SONG: Mercedes Benz, by Janis Joplin

My list of presents for Christmas 😋

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!!

QUEEN'S CHRISTMAS SPEECH 2014 (advanced)

Listen to the Queen in her annual Christmas speech broadcast to the entire Commonwealth. You can activate the subtitles on the video for an approximate transcript of her words.

Read her full message below. (Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/)

In the ruins of the old Coventry Cathedral is a sculpture of a man and a woman reaching out to embrace each other. The sculptor was inspired by the story of a woman who crossed Europe on foot after the war to find her husband. Casts of the same sculpture can be found in Belfast and Berlin, and it is simply calledReconciliation. 

Reconciliation is the peaceful end to conflict, and we were reminded of this in August when countries on both sides of the First World War came together to remember in peace. The ceramic poppies at the Tower of London drew millions, and the only possible reaction to seeing them and walking among them was silence. For every poppy a life; and a reminder of the grief of loved ones left behind. 

No-one who fought in that war is still alive, but we remember their sacrifice and indeed the sacrifice of all those in the armed forces who serve and protect us today. 

In 1914, many people thought the war would be over by Christmas, but sadly by then the trenches were dug and the future shape of the war in Europe was set. But, as we know, something remarkable did happen that Christmas, exactly a hundred years ago today. Without any instruction or command, the shooting stopped and German and British soldiers met in No Man's Land. Photographs were taken and gifts exchanged. It was a Christmas truce. 

Truces are not a new idea. In the ancient world a truce was declared for the duration of the Olympic Games and wars and battles were put on hold. Sport has a wonderful way of bringing together people and nations, as we saw this year in Glasgow when over seventy countries took part in the Commonwealth Games. It is no accident that they are known as the Friendly Games. As well as promoting dialogue between nations, the Commonwealth Games pioneered the inclusion of para-sports within each day's events. As with the Invictus Games that followed, the courage, determination and talent of the athletes captured our imagination as well as breaking down divisions. 

The benefits of reconciliation were clear to see when I visited Belfast in June. While my tour of the set of Game of Thrones may have gained most attention, my visit to the Crumlin Road Gaol will remain vividly in my mind. What was once a prison during the troubles is now a place of hope and fresh purpose; a reminder of what is possible when people reach out to one another, rather like the couple in the sculpture.

Of course, reconciliation takes different forms. In Scotland after the referendum many felt great disappointment, while others felt great relief; and bridging these differences will take time. Bringing reconciliation to war or emergency zones is an even harder task, and I have been deeply touched this year by the selflessness of aid workers and medical volunteers who have gone abroad to help victims of conflict or of diseases like Ebola, often at great personal risk. 

For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, whose birth we celebrate today, is an inspiration and an anchor in my life. A role-model of reconciliation and forgiveness, he stretched out his hands in love, acceptance and healing. Christ's example has taught me to seek to respect and value all people of whatever faith or none. 

Sometimes it seems that reconciliation stands little chance in the face of war and discord. But, as the Christmas truce a century ago reminds us, peace and goodwill have lasting power in the hearts of men and women. 

On that chilly Christmas Eve in 1914 many of the German forces sang Silent Night, its haunting melody inching across the line. That carol is still much-loved today, a legacy of the Christmas truce, and a reminder to us all that even in the unlikeliest of places hope can still be found.

A very happy Christmas to you all.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2014

Click on the picture to see your animated Christmas card.

CHRISTMAS SONG with lyrics

THE MOST EXPENSIVE CHRISTMAS DINNER (intermediate)

Believe it or not.

Most Expensive Christmas Dinner (Core ingredients) via Cool Daily Infographics

Click on the bells to see the poster enlarged.

If you have some money to spare, you can enjoy this menu for a "mere" £ 31,250 per person.

Read more here.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING (intermediate, young students)

This is an animated short film based on two books written by Raymond Briggs and published in the 1970s. I bet you'll love it!

Christmas is coming?

That's what people say: Christmas starts right after Thanksgiving. Is it so?
Perhaps for those who can afford it, not for most.

Click on the picture below to read the lyrics of the song (you have to register).

Let them know it's Christmas.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS (intermediate)

"Everything needs to change so everything can stay the same"

Who doesn't expect the best when a new year starts?

A new year is a fresh beginning, and many of us are often carried away by the spirit of the season and our desires of change, of taking up new habits and doing away with negative customs. That's why we make New Year's resolutions, promises to ourselves that we'll do our best to change for the better. We are aware of the fact that we are far from perfect, but know it is up to us to make change possible: we have the key!

It's not so easy to carry your goals out, mind you. Change is difficult and we have learned to live with certain habits that have become part of us and are tough to give up: indulging ourselves, certain addictions, attitudes and (what's worse!) all those tasks we've been putting off till tomorrow. 

These are some popular resolutions for a new year:

Do they sound familiar?

Let me tell you that New Year's resolutions are not new. The Romans and even the ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year. Of course, resolutions have changed with times: medieval knights made vows to renew their commitment to chivalry; one of the most frequent promises nowadays involves fitness and well-being (eating less, going to the gym, giving up cigarettes, etc.).

So much for all those resolutions made in times past!

(Source of information: Wikipedia)

Oh, well...
Click on the poster to enlarge it.

Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.

Let's hear an expert's opinion:

I meant YOUR opinion! What can you say about New Year's Resolutions?
What is your experience and your thoughts?

Take a look at the list of the ten most commonly broken New Year's Resolutions. Click below.

 

Well, it's New Year's Eve again.

Oh, no! Tomorrow is here! It has come to remind us that it is high time we did something positive for ourselves and for those around us.

Here is the best part:

If you failed to accomplish your goals LAST year, remember that you have a new opportunity THIS year. And, what's even better, you can always make new, firmer resolutions NEXT year!

(Source of image:  http://www.kombination.co.za/new-years-reso-ja-ja/)

Since we are at it, how about finally learning some English? (Got you there!)

Could you explain the meaning of the highlighted expressions?

THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY (all levels)

For those of you who enjoy Christmas music, here is a beautiful performance of a classic song by Faith Hill.

Click on the image to watch the video on YouTube.

Merry Xmas

CHRISTMAS GAME FOR KIDS (beginners)

Spot the Christmas object. 
How quick are you?

But REMEMBER: You must name it before going on!

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!

CHRISTMAS CAROLS (for all)

Are you ready for some Christmas carols? 
Let's start!

A lively Christmas song to sing along:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Merry Christmas!

My favourite.

(You can activate the subtitles in English by clicking on Choose Language)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL flipbook (intermediate)

Click on the following image and read a Christmas classic story by Charles Dickens.

You can also listen to it.

Enjoy it!

A CHRISTMAS SONG & A QUIZ (intermediate)

  

CHRISTMAS WORDS (elementary)

Christmas is just round the corner. Are you prepared to welcome it?
Perhaps some revision of essential vocabulary would come in handy, don't you think?

Let's see if you can complete this worksheet with basic Christmas words.

Ok, ok... maybe it was a bit too difficult.

 Click on the arrow to download it with the answer key included!

I bet you'll enjoy a visit to this wonderful site, full of activities for Christmas (games, stories, colouring pages and lots more!)

Click on the image to enter.

But first, let's sing a song!

Let's start the countdown till Christmas!

Is there a Santa Claus?

This is the question that Virginia O'Hanlon, aged 8, asked her father one day in 1897. She had doubts about Santa's existence and wanted to know the truth. Her father's reply was a suggestion: Why don't you write a letter to the Sun? If you find it there, it is so.

Virginia followed her father's advice and this is the answer she could read in the New York Sun on September 21st.

Read and listen to her letter and the newspaper's editorial.

This is the newspaper clipping.

Read the complete text of the editorial the newspaper published.

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Since then, Virginia became an icon of the Christmas holidays in the U.S.A. and received thousands of letters until her death in 1971.

Answer these questions:

• What are your thoughts about the story?
• Do you think Virginia could still have doubts after reading it?
• When and why did your own uncertainty begin?
• Does the real world threaten innocence?

Here 's a trailer of an animated movie made in 2009:

XMAS IS OVER (advanced)

How about considering the Christmas holidays when they are still fresh in our minds?

This is my proposal for the first days of school. Older students think about these holidays with a critical view and read a funny text by Philip Roth, who imagined Kafka's life in the USA at the age of 55.

Click below if you want to download the workskeet:

2012 IN REVIEW