Tuesday 24 November 2009

Freddie Mercury's Video



Eighteen years after the death of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, the people of Feltham in west London are preparing to honour him with a commemorative pavement star.
Mercury was born Farrukh Bulsara in Zanzibar, 1946, to parents originally from Mumbai.
He went to boarding school in India, and along with his family moved to west London in 1964 where he enrolled in art college and embarked on his musical career.
The star's 87-year-old mother, Jer Bulsara, spoke to BBC Asian Network's Dil Neiyyar about her memories of her famous son.(Continue reading)

Monday 23 November 2009

False Friends


You have learnt some words called false friends which looking similar in two languages or dialects they are different in meaning.

For example:

Actual / Real (The English equivalent for the Spanish actual is: present, current)
Actually / Ciertamente, verdaderamente, en realidad, en efecto. (The English equivalent for the Spanish actualmente is currently, nowadays, at present)
Advertise / Anunciar. (The English equivalent for the Spanish Advertir is: Warn).
Advise / Aconsejar. (The English equivalent for the Spanish Avisar is: Warn).
Agenda / Actividades, programa del día. (The English equivalent for the Spanish Agenda is: Diary).

Complete your personal list visiting Miguel Llop's page and then try this hot-potato exercise

Monday 9 November 2009

Thursday 5 November 2009

Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night



In 1605, thirteen young men planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Among them was Guy Fawkes, Britain's most notorious traitor.
After Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, English Catholics who had been persecuted under her rule had hoped that her successor, James I, would be more tolerant of their religion. James I had, after all, had a Catholic mother. Unfortunately, James did not turn out to be more tolerant than Elizabeth and a number of young men, 13 to be exact, decided that violent action was the answer.

Do you want to know more about this tradition? Enter Woodlands Junior School web page and learn about this festivity: the History before the Day, Bonfire Night in England and fireworks.

Wednesday 4 November 2009

Famous Landmarks


How many landmarks do you know all around the world? Try this British Council Games for Kids and guess it.

Tuesday 3 November 2009

Sunday 1 November 2009

Apostrophe + s for Possession


In English, we add an apostrophe + "s" to show possession. Have a look on these rules to understand this point.

1.- Add 's to the singular form of the word (even if it ends in -s):
the owner's car , James's hat (James' hat is also acceptable)
For plural, proper nouns that are possessive, use an apostrophe after the 's':
The Eggles' presentation was good. (The Eggles are a husband and wife consultant team)

2.- Add 's to the plural forms that do not end in -s:
the children's game the geese's honking

3.- Add ' to the end of plural nouns that end in -s:
houses' roofs three friends' letters

4.- Add 's to the end of compound words:
my brother-in-law's money

5.- Add 's to the last noun to show joint possession of an object:
Todd and Anne's apartment

Note that we do not use apostrophes with the possessive pronouns hers, its, ours and yours, but we do use them with possessive pronouns that end in "-one" or "-body":
Give the cat its dinner Those books are ours.
It must be somebody’s Everyone’s papers are on the table.

Try these exercises to solve your doubts:
Quizz 1 /quizz 2 / quizz 3 / exercises 1 / exercises 2 / exercises 3 / exercises 4 /exercises 5.