NI2 Readers

Dear NI2 students,

As some of you have asked, I'd like to inform you that the book we will comment first in class on January 11th & 12th is:

The curious incident of the dog in the night time (unabridged). Mark Haddon

and then (after March)

A love for Life (unabridged). Penny Hancock

You should be reading The Curious Incident these days...

Rockettes

If you happen to be in New York these days, it's time to visit this traditional rockettes' show, which has just been revamped at Radio City Music Hall.

Occupy Protests Become a Movement

Hi!
In this activity you can listen to the news and fill in the blanks. This is a great way of improving your listening skills. You can see more activities like this at listen to the news EnglishClub.com, .

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

• district: a specific region or area
• occupy: to fill up or take over a space
• disproportionate: unequal or unfair amount in comparison to another amount
• general strike: a temporary refusal to work by people in many industries
• Arab Spring: 2011 uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa
• 
  

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Occupy Protests Taking Become A Movement

A protest called “Occupy Wall Street” (OWS) that took place in September in New York City’s financial district has inspired similar
around the world. With over 900 cities in over 80 countries
, OWS is now being called the “Occupy Movement”. Occupy protestors claim to represent “99 percent” of the population. They say they are no longer willing to accept that the other 1% have a disproportionate amount of the world’s power and wealth. Protestors are complaining of being
, unemployed, homeless, or without health care. In some cities,
have set up camps and are calling for general strikes. The original march was inspired by the
Spring.

Comprehension Questions

1. Where was the original “Occupy” demonstration held?
2. Why does the report mention 1%?
3. What are the protestors’ main issues?

Discussion Question: With winter arriving early in the US, critics say that the OWS movement will not have staying power. Protestors disagree. What do you think will happen?

show Answers

Reading

Dear NI2 students,

I'd like you to read "London Riots: Totteham residents seek answers" this weekend so that we can comment on it on Monday and Tuesday.

Have a good one!

Madrid Players' Pantomime

If you wish to go to the theater in English, this might be a good pick!

Happy Halloween!!

Who wrote ABBA's songs?

Here you can listen again to the listening activity on page 9 from our coursebook.

What does the journalist say about?

1. the song title and lyrics?
Their agent, Stig Andersson wrote the titles, and Björn wrote the lyrics. He had a lot of problems writing in English at first but it got better later.
2. Agnetha's attitude to touring
She hated leaving her children and developed a phobia about flying. She became less and less enthusiastic about appearing in public.
3. stories the tabloid press made up
The press said that when Abba toured Australia they were actors, and that they'd asked a Russian record company to pay them in potatoes.
4. Anni-Frid's father
Anni-frid thought her father had died when she was a child but a German journalist wrote a story saying that he was alive and living in Germany. The story turned out to be true.
5. Björn and Agneta's divorce
They tried to make things easier for themselves by telling journalists that it was "a happy divorce", but as Agnetha says in her autobiography , "we all know there are no such a things as happy divorce.
6. Agnetha after Abba split up
Agnetha spends most of her time living alone.
7. how often they still meet
Abba were all together in 1986 on a TV programme, and there was talk of another Abba album but it didn't happen.

Manners

Dear NI2 students,

Listen to native people talking about manners in this video by HotEnglish Magazine. How about Spaniards? Are we polite? How is it compared to British people? What's the definition of the word polite?
Words you may need to know:
bowing
shake hands

Chocolate Fudge Brownies

You can watch the video on how to make brownies again. What about the utensils they use? Can you write them down on the "comentario"? Will you cook it at home? If you do, tell us about the result, ok?
If you wish to make a tex-mex dish, try fajitas in startcooking.com

Stereotypes

What do others think about Spanish people?? We have already commented on these stereotypes in the class. What do you think? Are we lazy? Are we into fiesta too much?

I suggest you listen to this document from onestopenglish.com about sterotypes and answer the questions on the comment section.

Choose the correct sentence.
1.
a. Speaker 1 says that the majority of Spanish people are for bullfighting.
b. Speaker 1 says that the majority of Spanish people are against bullfighting.
2.
a. Speaker 2 thinks that all Spanish people leave everything for tomorrow.
b. Speaker 2 thinks that some Spanish people leave everything for tomorrow.
3.
a. Speaker 3’s family thinks it’s very hot in Spain in the winter.
b. Speaker 3’s family thinks it’s very cold in Spain in the winter.
4.
a. Speaker 4 says Spanish people work hard from Monday to Friday and sometimes even Saturday.
b. Speaker 4 says Spanish people work hard from Monday to Saturday.
5.
a. Speaker 5 believes that the Spanish do not have a good work-life balance.
b. Speaker 5 believes that the Spanish have a good work-life balance.
6.
a. Speaker 6 says that people think the Spanish never have a good time.
b. Speaker 6 says that people think the Spanish always have a good time.

My Blackberry is not Working

Have a laugh with this fruity sketch by The One Ronnie

Readers

Dear students,

Some of you have asked about books to read. In class we are going to study:
For NI1
American cities (B1.2). Blackcat Readers (Vicens Vives)

For NI2
A love for Life (unabridged). Penny Hancock
The curious incident of the dog in the night time (unabridged). Mark Haddon

For those who want to read more outside the classroom these are wonderful reads as well:

For NI1
Othello. (B2.1) Blackcat Readers (Vicens Vives) For an audio sample, click here!
The British Isles. (B1.1) Blackcat Readers (Vicens Vives) For an audio sample, click here!

For NI2
Wicked and Humorous Tales. (B2.1) Blackcat Readers (Vicens Vives)
The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas. (unabridged)

Worldwide Indignant Demonstration

As we read in class, the indignant movement in Spain has created plenty of witty slogans, such as "if voting served any purpose, it would be prohibited". Do you know any more?? Tell us in the "comentario."

You can read more articles like the one we read in class in typicalspanish.com. This site tells the Spanish news in English.

Nadia Al-Sakkaf: See Yemen through my eyes

Dear all,
This TED video showa a great heroine from Yemen. In the original TED web page there's an interactive transcript where you can repeat the part of the video you wish.

Intercambio nights

In this site you can see the program that fits you the best to practice English:
http://www.english-area.com/indice/donde.htm

You may also read an old post in this blog.

Coursebooks

As you may already know, the coursebooks we will be using this year are:

NI1, New English File. Intermediate (green). Student's book and Workbook with key. (Oxford University Press)

NI2, New English File. Intermediate Plus (red). Student's book and Workbook with key. (Oxford University Press)

The publishing company has a wonderful site that you may use to review what we study in class and have extra practice in a fun way.

• For NI1
• For NI2

Steve Jobs

In this this site called VOA English, you can listen to the news in very slow English. It's a great idea to read and to listen to the news at the same time. You may also want to try to download the podcast and listen to it on your way to work/school.

How about you? Did you know him? Do you like his products? Do you have a lot of Apple gadgets?

Welcome to a new school year!

Dear NI1, NI2 students from Valdezarza,

I'd like to welcome you all to the class blog!
This is a difficult year as it started badly. We are rebelling against the loss of prestige and devaluation of public school.
I'll personally have more students then I'll need more time to prepare lessons and upate this blog. However, I still want to make an effort and guide you on your English learning outside the classroom and give you the opportunity of expressing your opinion in the blog.

Wishing you a blast this year!

Tweets and gaffes confuse Madrid’s education debate

Read about education in Madrid. Does it describe the situation as it is? Do you have another opinion? Is there something important missing?

Tweets and gaffes confuse Madrid’s education debate

Dear NI2 students,

Alessio Rastani - told the BBC the plan "won't work" and that people should be trying to make money from a market crash.

What do you think of this shocking video? Are you flabbergasted as the interviewer herself? Why does he say the governments don't have a say in the crisis? it's Goldman Sachs who does.