What is it?

Look carefully at these close-up photos. Can you guess what they are? Send me a comment!!

Captions

A caption is a short sentence under or above an image which explains the theme of an image. However, sometimes the purpose of the caption is to make people laugh. Most images may be from well-known TV series, such as The Simpsons. Below, there's Ralph Wiggum. Can you spot what he says wrong???

Another example, this time from the best TV series ever. Guess which one??

In this example, there's a photo with a tongue-in-cheek comment.

-"I've been on cloud nine all day"
- " I see, you're still floating in the air."

And this is another example with an animated gif.

What's going on in this picture? Write a caption for each of these pictures. The best one will get a prize!! Be creative!!!

To add a caption to an animated gif click HERE and read the short short tutorial. 

Shakespeare 400

This year is Shakespeare's 400 death anniversary; just in case, William, also called the Bard,  died on 23rd  April 1616 in Stratford-upon-Avon. Perhaps, you know that another great writer also died on that day, any idea? Yes, you got it right, Miguel de Cervantes.  
Another coincidence , or probably not, is that on this very day ,the celebration of Sant Jordi is held in Catalonia and other parts of the Mediterranean coast such as the País Valencià.  
Sant Jordi is about books and roses but it mostly celebrates literature. 

Well, Shakespeare was both a prolific playwright and sensitive poet who wrote thirty-seven plays, 154 sonnets and five narrative poems. One of his finest sonnets is number 18, Shall I compare thee. Please, listen to the poem and pay attention to the iambic pentameter, which is a common feature in Shakespeare' sonnets. 

Here's the poem written in 17th century English caligraphy. Read it and try to understand its meaning. 
Notes: Thou means you (subject), art is are, hath is has, thee is you (object), thy is your.

This is the poem in modern English caligraphy:

Every 23rd April we celebrate literature and writers, since it was last Saturday you can also contribute to  the fine art of writing and reciting. Write a post on literature. This post will have two sections: a podcast and a mini project about a writer. 

In the podcast you should read a poem or some lines from a novel which could be a well-known paragraph from the beginning of the book or the middle or even the ending. Maybe you would enjoy reading a description of a character or simply a part that you love reading. It has to be 1 minute long. Don't forget to mention the writer's name, the tittle and when it was written. 

The mini project has to deal about the writer of the poem, novel in the podcast. You can create a Prezi on the writer's life and works with videos, audios, paragraphs from novels.. so on and so forth. 

Watch this prezi to get an idea on how to create one. 

Best of luck!! 

NGO's

NGO stands for Non-Governmental Organization, a non-profit, voluntary citizens' group which is organized on a local,national or international level. NGO activities include environmental, social and human rights work among others. NGOs are independent from government influence, but they may receive government funding as well as private funding from volunteers, private donations or membership.

Nowadays, there are many associations that promote and support projects to improve our world such as

Browse the net and choose an environmental NGO, search for its facts and answer the questions below:

1. What's its motto and logo? What does it represent?

2. What problems and issues is it trying to solve?

3. Where is it? What's its location? Where was it founded?

4. Who started the NGO?

5. When was it founded? 

6. Why is it important?

7. Has it made a difference on the world's problems?

Once you've collected all the information, write a newspaper article and post it on your blog. Add some images or videos. Don't forget to include a link with the sources at the end of the article. 

“Only when the last fish is gone, the last river poisoned, the last tree cut down...will mankind realize they cannot eat money.” 
― Greenpeace

World News Quiz: Phoning Putin and a new friend on Sesame Street

How much do you know about this week's news? Try this 5-minute quiz to check your knowledge of the world's news.

The Best and Worst of Catalunya

Five things you'll love and hate about Catalonia.

Mark Wolter is an American guy who, luckily for him, travels quite a lot around the world. While traveling he shoots videos which he, then , publishes on his YouTube channel. The video you're going to see has been recorded in Barcelona. Please, watch and write down the good things , according to Mark, about Barcelona and the not so good.

Do you agree with Mark Wolter? Reason your answer.

Since this post is about "traditions and customs",now we move to the eastern part of the world,that is, India. Check this video on Diwali, a traditional festival held in India, but that has spread all over the world.

After watching think of  traditional customs in your culture which are still celebrated today. Choose one and create a podcast describing it. Include:

• what the custom involves
• when and where it takes place
• who participates in it
• any training participants need
• if the event is promoted internationally

News Illustrated

Check this short animated video of Wednesday 7th March news and answer the questions. !.
1. Why are British patrol boats sent to Greece?
2. Why has the EDF executive resigned?
3. Who invented email?

 Now, browse the net for the week news and pick three or four. Then, create a presentation similar to the one you have seen. Once done, publish it on your blog. If possible, add some audio.

The BBC website may be useful, click HERE.

DAVID BOWIE

There are quite a lot of people I admire but perhaps my favourite is the singer

who wrote the songs "Little China Girl", "Space Oddity" , "Modern Love" among others. Do you know who I'm talking about? If you know, good for you, if you don't it's time to get to know him. It's David Bowie. You may have heard of him because he recently passed away.

Let me show you a picture !!! That's the Thin White Duke as he called himself for a while.

David Bowie (click HERE to listen how he pronounces his name) was born as David Rober Jones on 8 January 1947. He was an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger who worked for over 5 decades producing and recording music. Since he started his singing career he often changed his music and his image. Many of today's musicians say that he was a great influence on them.

David Bowie first caught the eye of the public in the autumn of 1969, when the song "Space Oddity" reached the top five of the UK chart. After a three-year period of experimentation, he re-emerged in 1972 as Ziggy Stardust, a flamboyant and androgynous glam rock star.

In 1975 his image shifted into the Thin White Duke with the number one single "Fame", co-written with John Lennon and the hit album Young Americans.

In 1981 he performed with Queen in the UK chart-topping single "Under Pressure", but reached a commercial peak in 1983 with the album Let's Dance, which included the hit's single "Let's Dance", "China Girl" and "Modern Love".

In the BBC's 2002 survey of the 100 Greatest Britons , Bowie ranked 29. Throughout his career he sold an estimated 139 million albums and ranks among the ten best-selling acts in the UK pop history. In 2004, the Rolling Stone magazine ranked him 39th on their list of the 100 greatest Rock Artists of All Time.

The star, who died last January aged 69, was more than a musician; he was a record producer, painter,  and actor, starring in multiple films including Labyrinth and The Man who Fell to Earth. 

Ten unforgettable David Bowie Film Appearances.

David  Bowie's Changing Faces.

And finally, this is the tribute that Bruce Springsteen paid to David Bowie on 16 January in Pittsburgh when he sang the song Rebel, Rebel.

Someone I admire

This post is about people, celebrities or common people ,you admire. First, watch the video and find out why these people became famous. Write a post with information about these "celebs".

Now, check this video with useful words when describing a person.

Read the mini flip book below and complete the exercises in your notebook.

Someone I Admire Exercises 1

Read more publications at Calaméo

Think of a person you admire and then write a post about him or her. Don't forget to include a picture. 

If you want to get extra marks, prepare an oral presentation, record it and upload on your blog or create a Power Point presentation using images and your voice describing each slide. 

Enjoy ;)

Revising past simple tenses

To revise the past simple click on the following link:  REVISION

Check this video on the past simple:

More practice on the topic by clicking here.

Grammar Revision :Present tenses

Check these revision  to revise the use of the present tenses in English. 

1. First do these exercises clicking HERE. Copy them in your notebook. 
2. Now THESE 8 exercises. Again copy in your notebook

MAKING AN APPOINTMENT

Imagine you have an appointment at the doctor but you cannot make it. Act out a dialogue with a classmate and record it with SoundCloud or any other programme for recording and uploading audio files. 
Follow the instructions in your book.

Amazing Wildlife

Check this video about a park in the UK called Marwell Wildlife. Then, click HERE on the image  to download the worksheet.

It's your turn now!! Find a classmate to work with, then think of a natural park or reserve in your area. You are going to give a short oral presentation about it. In your presentation with the Power Point you should include the following:

- the name of the park

- where it is

- what the natural environment is like and what wildlife you can find there

-what benefits it brings.

BEST OF LUCK!!!

After the Christmas Break

Fortunately, or to some unfortunately,  the winter break is over. From now on until Easter we'll have to readjust to the school routine again. Perhaps some inspiring quotes might help us to survive this short period. 
Enjoy yourselves reading them ;)

Now, why don't you browse the net and find some "boosting" quotes, videos, film scenes, comic strips to start the new school term? Once you find them, wrIte a post and publish it on your blog. It would be even better if you explain why you have chosen them. 

And this is my favourite video because it shows amazing things people can do as well as incredible scenes.It's simple and gets to the point. The message is crystal clear: if you believe in yourself, you can do it!!!