THANKS and goodbye. You are the reason

Hi folks!! Here I am again to say goodbye to you. I won't be at school next September and it'll be a challenge for me to start a new cycle of life and work in a different school. Of course, I'll meet you any time anywhere in San José or Sevilla as soon as possible!!

I want you to know how much I've learnt being you teacher for these two school years as you are great students and what's more important: good guys. I'm happy to imagine a future in which people like you will become adults as I can figure out it'll be a better world. 

I'll miss you. I had a big surprise last Friday and I'll keep all the nice presents you gave me with me forever . Your hearts are in them and I won't forget you.  None of you!!

Remember to study hard as I promise, I'll be one of the visitors in your Graduation Ceremony. Don't dare to waste your time at school!!! I'll be observing you...as closely as possible.

Also, don't forget to read the book I gave one of you and pass it to the whole group. You could sign it once each of you finish reading it....

This song by Hoobstank is the one that best fits my feelings about you right now. I like being a teacher if I meet people like you that make me work hard by planning new things every day. Enjoy, have fun (as usual) and please BEHAVE!!!

Here you are a HAPPY song to enjoy and have fun!! 

The Book Thief . Read, watch, listen and then speak and write.

We are at the very end of the school year. During this term you have practised by reading and writing your own film and book reviews. The book by Markus Zusack The Book Thief was adapted and become a film first released in 2013. It was a bestseller and you can click here to read it on line.
Si prefieres leerlo en español, aquí tienes el enlace de la web.

We are watching the film in class next week and later you're going to prepare some questions for your mates. But first let's read these extracts:

• critical review 1
• critical review 2
• critical review 3
• nominations and awards

Here you are the trailer to watch and listen.

Then, we can express our opinions, give ideas by speaking up. Next, it's your turn to write questions for your teacher and classmates. Do you think words would inspire you to write a diary, a short story, a poem...?  I encourage you to try hard and do it. Perhaps one day YOU can become a writer with best-selling books. Remember that only by reading you can enlarge your vocabulary.

5 extinct animals...back to life???

In Unit 7 we have read about the Woolly Mammoth as an extinct animal in the process of becoming alive. By using the method of the DNA putting it into the eggs of a relative of the extinct animal scientists are continuing their experiments to bring prehistoric animals back to life.

Follow the link to read and learn more about other extinct animals that could be hopefully!! comeback.

A film review

Firstly, set the groups to work about the short film you chose in the 2nd term or to decide on  a new film you would like to recommend.

Secondly,  click on the picture to get the steps to follow for your writing of the review.

Thirdly, you'll prepare a powerpoint presentation or similar to be done in class. You'll be coevaluated by your mates as we did with the description of a picture last term.
The presentations will start on 27th may.

Finally, we'll work together on a padlet platform where you'll create a wall with the most significant elements of your reviews and inviting people to watch the films you chose.

You can choose other films as the one I present here. It is the trailer of a the American film: The Fault in Our Stars . It is based on the novel by John Green published in 2012 and adapted to the cinema in 2014. It can make us reflect on our lives and the sense of perfection.

Tales of La Alhambra by Washington Irving

Washington Irving’s “Tales of the Alhambra” presents the combination of his travels by the Andalusian territory, his stay in the Alhambra and the tales and legends about the Monument.
You are reading the adapted version done by Burlington Books.

Click on the image below to follow a presentation done by teachers at IES Albayzín (Granada) where you can get details of the reknown American author who learnt a lot about Andalusia and helps us study the Muslims in our Western society.

A film Jack y la mecánica del corazón

Jack y la Mecánica del Corazón   / Jack et la mechanique de coeur tells the story of a boy who was born on such a cold and frosty day that his heart got frozen and had to get it replaced by a cuckoo clock. First, click on the picture to get the review of the film and then watch the trailer.

Now follow the song by Acacia in French.

Writing reviews : your favourite films

Here you are some trailers of the latest films on the billboard. This is just to give you a general idea of the final task you'll be evaluated on by the end of the term.

Click on the pictures to have a film review of the film:

 Watch the trailers and then you'll have to fill in a document in class giving your opinion.

The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything are based on true stories and won prizes in the last edition of the Academy Awards in Hollywood.

Becas inmersión lingüística 2015

En el BOE de 31 de marzo se publica la Resolución de 17 marzo de 2015 de la Secretaría de Estado de Educació, Formación Profesional y Universidades,por las que se convocan ayudas para participar en un programa de inmersión lingüística en colonias de vacaciones para 2015.

El programa se destina al alumnado de 1º y 2º de ESO y se desarrolla entre el 28 de junio y el 26 de julio asistiendo a colonias en dos turnos, de dos semanas cada uno, donde se trabajarán prioritariamente los aspectos orales del aprendizaje de la lengua inglesa.

El primer turno, del 28 de junio al 12 de julio, va dirigido al alumnado de 1º, y el segundo, del 12 al 26 de julio, al de 2º ESO.

Requisitos con carácter general:

a. Estar matriculado en centros sostenidos con fondos públicos durante el presente curso 2014/2015.
b. Haber obtenido, como mínimo, «notable/7» como nota media del curso 2013-2014.
c. Haber obtenido, como mínimo, «notable/7» como nota final en la asignatura de inglés en el curso 2013/2014.
d. No haber disfrutado de la ayuda en convocatorias anteriores.

La solicitud se cumplimentará mediante el formulario accesible por vía telemática en la dirección en el apartado correspondiente a «Trámites y Servicios» o en la siguiente dirección electrónica del ministerio de educación, cultura y deporte.
El plazo de presentación de solicitudes será de quince días hábiles a partir del siguiente al de la publicación en el BOE.

Short movies for task 2

Here you are some of the videos or short movies you have chosen in groups because you found them interesting in a way. Some groups gave an oral exposition about their short movies and after the week of holidays you're having some short debates in class to question why they are appealing to you.

Group 2:  Elena López, Laura, Ángela, Emma and Miguel Cid chose "The Moon".

Group 3: Lucía Gil, María Caro, María Fdz, María Romero and Paula López chose "Christian, the lion".

Group 5: Andrea Ming, Andrea Clavijo, Erika Cano and Fco. Javier Fdz chose  "Slimtime".

Group 6:  Mario León, Andrés Cano, Alejandro Fdz, Juan José Montblanch and José Manuel Pichardo chose  "Look up"

Group 4: Song "Amnesia" with Victoria Navarro, Lucía Parrilla, Alicia, Ana Portillo y Belén Muñoz.

Group 7:  " Cambio de pilas" Miguel Pérez, Pablo Núñez, Sandro Rodríguez.

17th March. St Patrick's day in Ireland and all over the world.

 

Clovers, shamrock, parades...to celebrate St. Patrick's day in Ireland. As there are Irish people all over the world there are special celebrations in every country. Did you know that in Chicago the river Hudson is dyed in green? Why is it turned emerald for St Patrick?

Activity 1

And now follow the link by the BBC to learn about the history of this celebration in Ireland.

Click on the link to know more about the patron saints in other parts of United Kingdom.

Activity 2

Searching the net I've found this webquest for you. Click on the links suggested to help you answer the questions.

Steps to your next task : A short film

Last friday you watched the short film Paperman in class. It was produced by Walt Disney Animated Studios and directed by John Kahrs. Here you are the Oscar winner 2012 again.

Activity 1

Answer the following questions:

• What's your opinion of the story?
• Do you think it is possible to fall in love at first sight?
• Are these meetings a question of chance or destiny?
• What would you do to get to know a person you've met and was appealing to you?
• Other comments.

Activity 2
Now, watch the three videos below where John Kahrs, the director of the film talks about: 
 the origins of the film, the first idea. 

Here he talks about the drawings.

Watch the last short vide where he talks about the looks.

Activity 3

Write some questions relevant to each of the videos. You're going to work orally in small groups where each of you is going to make the questions and the rest is going to give an appropriate answer. Then, we're going to have some general conclusions.

Oliver Twist

After watching the trailer of the film by Roman Polanski, answer the questions below:

1) What does Oliver Twist ask for?
2) What does the Dodger steal at the market?
3) What does Fagin look like?

Some videos to learn grammar: Conditionals, Will future

You can watch the video below from an animation film Hercules to practise the If clauses we are studying.

The American singer Ingrid Michaelson uses Will future sentences in her song Maybe. Follow the lyrics and practise. Later you can sing along here or at home. You know is a good exercise for pronunciation practice.

Unit 5: SPORTS. FUTURE tenses.

Here you are links from British Council website to revise some vocabulary 

• football
• at a gym. Here you can watch the video and revise the use of "going to" we are studying now.

The future of sport. This is a web activity from your textbook that you can work at home and will be checked in the classroom next tuesday 17th. You have to read the texts below by clicking on the picture.

Then, answer the following questions.

1.    When was modern football born? ……………………

2.    What did referees start using in football games from 1970? ..................................................

3.    How many people watched the final match of the FIFA World Cup in 1998? ........................... 

Unit 4 Past Simple and Progressive

• Activity 1 Watch the video to notice the continuous forms with interrupted actions.

• Activity 2  Practice with the video to learn more about the use of past progressive.

• Activity 3  Practise new words (past simple) and connectors with this video. Listen and repeat.

• Activity 4 Write a short narrative about a past story. Follow the instructions below. 

Back to school again...New Year's resolutions?

Here we are again and after holidays most people have good resolutions for the new year.

• Activity 1    Writing  Have you got any? I invite you to fill in the document above and sign it. This way your good purposes may be fulfilled.

• Activity 2   Reading

How did you celebrate the coming of 2015? Did you eat the twelve grapes while the clock was striking from 1 to 12? Read here about UK's way. After that it's time for us to work on our resolutions. Let's discuss it in class.

• Activity 3   Watch and listen

Watch the Alfie's video about his experience with Christmas and then we'll check your understanding with some worksheets in class.

• Activity 4   Speaking     Now let's work in pairs on your new year's resolutions for school matters and then share it with the class.