Listening: Wicked :The witches of Oz on stage

Two witches. One of them with green skin odd enough to make her misunderstood even in a place like Oz. The other... just perfect: beautiful, popular,blonde, charming...
Have you spot them? They are the witches from "The Wizard of Oz" and maybe now more famous than Dorothy and Toto!! The reason? The gorgeous musical which has swept to success in several theatres for five years!! Congrats!! If you have the chance ,go to see it!Simply...fantastic!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/interactive/2011/sep/23/wicked-west-end-fiveyears

Reading:What´s that noise?

Gone are the days of "witches", "alive skeletons"and other "spooky"creatures hanging around the street asking for "trick or treat".However, there are still some places which are considered to be haunted. On top of the list,York remains as a magical city full of secrets waiting to be discovered... :))

http://www.box.net/shared/l7p7r8op3b86sio62j8g

Video:David on Ellen´s show.

Jaajajaajaja... from now on, take an eye on who´s giving a perfume sample to you!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0du5loNjTU

Listening:Computer sales and repairs.

Well...it´s supposed we get on well with computers. In fact, people are used to working with them day in, day out but... what happens when our gorgeous computer suddenly crashes...OMMMMMMMMMMG!! Where is the "help" button?If you have ever felt a sort of panic everytime your PC doesn´t work properly then, it´s your listening!!:)
http://www.esl-lab.com/computer/computer-rd1.htm
(Try to do the exercices suggested in the link above, they´re really useful, good luck!)

VOCABULARY- CROSSWORDS (technology +computer)

Hi!!
Let´s focus on vocabulary, technology and post-it!
Have a look at the words below... guess their meaning ; in case of emergency, look a few words up in the dictionary ;) !! Once you have understood and remebered them (if possible) click on the following links an try to do the crosswords on computers and technology.Take care! the words appear at random, so ... first of all you should decide whether they belong to computers /technology or even both! Good luck ;)
SPAMMER --VERSATILE--GEEK--AVATAR--REMOTE CONTROL--TECHIE--WIFI
TYPO--UPLOAD--SOFTWARE-- WEBCAM--HACKER--TECHNOLOGY--DOWNLOAD--AERIAL-- CODE--CRASH--ENGINE--INSTALL--BACK.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/quizzes/crosswords/computer.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/quizzes/crosswords/technology.shtml

Video: My blackberry is not working!!

Hi guys!!

Welcome back from our summer break.I hope you all had a really nice time on holidays.
Let´s go on with our most recent topic: technology. Today´s new post is based on some cons which may appear in our super trendy update devices. So ... You´d better keep an eye on them!!;) Enjoy the video!!Get prepared to these new items, it´s likely they vanish at any corner store,jajajaja...

Readings: Facebookland+ Gone with the bees

Hi!! hi!!

Gee! Social networking services keep going on as quick as a flash!Well... Figures talk,in fact, since facebook was launched in 2004 there´s been an awesome increase in the number of users who log in their social accounts during the day. Let´s face it, the more we use social webs, the more we like them! but...is that the new teenage trend? Voowww!! the " thumb up/down" generation is coming soon!!

Read the text below and find out some research results ,try to fill in the gaps with the most suitable option (a,b,c or c) . GOOD LUCK!!:)))http://www.box.net/shared/po0udrh2ovr2k94839pz

Last but not least...another vocabulary+reading exercise! It deals with the possible technological effects in nature,pffff.... poor bees!! come on girls!! resist the cellphone attack!

http://www.box.net/shared/mgug7944t9xc5bsnpk70

Listening:Peter, Sally, Johnny and the rest of the crowd

Last week The New York magazine published a discussion on teenagers´ jobs. In the interview most people discuss their 10-year plans. Hear their answers...some of them are really unexpected,jejej...

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/27/magazine/senior-class.html?ref=magazine

Listening:Guess, guess...

Hi!

Here you have a few games which are pretty useful to become sharper ;))Let´s try to match a series of descriptions with their most suitable picture. Come on, mistery is out there!! Good luck!!

http://www.elllo.org/english/Games/G024-Moving.html

http://www.elllo.org/english/Games/G022-Places.html

http://www.elllo.org/english/Games/G006-Holiday.html

http://www.elllo.org/english/Games/G009-TheDailyDiet.html

Video : The stages of life

listening:Grading students (A,B,C,D; 10,9,8...)

At fist sight they are just letters or numbers but don´t overlook them since they can change some people´s lives! Gosh! Listen to what a teacher thinks about her childhood memories and whether grades are useful in education.Once you have done it, go to the right side of the page and try to do the related exercises.jjajajj... don´t panic, you´ll not be graded while doing them!!!!
http://www.elllo.org/english/1001/1026-Nydja-Grades.htm
http://www.elllo.org/english/1001/1025-Nydja-Praise.htm

Vocabulary:gap year

If I had a "proper" gap year, I ´d go to different countries.

If I had a "proper"gap year, I ´d design my own clothes!vowwww!!!

If I had a "proper" gap year,I´d would write a book based on my friends´adventures and Spanish trends!!

Let´s repeat it like a summer song chorus so that it becomes real!!jijijijiji... Now ,it´s your turn ...What would be your expectatitions if you has a gap year?

Read the text below and decide which answer best fit each gap of " Cooking on a camping holiday"

One of the attractions of going on an camping holiday may is the feeling of

_________getting away/ getting down/ getting out/getting on from everyday city life ,of finding peace and _____ silence/calm/rest/quite in the countryside ,but this also means thinking about how you are going to prepare meals while you are there.Before you______ set off/ set for/set to/up ,check you have essentials such as spoons and pans for everyone and various bits and_______ items/ objects/pieces/parts such a tin-opener and scissors in case you need to cut something.Work out more or__lower/little/fewer/less how much food you will need to take with you , _______bearing/thinking/ pondering/wondering in mind that being outside will make people hungry and they will probably ______get at/ get down/ get in/ get through more food than usual.

(Adapted from FCE Result -Oxfo

key: Getting away /Quiet/Set off/ Pieces / less/ Get through.

Tiger rather than Hen mums?

This morning while I was getting ready for the super Spanish breakfast ( happy tomato+oil+salt toasts) I discovered a really interesting article based on a new hit in the USA.The book called "The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother "(Amy Chua) , which goes sky-high all over the world, discusses the ways employed by many Chinese mothers in order to turn their children into the "new brains" of our time.Up to now, everything seems normal -even useful -However, most of these techniques are controversial and quite risky since not all chilren behave the same to different circumstances or events.

Amy Chua ,who works as a teacher of Law at Yale Law School ,listed a number of rules that she said she enforced on her two daughters. According to the article they were not allowed to : attend a sleepover ,have a playdate ,be in a school play
complain about not being in a school play ,watch TV or play computer games
choose their own extracurricular activities ,get any grade less than an A
not be the No. 1 student in every subject except gym and drama ,play any instrument other than the piano or violin ... OMG!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAel_qRfKx8

What are the reactions to the book? what happened with the mother´s day card? What type of advice does she give to parents?

Reading: Are second chances better on TV?

Well... at first sight there is nothing outstanding in the previous heading. In most reality shows Tv and second chances are so closely connected that we are getting used to having our daily dose of family´s reunions and happy endings...
But Jamie Oliver doesn´t seem to be happy enough and tries to go further on that subject. In fact ,his new challenging goal consists of encouraging 20 teenagers who left school without GCSEs to give education a second chance. In this mission ,Oliver- one of the most influential British cooks- will be supported by many skilful people to make teenagers recover illusion and motivation on education. Will the project become a success? The first reviews have already come up...Let´s have a look, please,please!!

Ex: Read the article below and choose which of the given words fits better in the text:http://www.box.net/shared/0ognkk1j07

Crosswords: Looking for missing words!!

A series of crosswords on different topics.Ideal to practise words you already know and get new ones .Enjoy this "across-down" section making as much words as possible!!
I´m sure lots of words will come to your mind as quick as a flash!!! Come on...they are waiting for youuu!!
http://www.manythings.org/cwe/voa024.html
http://www.manythings.org/cwe/voa030.html
http://www.manythings.org/cwe/voa049.html
http://www.manythings.org/cwe/voa049.html

Song:Paris nights / New York mornings

I really fancy this song ,it makes me feel pretty awake ....OMG! it´s like the tracksuit and trainers called me to go out for a walk!!! ok,ok... it´s time to see what´s going on in the neighbourhood!!! I hope you enjoy the song ,you may recognize it from any TV ad.In fact, her single, "Put your records on", became a hit some years ago and this new song is her return to music after some time off!! Fill in the gaps with the correct words. Once you have done it, try to sing the song on your own,it´s too catchy,vowwwwwwwwwww!! New Yoooork!

Ex:http://www.box.net/shared/yoq29xloae

Video: Family sticks together ...moreover on"special"occasions

Typical things might happen the first time you meet other people´s family... you know, everybody has some odd ways to behave.Have fun!! It´s a selection of the best scenes from "Meet the Parents I,II, III" All characters´roles are surprising,little Fockers are also hillarious ...Even the mini lizard will win you over!!!

Have you ever lived a situation like any of these? If so, congratulations you´re a survivor!!jijiiij

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uyf3d9hOcsc

Writing: boss+ work+ staff = I´ll try to do my best!!

What do these" jokes" suggest to you? Do you think your results are also related to the labor atmosphere -organization,mates,ideas-? Do you prefer being praised to being unnoticed at work? What types of things can´t you bear while you´re working?

Write about the ideas stated above, try to include some personal opinions and comments... It´s a good therapy!!!

Reading:The Spanish swan

Before starting the daily routine ( Monday morniiiiiiiing!!) I´d like you to read a Tamara Rojo´s interview published some months ago in the Observer... just amazing!! Too much work to become one of the most eye-catching and dazzling ballet dancer all over the world... And even more, she is Spanish!! jejejej.. Most Spanish people are born with something special maybe due to the jamón serrano influence ??oleeeeee!!
link: http://www.box.net/shared/ut3qzbes46

video & quiz: Live the dream!!

I think one essential thing that keeps us trying to succed is motivation. Therefore, the important point is to be delighted with a new project or idea, no matter how many problems we have to face to achieve it.(gosh!! I´m good at motivational speech, should I write a book on the matter?jijijijji).
Let´s analyse a video that caught my eye last week , I think it´s moving...most famous people in differtent fields ( science ,arts, language) were turned down at their early years.

VIDEO:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tjYoKCBYag
TEST: Now... it´s over you,what motivates you?http://www.testcafe.com/mot/

WELCOME BACK !!!

Hello!!!

It´s been a long time without posting anything and... I´ve really missed it. During these months of updating ,you know,'update or die', different topics have come to my mind ready to be exploited. So...come on guys, show your deepest English skills and... go for it!!! GooD LuCk!! Welcome back!!!! (applause and standing ovation,jijijii)