Carmen María's English Blog

I watched "New Year´s Eve" on TV last Sunday. A simple Christmas film, full of simple stories that makes you see how simple things are the most important ones in life.

I want to thank 2014 for the all the things it has given me, and also for those that  gave me and asked me to give back later, Life sometimes just lends you things, as they are not meant to be yours.

My best wishes for the new year. Remember, 2015 is a blank book to write a new story :)





Whenever, however, whatever...

A break from the noise...





I hope this Christmas Eve finds you in a warm place...
Have a great night!!!
Y llegó el video!!!
Superado además, y con creces, el reto de los 524 selfies en Twitter con el motivo del Belén.

Se acaba un trimestre. Queda nada,  sólo el lunes, la comida de Navidad con los compañeros y a descansar hasta el 8 de enero. Merecido reposo el del guerrero :)
"My Best Friend' s Wedding": the boat scene, one of my favourites.
Sometimes the moment passes you by.
Getting old is not a question of time, it is not a question of years. You start getting older when you spend most of your time looking back instead of looking ahead or making arrangements. It is not relevant if you are twenty or seventy, it is only a question of attitude.


 


St Andrew has been recognized as the patron saint of Scotland since the ninth century. He is said to have died bound to an “X” shaped cross, so this shape is now reflected in the Scottish flag, known as the Saltire.


According to a legend, a monk called Regulus brought relics of St Andrew to Scotland where he was given land to build a church by a Pictish king. That place grew into the town of St Andrew's, where the cathedral became a place of religious pilgrimage.


St Andrew's Day is a bank holiday in Scotland, a calebration of Scottish culture with traditional Scottish food, music and dance. In Edinburgh, there is a week of celebrations, musical entertainment and traditional ceilidh dancing (couples dancing in circles or sets) 
Lending some of your free time to help those in need is really rewarding.

I have been a volunteer to the food donation campaign 2014 by Banco de Alimentos, which urgently needed baby food and nappies. as well as beans, chickpeas, rice, pasta, oil, flour, milk, cereals, cocoa and sugar as usual.  Thanks to people´s generosity, we have filled five huge containers with food and hope to be delivered to many families in Seville.

 Feeling happy is sometimes very easy...and I feel happy tonight.
Thanks María L. P. for your suggestion. Waiting for Mockingjay part 2 :)


Domestic violence is any violent or abusive behaviour used by one person to dominate and control another within a close personal or family relationship. 
It can manifest itself in many ways:
  • It can be physical: Beating, punching, kicking, slapping, or sexual assault.
  • It can be emotional: Bullying, isolating from family and friends, undermining self-confidence.
  • It can be verbal: Put downs, name calling, shouting.
  • It can be threats: Threats to kill or harm you or another person, including children; to kill or harm pets; threats to kill themselves.
  • It can be financial: Control over money; not allowing money for personal items, food or transport.Unfortunately Violence against women continues to be a global pandemic.
Nowadays, violence against women continues to be a global pandemic and we must fight for its elimination and prevention.

"Everyone has a responsibility to prevent and end violence against women and girls, starting by challenging the culture of discrimination that allows it to continue."


Secretary-General of the UN








Children´s Rights Day is celebrated every 20th of November, anniversary of the International convention for children´s rights in 1989.

 Thanks, Francisco A. (4th year A Secondary) for your contribution. I´ve chosen one of the songs you´ve sent me, as it´s perfect to commemorate this day.


The Declaration of the Rights of the Child
1. The right to equality, without distinction on account of race, religion or national origin.

2. The right to special protection for the child’s physical, mental and social development.

3. The right to a name and a nationality.

4. The right to adequate nutrition, housing and medical services.

5. The right to special education and treatment when a child is physically or mentally    handicapped.

6. The right to understanding and love by parents and society.

7. The right to recreational activities and free education.

8. The right to be among the first to receive relief in all circumstances.

9. The right to protection against all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation.

10. The right to be brought up in a spirit of understanding, tolerance, friendship among  peoples,  and universal brotherhood.




Going out tonight, changes into something red 
Her mother doesn't like that kind of dress 
Everything she never had, she's showing off 

Driving too fast, moon is breaking through her hair 
She's having something that she won't forget 
Having no regrets is all that she really wants 


Because we all need angels on our way and a bit of heaven...


 

When we´re feeling down we usually listen to sad music, don´t we?
Researchers at the Free University of Berlin have recently discovered that listening to sad songs when feeling lonely or distressed improves our emotional wellbeing as well as make us feel at peace and consolated by it.

 The study says that sad music stirs up a mixture of complex and ‘partially positive’ emotions like nostalgia, peacefulness, tenderness, transcendence and wonder... and that helps us.

Do you agree? Why/why not?
What´s the saddest song you´ve ever listened to?

Anyway, against all research, I still prefer Pitbull when I ' m feeling down ;)


It has been a relaxing day today. No school, that is, time off work. I have taken out all my vinyl records and played some of them. Camel, Kansas, Boston, OMD and Alan Parson among others.

Time goes by so fast...






FILL IN WITH THE CORRECT VERBAL TENSE.

a)    When Sarah (be) …………… fifteen years old she (leave) ……….

school without any qualifications. However, she (be) …………… very 

ambitious and she (want) …………… to work in the fashion industry. Luckily 

she (find) ...…...... a good job inmediately as an assistant in a small 

 fashion company. While she (work) …..…….......…… there, she (decide)

 …………… to go to evening classes to get a qualification in business 

 studies. When she (finish) …….............she (promote) .........................

 Since 2000 she (do) …….........……… the same job and now she (want)

  …………… a change in her life.


b)    Jane (find) ………a new job at last! She (be) …………… very 

 happy about it but the problem (be) …………… that she (have) …………… 

 to travel a lot.  She (try) …………… to find a solution during the last week, 

 and she (decide). …….. to talk to her future boss to solve the problem. After

  an hour the man (accept) …………to pay the transport so Jane (can) ………

  take the job and start inmediately. At present she (work) …………… as an

  assistant in a beautiful office and the salary (be) …………. much better.

c)  Sarah Thompson (win) …………… $3 million on the national lottery

  in November 1997. During that night, while she (wait) ……………for her 

 husband to come from a soccer match, she (have) …………… a party with 

 all her friends and neighbours. However, some months later she (not be)

  ……………very excited because she (spend) ......…………,… most of

  thetime worrying what to do with the money and wondering how the

  neighbours (react) ……………to her family. Although the prize (help)

  ………. her to pay some debts, she (think) …………… that she (be) 

 .....................happier before winning the lottery and now she (have)

  …………… new troubles to deal with.
Night walk with a soft warm breeze. So beautiful...



What´s the most beautiful place you´ve ever been to?

Have you got a favourite place? 


To Marta, freshly baked out from the oven.

 Love you so much...


Before my English classes start, one of the students in each group, in alphabetical order every day, is responsible for writing a motivational quote on the blackboard.

We discuss the meaning and learn a lot, not only about vocabulary, but also about ourselves. They really like it, and if I ever forget, they always remind me!!  :)

I must say that sometimes they really surprise me...





Light carries on endlessly, even after death...


The National Wallace Monument  on the Abbey Craig, a hill near Stirling, in Scotland, commemorates Sir William Wallace, also known as Braveheart, the Scottish hero.

In 1296, when Edward I of England invaded Scotland, the Scottish Wars of Independence began. William Wallace fought against the English army and became very popular. On 11th september, 1297, the Scots defeated the English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. However, after defeated at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, Wallace was betrayed, captured and  cruelly killed, becoming a symbol for Scotland and Freedom.
If you visit the Wallace Monument,
you´ll climb a spiral staircase that takes you to the top of the tower and see wonderful views of the Ochil Hills and the Forth Valley.
By the way, do you know how many steps this spiral staricase has?
Waiting for your anwers :)




Hablar por teléfono en inglés puede ser una tarea complicada, pero es sin duda habitual en el mundo del inglés comercial. Hay siempre unas frases y expresiones básicas que podemos aprender y pueden salvarnos de algún que otro apuro.
Vamos con ello?
  • Good morning/ afternoon / evening  (Buenos días/Buenas tardes/noches
  • This is X, from X company  (Soy X, de la empresa X)
  • Hello, this is X (Hola, soy X)
  • Good morning, X speaking. (Buenos días, le habla X)
  • Can/Could I please speak to X? (¿Puedo hablar con X?)
  • I would like to speak to X (Me gustaría hablar con X)
  • Is X available? (Está X disponible/libre?)
  • Is it possible to speak to X? (¿Es posible hablar con X?
  • I need to speak to X (Necesito hablar con X)
  • I´m afraid he is out/away/on the phone   (me temo que ha salido/está de viaje/ está al teléfono)
  • May I leave a message, please? (¿Puedo dejar un mensaje?)
  • May I take a message? (¿Le doy algún mensaje?)
  • Do you know when he/she will be available?
         (¿Sabe cuándo estará disponible?)
  • Do you know when he/she will return to the office/home? (¿Sabe cuando volverá a la oficina?)
  • I will call back latter/in an hour/tomorrow. (Llamaré más tarde/en una hora/mañana)
  • Please tell him X called, and I will call later/call again. (Dígale que ha llamado X y que llamaré después otra vez)
  • Please tell him/her to call me back. (Dígale que me llame, por favor)
  • Can I leave my telephone number? My phone number is.XXX (¿Puedo dejarle mi teléfono? Es XXX?
  • Where/How can I reach him/her? (¿Dónde/Cómo puedo encontrarle?)
  • What is her/his mobile phone number/Cell phone number? (¿Cuál es su móvil?)
  • May I send you a fax? (¿Puedo mandar un fax?)
  • What is your fax number? (¿Cuál es el numero de fax?)
  • Did you receive my fax? (¿Recibieron mi fax?)
  • I sent a fax to X, did he/she receive it? (Envié un fax a X, ¿lo recibieron?)
  • The number is busy. (La línea está ocupada)
  • Hold on  (No cuelgue)
  • I´ll put you through (Le paso)
  • I sorry can't hear you/understand you. (Lo siento, no le oigo/no le entiendo)
  • Who am I speaking to? (¿Con quién hablo?)
  • Who is calling? (¿Quién llama?)
  • Please connect me to X (Por favor, páseme con X)


      Useful phrasal verbs when telephoning:


In response to a suggestion...and because I also love Imagine Dragons.
Thanks, S. L. (4th A Secondary)!!!!!!

 WARRIORS

   As a child you would wait, 
   And watch from far away, 
   But you always knew that you’d be the 
   One to work while they all play. 
   In youth, you'd lay awake at night and scheme 
   Of all the things that you would change, 
   But it was just a dream. 
   Here we are don’t turn away, now 
   We are the Warriors that built this town. 
   Here we are don’t turn away, now 
   We are the Warriors that built this town from dust. 
  The time will come when you will have to rise 
  Above the best and prove yourself 
  Your spirit never dies 
  Farewell, I’ve gone to take my throne above 
  But don’t weep for me, cause this will be the labor of my love. 
  Here we are don’t turn away, now 
  We are the Warriors that built this town.
  Here we are don’t turn away, now 
  We are the Warriors that built this town. 
  From Dust 
  Here we are don’t turn away, now 
  We are the Warriors that built this town. 
  Here we are don’t turn away, now 
  We are the Warriors that built this town. 
  From Dust.
October 11th was declared International Day of the Girl Child by the UN in 2011. Every year, since then, International Day of the Girl is an opportunity for the whole world to come together  and advocate for girls’ rights around the world,  fighting against their devaluation and neglect. 

 On this day, several monuments  and landmarks around the world are lit up in pink to raise awareness of the importance of girls´ rights.





http://plan-espana.org/
http://plan-international.org/?set_language=en

"The rain in Spain is mainly in the plain", repeated  Eliza Doolittle in the film "My Fair Lady", trying to break her Cockney accent with speech exercises.

Do you want to see the rain in Seville? Have a look. Seville, today 10th of October,  8 a.m. 

 Chaos, flooded roads and  traffic jams everywhere. Two hours and a half to drive my daily fifteen-minute journey to work. However it was not better by bus...





By the way, let´s learn some idioms related to the rain.
  • To rain cats and dogs:  llover a cántaros.
What an awful weather! it´s raining cats and dogs.
  • To rain on (somebody´s) parade :  aguar la fiesta.
  I was looking forward to going out with my friends but my mum rained on my parade when she  told me   I  couldn’t.
  • (as) right as rain: fresco como una rosa 
I feel really exhausted now,  but I’m sure I’ll be as right as rain after some sleep. 
  • When it rains, it pours  /  it never rains but it pours:  las desgracias nunca vienen solas.
Janet´s  mother died, then she got fire after a serious disease.  It never rains but it pours!
  • To  take a raincheck:  dejarlo para otro momento.
John:  Do you fancy playing tennis tommorrow?
Steve:  I’ll take a raincheck. I have an exam next Monday. 
  • To save for a rainy day: ahorrar para los tiempos de vacas flacas.
I’m not going to spend my money on a new car, I’ll save it for a rainy day.
Spending some of your time with good friends is always comforting. No matter how hard the day has been, problems get smaller with an afternoon tea and some laughs. 




James Arthur "Recovery"
Teacher´s Report Card

Patience A+
Commitment A+
Dedication A+
Inspiration A+


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