BLACK FRIDAY 2015 (intermediate)

Have a good laugh!

BLACK FRIDAY II (intermediate)

Oh, no!
Black Friday is coming again!

We may have to go on a crazy shopping spree, we may have to buy more stuff than we need, we may have to borrow money to keep up appearances. 

Or... do we?

But listen!

EARTH DAY 2015 (22nd April)

WORLD WATER DAY 2015

International Women's Day 2015

Because you are a man?

THE YEAR 2014 IN REVIEW (intermediate)

2014 has come to an end. What memories will you keep? What would you rather forget?

Here are two videos for you to review events that were part of our lives and will stay in our memories, some forever, some for a while.

Which of the events and people mentioned in the videos are familiar to you?

Did you recognise the song? Why is it famous?

Here is the second video, this time filled with humour.

Welcome, 2015!!

THANKSGIVING DAY 2014

A very special event in the United States, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated all across the country with family gatherings and a special dinner: The main course is a delicious turkey with lots of side dishes filled with products of the season. That's why this day is often called Turkey Day. It takes place on the fourth Thursday of November.

Learn the history behind this celebration.

Read some facts and figures about Thanksgiving celebrations.

Provided by Nationwide Bank

Take a look at some pictures taken in 2012 at the traditional Macy's Parade held in New York every Thanksgiving and seen by millions of people. 

Click on the picture to view a cute ecard: a Rap Turkey Video!

INTERNATIONAL KISSING DAY: What's in a kiss?

The 6th of July was chosen to celebrate a widely used expression of affection: the kiss.

We press our lips against someone else's lips (or cheek, or hand or whatever...) to show our feelings of love, passion, respect, greeting, farewell, and so many others.

Take a look at this presentation of famous kisses of art and films. How many of them can you identify?

What about some songs about kissing now? Here you are!

The first one was released in 1972 by Bobby Vinton.

 

This one was recorded in 1980 by the Irish singer and composer Gilbert O'Sullivan.

ASCOT

Have you ever heard of Ascot?

It is a small town situated about twenty-five miles west of London. It is known worldwide thanks to a major social event in Great Britain: the Royal Ascot Racehorse, which takes place every month of June since 1711. The royal family attend the meeting and arrive each day in a horse-drawn carriage.

Such a prestigious meeting requires an elegant attire. Here is a video with some tips in case you are invited!

Hats are a very important accessory for women in Ascot. Now, some are really elegant and  others are... simply crazy! Take a look at them! Do you think you can describe them?

Which one's your favourite?

WORLD BOOK DAY

In 1995, UNESCO established the 23rd of April as the International Day of the Book. It was first observed by booksellers in Spain in 1923, because Cervantes had died on the 22nd in the year 1616.

Let's celebrate the day with an excellent video about a new entertainment 'gadget': The BOOK.

Enjoy!

EASTER (intermediate)

Easter is a Christian festival that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the culmination of a period of forty days of repentance and fasting called Lent in remembrance of his Passion and crucifixion.

Easter takes place in spring, when life renews itself. Different countries celebrate Easter with various traditions. Sorrowful parades can be seen in most Spanish cities during the Holy Week remembering Christ's suffering, while in Ukraine the art of decorating eggs is an old custom that dates back to pre-Christian times. Egg painting and egg hunting are popular customs in the U.S.A. today, with children trying to find the eggs that the Easter bunny has hidden for them.

Both eggs and rabbits have been a symbol of fertility and rebirth for centuries. The ancient tradition of decorating eggs started well before Christian times and was adopted by early Christians, who dyed eggs in red in memory of the blood of Christ. Eggs also represent the tomb of Christ, from which he rose with renewed life.

Learn about an old tradition from Ukraine:

Easter traditions around the world:

My question to Spanish students:

Why do you think the American tradition of egg hunting has not become very popular in Spain while so many others (such as trick-or-treating) have?

I'd love to read your answers!

KURT COBAIN

Kurt Cobain is remembered as the voice of a generation. A tormented soul, he took his life twenty years ago on a day like this, 5th of April, in 1994 at the age of 27.

He was the lead singer of the grunge band Nirvana.

This video tells you some biographical facts.

See the reactions of today's teenagers when listening to the band.

• What are your impressions?
• Had you heard about Nirvana before?
• Did you know their music?
• Is their sound still valid?
• Why do you think their influence is still felt?
• What do you know about grunge rock?
• Why did Kurbain become a legend?

APRIL FOOLS' DAY (advanced)

Do you like to play practical jokes? How about being the target of one? Well, this may be quite a different story...

Anyway, if you like either, this is the day for you: April Fools' Day, celebrated in many countries since medieval times, though not everywhere on the same day of the year.

A day for pranks and hoaxes which are performed by (and on)  friends, enemies, relatives, TV and radio stations or newspapers. 

After all, who doesn't enjoy a good laugh?

(Click on the clown for a list of easy practical jokes.)

Click below to download a crazy worksheet!

Enjoy your day! 

HAPPINESS (intermediate)

The 20th of March was chosen in 2012 as the International Day of Happiness. Happiness seems to be a fundamental goal for most of us. But, what exactly does the word mean? And where does happiness lie? Can it stay or does it last a moment?

There are many possible answers, I would say. Let's read some ideas about it.

(This text is an adapted translation of an article from 
http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/917542/0/felicidad/amor/dinero/ 
[How to be happy (from time to time)])

Click on the arrow to download the worksheet.

Shall we take a peek at paradise? Many think that happiness was there once.

If you happen to know the whereabouts of happiness, please leave a message!



Just in case everything else fails, let me give you one reason to rejoice:
Spring starts today!

HAPPY HAPPINESS DAY!

ROYAL WEDDING (all levels)

Have a good laugh with this funny parody of a very famous wedding.

SANTACON. Who said there is no Santa Claus?! (intermediate)

Do you know the meaning of "SantaCon"?

I'll show you a video, let's see if you can guess!

Yes! It is a mass gathering of people dressed in Santa Claus costumes, hundreds and hundreds of Santas determined to celebrate the holiday season and have fun. It all started in San Francisco in 1994 and since then it has spread to over forty countries.

They even have their official site with information about dates and locations!

Just click on Santa to visit it. 

(Your own city might be in the list, who knows?)

Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

The problem is, though, that all those Santas are usually much too thirsty. They fill the nearby bars and pubs and often end up quarrelling and originating rows (believe it or not!).

This video shows some of the people gathered at SantaCon in New York in 2,012.

This is the "wish list" of some neighbours to Santa:

I'd love to read your comments!

Nelson Mandela (intermediate)

Nelson Mandela, 1918 - 2013.

A life has ended, the struggle will continue.
Nelson Mandela's battle against discrimination has not died with him.

There were others before him, and more will follow.

He became the first black president of South Africa in 1994.

One year before, he had received the Nobel Peace Prize award.

 

Read some of his thoughts and words:

Visit the Nelson Mandela Center of Memory and learn more facts about the man and the leader.

 

For more biographical information click below.

 

These words are often associated with Nelson Mandela, even though they are not his.

 The message is powerful:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

VIOLENCE (intermediate / advanced adults)

• What is violence?
• How many kinds of violence are there?
• Does one need a gun to act violently?
• What are the effects of violence?
• Where are the roots of violence?: are people born violent, or do we learn violence?
• Have you ever been involved in a violent act? 
• What do you consider the worst act of violence?
• Has the world become more or less violent throughout history?

Watch these videos and give your impressions:

Here is the second one, recorded at a school in Iowa (U.S.A.) in 1968.
 An interesting experiment on power:

There is sarcasm in this one (do you consider sarcasm violence?), but it carries an interesting thought:
why does the victim so often feel guilty?

Do you think we live in a violent society?

Shall we create a list of acts of violence? Let me think...

1. Lying
2. Intimidation
3. Neglect
4. Rudeness
5. ...
6. ...
7. ...

Which would you add?

THANKSGIVING (intermediate)

Let's begin by learning some words related to this special holiday, as well as customs and traditions around it.

  [Infographic provided by Grammar.net]

Click on the turkey to visit the original site of the poster and learn about the new words and phrases:

But...

where and when did it all start?

Listen to Plymouth Rock's version of the facts:

Let's sing a song to celebrate!

Thanksgiving and Black Friday come hand in hand. Everyone knows about Thanksgiving, do you know the meaning of Black Friday?

Click below to learn about it.

 

Let's see how much you know about Thanksgiving now! Click on the cornucopia to start a quiz:

Create your own Thanksgiving wordsearch puzzle!

 

Don't you feel a little sorry for the big birds?...

Let's head for Christmas now!

GUY FAWKES NIGHT (higher intermediate - advanced)

Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The gunpowder treason and plot ;
I know of no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

(Traditional poem)

What is remembered on this date: November 5th?
How much do you know about Bonfire Night?
How could the course of history have changed?
Why did it not change?

Learn all the historic facts on this site by the BBC. Click on the image to start:

Watch this animated video for additional information:

  


Now that you know all the facts, do you think you can spoil Guy Fawkes' plan?
Go ahead and try! This game will help you remember all the facts you have learnt.
Just click on the image and start!

One more question for you:
What does this familiar mask have to do with Guy Fawkes? Who uses it?