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Wednesday 20 March 2013

Family - Idiomatic Expressions

Here are some idioms to talk about your relatives:

We're as different as chalk and cheese.
We're like two peas in a pod.
We get on like a house on fire.
She's the spitting image of her mother.
I have little to do with her.
You just can't tell them apart.

And do you know...  

What's the difference between stepsister and half-sister?
What's a godfather? And a great-uncle?
What's the difference between immediate and extended family?

Thursday 14 March 2013

Interaction Sample


Toya & Emmi met some years ago while studying in England with an Erasmus grant. By chance, they come across each other on the streets of Murcia. What a coincidence!!!

Emmi
You are in Murcia working as a Language Assistant at a Language School. You've also taken the chance to do a course on Spanish that actually involves IT. Ask Toya about life, work and studies.

Toya
You're a teacher at a Language School, and you've also started studying French in your free time. Ask Emmi about life, work and studies. You start the conversation.  

This is what came out:



The Logical Song - Supertramp

This is the story of all of us, who go from the wonder of discovering the world through our own eyes, to being told by teachers, relatives and adults in general, that actually the world 'is' this or that way, and you'll be discarded as a radical, childish, illogical and liberal, to say the least, if you take another view of the world. 
Do you relate to this song?

Listen to the Song and fill in the Gaps




The Logical Song by Supertramp



When I was young, it seemed that life was so __________,

a _________, it was beautiful, _________
And all the birds in the trees, well they'd be singing so happily,

__________, ___________, watching me
But then they send me away to teach me how to be ___________,

__________, responsible, _________
And they showed me a world where I could be so ___________,

__________, intellectual, __________


There are times when all the world's ________
The questions run too ______ for _______________ (3 words) man
Won't you please, please tell me what we've __________
I know it sounds absurd but please tell me who I am

I said now, __________ what you say,

now we're calling you a ________,

a _________, fanatical, _________

Won't you sign up your name,

we'd like to feel you're ____________,

____________, presentable, ___________

But at night, when all the world's __________
The questions run so _________ for ________________ (3 words) man
Won't you please (Won't you tell me),

(You can tell me what) please tell me what we've _______ (Can you hear me?)
I know it ________ absurd, (Won't you help me) please tell me who I am,

who I am, who I am, who I am
But I'm thinking so _________
Did you call, one two three four
It's getting ___________


And this other version if you didn't manage to understand the words. It's a bit slower, so easier to catch the gaps.


Speak... face to face

These are three activities organized to practise English with either students or native speakers, who are willing to speak too.

club de conversación en un bar de Molina, todos los viernes, a las 14:30, donde dan paella gratis. Sólo se paga consumición. Es un encuentro informal.

tandem inglés-español en "Mentidero", plaza de Europa, Murcia, los jueves a las 22:00, cena gratis. Sólo se paga la consumición. Una alumna que tiene contactos con estudiantes extranjeros, empareja hablante español con hablante inglés (no necesariamente nativo) para, durante la cena, alternar conversación en español con conversación en inglés. Es necesario reservar con ella, al menos 24 horas antes. El nombre de la alumna es Lola, y su teléfono: 607 142 879

hiking and speaking English  Aquí os dejo el cartel que ha mandado un antiguo alumno de la escuela. Se trata de una iniciativa muy interesante para poner en contacto hablantes británicos con lugareños con ganas de practicar el inglés, para salir a hacer excursiones por la región.

Tuesday 12 March 2013

The Forbidden Education




Waldorf Schools



1. How is spirituality approached at Waldorf Schools?

2. Where is the emphasis of lessons placed on?

3. Do they use textbooks?

4. What other skills are taught in the class?

5. Any special characteristics of the way of teaching that you found particularly interesting:

6. How do students in Waldorf Schools feel about the education they're receiving?


For those who would like to find out more, here's the full 11 minute version.