Christmas is coming

Star of Bethlehem

Happy Holidays! 

And Merry Christmas!!

Let's sing!!

Halloween 2014

WOO-HOO!!!

Library Day

 School Library Day 2014 

Don't forget that October is International School Library Month, an event in which Schools and school libraries are encouraged to plan events for their students and teachers to celebrate and promote school libraries. What are you planning to do for International School Library Month?

Our Bilingual and Library coordinators met last week for their regular meeting.  As part of the meeting, we brainstormed ideas for our school and library to celebrate School Library Day on 24 October. Our preliminary ideas are below.  What can you add?  Let's keep this list of ideas going so that we have a list to use for years to come!

• Celebrate ‘new’ library
• Invite students to a guided tour around the library
• Teachers dress up as favourite book character and visit classes
• Ask older students to dress up as their favourite book characters and go to younger student classes
• Books in a gift bag
• Persuasive writing activity
• Participate in a book mark contest where you can exchange bookmarks
• Make podcasts/videos to introduce your favourite books(s) to students
• Read a book/Watch the Movie
• Host a debate from the viewpoint of a book character.
• Video podcast of an author reading or organize a skype call with an author after an all school read
• Make READ TODAY T-shirts
• Why I love my library student campaign AND parent campaign
• Coffee/Tea Club in the library for students with sessions on information literacy, web safety, new resources,  etc.
• Invite locals to read or visit the library

Now here's a GREAT IDEA for School Library DAY....in a big way...

Diary of an English Immersion Programme

Let's go to a campsite for an English Immersion Programme

 Click the picture to know about our diary 

Click the picture to know about our diary 
October 21

October 23

October 24

Language Immersion Programme in Valladolid

Language Immersion

Next Sunday, twenty-five students of 2nd year of Secondary School and two teachers are travelling by bus to "El Trasto" in  Hornillos de Eresma (Valladolid) because they are going to spend a whole  week on a language Immersion Programme. 

If you want to know more about this programme, click here. Our students and teachers are going to stay in a beautiful place and they will enjoy nature and animals. Visit this blog if you want to see some pictures.

We hope they have a lot of fun and learn English, too. 

Funny Stuff

Be Positive

Languages at Don Bosco

Nadin, a Canadian girl in Valverde

Nadin at the Square

Hello, everyone!

My name is Nadin and I am your new English Conversation Assistant. I am excited to work here at Don Bosco!

I am from Ottawa, Ontario, the capital city of Canada. Ottawa is located in the southeastern region of Canada, very close to the border with Quebec. Canada is well-known for its long, cold winters, but Ottawa is great to visit in the summer – the temperature is around 25-30 degrees, we have many parks to see and water sports to try, and there are plenty of great outdoor music festivals. Ottawa is known for its Parliament Buildings, Rideau Canal, the Ottawa Senators hockey team, and delicious pastries called beavertails.

Parliament Buildings

I am from a family of four people: my mother, my father, and a younger sister named Nora. They all still live in Ottawa, except for my father who lives in Germany. I went to university in Ottawa and have a degree in Humanities and History with a minor in Psychology. In my free time, I like to dance salsa, sing, kayak/canoe, draw, hike, travel, and try out new kinds of food.

I'm looking forward to getting to know you this semester!

Where is Otawa?

PS: If you want to know about Nadin, click here and read this article: Bachelor of Humanities Graduate Begins Teaching Job in Andalucía    ;p 

Nadin Hassan is looking forward to starting a job working at schools in Spain: “I’ll be working as a teaching assistant in two schools, a secondary school and an elementary school, in a little pueblo called Valverde del Camino. It has a population of 13,000 people and is a typical small Andalusian village.” While researching various teaching opportunities, Hassan discovered this particular program, which is run by the Spanish Ministry of Education. Originally from Egypt, Hassan enjoys the Mediterranean lifestyle but it was Spain’s history and culture that primarily attracted her to that country.

As for the village where she’ll be working, Hassan selected the location with great care, “I selected Andalucía because of the climate, the mix of Spanish and Arabic cultures (and the long history of the Ottoman Empire), the soulful flamenco music, the seafood, and the beautiful landscapes.”

Welcome to Huelva, Nadin!!

26th September, The European Day of Languages

Food for Thought

“Language learning is an act of creativity, imagination, exploration, expression, construction and profound social and human collaboration.” 

Mark Warschauer

Next 26th September is the official European Day of Languages. It is a day to celebrate all languages and to generally have lots of multilingual fun. Let's play in the library!! Visit the Council of Europe's European Day of Languages site. It's a great opportunity to take language learning out of the classroom, too. 

To mark the occasion, Macmillan English has put together an exclusive infographic, selection of quizzes, and special social surprises dedicated to celebrating Europe and the importance of English language learning! 

Nevertheless, whatever language is being learnt at school it is important to emphasise the value of all languages. The European Day of Languages is not just a celebration of European languages, so use the day to instil an appreciation of the value of all languages. 

Languages change lives, open minds!!

Enjoy your Day!!!

PS:  Thank you very much, arigatou gozaimasu,
muito brigado, merci beaucoup...

Happy European Day of Languages!!!

"For growing up, just watch a tree. As the tree grows up, its roots are growing down, deeper. There is a balance: the higher the tree goes, the deeper the roots will go. In life, growing up means growing deep within yourself -- that's where your roots are." 

Osho.

Describe yourself in one sentence

"If you could describe yourself in one sentence, 

what would that be?"

What about you?
Are you... active, adventurous, or determined?

Welcome Back to School!

English Department

September is here again! 

English Department wishes you all a successful school year 

2014-2015

:) Welcome back to school


First day of School... Funny Stuff

Diary of a Wimpy Kid 

by Jeff Kinney

You can also learn another language

Funny Stuff

Enjoy your holidays!!

Enjoy Every Day

#WorldCup #Brazil2014

Are you ready for the World Cup?  

Football fever is about to sweep our blog! 

Stay tuned for a feast of world facts #WorldCup #Brasil2014  

Learn and revise football words with these exercises. 

Now, let's play... Guess the player! Guess the Country!

Get in the samba spirit with this song

 The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Song

FIFA World Cup Official Songs (1998 - 2014)

Get in the samba spirit with Shakira's song, too.

La La La is featured on Shakira's new self-titled album. 

Shakira & Activia partner to support World Food Programme 

and its School Meals initiative.

Think Green!

Be Sociable, Share!

Let's keep it clean!! 

Remember... REuse, REduce and REcycle.

Do you recycle?

Keep calm

 and 

maintain the cleanliness 

of our high school

Funny Staff

Adrian's  T-Shirt

Saint George's Day & World Book Day

Saint George and the Dragon

Saint George's Day is the feast day of Saint George and the National Day for England. St. George's Day is not an official national holiday in England or the UK. It is celebrated by various Christian churches and by the several nations, kingdoms, countries, and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint. Saint George's Day is celebrated on 23 April, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in AD 303 (Source Wikipedia).

The Legend of St. George and the Dragon

A traditional custom on St George's day is to wear a red rose in one's lapel, though this is no longer widely practised. Another custom is to fly or adorn the St George's Cross flag in some way: pubs in particular can be seen on 23 April festooned with garlands of St George's crosses. It is customary for the hymn "Jerusalem" to be sung in cathedrals, churches and chapels on St George's Day, or on the Sunday closest to it. 

23 April is also the anniversary of the St George Dragons Rugby League Football Club. The St George club coincidentally played their inaugural NSWRL first grade match on St George's Day, 23 April 1921 at the Sydney Sports Ground in Australia.

 The Dragon

23 April World Book Day

World Book Day  World Book and Copyright Day (also known as International Day of the Book or World Book Days) is a yearly event on 23 April, organized by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright. In the United Kingdom, the day is instead recognised on the first Thursday in March.

UNESCO declared this day the International Day of the Book, since 23 April 1616 was the date of death and possibly anniversary of birth of both the English playwright William Shakespeare (according to the Julian calendar) and the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes (according to the Gregorian calendar).

Fermi Mun 2014

"Aquarius"

We are going to the theater!!!

 Friday, 4th April

"Aquarius"

This the dawning of the Age of Aquarius”

That’s what the song says, but just what is behind this idea of a “New Age” and the approach of the fateful year 2012? With the help of some of the best songs from the 60’s and 70’s performed live, Rupert Marshall, musician, anthropologist and director of Firewalk Theatre, describes the revolutionary counter-culture philosophy of that time, offering us an alternative analysis of “la crisis”; a kind of musical lecture about what’s wrong today and why it is.

Aimed at students of English of an intermediate level and above this one-man show can be can be put on in any venue since it does not require any specialized theatrical infrastructure. 

The show lasts one hour and twenty minutes.

"Aquarius/

Let the Sunshine In" 

Today's preparatory work in the classroom.  You can download the songs used in the talk, as well as the lyrics. We are doing some exercises and activities based on them.

Today's preparatory work

"(I Can't Get no) Satisfaction" The Rolling Stones

Happiness

Five minutes singing... This is a karaoke class. 

Let's listen to the soundtrack of  "Despicable Me 2". 

Have you seen the film?  Maybe next class =) 

#listening #music #speaking #singing #karaoke

Carnival is coming!!

Carnival at IES Don Bosco!!

The Carnival of Cádiz is one of the best-known carnivals in the world. The whole city participates in the carnival for more than two weeks each year, and the presence of this fiesta is almost constant in the city because of the rehearsals, recitals, and contests held throughout the year.

The costumes are often related to recent news. The feeling of this carnival is the sharp criticism, the funny play on words and the imagination in the costumes, more than the glamorous dressings. It is traditional to paint the face with lipstick as a humble substitute of a mask.

Gran Teatro Falla

The most famous groups are the chirigotas, choirs and comparsas.  The chirigotas are well known witty, satiric popular groups who sing about politics, new times and household topics, wearing the same costume, which they train for the whole year. The Choirs (coros) are wider groups that go on open carts through the streets singing with a little orchestra of guitars and lutes. Their characteristic composition is the "Carnival Tango", and they alternate comical and serious repertory. The comparsas are the serious counterpart of the chirigota in Cádiz, and the poetical lyrics and the criticism are their main ingredients. They have a more elaborated polyphony, being easily recognizable by the typical countertenor voice. Source: from Wikipedia

Gurumeloman 2014

We also celebrate Carnival in Valverde. Our contest is well known in the province among chirigotas, choirs, comparsas, and quartets. The 'Official Contest' at the Puerta del Andévalo Teatre finishes just before the first Saturday of Carnival.... Who will win the contest this year????? Have you prepared your costume? Enjoy the Carnival and your holidays!!

The English Travelling Suitcases

The English Travelling Suitcases

The English Travelling Suitcases contains selected English materials (books, magazines, comics, ebooks, Cds, Dvds) which are chosen by the English Department every week and you can take them home. So... 

When your English Teacher… goes to your class with a SUITCASE and she tells you about a TRAVELLING suitcase,  listen to her, pay attention, but do not worry. She is not crazy. She is delivering materials so that you can read, listen to or watch them at home and then you give them back.

She is going to ask your opinion about them. Remember that your comments should be in English: Title, author, kind of material, your opinion…etc.  Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy them!

Run for Charity

SAVE  THE  CHILDREN

This year, our high school has organised a Charity Run to celebrate the International Peace Day in Valverde. Some people (teachers, parents, relatives, students, etc) sponsored the Run which was organized by several departments to support  the NGO  Save the Children. During the last weeks, we decided to organize this big run to get donations. So everybody helped to make this event successful. 

In advance, the participants had looked for sponsors which agreed to donate money for each kilometre. 

Thank you! To all those who ran in this Charity Run.  

Alex, our new English Conversation Assistant

ALEX

Hello,

My name is Alex and I am your new English Conversation Assistant. I am very happy to be here in Valverde and to be working with you.

A little about me...

I am from Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.A. The State of Alabama is located in the southeastern region of the United States. The state is bordered by Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida, and the Gulf of Mexico. In Alabama, the weather is very hot in the summer and can be very cold in the winter. The spring and fall seasons are both very nice. In the southeast, we are known for our tasty food, hot summers, beautiful beaches, and great American football teams.

I am from a family of four people: my mother, my father, and one younger brother named Scott. They all still live in Birmingham. I went to university in Birmingham and have a degree in Economics. In my free time, I like to go running and hiking, play tennis, read, and eat. I also enjoy traveling and hanging out with friends and family.

I'm looking forward to getting to know you and working with you this semester!

The USA

In the Southeast - Alabama - Birmingham