HOLIDAY MOVIES

Dear students,

this is one of my favourite films. I recommend to watch it in English if you have time. Remember there are many other films in cuevana.tv and also complete movies on youtube.

ENJOY!!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH "THE WIZARD OF OZ"

A song: Lemon Tree (by Fool's Garden)

This is a song we enjoyed today in our Basic 1 class. Read the lyrics and sing at home!

A song: Nina Simone's I GOT LIFE

We listened to this powerful and inspirational song today in our Intermediate 1 class. Here you are a video with lyrics in case you feel like singing at home : ) Enjoy I GOT LIFE!

Reading Tim Burton's "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy" + Watching one of his films

Dear students,

if you enjoyed "Vincent", you will love Oyster Boy.

HERE YOU ARE A LINK TO READ TIM BURTON'S "THE MELANCHOLY DEATH OF OYSTER BOY"

These are the characters you are going to find inside this marvellous book by Tim Burton:

The Tim Burton's film I like most is Edward Scissorhands. YOU CAN WATCH IT IN ORIGINAL VERSION WITH SUBTITLES BY CLICKING HERE

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Basic 1 Extra activity: LIKES AND DISLIKES

Weekend movies: TALKING ABOUT BOOKS

Dear students,

"Reading books" (Basic 1) and "Cinema" (Intermediate 1) are two of our main topics in class. Thus, here you are a selection of videos to watch in English.

1. INTERVIEWS and SPEECHES

*PAUL AUSTER. The first minutes of the video are in Spanish, because it is part of a South-American program. However, the writer and the interviewer eventually switch to English. If you don't know Paul Auster, I recommend you have a look at some of his books. For examle, The New York Trilogy (picture below).

* DAVID FOSTER WALLACE. He is simply one of the best authors of the 20th and the 21st centuries. Unfortunately, he died very young. His works are works of art. Masterpieces. They are a bit difficult to read (much more than Paul Auster's) but, if you feel curious, I strongly recommend Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (See picture below). Next to the picture, you can see a video based on a text Foster Wallace read at the university of Kenyon (USA) in 2005. It is a very inspiring video. 

 

2. POEMS. 

There are many poems you can find in English on the Internet. One of my favourite poets of all times is CHARLES BUKOWSKI. He is the author of one of the most beautiful poems ever written: BLUEBIRD. You can listen to Bukowski reading his poem on the following video (I think it is a good idea to read the lines at the same time, just click HERE) :

3. FILMS BASED ON WRITERS' BIOGRAPHIES AND WORKS

* THE HOURS: This is a great film directed by Stephen Daldry and starring Nicole Kidman, Diane Moore and Meryl Streep. It is based on one of Virginia Woolf's most famous novels, Mrs. Dalloway, but it is set in different times and locations. I enjoyed watching it very much.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH "THE HOURS"

* ANONYMOUS: A film based on Mark Twain's idea that William Shakespeare didn't write William Shakespeare's works. The film develops this crazy idea in a very entertaining way. I enjoyed watching this film full of drama and strange passions. 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH "ANONYMOUS"

* DETACHMENT: It is a 2011 American drama film about the high school education system directed byTony Kaye, starring Adrien Brody. This film is extremely moving and great. I recommend it a lot.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH "DETACHMENT"

CLICK HERE IF YOU PREFER TO WATCH THE FILM ON YOUTUBE

* DEAD POETS SOCIETY: A classic!!!!

CLICK HERE IF YOU WANT TO WATCH "DEAD POETS SOCIETY"

ENJOY!!!!

WEEKEND MOVIES

Dear students,

these are the films I have selected for your this week. As you can see, there are different options:

1.TITUS by Julie Taymor. She is the director of Across the Universe, the film many of you enjoyed so much some weeks ago. This film is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play Titus Andronicus, so the dialogues might be a bit difficult. Nevertheless, I think you will be able to understand the plot and most of the words because the images are very powerful.

2. NOTHING SPECIAL: a short film that was awarded in many festival last year. CLICK HERE TO WATCH IT. A young boy is tormented by his mother's conviction that he is the new Messiah, and after leaving home, he tries to limit all human contact and adopt a completely boring, normal lifestyle....  

3. THIS IS VANITY. This is a brilliant and shocking short fillm. This Is Vanity is the dark and tragic tale of a tiring mother who struggles to protect both herself and her disabled teenage daughter from the continual attacks of local adolescents. (There aren't subtitles available but I think you can understand most of it.) 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE SHORT FILM

4. PROTOPARTÍCULAS. This is a short film by my friend Chema García Ibarra. He has been awarded in many festivals too. The film is in Spanish but with English subtitles. Try to watch it and read the subtitles (READING EXERCISE). It will be good to learn vocabulary in English.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH IT

I hope you enjoy at least one or all the films!!!

Have a great weekend!

Weekend movie: "Barfly"

Dear students,

this is my recommendation for this weekend, a film based on one of the autobiographical books of the great writer Charles Bukowski: BARFLY.

 Enjoy!

A song: Who wants to live forever?

This is a song we have listened in class today. Enjoy the original version by Queen.

Opening your ears: watching and listening

Dear students,

due to the huge amount of work I had last weekend I wasn't able to look for new films and videos for you (you needed a rest after the exams, though!). Thus, here you are some material to enjoy this week. Besides, I will link new films on the weekend.

Have a great time!

1. Learning about relationships and breaking with stereotypes: I recommend to watch Ellen Page's brave "confession" (She played one of the main roles in Juno (a 2007 Canadian-American comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman). Besides, her English is clear and direct. Let's learn from her.

2. Romantic feelings: Another interesting film about relationships: Pride and Prejudice. It's based on Jane Austen's novel. CLICK HERE TO WATCH IT. Enjoy its clever romanticism.

3. Modern love, spending the night together. You can find a more modern and fresh relationship in this movie: "Before Sunrise". CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILM

Enjoy!

New Resources for everyone!

Dear students,

please have a look at the new resources available in the column on the right of this blog. I am sure you will find interesting webs. Some of them focus on listening; others deal with pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.. You will also find lots of interesting podcasts, videos and films to study and  learn at home.


Suggestions:

-Explore the web of EOI Lorca, and download our official Didactic Program.
-Find exam samples from previous years by clicking on the web of Consejería de Educación
-Read the activities proposed by the Asociación de Alumnos

And, most important, follow us on Twitter!!!!

Yes, everything is on the right column of this blog.

Enjoy these cool learning resources!

Intermediate 1: pronunciation of the past tense of regular verbs (again!)

Dear Intermediate 1 students,

if you visit the following webpages, you will find information concerning the pronunciation of regular verbs in past tense:

1. A SHORT EXPLANATION

2.  A MORE EXTENDED EXPLANATION (INCLUDING A LIST OF VOICED AND VOICELESS SOUNDS)

3. Please, have a look at this video:

 4. More practice:

Remember that the pronunciation of -ed verbs is part of the Basic cycle. You all should know how to pronounce them by now. Cheer up and practice!


All my best,

reme

Intermediate 1: WEEKEND MOVIES

Dear students,

here you are a couple of films to see this weekend. Open your ears and practice for the exam!

"The Red Violin", with Spanish subtitles:

CLICK HERE TO WATH "THE RED VIOLIN" 

"Hitchcock" is a film about the great cinema director! You can watch it also with subtitles. I enjoyed this film very much and I recommend that you watch it at home. Besides, Hitchcock's accent was truly British and Anthony Hopkins plays the role really well.

CLICK HERE TO WATH "HITCHCOCK"

For more films, CLICK HERE AND VISIT CUEVANA.TV


Have a good weekend and don't doubt to contact me if you have any doubt regarding the exam.

Best,

reme


P.S: You are also welcome to wath my recommendations for Basic 1, which I published in the previous post.

Basic 1: WEEKEND MOVIES (practice LISTENING!)

Dear pupils,

here you are some videos to watch this weekend. Do you remember "Barrio Sésamo"? The American equivalent, "Sesame Street",  is very didactic and funny. I hope you enjoy and learn!

1. LEARNING ABOUT LETTERS:

2. NUMBERS

3. PLACES

4. FEELINGS:

5. PARTS OF THE BODY (THE FACE):

There are many videos on the internet that can help you learn English. You can explore and watch Sesame Street videos here: SESAME STREET VIDEOS --- YOUTUBE ---


Have a good time and study a lot for the exam!

All my best,

reme

Beautiful Song SOMETHING STUPID

This is the perfect song you can sing your lovers on Saint Valentine's Day.

Enjoy!

LYRICS:

I know I stand in line until you think you have the time 
To spend an evening with me 
And if we go someplace to dance, I know that there's a chance 
You won't be leaving with me 
And afterwards we drop into a quiet little place and have a drink or two 
And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like "I love you" 

I can see it in your eyes 
That you despise the same old lies you heard the night before 
And though it's just a line to you, for me it's true 
And never seemed so right before 

I practice every day to find some clever lines to say 
To make the meaning come through 
But then I think I'll wait until the evening gets late and I'm alone with you 
The time is right, your perfume fills my head, the stars get red and, oh, the night's so blue 
And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like "I love you" 



The time is right, your perfume fills my head, the stars get red and, oh, the night's so blue
And then I go and spoil it all by sayin' something stupid like "I love you"

I love you
I love you
I love you 

WEEKEND MOVIES (different levels)

Dear students, here you are new films to watch online this weekend.

Cartoons for BASIC 1 students:

The Muppet Show, this is real fun!

And, finally, an intriguing movie about drugs and tormenting relationships. The original soundtrack is by Pink Floyd. Enjoy!!!!!!!!

Have a great weekend!

Intermediate 1 LISTENING EXERCISES

Dear students,

here you are some extra listening exercises to train your ears. They are very easy.

CLICK HERE!!!!!

Intermediate 1 Song (also recommended to B1 students!): THE SUPREMES, "You can't hurry love"

Dear students,

enjoy the music and lyrics of this incredible song.  "You can't hurry love" by the Supremes:

WEEKEND MOVIES

Dear students, you are invited to watch any of these movies on this long weekend: This is a classical film, Pymalion (English subtitles):

* * * * This is a musical based on The Beatles' songs (Spanish subtitles):

**** This is a classic too, The Sixth Sense (Spanish subtitles):

Enjoy the films and have a good weekend!

See you on Tuesday!


Bye!

Weekend Movies, Tim Burton!

This weekend you are invited to watch one of Tim Burton's best short films: Vincent.
ENJOY!!!!! .

. . .