THE QUEEN'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2011

A traditional feature of Christmas afternoom is the Queen's Christmas Message. At three o'clock in the afternoon the Queen's gives her Christmas Message to the nation which is broadcast on radio and television.

In 2007, the Queen launched her own channel on video-sharing website YouTube, which feature the message.

SONG: HEAVEN IS HERE - SARAH BRIGHTMAN

Good times and bad times
There's nothing I'll forget
Sun shines on our lifelines
There's noting I'll regret

Hold me and feel me
And wrap your arms around
Cause when you love me I'm quite clear
That heaven is here

Hear my confession
We're meant to be as one
Leave me to the mystery
Of happiness to come

Touch me and I'll give you
My blessing and desire
Cause when you feel eternal fire
Then heaven is here

Bad times and street crimes
No matter where you go
Some sects preach and some fools teach
They're giving us some show

So send me an angel
And wrap your love around
Cause when it all comes down you'll know
That Heaven is here
That Heaven is here
That Heaven is here
That Heaven is here
That Heaven is here.

SEND COOL PERSONALIZED SINGING GREETINGS THIS CHRISTMAS

Welcome to The Monster Holiday Harmonizer where you can create your own personalized singing Christmas cards and surprise your friends and family.

You can choose from three different greeting cards:

• A simple Christmas email.
• Record your own voice .
• Type your message and the Harmonizer will make it sing .

 You can upload a photo from your computer
or use your webcam.

Christmas Countdown

CHRISTMAS GAMES

Chrsitmas Tree Light Up

Santa´s Quiz

Santa Claus Room Decora

Snowline
Christmas Word Search
Super-Santa Ski Jumper

ADVENT CALENDAR 2011

On each day in December 2011, test your knowledge on how Christmas is celebrated around the world, using this interactive advent calendar. Most of the facts and photos in the advent calendar have been taken by schools and visitors around the world.

20,000 VISITORS

Two years ago, I started this blog as a hobby. Trying to help my students to improve their English, Blog de Inglés was taking part of my little free time.

From here I'd like to thank those who has let me follow with this blog. Thanks to my sister-in-law (Manme)  and every visitor who loves English like me.  Thank you very much!!!!!

SPANISH GENERAL ELECTION 2011

A legislative election for the Cortes Generales in Spain was held on 20 November 2011. The elections were for 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies, which will determine who becomes the Prime Minister of Spain. Elections were also held for the 208 directly elected seats in the upper house, the Senate. The Popular Party (PP), led by Mariano Rajoy won an absolute majority in the elections, ending the rule of the Spanish Socialist  Party (PSOE).

Spanish general election, 2011

2008 ← 20 November 2011 → Next

All 350 seats of the Congress of Deputies and 208 of 264 seats in the Senate 176 seats needed for a majority Opinion polls Majority party Minority party Third party Leader Mariano Rajoy Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba Cayo Lara Party Popular Party PSOE United Left Leader since 4 September 2003 9 July 2011 14 December 2008 Last election 154 seats, 39.94% 169 seats, 43.87% 2 seats, 2.45% Seats won 186 110 11 Seat change 32 59 9 Popular vote 10,830,693 6,973,880 1,680,810 Percentage 44.62% 28.73% 6.92% Swing 4.68% 15.14% 450%

Prime Minister of Spain before election José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero PSOE Elected Prime Minister of Spain Mariano Rajoy Popular Party

VISIT ENGLAND

Click on the English flag to know more about some interesting cities and places in England!

THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Click on Shakespeare to know more about the history of the English language !

SONG: I LIKE HOW IT FEELS - Enrique Iglesias

It’s my life, I can do what I like
For the price of a smile, I gotta take it to right
So I keep living, cause the feel’s right

And it’s so nice, and I’d do it all again
This time, it’s forever
It gets better, and I I, I like how it feels

I like how it feels, I like how it feels
I like how it feels, I like how it feels
I like how it feels, I like how it feels

So just turn it up, let me go
I’m alive, yes and no, never stop
Give me more, more, more
Cause I like how it feels
Ooh yeah, I like how it feels
You know I like how it feels
Oh yeah I like how it feels

Should we love, makes us won
Let’s make a beautiful world
Take my hand, it’s alright
Cuz tonight, we can fly

So we keep living, cause the feel’s right
And it’s so nice, and I’d do it all again
This time, it’s forever
It gets better, and I I, I like how it feels

I like how it feels, I like how it feels
I like how it feels, I like how it feels
I like how it feels, I like how it feels

So just turn it up, let me go
I’m alive, yes and no, never stop
Give me more, more, more
Cause I like how it feels
Ooh yeah, I like how it feels
You know I like how it feels
Oh yeah I like how it feels

[Pitbull]
Will ya consider the best, I consider me the okra
I want my bank account like carlos slim’s, or at least mini oprah
Baby just close your eyes, and imagine any part in the world, i’ve been there
I’m like global warming, anything I just start to heat the things up, but I’ve been here
Time traveller, two time zones, give me some of my vodka any zone,
Enrique Iglesias, and translation, Enrique Churches, confession
Dale mamita, dimelo todo, alante tu hombre, yo me hago el bobo
No te preocupes, baby for real
Because you gon like how it feels

Cause I like how it feels
Ooh yeah, I like how it feels
You know I like how it feels
Oh yeah I like how it feels

I like how it feels…
I like how it feels..

/ə/ - SCHWA

It is the most frequent of all English vowels because historically it has replaced many unstressed vowels. It has a restricted distribution: it only appears in unaccented syllables.

a. Description: it is very shortand weak. The middle of thetongue lies in a relax positionand the lips are neutral (neither spread nor rounded).b. Spelling: this sound only appears in unaccented syllables and it may be spelt with any single vowel or combined with consonants:-"a": about, woman, chocolate-"e": sister, the-"i": impossible-"o": synonym, photograph-"u": suggest, SaturdayVowels are distinguished by distribution: /ə/ can only appear in unaccented positions and /I, ʊ/ in both accented and unaccented, the rest of the vowels always requiring some kind of stress.
ACTIVITIES:
1. Watch this video about how to pronounce schwa and practice several times with the examples given in this webpage:





2.SCHWA PREDICTION
3. Pronunciation practice:
 3a. Open this chart, click on vowels-monophthongs, then click on central: listen and practice the schwa.
     3b.Watch this video and practice.
     3c. Listen, read and practice in this webpage.
4. Visit this    ESL pronunciation web page  and do the exercises provided to practice the schwa.

TEST YOUR ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION

How many times do we meet a written word and we don't know how to pronounce it? Everyday, I'm afraid. That makes learning English difficult. However we have phonetics to help us. Phonetics is an essential tool to learn English. Here you have a webpage with a test on phonetics.

LEARNING ORAL ENGLISH ONLINE

Learning Oral English Online is finally available on the Web. It is an online conversation book compiled for intermediate ESL learners who want to improve their listening and speaking skills.

Each sentence in the book is linked to a sound file.

SPEAKING ENGLISH LESSON

Speaking English lessons:

You can choose among different levels: Link HERE to start.

English Speaking Basics,  Regular English Lessons,  Business English Lessons,  Interview English Lessons, Travel English Lessons,  Idioms and Phrases, Special Topics

 

EVERYDAY ENGLISH IN CONVERSATION

Enjoy learning conversational  English online. Link HERE

ALL SAINTS' DAY IN SPAIN

When is All Saints' Day in Spain?

All Saints' Day is celebrated in Spain on the same day as in the rest of the world - on November 1.

How do the Spanish Celebrate All Saints' Day?

The most obvious sign that it is All Saints' Day is that you'll notice the graveyards to be unusually full of flowers. The Spanish remember their dearly departed on All Saints' Day and bring flowers to the graves of their loved ones on this day.

If you can get to see a performance of Don Juan Tenorio on All Saints' Day, seize the opportunity. The play is the most famous (and the most romantic) story about the mythical Don Juan and is performed each year on All Saints' Day.

There are a few traditional sweets that the Spanish eat on All Saints' Day. The most common is Huesos de Santo (literally 'saint's bones'), which is made of marzipan and 'dulce de yema'. Another is 'buñuelos de viento'.

ALL SAINTS' DAY - RECIPES FROM SPAIN

Buñuelos de Viento (Wind Puffs)No one knows exactly when these sweetened dough fritters, which are usually filled with cream, chocolate, pudding and anything else, began to be elaborated. But given that the Royal chef of Spanish king Felipe II made some references to this pastry in some of his recipes towards the beginning of the XVII century, has raised them to be one of the traditional culinary desserts to celebrate Dia de Todos los Santos, as tradition states that when you eat a buñuelo, a soul is released from purgatory.

Huesos de Santo (Saints' Bones)These oddly named sweets, which are made of marzipan dough rolled into thick thumb-size tubes, do not actually resemble a bone in shape, so do not fret over its unappealing name. Its name derives from the final coloring it acquires after its baked in a syrup covering: a bone-like beige hue. Huesos de Santo were also traditionally filled with a sweet egg yolk concoction, but nowadays are elaborated with all types of filling (from chocolate to coconut shavings to marmalade, banana, etc) to being sold in an assortment of colors that hint away at its flavor.

WRITING KEYS

A Few Points to Keep in Mind  ( Use this as a check list)

ü      Use connectors to link your ideas logically and correctly. ( see list below )

ü      Use the appropriate style. Avoid contractions (don't/isn't/ hasn't etc)  in formal style.

ü      Use a varied vocabulary.

ü      Pay attention to the punctuation and to capital letters.

ü      Pay attention to the grammar.( For example, check the verbs, singular and plural, 3^rd person singular -s, count and non-count nouns etc. )

ü      Don’t forget to skip a line between the different paragraphs.           

ü      While writing a draft, underline words or expressions you are not sure about.

ü      Rewrite (if necessary) and this time check with your dictionary.

ü      Count the words to see that you have not written less than you have to. Don't write more than you have to.

ü      Write legibly.

ü      NEVER hand in work without re-reading it carefully TWICE!!! (if you have time)

HOW TO MAKE A JACK-O-LATERN

Look at this video. Can you make a jack-o-lantern?. If you can't, don't worry, here you can find out how to do it.

SONG: THRILLER - MICHAEL JACKSON

MOVING THE CLOCKS

Changing the clocks

In the UK, we all change our clocks and watches by one hour, twice a year.

Last Sunday in March
We add an hour and go onto what is called British Summer Time (BST).
Last Sunday in October
We put our clocks back one hour and adhere to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

When do the clocks change in the UK?

         2011: the Sundays of 27 March and 30 October
         2012: the Sundays of 25 March and 28 October

 What time do the clocks change?

The clocks are always changed at 01:00 GMT (02:00 BST).

In the Autumn (October), as we are on BST (British Summer Time) before the clocks change, we change the clocks at 02:00.
In the Spring (March) we are already on GMT so change the clocks at 01:00

 When is the UK on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)?

November to the end of March

At 2 am (01:00) GMT on the last Sunday in October, clocks move back by one hour for the end of British Summer Time. (We move our clocks back one hour from 2am to 1am)

 When is the UK on British Summer Time (BST)?

April to the end of October

At 1 am (01:00) GMT on the last Sunday in March we move our clocks forward by one hour for the start of British Summer Time.
Summer time is from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October.

Why do we change our clocks?

We've been changing our clocks forwards and backwards in the UK since 1916. It's all to do with saving the hours of daylight, and was started by a man called William Willett, a London builder, who lived in Petts Wood in Kent (near our school).
William Willett first proposed the idea of British Summer Time in 1907 in a pamphlet entitled 'The Waste of Daylight'. Willett had noticed that the summer mornings light was wasted while people slept, and that the time would be better utilised in the afternoon by putting the clocks forward. After campaigning for years the British Government finally adopted the system a year after Willett's death.

When do other countries change their clocks?

European Union - Most countries change their clocks on the last Sundays of March and October.
North America and most of Canada on the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November.
Egypt, Namibia and Tunisia are the only African countries who observe daylight saving.
New Zealand and parts of Australia are the only countries in Oceania that currently put their clocks forwards and backwards.