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A meeting place for my English classes

Archive for October, 2007

Baby vs. father

Posted by joangg154 on October 20, 2007

For a funny commercial (ad=advert=advertisement), especially dedicated to my beginners, click on the picture!


Baby vs. Father  http://www.ffk-wilkinson.com/

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All Blacks Haka.

Posted by joangg154 on October 11, 2007

Maori warrior

Picture from vintagesoftball.com

I suppose you know the Six Nations Rugby World Cup is being held in France these days, and if there’s an image that really calls our attention, that’s New Zealand ritual Haka. The team is also known as the All Blacks.

The Maori (native people from New Zealand) ritual dance carried out by the players before a match is called Haka. It is an expression of the passion, strength and identity of their race. It used to be (= solia ser) a war dance, carried out before a battle. These are the words:

Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!

Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!

Tenei te tangata puhuru huru

Nana nei i tiki mai

Whakawhiti te ra

A upa … ne! ka upa … ne!

A upane kaupane whiti te ra!

Hi !!!


English translation

I die! I die! I live! I live!

I die! I die! I live! I live!

This is the hairy man

Who fetched the Sun

And caused it to shine again

One upward step! Another upward step!

An upward step, another.. the Sun shines!

Maori is pronounced like in Spanish, but WH sounds like an F.

Before the Haka, the team leader – usually of Maori descent – encourages his mates with the following words:

Ringa pakia
Uma tiraha
Turi whatia
Hope whai ake
Waewae takahia kia kino hoki

English translation

Slap the hands against the thighs
Puff out the chest
Bend the knees
Let the hip follow
Stamp the feet as hard as you can


(Text translated from http://www.woodward.cl/nzhaka.htm)

And now, enjoy and sing the Haka!

Posted in Miscellany | 2 Comments »

Umbrella.

Posted by joangg154 on October 2, 2007

Many of you have asked me to use this song by Rihanna in class, so it’ll be the next one. Meanwhile you can watch the video (Click twice on the screen to go to YouTube).

Posted in Songs, Videos | Leave a Comment »