Celebrating Our Day!

ANDALUSIAN DAY

· Andalusia is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the most populous and the second largest of the seventeen autonomous communities of theKingdom of Spain. Its capital and largest city isSeville. The region is divided into eight provinces:Huelva, Seville,Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén,Granada and Almería.
· Andalusia is located south of the autonomous communities ofExtremadura and Castile-La Mancha,between the Sierra Morena Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea; west of the autonomous community of Murcia and the Mediterranean Sea; east of Portugaland the Atlantic Ocean; and north of the Mediterranean Sea, theStrait of Gibraltar, which separates Spain from Morocco .
· We celebrate our Andalusian Day on the 28th of February. We do a lot of activities like an Andalusian Breakfast (bread and oil), dancing, poetry, music...

· Andalusia was the most important staging ground for the war with Rome led by Hannibal. The Romans defeated the Carthaginians and conquered Andalusia, the region being renamed Baetica.

· Andalusian culture was deeply influenced by half a millennium of Muslim Rule during the Middle Ages.Córdoba became the largest and richest city in Western Europe and one of the largest in the world.

· Under the Muslims, the name "Al-Andalus" was applied to a larger area than the present Spanish region, and at some periods it referred to nearly the entire Iberian peninsula; it survived, however, as the name of the area where Muslim rule and culture persisted the longest.
· In 1492 the last Moor king Boabdil gives the city of Granada to the Catholic Monarchs Isabel and Fernando and moves to the Alpujarra mountains. With the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus begins the golden age of Andalusia. Seville becomes the main place for all trading activities.

· Andalusia is traditionally an agricultural area, but the service sector (particularly tourism, retail sales, and transportation) now predominates. The construction sector is growing very quickly.
· The most famous Andalusian dish is gazpacho, a cold soup made with tomatoes, onion, garlic, peppers, cucumbers, and olive oil. The other dish for which Andalusia is known is fried fish, available at special shops called freidurías.
· A salad of lettuce and tomatoes is served with most dishes, but these are usually the only vegetables that accompany a meal. Andalusia's most popular drink is cold beer .

Some important and famous andalusians are:
Esther Arroyo and Paz Vega (actresses), Antonio Banderas and Alex O´Dogherty (actors).
Paquiro and Paquirri : Bullfighters.
Juan Díaz de Solís: Explorer.
Almanzor , Arganthonios, Emilio Castelar, Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, Trajanus , Blas Infante… : Politicians.
Sara Baras (flamenco dancer), David Bisbal (pop singer) , Manuel de Falla (composer of classical music), Lola Flores (Singer, dancer and actress), Rocío Jurado (Singer), Camarón de la Isla (Flamenco Singer): Musicians.
Alonso Cano (sculptor and painter), Murillo, Picasso and Velazquez (painters).
Paquillo Fernández ( athletics), Juanito, Fernando Hierro, Joaquín, Sergio Ramos and Kiko (football players): Sports people.
Séneca, Bécquer, Garcia Lorca, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Antonio and Manuel Machado, Luis Rosales…: Writers

St Valentine's Day

Domingo 14 de febrero de 2010

St Valentine's Day

St Valentine is the saint of people in love, and St Valentine's Day is February 14th. On that day, people send Valentine cards and presents to their husbands, wives, boyfriends and girlfriends. You can also send a card to a person you don't know. But traditionally you must never write your name on it. Some British newspapers have a page for St Valentine's Day messages on February 14th.

Here I leave you a love letter. You have to complete the gaps with a suitbale verb in the Present Perfect tense.

I never like this before. I _______ in love with you since we met last summer. It was a sunny day in August. I was on the beach with my friend Jessica when I saw you. You and your friends talked to us and that evening we went together to the disco. Since then you ______in my heart. We ________several times after that summer day, we ________together a few times and you ______ very friendly to me, too, but I think you that I am deeply in love with you. I my mother about you, but she ________my feelings. She thinks that I'm too young. My friend Jessi __________ you some secret messages from her mobile phone, but you . She ________ me a lot because sometimes I feel miserable. I think that you don't like me, but I _______ this letter to tell you that I _________ you since the day we met and I ________ of you every night and day. Please, tell me something, I need to know .............
LOVE.
Carmen

Welcome to the English Corner

martes 12 de enero de 2010

This is a place to have fun while we learn and practise English! So, there we go!

Publicado por Esther en 04:42 0 comentarios

Healthy Life!

jueves 14 de enero de 2010

Hi guys! These days we are studying a unit related to food and good health, that is why I leave you here some tips to follow. Read them, pay attention and try to follow them!
Healthy Eating:
A Guide for Teens

Healthy eating is a way of balancing the food you eat to keep your body strong, energized, and well nourished. This guide was created to help you learn about healthy eating, and ways to plan nutritious meals and snacks. When you eat well, you are taking good care of your body.

Healthy eating is a great way to:
Have energy all day long
Get the vitamins and minerals your body needs
Stay strong for sports or other activities
Reach your maximum height (if you are still growing)
Maintain a healthy weight
Prevent unhealthy eating habits, like skipping meals and feeling overly hungry at the next meal
What is "healthy eating?"
Aiming for regular meals (usually 3 meals per day in the morning, afternoon, and evening) and healthy snacks (when you are hungry or need extra energy)
Eating foods from all of the food groups (grains, fruits, vegetables, proteins, dairy proteins, and healthy fats) each day to meet your nutritional needs
Balancing nutrient-rich foods with moderate amounts of other foods, such as sweets or fast foods
Eating when hungry and stopping when full.

Do you have any question? Do you know the meaning of the words in the text? Ask whatever you don't understand!

Publicado por Esther en 05:32 0 comentarios

Meals and Meal times

lunes 18 de enero de 2010

Some people have their biggest meal in the middle of the day and some have it in the evening, but most people today have a small mid-day meal - usually sandwiches, and perhaps some crisps and some fruit.

We have three main meals a day:

Breakfast - between 7:00 and 9:00,
Lunch - between 12:00 and 1:30 p.m.
Dinner (sometimes called Supper) - The main meal. Eaten anytime between 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. (Evening meal)
Traditionally, and for some people still, the meals are called:

Breakfast - between 7:00 and 9:00,
Dinner (The main meal) - between 12:00 and 1:30 p.m.
Tea - anywhere from 5:30 at night to 6:30 p.m.
On Sundays the main meal of the day is often eaten at midday instead of in the evening. This meal usually is a Roast Dinner consisting of a roast meat, yorkshire pudding and two or three kinds of vegetables.

BREAKFAST

What is a typical English Breakfast?

Most people around the world seem to think a typical English breakfast consists of eggs, bacon, sausages, fried bread, mushrooms and baked beans all washed down with a cup of coffee. Now-a-days, however, a typical English breakfast is more likely to be a bowl of cereals, a slice of toast, orange juice and a cup of coffee.

Many people, especially children, in England will eat a bowl of cereal. They are made with different grains such as corn, wheat, oats etc.

In the winter many people will eat "porridge" or boiled oats.

What is the traditional English Breakfast?


The traditional English breakfast consists of eggs, bacon, sausages, fried bread, baked beans and mushrooms. Even though not many people will eat this for breakfast today, it is always served in hotels and guest houses around Britain.

The traditional English breakfast is called the 'Full English' and sometimes referred to as 'The Full English Fry-up'.

LUNCH

What is a typical British lunch?

Many children at school and adults at work will have a 'packed lunch'. This typically consists of a sandwich, a packet of crisps, a piece of fruit and a drink. The 'packed lunch' is kept in a plastic container.
Sandwiches are also known as a 'butty' or 'sarnie' in some parts of the UK.

My favourite sandwich is prawn and mayonnaise. I also love tuna and mayonnaise and ham and pickle sandwiches.
DINNER

The evening meal is usually called 'tea', 'dinner' or 'supper'.

What is a traditional British Dinner?

A typical British meal for dinner is "meat and two veg". We put hot brown gravy, (traditionally made from the juices of the roast meat, but more often today from a packet!) on the meat and usually the vegetables. One of the vegetables is almost always potatoes.

Publicado por Esther en 05:50 1 comentarios

NonViolence & Peace Day!

viernes 29 de enero de 2010

Today it is a very important day. We are celebrating non-violence and peace, that's why I leave you some quotations by important people talking about this issue. Have a look at them and tell me, do you understand what they are trying to say?

AGATHA CHRISTIE:
One is left with the horrible feeling now that war settles nothing; that to win a war is as disastrous as to lose one.

ARISTOTLE:
We make war that we may live in peace.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN:
There never was a good war or a bad peace.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW:
Peace is not only better than war, but infinitely more arduous.

INDIRA GANDHI:
You can't shake hands with a clenched fist.

JOHN F. KENNEDY:
It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war.



What do you think? Do you agree? Come on! tell me your opinions!

I will also leave you a video which deals with peace and nonviolence, here you have!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdc_wC6D6p0

Publicado por Esther en 03:02 0 comentarios

Grammar: Presente Perfect Simple

lunes 1 de febrero de 2010

Grammar: Presente Perfect Simple

The present perfect simple expresses an action that is still going on or that stopped recently, but has an influence on the present. It puts emphasis on the result.

Form of Present Perfect
Positive Negative Question
I / you / we / they I have spoken. I have not spoken. Have I spoken?
he / she / it He has spoken. He has not spoken. Has he spoken?
For irregular verbs, use the participle form (see list of irregular verbs, 3rd column). For regular verbs, just add “ed”.

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’
Exceptions in spelling when adding ed Example
after a final e only add d love – loved
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel
or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled admit – admitted
travel – travelled
final y after a consonant becomes i hurry – hurried
Use of Present Perfect
puts emphasis on the result
Example: She has written five letters.

action that is still going on
Example: School has not started yet.

action that stopped recently
Example: She has cooked dinner.

finished action that has an influence on the present
Example: I have lost my key.

action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking
Example: I have never been to Australia.

Publicado por Esther en 04:59 0 comentarios

“Practice as if you are the worst, perform as if you are the best.”

martes 2 de febrero de 2010

As the title shows, we have to practice as much as we can to achieve our goals! That's why I leave you an exercise to practice!!

Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect simple).

I (not / work) today.
We (buy) a new lamp.
We (not / plan) our holiday yet.
Where (be / you) ?
He (write) five letters.
She (not / see) him for a long time.
(be / you) at school?
School (not / start) yet.
(speak / he) to his boss?
No, he (have / not) the time yet.

Publicado por Esther