web pages.

There are two pages, one for each year: 1ºMCM and 2ºMCM. In each one you will find a calendar. You should check it regularly for updated information.
We hope it will be interesting.