Oh, my God! English Language R.I.P? OK, I´ll go to the funeral...but first...let me take a #selfie.
(From The Guardian)
"Selfie" (a photograph that one has taken of oneself with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website) has been named word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries editors, after the frequency of its usage increased by 17,000% over the past 12 months.
Other words from the list:
- bedroom tax, noun, informal:
(in the UK) a reduction in the amount of housing benefit paid to a claimant if the property they are renting is judged to have more bedrooms than is necessary for the number of the people in the household, according to criteria set down by the government.
- binge-watch, verb:
to watch multiple episodes of a television programme in rapid succession, typically by means of DVDs or digital streaming. [ORIGIN 1990s: from BINGE + WATCH, after BINGE-EAT, BINGE-DRINK.]
- bitcoin, noun:
a digital currency in which transactions can be performed without the need for a central bank. Also, a unit of bitcoin. [ORIGIN early 21st century: from BIT, in the computing sense of "a unit of information" and COIN.]
- olinguito, noun:
a small furry mammal found in mountain forests in Colombia and Ecuador, the smallest member of the raccoon family. [ORIGIN 2013: diminutive form of OLINGO, a South American mammal resembling the kinkajou.]
- schmeat, noun, informal:
a form of meat produced synthetically from biological tissue. [ORIGIN early 21st century: perhaps from SYNTHETIC and MEAT, influenced by the use of "- -, schm - -" as a disparaging or dismissive exclamation.]
- showrooming, noun:
the practice of visiting a shop or shops in order to examine a product before buying it online at a lower price. [ORIGIN early 21st century: from SHOWROOM, "a room used to display goods for sale".]
- twerk, verb:
dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance. [ORIGIN 1990s: probably an alteration of WORK.]
Previous words of the year
This post is only for those who like challenge. Do you know the answers to these four questions? If so, leave a comment.
- Which is the longest word in English that has all the letters in alphabetical order?
- Which is the longest one syllable word in English?
- Which is the only word in the English language that contains three consecutive sets of double letters?
- Which is the English word that has only one vowel, but this vowel appears five times?
Thanks for your answers!!!!!
- Almost
- sxraunched
- Bookkeeper
- Invisibility
This is one of my favourite songs,
I hope you like it! :)
I hope you like it! :)
Hello!
Here you have a video of Seville, the city where I was born and where I live. It's especially beautiful now in spring. I hope you like it.
(If you have time to come to Spain, don't miss Seville!)
Will you accept this challenge?
Earth Hour is a worldwide event organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature ( WWF) and held towards the end of March annually. Hundreds of millions of people around the world turn off their lights for
one hour on the same night, to focus on the one thing that unites us
all our planet.
Earth Hour is a worldwide event organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (
Earth Hour 2013 will be held across the world on Saturday, March 23 at 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
"Do something funny for money"
With their performance of their cover of Blondie’s classic, “One Way Or Another” One Direction’s new song is to benefit Red Nose Day, which is a charity event that raises money for underprivileged children.
Well done, guys!!
My daughter Marta and I will meet you on May the 25th in Madrid!!!!! :-)
Tu mano encaja en la mía como si estuviese hecha para mí.
Pero hay que tener en cuenta que esto estaba destinado a ser así.
Y estoy uniendo los lunares con las pecas de tus mejillas.
Y todo tiene sentido para mí.
Sé que nunca te han gustado las arrugas de tus ojos cuando sonríes.
Nunca te han gustado tu estómago o tus muslos.
Los hoyuelos en el espalda al final de tu columna vertebral.
Pero a mí me encantan infinitamente.
No dejaré que esas pequeñas cosas salgan de mi boca
Pero si lo hago
Eres tú
Oh, eres tú
Se suman a que
estoy enamorado de ti,
y de todas esas pequeñas cosas.
No puedes irte a la cama sin una taza de té
y quizás esa es la razón por la que hablas en sueños
Y todas esas conversaciones
son los secretos que yo guardo
Aunque no tienen sentido para mí.
Sé que nunca te ha gustado el sonido de tu voz grabada
Tú nunca quieres saber cuánto pesas.
Todavía tienes que meterte en tus pantalones.
Pero tú eres perfecta para mí.
No dejaré que esas pequeñas cosas salgan de mi boca
Pero si es verdad
Eres tú
Eres tú
Se suman a que
estoy enamorado de ti,
y de todas esas pequeñas cosas.
Tú nunca te has amado a ti misma
ni la mitad de lo que yo te quiero
Tú nunca te has tratado bien
pero yo quiero hacerlo.
Si te hiciese saber
que estoy aquí para ti,
quizás te querrías a ti misma
igual que yo te quiero a ti.
Y acabo de dejar que esas pequeñas cosas salgan de mi boca
Porque eres tú
Oh, eres tú
Eres tú
Se suman a que
estoy enamorado de ti,
y de todas esas pequeñas cosas.
Tu mano encaja en la mía como si estuviese hecha para mí.
Pero hay que tener en cuenta que esto estaba destinado a ser así.
Y estoy uniendo los lunares con las pecas de tus mejillas.
Y todo tiene sentido para mí.
Sé que nunca te han gustado las arrugas de tus ojos cuando sonríes.
Nunca te han gustado tu estómago o tus muslos.
Los hoyuelos en el espalda al final de tu columna vertebral.
Pero a mí me encantan infinitamente.
No dejaré que esas pequeñas cosas salgan de mi boca
Pero si lo hago
Eres tú
Oh, eres tú
Se suman a que
estoy enamorado de ti,
y de todas esas pequeñas cosas.
No puedes irte a la cama sin una taza de té
y quizás esa es la razón por la que hablas en sueños
Y todas esas conversaciones
son los secretos que yo guardo
Aunque no tienen sentido para mí.
Sé que nunca te ha gustado el sonido de tu voz grabada
Tú nunca quieres saber cuánto pesas.
Todavía tienes que meterte en tus pantalones.
Pero tú eres perfecta para mí.
No dejaré que esas pequeñas cosas salgan de mi boca
Pero si es verdad
Eres tú
Eres tú
Se suman a que
estoy enamorado de ti,
y de todas esas pequeñas cosas.
Tú nunca te has amado a ti misma
ni la mitad de lo que yo te quiero
Tú nunca te has tratado bien
pero yo quiero hacerlo.
Si te hiciese saber
que estoy aquí para ti,
quizás te querrías a ti misma
igual que yo te quiero a ti.
Y acabo de dejar que esas pequeñas cosas salgan de mi boca
Porque eres tú
Oh, eres tú
Eres tú
Se suman a que
estoy enamorado de ti,
y de todas esas pequeñas cosas.
Para los estudiantes de inglés españoles que tengáis dudas de qué nivel de competencia comunicativa requiere la obtención de cada nivel del MCREL, aquí os dejo las líneas fundamentales:
Nivel A1
El nivel A1 del Marco Común Europeo de Referencia para las Lenguas (MCREL) se corresponde con
el nivel más bajo de uso comunicativo de la lengua y sus objetivos son:
- Interactuar de forma sencilla
- Saludar, presentarse, describir personas, objetos y lugares
- Expresarse con frases sencillas, relativas a personas y lugares
- Realizar afirmaciones simples, referidas a temas cotidianos y cercanos al hablante
- Expresar gustos, preferencias, estados de ánimo, etc.
- Comprender y extraer información básica de discursos y textos
- Adquisición de léxico relacionado con la realidad cotidiana
Nivel A2
El nivel A2 del Marco Común Europeo de Referencia para las Lenguas (MCREL) se corresponde con
un nivel elemental de uso comunicativo de la lengua y sus objetivos son:
- Interactuar en relaciones sociales breves
- Describir experiencias personales
- Describir acontecimientos y hechos en el pasado de forma sencilla
- Comprender y escribir textos referidos a su ámbito personal
- Adquisición de léxico relacionado con relaciones sociales, experiencias personales, de
ocio y de tiempo libre, etapas históricas, etc.
Nivel B1
El nivel B1 del Marco Común Europeo de Referencia para las Lenguas (MCREL) se corresponde con
el nivel intermedio-bajo de uso comunicativo de la lengua y sus objetivos son:
- Interactuar con hablantes nativos en situaciones reales de la vida cotidiana
- Expresar la opinión, plantear quejas, pedir aclaraciones, etc.
- Expresarse con sencillez en pasado: narrar experiencias, contar anécdotas, hechos,
historias, etc.
- Escribir textos sencillos y coherentes sobre diferentes temas
- Adquisición de léxico relacionado con costumbres, biografías, anécdotas, medios de
comunicación, el mundo laboral, etc.
Nivel B2
El nivel B2 del Marco Común Europeo de Referencia para las Lenguas (MCREL) se corresponde con
el nivel de competencia intermedio-alto de uso comunicativo de la lengua y sus objetivos son:
- Interactuar con hablantes nativos con cierta espontaneidad y fluidez
- Expresar su punto de vista sobre asuntos de actualidad, contrastar opiniones en
diferentes registros.
- Exponer las razones, sentimientos, gustos, emociones, reclamaciones, etc.
- Exponer hipótesis y condiciones irreales en el pasado
-Adquisición de léxico relacionado con la empresa, la gastronomía, los refranes y temas de
actualidad: piratería de la música, violencia de género, etc.
Nivel C1
El nivel C1 del Marco Común Europeo de Referencia para las Lenguas (MCREL) se corresponde con
el nivel muy alto en fluidez y capacidad de corrección en el aprendizaje de la lengua y sus objetivos
son:
- Interactuar con hablantes nativos con fluidez y espontaneidad, haciendo uso de
expresiones coloquiales y adaptándose a los diferentes registros
- Comprender discursos amplios, programas de televisión, películas, etc.
- Expresar recuerdos, deseos, voluntad, prohibiciones, ruegos, mandatos, etc.
- Definir términos complejos
- Adquisición de léxico relacionado con la realidad y el arte: expresiones idiomáticas,
supersticiones, costumbres, etc.
Nivel C2
El nivel C2 del Marco Común Europeo de Referencia para las Lenguas (MCREL) se corresponde con
el nivel de perfeccionamiento de la lengua. El estudiante manifiesta una competencia comunicativa
cercana a la de un nativo. Los objetivos del curso son:
- Interactuar con hablantes con alto grado de precisión, propiedad y facilidad en el uso de la
lengua
- Transmitir mensajes con sutiles matices de sentido de forma precisa
- Expresarse con una amplia serie de mecanismos de corrección y un buen dominio de
expresiones idiomáticas y coloquiales, siendo conscientes de los sentidos connotativos de
los mensajes
- Realizar afirmaciones simples, referidas a temas cotidianos y cercanos al hablante
- Expresar gustos, preferencias, estados de ánimo, etc.
- Comprender y extraer información básica de discursos y textos
- Adquisición de léxico muy específico, expresiones, léxico teatral y cinematográfico,
chistes, caricaturas, tiras cómicas, etc
Felix Baumgartner, 43, set the new record for the world's highest skydive when he jumped from an altitude of 128,097 feet (39,044 meters) and broke the sound
barrier during his long descent back to Earth.
He stood alone at the edge of space, poised in the open doorway of a capsule suspended above Earth.Twenty four miles below him, millions of people were right there with him, watching on the Internet.
A second later, he stepped off the capsule and barreled toward the New Mexico desert. Millions watched him breathlessly as he shattered the sound barrier and then landed safely about nine minutes later, becoming the world's first supersonic skydiver.
He stood alone at the edge of space, poised in the open doorway of a capsule suspended above Earth.Twenty four miles below him, millions of people were right there with him, watching on the Internet.
A second later, he stepped off the capsule and barreled toward the New Mexico desert. Millions watched him breathlessly as he shattered the sound barrier and then landed safely about nine minutes later, becoming the world's first supersonic skydiver.
VOCABULARY - The Space
Solar System - Sistema Solar
planet - planeta
orbit - órbita
asteroid - asteroide
asteroid belt - cinturón de asteroides
star - estrella
galaxy - galaxia
comet - cometa
rocket - cohete
astronaut - astronauta
alien - alienígena
satellite - satélite
space ship - nave espacial
meteor - meteorito
space station - estación espacial
ozone layer - capa de ozono
black hole - agujero negro
space junk - basura espacial
space suit - traje espacial
Sun - Sol
Mercury - Mercurio
Venus - Venus
Earth - La Tierra
Moon - La Luna
Mars - Marte
Jupiter - Júpiter
Saturn - Saturno
Uranus - Urano
Neptune - Neptuno
Pluto - Plutón
The Hunger Games trylogy is a science-fiction thriller series written by Suzanne Collins. The trilogy consists of The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. The series recently ranked second, bested only by Harry Potter, in NPR's poll of the top 100 teen novels.
In a dystopian future, the totalitarian nation of Panem is divided
between 12 districts and the Capitol. Each year two young
representatives from each district are selected by lottery to
participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal
retribution for a past rebellion, the televised games are broadcast
throughout Panem. The 24 participants are forced to eliminate their
competitors while the citizens of Panem are required to watch. When
16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's
female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her
male counterpart Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger
representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives.
*Match these English proverbs with the Spanish ones.
A) Don't judge a book by its cover.
B) A stitch in time saves nine.C) The early bird catches the worm.
D) Every cloud has a silver lining.
E) Don't put off 'till tomorrow what you can do today.
F) Better safe than sorry.
G) All that glitters is not gold.
H) Better late than never.
I) He that would have the fruit must climb the tree.
J) If you think the worst, you won't be far wrong.
K) Let bygones be bygones.
L) Love will find a way.
1) Más vale prevenir que curar.
2) No hay mal que por bien no venga.
3) Piensa mal y acertarás.
4) Las apariencias engañan.
5) Lo pasado, pasado está.
6) El amor todo lo puede.
7) Más vale una colorada que ciento amarilla.
8) A quien madruga Dios le ayuda.
9) Quien algo quiere, algo le cuesta.
10) No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.
11) No es oro todo lo que brilla.
12) Mejor tarde que nunca.
In case you speak a different language, could you find the similar proverb?
Yesterday at Sevilla's Sánchez Pizjuán people met to show their appreciation for Freddie Kanoute, while also raised funds for African children, in the fifth annual ''Champions for Africa'' game. Thirty-three thousand people gathered in the stadium to support UNICEF's African programmes for infant survival. More than 540.000 euros were raised for Kanoute Foundation, thanks to the SMSs and sold tickets.
Frédéric Kanouté
Frédéric Oumar Kanouté (born 2 September 1977) is a French-born Malian footballer, who played for Sevilla FC since 2005 until 2011-2012. Currently plays for Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan.
An avid supporter of many humanitarian causes,
Freddy established the Kanouté Foundation (Development Trust, UK) to
promote causes close to his heart. The charity, which also has branches
in France, Spain and Mali, opened its flagship project the Sakina
Children's Village (Mali) in 2010.
Have a look at this reverse motion video by Coldplay. Chris Martin had to learn the song in reverse to create the proper effect for the video.
We all have sometime desired to come back to the start and make our mistakes disappear.
Enjoy it!!
Vengo a reunirme contigo, a decirte que lo siento
No sabes lo encantadora que eres
Tuve que encontrarte, decirte que te necesito
Decirte que yo te aparté.
Cuéntame tus secretos, y consúltame tus preguntas
Oh, volvamos al inicio
Corriendo en círculos, sin llegar a ningun lado
Mentes en una ciencia aparte.
Nadie dijo que sería fácil
Oh es una gran lástima para nosotros el separarnos
Nadie dijo que sería fácil
Nadie dijo nunca que sería así de difícil
Oh, llévame de vuelta al inicio.
Sólo estaba adivinando números y cifras
Separando los rompecabezas
Las preguntas de la ciencia, de la ciencia y del progreso
No hablan tan fuerte como mi corazón.
Y dime que me quieres, vuelve embrújame
Oh, y voy corriendo al inicio
Corriendo en círculos, sin llegar a ningún sitio.
Volviendo a como somos.
Nadie dijo que sería fácil
Oh es una gran lástima para nosotros el separarnos
Nadie dijo que sería fácil
Nadie dijo nunca que sería así de difícil
Oh, llévame de vuelta al inicio.
Do you like magic? Can you play any tricks? I´d like you to see Simon Pierro´s tricks with an ipad. Amazing, isn´t it?
.
OLYMPIC GAMES LONDON 2012

Wenlock and Mandeville are the official mascots for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
- Wenlock’s name is inspired by Much Wenlock in Shropshire, England, where the Wenlock Olympian Society held its first Olympian Games in 1850, regarded as an inspiration for the modern Olympic games.
- Mandeville's name comes from the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England which organised the Stoke Mandeville Games in 1948, a competition for injured soldiers; they are regarded as the inspiration for the Paralympics.
Top 5 Medals Winners (2008)
2,296 medals
Russia
1,445 medals
852 medals
714 medals
France
636 medals
Athletes´ life is not easy. They sometimes have to overcome hard situations and difficulties. This is the story of Julius and Eloise:
Do you like sport? Do you practice sport every day? What kind of sport do you prefer? Do you usually watch sport on TV?
A very original video for today:
De vez en cuando pienso en cuando estábamos juntos
Como cuando dijistes que eras tan feliz que podrías morir
Me dije a mí mismo que eras la persona perfecta para mí
Pero me sentía tan solo en tu compañía
Pero eso era amor y un dolor que aún recuerdo.
Puedes volverte adicto a cierto tipo de tristeza
Como la resignación al final, siempre al final
Así que cuando nos dimos cuenta de que no tenía sentido
Bueno, dijistes que podríamos seguir siendo amigos
Pero admito que me alegré de que acabara.
Pero no tenías por qué alejarme
Hacer como si nada hubiera pasado y no fuéramos nada
Y ni siquiera necesito tu amor
Pero tú me tratas como un extraño y se hace duro
No, no tuviste que caer tan bajo
Hacer que tus amigos recogieran tus discos y que cambiaras tu número
Aunque supongo que no necesito nada de eso
Ahora eres simplemente alguien que yo conocía x3
De vez en cuando pienso en las veces en las que me fastidiabas
Pero me hacías creer que era algo que había hecho yo
Pero no quiero vivir de esa forma, leyendo cada palabra que dices
Me dijiste que podías dejarlo así
Y que yo no estaría enganchada de alguien que yo conocía.
Pero no tenías por qué alejarme
Hacer como si nada hubiera pasado y no fuéramos nada
Y ni siquiera necesito tu amor
Pero tú me tratas como un extraño y se hace duro
No, no tuviste que caer tan bajo
Hacer que tus amigos recogieran tus discos y que cambiaras tu número
Aunque supongo que no necesito nada de eso
Ahora eres simplemente alguien que yo conocía.
A nostalgic song that I like on this rainy day. ByAdele, I hope you like it.
This is the Prologue from Disney's Beauty and the Beast. The narration is by David Ogden Stiers, who has a wonderful voice and pronunciation. How beautiful English language sounds!
Enjoy it.
Enjoy it.
Once upon a time, in a faraway land,
A young Prince lived in a shining castle.
Although he had everything his heart desired,
The Prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind.
But then, one winter's night,
An old beggar woman came to the castle
And offered him a single rose In return for shelter from the bitter cold.
Repulsed by her haggard appearance,
The Prince sneered at the gift,
And turned the old woman away.
But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances,
For Beauty is found within.
And when he dismissed her again,
The old woman's ugliness melted away
To reveal a beautiful Enchantress.
The Prince tried to apologize, but it was too late,
For she had seen that there was no love in his heart.
And as punishment,
She transformed him into a hideous beast,
And placed a powerful spell on the castle,
And all who lived there.
Ashamed of his monstrous form,
The beast concealed himself inside his castle,
With a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world.
The Rose she had offered,
Was truly an enchanted rose,
Which would bloom for many years.
If he could learn to love another,
And earn her love in return
By the time the last petal fell,
Then the spell would be broken.
If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast
For all time.
As the years passed,
He fell into despair, and lost all hope,
For who could ever learn to love...a Beast?
A young Prince lived in a shining castle.
Although he had everything his heart desired,
The Prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind.
But then, one winter's night,
An old beggar woman came to the castle
And offered him a single rose In return for shelter from the bitter cold.
Repulsed by her haggard appearance,
The Prince sneered at the gift,
And turned the old woman away.
But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances,
For Beauty is found within.
And when he dismissed her again,
The old woman's ugliness melted away
To reveal a beautiful Enchantress.
The Prince tried to apologize, but it was too late,
For she had seen that there was no love in his heart.
And as punishment,
She transformed him into a hideous beast,
And placed a powerful spell on the castle,
And all who lived there.
Ashamed of his monstrous form,
The beast concealed himself inside his castle,
With a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world.
The Rose she had offered,
Was truly an enchanted rose,
Which would bloom for many years.
If he could learn to love another,
And earn her love in return
By the time the last petal fell,
Then the spell would be broken.
If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast
For all time.
As the years passed,
He fell into despair, and lost all hope,
For who could ever learn to love...a Beast?
Our senses deceive us. Descartes already discovered it in the 17th century...So, don´t trust. Sometimes we perceive images that differ from objective reality. Have a look at these amazing visual illusions.
Welcome to my blog!
I have created this blog especially for those who need English and also for those who love it. I hope you find this site useful.
If you have any suggestions, ideas, requests or just want to leave a message, please send me an email (cmsanchezh@gmail.com) or fill in this contact form.
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