MERRY XMAS

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 
Enjoy your well-derserved holidays!!
See you in 2014!!

This winner Christmas card was made by Eva Latorre, from 2º NI. Congratulations!!

TOP GEAR - Race across London

Top Gear  is a very popular British TV show about cars and driving you can watch in English if you want to learn some vocabulary related to that. You can watch it even if you're not really keen on cars, it's fun!! It's been on for over 10 years







I've chosen a video about a race across London to find out which is the best form of transport to cross the city in the rush hour. If you're in the intermediate class, we've already done a reading and listening exercise about it. Now you can watch the real thing!

You can also browse its webpage to watch more videos and read some articles.

http://www.topgear.com/uk/

500 Miles

Click on the following link to watch the video for the song 500 Miles by the Scottish group The Proclaimers. Althought it's an old song (from 1988) I'm sure you all know it.

If you haven't got the worksheet we've done in class, ask me for a copy or just google the lyrics and sing along!!!

The Pilgrim Fathers' Song

Now that you already know the facts about the origins of Thanksgiving, (if not, read the previous post first) have some fun with the Pilgrim Fathers' Rap from Horrible Histories. 

British Humour Mode ON, please!

THANKSGIVING DAY

Do you know why American people celebrate Thanksgiving?  Read about the very first Thanksgiving:

 

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/history/first-thanksgiving/

And now let's see how they celebrate Thanksgiving nowadays:

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/peopleplaces/thanksgiving-traditions/

MACY'S PARADE

Turkey and American Football

THANKSGIVING DINNER

Tonight American people celebrate Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States (and on the second Monday of October in Canada.)

What do they usually eat for dinner that day? Well, the main dish is turkey. In fact, Thanksgiving is also known as 'Turkey Day'. But a proper Thanksgiving dinner would not be complete without cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans, pumpkin pie, apple crumble...

Hmmmm yummy!!! My mouth's watering right now!
 
If you click on the following link you will find several Thanksgiving recipes. Why don't you try some?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/occasions/thanksgiving
 
Enjoy your meal!!

REMEMBER, REMEMBER, THE 5th OF NOVEMBER...

Remember remember the fifth of November
the Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason

should ever be forgot...

This famous rhyme refers to Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Find out about it by clicking on the following link.  http://www.bonfirenight.net/gunpowder.php

Now, it's time to enjoy a couple of hilarious videos from the BBC children's television series Horrible Histories.


FAWKES' 13

 

BONFIRE SAFETY TIPS WITH GUY FAWKES

SUPER-EASY HALLOWEEN PARTY SNACKS

If you click on the following link, you'll find a video from British Council LearnEnglish Teens about how to make some easy and fun Halloween snacks.

http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/study-break/video-zone/halloween-party-snacks

You can also do some vocabulary exercises related to the video to check your understanding. If you have any problems, read the transcript at the bottom of the page!

Why don't you try to make those snacks to surprise your friends and family on Halloween? Enjoy!!

HALLOWEEN: IDIOMS OF FEAR

Watch the following 'Halloween special' video by The Teacher from BBC Learning English, in which he'll teach you three idioms related to FEAR.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theteacher/2011/10/111028_teacher_halloween.shtml





Are you scared stiff or just shaking like a leaf after watching the video?

Who you gonna call? GHOSTBUSTERS!

Who hasn't seen 'Ghostbusters'? Well, maybe some of you haven't, as it's a bit old. It was released in 1984! It was one of my favourite films when I was a child.


The main theme is very catchy. It has some grammatical mistakes (like 'Who you gonna call?' and I ain't afraid of no ghost!') which are OK in a song, but not in your exam!!

Are you afraid of ghosts? I ain't afraid of no ghost! (I'm not afraid of ghosts) 
If you are, who you gonna call? (Who are you going to call?) GHOSTBUSTERS!!

HALLOWEEN ORIGINS

Halloween isn't just trick or treating, costumes, candy and horror films. Actually, it's a very old tradition. Watch the following video from The History Channel to find out about the ancient origins of Halloween.

http://www.history.com/topics/halloween/videos#bet-you-didnt-know-halloween
 

Feel free to browse this webpage to learn interesting facts about this worldwide holiday. There are plenty of short videos for you to watch and learn!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY!

FAWLTY TOWERS

Watch the following clip by the British sitcom 'Fawlty Towers'. Mrs. Richards, who is as deaf as a post, is staying at Fawlty Towers, quite a peculiar hotel. Listen to her talking to Mr. Fawlty (the hotel manager) and Manuel (the bellboy) and choose the right answer.

1.    The first problem is that she doesn’t like the bath in her room because…

a.    it’s too small.

b.    there’s a mouse in it.

c.    someone was drowned in it.

2.    The second problem is that she doesn’t like the view because…

a.    she expected to see Turkey.

b.    she expected that hotel would be by the sea.

c.    she expected to see the town.  

3.    The last problem is that…

a.    the radio doesn’t work.

b.    she can’t hear the radio because her hearing aid is off.

c.    Mr. Fawlty refuses to fix the radio.

BRITISH HUMOUR

Here you have a very funny sketch from the British comedy show 'Big Train'. An English speaking tourist, whose car has broken down in France, tries to get some help from the locals, but they just pull her leg.

And now enjoy two sketches from the Monty Python's Flying Circus. Warning: they are pretty absurd, so turn your 'British Humour Mode' on.

Silly Job Interview

The Ministry of Silly Walks

And now sing along with the song 'Always Look On the Bright Side of Life' from Monty Python's Life of Brian. 

MODERN FAMILY

modern family is an American sitcom filmed as a mockumentary - the fictional characters frequently talk directly into the camera. It revolves around three families that are interraled:

- Jay Prichett is married to his second wife, a gorgeous Colombian woman, Gloria, who is often mistaken for his daughter, as she is much younger than him. She has a preteen son called Manny from her previous marriage.

- Jay's daughter, Claire, used to be a rebel. She's married to Phil, a real estate agent and self-professed 'cool dad'. They have three children: Haley, the stereotypical teenager, Alex, the smart middle child and Luke, the offbeat only son.

- Jay's son, Mitchell, a down-to-earth lawyer, and his dramatic partner Cameron, have adopted a Vietnamese baby, Lily

If you haven't watch this TV series before, I strongly recommend it. It's hilarious! Now watch the trailer of the pilot episode.

D-I-S-C-O

DISCO is a song by the French band Ottawan.
Come on, everybody! Stand up and dance!

D-I-S-C-O (x4)
She is disco / D-I-S-C-O

She is D delirious                                         
She is I incredible
She is S superficial
She is C complicated
She is O oooh, oooh, oooh

She is D desirable
She is I irresistible
She is S super sexy
She is C such a cutie
She is O oooh, oooh, oooh

D-I-S-C-O (x4)
She is disco 

She is D disastrous
She is I impossible
She is S super special
She is C crazy, crazy
She is O oooh, oooh, oooh

She is D delightful
She is I incredible
She is S sensational
She is C sweet as candy
She is O oooh, oooh, oooh

D-I-S-C-O
She is disco 

ABC SONG

Watch India Arie and Elmo singing the alphabet song:

A B C D E F G

H I J K L M N O P

Q R S T U V 

W X Y Z

Now I know my ABCs

Next time won't you sing with me?

Question: How do they pronounce letter Z /zed/ in America?

TAKE THAT!

Take That in the 90s

Take That were one of the most successful British five-piece boy bands during the 90s, comprising Mark Owen, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Robbie Williams. Gary Barlow was the main lead singer and songwriter. Robbie left the band in 1995 to launch a solo career, while the four remaining members continued together for a year, when they eventually split up.

Take That now

A four-piece (without Williams) made a comeback in 2006 achieving a great success.

Williams rejoined the group in 2010. He's just released a new solo album in collaboration with Gary Barlow.




If you click on the following link you'll find more information about this pop group: their biography, links to several sites related to the band, different clips with songs and interviews...

BBC Music - TAKE THAT

And now enjoy one of their songs, "Shine". It was released in 2007 and it won the British Single of the Year Award at the 2008 Brit Awards. It has a very catchy tune and its lyrics have a few phrasal verbs :)

And as a present, watch the video of "The Flood". This song is the first to feature Robbie Williams since his return to the band in July 2010, and features Gary Barlow and Williams on lead vocals.

The video features the five members of the band racing against another crew in specially-made five-seater Sculling boats. The band's boat is named "Progress" after the record breaking number 1 album, whilst the band wear old-fashioned white rowing kits, bearing a custom-designed Take That crest. The group is shown to be competing in a race against a younger crew and although losing the race, the group continue going past the finish line and are shown to row down the River Thames past famous London landmarks before fading away into a stormy sea. (From Wikipedia)

 It's an awesome video, isn't it? They're definitely my cup of tea now :)

TIME FOR A CUPPA?

The English are a nation of tea-drinkers. They drink a staggering amount of tea everyday. Is this really true or just an stereotype? Click on the following link to find out.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1446_entertainment/page15.shtml

And now watch this video in which the Teacher from BBC Learning English will explain you three tea-related idioms.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theteacher/2009/03/090303_teacher_food_tea.shtml

Well, I'm off for a cuppa! With a cloud of milk, please!

What's in a Name? Prince George Alexander Louis

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have named their son George Alexander Louis. He will be more formally known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge. 

Watch the following clip from BBC News to find out why they chose those three names. 

Who was His Royal Highness named after? 

Now watch another clip from BBC News in which people give their views about the royal baby's name.

 

What do you think about it? Do you like it? Would you have chosen any other names? 

Post your comments!

HELLO GOODBYE by The Beatles.

You say yes, I say no
You say stop and I say go go go, oh no

You say goodbye and I say hello
Hello hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello
Hello hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello

I say high, you say low
You say why and I say I don't know, oh no

You say goodbye and I say hello
(Hello goodbye hello goodbye) Hello hello
(Hello goodbye) I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello
(Hello goodbye hello goodbye) Hello hello
(Hello goodbye) I don't know why you say goodbye
(Hello goodbye) I say hello/goodbye

Why why why why why why do you say goodbye goodbye, oh no?

You say goodbye and I say hello
Hello hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello
Hello hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello

You say yes (I say yes) I say no (But I may mean no)
You say stop (I can stay) and I say go go go (Till it's time to go), oh
Oh no
You say goodbye and I say hello
Hello hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello
Hello hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello
Hello hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello hello

Hela heba helloa
Hela heba helloa, cha cha cha
Hela heba helloa, wooo
Hela heba helloa, hela
Hela heba helloa, cha cha cha
Hela heba helloa, wooo
Hela heba helloa, cha cah cah [fade out]

OAKSVALLEY SCHOOL TIMETABLE

Welcome everybody! Hope you've had a great summer holiday. Ready to start?

The classes start today (23rd September) or tomorrow (24th) depending on which group you're in.
Check your timetable for this school year!

TIME	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY
16:00 – 18:15	2º NI	1º NI	2º NI	1º NI
18:30 – 20.45	1º NB	2º NB	1º NB	2º NB

 See you in class!

TEXTBOOKS 2013/2014

1º NIVEL BÁSICO

English File Elementary Third Edition

Student's Book + Printed Workbook with Key + Online
Skills Practice
Editorial Oxford ISBN: 9780194598910

2º NIVEL BÁSICO

English File Pre-intermediate Third Edition

Student's Book + Printed Workbook with Key + Online
Skills Practice
Editorial Oxford ISBN: 9780194598934

1º NIVEL INTERMEDIO

English File Intermediate Third Edition

Student Book & Workbook with key pack
Editorial Oxford ISBN: 9780194519915









2º NIVEL INTERMEDIO

New English File Intermediate Plus

Student Book & Workbook with key + Multi-ROM pack
Editorial Oxford ISBN: 9780194519700

EXAMS - SEPTEMBER 2013

	ESCRITO		ORAL
	DÍA	HORA	DÍA	HORA
1º BÁSICO	Martes 3	16:00 – 18:00	Martes 3	18:00
2º BÁSICO	Martes 3	18:30 – 20:30	Martes 3	20:30
1º INTERMEDIO	Miércoles 4	15:00 - 17:45	Miércoles 4	18:00
2º INTERMEDIO	Lunes 2	15:00 – 17:45	Lunes 2	18:00

                       

Se ruega puntualidad británica para la correcta realización de las pruebas (por lo tanto acudid unos 10-15 minutos antes de la hora de comienzo del examen.)

La revisión de los exámenes será el Jueves 5 de Septiembre.

Have a nice summer!

UN CORTO RECORTADO

This is the short film, made by our colleagues from the school, everybody is talking about!  It's about how our education system may end up if the 'cuts'  continue. I'm sure most of you have already seen it, but I've found a version with English subtitles! If you haven't... what are you waiting for? Press play!

My blackberry isn't working!

Watch this 'fruity' sketch from 'The One Ronnie' (BBCOne). It's full of double meanings! Enjoy!

Little Padawans...

PRUEBA DE CLASIFICACIÓN CURSO 2013/14

Ya han salido las fechas para realizar la prueba de clasificación para el curso que viene. En el Aula de Valderrobres sólo se puede hacer la prueba de inglés el día 13 de junio a las 16:00. Esta prueba es para nuevos alumnos que crean que pueden acceder a otro curso superior a 1º de básico. (Para matricularse en 1º de nivel básico sólamente hay que hacer la preinscripción de 2 al 5 de julio.)

En el siguiente link encontraréis las fechas de otros idiomas.  

FECHAS DE LAS PRUEBAS DE CLASIFICACIÓN

• La solicitud de la prueba se realizará a través de la página web de la EOI (www.eoialcaniz.com), a través de un enlace que estará operativo del 16 al 22 de mayo.

• Los solicitantes deberán presentarse a la prueba portando su DNI/Pasaporte/NIE.

• Una vez realizada la prueba de clasificación, se deberá solicitar plaza para el curso resultante de la prueba del 2 al 5 de julio, a través de la página web (www.eoialcaniz.com) en el apartado de Preinscripción.