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!!