INFINITIVE OF PURPOSE

Here's a simple English structure that most Spanish students have problems with. To explain the reason WHY we do something, we use the TO INFINITIVE.

Click on this link to practice the structure playing a game: INFINITIVE OF PURPOSE GAME.

WILL WE GET TO THIS...? (USE OF MOBILES IN THE CLASSROOM)

Mobile phones are being used in classes, when they shouldn't be. 

If we aren't able to control their use and put them away in our bags or pockets in silence during the classes, maybe very soon we'll get to what we can see in this picture...

...or either have to get to this...

It depends on us.
...but meanwhile some of you are doing this...

during their English classes!

EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES

Here are charts of everyday activities, we frequently use with the PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE.

NUREMBERG STUDENT EXCHANGE 2014

Spanish group at the airport

At the school's main entrance

2014 Nuremberg student exchange photo collection.

By Nuremberg's city walls

In front of Our Lady's Church (Frauenkirche)

Nuremberg city centre

By Durero's museum

Munich

WRITING: OPINION ESSAYS / FOR AND AGAINST ESSAYS

Here are examples of writing essays for you to compare and distinguish: 

- an opinion essay, where you give your own opinion on a topic.

- two for and against essay, where you show opposite views about a topic and choose one as your own final opinion. More on FOR/AGAINST essays

BOARD GAMES

Here are the English names for some traditional board games.

"I SPY..." & "SIMON SAYS...": 2 TRADITIONAL GAMES IN ENGLISH (5th cultural week)

To take part in our 5th cultural week, devoted this year to Traditional Games, the English Department is going to participate with two traditional games which use language to play.

"I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE..."

"I spy" is a guessing game. One player chooses an object that is visible to all the players and says, "I spy with my little eye something beginning with ...", naming the letter the chosen object starts with (e.g. "I spy with my little eye something beginning with C" if the chosen object is a car). Other players have to guess the chosen object. An alternative version is played where the colour is given rather than the initial letter (e.g. "I spy with my little eye something blue")

I spy is often played with young children as a means to entertain in long boring journeys.

It isn't a very old game, the first record is from 1937 in a Canadian publication. In any case it's a 20th century game and it became very popular in the 1950s and 60s. The game and its wording are well known in western popular culture.

Video "I SPY..." example:

"SIMON SAYS..."

Simon Says is a child's game for 3 or more players where 1 player takes the role of "Simon" and gives instructions (usually physical actions such as "jump in the air" or "stick out your tongue") to the other players, which should only be followed if prefaced with the phrase "Simon says", for example, "Simon says, jump in the air". Players are eliminated from the game by either following instructions that are not immediately preceded by the phrase, or by failing to follow an instruction which does include the phrase "Simon says". It is the ability to distinguish between valid and invalid commands, rather than physical ability, that usually matters in the game; in most cases, the action just needs to be attempted.

The object for the player acting as Simon is to get all the other players out as quickly as possible; the winner of the game is usually the last player who has successfully followed all of the given commands. Occasionally however, 2 or more of the last players may all be eliminated by following a command without "Simon Says", thus resulting in Simon winning the game.

The game is well  in popular culture, with numerous references in films, music and literature. Simon Says originated from Latin, the Latin version was "Cicero dicit fac hoc", meaning "Cicero says do this". This game has translated across multiple cultures from seemingly common routes and some international versions also use the name.

Video "SIMON SAYS..." example:

UPDATE: This is how we played "SIMON SAYS" during the activities prepared for the Cultural Week:

[Students from 1ºESO-D playing "Simon Says"]

ENGLISH NURSERY RHYMES (5th Cultural Week)

The term nursery rhyme is used for traditional poems and songs for young children in Britain and many other countries, but usage only dates from the late 18th/early 19th century. We collect them because we can also consider them part of the traditional games played by children when singing them.  Here are some of the most famous ones.

Sing a song of sixpence

Sing a song of sixpence*,
A pocket full of rye*;
Four and twenty* blackbirds
Baked in a pie.

When the pie was opened,
The birds began to sing;
Wasn't that a dainty* dish
To set before the king?

The king was in his counting house,
Counting out his money;
The queen was in the parlour,
Eating bread and honey.

The maid* was in the garden,
Hanging out the clothes,
There came a little blackbird,
And snapped off* her nose.

• sixpence - a coin
• rye - a cereal plant
• Four and twenty - 24
• dainty - delicately pretty
• maid - a servant
• snapped off - break off or bite off

There was an old woman

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe,
She had so many children
she didn't know what to do;
She gave them some broth*
without any bread;
She whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.

• broth - a thin soup of fish or meat stock

Little Miss Muffet

Little Miss Muffet
Sat on a tuffet*,
Eating her curds* and whey*;
Along came a big spider,
Who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away.

• tuffet - a low seat
• curds - the cheesy, acidy substance left on milk
• whey - water liquid left when milk goes off

Three blind mice

Three blind mice.
Three blind mice.
See how they run.
See how they run.
They all ran after the farmer's wife,
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife,
Did you ever see such a sight in your life,
As three blind mice?

• blind - cannot see, has no sight

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men,
Couldn't put Humpty together again.

Baa, Baa, Black Sheep

Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir
Three bags full;
One for the master,
And one for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.

• wool - hair from a sheep, goat, etc.
• master - a person who has control over people or things
• dame - a young woman
• lane - a narrow road

One, Two, Three, Four, Five

One, two, three, four, five,
Once I caught a fish alive,
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
Then I let it go again.

Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
This little finger on the right.

Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water;
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.

Up Jack got, and home did trot,
As fast as he could caper,
To old Dame Dob, who patched his nob.
With vinegar and brown paper.

• pail - a bucket
• crown - the top of one's head
• tumbling - to suddenly fall down end over end
• trot - to run slowly
• caper - a level that you can no longer pass
• nob - your head

Hey Diddle Diddle

Hey diddle diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon;
The little dog laughed to see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

• fiddle - an instrument similar to a violin

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Twinkle*, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

• twinkle - to shine or sparkle

Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat

Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?
I've been to London to visit the Queen.
Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you there?
I frightened a little mouse under her chair.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

Mary, Mary quite contrary*,
How does your garden grow?
With silver* bells and cockleshells*,
And pretty maids all in a row*.

• contrary - opposite in nature
• silver - white precious metal
• cockleshells - small edible shellfish
• row - a tidy line

Ring-a-Ring O'Roses

Ring-a-ring o'roses,
A pocket full of posies*,
A-tishoo! A-tishoo!
We all fall down.

• posies - a small bunch of flowers

ABBA'S "WATERLOO": 40 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

40 years ago today ABBA, the Swedish group, won the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton (United Kingdom) with the song "WATERLOO". That day a great musical career took off and has taken them to sell more than 380 millions records worldwide and have brought their music still to be played and known today. 
ABBA was formed by two girls: Agnetha Fältskog (straight long hair) and Anni-Frid Lyngstad (curly hair) and two boys Björn Ulvaeus (guitar) and Benny Andersson (piano). Today we remember that date here.

MORE INFO ABOUT ABBA @ ABBA, THE SITE.

Video ABBA performing "WATERLOO" @ Eurovision Song Contest, Brighton 1974:

Audio "WATERLOO"+lyrics:


"WATERLOO", ABBA, official video:

CONFUSING WORDS (2)

Here are some more group of words which are usually confused.

STUDENT'S MUSIC QUIZZES

Here are other music quizzes that students have made in the Proxecto classes. Try to answer them, too:

JENNIFER (1ºD) made a quiz completely devoted to ABBA.

1- WHO ARE ABBA?
2- WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DID THE GROUP PLAY?
3- HOW MANY RECORDS DID ABBA RECORD?
4- WHEN DID THEY START SINGING?
5- WHEN DID THEY JUMP TO FAME?
6- WHICH WAS THEIR LAST ALBUM?
7- WHEN DID THEY APPEAR FOR THE LAST TIME?
8- WHEN DID THEY START SINGING ALONE?
9- WHEN DID ABBA WIN EUROVISION?
10- WHERE ARE ABBA FROM?
(SANDRA & IRIA (1ºD) answered this quiz with 7 correct)

ARIANA & CATHERINE (1ºD)  made a quiz completely devoted to The Beatles:

1- WHO WERE THE FIRST MEMBERS OF THE BEATLES?
2- WHO WERE ALWAYS IN THE BAND?
3- WHERE WERE THEY FROM?
4- WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DID THEY PLAY?
5- WHEN DID THEY START?
6- WHICH WAS THEIR FIRST SONG?
7- WHICH WAS THEIR LAST SONG?
8- WHICH IS THEIR OTHER NAME?
9- WHICH WAS THEIR FIRST ALBUM?
(YAGO & NICO (1ºD) answered this quiz with 6 correct).

ISABEL & LUCIA's (1ºD) quiz:
1- HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THERE IN THE GROUP ONE DIRECTION?
2- WHICH TV SERIES DID MILEY CYRUS STAR IN?
3- WHEN DID MICHAEL JACKSON DIE?
4- WHICH MOVIE WAS THE SONG "HAPPY" IN?
5- WHAT YEAR DID QUEEN START?
6- WHAT YEAR DID AURYN START?
7- HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THERE IN THE GROUP LITTLE MIX?
8- WHICH WAS RIHANNA & SHAKIRA'S LATEST SONG?
9- WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DOES RIHANNA PERFORM?
10 WHO SINGS THE SONG "HEY, BROTHER"?
(ARIANA & CATHERINE (1ºD)  answered this quiz with 10 correct)

YAGO & NICO's (1ºD) quiz:
1- WHEN DID THE BEATLES START?
2- WHERE WAS MADONNA BORN?
3- WHICH SONG DID THE ROLLING STONES PUBLISH IN 1986?
4- WHAT INSTRUMENT DID LOUIS ARMSTRONG PLAY?
5- HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE IN THE BEATLES?
6- WHERE IS THE GROUP QUEEN FROM?
7- WHEN DID MICHAEL JACKSON DIE?
8- WHICH NICKNAME DID MICHAEL JACKSON HAVE?
9- WHICH GENRE DID THE ROLLING START PLAYING?
10- HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE IN THE ROLLING STONES?
(MIGUEL & ARÓN (1ºD) answered this quiz with 10 correct)

ARÓN & MIGUEL's (1ºD) quiz:
1- WHERE IS THE ROCK GROUP DIRE STRAITS FROM?
2- WHO'S THE SINGER IN THE SONG "YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME"?
3- WHICH BAND DID MARK KNOPFLER SING IN?
4- WHICH WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT DECADE IN MUSIC?
5- WHICH IS THE MOST FAMOUS SONG BY MICHAEL JACKSON?
6-  WHO SINGS THE PEACE HYMN?
7- WHICH BAND DID FREDDIE MERCURY SING IN?
8- WHICH GROUP PLAYS "THE FINAL COUNTDOWN"?
9- WHICH FILM DOES THE SONG "EYE OF THE TIGER APPEAR IN?
10- WHOSE IS THE SONG "YELLOW SUBMARINE"?
(? answered this quiz with 8 correct)

BRAIS & ALEJANDRO's (1ºC) quiz:
1- HOW MANY MEN WERE THERE IN THE GROUP U2?
2- HOW OLD IS PABLO ALBORÁN?
3- WHERE IS BOB MARLEY FROM?
4- HOW OLD WAS MICHAEL JACKSON WHEN HE DIED?
5- WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DID AC/DC PLAY?
6- HOW MANY ALBUMS HAVE THE ROLLING STONES SOLD?
7- WHICH IS THE MOST POPULAR SONG BY MICHAEL JACKSON?
8- WHAT ARE THE BEATLES' MEMBERS' NAMES?
(JOAQUÍN (1ºC) answered with 8 correct)

FANNY & TANIA's (1ºC) quiz:
1- HOW OLD WAS MICHAEL JACKSON WHEN HE STARTED SINGING?
2- HOW MANY MEMBERS DOES "THE POLICE" HAVE?
3- HOW MANY YEARS WERE THE BEATLES TOGETHER?
4- WHICH WERE BOB MARLEY'S FOUR HITS?
5- WHICH STYLE OF MUSIC IS PINK'S?
6- WHICH WAS MICHAEL JACKSON'S FIRST SONG?
7- WHEN DID THE BEATLES START SINGING?
8- WHEN DID QUEEN SING "WE WILL ROCK YOU" FOR THE FIRST TIME?
9- WHO PLAYS THE SONG "RADIOACTIVE"?
10- WHICH ABBA SONG HAS WORDS IN ITALIAN?
(? answered with 7 correct)

MAR & ANDREAS's (1ºC) quiz:
1- WHICH WAS BON JOVI'S MOST FAMOUS SONG?
2- WHICH ALBUM BY WHITNEY HOUSTON WAS RELEASED IN 1988?
3- WHERE WAS BOB MARLEY FROM?
4- WHO WROTE THE LYRICS OF ELVIS PRESTLEY'S SONG "SUSPICIOUS MINDS"?
5- WHICH BRITISH GROUP OF THE 70s RELEASED 28 ALBUMS?
6- WHAT YEAR DID FREDDIE MERCURY DIE?
7- WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DID JOHN LENNON PLAY?
8- WHERE WAS MICHAEL JACKSON FROM?
9- WHICH GROUP DID MICHAEL JACKSON SING IN?
10 WHERE WERE THE BEATLES FROM?
(SANTIAGO & ARLINN (1ºC) answered with 7 correct)

GUZMÁN & ADRIÁN's (1ºC) quiz:
1- WHERE WAS NEIL YOUNG BORN?
2- WHEN DID THE BEATLES WRITE "LOVE ME DO"?
3- WHO'S THE LEAD SINGER IN THE ROLLING STONES?
4- WHICH ABBA SONG IS ALSO AN ITALIAN EXPRESSION?
5- WHERE DES LED ZEPPELIN COME FROM?
6- WHEN AND WHERE WAS CHUCK BERRY BORN?
8- WHO MADE THE ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK IN HARRY POTTER FILMS?
9- WHICH MEMBER OF THE BEATLES SANG WITH MICHAEL JACKSON?
10- THE WHO MADE THE ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK OF A FAMOUS FILM. WHICH WAS ITS TITLE?
(MAR & ANDREA (1ºC) answered with 10 correct)

MARTA & CARMEN'S (1ºC) quiz:
1- WHERE IS AVICII FROM?
2- WHICH GROUP WAS MICHAEL JACKSON IN?
3- WHOSE IS THE SONG "WE WILL ROCK YOU"?
4- WHERE'S MARIAH CAREY FROM?
5- HOW MANY BOYS ARE THERE IN ONE DIRECTION?
6- WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE BEATLES?
7- WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DID ELVIS PRESTLEY PLAY?
8- WHICH GROUP WAS MICK JAAGGER IN; THE ROLLING STONES OR ABBA?
9- WHO SINGS "I LOVE IT"'?
10- WHAT INSTRUMENT DID JIMMY HENDRIX PLAY?
(LAURA (1ºC) answered with 9 correct)

LAURA's (1ºC) quiz:
1- WHICH IS THE MOST LISTENED SONG ON YOUTUBE?
2- WHAT'S ELTON JOHN'S NATIONALITY?
3- WHICH VIDEO IS MICHAEL JACKSON WITH A ZOMBIE?
4- IS THE SONG "HOT'N'COLD" BY KATE PERRY?
5- WHICH GROUP IS HARRY STYLES IN?
6- WHICH GROUP SINGS "BRING ME TO LIFE"?
7- WHO SINGS "HEY BROTHER"?
8- WHICH SONG BY QUEEN IS THE MOST FAMOUS SONG IN FOOTBALL?
9- WHO SINGS "AVE MARIA"'
10- WHICH COMPOSER WROTE THE SOUNDTRACK FOR MOVIES LIKE "HAPPY POTTER" OR "THE LION KING"?
(MARTA & CARMEN (1ºC) answered with 10 correct)

IVÁN & RODRIGO's (1ºC) quiz:
- WHEN DID MICHAEL JACKSON DIE?
2- WHO SINGS "CALIFORNIA KING BED"?
3- WHAT KIND OF MUSIC IS "SMOOTH CRIMINAL"?
4- wHICH COUNTRY IS ELTON JOHN FROM?
5- WHICH SPANISH SINGER PERFORMED AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL?
6- WHICH SPANISH GROUP HAS THE NAME OF A TOY?
7- WHO SINGS THE SONG "WAKA, WAKA"?
8- WHICH ALBUM HAS THE SONG "BLANCO Y NEGRO"?
9- WHICH SPANISH GROUP WAS CREATED BY FITO IN 1998?
10- WHICH YEAR WAS MICHAEL JACKSON BRON?
(NURIA & OLIVER (1ºC) answered with 8 correct)

JOAQUIN's (1ºC) quiz:
1- WHEN IS BOB DYLAN'S BIRTHDAY?
2- WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO THE ROLLING STONES SING?
3- WHICH WAS ROBBIE WILLIAM'S OLD GROUP'
4- HOW OLD IS SHAKIRA?
5- WHERE'S BEYONCE FROM?
6- HOW OLD IS JENNIFER LOPEZ?
7- WHO SINGS "ROYALS"?
8- WHERE WAS PITTBULL BORN & WHERE IS HE FROM?
9- HOW OLD IS KESHA?
10- WHAT IS AVICII'S REAL NAME?
(BRAIS & ALEX (1ºC) answered 6 correct)

TRADITIONAL GAMES (5th cultural week)

This year's cultural week (the 5th) is going to be devoted to traditional games. 

The school's English Department wants to participate in this year's cultural week comparing the English versions of these traditional games and showing traditional nursery rhymes. To start with, here's a slide from CRA Santana which shows some traditional games from the Uk and the USA and their Spanish equivalent.

Traditional english games from CRA SANTANA