CLASSROOM ORGANIZATION RULES

Sometimes it's a bit difficult to teach in a classroom. Classrooms have a big number of students, and students can't do whatever they want in class. There must be some rules.

1- LISTEN CAREFULLY. And even more in an English class, because you need to understand what you have to do. Listen to what other people have to say and don't interrupt them.

2- FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS. Do what the teacher tells you to.

3- DON'T INTERFERE WITH THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF OTHERS. Don't disturb in the classroom: talking, making noises, moving things, walking around, standing up...

4- RESPECT PERSONAL SPACE, RIGHTS AND PROPERTY OF OTHERS. Don't take things that aren't yours, don't disturb other people. Use kind words. Think before you do something.

5- RAISE YOUR HAND AND WAIT TO BE CALLED ON. If you have any question or problem, put your hand up and wait until the teacher asks you or goes to you. When there's nothing to say, say nothing. You can't talk about anything you want at any time in the class. Think before you speak or say anything out loud in class.

6- COMPLETE WORK ON TIME. Do the exercises you are told in class when the teacher says. Do and bring the homework when the teacher says. Bring the books and notebook to class.

7- ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST. Come to class to work, pay attention and learn. Work is time to work. We can also have fun, but learning.

8- WORK AND PLAY SAFELY. Be careful. Don't get into trouble.

9- STAY ON TASK. Concentrate. Pay attention.

10- OBEY ALL SCHOOL RULES. The school and class rules have to be followed. If you break any of the rules, you'll get into trouble. You can be punished.

Bart Simpson has the same rules in his English class:

DOs:

DON'Ts:

APPLE CO-FOUNDER, STEVE JOBS DIED. HIS FAMOUS SPEECH AT STAMFORD UNIVERSITY WITH HIS OWN VIEW OF LIFE

Steven Paul "Steve" Jobs (February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011) was an American inventor and entrepreneur. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc. Jobs was co-founder and previously served as chief executive of Pixar Animation Studios; he became a member of the board of directors of the Walt Disney Company in 2006, following the acquisition of Pixar by Disney.
In the late 1970s, Jobs — along with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Mike Markkula and others—designed, developed, and marketed one of the first commercially successful lines of personal computers, the Apple II series.
After losing a power struggle with the board of directors in 1985, Jobs left Apple and founded NeXT, a computer platform development company specializing in the higher-education and business markets.
In 1986, he acquired the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm Ltd, which was spun off as Pixar Animation Studios. He was credited in Toy Story (1995) as an executive producer.
On October 5, 2011, Jobs died at his home in Palo Alto, California, aged 56.
His commencement course speech at Stanford University in 2005 is famous. We include it here in a two part video with English subtitles. On our etc page you can watch the whole video with Spanish subtitles.

Video of Steve Jobs' speech at Stanford University (2005):

THE UNITED KINGDOM (OF GREAT BRITAIN & NORTHERN IRELAND)

What is the difference between England and Britain (or Great Britain)? Three countries make up Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. So England is part of Great Britain, and a Scotsman (a person of Scottish origin) is British, too. A person born in Wales is Welsh, and they are British, too. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, or “the UK”. So the UK is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the last of which is not part of Great Britain. Northern Ireland is a part of the island or Ireland. The rest of this island, which isn't Northern Ireland or the Ulster, is another different country: the Republic of Ireland.

The formal name of the country is the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”, but in everyday speech Britain is often used to mean the UK, though, as you have seen, this is not perfectly correct. The word “great” was added to “Britain” several hundred years ago, in the Middle Ages, when the English kings had lands in what is now France, and a certain part of it was called Britanny. To avoid confusion, they added the word “great” to the name of the land which was larger.

The capital city of the UK is London, which is also the capital of England. The capital of Scotland is Edimburgh, the capital of Wales is Cardiff and the capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast.

Visual explanation:

Video difference between UK Great Britain and England, Wales & Scotland:

Video "The difference between UK, GB & England explained:

THE HISTORY OF THE ADDAMS FAMILY

On page 15 of our Student's Book there's a reading text about the Addams Family. But do you want to know more about them? Do you want to know their history? Here's some more information...

The Addams Family is a group of fictional characters created by American cartoonist Charles Addams. Addams Family characters include Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Lurch, Grandmama, Wednesday and Pugsley.
The Addamses are a satirical version of the ideal American family; an eccentric, rich clan who like the macabre and don't see that people find them strange or frightening. They originally appeared as a series of single panel cartoons, published in The New Yorker between 1938 and 1988. They have been adapted to other media, including TV series, films, video games, and a musical.

The original cartoon from 1938
The first TV series from 1964 to 1966

The latest film version 1991 & 1993
Video opening credits of original TV series:

Video trailer of the Addams Family film:

OCTOBER 5th: IT'S TEACHER'S DAY AGAIN

Since 1994 World Teachers’ Day is celebrated on 5 October. It is an opportunity for UNESCO and Education International to celebrate the profession and to promote international standards for the teaching profession. The theme for this year is: Teachers for gender equality.
Despite the teaching profession being made up largely of women, inequality remains an issue. Even if measures to ensure equality are enshrined into the policies and constitutions of many states, for millions of female teachers, the goals remain unfulfilled. The teaching profession, both men and women, must unite and urge governments to implement their commitments.

ALSO REMINDING THAT THE TEACHING PROFESSION IS NOW SUFFERING THE CUTS IN EDUCATION BUDGETS, WHICH MEAN MORE CLASS-HOURS WITH BIGGER CLASSES IN NUMBER OF PUPILS FOR EACH TEACHER. LESS PERSONAL ATTENTION FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND LESS TIME FOR PROJECTS, REINFORCEMENTS, ACTIVITIES, ETC...

[12th CW] HEAD, TOES, LEGS & NOSE... (BODY PARTS)

We've been checking in class the vocabulary of the PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY. In the picture you can see what each of these words are.

ankle / arm / chest / ear / elbow / eye / fingers / foot (feet) / hair / head / knee / leg / mouth / neck / nose / shoulder / thigh / toes / waist / wrist

REMEMBER: WE ALWAYS USE A POSSESSIVE WITH A PART OF THE BODY. NEVER THE ARTICLE.

my head / your arm / his eyes / her hair / our hands...

In the following links you have exercises:
-Parts of the head

-Parts of the face

-Parts of the body

THE SIMPSON'S FAMILY (Family members vocabulary)

FAMILY VOCABULARY:
FEMALE (women/girls):
mother (mum/mammy) / sister / daughter / aunt / niece / wife / grandmother (grandma) / granddaughter
MALE (men/boys):
father (dad/daddy) / brother / son / uncle / nephew / husband / grandfather (grandad) / grandson
BOTH SEXES:
cousin / child(ren) - siblings
COLLECTIVES:
parents / grandparents / relatives
After getting married, a family gets new members who are the -in-laws:
mother/father-in-law, son/daughter-in-law, brother/sister-in-law
Exercise: Who's who in the Simpson family? Write correct sentences about 6 of them.
Video "FAMILY MEMBERS":

WHAT TIME IS IT? (Telling the time in English)

Link: TELLING THE TIME IN ENGLISH ORDINARY SPEECH, THE 12 HOUR CLOCK IS USED.

Use o'clock only at the full hour. Example: 7:00 - seven o'clock (but 7:10 - ten past seven)For times around midnight or midday you can use the expressions midnight or midday / noon instead of the number 12. 00:00 - midnight 12:00 - midday or noonTo make clear (where necessary) whether you mean a time before 12 o'clock noon or after, you can use in the morning before 12 o'clock noon, after 12 o'clock noon use in the afternoon. When to change to in the evening, at night depends on your sense of time.
Example: 3:15 - a quarter past three in the morning OR a quarter past three at nightMore formal expressions to indicate whether a time is before noon or after are a.m. (also: am - ante meridiem, before noon) and p.m. (also: pm - post meridiem, after noon). Use these expression only with the formal way of telling the time. Example: 3:15 - three fifteen a.m.It is not usual to use a.m. and p.m. with past/to. Example: 3:15 - fifteen minutes past three OR a quarter past three[American English
Beside past Americans often use after. Example: 06:10 - ten past/after six
But in time expressions with half past it is not usual to replace past by after.
Beside to Americans often use before, of or till. Example: 05:50 - ten to/before/of/till six]

TIMETABLES USUALLY USE THE 24 HOUR CLOCK. SPOKEN ENGLISH ONLY USES THE 24 HOUR CLOCK IN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS (AIRPORTS, TRAIN OR BUS STATIONS...) NOT IN ORDINARY SPEECH.

Formal but easier way
Say the hours first and then the minutes. Example: 7:45 - seven forty-fiveFor minutes 01 through 09, you can pronounce the '0' as oh. Example: 11:06 - eleven (oh) sixMore popular way
Say the minutes first and then the hours. Use past and the preceding hour for minutes 01 through 30. Use to and the forthcoming hour for minutes 31 through 59, but .
Example: 7.15 - fifteen minutes past seven
Example: 7.45 - fifteen minutes to eightAnother possibility of saying '15 minutes past' is: a quarter past
Another possibility of saying '15 minutes to' is: a quarter to
Another possibility of saying '30 minutes past' is: half past
Example: 5:30 - half past five

- Practice with these clocks: What time is it in each one?


- Link to more practice on telling the time

SPEAKING ENGLISH IN THE ENGLISH CLASS (&2)

Here are the images I've used in class to show and teach you some of the typical classroom expressions in an English class. For a more complete list of expressions look at a previous post in this blog from one year ago (Monday 20th September 2010) or under the label Speaking.

WELCOME TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR 2011-2012

Having done the presentations last Friday, tomorrow Monday is the day we start the new school year 2011-2012, so we open up the blog once again. Welcome back, hope you come with lots of interest, willing to learn and to enjoy. Good luck!

9/11: 10TH ANNIVERSARY

No need for more words: REFLECT.

CREATE YOUR OWN STORY WITH "MY STORYMAKER"

Do you want to be the main character of your own story?

Go to My StoryMaker and you will choose your own story’s characters, settings and objects. You start by writing your name, then choosing your main character, the general theme of story (love, making friends, travel…) and a third variable (who the main character falls in love with, what the main character wants to find, etc.). It's great fun and a good way of learning, too. Have a try: write your own story!

SUMMER 2011 NEWS UPDATES: 23rd JULY- AMY WINEHOUSE DIED

Amy Winehouse was found dead in her house in Camden, London on Saturday, July 23rd. Here is how the news was covered at the BBC.

[From Wikipedia]

Amy Jade Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011) was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize. Her 2006 follow-up album, Back to Black, led to six Grammy Award nominations and five wins and made Winehouse the first British female to win five Grammys, including three of the "Big Four": Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
On 14 February 2007, she won a BRIT Award for Best British Female Artist; she had also been nominated for Best British Album. She won the Ivor Novello Award three times, one in 2004 for Best Contemporary Song (musically and lyrically) for "Stronger Than Me", one in 2007 for Best Contemporary Song for "Rehab", and one in 2008 for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for "Love Is a Losing Game", among other distinctions. The album is the biggest seller of the 2000s in the United Kingdom. Winehouse is credited as an influence in the rise in popularity of female musicians and soul music, and also for revitalising British music.
Winehouse was found dead on 23 July 2011, at her home in London. Police have said that the cause of her death is "as yet unexplained" and that the death was "non-suspicious". Winehouse's family and friends attended her funeral on 26 July 2011. In August 2011 her album Back to Black became the UK's best selling album of the 21st century.
Winehouse's final recording, a duet entitled "Body and Soul" with Tony Bennett, was released on 14 September 2011 to commemorate what would have been her 28th birthday. Proceeds from the song will go to the Amy Winehouse Foundation "to support charitable activities in both the UK and abroad that provide help, support or care for young people, especially those who are in need by reason of ill health, disability, financial disadvantage or addiction".

Video "BACK TO BLACK", Amy Winehouse:

"Back to black" lyrics:
He left no time to regret
Kept his d*ck wet
With his same old safe bet
Me and my head high
And my tears dry
Get on without my guy
You went back to what you knew
So far removed from all that we went through
And I tread a troubled track
My odds are stacked
I'll go back to black

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to.....

I go back to us

I love you much
It's not enough
You love blow and I love puff
And life is like a pipe
And I'm a tiny penny rolling up the walls inside

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to

Black, black, black, black, black, black, black,
I go back to
I go back to

We only said good-bye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to

We only said good-bye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to black

Video "REHAB", Amy Winehouse:

"Rehab" lyrics:
They tried to make me go to rehab but I said 'no, no, no'
Yes I've been black but when I come back you'll know know know
I ain't got the time and if my daddy thinks I'm fine
He's tried to make me go to rehab but I won't go go go

I'd rather be at home with Ray
I ain't got seventy days
Cause there's nothing
There's nothing you can teach me
That I can't learn from Mr Hathaway

I didn't get a lot in class
But I know it don't come in a shot glass

They tried to make me go to rehab but I said 'no, no, no'
Yes I've been black but when I come back you'll know know know
I ain't got the time and if my daddy thinks I'm fine
He's tried to make me go to rehab but I won't go go go

The man said 'why do you think you're here'
I said 'I got no idea
I'm gonna, I'm gonna lose my baby
so I always keep a bottle near'
He said 'I just think you're depressed,
this me, yeah baby, and the rest'

They tried to make me go to rehab but I said 'no, no, no'
Yes I've been black but when I come back you'll know know know

I don't ever wanna drink again
I just ooh I just need a friend
I'm not gonna spend ten weeks
have everyone think I'm on the mend

It's not just my pride
It's just 'til these tears have dried

They tried to make me go to rehab but I said 'no, no, no'
Yes I've been black but when I come back you'll know know know
I ain't got the time and if my daddy thinks I'm fine
He's tried to make me go to rehab but I won't go go go

COURSE 2010-2011: THE END

IT'S THE END.

HAPPY SUMMER.

THIS BLOG CLOSES DOWN UNTIL SEPTEMBER.

MONDAYS ARE ALWAYS BAD DAYS, BUT THIS IS OUR LAST ONE THIS COURSE ["MANIC MONDAY", THE BANGLES]

The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade. Susanna Hoffs joined sisters Vicki and Debbi Peterson and Annette Zilinskas to form a band in Los Angeles in December, 1980. The band was part of the Los Angeles Paisley Underground scene, which featured groups that played a mixture of 1960s-influenced folk-rock and jangle pop with a more modern punk–ish/garage band undertone. All this went some way to attracting the attention of Prince, who later wrote "Manic Monday" for the group. "Manic Monday" went on to become a #2 hit in the US, the UK and Germany.

Video "MANIC MONDAY", The Bangles:

Audio "MANIC MONDAY", The Bangles+lyrics:

"LIFELINES": ANDREA CORR'S SECOND SOLO-ALBUM

Andrea Corr, one of the siblings which made up Irish successful 90s pop-group The Corrs, is just back with her second solo-album of cover versions "LIFELINES". In it, she collects songs by Lennon, Roy Orbison, Velvet Underground, Kirsty McColl, Harry Nilsson, Ron Sexsmith, Nick Drake & The Blue Nile. Songs and artists which have meant something to her in her life. Here's her video and a promotional interview from BBC1.

Video interview from BBC1:

Video "TINSELTOWN IN THE RAIN" (single):

Lyrics:
Why did we ever come so far ?
I knew I'd seen it all before
Tall building reach up in vain
Tinseltown is in the rain
I know now love was so exciting

Tinseltown in the rain
Oh men and women
Here we are, caught up in this big rhythm

One day this love will all blow over
Time for leaving the parade
Is there a place in this city
A place to always feel this way
And hey, there's a red car in the fountain

Tinseltown in the rain
Oh men and women
Here we are, caught up in this big rhythm

Do I love you ? Yes I love you
Will we always be happy go lucky ?
Do I love you ? Yes I love you
But it's easy come, and it's easy go
All this talking is only bravado yeah

Oh, Tinseltown

Tinseltown in the rain
Oh men and women
Here we are, caught up in this big rhythm
Tinseltown in the rain
Oh men and women
Here we are, caught up in this big rhythm
Tinseltown is in the rain
Tinseltown is in the rain
Tinseltown is in the rain
Tinseltown is in the rain

Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Do I love you ? Yes I love you
Will we always be happy go lucky ?
Do I love you ? Yes I love you
But it's easy come, and it's easy go
All this talking, talking is only bravado

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Tinseltown is in the rain
Tinseltown is in the rain
Tinseltown is in the rain
Tinseltown is in the rain

100 YEARS WITH IBM

International Business Machines (IBM) is an American multinational technology and consulting firm headquartered in Armonk, New York. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas ranging from mainframe computers to nanotechnology.
The company was founded in 1911 as the Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation through a merger of four companies and adopted the name International Business Machines in 1924.
In 2011, Fortune ranked IBM the 18th largest firm in the U.S., as well as the 7th most profitable. Globally, the company was ranked the 31st largest firm by Forbes for 2011. Other rankings for 2010 include #1 company for leaders, #2 best global brand, #3 green company, #15 most admired company, and #18 most innovative company. IBM employs more than 425,000 employees(sometimes referred to as "IBMers")in over 200 countries, with occupations including scientists, engineers, consultants, and sales professionals.
IBM holds more patents than any other U.S.-based technology company and has nine research laboratories worldwide. Its employees have garnered five Nobel Prizes, five National Medals of Science, among many others. The company has undergone several organizational changes since its inception, acquiring some companies and spinning off companies like Lexmark (1991).

Video on IBM's Centennial:

ESO & BAC STUDENTS MUST MOVE OUT OF IES PASEO DAS PONTES

Photos by Victor Echave

As you can see in these photographs, ESO & BAC Students from IES "Paseo das Pontes" de A Coruña protested this morning in front of their school, against the news of the closing down of these study levels there. The Galician education authorities have decided, without any notice, that this school together with another six throughout Galicia will be turned into schools where only Professional Training studies will be taught. This change implies that all the secondary school students and teachers will be diverted to others nearby. In the case of the IES "Paseo das Pontes" in A Coruña, students and teachers will have our school, IES "Rafael Dieste", and IES "Salvador de Madariaga" as the official ones to receive them, although some may want to go to other schools.
Students and teachers are against the way and the time that this change has been introduced, without knowing or being able to give any possible opinions or different solutions to it. Students have to decide in 24 hours where they want to study during the next course. Teachers will have to wait to see where they will be able to teach.

LET'S READ FOR INSPIRATION

Where did this little boy get the inspiration to write this?

"How tired I am of this unbearable distance between us. How I long for the toll of the recess bell. Have you forgotten me? Grown mindless of me? Tell me I am not writing into an abyss. Or that is what will become of my heart."

From reading! Why don't you?

Video "READING INSPIRES CHILDREN":

SIXTH ROLAND GARROS CHAMPIONSHIP FOR RAFA NADAL

For the sixth time in seven years, Spanish tennis-player has won the French Roland Garros Championship. Rafael Nadal equalled Bjorn Borg's record of six French Open titles after defeating Roger Federer 7-5 7-6 5-7 6-1 in a hard-hitting final at Roland Garros.
The world number one brushed off an early injury concern to move into a commanding two-set lead and seemed to be heading for an easy win.
Some inspired play from Federer caused Nadal to wobble at the end of the third set but the Swiss player could not keep mistakes out of his game and any hopes of an unlikely comeback were soon killed off by the clay court master.
Nadal raced away from his great rival in the fourth set to move level with Borg as the man with the most French Open titles since the tournament became an international event in 1925.

Video Rafa Nadal Clay Tennis King: