Monthly Archives: January 2016
30th GOYA AWARDS (LOW B2)
The GOYA AWARDS, known in Spanish as “los Premios Goya”, are Spain’s main national film awards.
“The great celebration of Spanish cinema returns.” The 30th Goya Awards ceremony is set to take place on 9th February. The Awards Ceremony will be held at the Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel in Madrid. Both “La Novia” and “Nadie quiere la noche” are favorites for the 30th edition of the Spanish Goya Awards, to be held on Feb. 6 with 12 and 9 nominations respectively, including best picture and best director . Even so, the most talked about detail was the fact that in a male-dominated industry, two women directors will compete in the top categories.
It is also surprising that “Ocho apellidos catalanes”, the largest box-office film of the year, didn´t get a single one It seems the new adaptation of Bodas de Sangre by Federico García Lorca could be worth watching, so perhaps it is time to give “La Novia” a try even if it is a story that has been told so many times before. The, perhaps, new generations will enjoy a more contemporary version.
The awards were established in 1987, a year after the founding of “the Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España”, and the first awards ceremony took place on March 16, 1987 at the Teatro Lope de Vega, Madrid. The ceremony continues to take place annually around the end of January, and awards are given to films produced during the previous year.
The award itself is a small bronze bust of Francisco de Goya created by the sculptor José Luis Fernández.
READ MORE……http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000299/
- DO YOU LIKE SPANISH CINEMA?
- HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OF THE TOP NOMINATED FILMS THIS YEAR?
- WHICH FILM DO YOU THINK DESERVES THE MOST AWARDS? WHY? WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY PREDICTIONS FOR NEXT WEEKEND?
COLLOQUIAL LANGUAGE (LOW B2)
I´M SURE YOU HAVE HEARD THIS SONG A THOUSAND TIMES BUT “I GOTTA FEELING”… IS COLLOQUIAL LANGUAGE. WHAT IS THIS IN PROPER ENGLISH?
YOU HAVE SOME OTHER EXAMPLES IN YOUR BOOK ON PAGE 49.
THE MARTIAN by LOLA TRINIDAD (LOW B2)
The Martian is an American film with science fiction, adventure and fantasy; it´s even even funny. It was well-directed by Ridley Scott and the script was written by Drew Goddard. It’s based on the novel of the same name, by Andy Weir, and unfolds all in the space.
It was shot on location in Wadi Rum, in a place called “Valley of the Moon”, situated in Sourthen Jordan for its dusty and red surface similar to Mars’. Starring Matt Dammon, he plays Mark Watney, an astronaut, in an exceptional performance. It also includes actors and actresses such as Jesssica Chastain, as the main female protagonist or Jeff Daniels as the NASA’S director.
The plot is about how Mark have to deal with all the troubles to survive. A team of astronauts was sent for a mission to Mars, after a strong storm that caused an accident, the astronaut Mark Watney’s crew, left him there, thinking he was dead, but he wasn’t. For surviving in adverse conditions in that place, a planet without life, either water or oxigen, he had to deal with, not only loneliness, but also with basic things or questions like, What to do if his helmet crashed?, or How to create food supplies on a planet that can’t sustain plant life? How to use rationally the water he has.
He created his life system in order to survive. For example he built a greenhouse and solar panels, fertilized the ground with the waste left by the rest of the crew, therefore he can plant the potatoes and they grew up, so he was able to feed himself to go on living. Meanwhile, he tried and got it to communicate to Earth that he was still alive waiting for his rescue.
I strongly recommend it, as it’s an exciting and amusing film. It’s a bit long, but I found it outstanding.
LOLA TRINIDAD MARTINEZ
WHATSAPP GROUPS IN THE NEWS (LOW B2)
One mother’s decision to leave a parents’ chat app group becomes a big hit online. Why?
IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT, READ THE ARTICLE FROM THE BBC.
CAN YOU THINK OF THE ADVANTAGES AND THE DISADVANTAGES OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES, SUCH AS WHATSAPP?
LEMON TREE (A2)
Fool´s Garden is a German band, formed in 1991 under the name Fool’s Garden
IF YOU WANT TO REVISE THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS ALONG THE WEEKEND, WHY NOT USE A SONG?
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=2251
DO YOU FEEL LIKE SINGING?
WHY NOT TRYING THIS KARAOKE VERSION OF THE SONG?
http://www.multimedia-english.com/videos/music/lemon-tree-fools-garden-494
ALL THE LONELY FACEBOOK FRIENDS…. (LOW B2)
WATCH THIS VIDEO: CONNECTED BUT ALONE?
HAVE A LOOK AT THE PHOTOS AND THEIR CAPTIONS PUBLISHED LAST YEAR ON THE DAILY MAIL.
Missed connections: A new study shows that the more people use Facebook, the less satisfied they feel with their lives and social interactions
Networking: Studies show that the more time people spend online, the less face-to-face interactions they engage in
Isolated: Although we are more connected that ever before, we are increasingly physically isolated by technology
HAVE YOUR SAY…. DO YOU AGREE WITH THE CAPTIONS? IS IT TRUE THAT WE’RE BECOMING MORE UNHAPPY AND LESS SOCIABLE?
IF YOU´RE INTERESTED YOU CAN READ THE ARTICLE PUBLISHED .
READ THE ARTICLE (on pages 48-49) & DO EXERCISE 4 (page 48)
COME TO CLASS WITH AT LEAST 5 INTERESTING QUESTIONS TO TRY WITH YOUR CLASSMATES ON THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS
MUSIC (A2)
- DO YOU LIKE LISTENING TO MUSIC IN YOUR FREE TIIME?
- WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU ENJOY LISTENING TO?
- IS THERE ANY KIND OF MUSIC YOU CAN´T STAND?
- CAN YOU PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT? IF SO, HOW WELL?
- DO YOU LIKE SINGING? WHERE AND WHEN?
- DO YOU USUALLY BUY CDs OR DO YOU DOWNLOAD MUSIC FROM THE INTERNET?
- DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE SINGER OR BAND?
- WHAT ABOUT A FAVOURITE SONG?…MAYBE YOUR ALL TIMES SONG IN ENGLISH…..
- DO YOU FOLLOW MUSIC CONTESTS LIKE EROVISION OR ANY OTHER MUSIC SHOW?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT? (LOW B2)
“December’s election produced Spain’s most fragmented parliament in decades and ended the alternating grip on power the Popular party and the Socialists have had. The emergence of new parties such as Podemos and the centre-right Ciudadanos group, which claimed 40 seats, was interpreted as a sign that Spaniards wanted change.”
“Prospects of a Left-wing coalition government in Spain came closer on Friday when conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told the country’s king that he is unable to form a new government after failing to win a majority in December’s inconclusive parliamentary election.”
The king will now start a new round of talks with party leaders next week. He will now most likely call on the leader of the opposition Socialist party, Pedro Sánchez, to try to form a government. The Socialists came second in the election with 90 seats and appear to have more chance of mustering support from other groups in parliament to form a coalition.
LAST FRIDAY, AFTER RAJOY REFUSED KING FELIPE VI´S OFFER TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT YOU COULD READ PREDICTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF SPAIN IN MANY INTERNATIONAL NEWSPAPERS:
- WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
- WILL SPAIN HEAD TOWARDS A LEFT-WING COALITION?
- WILL WE HOLD A FRESH ELECTION?
- WILL 2016 BE THE YEAR OF CHANGE IN SPAIN?
HAVE YOUR SAY….
WE USE WILL TO MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE BASED ON OUR OWN BELIEFS AND EXPECTATIONS. WHAT OTHER USES OF THE FUTURE DO YOU KNOW? (PAGE 143)
“A NIGHT AT THE OPERA” by ELÍAS RALLO (LOW B2)
REMEMBER I AM WAITING FOR YOUR FILM REVIEWS… DON´T MISS THE CHANCE OF WRITING AND BEING CORRECTED IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING SKILLS. THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A WONDERFUL PIECE OF WRITING BY ELÍAS.
A Night at the Opera is probably the most important Marx Brothers film along with Duck Soup. Starring with The Marx Brothers (Groucho, Chico and Harpo), the lovely Margaret Dumont (Mrs. Claypool) and Allan Jones and Kitty Carlisle as Ricardo and Rosa, the film is a wonderful black and white comedy. It was directed by Sam Wood in 1935 and nowadays, it is considered a masterpiece of the comedy genre and an old classic Hollywood film.
As it usually happens in all Marx Brothers´ comedies, Groucho deceives somebody by pretending to be someone else. In this case, Groucho will be a member of the high society, cheating Mrs. Claypool, a famous high society millionaire lady who is going to fund an opera company directed by Mr. Gottlieb, and old crank fellow with a peculiar German accent. This very famous Italian opera company has to go to New York to represent “Il Trovatore”, a Guiseppe Verdi opera. The Marx Brothers are close to one of the chorus singer (Ricardo) who is in love with the “prima dona” (Rosa). Ricardo is not invited to sing in New York and he does not have money to follow his lover. Their Atlantic voyage as stowaways on an ocean liner will finish at the New York harbour after a long and mad adventure on the ship. Groucho and his brothers will drive crazy not only the director of the opera, but also all the crew members in order to help Antonio to get closer to Rosa.
A Night at the Opera is an hilarious and intelligent comedy. It is not considered a musical comedy although there are quite a few musical numbers throughout the film. The film is full of illogical and anarchic situations, including one of the most famous scene in the cinema history; “The stateroom scene”. A 30’s classical film with a smart and surreal sense of humour that everybody should enjoy. A gem of cinema´s history.
GREAT JOB ELÍAS!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
THE FUTURE OF YOUR MIND (LOW B2)
The Hunger Games is a 2012 American science fiction adventure film directed by Gary Ross and based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins.
The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic future in the nation of Panem, where boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 18 must take part in the Hunger Games, a televised annual event in which the “tributes” are required to fight to death until there is one remaining who will be crowned the victor. In the film the poor and wretched masses live under the high tech tyranny of a wealthy elite.
Is the movie depicting the kind of society the elite is trying to establish fot the future?
Read more at http://vigilantcitizen.com/moviesandtv/the-hunger-games-a-glimpse-at-the-new-world-order/#Vwidbv5D9X5UaHZX.99
Read more at http://vigilantcitizen.com/moviesandtv/the-hunger-games-a-glimpse-at-the-new-world-order/#Vwidbv5D9X5UaHZX.99
Read more at http://vigilantcitizen.com/moviesandtv/the-hunger-games-a-glimpse-at-the-new-world-order/#Vwidbv5D9X5UaHZX.99
Read more at http://vigilantcitizen.com/moviesandtv/the-hunger-games-a-glimpse-at-the-new-world-order/#Vwidbv5D9X5UaHZX.99
Read more at http://vigilantcitizen.com/moviesandtv/the-hunger-games-a-glimpse-at-the-new-world-order/#Vwidbv5D9X5UaHZX.99
CAN YOU THINK ABOUT ANY OTHER FILMS SET IN THE FUTURE?
WHAT PREDICTIONS DO THEY MAKE?
MCARGOBE´S BLOG-ROOM 