31st December 2015: New Year's Eve

As you all know, in Spain we eat twelve grapes at midnight. The actual countdown is primarily followed from the clock on top of  the Correos building in Puerta del Sol square, Madrid. It is traditional to eat twelve grapes, on on each chime of the clock. This tradition has its origins in 1909, when grape growers in Alicante thought of it as a way to cut down on the large production surplus they had had that year. Nowadays the tradition is followed by almost every Spaniard, and the twelve grapes have become synonimous with the New Year. After the clock has finished striking twelve, people greet each other and toast with sparkling wine (such as champagane or cider).

26th December: Boxing Day 2015

Today is Boxing Day. No, it has nothing to do with the sport of fighting with the fists. This is the reason for the name:

A box, usually of earthenware, in which contributions of money were collected at Christmas, by apprentices, etc.; the box being broken when full, and the contents shared.

So, the name Boxing Day derives from the tradition of giving seasonal gifts, on the day after Christmas, to less wealthy people and social inferiors, which was later extended to various workpeople such as labourers and servants.

What if Virgin Mary Had Whatsapp? (2015)

THE DIGITAL STORY OF NATIVITY

How would the birth of Jesus be experienced through digital media such as Facebook, Twitter, Amazon...? Have a look at the video below:

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

Christmas' Eve Dinner 2015

In Britain, turkey is the traditional dish for Christmas' Eve dinner. Enjoy it!

No copyright infringement intended. For educational purposes only.

Christmas Tube Map

(Reblogged from The Telegraph)

This festive Tube map will make you wish the Underground was open on Christmas Day.

If you look closely at this beautiful map, you will see that a few festive changes have been made. We all love a good alternative Tube map. There's a geographically accurate one, one which shows average house prices at each stop, one which points out the most haunted tube stations and even one which shows you how to climb Everest. 

Now, there's a festive tube map, with excitingly-named stations. How do you feel about We Three Kings Cross St. Pancras? Regent's Park has been re-named Treegent's Park. Oxford Circus is now Boxing Day Circus. Our favourite is Victo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ria. And Angel has been left out - as it is already festive. They could have bunged a 'Gabriel' on the end.The map was created by a Twitter user named Paul, for us to enjoy during the festivities. He made it to use on his Christmas cards. It's impressive that one man managed to come up with all these different names. Sadly, we cannot use the map on Christmas Day - as the Underground is shut.

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

7 O´Clock News / Silent Night 2015

Recorded on August 22nd, 1966, "7 O'Clock News/Silent Night" is the twelfth and final track on "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme", a 1966 album by Simon and Garfunkel. The track consists of an overdubbing of two contrasting recordings: a simple arrangement of the Christmas carol "Silent Night", and a simulated "7 O'Clock News" bulletin of the actual events of 3 August 1966.

8 Facts about Spain's 'El Gordo' Lottery 2015

The following article was published by PR Newswire on7th December 2010.

Christmas Carols & Songs 2015

A carol is a song of praise or joy, especially for Christmas. But it is also an old round dance often accompanied by singing.  The word was probably from Old French, derived from Latin choraula, which means "choral song".

Enjoy a selection of traditional Christmas carols and songs in English. Lyrics are included, so you can learn how to sing them!

Merry Christmas 2015

Labor English Zone wishes you the 

Season's Greetings

At Labor English Zone we know what present we want for Christmas!

West Jet Christmas Miracle 2015

The Canadian low-cost carrier, West Jet Airlines, devised an amazing plan to bring joy to its clients as Christmas is approaching. Have a look at the video to see how passengers were given the Christmas presents they asked for without having a clue of what was going on…

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

40,000 Homeless People in Spain

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

Labor Walk of Fame 4.1

As a new term has come to an end, we want to congratulate those students who did best during these three months. And those are:

And the best overall ESO student of English in the 1st Term is Melanie Waidler Heisecke, with an average mark of 9.65. Congratulations!

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

Interlude I, by Alt-J

"Interlude 1 talks about a young woman who dreams desperately of a carefree life - with no hiccups, trauma or obstacles. She prays to only ever be happy and hidden from worry and her cries are answered by barking dogs." - alt-J on Soundcloud.

She she she she only ever ver ver ver ver
Walks to to count count her steps
Eighteen teen strides and she stops to abide
By the law that she herself has set
That eighteen steps is one complete set
And before the next nine right and nine left
She looks up up at the blue
And whispers to all of the above
Don’t let me drown, don’t breathe alone
No kicks no pangs no broken bones
Never let me sink
Always feel at home
No sticks no shanks and no stones
Never leave it too late
Always enjoy the taste
Of the great great great grey world of hearts
As all dogs everywhere bark bark bark bark
It’s worth knowing
Like all good fruit, the balance of life is in the ripe and ruined.

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

Thanksgiving 2015 - 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.

Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night: Remember, Remember, the 5th of November - 2015

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.

Halloween 2015

Labor School Students,

Halloween is approaching and to celebrate it at LaborEnglishZone we give you again a very interesting post on the origins of this holiday.

Have a nice Halloween and enjoy the post!

English Problems

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

2015/16 Exam Schedule for ESO 2, 3 & 4

ESO 2, 3 & 4 Students,

This is your exam schedule for the 2015/16 schoolyear (you can also find a calendar of exams, deadlines and other events at the bottom of this blog):
Please note that all exams and dates are subject to change. PBL's and Irregular verbs tests dates to be confirmed.

Labor Walk of Fame 3.3

The following are the best students for the 3rd term. Congratulations!

ESO 1A- Sofía Lago Castro (9.81)

ESO 1B- Diego Rodríguez Riobó (7.94)

ESO 2A- Gonzalo Torres Lamas (8.77)

ESO 2B- Raquel Cordeiro Canosa (9.05)

ESO 3A- Melanie Waidler Heisecke (9.87)

ESO 3B- Marta Rivas Ramallo (8.67)

ESO 4A- Andrea Cobo Arena (9.60)

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

A Reader's Manifesto

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

That's why I just drive

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

Cíes Islands

(Reblogged from The Guardian)

Last Monday 11th May, Eleanor Ross wrote an article (10 of the best European islands … that you’ve probably never heard of) for the British newspaper The Guardian. We give you now an excerpt of that article on our beautiful, outstanding Cíes Islands. Read and be proud of it.

Cíes islands, Galicia, Spain

Rodas beach on As Illas Cíes. Photograph: Alamy

Despite this paper naming Rodas beach on Las Islas Cíes one of the best beaches in the world, these islands remain an off-the-beaten-track gem, thanks to a strict limit of 2,200 tourists a day. Their nickname – the Maldives or Seychelles of Spain – gives a clear indication of what to expect: gorgeous white beaches, turquoise waters… in other words, your average untouched paradise. The three islands (Monteagudo, San Martiño and Faro) opposite the town of Vigo on the Galician coast form part of the Islas Atlánticas national park. This means its wildlife, including colonies of marine birds and rich marine life – which can be explored by scuba divers (with a permit) – is protected.

Stay - The only accommodation is a campsite – Camping de las Islas Cíes – with 800 places on Faro, which opens in Easter week, and on subsequent weekends until June, and then regularly between June and September. From £5 adults, £4 kids; £50 to hire a double tent.

Getting there - A ferry service from the harbours of Vigo, Cangas and Baiona starts in Easter week and runs weekends and then everyday between the beginning of June and the end of September.

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

How do dogs "see" with their noses?

You may have heard the expression that dogs ‘see with their noses.’ But these creature’s amazing nasal architecture actually reveals a whole world beyond what we can see. Alexandra Horowitz illustrates how the dog’s nose can smell the past, the future and even things that can’t be seen at all.

Lesson by Alexandra Horowitz, animation by Província Studio. View full lesson on ed.ted.com.

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

Spanish Words "White" People Can't Say

Labor students,

If you ever thought that English is difficult and pronunciation a nightmare, wait until you watch this video-clip and learn about how these American English speakers feel about Spanish!

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

Heartbreaking Notes from Third Graders

Retrieved at: http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/colorado-teacher-shares-heartbreaking-notes-graders/story?id=30368103

Colorado Teacher Shares Heartbreaking Notes From Third Graders

Kyle Schwartz teaches third grade at Doull Elementary in Denver.

Although she says her students are a pleasure to look after, the educator of three years adds that many of them come from underprivileged homes.

"Ninety-two percent of our students qualify for free and reduced lunch," Schwartz tells ABC News. "As a new teacher, I struggled to understand the reality of my students' lives and how to best support them. I just felt like there was something I didn't know about my students."

Kyle Schwartz

PHOTO: The students' notes sparked a social media movement on Twitter.

In a bid to build trust between her and her students, Schwartz thought up a lesson plan called "I Wish My Teacher Knew."

For the activity, Schwartz's third graders jot down a thought for their teacher, sharing something they'd like her to know about them.

"I let students determine if they would like to answer anonymously," she says. "I have found that most students are not only willing to include their name, but also enjoy sharing with the class. Even when what my students are sharing is sensitive in nature, most students want their classmates to know.

Kyle Schwartz

PHOTO: Schwartz was shocked by her students' honesty.

Graduation Speech: ESO 4 2014-15 3rd Term PBL Assignment

ESO 4 Students,

This is your PBL assignment for the 3rd term. All of you have to WRITE and DELIVER your GRADUATION SPEECH.  You have to imagine you are going to stand in the school Assembly Hall before your teachers, classmates, parents and guests at your ESO graduation ceremony (to be held on June 19th) and deliver your speech, which must be at least 350 WORDS LONG.

The best student will be offered the chance to deliver his or her speech at your graduation ceremony... in English!! Of course, he or she will get extra points in the final mark for that effort.

When is Cheryl's Birthday?

(Reblogged from Mind Your Decisions).

This problem went viral after it appeared on a Math Olympiad test for talented students in Singapore. After it was posted to Facebook, the problem went viral generating debate about the correct answer.

Albert and Bernard have just become friends with Cheryl, and they want to know when her birthday is. Cheryl gives them a list of 10 possible dates.

May 15, May 16, May 19

June 17, June 18

July 14, July 16

August 14, August 15, August 17

Cheryl tells Albert the month and Bernard the day.

Albert says, "I don't know when Cheryl's birthday is, but I know that Bernard cannot know either."

Bernard then says, "At first I didn't know when Cheryl's birthday is, but now I do know."

Albert concludes, "Now I know when Cheryl's birthday is."

So when is Cheryl's birthday? Think carefully about it and if you cannot work out what the solution is, click on the "Read More »" link below to watch a video and read about the logic behind the answer.

April Come She Will 2015

At LEZ we have posted 2 songs by Simon Garfunkel: I am a rock and 7 O'Clock News/Silent Night. We give you now another of their masterpieces, 'April Come She Will.' Whatever happened to poets and musicians like them?

April, come she will

When streams are ripe and swelled with rain.

May, she will stay

Resting in my arms again.

June, she'll change her tune,

in restless walks she'll prowl the night.

July, she will fly

and give no warning to her flight.

August, die she must,

the autumn winds blow chilly and cold.

September, I'll remember

a love once new has now grown old.

This brilliant, beautiful video clip illustrating the song is by a young American genius, Justin Ho. Keep his name in mind: Sooner or later he will become a very famous film director.

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

Labor Walk of Fame 3.2

The second term has come to an end, and, as usual, we would like to give recognition to those students who did best in the subject of English in each group of ESO:

Congratulations to all of you!

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

April Fools' Day 2015

April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day is a day celebrated in many countries on April 1st. The day is named for the custom of playing practical jokes and hoaxes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, enemies, and neighbours, or sending them on a fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible. Traditionally, in some countries, such as the UK, Australia and South Africa the jokes only last until noon, and someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool". Elsewhere, such as in Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Russia, The Netherlands, and the U.S., the jokes last all day.

Though it has been observed for centuries in several countries, including France and Britain, its origin is unknown. It resembles the Hilaria festival of ancient Rome (March 25th) and the Holi festival of India (ending March 31st). The custom of playing April Fools' jokes was brought to America by the British.

In Spain and Ibero-America, an equivalent date is December 28th, Christian day of celebration of the Massacre of the Innocents. The Christian celebration is a holiday in its own right, a religious one, but the tradition of pranks not, though the latter is observed yearly. After somebody plays a joke or a prank (such as sticking paper cut-outs of little men, or Monigotes to people’s backs) on somebody else, the joker usually cries out, as a popular expression, "¡Inocente!" (Innocent!).

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

What Happens If All The Bees Die?

What Happens If All The Bees Die?

Will we go extinct if the bees all die?

Further Reading--

Death and Bee extinction
http://www.globalresearch.ca/death-an...

http://www.panna.org/blog/global-repo...

http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/animals/...

Pollination
http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/polli... 

List of crops polinated by bees
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_... 

Modeling Colony Collapse 
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25... 

The Causes of Death http://www.scilogs.com/from_the_lab_b... 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/...

http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23...

Genetics http://www.nature.com/srep/2014/14071...

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

Idioms about Books

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

Daylight Saving Time 2015

Daylight saving time (DST)—also summer time in several countries, in British English, and European official terminology—is the practice of advancing clocks so that evenings have more daylight and mornings have less. Typically clocks are adjusted forward one hour near the start of spring and are adjusted backward in autumn.

Bolsas de Inmersión Lingüística 2015

Axudas para a realización de actividades de formación 

en linguas estranxeiras no ano 2015

Acceso á convocatoria da Xunta

Acceso ao DOG

Acceso ao cartel informativo

Acceso á guía para cubrir a solicitude

A Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria convoca 682 prazas para realizar actividades de formación en linguas estranxeiras no ano 2015

Poderá solicitar estas axudas o alumnado de centros sostidos con fondos públicos da Comunidade Autónoma de Galicia dos cursos que aparecen na seguinte táboa.

- Lémbrase a necesidade de achegar, xunto coa documentación, a fotocopia de todas as páxinas cubertas do libro de familia ou, de non dispor deste, da documentación que xustifique o número total de membros da unidade familiar.

- Para as personas que non empreguen a aplicación (que obrigará a cubrir esta información), indícase a importancia de facilitar, alomenos, un teléfono de contacto, procurando cubrir todas informacións indicadas na solicitude.

- No caso de remitir a solicitude vía Correo Postal (o Anexo I debe selarse e datarse por Correos), o enderezo de envío é:

Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria
Dirección Xeral de Educación, Formación Profesional e Innovación Educativa
Edf. Administrativo de San Caetano s/n
15781 – Santiago de Compostela (A Coruña)

 Prazo aberto dende o 17 de marzo ata o 16 de abril (incluído)

						Achega das familias (€)
	MODALIDADE	DURACIÓN	RÉXIME ALOXAMENTO	Nº PRAZAS	CUSTO POR PRAZA (€)	GRUPO A	GRUPO B	GRUPO C	GRUPO D
2º BACHARELATO	Inglés en Galicia	1 semana	Residencia	33	800	100	180	300	350
1º BACHARELATO	Inglés en Galicia	1 semana	Residencia	59	800	100	180	300	350
4º EDUCACIÓN SECUNDARIA OBRIGATORIA	Inglés en Galicia	2 semanas	Residencia	90	550	70	125	220	275
3º EDUCACIÓN SECUNDARIA OBRIGATORIA	Inglés en Galicia	2 semanas	Residencia	120	550	70	125	220	275
2º EDUCACIÓN SECUNDARIA OBRIGATORIA	Inglés en Galicia	2 semanas	Residencia	190	550	70	125	220	275
1º EDUCACIÓN SECUNDARIA OBRIGATORIA	Inglés en Galicia	2 semanas	Residencia	190	550	70	125	220	275
			Total prazas:	682

 

CONSULTAS

Web da convocatoria: http://www.edu.xunta.es/axudasle

Enderezo electrónico: axudasle@edu.xunta.es

Atención telefónica:  981957296 - 881997497 - 981957538 - 981546503