tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86594130238412307382024-02-18T19:52:47.181-08:00English with LauraEnglish for upper-intermediate studentsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-79163437012079993392009-04-13T02:50:00.000-07:002009-04-13T02:54:11.920-07:00New Blogs: please visit us anytime!I haven't been around for a long time. You may wonder: Why?<br />Because I've been involved in another project. It's called <span style="font-weight: bold;">English in Guía</span> and we're working in 3 different blogs, one for each level:<br /><br /><a href="http://englishinguiabasico.wordpress.com/">English for students of Nivel Básico<br /></a><br /><a href="http://englishinguiaintermedio.wordpress.com/">English for students of Nivel Intermedio</a><br /><br /><a href="http://englishinguiaavanzado.wordpress.com/">English for students of Nivel Avanzado</a><br /><br />Please feel free to drop by and leave us some comments. Welcome to our new sites!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-79109865879345685642008-06-01T11:30:00.000-07:002008-12-10T18:55:18.790-08:00Summer ideasHi dear all!<br />The summer is near, and that's great, isn't it? However, "4 months without English" is not such a great idea...<br />I'd like to give you some tips so that you can practice a little bit of English these months. Don't start the next course feeling lost!<br /><br />I firstly recommend you to read this post: "<a href="http://elblogdelingles.blogspot.com/2008/05/como-aprender-ingls-sin-dinero-para.html#links">Cómo aprender inglés sin dinero para cursos</a>". The teacher here suggests interesting things for a <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">linguistic immersion</span>. For example, she talks about <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">language exchanges</span>. Why not start one now? We can do that on the Internet, without having to travel! She and her readers suggest the following (I know this is not the first time we talk about this):<br />- <a href="http://www.sharedtalk.com/">Shared Talk</a><br />- <a href="http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/">My Language Exchange</a><br />- <a href="http://www.language-exchanges.org/">Language Exchanges</a><br />There you can practice your <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">the 4 skills</span>!<br /><br />I do agree with her opinion on <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Listening </span>everyday. If you try and listen at least 5 minutes, you'll get used to the sounds of English and it'll become easier and easier. My recommendation here is for you to download <a href="http://www.apple.com/es/itunes/download/">i-Tunes</a> (it's free!) and <a href="http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/podcasts.html">subscribe to podcasts</a> (that you can later transfer to your MP3 player!). All you have to do is (once you get the program) click on <span style="font-style: italic;">i-Tunes Store</span>, later on <span style="font-style: italic;">Podcasts </span>and then browse according to your interests: you can select the language, the channel or the topic you are interested in. Then you subscribe to the podcasts that you like: their updates will be downloaded immediately everytime you connect to i-Tunes again. Isn't it wonderful?<br /><br />More ideas on <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Writing</span>: apart from checking the websites checklisted in this blog, you could also start a <span style="font-weight: bold;">journal </span>in English or even a <span style="font-weight: bold;">blog </span>yourself! (Try <a href="http://blogger.com/">blogger</a>) If you write on a regular basis, you'll need to use a dictionary and thus will learn new things everyday.<br /><br />Finally, what about <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Reading</span>? Are you thinking of taking some English book to the beach with you? Good idea. Why not visit the library downstairs? You can borrow books for the whole summer now. Otherwise, you can buy them online; <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/">Amazon </a>is quite fast with deliveries and they also offer you the possibility of buying <span style="font-style: italic;">second-hand books</span> for really reasonable prices!<br /><br />Short of ideas? Here you are some suggestions <span style="font-style: italic;">(light and fun reads, I think)</span>:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTaHscyWOUvgh4jS3t0cq3EQL6KgbSSflbNJpq1U9OBTTEP73lmEvMY8X6sxRvMBhhikdI35cdrKiahnABWjtMpm6UkWZ1nmd1sn3oEO_Jk1zJ9K7897cD-4vbeYWmP0bzOs09IUgf2o/s1600-h/sandra+cisneros.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTaHscyWOUvgh4jS3t0cq3EQL6KgbSSflbNJpq1U9OBTTEP73lmEvMY8X6sxRvMBhhikdI35cdrKiahnABWjtMpm6UkWZ1nmd1sn3oEO_Jk1zJ9K7897cD-4vbeYWmP0bzOs09IUgf2o/s320/sandra+cisneros.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206989563779771586" border="0" /></a><br />- <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Teeth-Zadie-Smith/dp/0140276335/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212346152&sr=1-1">White Teeth</a> by Zadie Smith<br />- <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Diary-Adrian-Mole-Aged/dp/0141315989/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212346253&sr=1-1">The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4</a> by Sue Townsend<br />- <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sushi-Beginners-Marian-Keyes/dp/0140271813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212346342&sr=1-1">Sushi for Beginners</a> by Marian Keyes<br />- <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Completely-Unexpected-Tales-More/dp/0140098208/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212346384&sr=1-17">Completely Unexpected Tales</a> by Roald Dahl<br />- <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eureka-Street-Robert-McLiam-Wilson/dp/0749396725/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212346587&sr=1-1">Eureka Street</a> by Robert McLiam Wilson<br />- <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Changing-Places-Tale-Two-Campuses/dp/0140046569/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212346567&sr=1-1">Changing Places</a> by David Lodge<br />- <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/House-Mango-Street-Vintage-Contemporaries/dp/0679734775/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212346614&sr=1-2">The House on Mango Street</a> by Sandra Cisneros<br /><br />Have fun, then. See you around this week.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-20851403066080765072008-05-23T04:30:00.001-07:002008-12-10T18:55:19.506-08:00Some more practice on Reading and Listening<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.voanews.com/english/portal.cfm"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLv8oDGT2vYqre4keNeUq_LGkZS-Sa8UPixHc7V1XyNsiSjcfBscE0daCHCXKHQgE5w7npgC0JbjstWGNQisKl16kFfDeDqv_dGWi3NPkl5wgogY4XNJn_RjPBKXHiyafwaYBMmggq7d4/s320/news_logo.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203534747921444018" border="0" /></a>We're near the end of the course and maybe you might like to get some more practice on reading and listening before the exam on Monday.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.voanews.com/english/portal.cfm">Here </a>is the website I talked to you about: it's called <a href="http://www.voanews.com/english/portal.cfm">Voa News</a> and it allows you to read and listen to current news at the same time. Fantastic, isn't it?<br /><br />I'm also exploring a little bit about podcasts and how to subscribe to them, but I'm afraid there's no time for that this year. See you next year (maybe?) and talk about it.<br /><br />Have a nice weekend everyone.<br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/lmarreo/CONFIG%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-80338431206779898782008-04-27T06:03:00.001-07:002008-12-10T18:55:19.790-08:00Learn English with videos and improve your pronunciationHi there!<br /><br />Are you having a nice weekend? Me too, thank you very much. Just a couple of suggestions to keep you busy for a few minutes:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://es.yappr.com/welcome/Welcome.action"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFQ1d2LK2LajsIsokydui6w0rCZbVKBktCtb1iikKV_ZEDK51nwZVwYIsNrW7gMwOdHY8CfmyMalyD_Z9f3JAgaZuoJIcCSA_3bTRrc1LlKxkvMKXQPzBmoDg7CCwFaRl5MrK6jcTw5Q/s320/yappr.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193911443477582130" border="0" /></a><br />- Do you enjoy watching <span style="font-weight: bold;">videos </span>in English but miss the <span style="font-weight: bold;">transcription </span>(AND the <span style="font-weight: bold;">translation</span>, why not?) of the words in them? Then this is your site: <a href="http://es.yappr.com/welcome/Welcome.action">yappr</a>, a great source of videos made just for you. You can browse them either by categories or levels. There is a huge variety of videos (TV ads, music, movie extracts, sports...) and they're updated daily.<br /><br />- Tired of trying to <span style="font-weight: bold;">pronounce </span>English correctly? Why don't you go and visit <a href="http://www.yakitome.com/">YAKIToMe</a>? <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.yakitome.com/"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkS33HAWZzc0XktxGRz7BBhQpWvIvhFeSpVDOvn8h2u4gTkjVnkyakBmAbvFDzEFkS-YoLE9Eh80e71rlTi4JmYOPOKd6gjJSCrsfLjc-v-_S98G_JWtyP_ag7lSxwST46ApJwNE9uIk/s320/Yakitome_med.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193911344693334306" border="0" /></a>It's a great site to improve your pronunciation. An explanation of how it works <a href="http://englishwithlaura2.blogspot.com/2008/04/work-on-your-pronunciation.html">here</a>. Hope you try it and tell me if it worked for you. Don't get disappointed by the fact that you need to register, because it's worth it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-44321758023996391662008-04-21T13:13:00.000-07:002008-12-10T18:55:20.242-08:00News on CrimeDo you feel you need to read (a little bit more) about crime on the news? I'll take the liberty to <span style="font-style: italic;">remind </span>you a wonderful resource: <a href="http://www.literacynet.org/cnnsf/archives.html">Here </a>is the perfect site!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.literacynet.org/cnnsf/archives.html"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJ8kNgGlG1OJdabilfBDYtlGVt7jJcVruJKkIbJonUyQ-Zufc4u17KPaJDhH-JVopAxcmccMs0Aj_7GtdtbdK9g_gb4xkp0VP85JrvLFovOUr_gyqsNnAhyphenhyphen6CCq6AhSuZOBX3UXLo2uo/s320/story+archives.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191795982590817474" border="0" /></a>A great place with <span style="font-weight: bold;">authentic, updated news</span> + different types of <span style="font-weight: bold;">exercises</span>:<br /><br />- vocabulary exercises<br />- word selection exercises<br />- multiple choice exercises<br />- sequencing<br />- general comprehension<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PLUS audio and visual aids!</span><br /><br />The news are classified by <span style="font-weight: bold;">topics </span>(access the crime-related stories <a href="http://www.literacynet.org/cnnsf/crime.html">here</a>) and <span style="font-weight: bold;">channels</span>.<br /><br />Great way to train for your tests!<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(and also to learn English, by the way)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Enjoy!<br /><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-24382390217298070682008-04-19T04:07:00.000-07:002008-12-10T18:55:20.382-08:00Looking for a job<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUi7HBxjDNDfRilP6zVFAD_1YkwEpqL3SBY6MLopjktET841Z1riq2fx6APv2Ti7qAe3-6qs_6w-eczFMtGy9n9Q_-5og7HeHJIP_c2KtTpnwC0jC_ZH9lC3CiQ1OE7QsZtwsnIpFPoY/s1600-h/iStock_interview_sillouettes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUi7HBxjDNDfRilP6zVFAD_1YkwEpqL3SBY6MLopjktET841Z1riq2fx6APv2Ti7qAe3-6qs_6w-eczFMtGy9n9Q_-5og7HeHJIP_c2KtTpnwC0jC_ZH9lC3CiQ1OE7QsZtwsnIpFPoY/s320/iStock_interview_sillouettes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190917331066303634" border="0" /></a><br />Long time no write and all that!<br /><br />Here we are again, this time to look at how to find a job in an English-speaking environment.<br /><br />I already gave you some websites where to look for jobs. Here you are some websites that help you write a cover letter + design your CV + prepare for your interview:<br /><br />- <a href="http://career-advice.monster.com/resume-writing-basics/Cover-Letter-Etiquette/home.aspx">Cover Letter Etiquette</a><br />- <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/Default.aspx?cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=755b67f99f6a48eaae8cb43fb2fb1827-261904258-R4-4&ns_siteid=ns_xx_g_find_a_job">CareerBuilder</a><br />- <a href="http://jobsearch.about.com/od/coverletters/a/aa030401a.htm">Jobsearch.about</a><br />- <a href="http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?tab=av&q=jobs&recipe=all&scope=all&edition=">Videos about news on the jobs world<img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Laura/CONFIG%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Plus the videos you were expecting:<br /><br />- <a href="http://www.videojug.com/interview/the-application-and-background-check">how to apply</a><br />- <a href="http://www.videojug.com/interview/the-job-interview">general tips for the job interview</a><br />- <a href="http://www.videojug.com/interview/the-interview-questions">how to handle the questions during the interview itself</a><br /><br />Good luck!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-91287780726281175432008-04-02T09:32:00.000-07:002008-04-02T09:34:25.125-07:00Do you speak English?Hi there!<br />Hope this doesn't happen to you when you travel abroad:<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q0I7PCoy-nk&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q0I7PCoy-nk&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-44971872422561497982008-03-27T10:32:00.000-07:002008-12-10T18:55:20.525-08:00Preparing your monologues<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.splendidspeaking.podomatic.com/"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08ezGnxB0jl3fs91iR7qdVbwQS34vF89tSjVY2BPmPFnes9u7CiXtiArpHKF9q3QoSkFz5TT51BggBzSwSJwkLizsy1TuXLo4CZGe1_gynHCY1djdwe-YDdmjZE6naP7xoPLSrmgqJ-4/s320/splendidspeaking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182478016969004162" border="0" /></a>Hi everyone!<br /><br />I just found this wonderful site to help you with your monologues: it's called <a href="http://www.splendidspeaking.podomatic.com/">Splendid Speaking</a> and it "<span style="font-style: italic;">supports advanced learners of English who want to develop their top-level speaking skills and communication strategies.</span>"<br /><br />Each week, they tackle a specific issue on how to talk better English. Take, for example, <a href="http://splendidspeaking.podomatic.com/entry/2008-02-23T03_10_39-08_00">this lesson</a> about "<span style="font-weight: bold;">how to captivate your audience with memorable introductions</span>".<br /><br />They also offer you the possibility of subscribing <a href="http://www.splendid-speaking.com/subscribe1.html">here</a>!<span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" > <span style="font-style: italic;">"For immediate access to transcripts for current and previous Splendid Speaking podcasts, and to be alerted to new materials on the website, sign up now for our weekly newsletter."<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: webdings;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ></span><br /></span></span>You can also access their blog from <a href="http://www.splendid-speaking.com/blog/">here</a>.<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-80018221618288835522008-03-20T09:55:00.001-07:002008-12-10T18:55:20.703-08:00New Writing Exercise!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdgeqQYRMbcZ0BAakTJ1g42Gv_Kz0zYQVLHi7zJqxssTfGS6lS_qrWtjSzG906wujId2P-XAsjQWFfL-HGcFSs4sS-h1e9Pg4kkPD6K_A-VLKTLiVdXAfNU0jbOwibqokvK2ZBOZ2uJE/s1600-h/maquinadeescribir.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdgeqQYRMbcZ0BAakTJ1g42Gv_Kz0zYQVLHi7zJqxssTfGS6lS_qrWtjSzG906wujId2P-XAsjQWFfL-HGcFSs4sS-h1e9Pg4kkPD6K_A-VLKTLiVdXAfNU0jbOwibqokvK2ZBOZ2uJE/s320/maquinadeescribir.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179870490783994978" border="0" /></a><br />Do you remember <a href="http://www.essaypunch.com/">Essay Punch</a>? The website that helped us write a paragraph about who you'd take to Hawaii? Did you find it useful and/or enjoyable?<br /><br />I've just found out that they have a <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">new (and free!) exercise available</span> for you. This time the instruction is the following:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"One of your friends knows all about dolphins. Another can sing all the songs Michael Jackson ever wrote. Almost everyone has an interest, talent, or hobby that makes him or her an "expert" in some area.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Describe an activity or area about which you are especially knowledgeable."<br /></span><br />Would you like to try writing a new paragraph with them? Remember: you just have to go to the <a href="http://www.essaypunch.com/">home page</a>, select "Start Writing Now" (which is on the left, at the beginning of the list), and follow the instructions.<br /><br />When you think that your paragraph is ready, just send it over to me and I'll have a look.<br /><br />Good luck!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-69958269838728436392008-03-17T13:15:00.000-07:002008-12-10T18:55:21.166-08:00Happy St. Patrick's Day!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINoFsfLuTm_yua7mh6VktVRmdvVybISrYOOIff3hT6o7XcZwiR3KURjQTW7Wmoybqt376oWX6w33LwECkmosT6YcteiRynvFhjPu0kmkIVya5hhJXqbiWdfAiUV68tZKR8yUtXfw86oc/s1600-h/StPatrick2004.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINoFsfLuTm_yua7mh6VktVRmdvVybISrYOOIff3hT6o7XcZwiR3KURjQTW7Wmoybqt376oWX6w33LwECkmosT6YcteiRynvFhjPu0kmkIVya5hhJXqbiWdfAiUV68tZKR8yUtXfw86oc/s320/StPatrick2004.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178810002163946962" border="0" /></a><br />The big Irish party is taking place TODAY, 17th March. It's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick">St. Patrick's</a>, the day of the patron saint of Ireland. All around the world people feast this event. Are you in for any party tonight?<br /><br />To <span style="font-weight: bold;">read </span>some info on St. Patrick, click <a href="http://www.st-patricks-day.com/about_saintpatrick.asp">here</a>.<br /><br />Irish are everywhere! Would you like to see how the party is celebrated in <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Chicago</span>? <a href="http://video.nbc5.com/player/?id=229440">Access this site</a> then. They even dye the river green!<br /><a href="http://media.medialink.com/WebNR.aspx?story=34812">Here </a>is how they celebrate it in <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">Dublin</span>. Have a look at a <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/St-Patrick-Day/ss/events/lf/031708stpatricksday/s:/ap/20080317/ap_on_re_eu/ireland_st_patrick_s_day;_ylt=AqhG57WubfZEq7iiwm9gF_VbbBAF#photoViewer=/080317/ids_photos_ts/r3738419282.jpg">slideshow </a>of this year's parade in <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">New York</span> too.<br /><br />To watch a <span style="font-weight: bold;">video </span>about the <a href="http://www.history.com/minisites/stpatricksday/">history </a>of the event, click <a href="http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Video_Clips&content_type_id=1328&display_order=6&mini_id=1082">here</a>. It's only 3:33 minutes long, but you have more videos on the same site (just select them on the right).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Simpsons</span> go green too! Click <a href="http://www.tubearoo.com/articles/86487/Simpsons_St_Patrick_s_Day.html">here </a>to watch the clip.<br /><br />Finally, to take a <span style="font-weight: bold;">quiz </span>on "All things Irish", click <a href="http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Poll_Quiz&content_type_id=1450&display_order=3&mini_id=1082">here</a>.<br /><br />Just one more thing to say: <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Slainte!</span> ("Cheers" in Irish)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6_8ytZmrawslWvkvGJYjgKJnJoF2jQoKG1cTloqUkN_cfzFy5d42uQygAFiG-FFjaPXrspp-2cTcJjMfaO330nCu2wx5te1ABY2uh-hVlPUgeTfzkoLNrMLPx-nJkpRDt4ffCfbSRkA/s1600-h/parade+ny.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6_8ytZmrawslWvkvGJYjgKJnJoF2jQoKG1cTloqUkN_cfzFy5d42uQygAFiG-FFjaPXrspp-2cTcJjMfaO330nCu2wx5te1ABY2uh-hVlPUgeTfzkoLNrMLPx-nJkpRDt4ffCfbSRkA/s320/parade+ny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178811737330734562" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-60853693603842914442008-03-09T12:04:00.000-07:002008-03-09T12:19:59.991-07:00Why Men don't Listen and Women can't read mapsRemember <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks">Ted </a><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks">Talks</a>? I wrote <a href="http://englishwithlaura4.blogspot.com/2008/01/happy-new-year-gift.html">a post</a> about them not long ago. Well, there's something pretty similar in a different site called <a href="http://fora.tv/">FORA.tv</a>.<br /><br />Here's a description of the website:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"There are brilliant ideas, expressed everyday in public discussions and events, all over the world. Don't miss them. </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">FORA.tv delivers discourse, discussions and debates on the world's most interesting political, social and cultural issues, and enables viewers to join the conversation. It provides deep, unfiltered content, tools for self-expression and a place for the interactive community to gather online."</span><br /><br /></span>And this is where I found three mini-videos about the topic we saw last week in class- Dr. John Gray talks about several issues from his book <span style="font-style: italic;">Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="a"></span></span>:<br /><br />- <a href="http://fora.tv/2008/02/11/Listening_Techniques_for_Men">Listening Techniques for Men</a> (5:09 min)<br />- <a href="http://fora.tv/2008/02/11/How_Women_Cope_Differently_with_Stress">How Women cope differently with Stress</a> (4:17 min)<br />- <a href="http://fora.tv/2008/02/11/John_Gray_Why_Mars_and_Venus_Collide">Why Mars and Venus Collide </a>(0:50)<br /><br />Enjoy these and <a href="http://fora.tv/channels">other topics</a>. See you tomorrow!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-19651705174040110162008-03-04T10:15:00.001-08:002008-12-10T18:55:21.330-08:00Writing Week (II)Here we go again. I found some "jewels" to keep on working in this "writing week". Let's see some of them:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PARAGRAPH WRITING (revision)</span><br />If you want to remember what we did the last day, there is a website for children where you can watch <a href="http://www.brainpopjr.com/writing/paragraph/writingaparagraph/zoom.weml?cc=yes">this video</a> about how to write a paragraph. Then you can take a quiz, why not? To test whether you got the idea. Here is an<br /><a href="http://www.brainpopjr.com/writing/paragraph/writingaparagraph/easyquiz/">"easy</a>" one and here you are a "<a href="http://www.brainpopjr.com/writing/paragraph/writingaparagraph/hardquiz/">hard</a>" one.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CHOICE OF LANGUAGE </span><br />Choosing one or another word has a direct effect on the text you're writing. We'll work <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELsH36Zmfi0MPIxn63yk5B9yOeaQ1p2arHdseRGgdV3y9h6LT2j_jDVum04twFDIyTyDaeh6svNyNSNdnNU2tPjBvwuEmqauOREJ9pbtWsIe9KGj1cV5qKCZHcnjzFLjf6fxa8qckDj8/s1600-h/bedtimestories.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELsH36Zmfi0MPIxn63yk5B9yOeaQ1p2arHdseRGgdV3y9h6LT2j_jDVum04twFDIyTyDaeh6svNyNSNdnNU2tPjBvwuEmqauOREJ9pbtWsIe9KGj1cV5qKCZHcnjzFLjf6fxa8qckDj8/s320/bedtimestories.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173954186051104114" border="0" /></a>on it in class, but here I collected a series of tales that were written "in a different way". They're the "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Politically-Correct-Bedtime-Stories-Modern/dp/002542730X">Politically Correct Bedtime Stories</a>", by James Finn Garner. The words in these tales are carefully chosen! Some examples:<br />- Politically Correct <a href="http://www.spunk.org/texts/humour/sp001556.html">Three Little Pigs</a><br />- Politically Correct <a href="http://www.averyhillarts.com/rrh_pc.html">Little Red Riding Hood</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR VOCABULARY<br /></span>- Reading lots and lots.<br />- Doing specific <a href="http://www.uefap.com/vocab/vocfram.htm">exercises</a>. More exercises <a href="http://larryferlazzo.com/englishint.html#vocab">here</a>. You need a lifetime to do them all!<br />- Going to specific websites. Examples:<br /> *<a href="http://www.uefap.com/vocab/vocfram.htm">how to record vocabulary</a><br /> *<a href="http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/advdicts/vocab.htm">how to improve your vocabulary</a><br /> *<a href="http://www.tv411.org/lessons/cfm/vocabulary.cfm?str=vocabulary&num=4&act=1">dictionary entries</a><br /> *<a href="http://www.tv411.org/lessons/cfm/vocabulary.cfm?str=vocabulary&num=4&act=1">finding new ways to say something</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PUNCTUATION BASICS<br /></span>You can have a look at a very useful site you might already know: click <a href="http://www.englishclub.com/writing/punctuation.htm">here </a>for a thorough explanation of the <a href="http://www.englishclub.com/writing/punctuation-comma.htm">comma</a>, the <a href="http://www.englishclub.com/writing/punctuation-full-stop-period.htm">period</a>, the <a href="http://www.englishclub.com/writing/punctuation-colon.htm">colon</a>, etc.<br /><br />More explanations and exercises on commas <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/punctuation/commas/">here</a>.<br /><br />Easy <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/sentencebasics/whatisasentence/flash6.shtml">exercise</a>: capital letters and full stops. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Another one on </span><a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/punctuation/commas/flash0.shtml">commas</a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">. REALLY NICE!</span><br />Medium difficulty <a href="http://eatsshootsandleaves.com/ESLquiz.html">exercise</a>: apostrophes and commas.<br />Hard exercise: look at a text <a href="http://interneg.org/interneg/training/esl/module/activities/punctuation_2.html">with </a>and <a href="http://interneg.org/interneg/training/esl/module/activities/punctuation_no_2.html">without </a>punctuation.<br />Punctuation <a href="http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-word-games-punctuation-index.htm">games </a>by the British Council: punctuate different texts correctly.<br />Exercises on commas.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br />After having overcome your "commaitis", you can try to write longer sentences <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/interestsentences/compoundsentences/">here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-69304733920772588592008-03-02T04:43:00.000-08:002008-12-10T18:55:21.603-08:00THE WRITING WEEK<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiPicSE_9zpFC4mdhUM_c-KYgGplIwz-SBmUHKz_vcCeyX5m7YPcGZsEfu0JFbHExzO8uHxTFIQ0nj51u3fStMPXQu8HdUyooNVsdciwUD7r_RJNzG3NtzeBcn4aaxgXeqc0_pUddAC8/s1600-h/writing-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiPicSE_9zpFC4mdhUM_c-KYgGplIwz-SBmUHKz_vcCeyX5m7YPcGZsEfu0JFbHExzO8uHxTFIQ0nj51u3fStMPXQu8HdUyooNVsdciwUD7r_RJNzG3NtzeBcn4aaxgXeqc0_pUddAC8/s320/writing-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173130857994334162" border="0" /></a><br />Hello everyone! I know you can't wait for "the Writing Week". This week we'll be looking at:<br /><br />- Brainstorming and drafting techniques<br />- Basic paragraph writing techniques and <a href="http://www.paragraphpunch.com/">exercises </a>(select "<span style="font-style: italic;">Start Writing now</span>")<br />- Revision and error analysis strategies<br />- Punctuation basics<br />- Vocabulary improvement<br /><br />Finally, I do believe that one of the best ways to improve your writing is WRITING. Especially writing to English-speaking people. So a very good idea is to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">find a penpa</span>l that's learning your language, and collaborate to unite efforts in your learning process. Therefore we'll also have a look at:<br /><br />- Social Networks to learn English, namely:<br /><a href="http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/">Language Exchange Community</a><br /><a href="http://www.italki.com/learn-English.htm">Italki</a><br /><a href="http://www.place4langs.com/">place4langs</a><br /><a href="http://www.friendsabroad.com/">Friends Abroad</a><br /><a href="http://talkconmigo.com/">TalkConmigo</a><br /><a href="http://www.huitalk.com/">Huitalk</a><br /><a href="http://www.xlingo.com/">xLingo</a><br /><a href="http://www.welang.com/">WeLang</a><br /><br />Never before has it been so easy to practice a language! Hope you make the most of it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-73214846028129119132008-03-02T04:31:00.000-08:002008-03-02T04:41:17.633-08:00Spain seen by the BritishWould you like to find out how <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Spanish elections</span> are seen from the outside?<br /><br />Click <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/7d0c1e9c-e656-11dc-8398-0000779fd2ac.html">here </a>for an interesting <span style="font-weight: bold;">article </span>on them.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/885d7916-e3aa-11dc-8799-0000779fd2ac.html?_i_referralObject=664871656&fromSearch=n">Here </a>for a <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">video </span>on the "Muñecos del Guiñol" that have been made of our politicians.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/94586ae6-d897-11dc-8b22-0000779fd2ac,dwp_uuid=be37d46a-c8dd-11dc-b14b-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1">Here </a>to read an "<span style="font-weight: bold;">election guide</span>" for foreigners.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3aa86eec-d8a6-11dc-8b22-0000779fd2ac,dwp_uuid=be37d46a-c8dd-11dc-b14b-0000779fd2ac.html">Here </a>to read about the current <span style="font-weight: bold;">allocation of seats</span> in the parliament.<br /><br />Not interested in politics? Still interested in how we're seen from the outside? Then <a href="http://www.ft.com/reports/spain2007">this </a>is your site. A list of articles on other subjects by the <a href="http://http://www.ft.com/home/europe">Financial Times</a>.<br /><br />Not interested in serious reports? Ok then. Then visit <a href="http://www.pitoche.com/youknow.htm">this page</a> to discover what most strikes British people about the Spanish character. It's good fun!<br /><br />Enjoy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-39500520176446257122008-03-02T04:22:00.000-08:002008-03-02T04:30:49.612-08:00Speech to the Troops at Tilbury<span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><a href="http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/tilbury.htm">Delivered by Elizabeth</a> to the land forces assembled at Tilbury<br />(Essex) to repel the anticipated invasion of the <a href="http://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/armada.htm">Spanish Armada</a>.<br /><br /></span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Georgia;">My loving people,<br /></span></span><p align="justify"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit our selves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and We do assure you in the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you. In the mean time, my lieutenant general</span><sup style="font-style: italic;"><span style="">2</span></sup><span style="font-style: italic;"> shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.</span></span></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span>Video link <a href="http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=g4OdTnCsNFI">here</a>. The speech starts at <span style="font-weight: bold;">minute 3</span>, approx.</span></span><br /></p></span><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/g4OdTnCsNFI"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/g4OdTnCsNFI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-38429947671983234292008-02-24T10:19:00.000-08:002008-02-24T10:31:01.334-08:00Pieces and sounds of British historyWe're about to finish unit 3c. Did you find it interesting? Some of you might want to read a bit more on <span style="font-weight: bold;">British history</span>. Why not?<br /><br />I recommend you to visit <a href="http://www.essentialnormanconquest.com/">this website</a> on the Norman Conquest. It's highly interactive and even includes <a href="http://www.essentialnormanconquest.com/media/sounds.htm">samples </a>of "how English would have sounded" back in 1066.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(<span style="font-style: italic;">Explorer</span> is required, don't try with <span style="font-style: italic;">Mozilla </span>since it doesn't work)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Wierd, isn't it? The way it used to sound. Historians divide the different stages of the language into:<br /><br />- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_English_language">Old English</a> (from the 5th-to the 11th century)<br />- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_English">Middle English</a> (11th-15th)<br />- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Modern_English">Early Modern English</a> (15th-17th)<br />- Modern English (up to today)<br /><br />Would you like to listen to more examples of earlier versions of English?<br /><br />Click <a href="http://www.tha-engliscan-gesithas.org.uk/readings/readings.html">here </a>for some Old English samples. Scroll down the page and look for the heading "Poems". Then click on one of the poems and finally on the yellow letter that the poem starts with.<br /><br />Click <a href="http://academics.vmi.edu/english/audio/Audio_Index.html">here </a>for some Middle English poems by Chaucer. It still sounds incomprehensible to our ears, doesn't it?<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-40892778655126435332008-02-20T09:01:00.000-08:002008-12-10T18:55:21.901-08:00Improving your reading<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhO4zKQuBkJ8qtooS4lmNCJU0HlB8GoPSG1dmwFxyp-BHQnc0amCmMF3mbT8jr08hC6aSGQXnLnrZIXnMMkswb3DqOMjY8dF2h9yiuX1C4jQscofthKAxojbWhadmUmJnhNxpmm1YaDqU/s1600-h/reading.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 157px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhO4zKQuBkJ8qtooS4lmNCJU0HlB8GoPSG1dmwFxyp-BHQnc0amCmMF3mbT8jr08hC6aSGQXnLnrZIXnMMkswb3DqOMjY8dF2h9yiuX1C4jQscofthKAxojbWhadmUmJnhNxpmm1YaDqU/s320/reading.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173131588138774498" border="0" /></a><br />How can we improve our reading skills?<br /><br />1- Reading "more". More often, more texts, more variety.... <span style="font-weight: bold;">What can we read?</span><br /> a. <a href="http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/">Online newspapers</a> (website including newspapers from all over the world. Select the continent, the country and the paper you're interested in).<br /> b. Wacky and interesting (real) stories: <a href="http://www.ananova.com/news/lp.html?keywords=Quirkies">Ananova </a>and <a href="http://www.digg.com/">Digg it</a> (Menéame version in English)<br /> c. <a href="http://loudlit.org/collection.htm">Literature </a>excerpts (with audio)<br /> d. Penguin's <a href="http://www.penguindossiers.com/audio-frameset.asp">dossiers</a>, sorted by topic. Audio included.<br /> e. <a href="http://www.blogcatalog.com/">Blogs</a><br /><br />2- Doing "Reading" <span style="font-weight: bold;">exercises</span>:<br /> a. <a href="http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/570/pulp/index.htm">Miscellaneous </a>advanced exercises<br /> b. <a href="http://literacyworks.org/learningresources/4_networked_indiv/lr_networked_indiv_home.html">Wonderful site</a> with texts, audio and different sorts of exercises (multiple choice, vocabulary, etc)<br /> c. Reading <a href="http://literacynet.org/cnnsf/archives.html">resources</a>: texts, audio and exercises of different levels.<br /><br />3- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Skills</span>: Read <a href="http://www.readingcomprehensionconnection.com/reading_lesson.php">general advice</a> on how to improve your reading skills. <a href="http://howtoimprovereadingcomprehension.com/">Here </a>too.<br /><br />I hope you enjoy these sites.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-66419713250518772372008-02-08T04:51:00.000-08:002008-12-10T18:55:22.295-08:00US Presidential Elections 2008Hi there! I can imagine that you're all looking forward to coming back to class next week. And yes, I've got some good news for you: the next unit deals with history and politics! Exciting, isn't it? I know you can't wait.<br /><br />I prepared a series of links for you to catch up on the most popular event of the year: the US Presidential Elections! <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(Remember: All you have to do is click on the underlined words to access the websites). </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">WHO IS WHO</span> </span>in the Elections:<br />- The <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5006788.stm">main contenders</a> described in BBC.<br />- No time to waste? Then your best option is to <a href="http://www.videojug.com/tag/speed-date-the-candidate">speed-date</a> the candidates! <a href="http://www.videojug.com/film/speed-date-the-candidate-hillary-clinton">Hillary</a>, <a href="http://www.videojug.com/film/speed-date-the-candidate-barack-obama">Obama</a>, <a href="http://www.videojug.com/film/speed-date-the-candidate-john-mccain">McCain</a>... them all.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">VIDEOS GALORE</span><br />1. REPUBLICANS<br /></span><span>Republican National Committee videos <a href="http://www.rnc.org/">here</a>.<br />Youtube Republican <a href="http://www.youtube.com/rnc">Channel</a>.<br /></span>Who is <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5006788.stm#mccain">John McCain</a>, from a British perspective. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7220000/newsid_7224300/7224348.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&ms3=54&ms_javascript=true&bbcws=2#">Video </a>included.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. DEMOCRATS</span><br />No doubt about the most interesting controversy these days: Obama Vs. Hillary. So let's concentrate on them:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">OBAMA</span><br />Two Stanford University students set up a Channel in Youtube, called <a href="http://www.youbama.com/">Youbama</a>. They claim to have no connection with the campaign, but they have managed to collect hundreds of videos in favour of the candidate. Examples:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Songs: </span><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yq0tMYPDJQ">Popular Song-hymn</a> for Obama these days. Listen also to "Obama Vs. Hillary" cartoon <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKe1gUgX5do">song</a>. Finally, look for humour in <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=c9ttqbHpD6g">My Junk</a>, song about Hillary, based on the popular "<a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=CXKxs8Ge_9g">My Humps</a>" by Black-Eyed Peas.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Celebrities talk:</span><br />Several well-known people back Obama openly, as we can see in the following videos:<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_FJQMriZUg">Oprah Winfrey</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44do49DDZ8U">, Robert de Niro</a> and<a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=LvA2WbeGFb4"> George Clooney.</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HILLARY</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Campaign:</span><br /><a href="http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/hillary-speaks-to-nashville-voters-at-tsu/135862.htm#top">Hillary speaks</a> to Nashville voters.<br />Hillary's <a href="http://www.videojug.com/film/meet-the-supporters-hillary-clinton">supporters </a>interviewed for TV.<br />Hillary's got "<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22313835#22313835">the experience</a> to make the kind of changes that American people are looking for".<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Websites:<br /></span>First, you have Hillary's official website <a href="http://www.hillaryclinton.com/">here</a>.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Second, "<span class="articleContent">using comedy as a serious political strategy, Hillary Clinton for president supporters announced this morning the launch of <a href="http://billforfirstlady.com/">Bill-for-First-Lady.com</a>, a campaign Web site featuring live-action comedy videos of a cross-dressing Bill Clinton wearing a pink skirt, matching high heels and a pink purse."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">CARTOONS</span><br />About <a href="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/nc_search.asp?Boolean=Or&keyword=&Artist=Not+Selected&x=a&Category=Obama%2C+Barack&submit=+Search">Obama</a>, <a href="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/nc_search.asp?action=search&x=a&keyword=Enter+keywords+here&Category=Clinton%2C+Hillary&Boolean=Or&Artist=Not+Selected">Hillary</a> and <a href="http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/bysubject/mccain/index.php">McCain</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">GAMES</span><br /></span><span>Feel like playing? Why not check up these sites then?</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0122081miniclip5.html">Paintball</a>.<br /><a href="http://www.atomfilms.com/2008/kung_fu_election/index.jsp">Kung-fu</a> fighting.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">SUPER TUESDAY</span><br />What is Super Tuesday? Find it out <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Tuesday">here</a>.<br />Click <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/interactives/campaign08/primaries/">here </a>for Super Tuesday Results.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">LATEST NEWS</span><br />Be informed with <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/elections">yahoo</a>, <a href="http://news.uk.msn.com/us-presidential-elections.aspx">msn </a>, the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/americas/2008/vote_usa_2008/default.stm">BBC </a>, <a href="http://uspolitics.america.gov/uspolitics/elections/index.html">America.gov. </a>or the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/exclusions/uselection/nosplit/uselection.xml">Telegraph</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">CURIOUS FACTS</span><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >"How did Republicans pick the elephant, and Democrats the donkey, to represent their parties?</span></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >"</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span>Click <a href="http://www.c-span.org/questions/week174.htm">here </a>to find out the answer.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vw5S-w9Fj1oF0_qG5pOYydY1hLPGD3_-RFBz34RVin32BiOiAz-0NI6oz0aY63lNtkkuYx6IQSAyTKdPRVT9hjnieLFUGZ4iy7b0ARMQb2NnP4hsjfveXc-Bi8EtvLxc_PAeNfTimZY/s1600-h/republicanelephant.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vw5S-w9Fj1oF0_qG5pOYydY1hLPGD3_-RFBz34RVin32BiOiAz-0NI6oz0aY63lNtkkuYx6IQSAyTKdPRVT9hjnieLFUGZ4iy7b0ARMQb2NnP4hsjfveXc-Bi8EtvLxc_PAeNfTimZY/s320/republicanelephant.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164600708176134626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRP2X0tgTa5n_YAFKl0Xl035iZwuPBsjrtcgifG7DHL3ubv9doIs7uoImPkKvjJQGVVA90JD8cLe-ZZz0S2tivLJU3fjMtQgLw6Ol7kCJTjUD59AwgedRVAjIEZyjP4nzGI0E8m9l7y_w/s1600-h/democratdonkey.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRP2X0tgTa5n_YAFKl0Xl035iZwuPBsjrtcgifG7DHL3ubv9doIs7uoImPkKvjJQGVVA90JD8cLe-ZZz0S2tivLJU3fjMtQgLw6Ol7kCJTjUD59AwgedRVAjIEZyjP4nzGI0E8m9l7y_w/s320/democratdonkey.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164600798370447858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">VIRTUAL VISITS</span><br />Fancy a tour round the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/">White House</a>? As easy as clicking <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/life/video/index.html">here</a>.<br />Prefer the British <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/">Parliament</a>? Why not? Access the different chambers, corridors and halls from <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/about/visiting/virtualtours.cfm">here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-71138040177356545682008-01-20T12:28:00.000-08:002008-01-20T12:42:34.573-08:00A different approach to the newsWould you like to know about current events in English? Are you tired of reading the news on the paper? Don't you have satellite TV?<br /><br />If you have answered <span style="font-style: italic;">YES </span>to at least one of the questions, why not try this different approach, then?<br /><br />Instead of <span style="font-style: italic;">reading the news</span>, you can try and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">watch mini-videos</span> about them.<br /><br />1. One wonderful website is Yahoo News. If you click <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/video;_ylt=Aqov1giub89QV.If5hlByPumI4p4">here</a>, you'll have access to lots of 30-second videos of the latest news. The clips are taken from different TV channels (ABC, BBC News, FOX, CBS, etc) and they are also classified into different categories and topics: <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/video/3149;_ylt=AnPRzudx69f_SDmfCWZeWJyz174F">Sports</a>, <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/video/3137;_ylt=ApNQLKnR.jNofNwngx9FeAGmI4p4">Technology</a>, <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/video/3134;_ylt=Ap7eUx8AG14i0LewRIToyGmmI4p4">Entertainment</a>... You even have a section of <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/video/3009;_ylt=Ah_Qj3QoQ3beMdsiZxIEre4Z.3QA">Odd News</a>!<br /><br />2. Another very interesting resource is the <a href="http://www.reuters.com/news/globalcoverage/audiogalleries">Audio Slideshow Gallery</a> at the <a href="http://www.reuters.com/">Reuters </a>site. You'll have access to "<span style="font-style: italic;">the pictures of the week</span>", which are shown AND explained at the same time. The audio clip takes about 2 minutes and the photographs are amazing! Do give it a go.<br /><br />Hope you enjoyed your weekend.<br /><br />PS: some other day I'll give you links of newspapers where you can actually READ the news. Why not?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-54657379877574019342008-01-12T03:49:00.000-08:002008-01-12T03:57:49.169-08:00Editing your written textsDear students,<br /><br />Here I am, on this grey Saturday, busy with your compositions. I'd like to share my thoughts with you... What am I feeling? What am I worried about? Let me put this briefly: I am thinking it would be a good idea if we came back to "the very beginning" and started looking at <span style="font-weight: bold;">basic tips</span> to improve our writing. Mmmm... Let's see.<br /><br />A wonderful website to start with would be <a href="http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/index.html">this one</a>; but specifically, I'd recommend you to go straight to the <a href="http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/students/s_grammar_hndbk.html">Editing section</a>, which is really helpful to revise (<span style="font-style: italic;">or to learn</span>) essential basics on the Writing Skill.<br /><br />So, my dear students... I think my weekend experience with your compositions <span style="font-style: italic;">might change</span> our schedule for next week. We'll talk on Monday about it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-82722138135578924362008-01-07T04:47:00.000-08:002008-01-07T04:54:29.852-08:00Happy New Year giftHappy New Year everybody! Hope you had a lovely Christmas break. Are you ready to come back to class? Me too!<br /><br />To start the year, I'd like to share with you this wonderful website I've just come across:<br /><br />"<a href="http://www.ted.com/talks">TED Talks</a>", where you have access to lots of videos on different subjects. They are rated under different categories (<span style="font-style: italic;">most emailed, funniest, most fascinating, unmissable</span>...) and you can choose whatever calls your attention most.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ted.com/index.php/pages/view/id/5">What is TED? </a><br /><div style="font-style: italic;" class="larger_display_type"> <p>"TED stands for<strong> Technology, Entertainment, Design.</strong> It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader.</p> </div> <p style="font-style: italic;">The annual conference now brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">the talk of their lives</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </span>(in 18 minutes). </p> <p style="font-style: italic;">This site makes <strong>the best talks and performances from TED available to the public, for free</strong>. Almost 150 talks from our archive are now available, with more added each week. (...) </p> <strong><span style="font-style: italic;">Our mission: Spreading ideas."<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">See you in two days!</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><br /></span> </strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-40282881262978941372007-12-27T03:37:00.001-08:002007-12-27T03:41:42.622-08:00Christmas with a British flavourIs anybody out there? Hope you're enjoying your holidays.<br /><br />By the way: I just found out that the British Royal Family has gone cyber! Click <a href="http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=TheRoyalChannel">here </a>to access their Official Youtube <a href="http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=TheRoyalChannel">Royal Channel</a>.<br /><br />Of course, the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0nmkYGCljE">Christmas day Broadcast </a>is there, together with other delightful videos.<br /><br />Enjoy the Queen's accent and Happy Xmas to you all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-70895966777562131372007-12-18T13:03:00.000-08:002007-12-18T13:35:07.120-08:00Pronunciation of Irregular VerbsBecause it's never too late!<br /><br />Here you are: <a href="http://www.apronus.com/learn_english/irregularverbs.htm">a list of irregular verbs</a> with their phonetic transcription. You can print it out and stick it on your fridge.<br /><br />; )<br /><br />No more doubts! Ever!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-18686117518972270472007-12-12T01:01:00.000-08:002007-12-12T01:04:34.756-08:00-ed Past Simple endingsFascinating subject today, isn't it? "-ed" endings in regular past verbs!<br /><br />Look at the Grammar Challenge <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1413_gramchallenge26/">in the BBC website </a>to listen to the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/grammar_challenge/ram_files/gc_26_pron_ed.ram">radio programme </a>and download the <a href="http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammarchallenge/pdfs/gc_26_pron_ed_explanation.pdf">documents </a>attached. Remember you can also do the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1413_gramchallenge26/page2.shtml">quizzes </a>related.<br /><br />Enjoy the challenge!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659413023841230738.post-72595002725582883382007-12-09T09:49:00.000-08:002007-12-09T09:54:57.362-08:00Have you got a few minutes?19 minutes is all you need. Take a seat, grab a cup of tea and relax. Are you ready? If you click <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4707767">here</a>, you'll have access to a very interesting interview: Mark Haddon being asked about The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Yes, it's the author himself! Very nice, understandable accent. Don't you think so?<br /><br />Enjoy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0