Wales and St. David's Day

Today Welsh people celebrate St. David's Day. If you don't know a lot about this saint or Welsh traditions, just follow the link and then answer the questions.
St. David's Day

1. What are the three Welsh national symbols?
2. Select three important details about St.David's life.
3. Do Welsh people like singing? Explain your answer.
4. What are the two colours of the traditional Welsh costume for boys?
5.What is an "Eisteddfod"?
6. Explain one of St. David's miracles or legends.

The Amish

The Amish are a group of Christian people who live mainly in the USA. They are known for living a simple life and rejecting the advantages of modern technology. Seach for information on the internet and write five sentences describing the Amish way of life. Here are some ideas: transport, common jobs, clothes, technology, health, physical appearance, marriage, children. Leave your comments as usual!

Exploring Andalusia

In a short time we'll be celebrating Andalusia Day. Why don't you just take a look at the link below and read  important information about your region and at the same time you learn some English? Leave the answers to at least five of the questions in your comments!
Exploring Andalusia

Carnival

 These days many people around the world celebrate Carnival. If you want to learn about different traditions, just visit the web Carnivals around the world
And then answer these questions in your comments.
1. What date is the Burbage Carnival in the UK this year?
2. What speciality food can you eat at the New Orleans Mardi Grass?
3. When did the Cooperstown Winter Carnival begin?
4. In which month is the Cadbury Chocolate Carnival in New Zealand?

SMS English

 The English we use today is very different from the English of Shakespeare’s times. Text messages have made us less patient, who has time to write 'lots of love', when 'LOL' will do. Love it or hate it, SMS English is hard to avoid and often difficult to understand. Here’s a short list of what you can expect from SMS English. Leave me your comments using this type of communication! C U soon !

a) @ = at

b) B4 = before         BOL = best of luck          BBFN = bye bye for now

c) COS = because    CUL8R = see you later

d) DNT = don't

e) EZ = easy

f) FYI = for your information

g) GFI = go for it                   G8 = great

h) HAND = have a nice day     H8 = hate          H-BDAY = happy birthday

i) ILBL8 = I'll be late       IDK = I don't know

j) JK = just kidding

l) LOL= lots of love ; laughing out loud

m) MYOB = mind your own business

n) N1 = nice one

o) OMG = oh my god

p) PLZ = please

q) QIK = quick

r) RU = are you

t) THX= thanks 

u) UW = you're welcome

v) VM = voice mail

w) WK = week               W8 = wait

x) XOXO = kisses and hugs

y) YGTBKM = you've got to be kidding me                       

z) ZUP = what's up?

Love

Everybody should fall in love at least once. Human beings talk, write and feel love, but is it a mental or an animal process? What do you think? Leave your favourite English love quotes, songs or poems in a comment!

Quote : " The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return" from the film Moulin Rouge.
Song : " Your song" by Elton John.
Poem : " Annabel Lee " by Edgar Allan Poe.

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of ANNABEL LEE;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.

I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love-
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.

And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.

The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Went envying her and me-
Yes!- that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.

But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Mr. Bean

This is one of my favourite Mr. Bean's videos. He's packing for holidays and he can't take everything in his small suitcase. What does he finally take? Make a list of the things he puts in his suitcase and leave your comments as usual. Have fun!

Charles Dickens

 Today marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, one of England’s most prolific and celebrated Victorian writers. Dickens became popular for his best-known novels, which include David Copperfield, A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, The Adventures of Oliver Twist, Bleak House and Little Dorrit. He also wrote short stories, nonfiction, poetry and plays.

Follow the link below. Watch the video and decide if the sentences are "True" of " False". Remember to correct the false ones. Leave your comments as usual!!

Charles Dickens: video

1. Charles Dickens was born in a rich family.
2. He worked as a journalist.
3. He had more than eight children.
4. He liked writing about insane and poor people.
5. He visited the USA, Italy and France with his family.
6. He died when he was sixty in an accident.

Peace Day

Today, Peace Day is celebrated around the world. A lot of beautiful songs like " Imagine" by John Lennon or "Where is the love?" by the Black Eyed Peas or the " Peace song" by Bob Sinclair talk about this topic. I suggest you to translate and think about the lyrics in these songs. Together we can make the world a better place to live in. Leave your comments as usual!
Peace song- Together

Triceratops

Do you like dinosaurs? Was the triceratops your favourite one? If so, read the information in the link below and then leave your answers in a comment.

Triceratops
1. Can you describe the dinosaur's head?
2. What's the meaning of the name?
3. Did triceratops live in herds? Explain your answer.
4.  Explain two possible reasons for the frill.

Animal sounds

How are the animal sounds written and pronounced in English? Which sounds are the easiest and the most complicated to reproduce? Play the video and leave your comments!

Crimes

Different types of crimes appear on the papers or on the news every day, so you should know the name of the most common crimes, just in case. Follow the links below and leave your comments as usual.
Crossword
The bear story

The environment

How "green" are you? Do you usually recycle bottles, cans or paper? Would you like to learn more about this topic? Follow the links below and start being eco-friendly. Celebrate Earth Day every single day.
The environment Quiz
Reuse, reduce, recycle
Let's fight pollution
Song: Mother Earth

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is the most famous detective in the world. He lived at 221b Baker Street in London between 1881 and 1904. You can visit the Sherlock Holmes museum, the Online Shop or try a Quiz on his life and adventures with his friend Dr. Watson. I hope you enjoy yourself and your reading book!
Museum Tour
Online shop
Quiz

Christmas

This is the most important festival during winter. You should know some vocabulary and the main traditions in the English-speaking countries. Follow the links below and leave me your results in a comment! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone reading this!!!

Vocabulary, Carol and Video
Under the mistletoe- Justin Bieber
Christmas Game- for fun !

A Ghost Collection

After reading the stories in this book, try the extra activities that you will find in the link below. Remember to click on Activities to download them to your computer. If you do them, leave me a comment with the results!

A Ghost Collection - Website Activities

The National Gallery

If you are interested in visiting one of the best galleries in the world, just follow the link below. Use the Floorplans to change from room to room. Use the Paintings button to learn more about each painting. I highly recommend you to visit Room 30 = Spain, Room 45 = Van Gogh and Cezanne, Room 34 = Great Britain and Room 43= Manet, Monet and the Impressionists.

National Gallery- Virtual Tour

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day this year. It's the most important family meeting in the USA and it means the beginning of Christmas time. If you want to learn some more about it, follow the links below.
Reading and Quiz
Wordsearch

Jobs and Professions

This is one of the most common topics when learning English vocabulary. Choose the level according to your knowledge or practise all of them. Leave your comments as usual!
Easy level
Intermediate Level
Advanced Level

Food and drinks

If you want to practise this topic follow the links below and leave me your results as usual. Don't do these exercises if you are hungry or thirsty!
Breakfast and desserts
Fruit and Vegetables
Food Wordsearch
Traditional English breakfast
Food Game