In Great Britain the hustle and bustle of the season begins well before Christmas and there is barely anytime for a break until the Twelfth night. There is preparation going on of foods, the sending of Christmas cards, the decorating of houses and churches, and the readying of gifts keep everyone busy even the youngest family members.
On Christmas Eve youngsters hang up their stockings on the ends of the beds or by the chimney so that when Father Christmas comes he can leave them something.
On Christmas morning the family traditionally opens their presents and prepares for a big feast which typically is served just after midday. The table gleams with the best china and glassware, and at every place on the table there is a cracker. The meal begins with a toast, followed by the popping of the crackers. After the meal they sit down in front of the Television for the traditional Christmas speech of the British Monarch.
In the afternoon they exchange visits with neighbors other family members.
Some churches in Great Britain have a Christingle service on the fourth Sunday of Advent. This is a carol service of Scandinavian origin at which every child received an orange and candle wrapped in a red ribbon. The candle represents Jesus and the ribbon stands for the blood of Christ and the love of God embracing the world.
In Britain, children write their letters to Father Christmas and then throw them into the fireplace so they will float up the chimney and fly to the North Pole. If the lists catch fire first, they have to rewrite them.
At Christmas dinner, a plum pudding is served with little treasures hidden inside that bring their finders good luck. Britain was the first country to hang up mistletoe.
Christmas Fudge
Ingredients:
6 cups sugar 1 1/2 cups butter 1 large can evaporated milk 2 packages chocolate chips 1 jar marshmallow cream 1 cup nuts
Cook in heavy pan until boiling, boil 10 minutes, stirring all the time. Take off burner and add chips, marshmallow cream and nuts, make sure you mix well, pour into 9 x 13 buttered pan. It will make 6 pounds.
I´m sitting in front of the computer,nearly frozen,feeling blue and miserable with this awful weather and daydreaming about where I´d like to be right now. Just look below. Do you know who I am? I bet you don´t.
Focussing on more serious matters ,I´ve found some web pages for you to browse. They are both useful and entertaining. - www.tolearnenglish.com/cqui2/myexam/index.php There are three levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Have a look at these sections: - Lessons and exercises - Leisure time - Links - www.songsforteaching.com. about songs Go to: - Languages - English - www.agendaweb.org Work the following sections: - Grammar - Vocabulary - Verbs - Listening As you´ll probably get bored these Christmas holidays , you´ve got plenty of activities to do in English.
Christmas in Denmark is supposed to be when a mischievous elf called Nisse can have fun. He is said to live in the lofts of old farmhouses and enjoys playing jokes. He wears gray woolen clothes, a red bonnet, red stockings and white clogs. Families leave him a bowl of rice pudding or porridge on Christmas Eve to keep his jokes within limits. Usually though he is kind and helpful helping out on the farms and being especially good to the children.
Christmas Eve dinner begins with rice pudding that holds a magic almond inside. Whoever finds the almond receives a prize. They then have goose, red cabbage and browned potatoes. After that lots of pastries and cakes.
The Danish tradition is the Christmas plate. This was a tradition in the early days where rich Danes gave plates biscuits and fruit as presents to their servants. These plates were the nicest and best kind and were not used for everyday use, this is the reason why they became so collectable.
They take much pride making their own decorations with bright paper, bits of wood and straw. Parents secretly decorate the tree, and children are not permitted to see the tree until dinner on Christmas Eve. The tree is then lit up and families gather around to sing carols and hymns.
Each Sunday in Advent, guests are invited to join in the lighting of the candles on the Advent crown. Adults drink a warming mixture of red wine, spices and raisins, and children drink a sweet fruit juice, like strawberry. Everybody eats small cakes of butter which have been cooked over the fire in a special pan, and dusted with icing sugar.
In Denmark Christmas Eve is a special time. It is at this time parents secretly decorate the Christmas tree with home made wood and straw The children are only able to see the tree before dinner when it is lit up and the family gathers to sing carols and hymns.
In Denmark Christmas Eve is called Juleaften and is the biggest occasion of the year. Parties go on all night, with traditional prune-stuffed roast goose, red cabbage, fried pastries, and cinnamon-laced rice pudding called Grod.
The Christmas elves called Julenisse are appeased with rice pudding, and dishes of seeds are placed outdoors for wild birds.
PAZ GARCIA ORVIZ
NI2 We had the election of students´representatives. It was Sheila who got all the votes. - Homework: Grammar, unit 52 and wk p. 23. both about question tags. - Some of you gave compositions about "Advantages and Disadvantages" and some doubts were solved, especially about prepositions. We saw grammar, chapters 123 ,124 with the prepositions "in, at, on". - Vocabulary: St.B.p. 149 . Parts of a car. You found it very difficult , however it´s important since it was only about the basic parts. you did a memory activity testing your partner. - Reading: St.b.p.36 . Two scrambled stories to order. Here we dealt with narrative tenses, that is, simple past, past continuous, past perfect and past perfect continuous. - Grammar: The previous tenses were classified. - Homework:Grammar, unit 123,124.
This is one of my favourite photos . It was taken on the beach in Punta Cana when I was on holiday two years ago. I went with my friends. Is was a fantastic tour!
I took this photo when I was sunbathingon a deck chair.
In the background you can see the beautiful blue sea and two boats. On the beach there were a lot of palm trees .In the middle of the photo you can see alookout too.
Normally we went to the beach every day and we drank a lot of delicious cocktails but also we went to trips around the island.
The weather in Punta Cana was sunny so I swam very much.
Every night we went to the disco and we danced until dawn .
I like the Caribe and I want to go back again!!!!
ANGELA MENDEZ MURCIA 2NB
ALBERTO PINTOS NOVO has sent us this song. Great!!!
Preparation for Christmas in the Congo begins when some group is designated to prepare the annual Christmas pageant.
Christmas day begins with groups of carolers walking to and fro through the village, along the roadway, by the houses of the missionaries, singing the lovely carols known the world around. Often people may be awakened by a group of carolers beginning to converge on the house of worship. They return home to make final preparation as to the clothes one must wear and also as to his offering for the Christmas service.
The most important part of their Christmas worship service is the love offering, this is the gift in honor of Jesus. Then at about 8 or 9 o'clock everyone makes their way to the celebration of the birthday of Jesus.
Everyone who attends the service goes forward to lay down their gift upon the raised platform near the Communion table. Not one person will attend the service without giving a gift.
Now people have Christmas dinners after the service, preparing tables out in front of their home and inviting many of their intimate friends to share.
Christmas in South Africa is a summer holiday. In December, the southern summer brings glorious days of sunshine that carry an irresistible invitation to the beaches, the rivers, and the shaded mountain slopes. Then the South African holiday season reaches its height. Schools are closed, and camping is the order of the day. In South Africa there is no snow, but it has many flowers, many beautiful varieties of cultivated and wild flowers being in their full pride.
In the cities and towns carolers make their rounds on Christmas Eve. Church services are held on Christmas morning. Christmas Eve celebrations in larger centers include "Carols by Candlelight" and special screen and floor shows.
Homes are decorated with pine branches, and all have the decorated Christmas fir in a corner, with presents for the children around. At bedtime on Christmas Eve, children may also hang up their stockings for presents from Father Christmas.
Many South Africans have a Christmas dinner in the open-air lunch. For many more, it is the traditional dinner of either turkey, roast beef, mince pies, or suckling pig, yellow rice with raisins, vegetables, and plum pudding, crackers, paper hats, and all. In the afternoon, families go out into the country and usually there are games or bathing in the warm sunshine, and then home in the cool of the evening. Boxing Day is also a proclaimed public holiday usually spent in the open air. It falls on December 26 and is a day of real relaxation.
In Ghana, on Africa's west coast, most churches herald the coming of Christmas by decorating the church and homes beginning with the first week in Advent, four weeks before Christmas. This season happens to coincide with the cocoa harvest, so it is a time of wealth. Everyone returns home from wherever they might be such as farms or mines.
On the eve of Christmas, children march up and down the streets singing Christmas Carols and shouting "Christ is coming, Christ is coming! He is near!" in their language. In the evening, people flock to churches which have been decorated with Christmas evergreens or palm trees massed with candles. Hymns are sung and Nativity plays are presented.
On Christmas Day, children and older people, representing the angels in the fields outside Bethlehem, go from house to house singing. Another church service is held where they dress in their native attire or Western costumes. Later on there is a feast of rice and yam paste called fufu with stew or okra soup, porridge and meats. Families eat together or with close neighbors, and presents are given.
On the west coast of Africa, in Liberia, most homes have an oil palm for a Christmas tree, which is decorated with bells. On Christmas morning, people are woken up by carols. Presents such as cotton cloth, soap, sweets, pencils, and books are exchanged. Also in the morning a church service is held in which the Christmas scene is enacted and hymns and carols are sung. Dinner is eaten outdoors with everyone sitting in a circle to share the meal of rice, beef and biscuits. Games are played in the afternoon, and at night fireworks light up the sky.
1. Melt butter over low heat. 2. Stir in sugar, spices, chopped almonds and well beaten eggs. Add flour and baking powder. 3. Roll dough out thinly and cut into shapes. Place half an almond in the centre of each biscuit, and brush the top of each biscuit with the white of an egg. 4. Bake at 180 degrees celcius until brown.
From: /www.santas.net/
This photo was taken in Puerto de Vega, a small village on the Asturias coast. I like this place because I was working here for two years in a bank. I took this photo last year, in the summer, when my wife and me went to Puerto de Vega for lunch. That is a sea port place. Many people are sailors or they are related with the fishing, so in the foreground of the photo we can see the boats on the wharf. The restaurants of Puerto de Vega get ready different kinds of fish, but we like the delicious seafood paella. It is their specialty. For my work I had to meet many people in Puerto de Vega, so after lunch we went for a walk around the village and we talked with some sailors who came back from the sea. When the weather is good we like to come here. I think that we have been to Puerto de Vega six or seven times this year. I have taken a lot of photos of the village. They are kept in my computer.
Here you have two kind of speaking activities to practise: - interaction - speech . It´s important because these activities are similar to the ones you´re going to have in the exam. ALBERTO PINTOS NOVO has sent us this song. Thank you.
Here you have two different types of speaking activities: - interaction 1, interaction 2 - speech 1, speech 2 . It will be a 3 minute speech. It´s the kind of speaking activities you may come across in the exam, so practise them a lot. There are many and varied situations that can happen in your daily life and as you can see many activities are about asking questions. PAZ GARCIA ORVIZ has sent us this song. Thnk you Paz, I really enjoy your help.
Christmas in Brazil Brazilians are a mix of different ethnic people, and as a former Portuguese colony, they have many Christmas customs which originate from this heritage. One tradition is to create a nativity scene or Presépio. The word originates from the Hebrew word "presepium" which means the bed of straw upon which Jesus first slept in Bethlehem. The Presépio is common in northeastern Brazil. Nowadays presépios are set up in December and displayed in churches, homes, and stores. Papai Noel or Father Noel is the gift-bringer in Brazil. According to legend, he lives in Greenland. When he arrives in Brazil, he usually wears silk clothing due to the summer heat. A huge Christmas dinner includes turkey, ham, colored rice, and wonderful vegetables and fruit dishes. Devout Catholics often attend Midnight Mass or Missa do Galo. The mass has this name because the rooster announces the coming day and the Missa do Galo finishes at 1 AM on Christmas morning! On December 25th, Catholics go to church, but the masses are mostly late afternoon, because people enjoy sleeping late after the dinner called Ceia de Natal or going to the beach. Decorations include fresh flowers picked from the garden. Fireworks go off in the skies over the cites and huge Christmas "trees" of electric lights can be seen against the night skies in major cities such as Brasilia, San Paolo, and Rio de Janeiro. In Brazil there is folk dancing and singing and the festivities go on until January 6th, which the Brazilians refer to as Three Kings Day. January 6th is supposed to be the day when three wise men visited Jesus to bring him gifts.
Christmas Apple Pie
Serve with vanilla ice cream and hard sauce Ingredients: a. Graham cracker crust (you can make your own or use a pre-made one) 1 large egg white (slightly beaten) b. 5 Cups fresh peeled apples 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1/4 cup brown sugar 3 Tablespoons whole wheat flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (we generally add a bit more) c. 3/4 cups whole wheat flour 1/4 cup powdered sugar 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 stick melted butter (a bit over 1/3 cup) Directions: 1. Brush egg white on crust, bake until light brown -- about 6 minutes (if store bought) 2. Combine b mix well, spoon into crust 3. Mix c put on as the top of the pie in thin sheets 4. Bake at 375 farenheit for about 50 minutes 5. Cool for about 4 hours. From:www.santas.net
NB2 - Homework: Two photocopies about tenses and the weather - Speaking: some students had their speaking exam. - Grammar: Future with the present continuous and going to. You were given the explanations with examples on the blacboard and while the speaking exam was carried out ,the rest of the class did some exercises in grammar ,units 25 and 26. - Speaking : Holiday plans to use thes future tenses - Homework: Finish the grammar exercises.
This is a photo of my last Summer holidays. I went to Málaga with my girlfriend, my cousin and his wife, and my best friend. This photo was taken in the wall of the beach the last day when we visited Benalmádena, and my cousin took us the photo.
At the bottom you can see the sea, there are a lot ofsunshades and a lot of hammocks. On the right you can see palm-trees which are the most typical trees in the south of the country.
In the background you can see the blue sky, because it was a sunny day, although when my cousin took us the photo it was sunset..
In the middle of the photo you can see my girlfriend and me against the wall of the beach.
She is wearing an orange undershirt, a black belt, and a jacket, she is looking at my cousin.
And I was wearing an orange shirt, a black belt, and a pair of white jeans, I am looking at my cousin taking the photo too.
I would like to come back because I like Benalmádena a lot, although I guess that there are fantastic places in the world, and I prefer to visit all cities before going on holiday to the same place.
JUAN SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ NI2E
This photo was taken last summer when I was on holiday with my friends in Málaga and one day we decided to spend the day in Puerto Banús. We liked it a lot and we had a good time there so next year if there aren’t any problems, we’ll go back again together!
In the foreground, there are four women, my friends and me. They are Ainoa, Elena and Patricia. I’m wearing a kind of black top called ‘word of honour’, a pair of printed trousers and sandals. I’m wearing sunglasses too and I’m with a cigarette. The second woman is wearing a black shirt, a pair of shorts, sandals and she’s carrying a camera in her right hand. She’s also wearing earrings and her sunglasses are hunging from her neckline. The third woman is wearing blue shirt, a pair of jeans with a belt and black high-heeled sandals.
Behind us, there is an illustrative board of tourist information.
On the right, I can see a lamppost and a man who is walking in the street. He is wearing blue T-shirt, a pair of Bermuda shorts and sunglasses. He’s carrying a rucksack. On the left there is a full trash can.
In the background, I can see Puerto Banús Beach and some deckchairs, sunshades and one palmtree on the right. The day was very sunny and I can see itin the shadows and the kind of clothes that we were wearing!!
Christmas in Norway Norwegian children always remember a little gnome Nisse at Christmastime. He guards all the farm animals, and he plays tricks on the children if they forget to place a bowl of special porridge for him. Norway has its gift-bearing little gnome or elf. Known as Julebukk or "Christmas buck," he appears as a goat-like creature. Julebukk harkens back to Viking times when pagans worshipped Thor and his goat. During pagan celebrations a person dressed in a goatskin, carrying a goat head, would burst in upon the party and during the course of evening would "die" and return to life. During the early Christian era, the goat began to take the form of the devil, and would appear during times of wild merry-making and jubilation. By the end of the Middle Ages, the game was forbidden by the Church and the state. In more recent times the goat has emerged in the tamer form of Julebukk. A favorite holiday cookie is called a sand kager is made by mixing 2 cups of butter and sugar, 4 cups of flour, and 1 cup of chopped almonds. This pressed into a tin, baked until golden brown, and cut into squares. In the dark afternoons, in the Viking tradition, children go from house to house asking for goodies. Norwegians eat lye-treated codfish, and wash it down with boiled potatoes, rice porridge, gingerbread, and punch. Mari Langholm Norwegians are very close to the North Pole, and they strongly hope for the magic of snow for the holydays! Christmas in Norway begins with the Saint Lucia ceremony on the 13 December. At the crack of dawn, the youngest daughter from each family puts on a white robe with a sash, a crown with evergreens and tall-lighted candles, accompanied by the other children, the boys dressed as star boys in long white shirts and pointed hats. They wake their parents, and serve them coffee and Lucia buns, lussekatter. The custom goes back to a Christian virgin, Lucia, martyred for her beliefs at Syracuse in the fourth century. The Saint Lucia ceremony is fairly recent, but it represents the traditional thanksgiving for the return of the sun. The Christmas tree, juletre, spruce or pine tree usually, are often decorated with candles, apples, red harts, cornets, straw ornaments, balls of glass and tinsels, all depending on what you like. The homes have a scent of resin, hyacinths, red tulips, spices and tangerines. Some children, especially in the country still believe in and remember a little gnome or elf, fjøsnissen at Christmas time. He is told to guard all the farm animals, and he plays tricks if the children forget to place a bowl of special rice porridge, risengrynsgrøt, in the barn or outside for him. This is old superstition. Norwegians also love to eat this porridge on the 23 December, lillejulaften, and then it holds a magic almond inside. The one who finds it gets a prize. Some eat the rice porridge for lunch on the 24th. Perhaps in the evening they have some gløgg, it is a spicy drink (you can add some red wine if you like), with raisins and chopped almonds. Julaften, on the 24 December, a lot of people go to church service before they gather at home around the table for a nice Christmas Eve dinner. The dinner can consist of a rib with a good crackling, ribbe, (served with "cabbage à la norvégienne", surkaal, potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, sprouts, prunes and brown sauce), salted and dried ribs of mutton, pinnekjoett, (served with potatoes, carrots and mashed swedes), or lye-treated codfish, lutefisk (served with potatoes, bacon and pea stew). For dessert: rice blended with whipped cream served with a red sauce, riskrem, caramel pudding, cherry mousse, or whipped cream blended with multer (orange, wonderful berries found on the mountain - looks like rasberries). In the evening Santa Claus, julenissen, arrives with gifts. Often it is snowing. In the days between Christmas and New Years Eve, romjulen, the children sometimes go from house to house in the afternoon asking for sweets, this tradition is called "Christmas buck", julebukk. The tradition harkens back to the Viking times when pagans worshipped Thor and his goat, but just a few children keep up the tradition today. On Christmas Day a lot of people have a big brunch at noon or dinner in the afternoon for friends and family. It is done the Italian way and can last for several wonderful hours! Traditional cakes and cookies made at Christmas can be julekake (with raisins), kryddekake, delfiakake, rosettbakels, fattigmann, smultringer, goro, silkekaker, pepperkaker, kokosmakroner. Different nuts, fruits, figs, dates and sweets also belong to the celebration. God Jul! (Merry Christmas!)
Gingerbread Men Ingredients: 3 and 1/4 cups flour 1.2 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1 tsp ground cinnamon 2 tsp ground cloves 1 cup salted butter, softened 3/4 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed 1 large egg 1/2 cup unsulfered molasses 2/3 cup confectioners sugar 1 - 2 tsp milk Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 325' 2. Whisk together flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, ginger, and cloves 3. Cream butter and sugar. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add egg and molasses and beat on medium speed until smooth. 4. Scrape down bowl and add flour mixture, blend on low speed until just combined -- do not over mix! 5. Separate dough into 2 balls and flatten into disks. Wrap each disk tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour. 6. On floured surface with floured rolling pin, roll dough out to 1/4" thickness. With floured cookie cutters cut into shapes. Gather scraps and re-roll dough until all is used. Place on ungreased baking sheets about 1/2" apart. 7. Bake 9-11 minutes -- do not brown. Transfer to cool, flat surface and cool. Preparing Icing: 1. Whisk sugar and milk until smooth but still liquid. 2. Add extra milk if seems dry. 3. Spoon icing into a pastry bag with small piping tip, or other icing dispenser. 4. Decorate as desired. From:www.santas.net
One of my favourite photos is of Brian May, the guitarist of Queen.
I think that the photo was taken in England in his first concert when he was a beginner.
He was in the setting with his friend Freddie, Roger and John rehearsing to the concert, he played all of their greatest hits including Bohemian Rhapsody and the leader of the group, Freddie Mercury, listened to him carefully.
I was not born when he played in England but I have all of his hits in a CD. They are my favourite group of music and they are one of the best groups of music in the world. They have many trophies in their showcases, but this changed suddenly when Freddie died.
I keep this photo in my computer. On a bad day in my life, I look at him and I listen to his music. Consequently they make me smile again.
SERGIO PÉREZ. 2NB
Last summer, I went to Portugal with my parents,I flew by plane and I stayed in Lisbon,in a hotel with swimming pool and a lot of gardens. I visited a lot of places. I saw the centre of Lisbon and other places I saw museums, sculptures, parks,squares... I learned many things because Lisbon is a city which takes care of its culture and its history and legends are very interesting. I stayed there for ten days, there I ate the traditional food of Lisbon and only drank water because I don’t like anything else. I was lucky because the weather was good ,every day was sunny. I went shopping just to buy too many things I love, I bought clothes and souvenirs. For my friends and family I bought postcards of the places I had been. We drove back to see Galicia ,which is very beautiful, and also to see family and friends I have there. I hope this year is similar to or better than last year. This photo is “Boca do inferno”, Cliff is a very famous and it is in Cascais near Estoril where there is a famous casino. There are many people who lose all their money and decide to commit suicide by jumping off this cliff. IRENE ARROYO GARCIA NB2 NB2 - Grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation and writing test. -Some of the students had their speaking tests with the interaction and the speech. - Those who finished first did and exercise about the weather and another one abouttenses.
NI2 - Grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation test - St.B.p. 32,33 Cheching and apologizing . Listening with question tags, pronunciation of question tags and different ways of apologizing, depending on how sorry you are. - Homework: Grammar, unit 52 about question tags, wk, p. 23 .
Christmas in Alaska Most Alaskan Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25th, just as people do in the continent of the US. Santa Claus may arrive for a pre-Christmas visit, but, food, gift giving, and decorations are like what you might see in Texas or Wisconsin. The songs sang at each home include Aleut words Gristuusaaq suu'uq, or Christ is born. Everyone joins in the closing words, Mnogaya leta, or god grant you many years. At the end of the carols the host provides carolers with maple-frosted doughnuts, cookies, candy, piruk, or fish pie, and sometimes smoked salmon. In Alaska children wander from house to house carrying a colored star on a long pole, and singing carols.
North Pole Cupcake Cones Ice cream cones that are flat on the bottom A baking sheet Any cupcake or cake mix A bowl A mixing spoon Icing Shredded Coconut Chopped walnuts and raisns
1. Place six ice cream cones on a baking sheet. 2. Make the cake mix according to instructions and pour the batter in each cone. Leave an inch/ 2 1/2 cms of space at the top. 3. Set oven at 375 farenheit/ 190 celcius. 4. Place cupcake cones in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. 5. Let them cool for half an hour, then ice and decorate them with coconut, chopped nuts, and raisins. Cover lid and let rice simmer slowly and gently for an hour, or until all the milk is absorbed and swollen up.
From:/www.santas.net
This is a picture that I like much. It was taken in 2000, when I was 7 years old. I remember perfectly that day. We were in Murcia, it was a sunny, hot day, and we had eaten that day at the beach. After lunch we were very bored, so we played on the shore with the sand. A friend of my parents helped us to make the crocodile sand. We took many pictures because we liked it. The girl on the left is my sister, who has a year and a half younger than me. I am the one in the middle, and the girl who is on the right is a friend whose parents spent their holidays in the same place as us. I liked those summers because we enjoyed it a lot.
SARA GARCIA MARTINEZ, NB2
This photo was taken last summer when I was in Cambridge for a month. An Italian girl took the photo while we were eating in the garden of our residence (Homerton College). All the people are sitting in the grass and we are in a circle. We are eating some sandwiches and some fruit, and we have coke and water to drink. It is sunny day, because although there are some clouds in the sky, it is easy to see that it’s a beautiful day. In the background, it’s possible to make out the building where there are some bedrooms and a canteen. In the photo, there are people of different countries. The boy on the left who is wearing sun glasses is from Cyprus; the three boys who are next to him and the girl whit a white t-shirt are from Spain (Valladolid, Madrid, Valencia and Zaragoza exactly); the boy with the blue t-shirt and the boy who has blond hair are from Italy; the girls who are on the right, are from Spain too, and finally, the one with black jacket is my best friend who is sitting next to me. I think that this photograph is so nice because it reminds me of all the good moments that I spent with all of them. My friend and I arrived alone but from the first moment we were very happy with our new friends. It was a great summer that I will never forget. ROSA MARIA PALICIO ARBESÚ 2º NI
PAZ GARCIA has sent this song. Thank you very much,with your help this blog sounds more varied and interesting.
Christmas in Australia is often very hot. Whereas the northern hemisphere is in the middle of winter, Australians are baking in summer heat. It is not unusual to have Christmas Day well into the mid 30 degrees Celsius, or near 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
A traditional meal includes a turkey dinner, with ham, and pork. A flaming Christmas plum pudding is added for dessert. In the Australian gold rushes, Christmas puddings often contained a gold nugget. Today a small favor is baked inside. Whoever finds this knows s/he will enjoy good luck. Another treat is Mince Pies.
Some Australians and particularly tourists often have their Christmas dinner at midday on a local beach, Bondi Beach in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs attracts thousands of people on Christmas Day. Other families enjoy their day by having a picnic. If they are at home, the day is punctuated by swimming in a pool, playing Cricket out the backyard, and other outdoor activities.
The warm weather allows Australians to enjoy a tradition which commenced in 1937. Carols by Candlelight is held every year on Christmas Eve, where tens of thousands of people gather in the city of Melbourne to sing their favorite Christmas songs. The evening is lit by as many candles singing under a clean cut night sky. The sky with its Southern Cross stars is like a mirror. Sydney and the other capital cities also enjoy Carols in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Australians surround themselves with Christmas Bush, a native plant which has little red flowered leaves.
Christmas shopping is often done in shorts and t-shirts. At many beaches Santa Claus arrives on a surfboard, or even on a surf lifesaving boat.
Australia's worst Christmas was in 1974, when Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin in the Northern Territory. More than 60 people were killed.
Billy Can Pudding from Australia
In the Australian bush in the 19th century people had to improvise. The Billy Can is a tin, with handles, usually used to carry water.
1 1/2 cups of raisins 1/2 cup of sultanas and raisins 1 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon of mixed spice and cinnamon 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate soda
Combine all ingredients. Mix well with 500 mls of boiling tea. Empty into a greased and floured billy can. Cover, amd let it stand overnight. Steam for 3 1/2 hours.
From:www.santas.net
NB2
- Very few students came but we carried on with the class plan .
- Speaking: Oral exam for 3,4 students with interaction and picture description.
- Reading: Test with two exercises:one true-false and another of multiple choice.
- Listening: Test with three exercises: matching columns, multiple choice and fill in the blanks.
While he speaking test was in progress, those who had already done it did an exercise about questions.
NI2
- Reading test: A multiple choice reading a bit difficult , but I´m afraid you have to get used to doing these sort of exercises.
- Listening test: A multiple choice listening about people talking a bit fast.
- Grammar: A photocopy about connectorsand some exercises.
PABLO GONZALEZ RUBIO . Look ,Pablo this is one of my favourite songs. Well done!
Día: 22 de diciembre. Lugar: Pub L´Espumeru. Recetas de Navidad: www.eoilangreo.net/recetas ,veréis que están clasificadas por niveles también hay recetas en este blog. Yo os ayudaré con las dudas que tengáis, no hay excusa TODOS A PARTICIPAR Entrega de platos: 17,30 a 18,30 en el pub. si tenéis problemas ,lo hablamos y nos lo entregáis antes, no hay problema. A quien traiga plato, se le entregará un premio seguro y además una papeleta para participar en un sorteo de 10 vales de 30 euros para canjear en la librería Campoamor A las 18,30 habrá karaoke. A las 20,30 será el sorteo de los vales.
ESTAIS TODOS INVITADOS, ASÍ COMO VUESTRAS FAMILIAS Y AMIGOS
- Thursday 10th : Reading and Listening . I haven´t told you this in advance but since most of you come to class and these two skills don´t have to be studied, it´s OK. Anyway, I´ll post them in the blog as usual. - Monday,14th: Composition and Grammar. - Speaking: I´ll be testing your oral skill little by little: 3 students a day.
NI2
- Thursday, 10th: Reading and Listening. - Monday,14th: Grammar - Wednesday, 16th : Composition - Speaking: We´ll carry on with the same procedure we have , that is, 3 students a day.
It’s horrifying. Right now, a poison made by a U.S. company -- a product that the Environmental Protection Agency says is too toxic to be used in America -- is threatening the extinction of the majestic African lion.
Just a handful of carbofuran -- a deadly neurotoxin that Defenders helped to ban in the U.S. -- can kill an entire pride of lions. Sadly, this awful poison is still sold in stores (and widely used) across Kenya and East Africa.
If we don’t do something soon, these great cats could vanish from one of their last remaining homes in the wild.
Just 50 years ago, it is estimated that nearly a half a million lions could be found in Africa. Now lion experts say that as few as 16,000 remain a staggering decline of more than 95%. [1] In Kenya, home to world-famous wild lions, the story is especially sad.
The Kenya Wildlife Service estimates that fewer than 2,000 of these majestic great cats now remain in Kenya -- down from an estimated 35,000 that made their home in the country just 50 years ago. According to the agency, one hundred lions are killed each year -- many by carbofuran.
If Kenya’s lions continue their precipitous decline, there will not be a single wild lion left in the country in 20 years. [2]
To address this crisis, Defenders of Wildlife has been asked by some of Africa’s leading conservationists to intervene. Our first step: convince Kenya’s prime minister to get tough on carbofuran use in his country. Please help us save some of the planet’s last remaining African lions. Sign our petition to Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga. At least seventy-six lions have been confirmed killed by carbofuran, with many more deaths left unreported. And while it is a crime in Kenya to use this deadly poison to kill lions, but very few have ever been arrested for poisoning a lion with carbofuran.
We know that we can win this fight. Over the last two decades, tens of thousands of Defenders activists helped finally convince the Environmental Protection Agency to ban the use of this deadly poison in America. Now we need you help to save the lives of endangered African lions threatened by carbofuran. Please take action today. With Gratitude,
P.S. Today’s petition is only the first in a series of dramatic actions Defenders of Wildlife will be taking in the months ahead to protect the lives of endangered lions. Please sign our petition and stay tuned for more ways to help.
Defenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities.
Defenders of Wildlife can be contacted at: 1130 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036
NEYLA CARBAYO sent me this article.
NI2 - Homework: Reading. St.B.p31 Read out, check mistakes and fill in the blanks exercise. Workbook, p.20,21 22, - Grammar: A photocopy about "used to/to be used to doing" - Vocabulary: St.B.p. 28 Adjectives folloewd by prepositions and weak forms, that is, the prepositions don´t take the stress. - Speaking: One student had his oral exams and I decided, as we have time, it would be fine to have another attempt so that you can improve both the interaction and the speech. - Listening: St.B.p. 30. About addictions:four speakers talking about people who know and their addictions. Colloquial expressions - Homework: St.B.p. 34. Composition "For and Against", sections a,b. which are about connerctors.
ALBERTO PINTOS NOVO. I´ll never be grateful enough for your help with the music in this blog.
This photo was taken in Italy three years ago, I went with my husband.
I took this photo when we visited Rome. In the middle of the photo you can see Constantino's Arch and on the right a piece of The Coliseum. There were a lot of people there.
I can remember this day, it was sunny and we had walked very much.
I would like to return because I didn’t visit some places.
VANESA MARTINEZ VEGA
NB2
One of my favourite photos was taken in Niagara Falls.
I went to USA last year for a week and one of those days, we flew to Canada.
In the foreground of this photo, my husband and me are wearing a blue waterproof jacket. We look happy because we were about to begin an exciting trip.
Behind us you can see a boat called “Maid of the mist”, which has two floors, flags from Canada and United States and a funny crew.
On the dock, there are a lot of people waiting to get on the boat.
In the background you can see one of the marvellous Niagara Falls, the American one.
It was sunny day but there were some clouds.
I hope to return one day, although there are fantastic places to visit in the world.
CLARA HUERGO
NB2
I love this photo because I am with my wife and my son. A waiter took us this photo when we went to Palma de Mallorca last summer. We are having a drink and we are very tired because we were playing in the swimming-pool almost every day. Normally, weto the beach in the morning while the afternoon we stayed at the hotel. At night we enjoyed walking, There were a lot of people, above all German. It was a fantastic week and we are thinking where we are going in our next holiday.
LEANDRO CURTO
NB2
ALBERTO PINTOS NOVO has sent me this song which isn´t easy to follow; however he says it has hit the charts and you´ll probably like it. So here you are.
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