FIRST TUNISIA... NOW EGYPT. MUSLIM COUNTRIES OUT ON THE STREETS DEMANDING DEMOCRACY

It all started in Tunisia until their President fled the country. It has spread quickly throughout several Arab countries: Jordania, Yemen and on a lower extent Siria, Morocco... But where the situation has bursted and is still recurring is in Egypt. Waiting for Mubarak to leave the country and meanwhile people demonstrate in the streets and squares asking him to leave. But will this all lead to a democratic settlement of the region or will it begin an explosion of Islamic fundamentalism?

Video from Guardian News:

AUSTRALIA: AFTER THE FLOODINGS, A CYCLONE ARRIVED TO QUEENSLAND

The State of Queensland, Australia is collecting one disaster after another. After the severe floodings at the end of 2010 and beginning of this year, now it was a killing cyclone named "Yasi", which hit the same coastline. Here are two weather forecasts from New Zealand TV about it, previous to the arrival of the cyclone.

Video from New Zealand's TV weather forecasts:

- The cyclone hits the Australian coast.

- A cyclone approaches Australia:

LONDON: 10 IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW (+ some spectacular photos of London by night)

The Big Ben

The river Thames & the Tower Bridge

London's Eye

Canary Wharf

Picadilly Circus

As an extensión to the 1st BAC classroom listening of a teenager describing how is his life in London, we include this post with a video-listening with the ten most important things to know about the city before visiting it, just as we did with New York. To illustrate the post some spectacular photos of London views at night.

Video 10 important things about London:

SONGS FOR PEACE DAY JANUARY 2011: "BLOWING IN THE WIND" & "HYMN TO FREEDOM"

The “School Day of Non-violence and Peace”, founded in 1964 and also known as World or International Day of Non-violence and Peace, is a pioneering, non-state, non-governmental, non-official, independent, free and voluntary initiative of Non-violent and Pacifying Education, which is now practised in schools all over the world and in which centres of education, teachers and students of all levels and from all countries are invited to take part.
It advocates a permanent education in and for harmony, tolerance, solidarity, respect for human rights, non-violence and peace.It is observed on January 30 or thereabouts every year, on the anniversary of the death of Mahatma Gandhi.

As usual the IES Rafael Dieste's library is organizing an activity for Friday January 28th with some classes during one of the morning sessions (5th hour). They'll be listening to some songs related to peace, some of them in English.

One of them is "BLOWING IN THE WIND" original by Bob Dylan. Today we're posting versions of the song: Peter, Paul & Mary's audio with lyrics, and more recent singers: Katie Melua & Alanis Morisette, who have covered the song in live concerts. Enjoy peacefully!

Video "BLOWING IN THE WIND", Peter, Paul & Mary's:

Video with Katie Melua's live version:

Video with Alanis Morisette's version:

Another song is Oscar Peterson's "HYMN TO FREEDOM". Here's the video of the choir version with on screen-lyrics:

NEW YORK: 10 IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

To practice writing about a place, 1st BAC student's book proposes a description of New York. But we can practice listening about New York, too. Here's a video with the top ten things you need to know about this amazing city before you visit it.

Video on New York:

THE GIRL WHO HATED BOOKS

This animated short about literacy introduces us to Meena, a young girl who hates books even though her parents love to read. Books are everywhere in Meena's house, in cupboards, drawers and even piled up on the stairs. Still, she refuses to even open one up. But when her cat Max accidentally knocks down a huge stack, pandemonium breaks out and nothing is ever the same again...

[Thanks to ONF NFB (National Film Board of Canada) and to English is all around-blog for sharing it.]

Video "THE GIRL WHO HATED BOOKS" by Jo Meuris based on the book by Manjusha Pawagi:

WHY SHOULD I LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE?

This is a question many of you make: "why do I have to learn a foreign language?" Here's an answer and a good possible reason... Watch the video. Tapescript below it.
Video:

Tapescript:

A German coast-guard on his first day at work:
(after the German introduction by senior coast-guard officer)

Man on the radio, from a ship: "Mayday! Mayday! Hello, can you hear us? Can you hear us? Can you... over. We are sinking. We... are... sinking".

German coastguard officer (with strong German accent): "Hello. This is a German coastguard".

Man on the radio (speaking nervously): "We are sinking. We're sinking..."

German coastguard officer: "What are you sinking* about?"

[*The German coastguard pronounces THINKING as SINKING, so he also understands SINKING for THINKING. Think=pensar/Sink=Hundirse]

THE HISTORY OF MADAME TUSSAUD

On page 44 of 2ºESO English stuednt's book there's a spotlight on Madame Tussaud: who she was and why her name is so famous now. Here's some more information and videos to complete it.

Marie Tussaud, born Anna Maria Grosholtz (1761–1850), was born in Strasbourg, France. Her mother worked as a housekeeper for Dr. Philippe Curtius in Bern, Switzerland, who was a physician skilled in wax modelling. Curtius taught Tussaud the art of wax modelling.
Tussaud created her first wax figure, of Voltaire, in 1777. Other famous people she modelled at that time include Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Benjamin Franklin. During the French Revolution she modelled many prominent victims. In her memoirs she claims that she would search through corpses to find the decapitated heads of executed citizens, from which she would make death masks. Her death masks were held up as revolutionary flags and paraded through the streets of Paris.

Her marriage to François Tussaud in 1795 lent a new name to the show: Madame Tussauds. In 1802, she went to London. By 1835 Marie had settled down in Baker Street, London, and opened a museum. One of the main attractions of her museum was the Chamber of Horrors. This part of the exhibition included victims of the French Revolution and newly created figures of murderers and other criminals.
Madame Tussaud's wax museum has now grown to become a major tourist attraction in London, incorporating (until 2010) the London Planetarium in its west wing. It has expanded and will expand with branches in Amsterdam, Bangkok, Berlin, Dubai, Hamburg, Hollywood, Hong Kong, Blackpool, Las Vegas, Moscow, New York City, Shanghai, Vienna and Washington, D.C.. Today's wax figures at Tussauds include historical and royal figures, film stars, sports stars and famous murderers. Known as "Madame Tussauds" museums.

Here are some videos about Madame Tussaud and her London wax museum:

SONGS FROM "AQUARIUS"

On Wednesday, 26th January, 3rd and 4th year ESO students will attend a musical-lecture play at our assembly hall. Its name is "AQUARIUS". Rupert Marshall, anthropologist, musician and director of Firewalk Theatre will perform his musical-lecture and he will check on old rock hits from the 50s and 60s and their meaning within the social context in which they were successful. On this blog we're going to try to post as many of the songs which appear on the play as we can. We are posting the audios with the lyrics, so you can follow and understand them and also practice listening as usual. Here are the ones we've found:

Audio+lyrics "ACROSS THE UNIVERSE", The Beatles:

Audio+ lyrics "SATISFACTION", Rolling Stones:

Audio+lyrics "WISH YOU WERE HERE", Pink Floyd (On a post on this blog dated 22-09-2010, there's the same song in a cover version by Spanish singer Ana Torroja also with audio+lyrics):

Audio+lyrics "WHERE DO THE CHILDREN PLAY?", Cat Stevens:

THE WORST FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA IN DECADES

Australian state of Queensland has been appearing on news reports on TV for the last few weeks as torrential rains have hit the land and brought the worst floodings in decades. The floods are now about to affect Brisbane, the third largest city in the country and its inhabitants are getting ready to be evacuated leaving their homes and possessions behind. Here are videos with the news:

Videos:

2011, INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FORESTS

The year 2011 was declared the International Year of Forests by the United Nations to raise awareness and strengthen the sustainable forest management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.
Forests are an integral part of global sustainable development. According to World Bank estimates, more than 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods. The forest product industry is a source of economic growth and employment, with global forest products traded internationally in the order of $270 billion.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that every year 130,000 km² of the world's forests are lost due to deforestation. Conversion to agricultural land, unsustainable harvesting of timber, unsound land management practices, and creation of human settlements are the most common reasons for this loss of forested areas.
According to the World Bank, deforestation accounts for up to 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. FAO data estimates that the world's forests and forest soil store more than one trillion tons of carbon – twice the amount found in the atmosphere.
The World Bank estimates that forests provide habitats to about two-thirds of all species on earth, and that deforestation of closed tropical rainforests could account for biodiversity loss of as many as 100 species a day.
Governments, regional and international organizations and civil society organizations are expected to create national committees and designate focal points in their respective countries to facilitate organization of activities in support of the International Year of Forests.

Video about DEFORESTATION:

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011! BEGIN IT WITH AN ABBA SONG.

"Happy New Year" is a popular song by Swedish pop group ABBA from their 1980 album "Super Trouper". Although recorded in 1980, the song wasn't released as a single until in 1999. "Felicidad" was the Spanish language version of the song. So wishing you a happy 2011, we leave you with the original video by Abba and another one with the lyrics.
Click to an exercise HERE. Then check your answer below.

Video "HAPPY NEW YEAR", Abba:

Video with the song's lyrics:

"Happy New Year" (noted in red the mistakes found in the previous video lyrics)

No more champagne

And the fireworks are through

Here we are, me and you

Feeling lost and feeling blue

It's the end of the party

And the morning seems so grey

So unlike yesterday

Now's the time for us to say...

Happy new year Happy new year

May we all have a vision now and then

Of a world where every neighbour is a friend

Happy new year Happy new year

May we all have our hopes, our will to try

If we don't we might as well lay down and die

You and I

Sometimes I see

How the brave new world arrives

And I see how it thrives

In the ashes of our lives

Oh yes, man is a fool

And he thinks he'll be okay

Dragging on, feet of clay

Never knowing he's astray

Keeps on going anyway..

Happy new year...

Seems to me now

That the dreams we had before

Are all dead, nothing more

Than confetti on the floor

It's the end of a decade

In another ten years time

Who can say what we'll find

What lies waiting down the line

In the end of eighty-nine...

Happy new year.

THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY 2.0

This is the way how social media, web and mobile tell the story of the Nativity.Christmas story told through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google, Wikipedia, Google Maps, GMail, Foursquare, Amazon... Warch the video.

Video of Digital Nativity 2.0.:

2010 CHRISTMAS SONGS (&4): ANNIE LENNOX, "GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN"

Another voice that singing Christmas is Annie Lennox (former leader of 80's British pop duo Eurythmics). This year she has released her fourth solo-album devoted entirely to cover Christmas classic songs, here's "GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN".

Video "GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN":

Audio + lyrics of the same song in another version:

2010 CHRISTMAS SONGS (3): COLDPLAY, "CHRISTMAS LIGHTS"

Another new 2010 Christmas song entering to be British nº1 hit this Christmas: Coldplay with "Christmas lights".

Lyrics of "CHRISTMAS LIGHTS" - Coldplay

Christmas night, another fight
Tears we cried a flood
Got all kinds of poison in
Poison in my blood
I took my feet
To Oxford Street
Trying to right a wrong
Just walk away
Those windows say
But I can't believe she's gone

When you're still waiting for the snow to fall
Doesn't really feel like Christmas at all
Up above candles on air flicker
Oh they flicker and they float
But I'm up here holding on
To all those chandeliers of hope
Like some drunken Elvis singing
I go singing out of tune
Saying how I always loved you darling
And I always will

Oh when you're still waiting for the snow to fall
Doesn't really feel like Christmas at all
Still waiting for the snow to fall
It doesn't really feel like Christmas at all

Those Christmas lights
Light up the street
Down where the sea and city meet
May all your troubles soon be gone
Oh Christmas lights keep shining on

Those Christmas lights
Light up the street
Maybe they'll bring her back to me
Then all my troubles will be gone
Oh Christmas lights keep shining on
Oh Christmas lights
Light up the street
Light up the fireworks in me
May all your troubles soon be gone
Oh Christmas lights keep shining on

Video of "CHRISTMAS LIGHTS", Coldplay:

2010 CHRISTMAS SONGS (2): KYLIE MINOGUE'S 2010 VERSION OF "LET IT SNOW"

Another Christmas song for 2010 is Kylie's version of an all-time Christmas classic "LET IT SNOW". "Let It Snow", is a song written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in 1945. It was written in July 1945 in Hollywood. First recorded by Vaughn Monroe, it became a popular hit, reaching number one on the Billboard music chart the following year. One of the best-selling songs of all time, "Let It Snow!" has been covered countless times. Due to its seasonal lyrics, it is commonly regarded as a Christmas song. Yet despite its cheery, holiday feel, it is a love song that never mentions Christmas. Here's the latest by Kylie 2010.

Video "LET IT SNOW", Kylie Minogue live at the Rockefeller Center 30-Nov-2010:

Audio "LET IT SNOW", Kylie Minogue + lyrics:

2010 CHRISTMAS SONGS (1): HURTS, "ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS NEW YEAR'S DAY"

In Britain there's a struggle every Christmas among singers and pop groups to become the number 1 bestselling single in the charts during the Christmas holidays. So, every year, many of the greatest artists of the moment try to reach number 1 on Christmas Eve. Today we post one of this year's contestants: It's the British group Hurts again. December 14th was the release daet of the single "ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS NEW YEAR'S DAY".

Video "ALL I WANT FOR XMAS IS NEW YEAR'S DAY", Hurts:

Lyrics* "ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS NEW YEAR'S DAY", Hurts:

*Mistakes of the lyrics in this video:

where it says: "all of the pass waiting out for Christmas"

should say: "All of the bells ringing out for Christmas"

SPANISH AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS BRING AIRPORTS AND SKIES TO A COMPLETE STANDSTILL AT LAST WEEKEND'S 5-DAY-LONG BANK-HOLIDAY

Spain's last 5-day-off period before Christmas has become a complete chaos as the Spanish air-traffic controllers walked out of their job-posts last Friday in the middle of a busy travelling weekend. Air traffic didn't get back to normal until the army took control of the situation, but when already many passengers were stranded at the airports not being able to fly. Here are videos of the news.

Videos on Spanish air-traffic controllers crisis:

FIFTEEN OF OUR SCHOOLMATES HAVE SET OFF TO NUREMBERG TODAY ON A STUDENT'S EXCHANGE TRIP

Fifteen students of 4ºESO from IES Rafael Dieste and two of our teachers have set off today for a ten-day stay in Nuremberg (Germany). They go on the first part of our course exchange that has been going on now for several (6) years. Our students will be staying in the houses and with the families of another fifteen German students and attending classes at the Willstätter Gymnasium at that German city. In Spring 2011, as usual, our school will receive the German students for the second part of the exhange. We hope our students have a good trip and enjoy their stay.

Nuremberg (German: Nürnberg) is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal and is Franconia's largest city. It is located about 170 kilometres north of Munich. The population (as of January 2006) is 500,132. The urban area of Nuremberg has 1.2 million inhabitants.

"STAY": ANOTHER HURTS SONG TO SING ALONG

Today, another song by Hurts to sing along: "STAY".

Video "STAY"+lyrics:

Official video of the song "STAY" by Hurts:

JAMES BLUNT IS BACK, HERE'S HIS NEW SINGLE

British songwriter & singer James Blunt is back. James Blunt (born James Hillier Blount; 22 February 1974) is the stage name adopted by the Grammy Award-nominated English singer-songwriter whose debut album, "Back to Bedlam" and single releases, including "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover", brought him to fame in 2005. His repertoire is a mix of acoustic-tinged pop, rock and folk. Blunt won two BRIT Awards, two Ivor Novello Awards, and by 2006 was nominated for five Grammy Awards. The following year, he released his second album "All The Lost Souls" (2007). Blunt's third studio album, "Some Kind of Trouble", is due to be released in November 2010.
Blunt was an officer in the Life Guards, a Cavalry regiment of the British Army, and served under NATO in Kosovo during the conflict there in 1999. While posted to Kosovo, Blunt was introduced to the work of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF or "Doctors Without Borders"). Since then, Blunt has supported MSF by holding meet-and-greet auctions at many of his concerts. Blunt's primary residence is now on the Spanish island of Ibiza.

Here is his new single "Stay the night" on its official video and audio with lyrics to sing along.

Video "STAY THE NIGHT", JAMES BLUNT:

Audio "STAY THE NIGHT" +lyrics:

JOHN LENNON WOULD HAVE BEEN 70 TODAY

John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an English singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles and, with Paul McCartney, formed one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the 20th century.
Born and raised in Liverpool, Lennon became involved in the skiffle craze as a teenager, his first band, The Quarrymen, evolving into The Beatles in 1960. As the group began to undergo the disintegration that led to their break-up towards the end of that decade, Lennon launched a solo career that would span the next, punctuated by critically acclaimed albums, including John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Imagine, and iconic songs such as "Give Peace a Chance" and "Imagine".
Lennon revealed a rebellious nature and acerbic wit in his music, his writing, on film, and in interviews, and became controversial through his work as a peace activist. He moved to New York City in 1971, where his criticism of the Vietnam War resulted in a lengthy attempt by Richard Nixon's administration to deport him, while his songs were adapted as anthems by the anti-war movement. Disengaging himself from the music business in 1975 to devote time to his family, Lennon reemerged in 1980 with a comeback album, Double Fantasy, but was murdered three weeks after its release.
Lennon's solo album sales in the United States alone stand at 14 million units, and as performer, writer, or co-writer he is responsible for 27 number one singles on the US Hot 100 chart. In 2002, a BBC poll on the 100 Greatest Britons voted him eighth, and in 2008, Rolling Stone ranked him the fifth greatest singer of all time. He was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fam in 1987 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

NOBEL LITERATURE PRIZE TO SPANISH LANGUAGE LITERATURE: MARIO VARGAS LLOSA

Jorge Mario Pedro Vargas Llosa (born March 28, 1936) is a Peruvian-Spanish writer, politician, journalist, essayist and 2010 Nobel Prize laureate. Vargas Llosa is one of Latin America's most significant novelists and essayists, and one of the leading authors of his generation. Some critics consider him to have had a larger international impact and worldwide audience than any other writer of the Latin American Boom. He was awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his cartography of structures of power and his trenchant images of the individual's resistance, revolt, and defeat".

Vargas Llosa rose to fame in the 1960s with novels such as The Time of the Hero (La ciudad y los perros, literally The City and the Dogs, 1963/1966), The Green House (La casa verde, 1965/1968), and the monumental Conversation in the Cathedral (Conversación en la catedral, 1969/1975). He continues to write prolifically across an array of literary genres, including literary criticism and journalism. His novels include comedies, murder mysteries, historical novels, and political thrillers. Several, such as Captain Pantoja and the Special Service (1973/1978) and Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter (1977/1982), have been adapted as feature films.

Video Nobel Prize announcement 2010:

WORLD TEACHER'S DAY 2010

"EVERYBODY'S GOT TO LEARN SOMETIME", SHARON CORR & THE KORGIS

"Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" is originally a hit single from the pop group The Korgis. The song was released in 1980 from the album "Dumb Waiters". This was the peak of The Korgis's success, peaking at #5 in the UK Singles Chart. "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" is currently the second single by Irish singer–songwriter Sharon Corr from her debut solo album "Dream of You". Sharon Corr was one of the original members from Irish family-group The Corrs, who are a Celtic folk rock band from Dundalk, Ireland. The group consists of the Corr siblings: Andrea (lead vocals, tin whiste); Sharon (violin, vocals); Caroline (drums, piano, bodhrán, vocals); and Jim (guitar, piano, vocals).

Today we present the original song by the Korgis with the lyrics and the video by Sharon Corr.

Video with lyrics "EVERYBODY0S GOT TO LEARN SOMETIME"; Korgis version:

Video "EVERYBODY'S GOT TO LEARN SOMETIME" by Sharon Corr

(Video shot in Nerja and the Alhambra of Granada):

ALBERTO CONTADOR POSITIVE ON DOPING TEST

Surprising information on the news this morning. Three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador blamed contaminated meat Thursday for his positive doping test during this year's race, the latest blow to a sport battered by drug scandals. We include a video-report on the subject.

Video-report on Contador's doping positive:

SPAIN ON STRIKE

Here's a report from CNN previous to the strike-day in Spain held today. Watch and listen, see how much you understand.

A video from today:

NADAL SPEAKING IN ENGLISH AFTER WINNING THE U.S. OPEN ON SEPT 14th

Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera (born 3 June 1986) is a Spanish professional tennis player currently ranked No. 1 in the world. He is regarded as one the greatest players of all time. Nadal has won nine Grand Slam singles titles, the 2008 Olympic gold medal in singles, a record 18 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments and also was part of the Spain Davis Cup team that won the finals in 2004, 2008 and 2009. He completed the career Grand Slam by winning the 2010 US Open, being the 7th player in history, and the youngest in the open era, to achieve it. He is the second male player to complete the Career Golden Slam (winner of the four grand slams and the Olympic Gold medal).
Nadal was ranked World No. 2, behind Roger Federer for a record 160 consecutive weeks before earning the top spot, which he then held from 18 August 2008 to 5 July 2009. He regained the World No.1 ranking on 7 June 2010 after winning his fifth French Open title.In 2008, Nadal was given the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports, in recognition of his achievements in tennis.

We have found a video of Rafa speaking in English after winning the U.S. Open. Do you understand him? Do you think he speaks English well? Give you opinions & comments.

Video Rafa Nadal:

Another video:

29th SEPT: THE ECONOMIC CRISIS BRINGS SRIKES THROUGHOUT EUROPE

The European Trade Union Confederation has called an international day of workers' action for 29 September. The coordinated protests, action and general strikes, have the potential to shake the continent.
The Committee for a Workers' International (CWI) will work enthusiastically to mobilise workers and youth to take action on the day, under the banner of international struggle and solidarity, against Europe's axe-wielding governments and the dictatorship of the capitalist markets.
The attacks implemented across the continent in most cases represent the most brutal austerity programmes implemented in living memory. The devastating policies of the Greek government have meant dramatic attacks on the already impoverished Greek working class.
A real cut of between 30% and 50% in public pensions and public-sector wages slashed by between 25% and 30% have been emulated in Spain and Portugal.
The Spanish government's austerity package will see public-sector wages and pensions attacked, as well as a €55 billion public spending cuts programme.
In Portugal, where workers receive among the lowest wages in Europe (with a monthly minimum wage of only €475), public sector workers are being hit with a four-year pay freeze and a raising of the retirement age to 67.
In Britain the Con-Dem coalition government has announced a package which includes attacks on social benefits and savage cuts of 25% or more in every area of public spending. Angela Merkel's coalition government in Germany is set to slash €80 billion in the next four years.
Greece has recently been the epicentre of developments in Europe. However, as well as the near collapse of its state finances, it is the tidal wave of struggle - with six general strikes in 2010 - that has put it at the centre of developments. This has aroused the fighting instincts of workers around the continent.
Massive strikes and demonstrations have been seen in France where two million took to the streets to defend pensions. Italy, where a general strike against the government took place in July, is braced for a significant national demonstration on 16 October organised by the FIOM, a metal workers' union, which has led the way in putting forward a militant strategy in fighting attacks on wages and conditions.
On 29 September Spain will be shaken by its first full general strike in response to the devastating crisis that has left over four million unemployed and to the anti-working class reaction of its government.

ANA TORROJA IS BACK. DO YOU KNOW THAT SHE HAS SUNG IN ENGLISH?

One of the most singular voices in Spanish music is back. After a long time without any new songs and recovering from a serious car accident, Ana Torroja is back in the music business with a brand new record: "SONRISA" ("Smile").

Ana Torroja (born December 28, 1959 in Madrid) is a Grammy Award-nominated Spanish singer. She is the lead singer of the pop trio Mecano, considered one of the most popular pop bands from Spain during 1980's and 90's. In 1998 Mecano separated, and she kept a solo career. Ana has sung in Spanish, Italian and French, with Mecano. But she has also sung in English and that's why we can post her here today. In 2003, on her third solo-album "FRÁGIL" ("Fragile"), Ana covered a Pink Floyd's classic song "WISH YOU WERE HERE". Today we include the audio of this song by Ana with subtitled lyrics.

Audio "WISH YOU WERE HERE", Ana Torroja (+ subtitles):

PAUL, THE PREDICTING OCTUPUS, RETIRES

UPDATED: HE HAS DIED

Yesterday, we talked about this summer's top news in Spain: winning the Football World Cup 2010. Today we've learnt, from another English teacher's blog from Neda's Secondary School " that Paul, the predicting octupus is to retire. Here's the news from that blog:

[englisharound.blogspot.com]
One of the stars of the South Africa World Cup is retiring - Paul the predicting octopus!

Paul lives at an aquarium in Germany and correctly predicted the results of all seven of Germany's games as well as the Spain v Netherlands final. When the tournament ended, staff presented him with his own model of the World Cup trophy, complete with treats. But now the aquarium says Paul will now retire to do what he likes best - play with his handlers and delight visitors.

Spokeswoman Tanja Munzig said: "He won't give any more oracle predictions - either in football, nor in politics, lifestyle or economy. "Paul will get back to his former job, namely making children laugh." During the tournament, Paul made his predictions by choosing a snack from one of two glasses that were put in his tank showing the flags of the sides playing.

SPEAKING ENGLISH IN THE ENGLISH CLASS

Here's some help for you to be able to understand and speak in the English classroom:
- WHAT THE TEACHER SAYS:
Open your books (on page...).
Close your books.
Write it down! - Take this down! - Copy this into your notebooks!
Get your notebooks / workbook / student's book! - Get a sheet of paper!
Think! - Spell. - Read loud. - Choose. - Check / Correct.
Listen (to the CD) / Listen and repeat.

Come on...
Has everybody got (a)....?
Draw a circle / cross / tick...
Underline this word.

Look at the blackboard. - Come to the blackboard.
Come on, everybody. Now look at me.
Listen to me! - You aren't listening to me.
Pay attention! - Can I have you attention, please / for a minute?
Stop it!
Be quiet! - Shut up! - Silence, please!

Ask me if you don't understand.
Tell me if it's true or false.
Tell me if you find it too difficult.
Put up / Raise your hand if you don't understand.

You need... to do this.
Do this at home. - This is for homework. - Do it for next Monday.
Finish this exercise for homework, please.
Try to find an example of...
Try to finish this before...
When you finish, revise your exercise before you give it to me.
Please, get into groups of 3 / 4 students / pairs. Make groups of 3 or 4 students.

Let's check / correct the exercise now.
Let's sum up what we've seen today.
Don't worry about...
Now we're going to...

- WHAT STUDENTS MAY NEED TO SAY:
Good morning / afternoon. - Hello / Hi
Good bye / Bye bye. - See you tomorrow / on... / soon.

Excuse me...
What's this in English? / How do you say "---" in English?
How do you spell "---" (in English)?
What does "---" mean? - What's the meaning of "---"? - What's the English / Spanish word for "---"?
I'm sorry. - Sorry, I'm late. - Sorry, I forgot my...
I don't understand. - I don't know. -
I'm sorry / afraid, I don't know / understand / haven't understood the question / I don't know what you mean / I've no idea / I'm not sure
Is this OK / right? - Is it correct / right?
Can / May I come in?
Can / May I go to the toilet?
Can / May I open / close the window / blinds?
Can / Could / Would you repeat / say it again? - Pardon? - I'm sorry I didn't hear / catch what you said. - I'm sorry, what did you say?
Can / Could / Would you explain it again / write it on the blackboard / spell it... please?
Can / Could / Would you speak louder / more slowly, please?

THE BLOG RE-OPENS FOR THE 2010-2011 ACADEMIC YEAR. WELCOME BACK!

Here we are once again: back to school! This blog's second year opens up as a new school course opens, too.

A new course which the Rafael Dieste Secondary School receives with many changes. A complete new school organization will start. There won't be one class for each group any more. Now the classrooms will depend on the subject. Each subject/teacher will have its own classroom. Students will have to change from one classroom to another for each session. We'll see how long it takes to get used to the new system and if students, teachers like it or not.

Also this course, Rafael Dieste Secondary School has been selected as one of the two public schools in the city of Coruña to be named a Plurilingual School. This means that, from this year onwards, starting at 1st ESO, all students in this school will have, apart from the English class, other subjects in the English language. This year 1st ESO students will have Physical Education and Interdisciplinary Project in English. (A total of 6 hours in English every week). In following years this will be introduced in higher levels.

Hoping that you all have a successful year, welcome back!