West Side Story

I. Find this information on the Internet and answer the following questions:

     >What is the plot of the film (3-5 lines)?
     >When was the film first released?
     >Could you name the main characters? Who were in the cast?
     >How many awards and honours has this film won?
     >What is special about its soundtrack? Who is the scores’ author?

II. Look up the phrase "melting pot" in any online encyclopaedia. Explain the relation that term could possibly have with the plot or topics in the film.

III. Write your film review (70-80 words). Keep to the layout basics given in the post above.

In case you need some help, check the following document:

DRACULA (by Bram Stoker)

We have seen the award-winning movie "Dracula" of the director Francis Ford Coppola (1992). Now see the trailer of an older version, "Horror of Dracula" (1958), starred by Christopher Lee. Which one have frightened you most?

DIRECTIONS FOR YOUR READER ESSAY

READING ADVICE

ü       Do not translate every word nor look its meaning up in the dictionary.

ü       Read two or three pages on one go.

ü       Try to get general ideas. Do not worry if you do not understand all details.

ü       Check only the words that you consider useful to understand what happens.

ü       Jot them down in your `vocab booklet´ so that you can use them in your summary.

ü       Make some notes on the teacher’s explanations (they will help you to draft your essay later).

LAYOUT

Ø       Use blank pages.

Ø       Cover (book’s title and author). Write your name and class below.

Ø       Hand-writing (never edit your paper on your PC, spell checks and translator gadgets prevent your English from a quick advance).

Ø       Make sure all the titles in bold, upper case below are in your paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

                0. SOURCES

Use "Britannica" search gadget on the right-hand side of the blog and find out who the following people were (write three or four lines for each):

>Bram Stoker

>Vlad the Impaler

I. SUMMARY

Make a list of all the chapters’ titles. Translate them into Spanish and write five or six sentences giving a brief description of the main events at each chapter. (Try making simple sentences. Do not translate directly from Spanish. Avoid using translation tools and spell-checks from your computer.)

II. CHARACTERS

Choose one character. Draw it or write his/her name and make a word tree with details of his/her appearance, personality, problems, experiences, fears, etc. Now use the words in the tree to write a full paragraph about that character. (70-80 words approx.)

III. VOCABULARY

Choose one chapter. Pick out 15 words that you consider relevant and necessary for a complete understanding of the events. Make a glossary including the word, page, word class (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, etc.), translation and a phrase sample.

IV. GRAMMAR

Choose a different chapter. Write 10 samples of grammar structures studied at class (including the page where they can be found). i.e. Present/Continuous, Past Simple/Continuous, Present Perfect, Subject/Object Questions, like/prefer/hate/enjoy + gerund, comparative/superlative adjectives, so/such a(n) + adjective, etc.

V. BOOK REVIEW

v      TITLE

v      AUTHOR

v      BOOK TYPE (adventure, mystery, crime, romance, historical, suspense, etc.)

·                  The story happens in…………………………………………………………………… (place, time).

·                  The characters in this book are …………………………….……….. (names, brief description).

·                  My  favourite character is……………………………………………………….. I like him/her   because…………………………………………………………………… (justify your choice).

·                  My favourite part of the story is when…………………………………………

·                  I like/don’t like the book because…………………………………………………

·                  I recommend/don’t recommend this book because………………………

This Modern Love (Bloc Party Lyrics)

To be 1_______ in the forest
To be 2_______ adrift
You've 3________ trying to reach me
You bought me a book
To be 1_______ in the forest
To be 2_______ adrift
I've been paid
I've been paid

X 2
Don't get offended
If I seem absent-minded
Just keep telling me facts
And keep making me smile
Don't get offended
If I seem absent minded
I get 4_______
Baby, you've got to be more 5_______
I've never 6_______ what's good for me
Baby, you've got to be more 7_______
I will be yours
I'll pay for you anytime  X 2
You told me you wanted to 8_______ _______my sadness
Well jump on, enjoy, you can 9_______ _______
You told me you wanted to 8_______ my sadness
Jump right
Baby, you've got to be more 5_______
I've never 6_______ what's good for me
Baby, you've got to be more 7_______
What are you 10 _______ _______ _______?
What's always in the way?
Why so damn absent-minded?
Why so 11_______ _______ romance?
This modern love 12_______ me
This modern love 13_______ me
Do you wanna come over and kill some time?
Tell me facts, tell me facts, tell me facts
Tell me facts
Throw your arms around me

Rockers in Love

Watch the acoustic version of the most popular song by the English band Bloc Party. Try to get as many past participles as you can. Then complete the lyrics on the post above:

HISTORY OF VALENTINE'S DAY

Watch this video and learn about Valentine's Day. Then, answer these questions:

>What's the origin of St. Valentine's? Is it pagan or religious? What was the first name given to the festival?

>Who was Valentine? Whose emperor's times did he live in?

>What happened on the first 14th February?

>What does Cupid stand for?
>How much candy is sold on that day?

Christmas homeworks ... ho ho ho!!

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (by Charles Dickens)

VIDEO



-PREFACE

I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.

Their faithful Friend and Servant,

C. D.

December, 1843.

AUDIO




-STAVE 1: Marley's Ghost

-STAVE 2: The First of the Three Spirits

-STAVE 3: The Second of the Three Spirits

-STAVE 4: The Last of the Spirits

-STAVE 5: The End of It

Listening better

Listening is a very important skill both professionally and in personal life, but most people are not too good at it.


Here are some tips to help you listen to other people better.

Ten Tips To Become A Better Listener

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