Andalusia Day is a regional celebration which takes place on February 28th each year and commemorates the establishment of the autonomous region of Andalusia.

In many municipalities and cities of Andalusia, people decorate their balconies with the flag of Andalusia and with bunting echoing its green-and-white bars. Cultural competitions are often held in conjunction with the day. It is also a day of celebration in schools where a traditional Andalusian breakfast is offered, consisting of a slice of toast with a thin layer of olive oil and tomato spread; students color pictures that refer to the symbols and insignia of Andalusia, its history and customs, put on plays and sing the regional anthem, the Himno de Andalucía.

Our task to celebrate such an important date is to give expression to all the ways possible to express your feelings towards our region: writing a poem, uploading a video, giving your opinion, posting some fotographs, sharing your favourite recipes... up to you. Here is my contribution:

Here you are your contributions:

Víctor Cejudo:

What about an exam simulation as a revision this time? I thought I could be a great idea summarize what we've studied in class by doing an exam. But before doing it, here you are two summarizing pictures of important grammar points.

Try to do the following practice in exam conditions, that is, sitting alone (no dictionaries or reference material) in a quiet place and timing yourself. Reading Comprehension: Do activities 2 to 4 from this article in 90 minutes. (KEY on the last page). 

Listening Comprehension: Watch the video below about poverty and employment and choose the correct answer.

1. Leila Janah is founder of
a. am NGO
b. a charity organization
c. a company

2. She spent
a. 10 years living in a poor countries
b. 17 years in Ghana
c. some years visiting poor countries

3. Samasource
a. is based on the use of internet
b. was first established in India
c. started working for a firm

4. Samasource
a. is based in San Francisco
b. has branches in San Francisco
c. has no fixed headquarters

5. Samasource collaborates with 16
a. countries
b. companies
c. centres

6. Samasouce began in
a. 2005
b. 2008
c. 2009

7. Samasource helps
a. 1,500 people
b. 1,000,000 people
b. 50,000 women

Answers (select this line to see them): 1a, 2c, 3a, 4a, 5c, 6b, 7a

Writing Expression: Write a for and against essay about downloding music from the Internet in 90 minutes.

Oral Expression: Monologue: You are a sales manager working in Madrid and witness a bank robbery near your workplace. Report as much detail as you can remember to the police. It should take you 4-5 minutes. Afterwards, check the vocabulary used on this webpage. Interaction: Get ready in 10 minutes to interact with somebody using the given prompts below:

Let's begin this entry today with a revision on past modal verbs of deduction. Although you already know, here you are explanation and practice about them. Moreover, you can also visit the Studen't Book web page.

As for the new grammar point (would rather and had better) here you are an interesting explanation (in Spanish) with peculiar phonetics (I’m sure most of you will enjoy the transcription rather than the standard ones). The BBC also provides with an interesting explanation including rather than. The theory is useless without some practice: ejerciciodeingles, tolearnenglish (scroll down a bit to see the practice), autoenglish (in pdf), baladre1 and baladre2,  and from the Student's Book web page.

In addition, we also had a look at some easily confused verbs. That's the reason why I've decided to seize the moment and show you some other commonly confused words - some of them may be new for you. However, some others are some of the most common mistakes I usually find in your compositions.

Do you remember the difference between a discussion and an argument? Let's have a look at an example about how a discussion turns into an argument...

Crime was the topic in our classroom at the beginning of the week, as a revision from last week. Then, we explained and analysed how to write a letter of complaint.

The grammar content deals with past modal verbs of deduction. Consequently, let's focuse on it. Have a look at the following links:
- British Council
- Prof Rich (a very useful blog, truth be told)
- OUP resources: Natural English, English Result, New English File.

However, you may prefer learning past modal verbs through movie segments: Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, The Butterfly Effect, Urban Legends, Premonition, Saw and The Joy Luck Club. Remember at the end of the exercises you have the worksheet with the answers!

Then, we also introduced another topics: having arguments. Do you really think anyone can be trained? Have a look at this article if you want to know reach that goal. You can also watch the interview with the author of the book, Amy, Sutherland!

Sorry for posting some information in Spanish:

Internship:

EF Educaction First ofrece prácticas laborales en el extranjero en las escuelas y oficinas que tiene en más de 50 países alrededor del mundo.

Se requiere un nivel de inglés intermedio, ganas de viajar y conocer diferentes culturas. Se cubre por parte de EF el alojamiento y las comidas. La mayoría de las prácticas que se ofrecen son para el período de verano.

Información : Dia 26/02/2013 en el hall de la Facultad de Traduccion e Interpretacion de Granada (C/ Puentezuelas) de 10 a 14 horas.

Interesados traer C.V. Para participar en el proceso de selección es imprescindible acudir el día 26 con el CV.

Bases : Alumnos con nivel First Certificate, dinámicos y resolutivos.

EF Education First es compañía de educación privada más grande del mundo con más de 400 escuelas y oficinas en más de 50 países. Fue fundada en Suecia en 1965 por el empresario Bertil Hult. Su misión es romper las barreras del idioma, cultura y geografía que nos dividen. Si quieres saber más acerca de EF entra en www.ef.com
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Traineeship:

The Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union offers linguistic traineeships for university graduates or students from the Member States of the EU who wish to acquire an understanding of the Translation Centre’s work and gain professional experience.   The Centre is organising a selection procedure for three trainee positions in 2013.

For further information: http://cdt.europa.eu/ES/Pages/Homepage.aspx
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Recruitment:

La Oficina de Selección de Personal de la U.E.(EPSO) ha convocado un proceso selectivo para trabajar como Agente contractual en distintos Institutos del Joint Research Center, en Bélgica, Alemania, Países Bajos, Italia y España. El número de plazas ofertadas es de 600. Los perfiles ofertados son los siguientes: Ciencias Naturales, Ciencias Cuantitativas, Ciencias Humanas y sociales, Agricultura, medio ambiente y ciencias de la tierra y Ciencias de la Salud.

La selección se hará sobre los títulos. Es requisito indispensable tener el título de doctor. Se valorarán las publicaciones y la experiencia profesional y/o académica.

El plazo de solicitudes es del 29 de enero al 1 de marzo.  Más información en http://europa.eu/epso/doc/call-cast-jrc-s5-2013_es.pdf

El proceso selectivo se desarrollará a partir del mes de abril de 2013. Los 3.600 candidatos que hayan tenido mejores puntuaciones en sus títulos, deberán hacer una prueba por ordenador sobre preguntas científicas relacionadas con cada perfil, durante 60 minutos. Las pruebas se realizarán en todos los Estados Miembros.

Today's lesson is been focused on the revision of crime and the explanation on letters of complaint. We didn't have time enough to have a look at what we learnt about the passive voice. As a result, here you are some more links to revise and check your knowledge: Better English Grammar and New English File Student's Book.

In addition, let's practise the listening skills by means of two recordings dealing with crime:

 - A policeman asking questions.
 - Crime in America

However, listening to violent crime safety can be much more interesting to you. The, enjoy the video below.

Finally, I'd like to add the material used in class today so that you can download it at home. However, the "letter of complaint" worksheet is in Docs section.

Remember first that to offend means to commit a crime and a offender is a person who commits a crime.

Exercise b
1. She had to spend the night in the same forest.
2. They have to choose between having their licence suspended for 90 days or for less time and working for a day as a school crossing guard.
3. He had to go to a mortuary to view dead bodies.
4. They had to organize a picnic for primary school children.
5. They had to spend a day of silence in the woods or listen to classical music instead of rock.

Exercise c
1. Hard. He was from a poor family, the oldest of nine children. He has been very successful (president of the American Judges Association).
2. Michelle Murray, the man with the loaded gun, and the noisy neighbours learn from personal experiences. The drivers and the teenage vandals have to do something for other people.
3. His background. He thinks he understands why some people commit crimes. He thinks they are better than conventional punishments because people don't reoffend, and the evidence that he is right is that he

Let's start this weekly summary with an amazing piece of news from February 2011: a polite robbery... Click on this link if you want to see the shop owner being interviewed afterwards.

The topic this week was CRIME AND PUNISHMENT and the passive voice (all forms) is the grammar point studied. Let's focused on grammar first. In Learn English you'll find a handful of explanations and exercises to revise and practise passive voice.

Moreover, there's a handout on the passive voice in Docs section waitinf for you to download.

As for vocabulary, we learnt some about crime and criminals. Here you are a web page to review it and a test, as well as the Student's Book site. However, you may find it much funnier to do this quiz!!

The topic was introduced with the help of Dicken's novel Oliver Twist. We heard Freedman, the magician consultant, talking about training pickpockets. What about listening to an interview with Ben KIngsley, who played the role of Fagin in the film? Or we could have it so much better if we watch the film with subtitles. I've just included the first part but if you browse Oliver Twist BBC on Youtube, you can find the whole film and also the film in English without subtitles in just one video. Have fun!

What about the polite robber? Here is the robbery and the shop owner’s interview. Thanks to Hugo Pellicer for the links

Every February 14, all around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint, and where did these traditions come from? Find out about the history of this centuries-old holiday, from ancient Roman rituals to the customs of Victorian England.

The Legend of St. Valentine

The history of Valentine's Day--and the story of its patron saint--is shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated with this ancient rite?

The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl--possibly his jailor's daughter--who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed "From your Valentine," an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and--most importantly--romantic figure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in England and France.

After reading the legend of such a romantic day, here you are a terrific reading exercise.

Are these statements are true or false?

a. Police in America have arrested a Valentine’s Day killer.

b. The man used an Internet chat room for a ‘suicide party’ on Valentine’s Day. 

c. The man has been charged by the police with attempted murder.

d. The man was acting alone in his Internet plan.

e. He was mainly targeting lonely men to take their own lives.

f.  Yahoo cannot help police find the visitors to the chat room.

g. Police want to find a woman who wants to kill her children and herself.

h. Valentine’s Day is a prime target for such plans, as many people feel lonely.

READING EXERCISE
1B    2A    3B    4B    5C    6A    7B    8C