"FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK", THE POGUES' CHRISTMAS SONG (Tribute to Shane MacGowan)

 Shane MacGowan, composer and singer of the band died on November 30th at the age of 65. As a tribute to him, we bring today on Christmas Eve, what could be considered their own Christmas song "A FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK", which he sings together with Kristy MacColl.

Videos "FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK", the Pogues & Kristy MacColl:

Video of the music played at Shane MacGowan's funeral (11-12-2023):

 

21-12-2023, THE DAY TO REMEMBER: MY FAREWELL TO "RAFAEL DIESTE"

I'll always remember how you said goodbye to me on the last day at school before Christmas, which was also my last day as an English school teacher.

Thanks a lot to all teachers and students who planned this massive and emotional farewell. 

Thanks to the students in 3ºB for your present, a box of chocolates, that I was very glad to share with you.

Thanks to the students in 3ºC, who wanted me to be in their Christmas photos.

Thanks to all my students in the other groups who gave me a round of applause in each last class.

Thank you all!

Special thanks to Pablo Benito (3ºC), Aida, Marisa & Mateo for the photos and videos.

My final speech at the Christmas lunch with teachers and school staff:

I'd also like to thank all the workmates who took part in my sendoff:

Adela Sueiro, Aida Aneiros, Alba Pérez, Amara Gómez, Amelia Carril, Ana Bermúdez, Ana Vidal, Andrea Trasancos, Ángel Lozano, Arcadio González, Beatriz Cuesta, Beatriz López-S., Begoña Fandiño, Begoña Santamaría, Belén Méndez, Blanca Sebastián, Carlos Blanco, Carmela Vázquez, Carmen Cordal, Carmen Peña, Carmen Rodríguez, Carolina Muiño, Dores Castro, Elena Brenlla, Eloi Rodríguez, Flora García, Hilda Fraga, Inma Mato, Isabel González, Isabel López, Isabel Viña, Javier Barrós, Laura Díaz, Lucía Sesto, Manuel Santos, Manuel Torres, Mar Seara, María Lema, Marisa Castiñeira, Mateo Torres, Matilde de Cal, Mercedes Garrote, Norma Fariña, Pedro García, Rafael Fernández, Ramón Barreiro, Sandro Gestal, Sara Maison, Silvia Fernández, Xulia Gallego.

Thanks also to other colleagues who learnt about it later and sent kind messages: Alberto González, Carlos Lens, Chus Suárez, Elena García, Eva Mesejo, Fernando Gómez, Helen Grela, Isabel Couceiro, Manuel Rodríguez, Mª José Pereira, Mariam Otero, Mercedes Calvo, Mercedes Pascual, Juan Carlos Portela,  Paul Behrend, Sarah Wade, Victoria Allones, Xosé Ramón Domínguez, Xulio Banga, Yolanda Varela.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH / MUCHAS GRACIAS / MOITAS GRAZAS

COUNTDOWN-0. IT'S NOT THE SAME AS IT WAS...

This is the end, it's time to retire because it's not the same as it was... things change and... this is my final post as a working teacher...  

Tune in to follow the posts on the second part of the German Exchange in March 2024.

I'll keep the blog open for people interested to come and browse because there's a lot on it... 

But otherwise, I don't know if I'll keep on posting so often... maybe from time to time... you'll see...

It's been great to be an English teacher... Good luck to everyone!!

This is the reminder of the last exam I placed and corrected, the last exam of my 36-year teaching career. (Done & corrected on Friday, November 24th)

COUNTDOWN-1

day to the end...
 

COUNTDOWN-2

 days to the end...

COUNTDOWN-3

days to the end...

"HOME ALONE" (December 2023)

Before the Christmas holidays, we'll be watching a part of a film in English with English subtitles in the last classes. The film we'll be watching is "HOME ALONE". Here's a summary of the plot and the video trailer.

"HOME ALONE" is the story of an 8-year-old bot called Kevin. He's the youngest of five and is frequently bullied by his older brothers and sisters. After some problems between Kevin and his family, he wishes for a new family when his mother punishes him for what he considers unjustified reasons. His mother warns him to be careful with what he wishes for. The next day he wakes up to discover he's the only one left in the family home. Kevin thinks his wish has come true and that he's finally alone without anybody of his family around. Actually, he was left back home by mistake. All his family are on their way to Paris on a family Christmas holiday. While his parents realize their mistake and want to go back to the US, a pair of thieves try to rob the family house and Kevin has to defend it. His advneture begins...

Video trailer:

WHO SAYS WHAT IN "LOVE ACTUALLY"? & WHEN?

Here are some extracts taken from "Love Actually"'s dialogues. You have to guess who says them and in which scene from the film. Have a try... 

- - - - - - - - - -  

(1)

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."

- - - - - - - - - - - 

(2)

- So what's the problem, Sammy-o? Is it just Mum or is it something else? Maybe... school - are you being bullied? Or is it something worse? Can you give me any clues at all?
- You really want to know?
- I really want to know.
- Even though you won't be able to do anything to help?
- Even if that's the case, yeah.
- OK. The truth is actually... I'm in love.
- Sorry?
- I know I should be thinking about Mum all the time, and I am. But the truth is I'm in love and I was before she died, and there's nothing I can do about it.
- Aren't you a bit young to be in love?
- No.-

- Oh, OK, right. Well, I'm a little relieved.
- Why?
- Well, you know - I thought it might be something worse.
- [incredulous] Worse than the total agony of being in love?
- Oh. No, you're right. Yeah, total agony.

- - - - - - - - - - - 

(3)

- Tell me, what would you do in my position?
- What position is that?
- Imagine your husband bought a gold necklace and come Christmas gave it to somebody else...
- Oh, Karen...
- Would you wait around to find out if it's just a necklace, or if it's sex and a necklace, or if worst of all it's a necklace and love? Would you stay, knowing life would always be a little bit worse? Or would you cut and run?
- Oh, God. I am so in the wrong. The classic fool.
- Yes, but you've also made a fool out of me, and you've made the life I lead foolish too.

- - - - - - - - - - - 

(4)

I love that word "relationship". Covers all manner of sins, doesn't it? I fear that this has become a bad relationship. A relationship based on the President taking exactly what he wants and casually ignoring all those things that really matter to, erm... Britain. We may be a small country but we're a great one, too. The country of Shakespeare, Churchill, the Beatles, Sean Connery, Harry Potter. David Beckham's right foot. David Beckham's left foot, come to that. And a friend who bullies us is no longer a friend. And since bullies only respond to strength, from now onward, I will be prepared to be much stronger. And the President should be prepared for that.

- - - - - - - - - - - 

(5)

- Tell me, exactly, how long it is that you've been working here?
- Two years, seven months, three days and, I suppose, what... two hours?
- And how long have you been in love with Karl, our enigmatic chief designer?
- Ahm, two years, seven months, three days and, I suppose, an hour and thirty minutes.
- I thought as much.
- Do you think everybody knows?
- Yes.

-Do you think Karl knows?
- Yes.
- Oh, that is... that is bad news.
- Well I just thought maybe the time had come to do something about it.
- Like what?
- Invite him out for a drink and then, after about twenty minutes, casually drop into the conversation the fact that you'd like to marry him and have lots of sex and babies.
- You know that?
- Yes, and so does Karl. Think about it, for all our sakes. It's Christmas.
- Certainly. Excellent. Will do. Thanks, boss!

- - - - - - - - - - 

(6)

- So what's this big news, then?
- [excited] We've been given our parts in the nativity play. And I'm the lobster.
- The lobster?
- Yeah!
- In the nativity play?
- [beaming] Yeah, *first* lobster.
- There was more than one lobster present at the birth of Jesus?
- Duh.

- - - - - - - - - - 

(7)

- No surprises?

- No surprises.
- Not like the stag night?
- Unlike the stag night.
- Do you admit the Brazilian prostitutes were a mistake?
- I do.
- And it would have been much better if they'd not turned out to be men?
- That is true.

- - - - - - - - - 

(8)

- What's that?
- It's a cinnamon stick, sir.
- Actually, I really, uh, can't wait.
- Oh, you won't regret it, sir.
- Wanna bet? [he ties it around the bag with a piece of string]
- 'Tis but the work of a moment. There we go. Almost finished.
- [sarcastically] Almost finished? What else can there be? Are you gonna dip it in yogurt? Cover it with Chocolate Buttons?

- - - - - - - - 

(9)

- [after insulting the food] And what do you do Nancy?
- I'm a cook.
- Ever do weddings?
- Yes I do.
- They should have asked you to do this one.
- They did.
- God I wish you hadn't turned it down.
- I didn't.

- - - - - - - - 

KEANE'S LOVE ACTUALLY

On the 20th anniversary of the premiere of the film "Love Actually", Keane releases a single with the same title and a lyric-video with footage from the film.

 Lyric video "LOVE ACTUALLY", Keane:

Best of "LOVE ACTUALLY" cast on the Graham Norton Show on BBC:

CHRISTMAS ADS 2023

Just as every Christmas, here are some of the best Christmas ads of 2023:

WHO'S WHO IN "LOVE ACTUALLY"?

As we'll be watching "Love Actually" next week in class, here's some information to know who's who in the film's plot and the relationships between them.

Here's some help to know who's who in "Love Actually". Introducing the characters in the film:

Billy Mack and Joe
With the help of his longtime manager Joe (Gregor Fisher), aging rock and roll legend Billy Mack (Bill Nighy) records a Christmas variation of The Troggs' classic hit "Love Is All Around."

Juliet, Peter and Mark
Juliet (Keira Knightley) and Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor) are wed in a lovely ceremony orchestrated and videotaped by Mark (Andrew Lincoln), Peter's best friend and best man. Mark has always been cold and unfriendly to Juliet and tries to avoid her, despite her relationship with Peter. When the professional wedding video turns out to be dreadful, Juliet shows up at Mark's door in hopes of getting a copy of his footage and tells him she wants to be friends with him. The video he recorded turns out to consist entirely of close-ups of her, and she realises that he secretly has feelings for her.

Jamie and Aurélia
Writer Jamie (Colin Firth) first appears preparing to attend Juliet and Peter's wedding. His girlfriend (Sienna Guillory) misses the ceremony allegedly due to illness, but when Jamie unexpectedly returns home before the reception, he discovers her engaging in sexual relations with his brother. Heartbroken, Jamie retires to the solitude of his French cottage to immerse himself in his writing. Here he meets Portuguese housekeeper Aurélia (Lúcia Moniz), who speaks only her native tongue Portuguese. Despite the language barrier they manage to communicate with each other.

Harry, Karen, and Mia
Harry (Alan Rickman) is the managing director of a design agency. Mia (Heike Makatsch), his new secretary, clearly has sexual feelings for him. His nascent mid-life crisis allows him tentatively to welcome her attention, and for Christmas he buys her an expensive necklace from jewelery salesman Rufus (Rowan Atkinson), who takes a very long time adding ever more elaborate wrapping while Harry becomes increasingly nervous with the fear of detection. Meanwhile, Harry's wife Karen (Emma Thompson) is busy dealing with their children.

David and Natalie
Karen's brother, the recently elected British Prime Minister David (Hugh Grant), is young, handsome, and single. Natalie (Martine McCutcheon) is a new junior member of the household staff at 10 Downing Street and regularly serves his tea and biscuits. Something seems to click between them.

Daniel and Carol; Sam and Joanna
Daniel (Liam Neeson), Karen's friend, is introduced in the film during a funeral for his wife, Joanna. Her death, caused by an unspecified long-term illness, has left Daniel and his stepson Sam (Thomas Sangster) to fend for themselves. Daniel must deal with his sudden responsibility, as well as the perceived end of his love life.

Sarah, Karl and Michael
Sarah (Laura Linney) first appears at Juliet and Peter's wedding, sitting next to her friend Jamie. We learn she works at Harry's graphic design company, where she has been in love for years with its creative director, Karl (Rodrigo Santoro). Harry lets her know that the love has been a secret to no one, including Karl, and suggests that since it's Christmas, she should approach him. Sarah's mentally ill brother, Michael (Michael Fitzgerald), calls and interrupts the couple twice.

Colin, Tony, Stacey, Jeannie, Carol-Anne, Harriet and Carla
After several blunders attempting to woo various English women, including Mia and the caterer at Juliet and Peter's wedding, Colin Frissell (Kris Marshall) informs his friend Tony (Abdul Salis) he plans to go to the US and find love there because, in his estimation, that country is full to the brim with gorgeous women who will fall head over heels for him because of his 'cute British accent'.

John and Judy
John (Martin Freeman) and Judy (Joanna Page), who up to this point were unknown to each other, work as stand-ins for the sex scenes in a movie.

Rufus
Rufus is a minor but significant character played by Rowan Atkinson. He is the Selfridges jewelery salesman whose obsessive attention to gift-wrapping gets Harry caught buying Mia's necklace, and later at the airport, his distraction of an attendant allows Sam to sneak through security and see Joanna before she goes back to America.

A CHRISTMAS FILM: "LOVE ACTUALLY" OR "THE HOLIDAY"?

 

Searching for a film to watch in English with English subtitles in class before Christmas holidays. Here are the two films proposed:

- They both have something to do with Christmas, as they take place totally in or around the Christmas season. 

- You're not intended to understand everything, but to see how English is used in "real" everyday life situations. Context will help you understand, and you'll be able to check or learn new vocabulary, pronunciation and entonation.

Read the synopsis to each film and watch each of the trailers first and later choose which one you'd like to watch.

Love Actually (2003) is a British romantic comedy film, written and directed by Richard Curtis. The screenplay sees into different aspects of love as shown through ten separate stories involving a wide variety of individuals, many of whom are shown to be interlinked as their tales progress. The ensemble cast is composed of predominantly British actors.
The film begins five weeks before Christmas and is played out during a week-by-week countdown until the holiday, with an epilogue that takes place one month later.

The film begins with a voiceover from David (Hugh Grant) commenting that whenever he gets gloomy with the state of the world he thinks about the arrivals terminal at Heathrow Airport, and the pure uncomplicated love felt as friends and families welcome their arriving loved ones. David's voiceover also relates that all the known messages left by the people who died on the 9/11 planes were messages of love and not hate. It's the 20th anniversary of the film this year.

The Holiday is a 2006 American romantic comedy film written, produced and directed by Nancy Meyers. Starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet as two lovelorn women from opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, who temporarily exchange homes to escape heartbreak during the holiday season. Jude Law and Jack Black co-star.

The story is about two women who trade homes "only to find that a change of address can change their lives." Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) is a workaholic who owns a company that produces movie trailers in Los Angeles. Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet) is a society column editor for The Daily Telegraph in London

WHICH WOULD YOU PREFER TO WATCH?

See both trailers and decide:

- "LOVE ACTUALLY" trailer:

- THE HOLIDAY" trailer:

THE 10 MOST COMMON GRAMMAR MISTAKES

 

CONDITIONALS SUMMARY BASICS

CONFUSING: "SEE" vs "LOOK AT" vs "WATCH"