Happy 2009!

London is a great city to celebrate the festive season; there's so much going on!
You can go ice-skating throughout the Christmas and New Year period, enjoy fireworks or more alternative entertainment on New Year's Eve or experience something totally different for your New Year's Resolutions. (VisitLondon.com)

Happy 2009!

London Quiz

New Year's Resolutions

New Year's Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. It's a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes. Can you tell us your New Year's resolutions? (Comments)

Examples:

- I guess I'd better spend more time with family and friends.

- I promise I'll quit smoking.

- I really should learn English.

- Never again will I fail an exam.

Translation - Unit 3 (4º E.S.O.)

TRANSLATE THESE SENTENCES INTO ENGLISH

1.- Sergio ha besado a Laura en el pasillo del instituto y todo el mundo se ha reído.
2.- He leído ya el libro de inglés, pero no me ha gustado.
3.- Hemos oído esta canción muchas veces este año, la hemos repetido en clase casi todos los días. 4.- Acabo de ver a tu hermana, estaba enfrente del cine con un amigo muy guapo.
5.- ¿Habéis estado alguna vez en Australia? No, hemos viajado a Nueva Zelanda, pero no hemos estado nunca en Australia.
6.- Daniel ha sido el mejor alumno desde el año pasado y ha recibido un premio hace 1 mes .
7.- El gato ha roto la silla de mi abuela con sus garras, pero mi padre lo ha arreglado ya.
8.- ¿Ha entregado la maestra el examen ya? No, ella ya ha puesto las notas de la composición, pero no ha dado el examen todavía.
9.- Te he echado de menos. ¿Por qué no me has llamado?
10.- Perdona, he estado muy ocupada. He tenido mucho trabajo esta semana
11.- Julio ha gastado 90 euros en unos zapatos nuevos. El ha usado el mismo par de zapatos durante 2 años.
12.- No he visto a Marcos desde hace 3 días. ¿Dónde ha estado? No sé.
13.- Sara ha preguntado a su padre algo muy importante, pero su padre no le ha contestado aún.
14.- Mis primos acaban de encontrar un cuerno de toro en una caja y un rabo de conejo debajo de un árbol.
15.- No he estado nunca en un concierto de música clásica.
16.- Raquel no me ha invitado a su fiesta todavía. No he ido a una fiesta desde el verano pasado.
17.- Carmen ha tenido un dolor de cabeza durante 3 días, hoy ha ido al médico.
18.- ¿Cariño, has desayunado ya? No,me acabo de levantar y no tengo hambre aún.
19.- ¿Habéis conocido alguna vez a alguien famoso? Sí, yo he visto a Brad Pitt en Madrid hace algunos años.
20.- ¿Has volado en helicóptero alguna vez? No, me pongo enferma cuando vuelo.

Ana's contribution

Do They Know It's Christmas? (2004 version)

BAND AID 20 (Wikipedia)

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" (azlyrics) [Chris Martin:] It's Christmastime, there's no need to be afraid At Christmastime, we let in light and we banish shade [Dido:] And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime [Robbie Williams:] But say a prayer, Pray for the other ones At Christmastime it's hard, but when you're having fun [Sugababes:] There's a world outside your window And it's a world of dread and fear [Fran Healy:] Where the only water flowing [Fran Healy & Sugarbabes:] Is the bitter sting of tears [Fran Healy & Justin Hawkins:] And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom [Bono:] Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you [Will Young & Jamelia:] And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime The greatest gift they'll get this year is life [Ms Dynamite & Beverly Knight:] Where nothing ever grows No rain nor rivers flow [Group of ten and Joss Stone:] Do they know it's Christmastime at all? [Tom Chaplin (Keane):] Here's to you [Justin Hawkins (Darkness):] Raise a glass for everyone [Dizzee Rascal:] Spare a thought this yuletide for the deprived If the table was turned would you survive

[Busted:] Here's to them [Justin Hawkins (Darkness):] Underneath that burning sun [Dizzee Rascal:] You ain't gotta feel guilt just selfless Give a little help to the helpless [Joss Stone & Justin Hawkins:] Do they know it's Christmastime at all? [Tom Chaplin:] Feed the world [Tom Chaplin & Chris Martin:] Feed the world [Tom Chaplin & Chris Martin & Sugababes:] Feed the world [Tom Chaplin & Chris Martin & Sugababes:] Feed the world [Everyone in full chorus line.] Feed the world Let them know it's Christmastime again - [repeated] [Group of ten:] Feed the world [Everyone in full chorus line.] Feed the world - [repeated to end] [Joss Stone ] [Ad libs over outro]

Present Perfect

Present Perfect

1) USES:
- Past actions at an unspecified time---> Peter has gone to the cinema

- Past actions with present result--->Susan has caught a cold so she is in bed.

- Duration from past until now --->We have been friends for years

- Actions just finished ---> Paul has just finished the exam

2) FORM:
- Affirmative: have/has + past participle*
- Negative: haven't/hasn't + past participle
- Interrogative: have/has + subject + past participle

* Past Participle formation: Regular verbs add -ed to form the past participle and irregular verbs have different forms so you must study your list of irregular verbs.
-------------> Examples: regular verb: I work - I have worked ; irregular verb: I go - I have gone

3) TIME EXPRESSIONS:
- Already: Peter has already finished the exam
- Ever: Have you ever been to London?
- Never: I have never been to Italy.
- Just: They have just made the cake.
- Yet: I haven't finished the exam yet.
- For: I have studied for 2 hours.
- Since: I have studied here since 2004.
- How long...?: How long have you studied here?

Present Perfect Tense

4) ACTIVITIES:

- Grammar and exercises (ego4u)
- Games: The Euro, Uses, Past Simple or Present Perfect
- Statements, Negation, Questions, Since or For, Review, Test (englishhilfen)
- Video
- Karaoke (We are the Champions by Queen)

December's Special Dates

Christmas

25 December

Christmas, also referred to as Christmas Day or Christmastide, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that marks and honors the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. His birth, which is the basis for the anno Domini system of dating, has been determined by modern historians as having occurred between 7 and 2 BC. The date of celebration is not thought to be Jesus' actual date of birth. It may have been chosen to coincide with the winter solstice, which the ancient Romans celebrated on December 25.
Modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, church celebrations, and the display of various decorations—including the Christmas tree, lights, mistletoe, nativity scenes and holly. Santa Claus (also referred to as Father Christmas, although the two figures have different origins) is a popular mythological figure often associated with bringing gifts at Christmas. Santa is generally believed to be the result of a syncretization between St. Nicholas of Myra and elements from pagan Nordic and Christian mythology, and his modern appearance is believed to have originated in 19th century media. (Wikipedia)

- Games

- Christmas around the world

- Vocabulary

- Vocabulary review

- Activities

- Karaoke: Jingle Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock

- We wish you a Merry Christmas (song and activities)

- A Christmas Carol by C. Dickens (AUDIO)

- Nightmare Before Christmas -What's this? (VIDEO)
- Links (Isabel Pérez)

Hanukkah

21-29 December

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, and may occur from late November to late December on the Gregorian calendar.
The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a special candelabrum, the Menorah or Hanukiah, one light on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. An extra light called a shamash, is also lit each night, and is given a distinct location, usually higher or lower than the others. The purpose of the extra light is to adhere to the prohibition, specified in the Talmud (Tracate Shabbat 21b-23a), against using the Hanukkah lights for anything other than publicizing and meditating on the Hanukkah story. (Wikipedia)

- Vocabulary quiz

- All about Chanukah

- The story

- Games

- Coloring pages

Boxing Day

26 December

Boxing Day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, as well as many other members of the Commonwealth of Nations and Greece. It is based on the tradition of giving gifts to the less fortunate members of society. Contemporary Boxing Day in Canada is a "shopping holiday" associated with after Christmas sales.
It is usually celebrated on 26 December, the day after Christmas Day; however, its associated public holiday can be moved to the next weekday if 26 December is a Saturday or Sunday. The movement of Boxing Day varies between countries. (Wikipedia)

- Information

- Boxing Day in England

- Listening

- Quiz

New Year's Eve
31 December

New Year's Eve is on December 31, the final day of the Gregorian year, and the day before New Year's Day. New Year's Eve is a separate observance from the observance of New Year's Day. In modern Western practice, New Year's Eve is celebrated with parties and social gatherings spanning the transition of the year at midnight.
Many cultures use fireworks and other forms of noise making in part of the celebration. Some of the cities most well-known for their celebrations include Edinburgh, Sydney, Toronto, Moscow, Tokyo, Rome, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, and New York City. (Wikipedia)

- Resolutions (advanced)

- Themes by British Council

- Webquest

- Wordsearch

- Auld Lang Syne: Lyrics, Video

"Elementary, my dear Watson"

Sherlock Holmes appears first in print on the 1st December 1887. He is the creation of Scottish-born author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A brilliant London-based consulting detective, Holmes is famous for his intellectual prowess, and is renowned for his skillful use of "deductive reasoning" while using abductive reasoning and astute observation to solve difficult cases.

Many people believed that the famous detective, lived and worked at22B Baker Street, London. The fictional character was in fact created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the 1880s, and the address doesn’t exist.

FACT OR FICTION? (Adapted from IT's Magazine)

Films include many action heroes – Iron Man, Speed Racer, Indiana Jones, The Incredible Hulk and Batman. But did any of these heroes actually exist, or are they all fictional?
Earlier this year, a television station in Britain asked 3,000 young people a series of questions about famous factual and fictional people. They wanted to find out ifanyone knew which of the people existed in real life and which were fictional characters.
Which names do you think are real people and which are fictional characters?
King Arthur, Winston Churchill, Cleopatra, Robinson Crusoe, Charles Dickens, Gandhi, Lady Godiva, Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood, Michael Jackson, Indiana Jones, Mona Lisa, Iron Man, Florence Nightingale, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, The Three Musketeers, Sir Walter Raleigh, Eleanor Rigby, The Duke of Wellington.
According to UKTV, the TV station that carried out the survey, King Arthur is the fictional figure that most people in Britain (65%) believe existed and had a round table in Camelot. Half of those surveyed (51%) also believed that Robin Hood lived in Sherwood Forest during the 14th century, robbing the rich to give to the poor. Eleanor Rigby was the name of a fictional character in a Beatles song, but 47% of young people believed she was a real person. People were also confused when they tried to identify real historical figures. A surprising 21% thought that Winston Churchill, possibly Britain’s most famous Prime Minister, was a fictional character. And over a quarter (27%) thought pioneering nurse Florence Nightingale was fictional.Paul Moreton of UKTV said, “Stories like Robin Hood are so inspiring that it’s not surprising people like to believe these characters truly existed.”

Sources: Wikipedia, IT'S Magazine

- The Sherlock Holmes Museum

- Adventure Games

Contest: My Advent Calendar

Our Christmas contest is here! Can you create your own Advent Calendar?

RULES: 1) You can use any theme, any material. 2) Click on the links to look for information and ideas. 3) Be creative and original. 4) Deadline:19th December 5) Have fun! PRIZE: umm, let me think...we'll ask the 3 Wise Men! Good luck!

- Wikipedia - Online Advent Calendar - Countdown to Christmas (activities) - Pictures (Flickr) - History - Advent tree - Crafts

Past simple and continuous (more practice)

The Idiot Test

I bet you aren't an idiot. Are you brave enough to take this test? Click on the picture and follow the instructions.

Cheer up!

Freeze My Senses

When we watch the Christmas Lottery spot, we know Christmas is coming. This year the music used in the commercial is "Freeze my senses" by Lionel Neykov. Listen to the song and read about this young singer. (Thanks to Ana)

- Myspace

- Garage Band

Song lyrics | Freeze My Senses lyrics

Ana's contribution

Happy Thanksgiving!

What are you wearing?

Clothes (For beginners)


- Can you colour her clothes?
- Matching clothes
- Cards matching
- Wordsearch
- Quiz
- Hangman
- Puzzle and song
- Short story
- English-Spanish games
- Dress-up games

Sources: englishbanana.com, British Council,

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, 27th November

Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American holiday, and is a form of harvest festival. The date and whereabouts of the first Thanksgiving celebration is a topic of modest contention. Though the earliest attested Thanksgiving celebration was on September 8, 1565 in what is now Saint Augustine, Florida, the traditional "first Thanksgiving" is venerated as having occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in 1621.
Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. Thanksgiving dinner is held on this day, usually as a gathering of family members.

- Send E-cards

- You are the Historian, investigating the first Thanksgiving (audio needed)

- Story and quiz

- Vocabulary

- Vocabulary (youtube)

- DLTK 's activities (coloring pages, crafts, games, poems, recipes, printables)

- Black Friday (article and listening)

- ESL KidStuff's games and activities

- Webquest

- Quiz

- Kaboose's games

- More games

- Crossword

- Wordsearch

Sources: istockphoto, wipipedia,

Say NO

International Day for the Elimination of Violence

25th November

Song lyrics | Rain On Me lyrics

Harry Potter

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

July 2009

- Official site

- Wikipedia

- Activities and links (Isabel Pérez)

- Games

- Listening (BBC)

- Pronunciation

Unit 2: Translation (4º ESO)

UNIT 2: TRANSLATION (4º E.S.O.)

Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Cuando Jack llegó, estábamos viendo la televisión.

2. “¿Qué hacías ayer a las 10?” “Hacía la tarea”

3. El teléfono no sonó a las 8, sonó a las 8 y cuarto y yo estaba duchándome.

4. Están confundidos y desilusionados . No entiendo por qué( why)no quieren que nosotros les ayudemos.

5. Llevaba puesto un vestido blanco muy bonito. Parecía feliz.

6. Cuando conocí a mi novio, nevaba.

7. Mientras mis primos cenaban, nosotras dormíamos. ¡Estábamos agotadas!

8. A menudo me siento tímida cuando hablo con gente muy segura de sí misma.

9. ¿Estaba tu padre durmiendo la siesta cuando llegó el cartero?

10. Con frecuencia los adolescentes se sienten frustrados porque sus padres no los entienden.

11. ¿Os gustó la película? Sí. Fue muy sorprendente y emocionante.

12. ¿Qué te hace sentir furioso? Las personas groseras y antipáticas.

13. Cuando oímos la noticia, nos pusimos muy nerviosos. Estábamos cenando.

14. ¿Por qué no estábais sentados cuando llegó el profesor?

15. ¿A dónde iba tu cuñada ayer a las 6 de la mañana?

Pepa's contribution

Unit 2 - 4º E.S.O.

* FEELINGS AND PERSONALITY

EASY
- Feelings and family
- List and activities
- Matching
- Wordsearch

DIFFICULT
- Hangman
- Matching
- Crossword
- Vocabulary builder (-ed/-ing)

* PAST SIMPLE AND PAST CONTINUOUS

EASY
- Fill in the gaps 1, 2, 3
- Was or were
- Grammar and exercises
- The Others
- Game

DIFFICULT
- Complete the texts 1, 2, 3, 4
- Verb tenses review
- Translation

Past Continuous Form And Use

* ADJECTIVES ENDING WITH -ED OR -ING


The lesson is boring, so the students are bored.
The lesson is interesting, so the students are interested.

CAUSES THE FEELING/EFFECT: -ing
RECEIVES/EXPERIENCES THE EFFECT/FEELING: -ed

- Matching
- Quiz1, 2, 3, 4

Sources: teachplay.com.mx, amazon.com, rosarioa.slide, cartoonstock.com

Billy Elliot (2000)

QUESTIONS

1.Where and when is set the film?
2. What is the real nature of the prejudice against ballet shown by Billy's father and brother? What other examples of prejudice are there? To what extent are these prejudices still alive and well in our society?
3. Billy’s Mother is represented in the film by her piano. What happens to the piano? How does the family react to this?
4. Can you describe the kitchen? And the neighbourhood?
5. What lesson was Billy taking in the boy’s club? Was he good at it?
6. Who was Mrs Wilkinson?
7. Who was on strike?

SUBJECTS --- Dance; World/England;
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING --- Breaking Out; Families in Crisis;
MORAL-ETHICAL EMPHASIS --- Caring; Responsibility; Respect.

SUMMARY: FILL IN THE GAPS (Use: grandmother, cigarettes, secret, 11-year-old, Royal Ballet School, responsibility, on strike, ballet class, talent, enthusiasm, food, passion, friend, Northern England, mine).

The life of ______Billy Elliot, a coal miner’s son, in _______is forever changed one day when he sees a _________during his weekly boxing lesson. He finds himself demonstrating the kind of _______ seldom seen by the class’s instructor Mrs Wilkinson.With a never-ending stream of ________ in her hand, Mrs Wilkinson’s ________ for teaching is revived when she sees Bill’s potential. She wants to teach her new pupil.
But Billy must keep the ballet classes a ________from his widowed father and elder brother, as both men are ________ from their jobs at the ________, and are finding it difficult to put _______ on the table. Their frustrations finally explode when they discover Billy spends his boxing money on dancing classes.
Banned from ballet, and troubled by the mental problems of his ________Billy finds comfort with his school __________Michael.
Meanwhile, Mrs Wilkinson encourages Billy to try out for the ________ in London, where he can improve his skill and escape his oppressive background.
But Billy is torn between his _________ to his family and to his talent. His to dance is more than a means of self- expression. It is his ___________, and it is his
destiny.

- Webquest
- Quiz

Sources: British Council, Damaris, worksheet by luisa2008, billyelliot.com, teachwithmovies.org

Madagascar 2

28th November

---CAST---

Ben Stiller as Alex, Chris Rock as Marty, Andy Richter as Mort, David Schwimmer as Melman, Jada Pinkett Smith as Gloria, Sacha Baron Cohen as King Julien, Cedric the Entertainer as Maurice, Tom McGrath as Skipper, John DiMaggio as Rico, Chris Miller as Kowalski, Christopher Knights as Private, Elisa Gabrielli as Nana AKA Old Lady, Bernie Mac as Zuba, Sherri Shepherd as Florrie, Alec Baldwin as Makunga, will.i.am as Moto Moto, Conrad Vernon as Mason.

---ANIMALS FEATURED---

Zebra - Hippopotamus -Lion - Giraffe -Penguin - Chimpanzee -Ring-Tailed Lemur - Mouse Lemur - Aye-Aye - Ruffed Lemur - Drouhard's Shrew Tenrec -Chameleon - Butterfly - Ocelot Gecko - Giant Rat - Snake - Hawk - Hummingbird - Duck - Nile Crocodile -Dolphins - Horse -Fossa

---ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES---

- Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

- Lists of animals and exercises (hangman, dictation, word search)

- Exercises (all levels)

Source: Wikipedia

Michael Crichton dies

Michael Crichton, author of Jurassic Park, dies of cancer

Michael Crichton, the author behind the fictional world of Jurassic Park, died yesterday at the age of 66 after a battle with cancer that he hid from the public eye. Crichton, the author of more than a dozen bestselling novels and creator of the medical drama series ER, died unexpectedly in Los Angeles, his family said.

A statement from Mr Crichton’s family posted on the writer’s website described his fight with cancer as “courageous and private” and added: “While the world knew him as a great storyteller that challenged our preconceived notions about the world around us . . . his family and friends knew Michael Crichton as a devoted husband, loving father and generous friend who inspired each of us to strive to see the wonders of our world through new eyes. He graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University before tutoring at Cambridge University in anthropology and later registering at Harvard Medical School.

Crichton, whose books have sold more than 150 million copies worldwide, was heavily influenced by his scientific training, and often conjured up visions of dystopian worlds that bore the brunt of botched attempts at scientific advancement. His first bestseller, The Andromeda Strain, which speculated upon the devastating effects of an extraterrestrial microorganism on the human race, was published while he was still a medical student.
Thirteen of his books were turned into films, including Jurassic Park, which told of recreating dinosaurs via DNA contained in the blood of mosquitoes preserved in amber. The film, released in 1993, took nearly $1 billion (£630 million) worldwide, and in 2002 Mr Crichton had a newly discovered ankylosaur named after him: Crichtonsaurus bohlini.
The family statement added: “Through his books, Michael Crichton served as an inspiration to students of all ages, challenged scientists in many fields and illuminated the mysteries of the world in a way we could all understand.”

Working knowledge
—Legend has it that at his peak Michael Crichton could write up to 10,000 words a day. He described the process as excruciating, however, and for an agonising period in the 1980s he was struck by writer’s block. He “cured” himself by consulting all manner of New Age gurus
—Crichton’s writing regime was eccentric. He wrote seven days a week and would hide himself away in a sparsely furnished room to minimise distraction, eating the same thing for lunch every day
—He would break off from his labours only to take exercise or to see his family. As each work progressed, he would wake up earlier and earlier until towards the end of each book he would be at his computer at 2am
—To ensure that his works were as accurate as possible he became an expert in all manner of subjects, from genetic engineering to international economics, taking in Nordic myths, primatology, medieval European history and even airline deregulation
—Crichton used two pen names when he was at medical school – John Lange and Jeffrey Hudson – to knock out pulp fiction. Both included a play on his lankiness, Lange meaning “tall one” in German, Dutch and Danish, while Sir Jeffrey Hudson was a famous dwarf who mixed in 17th-century court circles

Sources: timesonline.co.uk and bbc.co.uk

Obama wins US election

He's American. He's black. He's 47 years old. He's BARACK OBAMA. He has been elected president of the United States.

QUESTIONS

1. What's his full name?
2. Where was he born?
3. When was he born?
4. How tall is he?
5. Where are his parents from?
6. Is he married?
7. What's his job?
8. What are his favourite books?
9. What's his favourite music?
10. What are his favourite films?
11. What's his favourite television show?
12. What does he like doing in his free time?

Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night (5th November)

Guy Fawkes Night (also known as Bonfire Night, Cracker Night, Fireworks Night) is an annual celebration on the evening of the 5th of November. It celebrates the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot of the 5th of November 1605 in which a number of Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London, England.It is primarily marked in the United Kingdom where it was compulsory, by Royal Decree, to celebrate the deliverance of the King until 1859, but also in former British colonies including New Zealand, parts of Canada, and parts of the British Caribbean. Festivities are centred on the use of fireworks and the lighting of bonfires. (From wikipedia)

- Animated Story
- Listening
- Reading and multiple choice
- Game
- Tic Tac Toe
- Poem
- Ordering a text (doc)
- Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot (ppt)

Articles and quantifiers

A un/una + sustantivo singular (empieza por consonante) -----> A book

An un/una + sustantivo singular (empieza por vocal) -----> An apple

The (de/dí)* el/la/los/las + sustantivo contable o incontable -----> The book / The music

How much? ¿Cuánto? + sustantivos incontables -----> How much money?

How many? ¿Cuántos? + sustantivos contables -----> How many books?

Much (mách) Mucho + sustantivo incontable -----> Much time

Many (méni) Muchos + sustantivo contable -----> Many apples

Some (sám) Algunos/algo de + afirmativa -----> I need some books.

Any (éni) algún/ningún + negativa / interrogativa -----> I haven´t got any books.

* Pronunciación figurada

Image from inglesmadrid.com

ACTIVITIES

- A or An: one, two

- A, An, The or Nothing

- A, An, Some, Any

- A, An, The

- Some /Any

- Some / Any (different levels)

Learning irregular verbs

RESOURCES:
- Lists with pictures, translation and examples in Sherton English
- Quiz 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Drill exercises 1, 2, 3, 4.
- Online flashcards to memorize verbs (5 levels)
- The fastest way to learn (18 groups)
- Verbbusters (6 levels)
- Fill in the blanks 1, 2.
- Pronunciation 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
- ESL Quiz 1, 2, 3, 4.
- Games: matching, crossword, memory game, Evelyn's chat board
- Software: list viewer, IrrTrainer

Image from englishlessons4free.com

Happy Halloween!!

Halloween

Halloween, or Hallowe’en, is an international holiday celebrated on October 31. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, ghost tours, bonfires, costume parties, visiting haunted attractions, carving Jack-o'-lanterns, reading scary stories and watching horror movies. Irish immigrants carried versions of the tradition to North America in the nineteenth century. Halloween is celebrated in several countries of the Western world, most commonly in the United States, Canada, Ireland, Puerto Rico, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom and occasionally in parts of Australia. (From Wikipedia)

- History
- Halloween in Spain
- Pumpkin carving stencils
- Virtual Haunted House
- Vocabulary
- Vocabulary with pronunciation
- Vocabulary with pictures and activity
- Matching game
- Quiz

- Games: Haunted House, Costumes
- Listen and paint

- Gap-fill
- Quiz 2

- Carve your own pumpkin

Song lyrics | Halloween lyrics

--->ANSWER THE QUESTIONS: (http://iteslj.org/questions/)
- What day of the month is halloween?
- Why is halloween celebrated?
- Can you explain the history of halloween?
- How is halloween celebrated in your country?
- Do you believe in ghosts?
- What makes you afraid of ghosts?
- What are some of the symbols of halloween?
- What kind of costume are you going to wear to the halloween party?
- Are you still eating halloween candy?
- Why do you like to celebrate Halloween?

Barack Obama

Not so long ago, most people had never heard of Barack Obama. That changed in 2004, though. He gave a powerful keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention in the summer of 2004. He then became a US Senator in November of that year with 70% of the vote. And in February, 2007, on a cold wintry day, he announced his decision to become the next President of the United States. His struggle with Hillary Clinton, who wanted to become the first female President, captured the attention of the world. Obama grew up in Hawaii, but has spent his adult life in the continental United States. He was educated at Columbia University in New York, then at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Both schools are at the top of the US education system. Some opponents have called him elite because of this, but he grew up in a single-parent household. His mother worked and raised two children while she was studying at university. Obama grew up humbly.
Barak Obama has become the first black nominee of a major US political party. He also happens to be the first black American in US history with a real chance to become the next President. During his time in politics, he has created legislation on climate change, nuclear terrorism, and better support for soldiers returning from war. He has opposed the war in Iraq since the start. He also wants to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the US, put an end to research on a missile-defense shield, and lead the world through diplomacy and morality.
Everyone now has the same question on their lips. Will Barak Obama become the 44th President of the United States? Many political diehards feel the election has become his to lose. In other words, all eyes are on him, and a major gaffe could give John McCain victory.
What do you think? Will he become the next President of the United States?

- Listen to the article.

- Answer the questions:
1. When and where did people begin to hear about Barack Obama?
2. When did Obama announce that he wanted to become the next US President?
3. What does the article say about Hillary Clinton?
4. Where did Obama grow up?
5. The article mentions Obama responsible for two firsts. What are they?
6. According to the article, what does he support?
7. What is the question on everyone's lips?

- Vote for me: Do you have big ideas to change things? Would you like to change your school? Who is the best candidate for change? Give your ideas for change (lesson times, books, teachers, homework, attendance.

Source: www.headsupenglish.com

Summer time ends

Summer time ends in Europe this weekend when clocks go back an hour.

YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS
1. Are you wearing a watch?
2. If so, how accurate is it?
3. How do you usually check the time?
4. Are you usually on time when you meet people?
5. In a 24-hour period, how much time do you usually spend doing these things?
------a. sleeping b. studying c. working d. eating e. travelling f. relaxing -----
6. What’s your favourite time?
7. What time did you get up this morning?
8. If you could travel in time, would you prefer to travel to the future or the past?
9. How much time do you think it takes to boil an egg?
10. Have you ever travelled from one time zone to another?
11. Do you ever phone friends in another timezone? Has it ever been a problem?
12. Do you think the idea of a single Internet time is good?

- Changing the clocks in the UK

Source: http://www.its-teachers.com/activities/its101/06_time_zones.asp (Elvira's contribution)