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

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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.