Flight 1549 splash landing.

In class you have read about this lucky splash landing. Now you can watch it in the news on TV.

911 is the American equivalent to our 112 emergency services.

“Tonight, tonight…”

This is the new song we’ll work with in class: Summercat by Billie the Vision & The Dancers

Click  here to download the worksheet to practice past forms of the verbs in the song.

Yes we can!

Finally a new hope for  America and the world: Obama has become the new president of the USA. If you want to listen to his most famous speech, click here for the words and watch this video, especially from 9:06, where the line “We know the battle ahead will be long…” starts.

And to listen to the song they made with it, here you are:

But what does Obama refers to? Of course, he’s referring to the values stated in the Declaration of Independence. If you want to read its most famous excerpt, click here

Spanish Liverpool.

That was a funny commercial about the influence of Spanish players, especially Fernando Torres, on the city of Liverpool. But next, the real life:

armband = braçalet

lad = man

na nar = (uuhm, that’s difficult…) na na

And to listen to Fernando Torres song click here.

To understand the current financial crisis:

Hungry Hungary .

Well, this post is not about famine in a central European country, but about the American version of the amusing TV contest ¿Sabes más que un niño de primaria? (Are you smarter than a 5th grader?) For a learner it is interesting to see the funny confusions with Turkey (the country and the animal) and the similar pronunciation of Hungary (the country) and hungry (the adjective).

Baby vs. father

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

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

Umbrella.

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).

Trip to London 2008.

Are you a 4th ESO or Batxiller student from IES Camp de Túria? Would you like to travel with us to London next June? Read about it here … and watch the videos as appetizer!

Swear word record.

And now it’s time for a bit of taboo words. Perhaps the unbeatable record will be held forever by Quentin Tarantino in Pulp Fiction: 265 fucks, an average of 1,72 FPM (Fucks Per Minute).

If you are learning English, don’t use this word in any context. It’s extremely rude!!

Wild animals.

If you like wild animals, this is one of the most incredible videos I’ve ever seen, don’t miss any details. You can also practise your English with the comments in the background.

crouching = ajocant-se, ajupint-se.

huge = very big, large.

unbelievable = increïble

it’s too late = és massa tard.

can they have a go? = tenen alguna oportunitat?

drag out = traure fora arrossegant.

the calf’s still alive = el vedell encara està viu .

they’re gonna lose it! = el van a perdre!

surrounded = envoltats .

trying to get away = intentant escapar.

they got him back! = l’han recuperat!

chase = perseguir, acaçar

32nd America’s Cup Official Spot.

For the past three years they have been haunted by a dream…

They are obsessed with it…

They will have to fight hard to capture it…

But only one will succeed …

There will be no second!

“This is Anfield”

Liverpool FC, why is it so special?

First, it’s the most successful team in English football history. But LFC glory is not about titles.

The most important difference a Spanish football fan should understand is that people do not go to football to be pleased by a show of their liking as we do in Spain. In Spain people go to watch football, and if they’re not pleased with what they see they whistle and boo their players.

Going to Anfield is not about going to a theater, even in the dark nineties, with a team with so much titles in his pocket placed in the 8th place, Anfield sang YNWA as loud as when they were a winning team. English crowd and especially Anfield crowd support their team most when they need it most, ie, bad place in the league, or a goal conceded. In Spain it’s often seen how the crowd goes impatient when the oposition scores. That’s a huge difference.

Also, although the two local teams – Everton and Liverpool – are rivals, it’s very usual to see supporters from both teams sharing the same pubs while watching on TV – in a friendly way – their teams play against each other. Actually, that match is called the Merseyside Derby or The Friendly Derby. Even their official club shops are together!

Last thing the players read just before entering the pitch is a notice reminding them who they are and where they are:

Picture from www.getminted.com

There’s a sense of belonging, also in the bad times. You can notice it in the welcoming words at the entrance of the stadium:

Picture from www.liverpoolfc.ch

And, last but not least, the team is very popular in Spain thanks to his beloved manager Rafa Benítez and five more Spanish players.

And now, if you want to feel like a scouser (a person from Liverpool), read their anthem, play the video and feel like one of them in the big family singing at the Kop (grada dels supporters)!

When you walk through a storm,
Hold your head up high,
And don’t be afraid of the dark.
At the end of a storm,
There’s a golden sky,
And the sweet silver song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind, Walk on through the rain,
Though your dreams be tossed and blown..

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart,
And you’ll never walk alone…….
You’ll never walk alone.

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart,
And you’ll never walk alone…….
You’ll never walk alone.

They start singing at 0:30. By the way, don’t worry if you don’t understand the commentator: he doesn’t speak English!

…if you have problems understanding English, you may start with this subtitled version:

Be water my friend

I suppose you all liked the rythm and message of this ad we used in class.

…and for a Spanish version Sé tinto amigo

Japanese method

Do you think this is an effective method to teach English? Dunno…I’m getting ideas…

English lesson with Gomaespuma.