Michelle Obama speech "Enough is Enough"

Such a superb speech on a pathetic behaviour. She speaks elegantly, directly and right to the point. Words we all can understand and agree with come out in a sincere heart to heart communitcation act. Love this woman.

A Beautiful Enquiring Mind

This young boy, Toby Little, took the initiative to write to people in each and every country around the world and guess!!! He had loads of lovely responses. I read it on facebook today (via BBC Breakfast web). What a beautiful story after losing hope in humankind due to yesterday's terrorist attacks in Brussels. I choose to focus on good news today. Here is why I am sharing this ambitious boy's story

What is Boxing Day?

Crazy Xmas shopping starts on Boxing Day, but the origin of this festivity has little to do with today's spending and abundance....
Happy Boxing day and Happy sales and deals :)
Boxing Day: THE BUSINESS
Boxing Day:  The History of its ORIGIN

Christmas Crackers!!!

They definitely are  as British and christmassy as mince pies and Christmas pudding, to mention a few examples. I suggest this funny article by Smitten by Britain describing THE TRADITION OF THE CHRISTMAS CRACKER to learn more about this unique tradition.
I also invite you to listen to this family introducing the fun of Christmas crackers ;)

The Berlin Wall 25 years later.

I was only 11 years old when the news were all over the press. Despite my early age, I could sense the magnitude of what was happening... To be honest, 1989 is a year I can distinctly remember for an unknown reason. Funny thing....These days, with time and perspective, I get very much moved by the powerful images and the freedom, the courage and the beauty they reveal....

In my opinion, there are too many walls erected in this world, They are not necessarily physical and more often than not, they are clearly unnecesary or useless. That is the reason why I adore the words by Tilda Swinton in "The Invisible Frame"(2009), a feature just 21 years after her "Cycling the Frame" (1988) movie was released. After her special relationship with the wall (it fell just 9 months after the filming mentioned above), Tilda states this beautiful reflection about what has happened: "Open  doors, open eyes, open ears, open air, open country, open season, open fields, open hearts, open minds, open locks, open borders, open future, open sky, open arms, open sesame". Beautiful description of a once future and now present time.

"It is a fearful heart that builds a wall. It is a fearless heart that can live without it"  

The Berlin Wall fell 25 years ago and thousands of Germans are gathering in the city to commemorate the anniversary. Nowadays, Germans are obviously happy about the end of their physical Iron Curtain. Berlin has seen the upcoming of a cosmopolitan and entrepeneurial scenece. The city boasts universities, museums, entertainment venues, festivals, sporting events, you name it. It is commonly agreed that it has turned into a reference cultural beehive. However, some local people complain about the amount of tourism invading the area, the rocketing house prices and growing filth as a result of that. Probably, a high price to pay but worth it, though.

To see the exact moment when the Berlin Wall fell dow, click here and read all about the end of the absurd separation of a nation. 

Scottish Independence Referendum 2014 (I know I am late...)

We know the feelings of the citizens, the intense debate held the last few weeks and the result of the much applauded referendum. But do you know the history behind Scottish independence wish? This short video summarises and simplifies it a bit. The articles following it, explain the consequences of the democratic referendum as well as social and political implications after it.

 BBC News article 

The Guardian article

GOV.UK site

Books Should be Free

http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/

Here you are a very catching name for a website that offers audiobooks for FREE. Just click on your genre, age and language and a wide selection of titles will come up. You can either listen to the book online or download the chapters' audioclips. Handy and right what you need while still on holidays!!!!
Happy listening :)

This is not a "Silly the Bean" post!!!

Good morning! It is a beautiful summer day and that is no reason why we shouldn't go on with the challenging and amazing task of learning English. More often than not, you will hear people saying that it is vocabulary that shows your level of English. It is partially true. Once you have reached an intermediate level of grammar, more vocabulary is definitely the thing to make the difference, as you will find it easier to express yourself!

I have to suggest my "Silly the Bean" blog for those who would like to learn idoms and funny expressions to sound more native-like wearing a smile :D

The following video by Daniel Welsh, @MadridESL, explains some English proverbs and sayings. 

On top of that, if you were left wanting more and more, your wish is my command ;)

Kings and Queens in the 21st Century

The King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, abdicated this morning in favour of Crown Prince Felipe, causing a wide range of mixed opinions and reactions. You can read about this piece of news in the world leading newspapers: The New York Times, The Guardian, BBC News...

More often than not, I have come across more Britons happy about their royal family and monarchy in general than Spaniards being content with their respective counterpart. The formers appreciated or respected the institution and what is more, considered it an interesting economic revenue for the country, while the latters always complained about having never been asked whether they wanted a king or not. It simply came imposed, unelected, at the end of Franco's dictatorship and that was it.

However, I was delighted to find this clever video about British monarchy, which I considered interesting enough for sharing a balanced exposition about pros and cons regarding the royal institution. It is like posting typical Spanish debate thoughts, but expressed in English and referring to British monarchy, although applicable to any. Worth watching indeed....

How the Giant's Causeway and Game of Thrones are related in my opinion.

Cliffs of Moher

Last April, I travelled to Dublin and as a result of a fast visit I had to leave without enjoying two nearby wonderful natural sights from Emerald Isle: Cliffs of Moher (Republic of Ireland) and The Giant's Causeway (Northen Ireland). After I browsed a few brochures and read about the legends behind the latter, my imagination started to run wild as I pictured giants in the country as they are described in Game of Thrones behind "The Wall". 

Personally, I seriously believe there is a strong paralelism between this fictional world and the real one. The shapes of the two isles are pretty similar, and "The Wall" in the book could perfectly be a frozen version of Hadrian's Wall, the savages could stand for the much feared Celts (also called "ladies from hell" by Roman troops), while the Giants could be a fusion of reality with myths and legends. Am I going too far? Probably! But that is my stream of consciousness for you.

Now, What is the Giant's Cause way for real? 

The National Trust (UK) website uses the following description to refer to the location of this oustanding natural wonder "Flanked by the North Atlantic Ocean and a landscape of dramatic cliffs, for centuries the Giant's Causeway has inspired artists, stirred scientific debate and captured the imagination of all who see it". These basalt columns resulting from a volcanic eruption leave no one indiferent beacuse of their unique, impressive and geometrical beauty. Please, watch this video offering the human and divine perspectives of one geological jewel to be treasured.

I know for a fact that many scenes from Game of Thrones have actually been filmed at the Giant's Causeway. It was the scenery for The Iron Isles (House Greyjoy). But here, is it just me or this Westeros map could be related to a pair of inverted British Isles? I'll leave you with that deep thought...

Westeros map from Game of Thrones (source).

Poem-Shaped Pronunciation Challenge

"The Chaos", by Gerard Nolst Trenité (1870-1946), is a poem that reached me a few days ago via facebook. I have to admit that it was an interesting activity although too long a task to fulfill! If you are able to complete the reading until the very end and without a mistake, consider yourself a champion in phonectics!!!! I'll leave you with your task, which has the incredible and challenging statistics of not being correctly pronounced by 90% of native speakers!!!

Click to read the Pronunciation Challenge Poem

So....How was that??? Now you can listen to the correct pronunciation and double check your performance by clicking HERE. I didn't embed the link to avoid the temptation of easy cheating ;)

Car Boot Sale, the other market.

I have previously devoted some posts to London Markets in the blog, but never to a different and funky type of market such as Car boot Sales. They are not exclusive from the capital, I know! As a matter of fact, you can find them in places ranging from tiny villages to big cities. But as I have just said, the topic of London markets led me here today.

By their name, I bet you have already guessed it out. Yes! They are markets on wheels and run by private sellers. They very much look like spanish "mercadillos", with two main differences: the seller profile and the stuff sold. In Car boot sales, you will find proud (or tired) owners of a wide selection of products such as houseware, antiques, collectables, books, toys, shoes, music...you name it!. This is also intimately connected to a common practice in the UK: charity / second-hand shopping. You can find a considerable amount of second-hand shops in the high street of even the smallest village you can think of. It is a cultural thing and there is a great business niche based on ethical, social and environmental grounds.

As for where to go to participate in this kind of "open air recycling-based shopping", the sales take place in particular places and under particular permissions. Actually, there are some directories guiding your options when considering this type of purchase: Car boot junction  is a general UK directory, while Time out is a more specific site devoted to London. 

I'll leave you with an example of what a car boot sale is like. You'll have the chance to have a close-up experience by examining the items sold, the venue aspect as well as listening to some of the sellers' stories :)

Saint George and the Dragon

I can't think of a sweeter way to get to know about this legend but by means of a four-year-old girl's voice.
Listen to her enthusiastic telling of the story and find out why Saint George is England's patron saint, celebrated on 23rd April. 

Culture Mania by OUP

Oxford boasts this attractive Culture site, CULTURE MANIA, in which to read about interesting facts and assorted topic articles, and what is more!, you can filter content by course level or difficulty. Pretty useful!
You can start having a taste by reading this article about a year in Spain told by a foreigner. If you find an expression in green on the way, put your mouse over it and you will get a definition so that you try and guess the meaning before cheking it up in the dictionary :)

Click here to go to the site

TED's Talks: Jamie Oliver

It is not a secret how interesteing and appealing TED's talks are! There are a myriad of different speakers and subjects covered. This post is to show you one I especially like. I am a fan of British Chef Jamie Oliver and have followed his cooking-related adventures, which include a fight for healthy and nutritious food not only at a family level, but also in schools and similar institututions.
Truth is that he has recently won a more than noteworthy case against McDonalds (read article here) for using "pink slime" in its burgers. You can learn about "pink slime" in this shocking video filmed during Jamie's Food Revolution show in America and that EVERYBODY should watch. I hope you enjoy Jamie's talk about teaching kids to eat wise :)

Celtic Heritage in Southern England

One of the many interesting sights the South of England has to offer are chalk figures from Celtic times, a very interesting local heritage indeed. Personally, I was extremely and pleasantly shocked when I saw them on different hills for the first time. No one had ever told me about their existence. Impressive figures such as Cerne Abbas Giant or  The White Horse truly surprise the traveller as he or she enjoys a visit around the south of England. Click here for more information.
You can watch them in the following youtube clip

Gunpowder Plot. A treason never to be forgotten.

Tonight you'll hear it all over Britain: "Remember, remember the fith of November" and the kids' old story "a penny for the guy". It is the night of gunpowder, bonfires, fireworks display and celebration of a plot fail. Do you know about the popular rhyme and the history bihind it?

Click the link to learn more about Guy Fawkes and The Gunpowder Plot. 

Market Day: Spitafields

One of the best options in East London. You don't have to wait for Saturday for it to open  as it is a seve-day- a- week option. Old Spitafields Market is one vibrant  place to go. If you love antiques and bargains, thursday is your day! Clothes and art are the main attraction on Friday. Every Saturday, you'll fing a themed market, whereas Sunday offers a bit of everything, the usual :)
Here is an extract of Totally London tv about the market. Enjoy the virtual visit!!!

The Fake Moustache Trend

In the last couple of years I've noticed an increasing interest for any kind of fashion articles in the shape of or containing the popular handlebar moustache. That made me do some research and here is the answer:
THE MOUSTACHE TREND article
We will see how long it wil last, but it seems the thing to have at the moment, especially with so much merchandising out there. Name the thing and they will moustache it for you :-3

Accents and their "fun"

Accents are really complicated when it comes to language learning. If you get used to listening to Received Pronounciation (RP English) only, then, you are very likely to struggle with the rest of English accents: local, national or international. Yes, that's where the "fun" lies....
American vs British English
Australian vs American and British
Indian English Accents
Canadian Accents
British Accent deserves a post on its own, due to the diffentent accents, slang and interesting bits and pieces it has to offer :)