Carving Halloween Pumpkins

Halloween Pumpkin Patch

November vegetables

These are the most typical vegetables in this season. Mind they have different names in American and British English:

AE                        BE
eggplant               aubergine
pumpkin   (Native of America)
squash                 marrow
zucchini               courgette

In the meantime, you can watch a recipe for pumpkin bread to celebrate Halloween:

low fat pumpkin bread

The squeezed middle

is the new expression (or buzz word) in English. It is a noun and refers to people on average incomes who have less money than previously to buy the things they need because rising costs have not been matched by an increase in pay: 

'Many of these companies have built their brands on the backs of the country's middle-classes. But this swathe of society, caught between recession-proof top earners and low-income households, has come to be described as the squeezed middle in modern-day, austerity Britain.'
Wall Street Journal 8th October 2012

At MacMillan dictionary we have more info on this new concept which came up in 2011. Can you tell us what it means with your own words? Is that happening in Spain as well?

2012-2013 Calendar

Dear all,

This is the calendar of the current school year. You can download it here.

A love for Life

 

Dear NI2 students,

A love for Live is the book that we will comment in class on November 21st (put off). As it is about adoption and birth parents, why don't you have a look at some quotations from birthmothers, adoptees and adoptive parents?
 

http://www.adoptionopen.com/adoptionquotes.html

How about this one from a birthmother? What does it mean? What do you think? Do you agree?
 

"A Birthmother puts the needs of her child above the wants of her heart"
Skye Hardwick

And this one from an adoptive parent?

"However motherhood comes to you, it's a miracle."
Valerie Harper
Adoptive parent

In and Around London

Dear NI1 students,

 

In and Around London from Vicens Vives is the first reader we will work with in class with NI1 students. The problem is that it is no longer available, so I recommend you check in Amazon.com; and some bookshops in Móstoles. Some students bought it at:

• Puzzle C/ Pintor Rivera, 9, Móstoles
• Cruceta, C/ Empecinado, 21, 28937 Móstoles
• Alca, C/ Montero, 40, 28934 Móstoles

A theater play in English: The Good Doctor

You can enjoy some good theater in English in Madrid!! The Good Doctor is a theater play based on Anton Chekjov's tales.  

Teatro Liberarte
C/ Francisca Conde, 7
Metro: Valdeacederas/ La Ventilla

When: 11, 18 and 25th of November at 20:30
Price: 20 euros
At atrapalo.com: 10 euros

White elephants

Dear NI2 students,

I find this audio documentary very interesting as it is about our country. They use the idiomatic expression "white elephants", what is it? Can you guess? 

Spain's runaway to nowhere

• What do you think of the situation described here?
• Do you agree with this view from abroad about Spain?
• Are there any other mistakes that were made in Spain in the past?

This documentary was downloaded from BBC assignment. It's a great idea to download the ones you are interested in to improve your listening skills.

Brownies

Dear NI1 students, 

Why don't you watch the video we watched in class again? What action verbs can you hear? What do they say at the end, to finish the dish? 

You can watch more recipes in English in Videojug
 

brownies

Speed dating

Hi! 

This is the video we watched in class. Many thanks to my colleague Susana. 
It may also be a good idea to visit slowdating.com where you can find good speed dating questions.



Questions:

1. She is a city girl but he is still getting used to the buzz and ______________

2. The girl likes going to  _______________________________ when she wants to unwind.

3. Their most important common interest is _________________________________

4. She´s embarrassed because she owns literally all the  ______________________

5. Since she left uni(versity) she´s not sure about her___________________________

6. His ideal first date consists of ______________ which proves her he´s a _________ type.

7. She likes the boy because _______________________________________.

Pheromone Party

Dear NI2 students, 

Pheromone parties are in these days. In fact, they are growing across America. They rely on biochemical compatibility to suggest good romantic matches. This is how pheromone parties work. 

In this video they talk about scents a lot, which words do they use to describe smells? Write it on the "comments" section below. After watching it, could you explain anybody what a pheromone party is?

Don't know why, Norah Jones

Dear NI2 students, 

Why not sing along with Norah Jones? 

How to reject Tactfully After a First Date

Dear NI2 students, 

As we dealt with speed dating in class, why don't you think of the expressions and vocabulary to reject a date?  

• What ways do they speak about when rejecting someone? 
• Do you think "fading away" is a good idea? 
• What about "a white lie"? Can you mention an example of a white lie from the video?
• Do you think these are good idas?

Studying in British Univerities

Dear students,

 

I think you may find this information useful if you want to study abroad.

 

***********************************

 

Abierto al público (de 10h a 13h y de 15h a 19.30h)

 

Se admiten grupos previa inscripción. Contacta con raquel.fernandezmontes@britishcouncil.es

 

Sesiones informativas (plazas limitadas):

15:00 - ¿Qué nivel de inglés necesito? IELTs exams (inscríbete)

15:45 - ¿Cómo hacer la solicitud de plaza?, ¿Cuándo?, ¿Cómo mejorar mis resultados de admisión? (inscríbete)

16:30 - Todo sobre la vida estudiantil, alojamiento, bibliotecas, descuentos, etc (inscríbete)

17:15 - Cómo financiar mis estudios: becas, ayudas del gobierno y más - (inscríbete)

18:00 Tres de las más prestigiosas universidades en investigación de Londres (Imperial College, University College & King’s College), darán una conferencia sobre Estudios de Primera Clase en Londres (inscríbete)

Además de poder hablar con Universidades Británicas en los primeros puestos de los Rankings Internacionales, se incluyen sesiones sobre becas, cómo solicitar tu plaza, requisitos de entrada, etc. Si necesitas más información, visita nuestra página web www.britishcouncil.es, sección eventos.

Inscríbete! (y gana un iPad3, que se rifará entre todos los participantes)

The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We are a registered charity; 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland). We create international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and build trust between them worldwide.

This week's movies

Hi there!

These are the movie picks of the week. What do you think? Which one would you like to see? Have you already seen any? How was it? Tell us!

Oct 5th World Teachers' Day

Today is World Teachers' Day.

Why don't you send an email to your favourite teacher(s)?

You can do it by clicking here.

You can also listen to EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen's video message for World Teachers' Day 2012.

Diagnostic Test

These days we will take a diagnostic test in class to see your level of English and for me to learn about your needs as well.

Meanwhile you can take this online test from Oxford University Press. You may tell us how well you did in the "comment" section below.

Some Info to begin with

Dear all,

This is what it is expected from you this school year as we read in class.

• NI1 Groups
• NI2 Groups

Have a good day!

Spain protests turn violent

Hi! 
Have you seen the news in English recently? How about this video from the CNN about Spain and the protests around the Parliament? What do you think about it?