The Amazing World of Australian Roadsigns

So Australia strikes again at LEZ!

This time we would like to illuminate you about one of the most striking aspects of the Land Down Under, especially when visiting the country as a tourist. We are not referring to beautiful Sydney with its Harbour Bridge and Opera House, neither are we talking about Ayers Rock in the centre of the country nor the beautiful fauna found at the Great Barrier Reef. Today we’ll be dealing with Australian road signs!

As in any developed country, signs of notice, stop, caution, danger, obedience, emergency, safety and many others may be found in Australian roads. In any case, the most popular ones are those regarding caution and danger.  Most of them are diamond shaped, with a black picture or message on a yellow background.

And here it comes the interesting part. While in Spain drivers must be aware of “cows” or “deers” (at most), Australians were eager to show the wide variety their fauna has to offer. Hence, they designed funny caution and danger road signs with pictures of various Australian animals on them:

Don't stop me now

Click on the "Read more" link below to read the lyrics to this awesome song:

Warner Bross and Universal Pictures present...

Dear students,

There’s only one month left to celebrate the 25^th December, aka Christmas Day. A good plan for this day, apart from spending it having those lavish dinners with the family, is to go to the cinema, in spite of the recent increase in prices that the big screen has suffered.

Literature has always been one of the main sources of inspiration for the development of movies. From LEZ, we’d like to recommend you two films which will be released precisely on Christmas Day this year, based on two key classic English and French literary works: The Great Gatsby and Les  Misérables.

In case you’d like to watch the movies in original version, there are some cinemas in Vigo which offer that possibility, such as Cines Yelmo and Multicines Norte. Nevertheless, we do not promise they’ll precisely screen these films in English...

Dumb Ways to Die

Dumb Ways to Die is a song by Australian band Tangerine Kitty. The Melbourne Metro created this awesome animated video-clip as a reminder that getting hit by a train is the dumbest way to die.

DUMB - Ignoring the signal at a pedestrian level crossing
SMART - It's just common sense to obey signals at level crossings. Trains move faster than you think... so be smart, obey the signals, look both ways and double check before crossing.

You can find more dumb ways to die here

Set fire to your hair 
Poke a stick at a grizzly bear 
Eat medicines that’s out of date 
Use your private parts as piranha bait 

Dumb ways to die, so many dumb ways to die

Procrasti-Nation

(Reblogged from Wrong Hands)

I bet you have never been to this country, but you do know it quite well, don't you...? ;)

No copyright infringement intended. For educational, non-commercial purposes only.

Thanksgiving 2012 - 4th Thursday of November

Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Traditionally, it has been a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. While it may have been religious in origin, Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular holiday. It is sometimes casually referred to as Turkey Day.

In Canada, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October, which is Columbus Day in the United States. In the United States, it falls on the fourth Thursday of November. Since being fixed at the fourth Thursday in November by law in 1941, the holiday in the United States can occur on any date from November 22 to November 28. When it falls on November 22 or 23, it is not the last Thursday, but the penultimate Thursday in November. As it is a Federal holiday, all United States government offices are closed and employees are paid for that day. It is also a holiday for the New York Stock Exchange and most other financial markets and financial services companies.

Marca in English

ESO Students,

If you like sports, especially football, and you usually read sports newspapers such as Marca now you can pursue your passion and learn English at the same time: 

Marca has launched a website in English where you will find all the news and info on your favourite sports, clubs and idols.

Things Never To Say To A Teacher

(Reblogged from Singing Pigs)

A short little piece inspired by the tenth student in fifteen minutes to inquire about a test.

1. Have you graded our tests yet?

No. Contrary to popular belief, I am not a Scantron machine. Good thing, too, because to my knowledge, Scantron machines cannot grade short answer or essay questions which make up the bulk of your test. And while I do consider myself a reasonably intelligent human being I have not yet perfected my reading skills to complete ninety, four-page tests in one hour (which is exactly how long it has been since you walked out of my classroom) even if I weren’t teaching the rest of the day or preparing your classes for tomorrow. I reassure you that the second the tests are graded, the grades will be posted online because (also contrary to popular belief) I have better things to do than get my kicks by keeping already-graded-but-still-unentered exams around my house for added decor or extra toilet paper. Even though I’m paid peanuts, even I can afford toilet paper. So scoot your butt out of here and let me start digging through this pile o’ trees I just killed in the interest of furthering your education.

ESO 2 2012-13 1st Term PBL: My City

This photograph courtesy of TripAdvisor

ESO 2 Students,

This is your 2012-13 1st term PBL assignment.

You must PRINT/COPY THIS POST and BRING IT TO CLASS during the lessons on MONDAY 19th & WEDNESDAY 21st November. Before that, you must READ IT CAREFULLY AT HOME and try to understand as much as possible

At school, during those 2 lessons, you will work in 4 groups of students per class. Your task is to WRITE A COMPOSITION ABOUT VIGO as in a touristic leaflet. You can bring any dictionaries, books, guides or whatever material you consider necessary for those 2 sessions.

You must write AT LEAST 3 PARAGRAPHS including this information:

What Type of Learner Are You?

(Original source: OnlineCollege.org)

ESO Students,

What type of learners are you? What's the most efective way you learn? Are you a visual learner, an auditory learner, a read/write learner or a kinesthetic learner? Click here to see the image enlarged and find out:

Original source: OnlineCollege.org

No copyright infringement intended. For educational, non-commercial purposes only.

November Quiz. Encrypted Messages.

Dear ESO students,

November is already here, and so is the quiz corresponding to this present month.

This time, we’d like you to pay attention to the encrypted messages below, corresponding to three different quotes.

As usual, the first student who’s able to write those three quotes in English providing the name of the person who said them will be given a 10.

Good luck and enjoy!

FIRST QUOTE:

.-/.-../.--/.-/-.--/...//..-./---/.-./--./../...-/.//-.--/---/..-/.-.//./-././--/.././.../--..--//-./---/-/..../../-./--.//.-/-./-./---/-.--/...//-/...././--//.../---//--/..-/----/.-.-.-/

SECOND QUOTE:

.-//.--././.-./.../---/-.//.--/..../---//-././...-/./.-.//--/.-/-.././/.-//--/../.../-/.-/-.-/./--..--//-././...-/./.-.//-/.-./.././-..//.-/-./-.--/-/..../../-./--.//-././.--/.-.-.-/

THIRD QUOTE:

-/...././/--./.-././.-/-/./.../-//-/..../../-./--.//-.--/---/..-//.--/../.-../.-..//./...-/./.-.//.-.././.-/.-./-.//../...//.---/..-/.../-//-/---//.-../---/...-/.//.-/-./-..//-..././/.-../---/...-/./-..//../-.//.-././-/..-/.-./-./.-.-.-/

No copyright infringement intended. For educational, non-commercial purposes only.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

ESO 4 Students,

Are you looking for your passion in life? Discover who you are, what you love, and the career that’s meant for you on Sokanu.... while reading in English and  learning lots of new vocabulary.

Your career, next to your relationships with friends and family, is the most important investment of your life. It's likely the greatest investment of your time. It's the biggest decider of the type of people you spend your time with every day, the environment that you spend your days in, and what you do with your mind and body. The cool part is that all of these details are what make a fun, purposeful life well-lived.

Sokanu is to be the place you come to whenever you have a question about your career. What do I want to be when I grow up? Who am I as a person? Who is similar to me? 

Sokanu is a platform for everyone. Nearly every person must "work" to make a living, yet very few of us find the work we are meant to do.

Remembrance Day 2012

LEST WE FORGET

Remembrance Day – also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day (the event it commemorates) or Veterans Day – is a Commonwealth holiday (observed in all Commonwealth countries except Mozambique) to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, specifically since the First World War. 

It is observed on 11th November to recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918 (major hostilities of World War I were formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice). The day was specifically dedicated by King George V, on 7th November 1919, to the observance of members of the armed forces who were killed during war.

In the United Kingdom, although two minutes of silence are observed on 11th November itself, the main observance is on the second Sunday of November, Remembrance Sunday. Ceremonies are held at local war memorials, usually organised by local branches of the Royal British Legion – an association for ex-servicemen. Typically, poppy wreaths are laid by representatives of the Crown, the armed forces, and local civic leaders, as well as by local organisations including ex-servicemen organisations, cadet forces, the Scouts, Guides, Boys' Brigade, St John Ambulance and the Salvation Army. The start and end of the silence is often also marked by the firing of a cannon. A minute's or two minutes' silence is also frequently incorporated into church services. Further wreath-laying ceremonies are observed at most war memorials across the UK at 11 am on the 11th of November, led by the Royal British Legion. The beginning and end of the two minutes silence is often marked in large towns and cities by the firing of ceremonial cannon and many employers, and businesses invite their staff and customers to observe the two minutes silence at 11:00 am.

No copyright infringement intended. For educational, non-commercial purposes only.

Somebody that I Used to Know

     By dictionary definition, a cover is “something that covers or is laid, placed, or spread over or upon something else”. Regarding music, a cover version or cover song is a new performance or recording of a previously commercially released song, the “authentic” version.

     A cover version can have a radically different style, be recorded in another language or even be a “mere” instrumental version of the original.

     One of the latest and most popular songs which has been covered to the maximum is the theme “Somebody I Used to Know” by the Belgian-Australian musician Gotye featuring the New Zealand singer Kimbra. The album, “Making Mirrors” was released in Australia in August 2011, however the song became really popular in Spain during the first half or this year 2012.

What do I Desire? What if Money Was No Object?

Ask yourself:  What would you do with your life if money was no object? 

An amazing lecture from the late Alan Watts.

What do I desire? Be the change that you would like to see in this world.

This is a really great lecture from Alan Watts, a British philosopher. It’s well worth the three minutes to watch. Watts talks about encouraging his students and listeners to do the thing they love most, because there’s no point wasting a lifetime trying to earn enough money to be stable enough to begin doing what you love to do. Better to lead a short life doing what you love than a long life doing what you don’t.

What do you desire? What makes you itch? What sort of a situation would you like?

Let's suppose — I do this often in vocational guidance of students, they come to me and say 'well, er, we're getting out of college and we haven't the faintest idea of what we want to do'. So I always ask the question: What would you like to do if money were no object? What would — How would you really enjoy spending your life?

Wond'ring Aloud

Wond'ring Aloud is a love song and sheer masterpiece released in 1971 by the British rock band Jethro Tull.

Jethro Tull rock group formed in Luton, Bedfordshire, in December 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969, after he replaced original guitarist Mick Abrahams.

Initially playing blues rock with an experimental flavour, they have also incorporated elements of classical music, folk music, jazz, hard rock and art rock into their music.

One of the world's best-selling music artists, the band have sold more than 60 million albums worldwide in a career that has spanned more than forty years.

Dear Sir, I'm Sorry

Education Secretary Michael Gove has apologised to his former French teacher for misbehaving in class 30 years ago.

In a letter published in the Radio Times, he says he cringes when he remembers himself, aged 15, competing to ask "clever-dick questions" and indulging in "pathetic showing off".

He asks the teacher, Mr Montgomery, whom he refers to as Danny, to accept his apology.

Mr Gove goes on to pay tribute to the work of the teaching profession.

Continue reading the main story

The letter says: "It may be too late to say I'm sorry. Thirty years too late."

He adds: "When I look back at the 15-year-old I was, lurking at the back of your French class at Robert Gordon's College in Aberdeen, I cringe.

5th November: Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night

ESO Students,

We give you again the post published in previous years about Guy Fawkes' Gunpowder plot. Enjoy it:

In 1605, thirteen young men planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Among them was Guy Fawkes, Britain's most notorious traitor.

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I know of no reason

Why the Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot.

Deadly Animals

    Aren’t they adorable?

When thinking about Australia, most people visualize marvellous beaches ready to be surfed, the extraordinary colourful Great Barrier Reef, funny jumping kangaroos or cute cuddly koalas. Nothing could be further from what Australia’s fauna has to offer…

Australia has quite an interesting number of deathly animals beyond Dingoes or Tasmanian Devils. Below there is a small sample of three of Australia’s most dangerous species and the consequences of their stings and bites. In spite of that, the Land Down Under is a wonderful country absolutely worth visiting!

ESO 2 2012-13 1st Term PBL: My City

This photograph courtesy of TripAdvisor

ESO 2 Students,

This is your 2012-13 1st term PBL assignment.

You must PRINT/COPY THIS POST and BRING IT TO CLASS during the lessons on MONDAY 19th & WEDNESDAY 21st November. Before that, you must READ IT CAREFULLY AT HOME and try to understand as much as possible

At school, during those 2 lessons, you will work in 4 groups of students per class. Your task is to WRITE A COMPOSITION ABOUT VIGO as in a touristic leaflet. You can bring any dictionaries, books, guides or whatever material you consider necessary for those 2 sessions.

You must write AT LEAST 3 PARAGRAPHS including this information: