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!