Archive for October, 2008

English Language Lab Asturias

English Language Lab Asturias or ELLA for short is a project I’m working in with another two English teachers: María Valdés (Reviews, Debates and Resources) and Javier Menéndez (Javier’s English Corner).

The idea behind this project was to provide the courses in the programme: English lessons for young people aged 18-30, with suplementary online materials, but we think, or we hope the materials we are producing can be useful for everyone interested in learning English.

The project is still young: we’ve only been working on it for about four months, but we think it is time to bring it out and let your suggestions, comments and why not, your criticisms, help us improve our future work. We are looking forward to hearing your opinions and we sincerely hope you’ll find it useful!

23rd October

Today we went to the ICT Lab and worked with an interactive lesson based on the American show House MD. This TV series has made British actor and comedian Hugh Laurie worldwide famous. If you couldn’t finish all the activities or you couldn’t come today, you can do it online

Afterwards you can go to Reviews Debates and Resources and watch this funny sketch by the Monty Pythons

Still no lessons today … but I’ll be back on Thursday!

Hi, I’m still feeling quite awful, but I went to the doctor’s, he gave me lots of medicine, and told me it was “just a virus” and I’ll feel better in a few days so on Thursday I’ll be back.

We’ve missed our turn for the ICT Lab, but I’ll try to find another day soon and let you know. I’ve learned something from this, and it is that SMS notifications do not work if you have set them up too soon before the event: I have them set up for a day before the event so, I didn’t get the notification that there would be  no lessons yesterday, because I posted the event yesterday morning around noon. So for unscheduled events like an illness, above all if you come to class at 4.00 it is better to set another reminder as late as possible: like half an hour before after all you will only get a notification if something is the matter!

See you on Thursday!

No classes today

I am sorry but I have a bad cold and a temperature, so I won’t be able to be with you today. Keep in touch with the blog and the notifications, I’ll let you know when I am coming back!

16th October: an interview with Rowan Atkinson

This is the final scene of the last episode they talk so much about. Here you can also see  British actor and comedian Hugh Laurie, best known now for his leading role as Dr Gregory House in the American TV show House MD:

14th October: stand-up comedians

Last Tuesday we watched this video of a performance by British stand-up comedian Jack Dee:

He says we can divide little kids in two categories according to their attitude to homework, which categories are these? What do they use homework for?

We also watched this video of Jerry Seinfeld, an American stand-up comedian. You may know him because he has had his own TV show for many years:

What does he say about old people?

14th October: US Presidential Campaign

Who, do you think, Homer Simpson will vote for? Obama or McCain? Watch the video and find out!

More news from Australia

Do you remember the other day when we were listening to news from USA, India and Australia and we agreed that Australian accent was the hardest to understand?

So you get used to it, here you are more news from ‘down under’. The news is again about bushfire, only this time it appears to have been intentional:

Go to Reviews, debates and resources.

Music: part of a human being’s life

A very exciting thing in the world is listening to music. Children and adults, young people and teenagers, enjoy hearing the artist they love or the song they like.  Music  has been part of the human beings’ lives all around the world in  all times and cultures. The simple natural sound, produced by an instrument, was just converted by our ancestors in an organized chain of melodic rhythms. The result is an ensemble of linked tones which enters from our ears straight to  our brain and heart, producing in the listener a feeling of nostalgia, happiness or sadness. Of course, there are songs that can be detestable for one person and lovely for another, but when we choose the kind of music we want to listen to, we are rarely disappointed.

Many critics say that classical music is the supreme expression of this art, but I think this statement is not all the truth. A perfect sound reaches the inner part of a man´s soul, involving consciousness in a halo of feelings and  turning inside out the way you are living that moment..

From time to time there appears a voice, a rhythm or melody which, like a magnet, attracts everyone´s attention. Here you are a marvelous song  from 80´s : The Power of Love -for some years the best-selling solo singer soundtrack in the British music History and also in many European countries- performed by the extraordinary voice, of the not very well known, Jennifer Rush.

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You can also get in You Tube  a similar version,  with lyrics,  sang by Celine Dion:

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Chuck Norris facts

Photo from Wikemedia Commons

  • Chuck Norris counted to infinity - twice.
  • Chuck Norris’ tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.
  • When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
  • There is no chin behind Chuck Norris’ beard. There is only another fist.
  • Chuck Norris’ iPod came with a real charger instead of just a USB cord
  • If you have five dollars and Chuck Norris has five dollars, Chuck Norris has more money than you.
  • Chuck Norris can touch MC Hammer.
  • Chuck Norris ordered a Big Mac at Burger King, and got one.
  • Chuck Norris frequently donates blood to the Red Cross. Just never his own.
  • If paper beats rock, rock beats scissors, and scissors beats paper, what beats all 3 at the same time? Answer: Chuck  Norris.
  • Chuck Norris is Luke Skywalker’s real father.
  • Chuck Norris invented black. In fact, he invented the entire spectrum of visible light.
  • Except pink. Tom Cruise invented pink.
  • Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
  • Along with his black belt, Chuck Norris often chooses to wear brown shoes.
  • No one has DARED call him on it. Ever.

Just something funny that I found on the internet. There are more “Chuck Norris facts” These are just a few.

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