Dance Music for Dancing Days

It's almost New Year's Eve!

Do you have plans? Are you having dinner with family or friends?

In my family we eat together for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Three Kings Day.

However, we spend New Year's Eve with friends having dinner out or going clubbing.

This video is a very famous dance music song by Bob Sinclar & Craig David.

Listening to this song always cheers me up! It's an old song but I like it a lot!

I haven't found a video with the lyrics. So, check the lyrics on the following link:

Lyrics

Which song cheers you up?

Share your plans with us!

Positive Thoughts

I want to share with you some positive thoughts for the New Year!

In 2012 I want to spend more time with family and friends,
laugh more, help more and teach more!

What are your New Year's resolutions?

Word of the week: "That makes two of us"

This week's expression is

That makes two of us

which means 'the same is true for me', in other words, this is something you say in order to tell someone that you are in the same situation or have the same feelings.

In Spanish we say 'ya somos dos'.

Examples:
A: I just passed my English exam.
B: That makes two of us!

A: I think this film is really boring.
B: That makes two of us!

Podcast: Witches

This podcast is about the Pendle witches, a group of people in north-west England who were hanged for using magic in the 17th century. Recently, the remains of a 17th century house which may be linked to the witches was found in Pendle Hill.

Witches

Remember to check the transcript after listening:

Transcript

Do you believe in magic and witches?

Merry Christmas

I hope you enjoy the holidays with your family and friends.

Have fun and remember to study English too.

I want to show you my favourite Christmas carol

which is from one of my favourite films Love Actually.

I'll see you in the new year 2012.

Pieces of News

Newspapers can keep you informed of all the news that happened in your country or all over the world. Nowadays thanks to the Internet we don't need to go to the newsagent's and buy a paper newspaper. We can check the news online.

On this blog you have a list of newspapers from different countries in a column on the right. Therefore, you can practise your English while reading the news. You also have a Spanish newspaper with an English version.

Have a look at it!

Word of the week: "Fib"

This week we have the noun "fib".

A fib is a lie.

Fibs are usually small lies that someone tells to impress their friends or colleagues. Fibs involve elaborate stories and people who tell fibs are usually addicted to them.

You also have the noun "white lie" which is a harmless or small lie you tell to avoid hurting somone.

Example:

A: You know, yesterday I met a beautiful girl. I invited her to a drink and she gave me her phone number.

B: That's a fib! Yesterday I talked to your brother and you were grounded at home!

Come on, tell us a fib in a comment! We'll believe you! ;-)

Podcast: Robots

Robotville festival in London's Science Museum celebrates some of the latest inventions in robot designs in the world. Listen to the following podcast:

Robots 

As usual, you can check the transcript and vocabulary after listening 2 or 3 times.

Transcript

I'd love to have a robot to do my domestic chores, escpecially to clean my house.

Would you like to have a robot? What for?

Phrasal Verbs Quiz

Phrasal verbs are difficult for Spanish speakers since we don't have anything like that in the Spanish grammar. Therefore, if you want to learn how to use them you need practice!

You know, in English you can add a particle to a verb and change the meaning of that verb completely. For example, if you are "asked out" by a handsome man, he isn't telling you to leave the place, he's asking you on a date.

Here you have a quiz to practise them in context. You're given a sentence and you only have to choose the correct verb from the choices. You'll immediately be told if you're right or wrong.

Quiz

Besides, if you want to check definitions and examples of phrasal verbs, have a look at the following webpage:  Phrasal verbs List

Have a good practice!

The Killers

I like The Killers very much. They are an American indie rock band. I've known them since 2005. I was living in Ireland by the time and my flatmate told me about them. When I listened to their first single I immediately liked them. My favourite songs are: "Jenny was a friend of mine" and "Human".

In this post I'm showing you one of their most famous songs: Mr Brightside.

Do you like them?

How long have you known them?

Sesame Street

Good memories from my childhood come to my mind when I see these characters since I grew up with them. I still remember getting home from school and going directly to the sofa to watch them while eating my afternoon snack. Years later my friends and I used to laugh about how silly those cartoons were. However, now as an adult I can appreciate its importance for very young children since their characters used to teach moral values. 

Nowadays there are great cartoons but they seem to be created for adults more than for children.

What do you think?

Do you know these cartoons?

Did you use to watch them?

Word of the week: "Sleep on it"

This week's word is more an expression than a word, but I'd like to teach it to you.

Sleep on it

It means not making an immediate decision about a plan or idea, but waiting until the next day in order to have more time to think about it.

Example: You don't have to give me your decision now. Sleep on it, and let me know tomorrow.


The only way to learn vocabulary is by using it. So, write a sentence with this expression in a comment and remember to include your name.

Podcast: Online Shopping

Shops are finding it difficult to stay in business because sales are down for the third year in a row. On the other hand, the trend of online shopping is increasing and a quarter of all Christmas shopping will be done online. Listen to the following podcast about this topic:

Online Shopping

As always, you can check the transcript on this link:

Transcript

I'm a little bit shopaholic and I like buying things online since you can access shops from all over Spain and even international shops. I've bought many things online: books, flights, clothes, accessories... I must confess I've already bought a Christmas present online this month.

What about you? Have you ever bought anything online?

What did you buy? Are you a shopaholic? Tell us!

My Favourite Christmas Dessert Recipes

Still haven't decided which recipe to prepare

for the dessert contest?

Have a look at these 

delicious easy recipes I've selected for you!

Download Recipes 

Wake up, students! Our class has to win!

Ashlee Simpson

Another amazing singer, songwriter and actress is Ashlee Simpson. She rose to prominence with her debut album Autobiography in 2004. Her older sister Jessica Simpson is also a singer. In fact, Ashlee began her career as a back-up dancer for her sister who was already famous. However, Ahslee was from the very beginning different from her sister due to her particular music style and her rock-punk image.

The song I want to show you is Shadow and belongs to her album Autobiography. I've always thought that in this song she's singing to her sister Jessica. Pay attention to the lyrics and tell me what you think.

Other interesting songs from her are: Undiscovered, No Time for Tears and Pieces of Me.

ed Pronunciation

When you form the regular past tense in English you need to pay attention to the
'-ed' pronunciation.
As you already know -ed can be pronounced in three different ways: /t/, /d/ and /id/.
We pronounce /t/ when the pronunciation of the infinitive of the verb finishes in a voiceless sound, /d/ when the verb finishes in a voiced sound and /id/ when the pronunciation of the verb finishes in -t or -d.

Here you have a video which gives an explanation of this pronunciation.



and some exercises about this pronunciation:

Listen to the pronunciation of the verb and choose the correct sound:  Quiz 1

Listen to each sentence and decide if the pronunciation is right or wrong: Quiz 2

Word of the week: "Cheesy"


  Today we open a new section in this blog: the 'Word of   the Week Section' which will be published every Wednesday.

In it I'll teach you a new colloquial word or expression.

I hope you enjoy it.

And this week we have the adjective "cheesy" which means too emotional or romantic in a way that is embarrasing.
              Our Spanish equivalent will be 'pastelón'.

                         Example: Celine Dion songs are so cheesy.

                                         Write a sentence in the comment space using this word.

Podcast: Volcano

What's the most dangerous thing you've done on holiday?

In the Democratic Republic of Congo a very unusual and dangerous tourist attraction has appeared. People go to see an erupting volcano!

Listen to discover what's happening there.

Volcano

After listening to this piece of news 2 or 3 times have a look at the transcript to check vocabulary and understanding.

Transcript

Would you like to see an erupting volcano? Why / Why not?

Kelly Clarkson

I want to share with you this videoclip from an amazing singer: Kelly Clarkson, a girl from Texas who won the first season of the TV contest 'American Idol' in 2002 and became a great artist overnight. Since then she has won many awards and sold millions of records thanks to her wonderful voice.

This is one of my favourite songs: Behind these hazel eyes.

What do you think?

Did you already know her?

Christmas Party

Christmas is coming and in our school we're organising activities to celebrate it
and have fun with classmates and teachers.
On 22nd December we will have a dessert contest and karaoke singing.
So, join us and show your cooking skills and your beautiful voice.

To participate in the dessert contest have a look at the recipes and tell your teacher.
Besides, you can practise your singing with these videos.