Listening to a lecture

Listen to the different parts of a lecture about computers and do the exercises.

European flights grounded by ash cloud

Watch the video and choose the right answer for the questions.

World Book Day

Read about the choice of the day.

Listen to a short story: At Last, and take some notes. Then listen and read it to check your notes.

Happy St.George's Day

I. Read about The life of Saint George, including the legend of his fight with a dragon and why this Roman soldier from Turkey became the patron saint of England.

II. Watch a Scottish (Douglas Chalmers) talking about 'national pride' and St George's Day and answer the questions (answers in "comments").
1. What happened at Carlisle Castle 260 years ago?
2. What are, according to Douglas, Scottish football supporters with their wigs and kilts (apart from a combination of parody and patriotism)?
3. Who are proud of their nation?
4. Do the Scottish celebrate St. Andrew’s Day?
5. What is what he can’t understand?
6. Why are the English even thinking of sacking St. George and replacing him with another saint according to Douglas?
7. How do people consider the cross of St. Andrew, the Welsh dragon or the tricolour of Ireland?
8. What does the cross of St. George represent?
9. What does he encourage England to do?

III. A new patron saint for England? Listen and read the podcast and then try the quiz to check your understanding.

Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull Volcano

1. Watch a video and read some news about the eruption and its consequences (Sky news).

2. Watch and read the latest news (BBC).

London Underground Ghosts

I. Watch the video and answer the questions. Then check your answers in "comments".




1. How many people use the London Underground every day?
2. What has happened from the early days of construction?
3. How has the tube disturbed thousands of people's souls?
4. How is the underground different once it shuts for the night?
5. What happened in the summer of 2000? Tell the story.
6. What do they say about Bank Station?
7. Complete Andy's story (one word in each gap- complete the last sentence).

Andy's story took place in _______________ during a _______________ _______________. He _______________ _________________
______________ on the door of a lift he had just checked and was sure it was empty. He carried on ignoring it.
Then he went to the switch room and he _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ and just left on the emergency lights. He started to walk through the ticket hall. As he was crossing, all of a sudden _______________ _____________ slammed. He wouldn’t even _______________ _______________ . There was no wind, no nothing. It scared the life out of him. It was…

8. Who were Larry and Bob?
9. What happened to them in Kennington Loop? Why do they think that happened?
10. What's special about their story?

II. Read about some of London Underground ghosts.

III. Have a look at some funny rules about the London Underground.

Scary sports

The listening we did yesterday in class was from: podcastsinenglish.com (level 2- number 60).

One of the most famous hoaxes

Watch the video

April Fool's Day

1. Read about the origins of the day.

2. Do the quiz to check your understanding of the text.

3. Try this quiz and see if you can spot the April fools' gags.

4. Listen to a discussion about some of the better hoaxes and learn some vocabulary associated with the day.

Drabble competition

DRABBLE COMPETITION

The Official School of Languages is having a drabble competition to celebrate the International Day of the Book.

WHAT IS A DRABBLE? It’s a short story, which is exactly 100 words.

· The drabble must have exactly, precisely, no more and no fewer than 100 words (title not included), or it will not be considered for the contest. Contractions and hyphenated words count as one word. The title must not contain more than 10 words.
· The stories can be on any theme.
· They will be selected on the basis of imagination, expression and writing ability.
· Stories must be submitted as an attachment to the following address: drabblecompetition@yahoo.es. The subject should be the title of your story and the level (e.g. “A dream come true” – Básico). A picture illustrating your story must also be attached. You will receive a confirmation email, if you don’t, please try again.
· Deadline: April 15, 2010.
· There will be prizes for the best two stories in Nivel Básico, Nivel Intermedio and Nivel Avanzado.
· Prizes will be given on April 22, 2010.
· Selected drabbles will be published on the school webpage and on the school noticeboards.

APRIL LISTENING HANDOUT

A. Listen to a girl talking about the book she’s reading.
http://www.audio-lingua.eu/spip.php?article858 (1’20)

B. Listen to this short lecture giving advice on how to study.
http://podcasts.britishcouncil.org/podcasts/prof-Study_Skills.mp3 (3’13’’)

C. Beyond Race. http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/videos/player.html?channel=1806&category=5569&title=7083 (4’35’’)


D. Lying
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2010/03/100318_6min_lying_page.shtml (6’)