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WELCOME BACK!

I hope you all had a wonderful summer.

School starts Tuesday, September 14th.

IT´S SUMMER!

See you in September!

THEATRE IN ENGLISH

For the second year in a row we attended a theatre perfomance in “La Encarnación” Auditorium in Villanueva de los Infantes. This year Moving ON Theatre Company performed a show called “Going Underground”. Once again the show was a great success and our students had fun and learned a lot.

Sypnosis (From www.movingonsl.com):

The London Underground is the oldest and one of the biggest in the world. The history and culture of Britain’s capital city are inextricably linked with its famous Underground. A train journey through its stations is a journey through time and the chance to savour all that London has to offer.

Apart from 273 Underground stations in use there are more than 40 “Ghost Stations”; closed to the public and to trains. In times of Economic Crisis and population growth there are plans to convert some of these stations into underground car parks.

Bob is an eccentric teacher with a passion for the history of London. Today she is taking her students to Down Street Station so they can see it in its original state before the works begin to demolish it. When they arrive at the station, they find Harry, whose great grandfather built the station, working there. The attempts to convince the authorities not to go ahead with the demolition will take us all on a comical, musical and educational journey through London and its history. Together, we will try and save the station and Harry’s home.

Here is a selection of some of the pictures taken during the show.

How to make American pancakes

Last week the students in 1º ESO learned about what Americans eat for breakfast. Some of you asked me to publish the video "How to make American pancakes" that we saw in class. Here it is. Enjoy!

MYSTERY PHOTO REVEALED

Many of you guessed and wrote comments on the blog about this photo. Some of the guesses were places near Infantes that have wind turbines (or windmills) and open fields. We had some snow in January, too, so there are lots of possibilities. Thanks for sending your ideas.

However, Will took this photo after he left Infantes in January, while he was driving across the United States on his way to his new home in Eugene, Oregon. The photo was taken between Council Bluffs and Iowa City, Iowa. Will thought that the landscape there looked similar to Castile-La Mancha. What do you think?

Both Iowa and Castile-La Mancha are agricultural and have high plains or plateaus that are good for capturing wind energy. Remember that before vacation, we talked about the 50 (nifty) United States? Can you find Iowa on the map?

Judith

Video: Fifty Nifty United States

POLL #10: HOW GREEN ARE YOU?

Here are the results of our last poll: How green are you?

• I´m totally green. I do everything I can to be green: 10 votes (50%)
• A little. I think I could do more: 10 votes (50%)
• I´m starting to be green: 0 votes (0%)
• Not at all: 0 votes (0%)

Total number of people who voted: 20

In unit 6 we´re talking about technology (computers, mobile/cell phones, computer games, etc), so my question for the next poll is: What´s your favourite type of computer game?

HAPPY EASTER HOLIDAYS!

Classes resume April 6

SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

Wednesday, 17th March, is Saint Patrick's Day, the patron saint of Ireland. It´s a day of celebration for Irish people around the world. Click here to learn about Ireland, St. Patrick´s Day and how Irish people celebrate this day.

Eric Herman wishes you a Happy St. Patrick´s Day with this funny song about a particularly lucky day.

Eric Herman - Cool tunes for kids

ACTIVITY: Read the lyrics of this song and fill in the gaps with the correct word.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN´S DAY

International Women's Day (IWD) is observed worldwide on March 8th.It is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some countries IWD is a national holiday. The first IWD was run in 1911. Read more...

HAPPY ST. DAVID´S DAY!

Monday 1st March is St David's Day, the national day of Wales. To celebrate this day most schools in Wales hold a school concert or eistedfodd with singing, music, poetry and dance. Women, especially young girls, dress up in a Welsh national costume. Welsh people often wear a daffodil or leek, the traditional symbols of Wales.

DID YOU KNOW?

The place with the longest name in the world is in Wales.It´s Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
which means The church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool by St. Tysilio's of the red cave.

ACTIVITIES

QUIZ: St. David´s Day

QUIZ: Wales

MYSTERY PHOTO

Thanks for sending in your guesses and comments about where you think the photo was taken. So far, no one has guessed it.

Here is a hint: it was not taken in Castile-La Mancha.

Can you make another guess? Try again by sending a comment.

Judith

PRESIDENT´S DAY

President´s Day (also known as Washington´s birthday) is a United States national holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February to honor two of the most important presidents in the history of this country, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, whose birthdays are Feb. 22 and Feb.12 respectively. This year President´s Day fell on Monday,February 15th.

ACTIVITY: Try these quizzes to find out how much you know about the presidents of the United States of America.

President´s Day Quiz 1

President´s Day Quiz 2

President´s Day Quiz 3

A MESSAGE FROM WILL

Will sent us this message from the USA:

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to say hi and to send you a photo I took.

Can you guess where it was taken?

Post your responses in the comments.

We will let you know if you are right.

Bye for now,

Will Heins

GROUNDHOD DAY (2)

Groundhog Phil, the most famous groundhog in the United Stated, sees his shadow and predicts six more weeks of winter.

More information:

groundhod.org

GROUNDHOD DAY

Groundhog Day is a traditional festival celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2, midway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.
In traditional weather lore, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and cannot see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If the groundhog sees its shadow because the weather is bright and clear, it will be frightened and run back into its hole, and the winter will continue for six more weeks.

America´s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, live in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, USA.

QUIZ (a4esl.org)

AUSTRALIA DAY

January 26, is the biggest day of celebration in Australia and is observed as a public holiday in all states and territories.

On Australia Day Australians come together as a nation to celebrate what's great about Australia and being Australian. It's the day to reflect on what they have achieved and what they can be proud of in their great nation.

BURNS´ NIGHT

Burns´Night is celebrated in Scotland on or around January 25th to commemorate the life and work of the Scottish poet Robert Burns (born on January 25, 1759) and his contribution to Scotttish culture.

Click on the screen below to listen to one of his most famous works, Auld Lang Syne:

How much do you know about Scotland?. Try this quiz to find it out.

Scotland Quiz (www.quia.com)

NEW YEAR´S RESOLUTIONS

At midnight on New Year’s Eve many people make a New Year resolution. New Year's resolutions are decisions to do something new or to change a habit. We write a list of resolutions to help us remember them in the coming year.

Click on the links below to write your New Year´s resolutions for 2010.

ACTIVITY
Version A - to be sent to me.
Version B - to be printed (from its-english.com)

WELCOME BACK!

WELCOME

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS

School resumes Thursday, January 7th, 2010

HAPPY XMAS, JUDITH!

Hi Judith!

How are you?. Thank you very much for your message. We hope you are having a wonderful time with your family and friends in the United States.

We also want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Your students in 2º ESO-Sección Europea

SPAIN: FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Here is Judith´s presentation about Infantes. As you can remember, the sound wasn´t very good when we watched it in the classroom. The problem has been fixed and you can watch and listen to it now. Enjoy!.

A MESSAGE FROM JUDITH

Hello Everyone!

I am sending this message from the United States. I arrived safely on Friday, December 18^th after a 7½ hour flight from Madrid. I spent one night in Madrid on the way from Infantes. I enjoyed seeing all the Christmas lights and decorations there.

Now I am in Connecticut and the weather is cold. This morning it was 23 degrees Fahrenheit. Do you know what temperature that is on the Celsius scale?

(Hint: 32 degrees F = 0 degrees C)

We are expecting a big snowstorm later today (Saturday). We could get as much as 2 feet of snow.

Do you know how many centimeters that will be?

(Hint: 1 foot = 30.48 centimeters)

There are going to be very high winds, too, maybe up to 35 miles per hour.

Do you know how many kilometers per hour that will be?

(Hint: 1 mile per hour = 1.6 kilometers per hour)

This type of storm is called a BLIZZARD.

My family and I are getting ready for Christmas. We celebrate Christmas with the some family traditions such as by seeing as many family members and friends as possible, decorating the house, giving presents (gifts) and eating some good meals.

I am going to celebrate this year by:

Giving a party for my family (nephews, brother-in-law, sons, husband, nieces)

Giving a party for my friends

Decorating the Christmas tree

Drinking eggnog*

Wrapping presents

Going Christmas caroling* at 6PM on Christmas Eve on the Town Green* in my town

Watching The Grinch Who Stole Christmas*

Reading “The Night Before Christmas”*

Hanging our stockings by the fireplace

Opening presents on Christmas morning (December 25^th)

Eating a nice meal* on Christmas Day

Talking to friends and family on the telephone

Even though I am busy having fun, I am thinking of you and hope that you are having fun too! Have a wonderful vacation and

Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Season’s Greetings!

From, Judith

*Eggnog is a traditional drink made from sugar, cream, eggs and nutmeg. It’s delicious!

*Caroling – is singing. This word is usually associated with the songs we sing at Christmas which are songs of joy.

*Town Green – is similar to a town square or plaza but it has grass instead of stones.

*The Grinch Who Stole Christmas- is a cartoon movie based on story written by Dr. Seuss in 1957.

*”The Night Before Christmas” is a poem written by Clement Clark Moore in 1823.

*Our meal will be shrimp, roast beef, mashed potatoes, green vegetables, chocolate mousse cake and strawberry ice cream.