INTRODUCTIONS

What does 'introduce' mean? It means 'presentarse'. Can you introduce yourself in English? and in a business context?
Watch this video. What are the most important expressions? It is important you learn them for our course!

BUSINESS VOCAB

As you know, if you study business you need to know some vocabulary related to business.

Here in this video you have some vocab that we have studied in class and that you will probably need in the future.
Also notice the pronunciation of the words. This video has been taken from youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLn1rAuZuVA&feature=relmfu

AMERICAN vs. BRITISH ENGLISH!

I am sure you know that in some parts of Latin America the word 'coche' is not used, but the word 'carro'. The same happens with English in different parts of the world.

Therefore, there are differences of American and British English. They have different:
- vocabulary
- pronunciation
- spelling
- grammar



However, do natives really know all their differences???

Hellen is a very famous American TV show. Each day Hellen (the presenter of the programme) interviews a different famous person.

In this video it is Hugh Lurie's interview. Do you know him? I bet you know him from the famous series 'House'. He is obviously British, and Hellen is American.

Check out in this video. They can't understand any of those words!

OFFICE VOCABULARY

Do you work in an office?
Will you work in an office?
Then, it is very important you know the vocabulary and objects of an office. Watch this video and learn some important words.
Which of these objects have you got in your bedroom?
Can you name more objects that the video doesn't mention?

RAFAEL NADAL SPEAKING ENGLISH

As you know Rafael Nadal is number one in the World of Tennis.

This, obviously involves speaking English! Watch out his video from Vogue in the USA.
What does he speak about?
Do you like Rafael Nadal? Why?
Can you describe him?

SPANISH GOYA AWARDS!

Did you watch the Goya Awards last night?

Eva Hache was the presenter and she was real fun, as usual!
She looked beautiful too. But do you know the winners?

There are many different Goya Awards, but these are some of the most important:
Best Picture: No Rest for the Wicked


Best Director: Enrique Urbizu
Best Leading Actor: José Coronado
Best Leading Actress: Elena Anaya
Best Supporting Actor: Lluis Homar
Best Supporting Actress: Ana Wagener
Best New Director: Kike Maíllo

If you want to know more information about it, visit this webpage:
http://www.filmaffinity.com/en/awards.php?award_id=goya&year=2012

MAKING AN ORDER

What is 'to order'? It doesn't mean 'ordenar', but 'pedir' or 'hacer un pedido'!

If you ever work in a company as a sales representant, you may need to take orders from customers.

Here you have a sample of a Wood Supplier Company which supplies wood to a company.
What does 'freight' mean? Check it in a dictionary!

BUYING CLOTHES

Do you like shopping? I love shopping!

Here you have a video that some students recording on a dialogue with basic sentences for buying and selling clothes!

You can take this video as an example for your video making, however, there are many other sentences you can use and different ways of doing it.

ST VALENTINE'S LEGEND

HAPPY ST VALENTINE'S!!!!

Do you know the popular legend of St Valentine's?

The legend says that Valentine was a priest in Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Under his regime, Claudius is said to have engaged Rome into several bloody battles. To strengthen his army, the Emperor continuously needed to recruit soldiers.

However, Claudius found that not many soldiers were keen to join the army because of their affection towards their wives and families. So, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. Therefore, Valentine secretly arranged marriages of young men and women. When Valentine's defiance was discovered by the Emperor, he was brutally beaten up and put to death on February 14, about 270 AD.

FAWLTY TOWERS - CHECK IN

Have you ever watched this series?

It is a comedy produced by the BBC. It is set in Devon, at a hotel named Fawlty Towers.

Manolo is a staff from Barcelona. He always has communication problems...

Which communication problem does he have in this episode???

Focus on 'hotel' language:
Which sentences do the owners of the hotel say?
Which sentences do the guests say?

8 SECRETS FOR SUCCESS!

Do you want to be successful? Successful in life? Successful in business?

Follow up then these steps! Do you agree with them?

Under the video you can also choose subtitles in the language you like!

SOME + TELEPHONING

Speaking on the phone is often very difficult. We cannot see the other person's face, nor can we read his/her lips.

So your listening skills + your knowledge of specific expressions is key.

Here you have some more telephoning strategies:

Little Red Ridding Hood by Roal Dahl

Have you heard of Roal Dahl? I bet you have!

I am sure you have seen many of his films: Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach...etc.

He wrote many children stories, but he also wrote for adults and several short stories.
I love everything that he writes! Visit his webpage. It is real fun!

http://www.roalddahl.com

Here I post a very funny short and traditional story of 'Little Red Ridding Hood'

Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf

As soon as Wolf began to feel
That he would like a decent meal,
He went and knocked on Grandma's door.
When Grandma opened it, she saw
The sharp white teeth, the horrid grin,
And Wolfie said, ``May I come in?''
Poor Grandmamma was terrified,
``He's going to eat me up!'' she cried.

And she was absolutely right.
He ate her up in one big bite.
But Grandmamma was small and tough,

And Wolfie wailed, ``That's not enough!
I haven't yet begun to feel
That I have had a decent meal!''
He ran around the kitchen yelping,
``I've got to have a second helping!''
Then added with a frightful leer,
``I'm therefore going to wait right here
Till Little Miss Red Riding Hood
Comes home from walking in the wood.''
He quickly put on Grandma's clothes,
(Of course he hadn't eaten those).
He dressed himself in coat and hat.
He put on shoes, and after that
He even brushed and curled his hair,
Then sat himself in Grandma's chair.
In came the little girl in red.
She stopped. She stared. And then she said,

``What great big ears you have, Grandma.''
``All the better to hear you with,'' the Wolf replied.
``What great big eyes you have, Grandma.''
said Little Red Riding Hood.
``All the better to see you with,'' the Wolf replied.

He sat there watching her and smiled.
He thought, I'm going to eat this child.
Compared with her old Grandmamma
She's going to taste like caviar.

Then Little Red Riding Hood said, ``But Grandma,
what a lovely great big furry coat you have on.''

``That's wrong!'' cried Wolf. ``Have you forgot
To tell me what BIG TEETH I've got?
Ah well, no matter what you say,
I'm going to eat you anyway.''
The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers.
She whips a pistol from her knickers.
She aims it at the creature's head
And bang bang bang, she shoots him dead.
A few weeks later, in the wood,
I came across Miss Riding Hood.
But what a change! No cloak of red,
No silly hood upon her head.
She said, ``Hello, and do please note
My lovely furry wolfskin coat.''

Roald Dahl, Revolting Rhymes

10 Facts about Thai

As many of you know I have lived in Thailand, a beautiful place that many visit during the summer time. Idyllic beaches, an amazing wilderness which a diversity of animals and fauna inhabit. Its marvellous, humble and hospitable people make it a must when deciding to travel abroad.

But is this all about it? How much do you know about Thailand? How much do you know about the Thai language?
Check out this link and learn something about it!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/thai/guide/facts.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand

TOP 40 SINGLES CHART

Here you can check the UK's top 40 Singles right now.
But, do you agree with it?
Which is your favourite song? Which is your top single out of this 40? Participate in the poll below.

Today is the 200th Anniversary of Charles Dickens's birth.

Today is the 200th Anniversary of Charles Dickens's birth.
He has been one of the most remarkable British novelists in the 19th century until our days.
Here you have some fun activities about him!
Oxford Activities