Willing Suspension of Disbelief

The twins are here!

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 19:20:12 GMT

The twins were born on 30th November, but I've been too busy to post anything about it until now. So I'll just leave a video of them some days after we arrived home. Pedro is the one in blue and Mario the one in yellow. Aren't they cute!?

(In case you can't see it or if it is too slow, this is the link in yYoutube: http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=ogBiSvlAd6M&feature=user

3D scan

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 10:50:48 GMT

Hi to those who read.

I had a 3D scan two weeks ago and I thought you'd like to see it. It's one of the babies with his brother's feet on his head. It's amazing what science can do nowadays.

Hope you are enjoying the course.

i.xx

Bye

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:38:59 GMT

Hi lovely people,

This year I won't be anybody's teacher. I still have two months ahead until the babies are born, but I'm having some problems with my back and I'll be off work all the academic year. Oh well

I don't think I'll write much here either, because sitting for long is really uncomfortable for me. However, if you need me for anything, or you just want to chat, you can use my email addresses. I'll be happy to know from you.

Have a good time and enjoy English,

Isabel xx

My pleasure

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 15:26:08 GMT

Hi,

I just wanted to thank the students of the intensive course (July 2007) their attendance and their patience. It was a real pleasure to meet you all and I hope we do meet again.

Oh, and as I promised to informe you, the two babies I'm expecting are two boys! Their names will probably be Pedro and Mario.

I've put up a song about the summer, sung by Joe Cocker, and here are the lyrircs. It's for those who stay, like me, instead of going to beaches and abroad There is some hope for most of you according to the song...But pregnant women have it more difficult Hope you like it and I wish you a wonderful summer holiday.

i. xx

Summer in the City

Hot town summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirt and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
All around people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk hotter than a match head

But at night it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on and dance all night
Despite the heat it will be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
The days can't be like the night
In the summer in the city
In the summer in the city

Cool town, evening in the city
Dressed so fine and looking so pritty
Cool cat lookin for a kitty
Gonna look in every corner of the city
Till I'm weezin like a bus stop
Running up the stairs gonna meet ya on the roof top

But at night it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on lets dance all night
Despite the heat it will be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
The days can't be like the night
In the summer in the city
In the summer in the city

Solo

But at night it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on lets dance all night
Despite the heatit will be alright
And babe don't you know it's a pity
The days can't be like the night
In the summer in the city
In the summer in the city

Hot town summer in the city

Cool town, evening in the city

Exam Results

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:36:21 GMT

The exam results of the 1st and 3rd years are on the board.

I'll publish the marks of the 4th year on Wednesday from 5 p.m.

The exam revisions will be on Monday 18th and Wednesday 20th from 17.00 to 19.00. Please, remember to send me an email telling me when you are coming to see the exam, to prevent queues.

I'll also publish the dates for the September exams in the next few days.

Hope you are not very stressed with exams and work. Enjoy the sun!

Official Announcement

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:15:39 GMT

I'm three months pregnant. I'll have twins by November if everything goes well.

I've had a scan and this is what they look like:

(click on the photo to see it bigger)

War of Sexes

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 21:18:52 GMT

I thought you would enjoy this:

Words Women Use (and their meaning)

Fine
This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

Five Minutes
If she is getting dressed, this is half an hour (30) Minutes. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given 5 more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

Nothing
This is the calm before the storm. This means "something" and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with "nothing" usually end in "fine".

Go Ahead
This is a dare, not permission, DON'T DO IT!

Loud Sigh
Although not actually a word, the loud sigh is often misunderstood by men. A "Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over "Nothing".

That's Okay
This is one of the most dangerous statements that woman can make to a man. "That's Okay" means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

Thanks
This is the least used of all words in the female vocabulary. If a woman is thanking you. Do not question it, just say you're welcome and back out of the room slowly.

Our House/song

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 15:43:36 GMT

So here's the song and the activity I promised. Guess the missing words by reading the clues between brackets (). The words in Italics are explained in the glossary at the end of the lysrics....The solutions? Well, Google "Our House Madness lyrics" and you'll find lots of websites giving you the missing words.

Enjoy it!

Our House by Madness

Father wears his ____________best (day of the week)

Mother's __________she needs a rest (adjective)

The kids are playing up ____________ (part of the house)

Sister's sighing in her sleep

___________'s got a date to keep (member of the family)

He can't hang around

Our house, in the middle of our street

Our house, in the middle of our

Our house it has a crowd

There's ____________something happening (adverb of frequency)

And it's usually quite loud

Our _________ she's so house-proud (member of the family, colloquial)

Nothing ever slows her down

And a mess is not allowed

Our house, in the middle of our street

Our house, in the middle of our

Our house, in the middle of our street (Something tells you)

(That you've got to get away from it)

Our house, in the middle of our

Father gets up ________ for work (adverb of time)

Mother has to iron his ________ (clothes)

Then she sends the kids to _________ (place)

Sees them off with a small kiss

She's the one they're going to miss

In lots of ways

[Instrumental Interlude]

Our house, in the middle of our street

Our house, in the middle of our

I remember way back then when

Everything was true and when

We would have such a very good time

Such a fine time

Such a ________time (adjective)

And I remember how we'd play

Simply waste the day away

Then we'd say nothing would come between us

Two dreamers

[Back to First verse]

...Our house, was our castle and our keep
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, that was where we used to sleep
Our house, in the middle of our street

Glossary:

Sunday Best = best clothes

Playing up = behaving badly

sighing = making a sad sound

has got a date = has a meeting (with a girl)

hang around = stay here for long

house-proud = a person who like to keep her house clean and tidy

you've got to = you have to

Weekend in London

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 19:21:49 GMT

Here is some narrative for you advanced learners to read and gossip!

Before last Christmas had started I decided it was time I visited that amazing city again. Many of you may have been there and spent a hectic week trying to see as much of it as possible. Others have stayed there long enough to make friends and enjoy the city. Not all agree that it's that amazing or interesting, but we all know that the ideas we form about the places we've been to, are often related to the experiences and people we've encountered there. Well, of all the places I've visited, London is always the one I never get enough of. But that doesn't mean that it's the most beautiful or the one that offers the most interesting cultural expressions, it only means that it's the place from which I bring and hold the dearest memories. It's difficult to explain why these experiences are so important, but I'm not trying to express my feelings here, I can only make a summary of what I did and who I met.

I arrived on Friday afternoon. The flight was on time, the trains adjusted to schedules, everything was fine, which is always a good beginning, isn't it? I was staying with a friend, Alastair, and I have to say that he has been a lovely host (in spite of the coffee he makes) and a wonderful guide in the places we've visited. That evening I had a typical English dish for dinner, shepherd's pie, and we just stayed having an interesting conversation about the English language. You may find this totally absurd, but discussing how a language works with a native speaker that uses it in the best ways (he's a songwriter), is the most exciting conversation an English teacher can have…We even used the dictionary!!

On Saturday morning we visited the British museum. We took it easy and knew that we wouldn't have time for everything. So I chose Greece, Egypt and Japan, and their great treasure, of course, the Rosetta Stone. It's an amazing museum. The building is in itself a nice place to wander into and the exhibitions are great, not only because of the valuable objects you can see, but also because they are arranged in a most comfortable and appropriate way, which is not always the case in other museums. I loved it and I guess I'll go there again if I have the chance.

We went back home and soon we were getting ready for the big event of the weekend: The triple gig! Alastair, Edwina Hayes and Rich Barnard had arranged a gig in a Nashville style. Edwina has lived there and apparently it's common to have concerts in which songwriters take turns on stage. I love the three artists' music, so this can be defined as my 'dream gig'.

When we arrived at the venue I met Annabel and Sal, two lovely women I had the pleasure to meet last year at my first Alastair's gig. We had been told that the best fish and chip restaurant in the city was at the end of that street, so while the artists were preparing the sound, I went with the girls to have dinner and verify that it was a great restaurant.

When we arrived at the venue, there was a table in front of Alastair's microphone with the following sign:

http://i9.tinypic.com/4g5djki.jpg

The lovely Edwina was giving out tickets for a draw with mini prizes (biscuits, cava (Spanish champagne) and chocolates). I don't know why in the end I got five or six tickets! More strangely, I didn't get any prize!

Well, the show was absolutely fantastic! The three of them sang beautifully. I was specially amazed at Edwina's voice and talent. That was also the first time I had seen Rich singing his songs live and I have to say that he's just as talented as he sounds in his CD (STFU). Alastair counted on the lovely voice of Delagh, who was sitting in the audience, for 'Barefoot on Glass'. Later, Edwina, Delagh and Astrid Brook (another songwriter, also sitting in the audience) helped him with 'Not for the Faint Hearted'. Beautiful! At the end of the show the three of them (Alastair, Edwina and Rich) sang a cover of some 60s song, I think, whose title I can't remember. I know I'm repetitive, but really, it a great show.

http://i7.tinypic.com/2w56qle.jpg

So, the lovely music together with the pleasure to see Annabel, Sal and Nicky and meet lots of lovely people (Edwina, Delagh, Astrid, Bo …) made that evening become one of those details that makes London my favourite city in the world, after the one I live in.

On Sunday morning we visited the National Gallery. I've said that Alastair was a great guide, though 'guide' is not the best word, as we got a little lost, because some of the paintings had been put in other places since his last visit to the gallery. However, I was glad that I could be with a person who can be moved by art and understands the artists and paintings much better than I could. I definitely recommend everybody to visit that gallery.

We got home and my host prepared a typical English dinner that we ate with his flatmates, Jody and Bruno. It was another lovely evening with funny and interesting conversations and some giggles. I really enjoyed the food and the company.

On Monday morning I had to leave very early to get my flight back home. It was sad to leave, but I was also extremely happy because I had that great feeling of having had an amazingly good time.

So, that was it: My weekend away, full of highlights, interesting places and lovely people.

The video

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 17:30:02 GMT

Since nobody asked I'm going to tell you: The video playing is 'Fidelity' by Regina Spektor. I think it's not difficult to understand and it's a lovely song.

Soon I'll come back and post some interesting things...but first I have to think what things could be interesting. Well, I'm going to London next weekend, so I hope I have something to tell about it and hopefully some pics too.

Enjoy your weekend, and for those who are not coming back in the second term, it was a pleasure to have you all in class. Hope to see you soon.

Isabel xx

Merry Christmas

Sat, 23 Dec 2006 22:55:10 GMT

I wish you all a Happy Christmas Holiday and the best for 2007.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2006 when...

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 10:23:05 GMT

A friend has just sent this to me and I thought you would enjoy it. Thanks LOR!

(**Cell Phone American English for British mobile phone)

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2006 when...

1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.

2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.

4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.

6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.

7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.

8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.

10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.

11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )

12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.

14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list

AND NOW U R LAUGHING at yourself.

Go on, forward this to your friends. You know you want to !

Eternal Flame

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:34:43 GMT

Hello!

So, this is a song by The Bangles, a rock band that became very popular in the eighties. I'm sure you've all heard about them and even sang this song. This is an activity I'll do with my first years students, so you'll find it extremely easy. For those with intermediate levels and above, I recommend you to have a look at their website.

Eternal Flame

________your eyes, give me your hand, darling
Do you feel my heart beating, do you ____________?
Do you feel the same, _________ only dreaming?
_________burning an eternal flame?

I believe it's meant ________, darling
I watch when ___________sleeping, you belong to me
Do you feel the same, _______ only dreaming
Or ________burning an eternal flame?

Say _____________, sun shines through the rain
A whole life so lonely,

and then you come and ease the pain
I __________to lose this feeling .

OK, the first year students would have a list with the options, but I won't give you that!

Welcome

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 21:09:55 GMT

New campus, new students. I hope you all find this site entertaining and useful. I also hope the students of the previous years continue visiting me here.

I've just added a link to the official website of Alisson Krauss, the woman who's singing "When You Say Nothing At All".

I intend to change the song soon, and find new things for you to practice, but the beginning of the academic year is being a little harder than I expected. So please be patient and have a look at other entries in this blog.

See you in class,

Isabel xx

Exam Marks

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 08:51:12 GMT

The marks are already on the board. There will be an 'exam revision' on Wednesday, 13th from 10.30 to 12.30 in the morning. You can email me if you can't make it for wednesday.

Home, sweet home

Sun, 03 Sep 2006 17:44:23 GMT

Here I am, back to "normal" life.

I've seen great plays, I've visited beautiful places, I've met wonderful people and I have enjoyed much more than I expected, but enough is enough. I am exhausted and I need to rest.

I can't tell everything I've done or seen, but I would highlight a couple of events. The first one is Alastair Artingstall's gig. I had a wonderful time with him and all the people who came to that show. The second would be Romeo and Juliet, played by young actors in the middle of the Botanic Gardens.

I have to thank Gina for her hospitality and her company. I would also like to thank my lovely flatmates (Marta, María, Mariona, Alexandra and Melitta) and neighbour (Maya) because these days would have been really boring without them. I also had lovely classmates and I am really glad I met them all.

And now back to the exams and meetings...Oh well.

The Fringe Festival

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 16:55:09 GMT

So this place is full of people coming and going trying to make the best of their time here.

There is, as you know, an international festival. The most important event (and therefore the most expensive..and by now impossible to attend if you didn't buy the tickets a century ago) is the Tattoo, which is a kind of exhibition of military marches (The truth is that I am not the best person to explain it, since I have never seen it.)

There is also a ... let's call it secondary festival that surrounds the official one. It's called the Fringe Festival. There are theatre plays, music, films and all kinds of art expressions from new or unknown artists. Apart from what I've seen in the streets (street performers and short bits of what you can see in theatres) I've seen a couple of plays: Lady Chatterley's Lover and Have a Nice Life. The fisrt one is an adaptation of one of D.H. Lawrence's novel, set in the 80s (the play, not the novel). The second is a musical comedy. I enjoyed both and, as I discovered the half price ticket office and that you can get free tickets if you are patient, I think I'll see many more.

You can't imagine what a great time I'm having here!!!!

Edinburgh

Fri, 18 Aug 2006 13:59:37 GMT

Hello!!!!!!

Here I am in foggy Edinburgh. This city is so beautiful! And with all the festival celebrations, street performances and the entertainment offers everywhere it's imposible to get bored.

For next year your homework will be: Come to Edinburgh (If the teacher says, you have to do it)

By the way, the weather has been quite nice until today...But even when it's foggy or rainy I don't miss Spain's weather much, really. It only makes the city look more charming.

Panic

Sat, 12 Aug 2006 10:37:31 GMT

As I told you, by mid August I am travelling to Edinburgh and I had the intention to use this as a real blog, telling you about the things I see, the people I meet there, etc. OK the adventure has begun and I haven't even taken off.

Last Thursday when I heard about London airports being in a mess I thought 'oh well, never mind, by Sunday everything will be allright'. And I was right, because all flights from Spain to London are already working. But...

MY FLIGHT FROM LONDON TO EDINBURGH HAS BEEN CANCELLED!!!!!!!!!

Right now I don't know what to do: Look for accomodation in London and try to go there by other means; try to find the other means right now (buses take ages and trains are just as expensive as flights).

So, now is time to panic: AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UPDATE:

It seems that my flight hasn't been cancelled. The Spanish website wasn't updated and they said there wouldn't be flights. But the British one says that they will be back to normal tomorrow...Hurrray!!!!!

However, the panic was controlled as a friend from London offered accomodation and another from Edinburgh helped me with the info about other means of transport. Haven't I got lovely friends out there!?

Hello/Goodbye

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 17:39:35 GMT

The intensive courses are over and I've found some time to change things here. The song you are listening to is 'When You Say Nothing At All', which is part of the sound track of Notting Hill. We've only had time to see some extracts from the film, but I think this song is worth. This is a cover by Alison Krauss, one of the most beautiful female voices I've ever heard. I've taken it from an album called 'Now that I've Found You'. I think the lyrics will be easy for you and I hope you enjoy it.

I would like to say that it's been nice to have you all in class (the general course students and the intensive course ones) and I hope to see you now and then . Next year I'll be teaching in the Veterinary Campus, but this is a small world and I guess we'll meet sooner or later.You have my email address and I will be glad to know about your improvements, especially the 'Erasmus' students: Please tell me how you manage out there!

"When you Say Nothing at all"

(don schlitz & paul overstreet/mca music, inc.-don schlitz music, ascap,
And scarlet moon, bmi)

It’s amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word you can light up the dark
Try as I may I could never explain
What I hear when you don’t say a thing

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There’s a truth in your eyes sayin’ you’ll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you’ll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all

All day long I can hear people talking out loud
But when you hold me near, you drown out the crowd
Old mr. webster could never define
What’s being said between your heart and mine

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There’s a truth in your eyes sayin’ you’ll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you’ll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There’s a truth in your eyes sayin’ you’ll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you’ll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all.

Photo Album: Intensive course party July 2005

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 17:49:11 GMT

Intensive course party July 2005

Having dinner at "The Sidecar"

Already drunk!

Ok, just tipsy

Custom List: Links

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:21:34 GMT

Links

What kind of food are you?
This is a test to see your personality...quite stupid!!! I am Mexican food!?
BBC Learning English
This site is thought for students. There are all kinds of activities, reading, listening, quiz, vocabulary games...
Merriam Webster dictionary
I like this one because you can listen to the pronunciation. It's monolingual.
Online dictionary
A very useful multi-lingual dictionary, and more comfortable than the traditional "books"
The Bangle's official website
If you want to know more about this popular band (or at least it was in the 80s). Try to understand what they say in their welcome message.

Custom List: Quote of the month

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:14:22 GMT

Quote of the month

"Complex thoughts need complex language to express what is thrown up by the imagination" A friend.

Custom List: Notice Board

Thu, 11 May 2006 15:20:15 GMT

Notice Board

A radio station for you!
91.4 FM (or clicking on the link above) They speak English, but it's addressed to Spanish learners. It is sometimes bilingual (with a Spanish interlocutor)

Custom List: Just a short Joke

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 16:32:13 GMT

Just a short Joke

Click here to giggle
It seems you need the AVI program. I'll try to fix that ASAP
Gomaespuminglish
I'm sure you've seen this on TV. It's an absurd English lesson, but it always makes me laugh...You will all understand it!!

Custom List: The use of this site

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 18:11:25 GMT

The use of this site

Hi,
This site is for all of you. Things might be said to be for the 3rd, 4th or 5th year, but you can all enjoy them

Custom List: Use of this site

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 16:46:42 GMT

Use of this site

Hi,
This has been created for you all. Items are recomended for the 3rd, 4rth of fifth year, but you can all enjoy them.

Book List: Books

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 18:24:35 GMT

Books

A & B Pease: Why men don't listen and women can't read maps
The book mentioned in unit 4B (4th year). It's funny and quite interesting, although you may not agree with all their theories.