SIGNS, SIGNS

Hello everyone!

Today, I want to talk to you about signs. They are very important in our lives. We can’t live without these bright, colourful little things. But in other countries, signs can be really different!

For example, take next sign. What does it mean?


Perhaps: “If you want a crocodile to eat your friend, this is the moment. Push his chair!”


Other signs don’t have a picture, just words. But can you understand this?

The sign tells you: “Don’t touch the sign”. Very clever! "Ah! and don’t walk or use your car here because you can possibly die…”


Public places have their signs too. Do you go to swimming pools? If you do, maybe you've read this:




Finally, a game for you. Can you tell me the meaning of next sign? What do you think?

Clues: You can see it in California, near Mexico. This one is really serious.

IF YOU GUESS THE ANSWER, WRITE A COMMENT AND TELL US!

See you soon

Alex

Happy (Chinese) New Year.

Although the Chinese New Year falls on January 26, 2009 (year 4707 on the Chinese calendar), the London celebrations are usually held on the first Sunday after Chinese New Year’s Day, that is, February 1, 2009. This year about 300,000 people are expected to attend the lion and dragon dances, fireworks and acrobatic performances in Chinatown, Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square. At home people eat special food to bring in good luck. You can watch the videos at the bottom to know more.

The present Chinatown, a commercial area where very few people actually live, is located in Soho and dates back to the 70’s, when the area was a run-down district and the rent was cheap. The first Chinatown was in the East End, but much of it was damaged during the Blitz ( the sustained bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941)in the Second War World.

2009 is the year of the Ox. People born under the sign of the Ox are said to be good leaders, methodical and good at making things. Famous oxen include Barack Obama, Napoleon Bonaparte, Princess Diana, Walt Disney, Vincent Van Gogh, Bruce Springsteen and Robert Redford. If you like predictions, horoscopes and the like, click here to find out what your Chinese birth sign is. When you do, you could post a comment and let us know.

Interviews with Londoners





Traditions




Chema

MEMBERS OF CEPAIM NGO IN NAVALMORAL RECEIVED YOUR DONATIONS YESTERDAY

As announced, during the break yesterday evening the staff of the Official Language School gave CEPAIM members in Navalmoral the donations (400 Euros) from our Charity Raffle at our last Christmas Party.

They were very grateful to you for your solidarity and encouraged us to go on helping people in need.

DEAR BEGINNERS, TAKE THE CHALLENGE!
Hi everyone! How are you on this grey Wednesday afternoon?

I think this blog is a great idea and I hope you´ll take as much advantage of it as possible.

I guess most of you are thinking this blog is for those who know a lot of English. Well, you´re wrong there. It is also for you. You may find some posts hard to read, though. So, here I come with something easy to challenge you.

Let´s start by sharing travelling experiences. Ready? Close your eyes and think about that beautiful place you once went to. Now, sit and write about it. Okey doke?

This is my choice.

World´s steepest cog-wheel railway. Mount Pilatus. Switzerland.

I visited Switzerland a couple of years ago and I fell in love with it. Wherever you go the views of the Alps are impressive. One day we went on a trip to Mount Pilatus near Lucerne and, believe me, going up the summit in one of those cable cars is a great experience for all, children and adults. My little son loved it! At the top you enjoy breathtaking views of the Alps and Lucerne.

EVERYBODY´S WELCOME!

Looking forward to hearing from you.

XXX Carmela.

Explore Obama's speech

It's the news of the week, Obama is officially the new President of the United States.

Here is a link to the video 'President Barack Obama takes the oath of office and delivers his inaugural address from the steps of the Capitol'.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27721638/vp/28657278#28657278

There has been a lot of controversy about the mistake in the oath. You have a chance to see it live!!!.

IMPORTANT: If you want to read the speech while watching the video, click on the 'transcript' button right underneath it.

TTYL (Talk to you later)

Your teachers

No Syrup

I had waffles this morning for breakfast, but I had no syrup.

Warm homemade waffles are a welcome, satisfying breakfast on a cold winter day. Waffles drenched in syrup are a traditional brunch and breakfast favorite in the United States, where I lived for a while.

In Spain we usually eat them with whipped cream and chocolate on top. Please, don't get me wrong, I looooove chocolate, but I don't know, today, when I was eating my waffles, I missed syrup. It's usually the small things what you miss the most.

So, many of you have spent some time abroad. What is it that you miss?

PLEASE, COMMENT!!

;-) Cristina

NOTE: if you want to know more about syrup, you can go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_syrup

Dear students,

Welcome!!!!!

We are officially out there.

We really hope you enjoy our blog, and participate with us in this new adventure.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Alex, Carmela, Chema, Cristina and Esther.

;-)

New movies

Hi! As from now, we will try to keep you updated on the new movies we receive. Remember you can borrow them all at the library. Get some popcorn and enjoy!


THE PAINTED VEIL. The Painted Veil is a love story set in the 1920s that tells the story of a young English couple. Walter is a middle class doctor and Kitty, an upper-class woman. They get married for the wrong reasons and relocate to Shanghai. Their lives are about to change forever…
Starring Naomi Watts and Edward Norton


BECOMING JANE. A biography of Jane Austen and her romance with a young Irish man. Starring Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy.


THE GOOD SHEPHERD. Do you like spy movies? Robert de Niro shows us the origins of the CIA. Edward Wilson, the main character, believes in honor, discretion, and patriotism. But the better spy you become, the less you can trust the people around you…
Starring Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie.



SCOOP. Simply hilarious. Woody Allen at his best. Sondra Pransky (Scarlett Johansson) and the one-of –a-kind magician Splendini (Woody Allen) try to solve the mystery of the “tarot card killer”.

More information on these movies at http://www.imdb.com/

Álex (English teacher)

Golden Globe Awards

Happy New Year!!!

I know it's already the middle of January, but our New Year's resolution was to finally start this blog, so here we are!!!

For those of you interested in films, tv series and such, last night were the 2009 Golden Globe Awards. The "Goldens" often give us an idea about who will win the Oscars this year, so it's worth to have a look.

Personally, I always try to watch the films and tv series that have won an award and I have had some pleasant surprises over the years...

So, here is a list of the winners. Enjoy!!

• Cristina Galindo (English Teacher)
  
  

Source: http://tv.msn.com/golden-globes/

Complete list of winners at Sunday's 66th annual Golden Globes, presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in Beverly Hills, Calif.:

MOTION PICTURES:
—Picture, Drama: "Slumdog Millionaire"
—Actress, Drama: Kate Winslet, "Revolutionary Road"
—Actor, Drama: Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"
—Picture, Musical or Comedy: "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
—Actress, Musical or Comedy: Sally Hawkins, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
—Actor, Musical or Comedy: Colin Farrell, "In Bruges"
—Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet, "The Reader"
—Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"
—Director: Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"
—Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire"
—Foreign Language: "Waltz With Bashir," Israel
—Animated Film: "Wall-E"
—Original Score: A.R. Rahman, "Slumdog Millionaire"
—Original Song: "The Wrestler" (performed by Bruce Springsteen, written by Bruce Springsteen), "The Wrestler"
TELEVISION:
—Actress, Drama: Anna Paquin, "True Blood"
—Actor, Drama: Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment"
—Series, Musical or Comedy: "30 Rock"
—Series, Drama: "Mad Men"
—Actress, Musical or Comedy: Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
—Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
—Miniseries or Movie: "John Adams"
—Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Laura Linney, "John Adams"
—Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Paul Giamatti, "John Adams"
—Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Laura Dern, "Recount"
—Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Tom Wilkinson, "John Adams"