SAINT VALENTINE´S DAY

We all know about Saint Valentine's story, we already know about the origin of the celebration. 
You can agree on it or not but it's obvious it doesn't go unnoticed every year.
Whether you celebrate it or not, it's a good opportunity to listen to a good and romantic song. 

Annie's Song was written and sung by John Denver in 1974, it was a tribute to his wife when he was climbing a mountain in Aspen, Colorado. He felt the beauty of the landscape and that "filled all his senses" and made him think about his wife. 

John Denver was born in New Mexico in 1943, he was a folk/ country singer and composer but also an activist worried about wildlife and environment. He died in a plane crash into the Pacific ocean in 1997.   
                                                    ANNIE'S SONG 

1. Listen to the song and complete the blanks with the following words:

be- laughter- lay- die- arms -drown- give- love- senses- night- forest- mountains- walk

desert- springtime- rain- storm- ocean- sleepy 

You fill up my .............

Like a .............. in the ................

Like the ..................... in ............................

Like a .................... in the ......................

Like a ...................  in the .....................

Like a ................... blue ...........................

You fill up my senses, come fill me again.

Come let me ............... you

Let me ................ my life to you.

Let me .................... in your ......................

Let me .................... in your .....................

Let me ................ down beside you

Let me always ........ with you.

Come let me love you 

Come love me again 

2. Write down all the prepositions you find: 

3. Discuss

1. What do you think about love songs?
2. Are they so romantic now?
3. Mention any romantic songs/ ballads you know and their singers
4. What do you feel when you listen to  a song like this?
5. Do you celebrate Saint Valentine's Day? Do you agree with it?

Click on the following link  if  you want to know IDIOMS RELATED TO LOVE

A different activity with the song My Valentine by Paul MacCartney

 

MAKE and DO

Are you worried about learning the collocations with MAKE and DO?
Tired of learning lists and do exercises?.
Listen to Fluency MC,  Relax, Repeat and Remember!
Rap Song Gangnam Style

If you click on this link, you will listen to the original RAP Version 

SLANG ENGLISH

Would you like to know more about English Slang, how British people really talk in the street? You'll be gobsmacked!
Click on the following blog and do some practice

The Smart Blog: Popular UK Slang

Are you knackered or shattered at this point? Listen to One Direction teaching you to speak "Real" British English.

Listen to Hugh Laurie ( Dr House) contrasting UK slang with USA slang, you'll be chuffed.

Don't get barmy about it and be wicked. See ya!

NELSON MANDELA

NELSON MANDELA ( MADIBA)  18-7-1918 / 5-12-2013

People around the world are deeply shocked by the sad news that a man of dignity and honesty has passed away at he age of 95.  

As a lawyer, politician and social activist, he struggled against apartheid in South Africa, Nelson Mandela saw and experienced injustice and tried to make a difference.
During his 1964 trial, where he was referred to as “The First Accused"  he told the Court about the strength of his convictions:

"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."

He stayed in prison in Robben Island for 27 years with the number 46664. Released in 1990, he served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 and got the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

  

William Ernest Henley (1849-1903), the author of "Invictus" - a poem which sustained Nelson Mandela  through his decades of imprisonment - was himself no stranger to life’s difficulties as he had serious illnesses. 

Invictus : Read and listen the poem which inspired a leader, a nation and a film.

 

Complete: " I'm the ________ of my ________, I'm the _________ of my ________"

 

Invictus is also the title of a famous film directed by Clint Eastwood in 2009, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon and  based on the book " Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation" by John Carlin. The poem plays an important part in this film too.

The film shows the events in South Africa before and during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which was hosted in that country following the dismantling of apartheid. Freeman and Damon play, respectively, South African President Nelson Mandela and François Pienaar, the captain of the South Africa rugby union team, the Springboks. 
It describes the founding of a new nation ("One team, one nation" was the slogan) which joined afrikaaners (white people) and black people and the start of a lasting friendship. 

“Look around you,” he told his weary troops.  “See those flags?  Play for those people.  This is one chance.  We have to do this for South Africa.  Let’s be world champions.  (Carlin, page 237.) Pienaar to his conrades in the team.

I was with Nelson Mandela for five years, the whole of his presidency, and I never saw him happier.  He was so thrilled, so ecstatic.  When the final whistle blew the whole suite erupted.  If people think we bodyguards are robots, well, they should have seen us when the final whistle went.  We too were hugging, and some of us were crying. (Carlin, page 239.) Linga Moonsami

Watch the trailer of the film

 

Watch Mandela's speech in the film

After reading about Mandela and watching the videos, do the following activities

MANDELA

Answer the following questions

1.       How old was he when he died?
   2.   When was his trial?
   3.   Write three Present perfect verbs in his speech at his trial
   4.   What is the name of the prison he stayed at?
   5.   How many years was he in prison?
   6.   When did he get the Nobel Peace Prize?
   
   INVICTUS
   Complete the sentences
   1.   ___________________ was the author of the famous poem.
   2.   ______________ and ________________ were the leading actors in the film and __________________ was the director.
   3.   The film was based on the book _________________ and its author was _________________
   4.   The sport championship shown in the film is ______________________________
   5.   _______________ was the name of the African team and they fought against a team from ___________________
   

Nelson Mandela: The Pursuit of Unity : video of his speech at the USA Congress on getting the Congressional Gold Medal

 

 

JFK ANNIVERSARY

John Fitzgerald Kennedy ( 1917-1963) 

" ....And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

These were the famous words John Fitzgerald Kennedy pronunced during his inaugural address on  January 20, 1961 as 35th President of the USA.
Almost three years later he was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswall in a visit to Dallas.  

Follow the links to know more about it. 
Inaugural speech
His assassination 

J F Kennedy was a popular President in USA and all over the world but his term of office was full of lights and shadows like the Cuban missile crisis,  Bay of Pigs Invasion , start of Vietnam War and others. 

Coming from a family with political ambitions (with Irish ancestors, his father and some of his brothers were also politicians), he was a democrat Congressman and Senator. 

His family life ( married to Jacqueline Bouvier)  was a model for families in USA at the time. 

All women followed the First Lady's fashion. There were programmes devoted to her and their family on TV. Jackie even opened the White House to the public.

  His death was a shock all over the world, he was buried at Arlington Cemetery

 (Washington)  where there is an eternal flame burning. His wife and two children are buried right beside him. 

There was a controversy over his assassination. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and shot by Jack Ruby shortly afterwards. Some thought it had been a conspiracy and others that there was a second or third gunman. We'll never know. 

Lots of documentaries, films and books have been shot or written about the President and his death. It is said that the song " The sounds of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel was composed to show the feelings after JFK's death. 

If you want to know more about it, do some research and answer the following questions: 

1. What was the President's academic and military background? 

2. How old was he when he became President?

3. What other people in his family were politicians?

4. Kennedy was a great defender of the civil rights movement, What did he do? 

5. There were lots of new projects during his Presidency, one of them was related to space? What did he do? 

6. He won an important prize for writing? Which? What did he write?  

7. There were many tragedies in JFK life, which ones? 

8. In spite of having an idilic family life, he had a double life. What kind of relationships did he have?

9.  Who became President after Kennedy's death?

10. Who is the only surviving child of JFK? What does he/ she do?  

Follow the anniversary in the Press: The Guardian 

BONFIRE NIGHT

GUY FAWKES NIGHT

November 5th marks the anniversary of the famous Gunpowder Plot when Guy Fawkes and his catholic conspirators attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London in 1605. The protestant King James I, who had survived the attempt on his life, celebrated it with fireworks.  From that night on, Bonfire Night is celebrated throughout Britain on the evening of the 5th of November with firework displays, It's a special celebration that includes setting bonfires burning effigies of Guy Fawkes or eating special treats such as "Bonfire tofee", jacked potatoes, ginger bread, soups, toffee apples etc.

  To prepare recipes : Bonfire night food 

There are lots of films following this topic, one of the most famous is " V for Vendetta"  is a worth watching film whose trailer you can see here. 

 

Discuss the following questions:

• Which festivals in your country remember historical events?
• Do you have any festivals that are similar to Bonfire Night in your country?
• When do you have firework displays in your country?
• Do you think you would like Bonfire Night? Why/ why not?
• Do you think festivals are a good way to remember historical events?  

 If you feel like it, you can sing what Kids in Britain sing that night: Bonfire Rhyme  

                                        “Remember, remember the fifth of November”

Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason, why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, guy, t’was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England’s overthrow.
By God’s mercy he was catch’d
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.
And what shall we do with him?
Burn him!

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STORY: AWESOME STORIES

 WORKSHEET ON BONFIRE NIGHT ( British Council)

Work in pairs, A and B. You are going to each read a text about the history of Bonfire Night. Ask your partner questions to find the missing information.