Halloween is coming!

Do you like the pumpkin lanterns lit during Halloween? If you like them, you can pick up your knife and choose to take part in the pumpkin carving contest and make your Halloween different! Transform your pumpkin into a spooky Halloween Jack 'O Lantern and bring them to class next Wednesday 29^th or Thursday 30^th

Trust your inspiration and create fantastic pumpkins to win a creepy prize!

Let’s prepare to celebrate Halloween together!

Good luck. We’re all looking forward to seeing your pumpkins!

Contestants: Basic Level 1

 

Happy St. George's Day!

St George's Day is celebrated in England on 23 April, in honour of St George, the patron saint of England.

The 23 April 1616 was also the date of the death of the English playwright William Shakespeare. UNESCO marked this historic date by declaring it the International Day of the Book. 

Many Catalonian men present their female relatives with roses on St George's Day (Día de San Jorge) in Spain. The day is celebrated on April 23 each year. Lovers also swap gifts of books and roses on this day. Click here.

If you want to know more information about St. George's Day, surf on the websites below and listen to the story of George and the Dragon:

St. George's Day.com

St. George's Day 2014

And, as I can't give a book to all of you, let me share with you a link (www.voicesinthedark.com) where you can find  free audiobooks and stories read aloud by real people for free! Click here.   

Happy St. George's Day!

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Easter!

History of Easter

History of Easter Eggs

St. Patrick's Day

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day on 17th March. Enjoy the song we sang in class in its different versions.

And listen to It's a long way to Tipperary.

If you want to know more things about St. Patrick's Day, click here.

International Women's Day

"Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others." (Amelia Earhart)

Today is International Women’s Day! 

You can watch the following films in order to think about gender equality and women's social demands. Click here.

Happy International Women's Day!

Happy St Valentine's Day

Saint Valentine was a bishop who lived in the third century in Rome who fight against Emperor Claudius II who ban marriage between two young lovers.

Saint Valentine held the law of the church and helped lovers who came to him, uniting them in a holy matrimony, but it was only a matter of time before the Emperor heard about this and had him arrested.

Valentine was imprisoned. While waiting for his sentence, his jailor Asterius approached him to use his saintly power, and heal his blind daughter. Valentine succeeded and her sight was restored -- they became close and fell in love.

After a while, the Emperor asked Saint Valentine to agree with the emperor about the ban on marriage, thus giving up his religion. Valentine refused.

Just before his execution, Valentine asked for a pen and paper and signed a farewell message to his lover, "from your Valentine"; a phrase that lived ever after.

What do you think about our version of Valentine's History? Share your thoughts!

Watch the video.

Happy New Year 2014

Watch London New Year Fireworks. Click here. 

A very special gift to my students

I have put a special touch in every task designed. When I look at those smiling faces, immediately I find every effort made rewarding and worthwhile, which renews my commitment for future times to come.

May the Spirit of Christmas make your wishes come true so that you may live in
Freedom,
Peace,
Love and
Respect.

Núria

Happy Halloween!

[SHADOW]
Boys and girls of every age
Wouldn't you like to see something strange?

[SIAMESE SHADOW]
Come with us and you will see
This, our town of Halloween

[PUMPKIN PATCH CHORUS]
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Pumpkins scream in the dead of night

[GHOSTS]
This is Halloween, everybody make a scene
Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright
It's our town, everybody scream
In this town of Halloween

[CREATURE UNDER THE BED]
I am the one hiding under your bed
Teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red

[MAN UNDER THE STAIRS]
I am the one hiding under yours stairs
Fingers like snakes and spiders in my hair

[CORPSE CHORUS]
This is Halloween, this is Halloween

[VAMPIRES]
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song

[MAYOR]
In this town, don't we love it now?
Everybody's waiting for the next surprise

[CORPSE CHORUS]
Round that corner, man hiding in the trash can
Something's waiting now to pounce, and how you'll...

[HARLEQUIN DEMON, WEREWOLF & MELTING MAN]
Scream! This is Halloween
Red 'n' black, slimy green

[WEREWOLF]
Aren't you scared?

[WITCHES]
Well, that's just fine
Say it once, say it twice
Take a chance and roll the dice
Ride with the moon in the dead of night

[HANGING TREE]
Everybody scream, everbody scream

[HANGED MEN]
In our town of Halloween!

[CLOWN]
I am the clown with the tear-away face
Here in a flash and gone without a trace

[SECOND GHOUL]
I am the "who" when you call, "Who's there?"
I am the wind blowing through your hair

[OOGIE BOOGIE SHADOW]
I am the shadow on the moon at night
Filling your dreams to the brim with fright

[CORPSE CHORUS]
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
Halloween! Halloween! 

[CHILD CORPSE TRIO]
Tender lumplings everywhere
Life's no fun without a good scare

[PARENT CORPSES]
That's our job, but we're not mean
In our town of Halloween

[CORPSE CHORUS]
In this town

[MAYOR]
Don't we love it now?
Everybody's waiting for the next surprise 

[CORPSE CHORUS]
Skeleton Jack might catch you in the back
And scream like a banshee
Make you jump out of your skin
This is Halloween, everyone scream
Wont' ya please make way for a very special guy

Our man jack is King of the Pumpkin patch
Everyone hail to the Pumpkin King now!

[EVERYONE]
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!

[CORPSE CHILD TRIO]
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song

[EVERYONE]
La la la la-la la [Repeat]

[Thanks to Sarah Adam for corrections]

From The Nightmare Before Christmas

Today is Mother's Day in the UK

A wise man once said: "A mother's love is the purest love there is". This is one of the many reasons why every 2nd Sunday of May is dedicated to all the mothers around the world. On this special day, we make efforts to show how much we love and appreciate our mothers. 

Be inspired and celebrate Mother's Day with this EnglishCentral Video Lesson:


What is it that you love about your mom? Is there anything you'd like to change about her? Click on the "Mother's Day" button and find out what kids around the world say about their moms.

Happy Mother's Day to my mom and all the mothers out there! 

Source: EnglishCentral

St George's Day

The 23rd of April is St. George’s Day, and is England’s national day. St. George is the patron saint of England and his emblem is the red cross on a white background, which forms part of the Union Jack.

Who was St George? The history books say he was born in Turkey and he lived in the 3rd century. He became a Roman soldier and he protested against Rome’s persecution of Christians. He died for his beliefs. For more information  click here.

• There is a story that says he killed a dragon and rescued a princess and most images of him are on horseback killing the dragon.
• The tradition on St George’s day is to wear a red rose, the national flower.
• Saint George is also the patron saint of Aragon, Catalonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, and Russia.
• Did you know that Shakespeare was born on 23 April 1564 and he died on the same day in 1616?

Finally try this quiz to see how much you now know!

Source: EOI Elx

What does April Fool's Day mean?

April Fish (literal translation from the French "poisson d'avril"or the Italian "pesce d'aprile"), also known as April fools' day (which in Englishmeans day of April fools) is a festival dedicated to the jokes to be held in France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, United Kingdom, Portugal, United States, Brazil and other countries each year on 1 April.

In Spain and Latin America is a similar conclusion on December 28, the Day of the Holy Innocents.

Have offered many different explanations of this celebration, but the idea that the jokes that accompany this date began in the reign of Charles IX of France seems to be the most convincing.

A mid-sixteenth century, all France New Year's celebrations began on March 25 and ended a week later, on 1 April. In 1564, by decree of Roussillon, the king decreed the adoption of the Gregorian calendar and New Year was moved to January 1. The legend suggests that many French people opposed to change or simply forgot continued exchanging gifts and feasting in the week ending April 1. The pranksters decided to ridicule absurdities and inviting delivering gifts to parties exist, and thus was born the tradition of making jokes on the first day of April.

The name fish in April, the victim receives jokes, is associated with the zodiac: any event that happened on that date was related to the fact that the sun left the constellation of Pisces. Napoleon I was called "Aprilfish" when he married Marie Louise of Austria on January 1st of April. 

Español .El pescado de abril (traducción literal del francés «poisson d'avril» o del italiano «pesce d'aprile»), también conocido como April fools' day (que en inglés significa día de los bufones de abril), es una fiesta dedicada a las bromas que se celebra en Francia, Alemania, Italia, Bélgica, Reino Unido, Portugal, Estados Unidos, Brasil y otros países cada 1 de abril.

En España e Hispanoamérica hay una celebración similar el 28 de diciembre, el Día de los Santos Inocentes. 

Se han ofrecido muchas explicaciones diferentes acerca de esta celebración, sin embargo la idea de que las bromas que acompañan esta fecha comenzaron durante el reinado de Carlos IX de Francia parece ser la más convincente.

A mediados del siglo XVI, en toda Francia las celebraciones de Año Nuevo comenzaban el 25 de marzo y terminaban una semana después, el 1 de abril. En 1564, por medio del decreto de Roussillon, el rey decretó la adopción del calendario gregoriano y el Año Nuevo se trasladó al 1 de enero. La leyenda sugiere que muchos franceses opuestos al cambio o que simplemente lo olvidaron siguieron intercambiando regalos y festejando en la semana que concluía el 1 de abril. Los bromistas decidieron ridiculizarlos entregando regalos absurdos y convidando a fiestas inexistentes, y así nació la tradición de hacer bromas el primer día de abril.

El nombre pescado de abril, que recibe la víctima de las bromas, está relacionado con el zodiaco: todo acontecimiento que acaecía en esa fecha era relacionado con el hecho de que el Sol abandonaba la constelación de Piscis. Napoleón I fue llamado "pescado de abril" cuando se casó con María Luisa de Austria un 1 de abril.

Happy Easter!

Click here and learn some Easter vocabulary.

Be my Valentine

Using a minimalist black-and-white style, the short "Paperman"follows the story of a lonely young man in mid-century New York City, whose destiny takes an unexpected turn after a chance meeting with a beautiful woman on his morning commute. Convinced the girl of his dreams is gone forever, he gets a second chance when he spots her in a skyscraper window across the avenue from his office. With only his heart, imagination and a stack of papers to get her attention, his efforts are no match for what the fates have in store for him. 

Happy Valentine's Day

February 14th is a day when close friends or loved ones send each other gifts to express their friendship or love. St Valentine's Day is believed to come from both Christian and Ancient Roman traditions - the Catholic church recognizes three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus. One legend says that a man named Valentine fell in love with a young girl who visited him when he was in prison. Before his death, it is thought that he wrote her a letter, which he signed "from your Valentine", an expression still in use today.
Click here to read more.
Every February 14, across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint, and where did these traditions come from? Find out about the history of this centuries-old holiday, from ancient Roman rituals to the customs of Victorian England. Click here.

Pancake Day

What is Pancake Day?

Pancake Day (also called Shrove Tuesday) is the last day before the period which Christians call Lent (or the first Tuesday after Carnival.) On this day people in Britain traditionally eat pancakes.

Why do they eat Pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?

Lent is a time of abstinence. So Shrove Tuesday is the last opportunity to eat what you really enjoy and to finish the food that you can’t eat at Lent. People eat Pancakes on this day because they contain fat, butter and eggs which were forbidden during Lent.

When is Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)?

Shrove Tuesday is always 47 days before Easter Sunday so the date varies from year to year.

In 2013 Pancake Day is on 12 February

What is an English Pancake?

A pancake is a thin, flat cake, made of flour, milk and eggs and fried in a pan.                          It is traditional to eat the pancakes with lemon and sugar – mmmmmm!

(adapted from woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk)

 

Watch this video to find out how to make pancakes.

Source: EOI Elx

Burns' Night

A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January, sometimes also known as Robert Burns Day (or Rabbie Burns Day) or Burns Night, although they may in principle be held at any time of the year.

Burns suppers are most common in Scotland and Northern Ireland but occur wherever there are Burns Clubs, Scottish Societies, expatriate Scots, or aficionados of Burns' poetry. There is a particularly strong tradition of them in southern New Zealand's main cityDunedin, of which Burns' nephew Thomas Burns was a founding father.

The first suppers were held in Ayrshire at the end of the 18th century by Robert Burns' friends on the anniversary of his death, 21 July, In Memoriam and they have been a regular occurrence ever since. The first Burns club, known as The Mother Club, was founded inGreenock in 1801 by merchants born in Ayrshire, some of whom had known Burns. They held the first Burns supper on what they thought was his birthday on 29 January 1802, but in 1803 discovered from the Ayr parish records that the correct date was 25 January 1759,^[1] and since then suppers have been held on 25 January, Burns' birthday.

Burns suppers may be formal or informal. Both typically include haggis (a traditional Scottish dish celebrated by Burns in Address to a Haggis), Scotch whisky and the recitation of Burns' poetry. Formal dinners are hosted by organisations such as Burns clubs, the Freemasonsor St Andrews Societies and occasionally end with dancing when ladies are present. Formal suppers follow a standard format.

La Noche de Burns o Cena de Burns (en inglés Burns night o Burns supper) es una celebración escocesa en la que se recuerda la vida y la obra del poeta Robert Burns, autor de poemas en escocés y en inglés de Escocia como "Auld Lang Syne". Esta cena suele celebrarse con motivo del cumpleaños del poeta (el día 25 de enero), aunque en principio puede realizarse en cualquier momento del año. Las cenas de Burns son especialmente comunes en Escocia, pero también pueden encontrarse allá donde exista un Club de Burns, una Sociedad Escocesa, expatriados de Escocia o simplemente amantes de la poesía de Robert Burns.

Las primeras cenas de este tipo las organizaron los amigos del poeta en Ayrshire a finales del siglo XVIII, para conmemorar su muerte el día 21 de julio, y se han mantenido desde entonces. Estas cenas pueden tener un carácter formal o informal, pero siempre deben ser entretenidas. Los únicos rasgos comunes a todas las cenas son el haggis, el whisky escocés y quizás un poema o dos. Las cenas organizadas por ciertas congregaciones franmasonas o Sociedades de San Andrés no permiten el acceso de mujeres.

The story of Robert Burns:

HAPPY BURNS' NIGHT!