English Department

CANDLE IN THE WING - ELTON JOHN - A PRINCESS DIANA TRIBUTE

2010-08-27T11:47:00.002-04:00

THE 13rd ANNIVERSARY OF HER DEATH. PRINCESS DIANA

2010-08-27T11:28:00.006-04:00

Diana, Princess of Wales

(Diana Frances Mountbatten-Windsor; née Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997)

Princess Diana was an iconic figure of the late 20th Century. During her life she was often said to be the most photographed person, appearing on the cover of People magazine more than anyone else. She epitomised feminine beauty and glamour. At the same time, she was admired for her groundbreaking charity work; in particular her work with AIDS patient,s and supporting the campaign for banning landmines. Married to Prince Charles in 1981, she received the title of “Her Royal Highness Princess Diana of Wales” She is the Mother of Prince William and Prince Harry 2nd and 3rd in line to the throne respectively.

Diana was born to an aristocratic family who links to the Royal Family. Her father was Edward Spencer, Viscount Althorp. Edward Spencer was a direct descendent of Charles II.. Her mother was Frances Viscountess Althorp. Her mother was distantly related with the Queen Mother, and was also of American descent. When Diana was young, her parents divorced with her father winning a bitter battle for custody of the children. Diana grew up in the family home of Park House, before moving to Althorp in 1975. Diana did not shine as a student, but did well in music and ballet. When she met her future husband, Diana was working as a part time assistant in a nursery school in London.

In 1981, Diana married Prince Charles. Diana was 13 years the junior, at an age of just 20, Charles by contrast was 33 at the time of the wedding. The general public soon warmed to the innocence and beauty of Princess Diana, and the wedding was watched by over 1 billion people world wide. During their marriage they had two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. However, in the mid 1980s, strains started to appear in the marriage, and under much publicity the marriage broke up leading to a divorce in 1992. During this period Diana is said to have suffered various health problems such as bulimia and depression.

As Princess of Wales, Diana was expected to take part in various official engagements, such as, opening of hospitals. This provided a natural outlet for her to become involved in various types of charitable work. Her natural sympathy and oneness with patients was much admired. In 1987, Princess Diana was one of the first well known celebrities to be photographed with a victim of AIDS. This was important in changing attitudes to the disease. At the time, many thought the disease could be contacted by touch alone. Another of her high profile charities, was her involvement in the campaign to ban landmines. In January 1997, she visited mine fields in Angola to inspect the clearing of landmines. After her death, the Ottawa treaty, was signed banning the use of anti-personnel landmines. Many agree that her support and role in the campaign played an important role in influencing this decision.

Shortly before her death, June 18th Princess Diana met with Mother Teresa. Both admired each other. Mother Teresa always said “Diana is my daughter.” With utmost humility Diana said “I am a very, very small Mother Teresa.

Despite the pervasive press intrusions into her private life, Diana remained very popular because people could identify with her. Her hands on approach to charity work gave the impression of a new type of Royal, who was no longer so remote.

“everyone needs to be valued. Everyone has the potential to give something back if only they had the chance.”

Diana died on 31st August, 1997, in a car crash involving Dodi Al-Fayed. (see last moments of Princess Diana) It was said they were being chased by paparazzi at the time the fatal accident. Although, the inquest noted that the driver was also under the influence of drugs and drink. Controversy still surrounds her death, with a further inquest still underway.(3) The death of Diana had a profound impact on the British public and those in other countries. It led to an unprecedented outpouring of grief and sympathy, for a person people had taken into their hearts. Over 1 million bouquets of flowers were laid at Buckingham Palace. Her funeral was watched by countless millions around the world. Her final resting place was her family home of Althorp.

THE NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL - 29th - 30th AUGUST 2010

2010-08-27T10:38:00.005-04:00

Held each August Bank Holiday since 1966, the Notting Hill Carnival is the largest festival celebration of its kind in Europe. Every year the streets of West London come alive, with the sounds and smells of Europe's biggest street festival. Twenty miles of vibrant colourful costumes surround over 40 static sound systems, hundreds of Caribbean food stalls, over 40,000 volunteers and over 1 million Notting Hill carnival revellers.

Starting its life as a local festival set up by the West Indian community of the Notting Hill area, it has now become a full-blooded Caribbean carnival, attracting millions of visitors from all over the globe. With many astonishing floats and the sounds of the traditional steel drum bands, scores of massive sound systems plus not forgetting the hundreds of stalls that line the streets of Notting Hill. The Notting Hill Carnival is arguably London's most exciting annual event.

The Notting Hill Carnival usually gets under way on the Saturday with the steel band competition. Sunday is Kids' Day, when the costume prizes are awarded. On Bank Holiday Monday, the main parade takes place. It generally begins on Great Western Road, then winds its way along Chepstow Road, on to Westbourne Grove, and then Ladbroke Grove. In the evening, the floats leave the streets in procession, and people carry continue partying at the many Notting Hill Carnival after parties.

MORE INFORMATION

THE LAST AIRBENDER ULTIMATE TRAILER

2010-08-20T11:35:00.007-04:00

MALAGA FAIR 2010

2010-08-13T23:58:00.007-04:00

Malaga Fair 2010

MALAGA FAIR 2010 WEBSITE

MICHELLE OBAMA ARRIVES IN MARBELLA FOR LUXURY HOLIDAY

2010-08-06T09:59:00.003-04:00

US First Lady, Michelle Obama and her youngest daughter Sasha arrived in Malaga airport Wednesday morning aboard Air Force Two. The First lady and her daughter were picked up by a motorcade of black limos and police cars. They were driven directly from the airport to the luxury hotel Villa Padierna.

5-star Luxury Holiday in Style

The hotel Villa Padierna, officially located in the municipality of Benahavis, is ranked amongst the top 30 hotels in the world. With its tuscany styled architecture and 2,000 square meter spa the Obama family will have plenty to enjoy. The U.S. First Lady was welcomed by hotel director, Ricardo Arranz who confirmed to the press that the Obamas had reserved 60 rooms at the hotel for themselves, their friends and their extensive Secret Service detail.

ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO - AUG 6 -28

2010-08-04T12:02:00.014-04:00

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is Scotland's biggest, best-selling spectacle, the most popular annual event on the Scottish calendar, attracting an international audience each year of some 217,000 people.

THE WAY OF SAINT JAMES

2010-07-24T10:42:00.002-04:00

XACOBEO 2010

2010-07-24T04:17:00.001-04:00

SAINT JAMES 25th JULY 2010

2010-07-23T14:47:00.001-04:00

Santiago de Compostela 25th July 2010

NELSON MANDELA DAY - MADRID

2010-07-18T16:18:00.003-04:00

NELSON MANDELA DAY 18th JULY

2010-07-18T09:52:00.005-04:00

Madrid will host the international celebration of Nelson Mandela Day, a global initiative which aims to raise awareness of the power each individual has to help change the world around them. There will be an extensive program of activities where volunteering, sport, art, education, music and culture will be the catalysts behind the call to action. Come back soon to find out how you can make your imprint on the world.

BIOGRAPHY

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (Xhosa pronunciation: [xoˈliɬaɬa manˈdeːla];), born 18 July 1918,[1] served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). In 1962 he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life in prison. Mandela served 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island. Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela led his party in the negotiations that led to multi-racial democracy in 1994. As president from 1994 to 1999, he frequently gave priority to reconciliation.

In South Africa, Mandela is often known as Madiba, an honorary title adopted by elders of Mandela's clan.

Mandela has received more than 250 awards over four decades, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize.

SWAN UPPING ON THE RIVER THAMES

2010-07-17T05:34:00.001-04:00

Swan Upping 2010 will take place from 19 - 23 July

The census of people takes place every ten years. The census of swans takes place annually during July on the River Thames in a ceremony known as Swan Upping. Swans are counted and marked on a 70 mile, five day journey up the River Thames.

The Swan Upping event takes place in July each year, commencing on the third Monday at Sunbury and ending at Abingdon on the Friday.

The swans on the River Thames are Mute Swans (Cygnus olor). They are not actually mute, they can honk and hiss alot. Mute swans are seen in Britain all year round and are distinguished by a bright orange beak, which has a knob of black tissue on the top.

Swan Uppers searching for cygnets

The Swan Uppers catch and check the health of the swans and their cygnets through five counties, from Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, to Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

VIRGIN OF CARMEN 16th JULY

2010-07-15T17:14:00.002-04:00

The Virgin of Carmen is the patron saint and protector of fishermen and sailors. Religious Virgins are hugely popular in Andalucia (Spain); they are normally handcrafted from wood and porcelain and spend 99.9 per cent of the year at the local church. Most are dusted down and placed on flower-decked thrones at Easter-time when they are lovingly and solemnly borne through the streets. The Virgen del Carmen, however, has her own special day.

On the evening of July 16, in the fishing villages and towns up and down the Coast, her much-loved effigy is not only paraded through the streets but also taken for a spin round the bay on a flower-adorned boat, accompanied by a flotilla of "jábegas" (fishing boats). Brass bands play, crowds cheer, rockets shoot off and fireworks fill the late dusk sky.

Celebrations vary slightly from town to town. In Málaga, for example, the procession takes place not only on July 16, but on the following Sunday. A recent Malagueñan tradition, started in 1981, shows the Virgen del Carmen embracing all lovers of the sea - including scuba divers. That year, the City scuba diving club placed an image of their patron at the bottom of the sea and since then divers have paid their underwater homage annually.

The festival is especially important in the fishing villages of neighbouring Rincon de la Victoria and La Cala, both of which have the Virgen del Carmen as their town patron.

To understand why the Virgen del Carmen should be held so dear to the inhabitants of towns such as Estepona, Velez Malaga, Torremolinos and Rincon de la Victoria, we need to go back to the Old Testament. Downshifting in his old age, the prophet Elias retreated to a cave in Mount Carmelo near Haife (Israel). Many centuries later, hermits following in Elijah's footsteps asked for the protection of the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmelo - the Virgin of Carmen. Stella Maris, as she was also known, was soon adopted by mariners and fishermen everywhere as their patron.

Although long overtaken by tourism, many Costa towns still retain fishing communities and a strong attachment to "la Reina de los Mares" (the Queen of the Seas). It was once believed - perhaps in the days before water-purifying plants! - that the Virgin cleared up the waters with her presence and that only after July 16 would the sea be fit for swimming in.

CELEBRATIONS IN MALAGA, VELEZ MALAGA AND NERJA

MALAGA

Like many large cities, Málaga has absorbed what once were nearby villages. Therefore, some of Málaga’s seaside neighbourhoods continue to carry on the customs handed down to them by the fishermen and their families who established them.

This is the case of Pedregalejo (literally translates to “rocky beach far away), El Palo and La Cala. Every summer people in these Málaga neighbourhood are joined from residents of the rest of the city who want to get in on the festivities when the fishermen pay tribute to their patron saint the Virgen del Carmen.

The Virgen del Carmen celebrations take place on the beach and out into the water as they do in other towns and villages up and down the Coast. In Málaga it is also customary for people to buy flowers and toss them into the sea in remembrance of deceased friends and relatives. How this massive influx of cut flowers affects the local coast is a question we will leave to the marine scientists at Málaga’s Aula del Mar teaching and marine rescue centre.

Contact the Málaga tourist office for a current schedule of Virgen del Carmen events in the area.

VELEZ MALAGA

Several villages thoughout the municipality of Vélez-Málaga celebrate the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of fishermen day. On July 16th you will find processions over both land and out into the sea in Torre del Mar (in the Las Melosas neighbourhood), Caleta de Vélez, Benajarafe and Almayate.

If you miss the chance to see the image of the Virgen del Carmen in this area you’ll have a second chance on the 26th of July when Torre del Mar celebrates Santa Ana and Saint Joaquin day in a rather similar fashion with processions over land and sea. The day ends with spectacular fireworks.

NERJA

Every year on July 16th Virgin del Carmen Day is celebrated in Nerja in honour of the town’s maritime tradition.

Whereas some towns hold a draw to choose the boat that will carry the image of the Virgen del Carmen out to sea, in Nerja the town actually has a special boat that has been designed just for Virgen del Carmen Day. The man who designed this boat was Jose Calvente, also known as Pepe el Califate.

The night before the Virgen del Carmen festival there is a floral offering and the next day all the activity begins, culminating in the procession that takes the Virgen out to sea.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!!!

2010-07-14T12:55:00.002-04:00

A dream done reality

2010 FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA FINAL REVIEWS

2010-07-13T09:39:00.004-04:00

IKER CASILLAS ADIDAS GOLDEN GLOVE

2010-07-13T09:25:00.001-04:00

INIESTA PUTS SPAIN ON TOP OF THE WORLD

2010-07-13T04:14:00.002-04:00

PAUL THE PSYCHIC OCTOPUS CHOOSES SPAIN AS WORLD CUP WINNER!

2010-07-09T09:41:00.004-04:00

FINAL - FIFA WORLD CUP

2010-07-08T09:25:00.044-04:00

SPAIN - NETHERLANDS 11 th JULY

EVERYTHING READY FOR SAN FERMÍN 2010

2010-07-05T16:45:00.003-04:00

Pamplona receives the arrival of thousands of visitors as it prepares itself for nine days of non-stop partying.

6th July - 12.00 the "Chupinazo" Town Hall.

ORANGE MEN'S DAY (Northern Ireland) 12th JULY

2010-07-05T16:35:00.002-04:00

Protestant Irish march with drums and pipes to commemorate the Battle of Boyne, which occurred on Ireland’s east coast in 1690. In Northern Ireland, it is a bank holiday. Schools and many businesses and organizations are closed. Some shops may be closed. Public transport services may run on their regular or special holiday timetables.

In 1690, William III of England defeated the exiled Catholic king James II at the Battle of the Boyne. James, who had been in France, had invaded Ireland with French troops.

Men wear orange sashes and black suits and bowler hats. Orange Day marches also take place in Birmingham and Liverpool, and in some parts of Canada, for example."

This day is known as "Orangemen's Day", "Orange Day", "the Glorious Twelfth" or just "the Twelfth". The day falls on July 12. However, if July 12 is a Saturday or Sunday, the bank holiday falls on Monday, July 13 or 14.

IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING

2010-07-04T05:01:00.004-04:00

SPAIN - GERMANY

Next match 7th July 2010 in Durban Stadium

The new Durban Stadium's design is characterized by two large archways which arc 100 meters above the stadium roof.

INDEPENDENCE DAY - 4TH JULY

2010-07-04T04:32:00.003-04:00

SAN FERMÍN GAME

2010-07-02T12:31:00.004-04:00

SAN FERMIN 7th JULY

2010-07-02T12:15:00.004-04:00

The fiestas of Sanfermin are celebrated in Iruñea / Pamplona every year from the 6th to the 14th of July.

Sanfermin is internationally known for the event of the running of the bulls, where the bulls are let loose through some of the streets of the old part of the city. The runnings of the bulls take place from the 7th of July to the 14th of July inclusive at 8.00 am in the morning. At midday on the 6th of July the fiestas open with the txupinazo rocket. That day there is no running of the bulls but there sure is a lot of partying.

The fiestas are celebrated in honor of Saint Fermin, patron of Navarra, and both the religious elements and the wild partying elements live out the fiestas in good harmony. There are even people who manage to attend to both sides of the fiestas without any problem.

The Txupinazo VIDEO 2009

The explosion of the fireworks rocket at midday on the 6th of July is the signal for the start of nine days of non-stop partying. This moment is marked by a rocket - the "Txupinazo" - which is set off to announce the start of the Fiesta.

Riau Riau

On the 6th of July, at 4.30 in the afternoon, Sanfermin tradition dictates that everyone should gather for the riau-riau. Nowadays, the motivation is rather different to the original reason.

The municipal band, "La Pamplonesa" played a set piece of music "el Valls de Astráin" and the people danced, sang, drank and blocked the route for as long as possible.

Procession

The 7th of July, at 10.00 am on the day, the procession of Saint Fermin leaves from the church of San Lorenzo. The route is jam-packed with crowds who want to see the image of the saint and the entourage that accompany the figure of the saint.

Bull Running

All the information, photos and videos on the most emblematic event in Sanfermin.

OFFICIAL WEB SITE BULL RUNNING

The corrida

The corrida or bullfight during San Fermin is very different to bullfights in any other big bullring in Spain or anywhere else. For the simple reason that it is something more than just a bullfight.

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Pobre de mí

At midnight on the 14 th July the fiesta formally closes with the ceremony called the "Pobre de Mí."

ELLIS PARK STADIUM - JOHANNESBURG

2010-06-30T16:33:00.007-04:00

PARAGUAY - SPAIN

Ellis Park Stadium is located in the centre of Johannesburg and has hosted many epic sporting events including the final of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup between Brazil and the United States. The ground was given a significant face-lift before the Confederations Cup finals and now seats 55,686.

Ellis Park was first built in 1928 as a rugby union stadium. It was demolished and rebuilt in 1982, again exclusively for rugby. It was named after JD Ellis, a Johannesburg city councilor who approved the use of the land for a stadium, setting aside a full 13 acres.

The ground will always occupy a special place in the hearts of the country's sporting fans after the South African rugby team shocked New Zealand to lift the 1995 Rugby World Cup trophy soon after being allowed back onto the world sporting stage. It was a moment that brought the people of South Africa together in celebration as the iconic scenes of Nelson Mandela holding aloft the trophy at Ellis Park were beamed around the world.

The largest piece of construction has been the new tier on the north stand which has increased the seating capacity to 62,000. With state-of-the-art media facilities, team whirlpools, top-class VIP areas for dignitaries, accessibility for disabled fans, a new pitch and a top-notch audio-visual setup to keep the fans informed during the game, no one will be left disappointed.

LATEST PHOTOS - FIFA WORLD CUP

2010-06-30T16:06:00.006-04:00

Take a look at the latest footballing photos which have been uploaded on FIFA.com from all four corners of the globe. A picture tells a thousand words.

PRESIDENTS OF USA

2010-06-28T13:26:00.006-04:00

These are the histories and times of the presidents of the United States.

Presidents of the USA

FOURTH OF JULY GAMES

2010-06-28T13:10:00.003-04:00

Find the differences game: Find 7 differences between the two pictures before time runs out.

Row swapping puzzle: Solve the puzzle by swapping the rows and the columns of the scrambled picture.

9 - piece tile swap puzzle: Swap the pieces of the puzzle to put the picture back together

Animated waving flag puzzle

INDEPENDENCE DAY - 4th JULY UNITED STATE

2010-06-27T10:56:00.010-04:00

In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States.

SUMMER IS HERE AND SCHOOL IS OUT

2010-06-22T10:10:00.009-04:00

SUMMER GAME

2010-06-21T11:31:00.003-04:00

WEDDING IN SWEDEN

2010-06-21T09:46:00.006-04:00

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden weds Daniel Westling in an emotional ceremony

It was the day all of Sweden had been waiting for. Crown Princess Victoria - the nation's future queen - has married her long-term love Daniel Westling in a beautiful ceremony held at Stockholm's Cathedral.

The bride, who arrived in a vintage black sedan, was picture perfect in a cream coloured duchess satin gown, featuring a V-shaped back and a rounded neckline, designed for her by Par Engsheden.

Her five-metre train, attached at the waist of her dress, trailed out from behind and perfectly matched the shape of the princess' veil, which was held in place by the same tiara Queen Silvia wore to her wedding in 1976.

Shunning the Swedish tradition of walking side by side with her groom, Victoria was escorted up the aisle by her proud father, King Carl Gustaf XVI.

She was then met by her love – now titled Prince Daniel, Duke of Vastergotland – who kissed his bride on the cheek while she reciprocated by kissing his hand.

The newlyweds looked blissfully happy throughout the service, which was attended by around 1,200 guests and conducted by four ministers.

And 25 minutes after the ceremony began, Victoria and Daniel were proclaimed husband and wife by Archbishop Anders Wejryd.

CONGRATULATIONS

BEAT THE KEEPER

2010-06-20T15:53:00.010-04:00

Are you a football fan? Try this game to see how many football words you know in English. Can you beat the goal keeper? Good luck!

SUMMER SOLSTICE

2010-06-20T11:40:00.015-04:00

What is the Summer Solstice?

The Summer solstice, also called 'Litha', marks the first day of the season of summer. It falls on or near 21 June.It's the time when the sun reaches its northern most latitude and therefore appear at its highest in the sky at noon. At this time of year we have the longest day.

On this day you can see a very old custom at Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, England.

What is Stonehenge?

Stonehenge is one of Europe's biggest stone circles. A lot of stones are ten or twelve metres high. The earliest part of Stonehenge is nearly 5,000 years old. It is thought that the Druids used Stonehenge for a calendar.

Who are/were Druids?

The Druids were the priests in Britain 2,000 years ago. They used the sun and the stones at Stonehenge to know the start of the months and seasons. There are Druids in Britain today too.

What happens at Stonehenge on June 21st?

- the Longest Day of the Year

Every June 21st hundreds of people go to Stonehenge to watch the sun rise. The sun shines on one famous stone - the Heel stone. For the Druids this is a very important moment of the year.

FOOTBALL WORLD CUP 2010

2010-06-20T04:39:00.004-04:00

MULTIMEDIA GRAMMAR GLOSARY

2010-06-20T03:56:00.002-04:00

Students can review grammar, usage, and mechanics through animated graphics that make concepts come alive. (Grades 1-5)

Link above
MULTIMEDIA GRAMMAR GLOSARY

ENJOY THE ACTIVITIES

2010-06-20T03:50:00.002-04:00

Learn the alphabet. Use your keyboard. Type the missing letters and listen.

ALPHABET

s the word on the basketball a common noun, a proper noun, or not a noun? Click on the label above the basket to tell what the word is.

NOUNS

Make a horse for the carousel. Choose a subject, a verb, and a sentence ending that make sense. Click the gears to change the words.

SENTENCES

How much do you know about butterflies? Do you know they begin their lives as caterpillars? You can find out more about butterflies.

BUTTERFLY

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

2010-06-19T03:45:00.005-04:00

Once upon a time.....

After listen and read the tale put the story of the little riding hood in order

JOSÉ SARAMAGO , Nobel Prize-Winning Writer, Dies

2010-06-18T15:46:00.000-04:00

José de Sousa Saramago, born November 16, 1922- died June 18 2010 was a Portuguese writer, playwright and journalist.

Saramago was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1998. He lived on Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, Spain.

Saramago was born into a family of landless peasants in Azinhaga, Portugal, a small village in the province of Ribatejo some hundred kilometers north-east of Lisbon.

Saramago married Ilda Reis in 1944. Their only child, Violante, was born in 1947. Since 1988, Saramago has been married to the Spanish journalist Pilar del Río, who is the official translator of his books into Spanish.

José Saramago was in his mid-fifties before he had international success; his novel Baltasar and Blimunda

brought him an international readership. This novel won the Portuguese PEN Club Award.

Saramago has been a member of the Portuguese Communist Party since 1969, as well as an atheist and self-described pessimist. His views have aroused considerable controversy in Portugal, especially after the publication of The Gospel According to Jesus Christ.

Saramago uses for his works fantastic scenarios. In his 1986 novel, The Stone Raft, the Iberian Peninsula breaks off from the rest of Europe and sails about the Atlantic Ocean. In his 1995 novel, Blindness, an entire country is stricken with a mysterious plague called “white blindness”.

FOOTBALL GAMES

2010-06-18T13:09:00.015-04:00

LEARN THE DISKI DANCE

2010-06-18T12:29:00.003-04:00

PLAYERS - FIFA WORLD CUP 2010

2010-06-18T09:41:00.004-04:00

TEAMS - FIFA WORLD CUP 2010

2010-06-18T09:30:00.009-04:00

WORLD FLAGS QUIZ

2010-06-16T12:39:00.007-04:00

VERB POWER

2010-06-16T12:16:00.005-04:00

SUMMER IS COMING...

2010-06-16T11:39:00.005-04:00

MIDSUMMER'S EVE IN SPAIN

2010-06-13T16:18:00.002-04:00

The traditional midsummer party in Spain is the celebration in honour of San Juan (St. John the Baptist) and takes place in the evening of June 23. It is common in many areas of the country. Parties are organised usually at beaches, where bonfires are lit and a set of firework displays usually take place. On the Mediterranean coast, especially in Catalonia and València, special meals like Coca de Sant Joan are also served on this occasion. In Alicante, since 1928, the bonfires of Saint John were developed into elaborate constructions inspired by the Fallas of Valencia.

Midsummer tradition is also especially strong in northern areas of the country, such as Galicia, where one can easily identify the rituals that reveal the pagan beliefs widespread throughout Europe in Neolithic times. These beliefs pivot on three basic ideas: the importance of medicinal plants, especially in relation to health, youth and beauty; the protective character of fire to ward men off evil spirits and witches and, finally, the purifying, miraculous effects of water.

MIDSUMMER'S EVE

2010-06-13T16:09:00.003-04:00

Midsummer Eve is fast approaching. Midsummer may simply refer to the period of time centered upon the summer solstice, but more often refers to specific European celebrations that accompany the actual solstice, or that take place around the 24th of June and the preceding evening. The exact dates vary between cultures.

European midsummer-related holidays, traditions, and celebrations are pre-Christian in origin.

When is Midsummer's Day?

Midsummer's Day, the middle of summer, falls on on 24 June, after the longest day (Summer Solstice). Before the change of calendars, Midsummer's day fell on 5 July.

Why are Midsummer's Day and the Summer Solstice not on the same day?

The longest day in the northern hemisphere is today either the 20th or 21st of June, whilst Midsummer's Day in Europe is traditionally on 24 June.This discrepancy is said to have been caused by the variants of the Julian Calendar and the Tropical Year further confused by the Gregorian Calendar.

What used to happen on Midsummer's Eve?

Midsummer's Eve is a time associated with witches, magic, fairies and dancing.On the eve of Midsummer's Day, many bonfires were lit all over the country. This was in praise of the sun, for the days were getting shorter and the sun appeared to be getting weaker, so people would light fires to try and strengthen the sun.

Midsummer's Eve today

Practice of this ancient ritual, which also includes a Summer Solstice Circle Dance, is now mainly confined to Cornwall, the West Country, and London's Hampstead Heath.

Midsummer's Superstitions

Roses are of special importance on Midsummer's Eve. It is said that any rose picked on Midsummer's Eve, or Midsummer's Day will keep fresh until Christmas.

At midnight on Midsummer's Eve, young girls should scatter rose petals before them and say:

Rose leaves, rose leaves,
Rose leaves I strew.
He that will love me
Come after me now.

Then the next day, Midsummer's Day, their true love will visit them.

ANTHEM WORLD CUP 2010

2010-06-13T13:40:00.001-04:00

THIS IS AFRICA

2010-06-12T09:16:00.013-04:00

LA ROJA: YOU CAN

2010-06-10T10:37:00.025-04:00

ZOOM WORDS

2010-06-10T10:01:00.003-04:00

You can create your own Zoom Words widget,visit this web

TROOPING THE COLOUR 2010 - 12th JUNE

2010-06-08T12:58:00.008-04:00

What is The Trooping Colour?

The official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II is marked each year by a military parade and march-past, known as Trooping the Colour (Carrying of the Flag). The official name is “the Queen’s Birthday Parade”.

Each June, the Queen and other members of the Royal Family attend the Trooping the Colour ceremony on Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall in London. The Queen attends the ceremony to take the salute from thousands of guardsmen who parade the Colour (their regiment's flag).

It is only the Foot Guards of the Household Division that take part in the Queen’s Birthday Parade, with the exception of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, (based in St. John’s Wood). The Kings Troop, parade round with the Household Cavalry after the Foot Guards have trooped the Colour in slow and quick time.

The Sovereign's Official Birthday

The Queen's birthday parade is the biggest royal event of the year. In 1748, the celebration of the official birthday of the sovereign was amalgamated (merged) with the Trooping the Colour.

The Trooping the Colour is tradition going back to the days when the Colours (regimental flag of the regiment) was trooped in front of soldiers to make sure everyone could recognise their flag in battle.

The Colours today are trooped in front of the Queen troops of the Household Division (Foot Guards and Household Cavalry)

Parade Route

The parade route goes from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horseguards Parade, Whitehall and back again.

CORPUS CHRISTI FESTIVAL IN MALAGA - 6th JUNE 2010

2010-06-07T16:04:00.004-04:00

Corpus Christi is the Catholic holiday in honour of the presence of the body of Christ in the Holy Wafer.

It is celebrated throughout Spain and is held in either May or June depending on when Easter occurs. To calculate the next Corpus Christi date, look for the first Thursday after Trinity Sunday (the eighth Sunday after Easter) and you’ll know when the fiesta is set to begin in towns and villages throughout Andalusia.

Malaga recovered the Corpus Christi procession yesterday afternoon, after doing it in the morning for seven years. A change whose main objective is to attract more visitors, was fulfilled. The amount of spectators and participants in the procession through the streets of the city center was higher than in previous years.

At 20:35 hours under the tolling of bells and applause of the audience that filled Bishop Square, the Most Blessed Sacrament in one of the novelties of this edition first came out the front door of the cathedral being carried by the Bishop of the diocese, Jesus Catala, who was accompanied by his predecessor, Antonio Dorado Soto and Fernando Sebastian. Moments later, under the strains of the national anthem, performed by the Municipal band music, the consecrated Host was placed in the silver temple situated on a motorized hearse decorated with white gladioli coves and dotted with ears of corn.

Nine Altars

The procession walked past the nine altars installed on the tour. One of the most striking was that of the Last Supper, chaired by its owner cristífero and located in the Plaza del Siglo, while that of Humility and Patience, in Calle Larios, was rewarded for the cathedral chapter.

The Congregation of the Patrons and the Brotherhood of Victoria prior to the representation of the six Archpriest (set territorial parishes) of the city: Santa Maria de la Victoria, Cristo Rey, Virgen del Mar, Los Angeles, San Patricio and San Cayetano . As a novelty, each parish had a cross and a sign with the name of it and behind the faithful. Behind them, the evening worship groups, six children, about 70 children for first communion, the clergy, the coach, the bishop and the canopy of respect.

OUR SCHOOL TRIP TO GIBRALTAR

2010-06-07T09:44:00.003-04:00

Last Thursday a group of 36 students , 2 English teachers and our American assistant, Nick, went on a school trip to Gibraltar. They left at 7 in the morning and arrived there about 10. On the way , they stopped to have breakfast and rest for a while.

As soon as they got to the Main square , most of the students together with Nichola, climbed up the mountains to watch the astonshing views of the Atlantic Sea and a bit of Africa and , of course , the main touristic attraction in the place: the naughty monkeys ( they are said to take your belongins away). As it was very hot , they decided to come down and start doing their English project.

They found "the little town" very akward about the language they listened to: some words in a perfect British English accent mixed with pure andalusian ones. It sounded funny.

They went, of course, shopping and bought some trainers, one of them bought a big glass for his father´s birthday , T-shirts, monkey toys, chocolate, biscuits....

Gibraltarian are very friendly as they are used to deal with lots of people . Being a strategic place and a British colony is very attractive to visit . Besides things like chocolates, perfumes, are said to be cheaper.

For the students It is very interesting because they can listen to people speaking the language they are learning at school and somehow watch the way of life of English people.

CORPUS CHRISTI FESTIVAL

2010-06-06T13:22:00.001-04:00

The festival of Corpus Christi celebrates the Eucharist as the body of Christ. The name 'Corpus Christi' is Latin for 'the body of Christ'.

This jubilant festival is celebrated by Roman Catholics and other Christians to proclaim the truth of the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the actual body of Christ during Mass.

In some countries in the world, Catholic churches still celebrate the festival, not only with a Mass, but also with a procession that carries the consecrated wafer through the streets as a public statement that the sacrifice of Christ was for the salvation of the whole world.

Corpus Christi falls between late May and the middle of June, on the first Thursday after Trinity Sunday (60 days after Easter). In some countries the festival is celebrated on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday.

In the Church of England this feast is also kept on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday and known as the Day of Thanksgiving for the Institution of Holy Communion (Corpus Christi).

It's worth noting that Christians already mark the Last Supper, when Christ instituted the Eucharist, on Maundy Thursday (the day before Good Friday). Because Maundy Thursday falls during the solemn period of Holy Week, it was thought necessary to have a separate festival of the Eucharist that would allow the celebration not to be muted by sadness.

HISTORY: THE FIFA WORLD CUP

2010-06-06T12:15:00.001-04:00

The FIFA World Cup, also called the Football World Cup or the Soccer World Cup, but usually referred to simply as the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946 when it was not contested because of World War II.

The current format of the tournament involves 32 teams competing for the title at venues within the host nation(s) over a period of about a month – this phase is often called the World Cup Finals. A qualification phase, which currently takes place over the preceding three years, is used to determine which teams qualify for the tournament together with the host nation(s).

During the 18 tournaments that have been held, seven nations have won the title. Brazil have won the World Cup a record five times, and they are the only team to have played in every tournament. Italy, the current champions, have won four titles, and Germany are next with three titles. The other former champions are Uruguay, winners of the inaugural tournament, and Argentina, with two titles each, and England and France, with one title each.

The World Cup is the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world, where an estimated 715.1 million people watched the final match of the 2006 World Cup held in Germany.[1] The next World Cup will be held in South Africa, between 11 June and 11 July 2010, and the 2014 World Cup will be held in Brazil.

FOOTBALL MATCHES 2010

WORLD CUP STUFF (just for football fans)

2010-06-06T09:47:00.005-04:00

1.- The World Cup 2010 Quizzes activities: Picture quizzes, puzzles, spelling activities, crosswords, games,

bingos...
2.- Play a Game: Penalty Challenge. (Choose the option: "Play Solo".)

3.- Football vocabulary.
4.-Fling the Teacher: How much do you know about The World Cup?

2010 FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA - 11 JUNE-11JULY

2010-06-05T17:09:00.007-04:00

HOST CITIES AND STADIUMS

Cape town
Durban
Johannesburg
Mangaun/Bloemfontein
Nelson Mandela Bay/ Port Elizabeth
Nelspruit
Polokwane
Rustenburg
Tshwane/Pretoria

SOUTH AFRICA

2010-06-05T15:50:00.009-04:00

The Republic of South Africa, is located on the southern tip of the African continent and inhabits 1,219,912 square kilometres (471,011 square miles) of land. It is neighboured by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique to the north and Swaziland in the east. South Africa wholly encompasses the mountain kingdom of Lesotho.

The country has a population of more than 47 million that spans across nine provinces. The provinces are the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, the Northern Cape, North West and the Western Cape. The Northern Cape is by far the largest province, but also has the smallest population while the smallest province is Gauteng, which has the densent population.

The country has three capitals: Cape Town (legislative), Pretoria (administrative) and Bloemfontein (judicial). The government is further divided into three tiers: national, provincial and local.
. There are 11 recognised official languages but English is used in road signs, hotels, commerce, banking, government and official documents. The country is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (UTC +2) and has an average of 8.5 hours of sunshine per day.
Generally, the infrastructure in South Africa is very good and moving between cities is relatively easy. The 2010 FIFA World Cup has been a catalyst for infrastructural upgrades and the South African government is investing more nine billion South African Rand for further works.

PETS OF THE WORLD CUP

2010-06-05T11:24:00.005-04:00

GIBRALTAR

2010-06-04T16:00:00.008-04:00

Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. The territory shares a border with Spain to the north. Gibraltar has historically been an important base for the British Armed Forces and is the site of a Royal Navy base. Today, Gibraltar is known colloquially as Gib or The Rock.

If you want to know more about Gibraltar and its history, click here.
Government of Gibraltar, Information Service.

BOOK FAIR IN MALAGA 28th May-6th June

2010-06-02T09:26:00.002-04:00

The Málaga Book Fair celebrates its 40th anniversary

Another year is being celebrated the Book Fair in many Spanish cities, the annual meeting with news of the publishing world and bookselling in general. In Malaga the Book fair is celebrating from the 28th of May to 6th of June its 40th edition in the Paseo Park,which is close to the town hall. The Book Fair is also a good opportunity to enjoy the beautiful gardens of the best park in Malaga during an excellent season.

The new edition will feature a series of activities such as workshops, concerts, film series, signatures, book presentations, contests and storytellers, as well as’ The Night of the book.”

Around fifty posts turn the Paseo del Parque in a great celebration of the written with the presence many local and national authors.

Storytellers and puppet shows and music become the greatest incentive to move closer to reading as a family; legends, songs, riddles, games, a little bit of everything to enjoy as a family and, incidentally, kill another bird with the same stone: promote reading.

In the Playroom children can give free rein to their sense of artistic creation or the bindery workshop. Open to the general public on weekends, it was been filled, especially in the evenings, with curious of all ages. They have learned to sew the leaves, glue the back and mount the covers of a book. Of course, then they could take it home. Anyone who wants to try his luck has a new appointment the next 5th and 6th of June. Meanwhile there are a thousand and one titles in any of the 47 booths throughout the week to “ennoble the Park,” as expressed by the poet Alfonso Canales.

MULTIMEDIA ENGLISH CLASSROOM

2010-05-31T17:11:00.001-04:00

MULTIMEDIA ENGLISH CLASSROOM is a free online classroom to learn English, designed for students from all around the world. It uses authentic material and is targeted at students of English who already have a basic knowledge of the language, but there's also a complete section for beginners. If you can read this and understand it (at least the general idea), then this virtual classroom is for you!

In the following link you can find several entries to phonetic and pronunciation.
Try! PHONETICS

CORONATION DAY: GUN SALUTE 2nd JUNE

2010-05-30T10:45:00.026-04:00

Gun salute to mark the anniversary of the day when the Queen was crowned (in 1953). A 41-gun salute at 12 noon fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Hyde Park, London.

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST: GERMANY WINS

2010-05-30T05:06:00.020-04:00

Europe experienced a breathtaking show live from the Telenor Arena in Oslo tonight with 25 acts from 25 countries giving their very best. 20 of these had qualified from the two Semi-Finals while host nation Norway and the so-called 'Big Four' - France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom - were automatically set for the Final. After all 39 countries had voted, it was Lena from Germany who was the lucky winner with his song Satellite, collecting 246 points altogether.

Pretty much out of nowhere – apart from the homemade dance videos and a few attempts with the school band – Lena conquered the audience’s heart during the national German final for the Eurovision Song Contest. “I didn’t tell my friends about my first casting for the show, so there wouldn’t be any stupid comments if I got kicked out straight away,” she says, thinking of her terrible stage fright. Even though Lena danced regularly during her childhood – from Ballet to Jazz and Hip Hop – she made her way to music without piano lessons or vocal training. But she got her chance, grabbed it and developed rapidly. Directly after the German national final, her single Satellite went to the top of all national charts and stayed there for weeks. Lena even created a new German download record: never before had a song sold so well in such a short time!

50% jury impact
The winner was decided by a mixture of 50% televote and 50% jury. For this purpose, national juries consisting of five music industry professionals gathered in all 39 participating countries who ranked the songs in Eurovision Song Contest style, giving 12 points to their favourite song, 10 points to their second favourite, etc. The results of the five jury members were then added up and accounted for 50% of the country's votes. Those results were then combined with the televoting results.

The Spanish entry by Daniel Diges Algo Pequeñito (Something Tiny) was disturbed by a spectator jumping on the scene, so according to the rules, the song was performed again at the end.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE

2010-05-29T04:29:00.004-04:00

What will the world look like in the Future?
Thanks to some awesome technology, the world will look very different in a few years.
Perhaps, in the Future, many children will not be going to school but learning at home, at a cyberschool.
Watch the videos carefully.
* MENU:
1.- The Future of Teaching. (A phrase of the day is here, kids!)
2.- The Future of Shopping.
3.- Men and Women shopping in the Future.
4.- Can a robot play the violin?
5.- Intoducing NAO, an amazing robot.
6.- Future cars.
7.- The Computers of the Future.
8.- New Technology for the Future.
9.- The House of the Future.
10.- Digital Lifestyle. (A very funny story)
11.- The Healthcare of the Future.
12.- Future vision of retailing.
13.- The Future Supermarket.

CLOTHES

2010-05-29T04:07:00.001-04:00

Click on the pictures and do the exercises.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND : the book, the movie and the official website

2010-05-23T14:18:00.008-04:00

Poster yourself at:http://www.glogster.com/

THE FUTURE

2010-05-23T11:08:00.008-04:00

Future Tenses
Future with will 1
Future with will 2
Future with will 3
Future with be going to 1
Future with be going to 2
Future with be going to 3
Will or be going to

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST OSLO 2010

2010-05-19T17:03:00.003-04:00

This year The Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Oslo, Norway. There are two previous semi-finals on Tuesday, 25th May and on Thursday, 27th May and the final, which will be held on Saturday, 29th May at 21.00 CET.

If you want to know the 39 participants to this edition of the festival, you can click on this link.

The singer who will represent United Kingdom in Oslo is Josh Dubovie with the song "That Sounds Good To Me".

Josh Dubovie is 19 years old, comes from Essex in England and will be the UK's hope in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest.

How do I begin to imagine?

All the happy

Faces I'd like to see

The final destination

With sounds of celebration

If I could find the opportunity

So I wonder who can I turn to?

Who can make these

Wishes and dreams come true?

And with you there beside me

And loving hands to guide me

Anything is possible to do

So if you bring the sunshine

I'll bring the good times

Just add your laughter

It’s happy ever after

I don't know about you

But that sounds good to me

I can feel it coming together

All the loving working so very well

Nothing left to do now

Gonna see it through now

And we can let the future write itself

So if you bring the sunshine

I'll bring the good times

Just add your laughter

It’s happy ever after

I don't know about you

But that sounds good to me

Oooooo woah woah oooooh

So if you bring the sunshine

I'll bring the good times

Just add your laughter

It’s happy ever after

I don't know about you

But that sounds good to me

I don't know about you

But

That

Sounds

Good

To

Me

That sound good to me.

Gomaespuminglish

2010-05-14T13:58:00.002-04:00

LEMON TREE BY FOOL'S GARDEN

2010-05-11T14:48:00.003-04:00

Fools Garden is a German musical group formed in 1991 under the name Fool's Garden (with apostrophe), comprising singer Peter Freudenthaler, guitarist Volker Hinkel, bassist Thomas Mangold, keyboardist Roland Röhl and drummer Ralf Wochele. They debuted in 1991 with the eponymous album Fool's Garden, the next (1993) was album Once in a Blue Moon. Two years later Fool's Garden issued their third album Dish of the Day, scoring a massive European and Asian chart hit with "Lemon Tree".

Watch the video and do the exercises

QUESTIONS FOR 1º ESO

2010-05-11T12:28:00.006-04:00

2010-05-09T08:05:00.001-04:00

POSTERS

2010-05-08T09:50:00.002-04:00

HOT DOG DAY 12th MAY

2010-05-08T09:49:00.002-04:00

As you know we are sharing our classes with an American assistant, Nichola, and to honour him, the English and the Spanish Language Department are organizing ” Hot dog day”for the “Semana Cultural". It will consist of selling hot dogs with ketchup, mustard, prickled onions and cheese.
They will only cost 1 € .
The 2º ESO (oral skill) students will be in charge of everything and they will do their best so that you can have a wonderful time eating and having fun. Of course the money we get, will be for their school trip.
It would be very nice of you if you could wear a cap.
We will be listening to American music and posters and American flags will be displayed .
We hope all the students can collaborate and take part on this “Hot dog day”.
So on the 12th of May at 11.15 pm we will meet and enjoy some delicious and tasteful pieces of hot dog.

Looking forward to meeting you there ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

You can see below the Hot Dog Day last year

2010-05-08T09:48:00.000-04:00

MAY CROSSES IN MÁLAGA

2010-05-02T16:14:00.002-04:00

The Cruces de Mayo festival is held during the first half of May, and flower-decked crosses adorn the streets, schools and patios in Malaga. The photo was taken yesterday by me in the leafy patio of El Pimpi , a typical bar in Malaga which used to be a convent.

THE MAY CROSSES FESTIVAL

2010-05-01T14:36:00.011-04:00

The May Crosses

MAY DAY

2010-04-29T10:26:00.004-04:00

The first day of the month of May is known as May Day. It is the time of year when warmer weather begins and flowers and trees start to blossom. It is said to be a time of love and romance. It is when people celebrate the coming of summer with lots of different customs that are expressions of joy and hope after a long winter.
Traditional English May Day celebrations include Morris dancing, crowning a May Queen and dancing around a Maypole.
The beginning of Summer
Although summer does not officially begin until June, May Day marks its beginning. May Day celebrations have their origins in the Roman festival of Flora, goddess of fruit and flowers, which marked the beginning of summer. It was held annually from April 28th to May 3rd.
May Day Bank Holiday
The month of May has many traditions and celebrations. For the convenience of the general public, many May Day activities have now been moved to the new May Day holiday (from 1978) on the first Monday of the month. This Monday is a bank holiday, a day off school and work.
Many of the May Day celebrations take place at the weekend as well as on the 'May Day' Monday. The weekend is know as bank holiday weekend because it comes with the extra day holiday on the Monday.

KING ARTHUR

2010-04-29T10:04:00.009-04:00

The myth Arthur is one of the most famous and enduring British legends.Abducted as a baby by Merlin the Magician, Arthur succeeds in extracting a magical sword from a stone and becomes King of England. He brings peace and prosperity to the troubled country and creates a new company of knights - the Round Table. But the love affair between his queen, Guinevere, and his best friend, Sir Lancerot, threatens to destroy his golden court at Camelot.

IRREGULAR VERBS

2010-04-28T16:11:00.001-04:00

Listen and repeat.

GAMES FOR 1º AND 2º ESO

2010-04-27T05:09:00.006-04:00

Opposites
Past Tense of Irregular Verbs
United State Puzzle
Opposites 1
Opposites 2
Synonyms 1
Synonyms 2
Mystery Matches 1
Regular verbs
Mystery 2
Irregular Verbs
Past Simple Order

GENITIVE SAXON

2010-04-26T07:06:00.018-04:00

ACTIVITIES
Genitive Saxon 1
Genitive Saxon 2
Genitive Saxon 3
Genitive Saxon 4

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES&POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS

2010-04-25T17:09:00.027-04:00

Possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns in English are often confusing--because most of them are very similar in form and one has exactly the same form for both the adjective and the pronoun.

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES	POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS
My	Mine
Your	Yours
His	His
Her	Hers
Its	--
Our	Ours
Your	Yours
Their	Theirs

ACTIVITIES
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive Adjectives
Personal Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns
Possessive Adjective and Pronouns
Possessive Pronouns

ENGLISH SONG: ALESHA DIXON - Breath Slow

2010-04-25T11:08:00.009-04:00

Alesha Dixon (born 7.10.1978)
Alesha Dixon is an English singer and TV personality. She first found fame in the female pop group Mis-Teeq when her distinctive vocal style made her stand out from the rest of the band. Since the band spilt, she has made numerous television appearances, including being crowned the winner of the popular British TV show, Strictly Come Dancing.

SHAKESPEARE - PUZZLE

2010-04-21T16:39:00.016-04:00

Do the puzzle

Jigsaw Puzzle by Crazyprofile.com

JUSTIN BIEBER - LOVE ME

2010-04-20T14:06:00.011-04:00

2010-04-20T09:58:00.002-04:00

St GEORGE'S DAY 23rd APRIL

2010-04-20T09:37:00.010-04:00

St George's Day (Patron Saint of England)

It is the church festival of St. George, regarded as England’s national day (although not an official bank holiday). On this day some patriotic English people wear a rose pinned to their jackets.

St George's Day History

St George's Flag

St George's Day Celebration

The Legend of St George and the Dragon

Only in Britain

THE LEGEND OF SAINT GEORGE

2010-04-18T16:18:00.002-04:00

MIGUEL DE CERVANTES

2010-04-11T04:51:00.016-04:00

• Born: 29 September 1547
• Birthplace: Alcala de Henares, Spain
• Died: 23 April 1616
• Best Known As: Author of Don Quixote
Full name: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Miguel de Cervantes wrote the epic satire Don Quixote, which is regarded as the first true modern novel. Little is known of Cervantes's early life; at 23 he enlisted in the Spanish militia and then fought against the Turks in the battle of Lepanto (1571) where a gunshot wound permanently crippled his left hand. He spent four more years at sea and then another five as a slave after being captured by Barbary pirates. Ransomed by his family, he returned to Madrid but his disability hampered him; it was in debtor's prison that he began to write Don Quixote. The title character, a dreamy middle-aged nobleman, sets out through Spain on a makeshift quest to fight injustice through acts of chivalry. Cervantes wrote many other works, including poems and plays, but none had the impact or popularity of his masterpiece.
Because of his injury Cervantes was nicknamed "the cripple of Levanto"... Don Quixote is the basis for the musical Man of La Mancha... Cervantes died on the same day as author William Shakespeare.

THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM-MAN OF LA MANCHA

2010-04-09T10:52:00.008-04:00

.
To dream the impossible dream,
To fight the unbeatable foe,
To bear the unbearable sorrow,
To run where the brave dare not go...
To right the unrightable wrong,
To love pure and chaste from afar,
To try when your arms are too weary,
To reach the unreachable star!
This is my quest,to follow that star,
No matter how hopelesse,no matter how far.
To fight for the rights without question or pause,
To be willing to march to Hell from a Heavenly cause!
And I know,if I'll only be truth for this glorious quest,
That my heart will lie peacefull and calm when I'm laid to my rest...
And the world will be better for done,
That one man scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable stars!

.

WORLD BOOK DAY

2010-04-09T02:37:00.008-04:00

World Book and Copyright Day - April 23

By celebrating this Day throughout the world, UNESCO seeks to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright.

23 April: a symbolic date for world literature for on this date and in the same year of 1616, Cervantes and Shakespeare all died. It was a natural choice for UNESCO's General Conference to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone, and in particular young people, to discover the pleasure of reading and gain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity.

The idea for this celebration originated in Catalonia where on 23 April, Saint George's Day, a rose is traditionally given as a gift for each book sold. St. George's day is celebrated in and around Catalonia and has been celebrated since 1436. He is the patron Saint of Catalonia.
In Catalonia St. George's day coincides with the Fair of the Book and the Rose. On this day every man offers a rose to his loved one (wife or fiancée), and in return she gives him a book. The book is in memory of Cervantes. This custom was started in 1926, to commemorate Cervantes death (author of "Don Quixote").

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

2010-04-08T11:08:00.010-04:00

Shakespeare was born in April 26th of 1564 in Stratford Upon Avon and died in April 23rd of 1616.
He was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His surviving works, including some collaborations, consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

Last year, a group of students and three teachers visited Stratford Upon Avon. Here you can see the photos.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE LIFE

2010-04-08T10:09:00.005-04:00

EASTER SUNDAY

2010-04-04T03:22:00.005-04:00

It is Easter Sunday, the Day of Resurrection; the joyful day of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the Gospels it is modestly told how, on this sunday morning the women visited Jesus' tomb and realised he had come back to life.
The procession of El Resucitado is Malaga's celebration of the resurrection of the Lord and it is the last procession in the Holy Week Malaga. Nazarenes from each and every one of the societies take part together, creating a colorful cortege.
The procession of this day is:

El Resucitado