The company's website is www.statestreet.com and to go directly to their career site click on www.statestreet.com/plcareers. You can check there what kind of offer they have active right now. Out based position if fund accountant and this position is always open as they grow up all the time.

Thanks for sharing, Antonio.

Let's practise our reading skill today through two different topics:

a. Child labour (gap-fill exercise)

b. Having a hard time finding a job (multiple choice quiz)

c. Career success (matching exercise)

Let's keep on practising our listening skill. Watch the video and fill in the blanks. Remember the answers are written in white and, therefore, you have to select them to check them. Remember to do it after doing the exercise, not before! ;)

Frequently asked questions at a job interview:

1. In an interview you should download your personal  app , that is, anticipate, practise and passion.
2. Only speak about yourself for 30 seconds
3. When speaking about your strengths, don't be overly modest, be careful but not overly boastful.
4. When speaking about your weakness explain the steps you've taken to improve them.
5. Mention your career goals to justify why they should hire you
6. Explain why you are different, better or more valuable than other candidates
7. Avoid mentioning a direct amount of money.

Boxing Day is traditionally the day following Christmas Day. As for its origins, several possibilities arise, none of which is definite. According to Wikipedia, the European tradition has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions, has been dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is unknown. It may also come from a custom in the late Roman/early Christian era, wherein metal boxes placed outside churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen, which in the Western Church falls on the same day as Boxing Day.
In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. This custom is linked to an older English tradition: Since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts and bonuses, and sometimes leftover food.

And the tradition still continues today ......

The tradition of giving money to workers still continues today. It is customary for householders to give small gifts or monetary tips to regular visiting trades people (the milkman, dustman, coalman, paper boy etc.) and, in some work places, for employers to give a Christmas bonus to employees. In addition, schools across the country gather together gifts to be put in Christmas Boxes that are sent to poorer countries.

Boxing Day is traditionally celebrated on 26 December, the day after Christmas Day, which is also St. Stephen's Day, a religious holiday. However, when 26 December falls on a Sunday, Boxing Day in many places is moved to 27 December. In the UK, where Boxing Day is a bank holiday, if Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, a substitute bank holiday is given on the following Monday, but if 26 December falls on a Sunday – which means that Christmas Day, another holiday, fell on a Saturday – then the Statutory Holiday for Christmas is moved.

What happens on Boxing Day in England?

Traditionally Boxing Day is a day for fox hunting. Horse riders dressed in red and white riding gear, accompanied by a number of dogs called foxhounds, chase the fox through the countryside in the hope of tiring it out. Eventually the hunters hope the fox will be so tired that the dogs will be able to catch it and kill it.

Many animal welfare campaigners object to fox hunting saying it is cruel to kill a fox in this way, while many participants view it as a crucial part of rural history in England, vital for conservation, and a method of pest control.

Traditionally, Boxing Day is also a family day, that is, the day when families get together. It is a day of watching sports and playing board games with the family or go on walks in the countryside.

Moreover, in recent times, some shops have broken from tradition and started opening on Boxing Day to start the New Year sales. Hundreds of people now spend Boxing Day morning in queues outside shops, waiting to be the first to dive for the sales racks as the doors opened.

Finally, it is unlucky to kill a wren on any day apart from Boxing Day. Hunting of the Wren on Boxing Day was once a popular activity in England. Groups of young boys know as 'Wren boys' would hunt a wren and then tie the dead bird to the top of a pole, decorated with holly sprigs and ribbons. With blackened faces, the group would sing at houses in hopes for coins, gifts or food.

"The wren, the wren, the king of all birds
On St Stephen's Day was caught in the furze,
We hunted him far and hunted him near
And found him under the bushes here.
Hurrah, my boys, hurrah!
Hurrah, my boys, hurrah!
Knock at the knocker and ring at the bell,
And give us a copper for singing so well."

Those that gave money to the boys would receive a feather from the wren as thanks. The collected money was then used to host a village dance.

Here are some resources to learn more about this special celebration:
 - BBC article + video
 - Elllo listening exercise
 - Gap-fill exercise

This week we revised the tests you did in class and we started a new topic: work. However, we also talked about Christmas and watch some interesting videos about Christmas being invented by the Victorians. You can easily find the videos on youtube by writing "Victorian farm christmas" in the browser.

Here you a list of online games and links to practise Christmas vocabulary:
 - Find the pairs (game)
 - The Christmas gift (listening exercise)
 - Christmas in Europe (quiz)
 - Advent (listening exercise + exercises which can be downloaded)

I personally believe this last resource is the best one. I find it pretty interesting to listen and watch last year's Queen's Christmas message with the transcript.

Let's introduce the topic by means of some quizzes to revise already known words and learn new vocabulary. Have a look at these links:

- Work quiz 1
- Work quiz 2
- Work quiz 3

Here you can find out more about jobs and work vocabulary, including a short job interview dialogue.

In addition, you can watch the video below and write down the 9 tips you will hear. After listening to it twice, check the answers which are written in white. (Select the text to see them.)

Step 1. Choose your first day outfit carefully.
Step 2. Show up on time but not too early.
Step 3. Be prepared to answer questions about who you are, where you are from and what you're doing there.
Step 4. Do more listening than talking and impress people by remembering their names.
Step 5. Introduce yourself to others.
Step 6. Be prepare to eat. Bite the bullet and ask someone to have lunch with you or bring a book or work to occupy yourself if you plan to sit and eat alone.
Step 7. Offer to help.
Step 8. Don't suck up.
Step 9. Don't rush out the door at 5 o'clock.

What about some further practice? Try to transcribe the video. Add your transcription in a comment and I'll check it.

Find out how to make handmade Christmas cards on the links below. Some of the ideas are quite original!

Create Handmade Christmas cards

20 Days of Handmade Christmas cards (from that video you can find out more ideas on youtube)

As Christmas is approaching, I'm wiritng to inform you about the activities the EOI has scheduled to fit the season on the 20th December!!! First of all, our annual Xmas Cards Contest. Below you can read all the required information about the rules and the prize!!!

As for the Xmas Cooking Contest, here are the rules! To celebrate Xmas at the EOI, we're giving you the chance to win a prize too! Simply cook or bake a delicious Xmas recipe, either salty or sweet, and show it off to the EOI world! Describe in English the instructions you have followed to make the recipe. The best salty recipe and the best sweet recipe will win a prize. It's time to show off, chefs!

Finally, the Xmas Party itself!!! We are going to listen to some musicians and some students reading some Christmas poems. And we are going to sing Xmas Carols, of course!!!! We'll have a Xmas karaoke!!! Needless to say that we are going to celebrate the best Xmas Card and the best Xmas dishes as well!!! Feel free to come and join the party!!!

As some of you already know, the EOI Carlota Remfry is launching a Christmas Charity Campaign to help local charity LINARES ACOGE and other community groups.

The campaign, which will run until the 18th December, is all about encouraging students to help out and donate non-perishable food that will benefit Linares Acoge's food bank.
Bags and boxes can be dropped off at the Teacher's Lounge.

Help us make people happier. On behalf of the EOI Carlota Remfry, thanks in advance for your help!!