Assignment

Hi,

I'd like to remind you that you should read Chapter Six (The Flowering Tree) from The Canterville Ghost and work on the following exercises:

• p 84-85 > exercises 1, 3
• p 86-87 > exercises 5, 6, 7
• p 88-89 > exercises 10
• p 90-91 > exercises 1, 2
• p 92-93 > exercises 3, 4, 5, 6

When coming back on Tuesday and Wednesday, you'll have to write a restaurant review in class as instructed on pages 76 and 77 from our Coursebook.

You should keep working on speaking activities like: A memorable meal and The best place to experience the beauty of your country.

600 kilos of Roman coins discovered in Spanish town

Construction workers have found 600 kilos (1322.7 pounds) of ancient Roman coins while carrying out routine work on water pipes in southern Spain, local officials said overnight.                                                        "It is a unique collection and there are very few similar cases," Ana Navarro, head of Seville's Archeology Museum which is looking after the find, told a news conference.

Dating back to the late third and early fourth centuries, the bronze coins were found on Wednesday inside 19 Roman amphoras, a type of jar, in the town of Tomares near Seville.

Navarro declined to give a precise estimate for the value of the haul, saying only that the coins were worth "certainly several million euros".

The coins are stamped with the inscriptions of emperors Maximian and Constantine, and they appeared not to have been in circulation as they show little evidence of wear and tear.

It is thought they were intended to pay the army or civil servants.

"The majority were newly minted and some of them probably were bathed in silver, not just bronze," said Navarro.

"I could not give you an economic value, because the value they really have is historical and you can't calculate that."

Local officials have suspended the work on the water pipes and plan to carry out an archaeological excavation on the site.

The Romans conquered the Iberian Peninsula in 218 BC, ruling until the early 5th century when they were ousted by the Visigoths.
Source: sms news

Does grammar matter?

It can be hard sometimes, when speaking, to remember all of the grammatical rules that guide us when we’re writing. When is it right to say “the dog and me” and when should it be “the dog and I”? Does it even matter? Andreea S. Calude dives into the age-old argument between linguistic prescriptivists and descriptivists — who have two very different opinions on the matter.
Source: Ted Talks

Expressing surprise

Here you can find some common expressions used to express surprise. Use them to react to these comments:

I'm getting married.

I passed all my exams.

That costs 300 pounds.

I lost my phone yesterday.

I saw your girlfriend kissing another guy yesterday.
I'm going to have a baby and it's yours.

1. That's amazing, impressive!
2. You're the best
3. Awesome (informal)
4. Wow!
5. Oh my god! (OMG)

EXPRESSING SURPRISE AND DISBELIEF
6. Unbelievable!
7. Incredible
8. Are yoy serious?

INFORMAL
9. Come on!
10. Are you kidding me?
11. Are you pulling my leg?
12. Is that a joke?
13.I can't believe it!
14. Really?
15. That's ridiculous!

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman escaped slavery to become a leading abolitionist. She led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom along the route of the Underground Railroad.

Utopian

How  about  some poetry for the weekend? Which city is she talking about do you think?

Alicia Ostriker                               

My neighbor’s daughter has created a city you cannot see on an island to which you cannot swim ruled by a noble princess and her athletic consort all the buildings are glass so that lies are impossible beneath the city they have buried certain words which can never be spoken again chiefly the word divorce which is eaten by maggots when it rains you hear chimes rabbits race through its suburbs the name of the city is one you can almost pronounce

Speaking

Why not think of a memorable meal? Prepare to talk about a meal you'll never forget

• Was it something you prepared or was it somebody else?
• When was it?
• Where?
• Who were you with? A family gathering? a friends' meeting?
• How was it cooked? 
• Describe the taste, smell and color

You may be inspired by this conversation about a Thanksgiving meal in Canada at elllo.org

For specific vocabulary visit these Language Guide links 

• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Food
• Food II
• Herbs
• Drinks

June Exams

Hi,

I'd like to tell you the dates of our last exams:

Written Exam: May 30th at 16h
Oral Exams:
Day 1, June 2 starting at 16h
Day 2, June 3 starting at 16h

The Queen's 90th birthday

The Queen is celebrating her 90th birthday. The BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme looks back at key moments in her reign.

British Food

Source: Oxford Culture Mania. March 30, 2016        

Many foreigners – even if they have never even been to the UK – are convinced that British food is the worst in the world.

Well, it may not be the best, and during the three or four decades after World War II, partly as a result of wartime food rationing, it was unlikely to win many culinary prizes. But times have changed and both in restaurants and homes, people cook a whole range of tasty dishes. But what are the typical foods and recipes that everyone associates with the land of the Sunday roast? Well, here are a few examples …

---

Fish and Chips

It was in the late 19th century when this famous combination became really popular, and the first fish and chip shop opened in London in 1860. The fish (usually cod or haddock) is cooked in batter, and until quite recently the meal was taken home wrapped in newspaper (not now, for health reasons), being especially popular on a Friday, even in Protestant or non-religious societies, as an alternative to meat.

Crisps
Or what in the USA they call chips, are a not very nutritional but extremely popular element of British food culture. It is estimated that every Briton eats an average of 150 packets of crisps per year, and doctors worry about the possible consequences, including obesity and diabetes. The most popular flavour is Cheese and Onion, but others include Chilli Con Carne, Spaghetti Bolognese and BBQ Kangaroo!

Steak and Kidney Pie
A savoury pie filled with pieces of beef, kidney, onions and gravy. A filling dish, ideal for a cold winter’s day (unless, of course, like me, you hate kidney!) and a typical example of pub food.


Chicken Tikka Masala
Served in Indian restaurants, but almost certainly invented in Britain. One story is that a Pakistani chef in Glasgow created the dish about 50 years ago when he added a tin of tomato soup and some spices to a chicken curry that the customer said was too dry. In 2001 the British Foreign Secretary declared that:

Chicken Tikka Masala is now a true British national dish, not only because it is the most popular, but because it is a perfect illustration of the way Britain absorbs and adapts external influences.

Fried Mars Bar
A fine example of an original recipe! It was probably a chip shop in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1995, which first deep-fried a Mars Bar in batter for hungry local children. In 2012 the owner said they were selling 100-150 per week, mostly to visitors who had heard about the novelty dish.

Photo credit: Avid Hills via Foter.com / CC BY

Full English Breakfast
In Los Cristianos, Tenerife, where your correspondent enjoyed his Easter holidays, every single bar and restaurant tempts you to step inside and for as little as 2€ begin the day with a plate full of bacon, sausages, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, and baked beans! You don’t see many people choosing the Continental, lighter, alternative.

Anyway, it’s time for me to go for a walk and try to burn a few calories!

A Christmas Carol

As we are reading a ghost story these days, I'm sending Charles Dicken's story adapted to the radio in Spanish. It's worth listening though.

A Christmas Carol

Jamie Oliver's speech

Find a link to this famous British chef, Jamie Oliver's speech. You can even shadowread the speech on an interactive script while listening to the video!

Sharing powerful stories from his anti-obesity project in Huntington, W. Va., TED Prize winner Jamie Oliver makes the case for an assault on our ignorance of food.

It's hair raising, a wakeup call to mind what we choose to eat!
Some time ago, Montse, a classmate recommended this link!

Pumpkin bread recipe

Now that we are dealing with food and restaurants, how about this American recipe?

The Angel of Refugees

This is from a BBC program called: 50 women making it happen.

In the last few months, tens of thousands of migrants and refugees have attempted to cross the Mediterranean sea to Italy, one of the main gateways to Europe. It's a dangerous trip and many are stranded at sea. But there is someone they can call - Nawal Soufi, a human rights activist from Sicily - who's become a main point of contact, and whose phone is always on. She helps direct coastguards their way. Our reporter Daniel Adamson has been to meet Nawal in Catania.

Release date:  28 September 2015 Duration: 8 minutes

 

Modals of necessity, prohibition and permission

Hi,

Why not practice modals in these links?

• Exercise 1
• Exercise 2
• Don't Have to and Mustn't

From English File:

• Must, have to, should 1 
• Must, have to, should 2
  

To go over the second conditional work on:

• Type 2 condition
• First conditional and future time clauses 1
• First conditional and future time clauses 2

'Music helped me to rebuild myself'

Singer Angelique Kidjo just won her third Grammy award. She explains how her music and activism feed into each other.

Producer: Tania Ketenjian

Love's Labour's Lost

This post is for those Primary and Secondary school teachers wanting to take their students to the theater.   27 April to 15 May. Madrid.    Schools in Madrid are invited to discover one of Shakespeare's lesser known works in this new production by Teatro Fundación Siglo de Oro in partnership with the Globe Theatre London and the Fundación Baluarte.   A special resource pack has been developed and allows students (12 to 19 year olds) to enjoy the theatre experience as never before.  The school's project involves: students and teachers exploring the work in class actors running workshops in participating schools tickets for special performances at Teatros de Canal There are special performances for schools organised for 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13 of May.  You can find out more here  or contact Fundación Siglo de Oro: Telephone: 91 00 52 251 or 607 894 634 Email: grupos@menchosa.org  Price: 10€ per participating pupil.

Why is this painting so captivating?

On first glance, the painting “Las Meninas” (“The Maids of Honor”) might not seem terribly special, but it’s actually one of the most analyzed pieces in the history of art. Why is this painting by Diego Velazquez so captivating? James Earle and Christina Bozsik share the context and complexity behind this work of art.

Source: Ted Edu

Interested in learning more about Spanish Baroque art? The Khan Academy site is a good place to start.  It has some great information which includes another video about "Las Meninas."

The toughest place to be a ...

Following the series on page 69 from our coursebook, you can have a look . The second programme in the series sees Richard Gibson, a dairy farmer from Devon, travelling to northern Kenya, one of the most arid regions in the world, as he joins the Samburu tribe to live the life of a cattle herder.

Back in Devon, Richard treats his 120 Holstein cows like finely tuned athletes and in return they reward him with an incredible 2 million pints of milk a year.

As no crops grow in northern Kenya, for centuries local tribes have herded cattle, but in recent years more severe and longer droughts have started to threaten the lifestyle of these semi-nomadic herders.

Richard will experience the constant battle for food and water. Most days his host village elder Lemerigichen must dig down into the earth to find water for his cows. It’s exhausting work in the baking heat, yet these herders survive only on a little maize and milk, while some days there’s no food at all.

Richard also learns that as drought pushes tribes closer together in search of ever-dwindling water supplies, they stray onto each other’s territory. Traditional enemies, they now fight with guns that have come over the border from Sudan and Somalia.

Talk about your job

Hi,

Here you can find some questions and expressions that may help you prepare for the speaking exercise in class on Thursday 7th and Monday 11th.

1. Do you have a job?

 If so:
 - What do you do in your current job?
 - What kind of job is it?
 - How did you get this job?
 - Is your job competitive ?
 - What opportunities does your job give?
 - Do you like your job?
 - Do you like your boss?
 - Do you like your colleagues?
 - Do you like the atmosphere in your workplace?
 - Is your job stressful?
 - Would you like to change anything in your job?
 - Do you have to work overtime? How often? Does your boss pay you more for overtime work?
 If not:
  - What was your last job?
 - What kind of job was it?
 - How did you get this job?
 - Was your job competitive?
 - What opportunities did your job give?
 - Did you like your job?
 - Did you like your boss?
 - Did you like your colleagues?
 - Was your job stressful?
 - Why don’t you work there anymore?
 - Are you looking for a new job?

2. At what age would you like to retire? What would you like to do after the retirement?

4. What was your first job? Did you like it?

5. When you were a child, what was your dream job?

6. What is your dream job now?

7. What do you think is the worst job?

8. Do people usually get jobs related to their educational background? How about you?

9. Does a university degree guarantee success in the future career?

10. What is the most important in your job?

11. Would you like to run your own business?

12. Is it better to work for someone else or be self-employed?

Betrayal

You may be interested in attending this theater play: 

Betrayal by Harold Pinter

is being performed on

 20, 21, 22, 23 April at 8pm

24 April at 7pm

28, 29 April at 8pm

at the Teatro/Sala Trovador

C/ San José, 3  Metro: Antón Martín

Tickets cost 12€ 

Group bookings

For groups of 10+, contact the theatre on 634 952 679 or at reservagrupotrovador@gmail.com

For other reservations book your tickets at

http://www.salatrovador.es/venta-de-entradas/

Betrayal by Harold Pinter (Nobel Prize for Literature, 2005) begins in 1977, with a meeting between adulterous lovers, Emma and Jerry, two years after their affair has ended. During the nine scenes of the play, we move back in time, through the states of their affair, and their respective marriages, with the play ending in the house of Emma and Robert, her husband, who is Jerry's oldest friend.

The classic dramatic scenario of the love triangle is manifest in a mediation on the themes of marital infidelity, duplicity and self-deception. Pinter writes a world that simultaneously glorifies and debases love set against a backdrop of changing social conditions.

Music in Canada speech

COME AND ENJOY AN INTERESTING TALK IN ENGLISH!

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE YOUR ENGLISH!

WHEN: FRIDAY 15th APRIL at 16:30

WHERE: AT EOI MADRID-EMBAJADORES, Room 15

TALKER: TRICIA AUDETTE

ALL STUDENTS OF ENGLISH ARE INVITED. IT'S A MULTI-LEVEL TALK!

Watch and summarize

I will assign this activity to those students who have not had the opportunity of presenting anything in class yet. You have to choose a short news video from the internet and tell us about it. Anything that you like that's not too long goes.

If you don't know where to go, visit BBC Words in the News or Lingohack. Choose a news event from there. You can pick whatever you want, as long as we haven't done the story in class yet.

1. You have to watch or listen to the story and tell us about it for about 3 or 4 minutes. Begin by thinking of the main ideas in just a few sentences.
2. Explain the news with your own words. Try to use some of the new vocabulary that you learned from the video. 
3. Provide the class with a short list of words necessary to understand the piece of news.
4. Those students who have not presented in class yet will have to tell us in the days assigned below.

 

Tuesday &Thursday	PRESENTATION DATES	Monday & Wednesday	PRESENTATION DATES
Kelly A	April 12	Juan Carlos C	April 18
Irene V	April 14	Aser V	April 20
Sonsoles A	April 19	Carmen González	April 25
Matías M	April 21	Sandra P	April 27
Ana B	April 26	Antonia M	May 4
Marta Mayo	April 28	Sonsoles P	May 9
Gloria C	May 3	Juan M	May 11
Marta Mateo	May 5
Carolina D	May 10
Inés G	May 12
Pablo E	May 17
Jorge G	May 19
Asunción E	May 24

Lingohack: Today's headlines

Today's Headlines:
Commuting in a driverless car
Cleaning up Delhi's air
Solving South Africa's power crisis