HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

Celebrating the New Year

The start of the New Year on January 1st is a popular time for celebrating all across the UK. On New Year’s Eve, December 31st, people meet up with friends and family members. Many people have a drink in a pub or go to a special party in someone’s home. Everyone hopes to start off the New Year with good intentions so they make some resolutions (personal plans for the coming year) to help them have a successful year.

Read what young people around the UK say about their plans for New Year’s Eve and their New Year’s resolutions:

Ben (13), Brighton

My plans:

I am joining my parents in a New Year’s Day swim this year. It’s freezing cold in the water but it is a fun way to start the year. Quite a lot of people meet on Brighton beach for this first swim of the year. I won’t be out partying the night because I don’t like all the noise and drinking ! My family usually have a quiet evening and watch the celebrations on TV.

My resolutions:

Do some voluntary work in my area and improve my tennis. Maybe be nicer to my teachers!!

Sophie (14), Newcastle Upon Tyne
My plans:

I am going to the centre of Newcastle with my cousins to see in the New Year. I love being in a crowd when the clocks strike midnight. Everyone kisses each other, sings and drinks champagne. This is the first New Year’s Eve in the streets as my parents said I was too young last year. We will probably get back home at three or four in the morning.

My resolutions:

Learn how to play the guitar and talk less in class! Study hard to get good grades.

What about you? What are your New Year's Resolutions? You may use the model below.

Happy New Year!!!

Christmas crackers!

Christmas crackers are very popular in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland.

A Christmas cracker is a brightly coloured paper tube, twisted at both ends. A person pulls on each end of the cracker and when the cracker breaks, it goes “Pop!” and the contents fall out.

A Christmas cracker contains a paper crown, a small gift and a joke written on a paper.

The Snowman story!

Winter is coming and here you have the story of a very special snowman. Read it and have fun!

www.angles365.com/classroom/christmas07/fitxers/42storysnowman.swf

Christmas Carols!

Silent night, holy night
All is calm and all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from Heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing halleluia
Christ the savior is born
Christ our savior is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God
Love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord at thy birth
Jesus Lord at thy birth

Halleluia!Halleluia!Halleluia!

Christ the savior is born

The 28th Great Christmas Pudding Race

Christmas pudding is the dessert traditionally served on Christmas day in England and is like "Bolo de Mel" of Madeira.


Every year a Christmas Pudding race takes place in London. Contestants get together with a few friends and form a team.
Each team carrying a pudding on a tray try to overcome a number of obstacles along the race.
This year the race took place on Saturday, 6th December at 11.30 a.m. in Covent Garden Market, London. Contestants had a great day out and helped raise lots of money for Cancer Research in UK.

Grammar time!!!

When you talk about habits or regular activities, like your daily routine, you use the tense "Present Simple". Watch the following video and learn a bit more about it!

What time is it?

This is Big Ben, the most famous clock in the world.

Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock, but it is often also used to refer to the clock and the tower. The clock tower is in the Houses of Parliament.
The bell was named after Benjamin Hall, a very tall, strong Member of Parliament who lived in those days.

It began working in June 1859, so in 2009 it will be its 150th anniversary.

It is a symbol of the United Kingdom and London.

Listen to the bell and enjoy its sound!

76th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is an annual tradition in New York City.
Millions of New Yorkers and tourists come to see the tree and ice skate on the rink at the Rockefeller Center.
This Christmas tradition began in 1932.
The tree remains lighted until the week after New Year's Day. Then it is removed and recycled for a variety of uses.

This year the tree was lighted on December 3rd at 8.55PM.
Many famous artists, like Miley Cyrus, performed at the ceremony. Watch the video and listen to her singing “Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree”. Merry Christmas!!

Daily life in Britain!

You are now learning the topic "daily life". You already know what the Queen's working day is like.
Now watch the video below and learn some new vocabulary about the topic.
Then visit the following website and learn more about a typical day for a child in England.

www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/family.html

Are you ready for Christmas?

Countdown to Xmas!

Christmas day ...

...in 3 weeks, 2 days,11 hours...

In the meanwhile sing this song along and get into the Christmas spirit!!

Do you love computer games?

World of Warcraft is a computer game. Millions of people love it. World of Warcraft has 11 million players around the world.
In this photo, two thousand people are at a shop in London.
They want to buy World of Warcraft.
But many parents and doctors are not happy. They think that some teens play the game too much.
Dr Richard Graham is a doctor. He says, “Some teenagers play World of Warcraft for 14 or 16 hours in a day.”

Do you play World of Warcraft?
What is your favourite computer game?

Do you like High School Musical?

The new High School Musical film is in cinemas and thousands of kids want to see it. One cinema in Norwich, England shows the film at 9 o’clock in the morning on a Wednesday. Teachers are not happy. Why? Because students go to the cinema – and they don’t go to school! Lauren, 14, thinks this is OK : “The film is good – It tells kids to do great things.”

Would you like to meet Zac Efron?
There is one place where you can – Madame Tussauds Museum in London. The problem is – he’s made of plastic! The museum has a model of the star. It costs £150,000! (€186,000) Liz Edwards, who works for Madame Tussauds, says: “We’ll have a lot of fans.”

And you?
Do you like Zac Efron?
Do you like High School Musical 3?

The Family

Look at this family tree and say if the following sentences are True or False. Correct the false ones.

1.Anne is George's wife.
2.George is Anne's brother.
3.George is Kate's grandfather.
4.Anne is Bob's mother.
5.Kate is Anne's daughter.
6.Bob is George's grandson.
7.Bob is Kate's cousin.
8.Kate is Bob's sister.
9.Kate is Billy's aunt.
10.Bob is Cindy's uncle.
11.Cindy is Bob's daughter.
12.Billy is Kate's nephew.
13.Anne is Billy's grandmother.
14.George is Cindy's father.
15.Lyn is George's granddaughter.
16.Billy is Anne's son.

The Present Continuous

This week you 've learnt a new tense: the Present Continuous. Watch this video and learn a bit more about it. You can leave a comment to this post with sentences describing what is happenning around you (eg. My mother is cooking dinner.) If you have any doubt... you know... just ask me!

Who's who in the British Royal Family?

This lesson will give you the opportunity to find out more about the Royal Family. The following website is a good starting point.
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/royal/family.htm

Visit it and answer these questions:

Who is the Queen of England?

What is the Queen’s surname?

Who is the Queen married to?

Who are the members of the Royal Family? (see the Royal Family tree)

How many children does the Queen have?

Who will come to the British throne next?

Which member of the Royal Family died on 31st August 1997?

How many grandchildren does the Queen have?

Good work and sing the British National Anthem along!

It's Hallowe'en!

The night of October 31st is a very special time for witches and ghosts - it's Hallowe'en. On that night, ghosts and witches are free to be on Earth. Well, that's the traditional story. These days, Hallowe'en isn't really a frightening festival - it's fun!

At Hallowe'en we have jack-0'-lanterns (a pumpkin with a light in it) that frighten witches and ghosts.

In America, boys and girls wear costumes, visit houses and say "Trick or treat?". People give children a "treat" (sweets) and if they refuse the "Trick-or-Treaters" play a trick on them. As children ask for treats, they recite Hallowe'en rhymes:

Trick or treat

Smell my feet

Give me something

good to eat!

Have a great Hallowe'en and sing this song along!

Is this the next President of the U.S.A?

It’s time for change in America – and time for a new president. Who will it be?

In America, the president is George W. Bush. He lives at 1600, Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C. – The White House.
This November, George Bush will leave The White House and the American people will choose a new President – there will be an election.

Two people want to be the new President:

John McCain is 71 years old. He’s from Arizona. He was a pilot in the American Army. He is married and has got seven children. He also has four grandchildren.

Barack Obama (see photo) is 47 years old. He’s from Hawaii, but lives in Illinois. He was a lawyer. He’s married and has got two daughters.

Who will win? Find out on November 4th!

In the meanwhile watch Homer Simpson trying to vote for Obama! Have a good time!!

Source: Mary Glasgow Magazines

"The Big Apple"

New York city is the biggest city in America with lots to see and do. Frank Sinatra sang it in the famous song "New York New York". Watch the video, listen to the song and have a look at some of New York sights. Have fun!

British versus American English

Cab or taxi? Subway or underground? Color or colour? What are the differences between British English and American English? Discover all at the following webpage and test yourself by doing the quiz. Have fun!http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/americanbritish.html

Tips - Answering questions

Hello again! This school year you have Estudo Acompanhado with your English teacher to practice your speaking skills. Here are some tips to help you with your work.

In a friendly conversation don't always answer a question with just yes or no. An answer like Yes, it is sounds a bit better. Best of all, add another sentence: Did you enjoy the film? - Yes, I did. It was great. I like Brad Pitt. This helps to keep the conversation going.

See you next time!

Celebrate the European Day of Languages, 26 September

What is the European Day of Languages?
The European Day of Languages is held annually on the 26 September to celebrate language and cultural diversity. The Day was first celebrated in 2001 and aims:

• To alert the public to the importance of language learning



• To increase awareness and appreciation of all languages



• To encourage lifelong language learning

Don't forget... English is the language that opens doors. So, learn English - listen in class!

Get ready for 2012!

The 2008 Summer Olympic Games are over and the next host city will be London in 2012!! This will be the third time London has hosted the games having also done so in 1908 and 1984. Discover more about the 2012 Olympics at the official website http://www.london2012.com/. In the run up to 2012 you'll have plenty of opportunities to learn more about the city of London and the British here at the blog. In the meanwhile have a look at the London 2012- candidate city promotional video.

Quizzes

Watch the video and answer the questions below. Read the Transcript and check your listening comprehension. Repeat the difficult words or sentences out loud. Have fun!!

Fun time

Fun time

The world speaks English!

Welcome, everybody!

Esta página foi especialmente construída para ti e com o objectivo de te ajudar na aprendizagem da língua inglesa. Aqui podes encontrar actividades relacionadas com o que aprendes nas aulas. Para isso, só tens que clicar nas categorias certas e encontrarás exercícios e jogos que podes experimentar.

Have fun!