Summer Countdown

GAME: Europe Geography

Saint George

APRIL'S FOOL: Jokes

History of Saint Patrick's

Here you have a little explanation about this wonderful celebration! Remember to wear green next Saturday, 17th March or you will get pinched!

Have a shamrocking day!

St. Patrick's Day Note GAMES E-CARDS

Let's dance CEILIDHS!

If you are looking for a brighter more dynamic ceilidh event, having a dedicated Dance Caller and Presenter, can make all the difference. In addition to creating a motivating focus point for your guests, a professional entertainer guides the programme smoothly from beginning to end, making sure each element seamlessly follows the next.

DAVID VICANCO: Ceilidh Dance Caller and Event Presenter with over 10 years experience in the industry. Background: Music, acting, management & languages.

There are a number of ceilidh bands with whom I work regularly. The size of band and instruments in the line-up are flexible, depending on requirements and you can have anything from a single accordionist to a full five-piece band. Recorded music is another option, considerably lowering the cost without necessarily detracting from the atmosphere. Because you have a dedicated dance caller / presenter on the dance floor with your guests, the absence of live musicians need not be a concern.  This is very popular for smaller occasions, informal school and business functions or where the ceilidh dancing is a shorter 'section' of the evening rather than the main event. If you require a piper, clarsach player/singer, story-teller, highland dancer/s or Scottish Country dancers, I will be happy to make recommendations.

If you're planning an event and want a friendly, flexible and professional frontman who will work hard to  make sure your guests have a really great time - please click on this link and get in touch!

The History of Valentine's Day

Let's know Scotland!

Hi students, as you know one of the activities organized by the English Department consists on dancing Ceilidh. Our experience says to us that you will have a great time !! Ok, so before carrying out this activity we are going to work on the main features of Scottish geography and culture through a treasure hunt. Are you ready ?? Well, follow the steps:

1. Make groups of three people.

2. Click on this LINK.

3. Answer the questions.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Christmas origins and traditions

Christmas has been celebrated on December 25 since 336 A.D. The tradition started as a Christian holiday honoring the birth of Jesus and has evolved into an international holiday that embodies family togetherness and good cheer.

Christmas gets it name from "Christ," meaning "Messiah" or "Anointed One," and "Mass," meaning "religious festival." Jesus, born in Bethlehem to the Virgin Mary, was given the title of "Christ" because he was regarded as a great king who would protect people from all wrong and evil.

So great, in fact, that the Three Kings, or Three Wise Men, brought three gifts to honor him: gold, frankincense (a resin burned in the worship of God) and myrrh (a plant oil used to bury the dead and a symbol of mortality). These gifts symbolized Jesus' excellence, his close relationship with God (as His son) and his oneness with the human race.

While some still regard Christmas solely as a religious holiday, Christmas has become, for many, a day to celebrate family and be merry (and to needlessly spend aplenty, as some cynics would note!). In the spirit of holiday cheer, many observe the traditions of Santa Claus, mistletoe, Christmas trees and Christmas cards described below.

Santa Claus gets his origins from St. Nicholas, a generous man from the 4th century A.D. who helped the children and the poor, often throwing gifts through children's windows to make them happy. Brought to America by Dutch immigrants in the 1600s as "Sinter Klaas," Americans soon began calling him "Santa Claus." Through the imagination of various authors and illustrators, Santa evolved into the fat, jolly, red-suited man from the North Pole we know today.

Kissing under the mistletoe, our favorite sprig of green leaves and white berries, dates back to a 17th century English custom. At that time, a berry was removed every time a kiss was made, which meant there were no kisses when there no berries. We seem to have since forgotten about the berry removal - allowing us to fully concentrate on the kissing!

The tradition of Christmas trees was started in 16th century Germany. Martin Luther, a German theologian, is thought to have popularized the concept. On a brisk, clear Christmas Eve, Luther was walking home under a bright, starry sky, which was so beautiful that he wanted to recreate its beauty for his children. His idea was to decorate a large evergreen with glowing candles, a custom we still honor today in more modern forms.

And last but not least: the Christmas card, probably the most popular way to express holiday sentiments, was started in England in 1843. The first Christmas card was printed in the United States in 1875 by Louis Prang, a Massachusetts printer. By running nationwide contests for the best Christmas designs, Prang helped launch Christmas cards into a multibillion dollar industry.

Nowadays, most people prefer E-cards. An e-card is similar to a postcard or greeting card, with the primary difference being that it is created using digital media instead of paper or other traditional materials. Below, I'm posting a couple of links that let us send beautiful e-cards. I hope you like !!

E-cards 1

E-cards 2

THANKSGIVING: "Origins&History"

Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the United States. It is celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday in November. So, this year it's going to be next 28th November. On this day, families gather together, and many people say prayers of thanks for the years blessings. In many homes, a big dinner of roast turkey and dressing is served. Thanksgiving is traditionally a harvest festival. Similar festivals are celebrated in many parts of the world to give thanks after the years crops have been safely harvested. Canada also celebrates  Thanksgiving but during the second Monday in October. Now watch these videos to learn more!

After watching these videos, visit these links to complete your Thanksgiving Dossier:

- Picture Dictionary 1:  
http://www.mes-english.com/flashcards/files/thanksgiving1.pdf

- Picture Dictionary 2:  
http://www.mes-english.com/flashcards/files/thanksgiving2.pdf

- Wikipedia:  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving
- Enciclopaedia Britannica:  
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/590003/Thanksgiving-Day
- Thanksgiving Day Organisation:  
http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/
- Holidays Thanksgiving:  
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/thanksgiving-day
- All about Thanksgiving:  
http://www.rumela.com/events/events_november_thanksgiving.htm
- Holidays on the Net:  
http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/
- A kid's Heart Thanksgiving:  
http://www.akidsheart.com/holidays/thanks/thmain.htm

BONFIRE NIGHT: "Origins&History"

Hi everyone!! Have you ever heard of Bonfire Night. If it is not the case, through this activity you will have the oportunity to learn about this festivity that it is celebrated every 5th November. Watch the video and try to extract the main information from it to learn more about this celebration. Have fun!!

HALLOWEEN: "Origins&History"

Check out this presentation explaining the origins and ways to celebrate Halloween. You can also click on the two Halloween links I added below the presentation. Then post your own comments explaining the origins and ways to celebrate Castanyada. Come on! Show this Catalan Tradition to the world!

Halloween History

View more presentations from Sunnyme.

Halloween Link 1          Halloween Link 2

Back to School!

Latest news from Punxsutawney!

GAME: Word Scramble

UNIT 8 EXTRA ACTITIVIES: Future and Conditional

FUTURE: will / going to
· Activity 1          · Activity 2          ·  Activity 3          · Activity 4          
· Activity 5          · Listening (making plans)
FUTURE: will / going to / present continuous / present simple
· Activity 1          · Activity 2          · Activity 3          · Activity 4
CONDITIONAL: Zero
· Activity 1          · Activity 2          · Activity 3          · Activity 4          
· Activity 5
CONDITIONAL: First
· Activity 1          · Activity 2          · Activity 3          · Activity 4          
· Activity 5
CONDITIONAL: Zero / First
· Activity 1

UNIT 8: Sing Along with Des'ree!

Are you supertitious? Do you think something terrible can happen on a Tuesday 13th? Are you afraid of black cats or of walking under ladders? Then listen to this song and you will see a lot of similarities with the singer Des'ree! Come on! Sing along!



Lyrics | Life lyrics



Lyrics | What's Your Sign? lyrics

UNIT 8: Sing Along with Natalie Imbruglia!

There are some problems with the official video-clip, so I posted a powerpoint with the lyrics, ok? Have Fun!!!



Lyrics | Intuition lyrics

You told me that you have never heard about Natalie Imbruglia and that you thought she was not famous. But I am sure that you have heard this song on the radio sometimes, so believe me when I say that she is famous!!!



Lyrics | Torn lyrics