"An attempt to integrate the teaching of the English language & ICT, using MUSIC as a mere pretext."


Monday, January 30, 2012

PEACE DAY (II)


"Non-violence is a weapon of the strong". 
Mahatma Ghandi



What is peace? 

Peace is when you care for others,
Peace is when there is no violence in the world,
Peace is much more powerful then evil,
Peace is easily found when you give others what you desire,
Peace is the answer to all the wars in the world,
Peace is when there is unity among all the people,
Peace is when your soul can rest,
Peace is when there is hope of good above,
Peace is when there is love for others,
Peace is when there is acceptance in the world,
Peace is bringing joy to the world,
Peace is in helping others

This is what Peace is,
This and much more!

                                                       by Uzma Nadeem
                                                                            (http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/what-is-peace-4)

                                                                                                              
SCHOOL DAY OF NON-VIOLENCE AND PEACE
DÍA ESCOLAR DE LA PAZ Y LA NO VIOLENCIA

The School Day of Non-violence and Peace is a pioneering, non-state, non-governmental, non official, independent, free and voluntary initiative of Non-violent and Pacifying Education, which is now practised in schools all over the world and in which centres of education, teachers and students of all levels and from all countries are invited to take part.

It is celebrated on January 30 every year, on the anniversary of the death of Mahatma Gandhi. 

It advocates a permanent education in and for harmony, tolerance, solidarity, respect for human rights, non-violence and peace.

Its basic message is:

“Universal Love, Non-violence and Peace.Universal Love is better than egoism, Non-violence is better than violence, and Peace is better than war”.

*  *  *  *  *

Why don't we celebrate the School Peace Day with one of the live concerts with "Pavarotti & Friends" ?

We refer to the Classic "We are the World", performed by Pavarotti and a group of famous singers, like Laura Pausini, Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan, Joe Cocker, ...




ACTIVITIES

* LISTENING ACTIVITY:   JUMBLED LINES

1.- Listen to "We are the World", by Pavarotti & Friends, and...
*Put the 8 lines of the Chorus into the correct order:

Chorus:

..... Just you and me
..... It's true we'll make a better day
..... We're saving our own lives
..... There is a choice we're making
..... So let's start giving
..... We are the ones who make a brighter day
..... We are the children
..... We are the world
SELF-CORRECTION.- 
You can check you answers here .

* MUSICAL STYLES:

DID YOU KNOW THAT...?

In music, like in life itself, 
different voices and different musical styles 
can be together in perfect harmony.

The previous video is a clear example of that;
don't you think so? 
;-)

* Watch the video again and pay attention to the following artists when they sing "solo" 
and put them in chronological order (order of appearance in the video):

1st:......Lionel Richie......            4th:...........................
 2nd:.............................                5th:...........................
  3rd:.................................               6th:..........................

Gloria Estefan  -  Lionel Richie  -  Laura Pausini  -  Ricky Martin  -  Joe Cocker  -  Boyzone   

****
Just to finish,
Let's remember Gandhi's words:

"Love is better than egoism,
Non-violence is better than violence, 
Peace is better than war".


For Further Information.-
You can read and learn about Peace Heroes 
all over the world, like Mahatma Ghandi .


PS. (1): Answers to the previous activity about MUSICAL STYLES: 1st:Lionel Richie / 2nd: Gloria Estefan / 3rd: Joe Cocker  / 4th: Ricky Martin / 5th: Boyzone / 6th: Laura Pausini . 
PS. (2): You can also have a look at the post "PEACE DAY" published on this "English@Edrissis" on January 30, 2011
 

Saturday, January 28, 2012

CAN YOU...

... "SET FIRE TO THE RAIN" ?

Really it is very difficult, if not impossible...
However, Adele can do it!


“Singing is literally my life, my hobby,
                               my love, my freedom and my job.”                             
Adele (London, 1988)

Do you know ADELE ?

Adele (born 5 May 1988) is an English singer-songwriter.
Today her music is a real success in the UK and in the US and she is number one as female solo artist.
She is the first artist to sell more than 3 million copies of an album in a year in the UK.
Adele became the first living artist to achieve the feat of two top five hits in both the UK Official Singles Chart and the Official Albums Chart simultaneously since the Beatles in 1964.
Adele has also received two Grammy Awards, for "Best New Artist" and "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance". For many critics, she is considered an artist in love and passion for music, with an amazing voice singing about real things.

* * * *
If you don't know her music yet, let me introduce it to you with her song...
"SET FIRE TO THE RAIN".
Watch the following video-clip
with her performance at "The Royal Albert Hall".

Close your eyes 
Enjoy her voice !!


Do you like it?
;-) ... I hope so!
Now, To get to know her music in more detail, let's try the following...

ACTIVITIES
 * LYRICS:
1.- Listen to the song again and fill in the gaps using the following parts of the body
(There are 2 extra words that aren't used):


Heart (2)     feet      nose     arms     knees
Face (3)      eyes      legs       hands     lips

                
"Set Fire To The Rain"

I let it fall, my _____ (1),
And as it fell you rose to claim it
It was dark and I was over
Until you kissed my _____ (2)
and you saved me

My _____ (3), they're strong
But my _____ (4) were far too weak
To stand in your _____ (5)
Without falling to your _____ (6)

But there's a side to you
That I never knew, never knew.
All the things you'd say
They were never true, never true,
And the games you play
You would always win, always win.

[Chorus:]
But I set fire to the rain,
Watched it pour as I touched your _____ (7),
Well, it burned while I cried
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name, your name!

When laying with you
I could stay there
Close my _____ (8)
Feel you here forever
You and me together
Nothing is better

'Cause there's a side to you
That I never knew, never knew,
All the things you'd say,
They were never true, never true,
And the games you play
You would always win, always win.

[Chorus:]
But I set fire to the rain,
Watched it pour as I touched your _____ (9),
Well, it burned while I cried
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name, your name!

I set fire to the rain
And I threw us into the flames
Well, it felt something die
'Cause I knew that there was the last time, the last time!

Sometimes I wake up by the door,
That _____ (10) you caught must be waiting for you
Even now when we're already over
I can't help myself from looking for you.

[Chorus:]
I set fire to the rain,
Watched it pour as I touched your _____ (11),
Well, it burned while I cried
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name, your name

I set fire to the rain,
And I threw us into the flames
Well, it felt something die
'Cause I knew that, that was the last time, the last time, oh, ohhhh!

Oh noooo
Let it burn
Oh oh ohhhh
Let it burn
Oh oh ohhhh
Let it burn
Oh oh ohhhh
SELF-CORRECTION.-
Check your answers here .

* READING / LISTENING COMPREHENSION:

1.- Many people think that Adele “writes poetry” in her songs.
In “Set Fire to the Rain” she uses the word “rain” as a metaphor to refer to …

a) bath
b) shower
c) cry

2.-The song describes …

a) a happy woman with economic problems
b) a sad man with no money
c) the contradictory elements of a relationship and the impossibility of letting go

3.- Reason your previous answer with the lyrics of the song:

a) “It was dark and I was over/Until you kissed my lips and you saved me.”
b) “My hands, they're strong/But my knees were far too weak.”
c) "You and me together, nothing gets better/But there’s a side to you that I never knew, never knew/All the things you'd say, they were never true, never true/And the games you play, you would always win."


* PERSONAL OPINION:
According to her opinion, ...
"She wants to make music as personal as possible"

What do you think about that statement? Do you think she achieves her purpose?                                                              
                                                                           *  *  *
For Further Information.-
Have a look at her official website, that includes:
biography, blog, news, photos, videos and forum.


PS. Answers to the previous READING / LISTENING COMPREHENSION questions:
1.c / 2.c / 3.c

Friday, January 6, 2012

The 3 Wise Men

 
T H E X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 

X X X X  T H R E E X X XX X X X X X  X X X X X

X X X X X X X X X X X X W I S E X X X X X X X 

X X X X X X X X X X X X X  X X XX X  X M E N X

“Three Kings” or “Three Wise Men” are, according to Christian beliefs, a group of distinguished foreigners who visited Jesús after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They are regular figures in traditional accounts of the nativity celebrations of Christmas and are an important part of the Christian tradition.

Photo by Juan P. Valenzuela

Although traditions identify a variety of different names, they have been commonly known as:
•    Melchior (a Babylonian scholar)
•    Gaspar  (a Persian scholar)
•    Balthasar (an Arab scholar)

Spanish Customs

Holidays celebrating the arrival of the “Three Magic Kings” traditionally recognize a distinction between the date of their arrival and the date of Jesus’ birth.

Christian Tradition celebrates the “Three Wise Men” on the day of Epiphany, January 6, the day immediately following the twelve days of Christmas, particularly in the Spanish-speaking parts of the world. In these areas, “The Three Kings” receive letters from children and so bring them gifts on the night before Epiphany. In Spain, according to the tradition, they come on their camels to visit the houses of all the children; much like Santa Claus with his reindeer, they visit everyone in one night.

(Read more about the Three Wise Men in Spain)

By the way, talking about presents...


A GIFT FOR YOU...
I have a present for you. 
It's the number-one song when you were born.
I hope you like it! 

Follow 3 steps:

Step 1
Write your Birthdate.

Step 2.a
Discover the number-one song in the United States when you were born at Wikipedia (USA) .
Step 2.b
Discover the number-one song in Europe when you were born at Wikipedia (Europe)

Step 3
Search for (and Listen to) the video-clip of the song in YouTube .

*Extra Step: Look up the Lyrics of the song here .


(Spanish Version)
UN REGALO PARA TI...
Te regalo la canción que estaba de moda el día que tú naciste...
¡Espero que te guste!

Sigue 3 pasos: 

Paso 1
Escribe tu fecha de nacimiento.

Paso 2.a
Descubre la canción que estaba de moda en Estados Unidos el día que tú naciste en Wikipedia (USA).
Paso 2.b
Descubre la canción que estaba de moda en Europa el día que tú naciste en  Wikipedia (Europe).

Paso 3
Busca (y escucha) el video-clip de la canción en YouTube.

*Paso Extra: Encuentra la letra de la canción aquí .

* TASK
.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!


I wish you all
a Happy 2012!!
with a Classic Song by Abba...


... and Have a Healthy,
Safe & Productive 
New Year !!

 Cheers, 
Jesús
.