The Leg of Lamb by Roald Dahl

View Roald Dahl fficial site. Click here

This is probably the most well–known of all Dahl's short stories, simply because (in my opinion) it's so simple. There isn't a single wasted word in it. It's gripping, shocking, and yet the story proceeds in such a rational manner that the reader's suspension of disbelief is never broken. We are with Mary Maloney from the first sentence of the story, and only at the end do we realize that we never really knew her at all.

Spoiler Warning! Mary Maloney is a devoted wife and expectant mother. She waits happily each night for the arrival of her husband Patrick, home from work at the police station. On this particular night, though, she can tell something is wrong. In disbelief, she listens as Patrick tells her that he is leaving her for another woman. [Actually Dahl never really says this; the details are left up to the reader's imagination.] Dazed, she goes into the kitchen to prepare their supper and pulls a large frozen leg of lamb from the deep freeze. Still numb, she carries it into the living room and without warning bashes her husband over the head with it. As she looks at Patrick lying dead on the floor, she slowly begins to come back to her senses. Immediately she realizes the ramifications of what she has done. Not wanting her unborn child to suffer as a result of her crime, she begins planning her alibi. She places the leg of lamb in a pan in the oven and goes down to the corner grocery to get some food for "Patrick's dinner" (making sure the grocer sees her normal and cheerful state of mind). She returns home and screams when she finds Patrick lying on the floor. She calls the police and informs them that she found her husband lying dead on the floor. Within hours swarms of officers are searching the house and conducting an investigation. Mary's story of coming home from the grocer and finding him is corroborated as she had planned. While the police are searching fruitlessly into the night for the murder weapon, Mary offers them some lamb that she had prepared for dinner. They are happy to oblige. While they lounge in the kitchen and discuss the case (their mouths "sloppy" with meat), Mary Maloney sits in the living room and giggles softly to herself.

Classroom Activities

These exercises were sent in by Frankie Meehan, an ESL Teacher at United World College of SE Asia, Singapore. If you have any questions, please e-mail him at frankierose@pacific.net.sg. Thanks Frankie!

NOTE: Any page/line numbers below refer to Tales of the Unexpected, Penguin, 1979. You may need to change them to reflect the particular version of the story you're using.

ANOTHER NOTE: Mr. Meehan acknowledges that the "Perfect Murder" activity is not original. However, he is unaware of the original source.

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1. Jigsaw

The following excerpts all come from the short story. They are jumbled up. Try to arrange them in the correct order.

"For God's sake," he said, hearing her, but not turning round, "don't make supper for me. I'm going out."

"Tired, darling?"

"Yes," he said. "I'm tired."

"It's the old story," he said. "Get the weapon and you've got the man."

"This is going to be a bit of a shock to you, I'm afraid," he said.

When the clock said ten minutes to five, she began to listen, and a few moments later, punctually as always, she heard the tyres on the gravel outside...

"Personally, I think it's right here on the premises."

All the old love and longing for him welled up inside her, and she ran over to him, knelt down beside him, and began to cry her heart out.

"Quick! Come quick! Patrick's dead!"

Soon, other men began to come into the house. First a doctor, then two detectives, one of whom she knew by name.

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2. The Perfect Murder

What would be the ingredients of the "perfect murder"?

Put the following ideas into order of importance. (Add ideas of your own if you want to.)

a) It should be easy to arrange.

b) It should leave no clues.

c) There should be no noise.

d) It should look like suicide.

e) It should take place in a lonely, isolated place.

f) It should be cheap.

g) No violence should be necessary.

h) It should look like an accident.

i) It should be quick.

j) The murderer should have a good alibi.

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Phrasal Verbs - Practice

Click on the links to practice phrasal verbs -
from NEF Pre-Intemediate
Phrasal
Verbs

Edgar Allan Poe - Biography

To read his biography click HERE

The Tell Tale Heart by E. A. Poe

Comprehension Exercises:

Questions

1. Why did the young man want to kill the old one?
2. What did the young man think about the old man's eye?
3. What did the young man think about his sense of hearing?
4. Why did the old man wake up?
5. Why did the police come to the house?
6. What did the young man tell the police at first?
7. When did the young man become nervous
8. Why did he tell the police about the killing?

These words can be used to describe people:

edgy - motionless - disturbed - paralysed - sick -

uneasy - immobile - insane - obsessed - infirm -

Look at them up in the dictionary and choose the ones that best describe the characters from the story

THE YOUNG MAN THE OLD MAN

______________ ______________

______________ ______________

______________ ______________

We're all afraid ...

Click on Since and For and do the exercises

TELEPHONE CONVERSATION

A: Hello. Is that HSBC Bank?.
B: Yes, How can I help you?
A: Can I speak to Bety Martinez, please?
B: She’s not at her desk now. Can you please hold on?......

I’m sorry but her line is engaged.
A: Can I leave a message ?
B: Sure.
A: Ask her if she could call me back, please.

My phone number is 0341-675810, I’m Mary Ross.
……………..

C: Hello Mary, It’s Bety Martinez, How can I help you?.
A: Hi, Bety. I need to make a deposit in my account but

I don’t remember my account number. Can you help me?.
C: Yes, of course, hold on the line, please. What is your ID number?
A: It's 12.560.443.
C: Well, please write down! Your account number is 1002-3265/3.
A: Ok. Thank you .

By Jimena and Rut

AT THE DOCTOR'S

Vocabulary:
Aspirin, pain killers,

headache, backache, allergic, symptoms, temperature, penicillin, flu, cough, sore throat

hurt, I came down with....

Structures
Present simple

Past simple
Present perfect
Should
Have to / mustn't

Dialogue:

A: Hello, Doctor.

B: Hello. What's the matter?

A: I think, I came down with a flu.

B: What symptoms do you have?
A. I have headache and cough!

B: Did you have a temperature?

A: No, I didn't.

B: Do you have sore throat?

A: Yes, it hurts.

B: Do you smoke?

A:Yes, I do.

B: You mustn't smoke if you have a cough.

A:I know, I must to give up smoking.

B: OK. Are you allergic to any drugs?

A: None

B: Ok. I'm going to prescribe this medicine.

A: How many pills do I have to take?

B: Two every day.

A: Sorry, how often?

B: Every twelve hours.

by Melina, Lucrecia y Damián

GOING AROUND ROSARIO

Structures:
- past simple
- passive voice
- present continuos
- present simple
- future
- 1st conditional

TOURIST:

1. CAN YOU HELP ME?
2. WHICH ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PLACES (LANDMARKS= Puntos de encuentros, por ejemplo Falabella, el monumento, etc) IN THE CITY?
3. WHEN WAS THE CITY FOUNDED?
4. HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN ROSARIO?
5. WHERE IS THE CASINO?
6. HOW CAN I GET TO SHOPPING MALL/ DOLPHIN TOWERS?

GUIDE:

• WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

1. HAVE YOU BEEN TO ROSARIO BEFORE?
2. WHERE ARE YOU STAYING?
3. WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO IF YOU HAD THE MONEY?

MEETING YOUR TWIN

Two brothers, twin bothers, meet for the first time when

they are adults and they have the conversation below,

A: Hello!, I'm Rene. what's your name?

B: Hi! I'm Rene too. what a coincidence! Nice to meet you Rene!
I want to know everything about you. So, Where do you live?
A: I live in London, and you?

B: So do I!. Pardon. London, England?

A: No,London in Canada!Ha ha!.
B: Oh! What do you do?

A: I'm an actor. Now, I'm playing the role of "James", a cowboy in a play

called "Forever West". What about you?
B: I'm a film director. Now,I'm working in a new project with Tarantino.

Some day I may direct you in a film.
A: My bother is a film director! I'm very pround of you.

B: Are you married?

A: Yes, I've been married five times and I had two children in each marriage.

So, I have ten chidren.
B: Oh! Too many/Several children!I'm single, but I have one daughter,my

beautiful Mary.
A: Did you go to university Rene?

B: No, I didn't. I never liked studying.

A: Neither did I!

B: We have a lot of things to tell each other. Let's go and have a coffee.

I love coffee with cognac.
A: So do I! Let's go now!

By Pilar and Charly

After twenty years

Writer: O. Henry

Summary:

After Twenty Years is a story about two characters, Bob and Jimmy Wells. Before parting ways in order to build their careers, the two friends had promised each other that twenty years down the line, they would meet at a particular restaurant. The story begins with one friend, Bob, having reached the meeting place and waiting for his friend to turn up. While waiting, a policeman on his duty stops by and Bob tells him the reason behind his standing in the dark corner. The cop informs him that the restaurant was demolished five years ago. A conversation starts and Bob tells the policeman about his career and how he struck it rich in the west and how he wishes that Jimmy too had done well. The policeman wishes him luck and continues on his beat. A little later, a man walks up to Bob, and addresses him by his name. The two friends then get chatting, with Bob telling his friend about how the west treated him. While walking, they reach a lighted area, when Bob stops abruptly and realizes that the person he has been talking to all along was not his friend Jimmy. When Bob says the same to the other man, Bob is informed that he has been under arrest for the past ten minutes. The stranger then hands a note to Bob. The note is from Patrolman Jimmy Wells, (the same policeman who was talking to Bob when he was waiting for Jimmy to turn up) and says that Jimmy was in the appointed place at the given time, but when Bob lit the cigar and Jimmy saw in his friend’s face the face of a wanted criminal, he went away. Jimmy could not arrest his friend Bob himself and so asked someone else to arrest Bob.

Characters:

Jimmy Wells: (cop, best fellow in the world; strong and important person who controls the safety of the people). He loves New York. He is fine-looking cop, watchful, guarding the peace. He is as true as any man in the world.

Bob: Has a colorless square face with bright eyes, and a little white mark near his right eye. He has a large jewel in his necktie.

Setting (place/time):

- It was probably winter.
- The weather was cold, there was wind and rain.
- The story takes place in New York.

General plot:

The story is about the relationship between two friends. Twenty years ago two friends had their last dinner together. One of them was leaving town to find "great success". They agreed to meet in 20 years time to see who they were and the kind of future that waited for each of them.

“After Twenty Years” Quiz

Multiple Choice Circle the letter of the best answer for each of the following questions.

1.The man standing in the doorway of the hardware store seems out of place in the neighborhood because

A. he appears to be a wealthy man.

B. no one there knows him.

C. the businesses are all closed for the night.

D. it is a dangerous place to be. _______

2. As the police officer approaches, what does the man in the doorway do?

A. shrinks back

B. stares at him intently

C. begins to walk away

D. speaks to him immediately _______

3. The story suggests that as young men, Bob and Jimmy

A. had very similar personalities.

B. had been very close friends.

C. wanted the same things out of life.

D. didn't actually care much about each other. _______

4. Bob's hand most likely trembles at the end of the story because of his feelings of

A. fear.

B. anger.

C. hatred.

D. regret. _______

5. The story implies that the reason Bob and Jimmy lost track of each other was because

A. Bob was staying out of sight to avoid arrest.

B. Jimmy had become a police officer.

C. Bob was too busy to think about his old friend.

D. Jimmy's address kept changing. _______

6. When the police officer asked Bob whether he would hold his friend to the exact time of the meeting, he actually wanted to find out whether

A. Bob was as true a friend as he claimed to be.

B. he had enough time to send another officer.

C. Bob knew that he really was Jimmy.

D. he should come back later without his police uniform. _______

7. The first clue that something unexpected was about to happen came when Bob

A. lit a cigar.

B. noticed that Jimmy was much taller than he used to be.

C. pulled out his watch

D. read the note from Patrolman Wells. _______

TWO FRIENDS FROM CHILDHOOD

Structures:

- Present Simple:

. Where do you live?
. What do you do?
. Are you married?
. Do you have children?
. Do you study anything?

- Past Simple:

. Did you work here or somewhere?
. Where did you go for your summer/winter holidays?

. When was the last time we saw each other?

- Present Perfect:

. What have you been doing lately?
. How long have you lived here?
. How long have you worked ..... (there)?
. How long have you been married?

- To speak about the past..

. I don't remember clearly, but.. did we use to play tennis together?
. I think we should - meet again.
- see each other again.

- Nice to see you again!

by Vanesa and Rocío

Say a Little Prayer

The moment I wake up
Before I put on my makeup
I say a little prayer for you
While combing my hair, now,
And wondering what dress to wear, now,
I say a little prayer for you

Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart
and I will love you
Forever, forever, we never will part
Oh, how I'll love you
Together, together, that's how it must be
To live without you
Would only be heartbreak for me.

I run for the bus, dear,
While riding I think of us, dear,
I say a little prayer for you.
At work I just take time
And all through my coffee break-time,
I say a little prayer for you.

Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart
and I will love you
Forever, forever we never will part
Oh, how I'll love you
Together, together, that's how it must be
To live without you
Would only be heartbreak for me.

My darling believe me,
For me there is no one
But you.

Pronouns .. SOMEBODY /ANYBODY/ NOTHING

Pronouns - Something, Anything, Nothing, Somebody, Anybody, Nobody., by Tatiana

Find this and other pronouns exercises in English Exercises .org

Click our book: and do the exercises

Flag Memorial - Rosario

The most amazing historic building in my town is “The Flag Memorial”. It is near the Parana river bank. It was designed by Angel Guido, Alejandro Bustillo and some other important architects. Construction began in 1943 but the monument was completed fourteen years later.

It is the only monument to the flag in the world. It resembles a ship. It is divided in three main areas: a central tower overlooks the city and the Parana river, the Propileo, where the torch –La llama eterna- remembers dead soldiers, and finally the Flags’ Museum where flags from Latin American Countries are displayed.

National Holidays are celebrated here. There are military parades, traditional dances, concerts and festivals. All the important events that take place in Rosario are held at the Flag Memorial.

Its steps are the forever witnesses of the history of the city. If you want to get to the tower you can do it at weekends from 10 a.m. to 17 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 13 p.m. .

How much do you know about footbal?

Chek this link

WORLD CUP

Listen UK Radio Stations

Dear Students,

If you clik on RADIO you get to the link and will listen to 95.8 Capital FM Look for it in the list

IT'S ALL OVER NOW by The Rolling Stones

Well, baby used to stay out all night long
she made me cry, she done me wrong
she hurt my eyes open, that's no lie
tables turn and now her turn to cry
Because i used to love her, but it's all over now
because i used to love her, but it's all over now

Well, she used to run around with every man in town
she spent all my money, playing her high class game
she put me out, it was a pity how i cried
tables turn and now her turn to cry
Because i used to love her, but it's all over now
because i used to love her, but it's all over now

Well, i used to walk in the morning, get my breakfast in bed
when i'd gotten worried she'd ease my aching head
but now she's here and there, with every man in town
still trying to take me for that same old clown
Because i used to love her, but it's all over now
because i used to love her, but it's all over now
because i used to love her, but it's all over now
because i used to love her, but it's all over now

Present Perfect or Past Simple?

Click here and go directly to do some exercises

Useful link with excercises:

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/upperf2.htm

Expression Letter - Links

Hi!

Here is an interesting link about the principal differences between a formal and informal letter (included usual expressions); and other one about the useful expressions and their traslation.

Have a nice weekend.

Gastón

Paragraph Writing Exercises

If you click this link you will find theoretical information and practice for writing on your own:

http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr/students/Paragraph%20Writing%20Exercises.htm

Topics

If you feel like writing you can choose some of these topics and start writing ...

A. Descriptions

Describe a famous park or recreation area in your home country.
Describe an interesting neighbour you have had.
Describe a place you will never forget.
Describe a sporting event you attended recently.
Describe a place you go for recreation or exercise.
Describe the nightlife in a city you are familiar with.

B Writing

Answer these questions. Write 25–35 words for each question.

1 Describe an interesting day out that you have had.
2 What do you think you’ll do in the next three years?
3 Describe the area around your home
4 Describe your ideal house.
5 What were you frightened of when you were a child?
6 Describe your perfect day.
7 Describe a famous place you have been to.
8 What invention is the most useful in your everyday life? Why?
9 Which places in your country would you advise someone to visit?
Why?

A Christmas Carol - by Charles Dickens

1- How did Scrooge change in the story?

The Ghosts of Christmas visited him and showed him how lonely he was. This made him change for the better and he enjoyed Christmas Day and started to be generous.

2- Why did Marley want to help Scrooge?

Because Marley didn't want Scrooge to have the same unhappy fate.

3-Why was Scrooge unhappy when he saw his past?

Because he realized he has been very mean and he never had a happy Christmas and he lost the important things of life.

4- Why was he sad when he visited the Chratchit family Christmas?

Because he saw how poor these people were but still they were happy

5- What did the Ghost of Christmas Future show Scrooge?

It showed what will happen to him. It showed him scenes of his death and how people reacted: they didn't care.

6- What did Scrooge do on Christmas Day and the day after?

He changed his life and begun to be more generous.

7- What is the moral of the story?Do you agree with it?

The story is about the importance of generosity and compassion. In addition it shows us how important it is to consider each other in life.

Advice

Catherine's problem:

MESSAGE BOARD

First, I think you should be patient. If I were you I could offer/lend some money to buy new clothes or you should talk to her before she borrows your clothes again.

Rocio and Vanessa

Charles Dickens - Biography

Interesting links:

http://http//charlesdickenspage.com/dickens_web.html

http://http//www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/dickensbio1.html

Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, the son of a clerk at the Navy Pay Office. His father, John Dickens, continually living beyond his means, was imprisoned for debt in the Marshalsea in 1824. 12-year-old Charles was removed from school and sent to work at a boot-blacking factory,
earning six shillings a week to help support the family. This dark experience cast a shadow over the clever, sensitive boy that became a defining experience in his life, he would later write that he wondered "how I could have been so easily cast away at such an age."
This childhood poverty and feelings of abandonment, although unknown to his readers until after his death, would be a heavy influence on Dickens' later views on social reform and the world he would create through his fiction.
Dickens would go on to write 15 major novels and countless short stories and articles before his death on June 9, 1870. He wished to be buried, without fanfare, in a small cemetery in Rochester, but the Nation would not allow it. He was laid to rest in Poet's Corner, Westminster Abbey, the flowers from thousands of mourners overflowing the open grave. Among the more beautiful bouquets were many simple clusters of wildflowers, wrapped in rags.The stories, characters, and places he wrote about will live forever. -->Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, the son of a clerk at the Navy Pay Office. His father, John Dickens, continually living beyond his means, was imprisoned for debt in the Marshalsea in 1824. 12-year-old Charles was removed from school and sent to work at a boot-blacking factory,
12-year-old Charles was removed from school and sent to work at a boot-blacking factory earning six shillings a week to help support the family.earning six shillings a week to help support the family. This dark experience cast a shadow over the clever, sensitive boy that became a defining experience in his life, he would later write that he wondered "how I could have been so easily cast away at such an age."
This childhood poverty and feelings of abandonment, although unknown to his readers until after his death, would be a heavy influence on Dickens' later views on social reform and the world he would create through his fiction.
Dickens would go on to write 15 major novels and countless short stories and articles before his death on June 9, 1870. He wished to be buried, without fanfare, in a small cemetery in Rochester, but the Nation would not allow it. He was laid to rest in Poet's Corner, Westminster Abbey, the flowers from thousands of mourners overflowing the open grave. Among the more beautiful bouquets were many simple clusters of wildflowers, wrapped in rags.The stories, characters, and places he wrote about will live forever. -->

Wouldn't it be nice

Wouldn't it be nice if we were older

Then we wouldn't have to wait so long
And wouldn't it be nice to live together
In the kind of world where we belong


You know its gonna make it that much better
When we can say goodnight and stay together

Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up
In the morning when the day is new
And after having spent the day together
Hold each other close the whole night through

The happy times together we've been spending
I wish that every kiss was never ending
Oh Wouldn't it be nice

Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray it might come true (run, run, run)
Baby then there wouldn't be a single thing we couldn't do
We could be married (we could be married)
And then we'd be happy (then we'd be happy)

Wouldn't it be nice (ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba)

You know it seems the more we talk about it
It only makes it worse to live without it
But lets talk about it
Oh, wouldn't it be nice

good night my baby
sleep tight my baby

good night my baby
sleep tight my baby

good night my baby
sleep tight my baby

From: Rocio Diaz [http://rochilu_91@hotmail.com/]
To: Tennis courses in France [http://info@tennisfrance.com/]
Subject: Information about courses.

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to ask for information about your tennis courses. I am interested in an intensive course of one or two weeks. I am 18 and I study at university in Rosario.
I have looked at your website, but there is no information about courses for next summer. Could you please send me information about dates, prices and location.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully.
Rocio Diaz.

From: Lucia Calcaterra ( Lucia_Calcaterra@hotmail.com)

To: Psychiatrist for shyness (godbye_shainess@gmail.com)

Subject: Information about Psychiatrist

Dear Sir/Madam:

I am writing to ask for some information about "Psychiatrist for shyness".

I am very interested in the one week course in June because I have problems when I go to parties.

My first reaction is staying in the corner and I never look at people eyes.

I have looked at your website, but there is no information about the cost and dates. Could you please send me information about when they exactly start.

I looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours Faitfully

Lucia Calcaterra.


From: Rodriguez Leonardo (L.R@hotmail.com)

To: Tennis Courses (info@tennisinfrance.com)

Subjet: Tennis Courses

Dear Sir/Madam:

I am writing to ask for information about the tennis courses. I am specially interested in the advanced course for small groups. I am 24 and I work in a tennis club in Rosario. I have looked at your website, but there is not information about the following items: accomodation, prices, dates and duration.

I looking forward to hearing from you

Yours Faithfully

Leonardo Rodriguezt y María Luz



From: Miriam (L.R@hotmail.com)

To: Tennis Courses (info@tennisinfrance.com)

Subject : Thai Cookery

Dear Sir/ Madam

I am writing to ask for information about your Thai Cookery courses. I am especially interested in an intensive Summer course. I am 33, and I work in a Thai Restaurant in  Rosario, and I would like to learn traditional Thai recipes.

I have looked at your website, but there is no information about courses next summer. Could you please send me information about starting dates and prices. I prefer the summer courses because I am having my holidays in July. I would also like some information about accommodation.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully

Miriam y Augusto

Psychiatrist for shyness

Learn how to survive at a party in Rosario, Argentina.

One week course in June will turn you into a party animal.

If you go to the corner in every party or if you blush every

time you talk to somebody you have to contact us.

Under 17 aren't allowed.

You can send an email: mailto:goodbye_shainess@gmail.com

Damian y Mariano

A Formal e-mail

How to survive abroad?

Here you can learn everything you have to know before traveling to a foreign country with a completly different culture.
We teach how to act in everyday situations like for example: How to take a bus or buy some food and even that things you mustn´t do there.
2 weeks courses!. E-mail us for more information at howtosurvive@uol.com
MAYRA AND LUCRECIA

Dear Sir/Madam,

We are three students from an English course in Rosario (Argentina) and we are interested in

your service because we want to travel to Sudafrica to watch the FIFA WORLD CUP.
We would like to learn how to survive in Sudafrica's street. If we visit the Kruger National Park we would like to know what kind of thing we mustn't do there.
Please send us information about dates and prices of the course, also tell us if we could take it via internet.

I look fordward to receiving your answer.

Yours faithfully.

Charlie, Mariano, Rut

Your most exciting sporting moments....

Manchester United vs Bayern Munchen 2-1 - Champions League 1999

At a department store

To see Harrods home page go to http://www.harrods.com/harrodsstore/experience

We are the champions

I've paid my dues -
Time after time -
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime -
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face -
But I've come through

We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the world -

I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls -
You brought me fame and fortuen and everything that goes with it
-
I thank you all -

But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise -
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race -
And I ain't gonna lose -

We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the world -

What's the best way to ...? LEARN A LANGUAGE

Spending time in cities where people speak the language we are intered in, is the best way to learn it. In those countries you must use the language all the time to communicate. For example, if you want to buy some things you have to ask for it. The same if you want to get somewhere it's necessary to know how to ask for directions.

Mayra - Lucre

Working for a foreign company is the best way to learn a language because you have to speak a lot, write letters and e-mails and so you have to practise very hard.

Rut and Melina

Travelling to an English speaking country you have to use English in all your activities to communicate with people. For example, when you go to the supermarket, the cinema, to shopping malls, etc.

Damián and Nadia

Listening to music in English is the best way to learn because you have to listen many times to the same song to be able to understand the lyrics, also you can search in the internet for the meaning of the words you don't know.

Mariano and Jimena

Reading something that you like, for example sports magazines, books, newspapers. After reading you can talk to your friends about the articles you've read and practise your English.

Martín and Bruno

Practising English pronunciation by repeating words ater the tape or by saying the words in your head. Also, by listening to songs in the radio and watching tv. programmes in English.

Vanesa and Rocío

We believe that meeting native speakers in their countries and reading English newspapers or texts are useful ways too learn.

Gastón and Sofía

Describing where you live

I live in Rosario which is a city in the south of Santa Fe, Argentina. It has a population of 1.000000 inhabitants and it's the second biggest city in Argentina.

It is a commercial city with a lot of restaurants and gastropubs. In fact, there is an area called "La Fluvial" with a little harbour from which people cross the river to the Islands opposite the city by ferry. Rosario is also an industrial city. Several important factories and industries settled in the southern area, like GM and Troyano.

The weather here is wet the whole year. The winter is very cold and it sometimes rains. The summer is very hot in the centre of the city. It's great to enjoy the river!

Rosario has the most beautiful beaches in the Parana river bank. They are very attractive and there are many bars were people enjoy the weekend. Another very important attraction is Colectividades Festival in November. Every immigrant community that lives in the city cooks traditional food and people visit their "stands" to it eat. They also enjoy typical dances.

Rosario is famous for the Flag Memorial, which is the most important historical monument in the area, and it's unique in the world. The biggest tourist attraction, in summer, is the Parana river bank where most people go to the beach, sunbathe and spend their afternoon drinking "mate", and I night go dancing. The Rosario-Victoria bridge connects Rosario to Victoria , it's a magnificent engineering piece.

AR31

Charlie, in Concert

The Story of an hour AUDIO

Kate Chopin

Biography.

To read about Kate Chopin click on
KATE CHOPIN

THE STORY OF AN HOUR by Kate Chopin

When was Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" written and published?

It was written on April 19, 1894, and first published in Vogue on December 6, 1894, under the title "The Dream of an Hour." It was reprinted in St. Louis Life on January 5, 1895.


Questions

1. How does Josephine break the news of Bently's death to his wife? Why?
2. How did Bently die?
3. How did Mrs. Mallard react to the news of her husband's death?
4. In what season does the story take place?
5. Why do you think the writer chose that season to set his story?
6. What did Mallard do after she heard the terrible news of her husband's death and after her first reaction to it?
7. What did Mrs. Mallard do in her room?
8. Why do you think Mrs. Mallard was so unhappy in her marriage?
9. Why did Richard try to hide Louise from her husband?
10. What happened at the end? Is it a good ending? Why?/ Why not?

1. Josephine broke the bad news softly to Louise, she spoke in broken sentences, because she had a weak heart, and she could die after heard it.
2. There was a train accident, and Bently was on that train in that moment, he was killed.
3. After her sister broke the bad news to Louise, she cried loudly in her sister’s arms and suddenly, the tears stopped and she went to her room alone.
4. This story takes place in spring.
5. It’s the time of the year when everything in nature rebirth. A time for Josephine to start again, to begin a new life.
6. She cried loudly in her sister’s arms and suddenly, the tears stopped and she went to her room alone. After that, she thought about her life, and discovered that she was free after her husband died.
7. In her bedroom, Mrs. Mallard sat down and looked out the window. Outside the window she saw trees, birds and the sky. She thought about her life and her freedom.
8. Because she had no freedom to express her opinion about different things. Her husband said what she could do or think.
9. Because Richard thought that Louise would be frightened to see that her husband was opening the door.
10. At the end of the story, Mrs. Mallard died. This is a good ending because readers never expect this. – She became free of mind and didn’t want to be her husband’s prisoner again so she dies.

The Tallest building in the world - Dubai

Descargas: Visto: 1313660

The Tallest Building in the World

Complete the sentences below according to the video. Then check your answers with the script

1.The Burj Dubai still has a little _____________________ to be finished.

2.The building is located in the United Arab Emirates, within ___________________
3.A lot of construction work is being done in the city of Dubai and there are eight times more_______________ than permanent residents in the city.
4.It is the place for the most creative and______________________ in the world to come and have fun by putting their ideas into practice.
5.According to the project manager, when the building is finished it will be more than __________________________
6.The building is supported by poles, a hydraulic lift and large bolts connecting it to _________________________ .
7.The presenter shows his surprise at how they can build this huge structure with _______________________ .
8.The pyramids used to be the largest man-made structure on the planet until they ________________________ in England about 700 years ago.

Divorced Portuguese Men in Internet

File 4B - Workbook

"Divorced Portuguese men get Internet survival guide"

Check this link to see VidaOn

Bye!

True Blue - Lyrics

I've had other guys
I've looked into their eyes
But I never knew love before
'Til you walked through my door
I've had other lips
I've sailed a thousand ships
But no matter where I go
You're the one for me baby this I know, 'cause it's

[Chorus:]
True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming of
Your heart fits me like a glove
And I'm gonna be true blue baby I love you

I've heard all the lines
I've cried oh so many times
Those tear drops they won't fall again
I'm so excited 'cause you're my best friend
So if you should ever doubt
Wonder what love is all about
Just think back and remember dear
Those words whispered in your ear, I said

[chorus twice]
[Intermediate:]
No more sadness, I kiss it good-bye
The sun is bursting right out of the sky
I searched the whole world for someone like you
Don't you know, don't you know that it's
True love, oh baby, true love, oh baby
True love, oh baby, true love it's
[repeat]
True, so if you should ever doubt
Wonder what love is all about
Just think back and remember dear
Those words whispered in your ear, I said

[intermediate]
[chorus]
'Cause it'sTrue love, oh baby, true love, oh baby
True love, oh baby, true love it's[repeat]

File 4 B Family conflicts

What bothers you about your parents?.... (other members of the family are included)

Students from AI21 express their opinions:

1. They never knock before entering my bedroom..
2. they always ask me about what I am doing.
3. When I ask them for money, they always want to know what it is for.
4. They always want to have control over me.
5. They phone me many times during the day to check what I am doing.
6. I have when my father doesn't listen to me.
7. He always wants to be right.
8. I also hates when mother only cooks vegetables for lunch:
9. My mother often complains and shouts because my bedroom is untidy.
10. They always complain because they say I am never at home.
11. They always ask questions about my private life.
12. They never give me enough money. I need to work all day!
13. My brother never feeds the dog.
14. They always have opinions about my friends.
15. They always listen to the radio early in the morning.
16. They always ask me to get up early at weekends.
17. My father never has time to be with us because he works a lot.
18. My mother always asks me to do housework.
19. My father always wants to watch football on tv.
20. They aren't generous when I go shopping.
21. They always complain about the length of my telephone conversations.
22. My mother orders me to clean my bedroom on Saturdays.

File 4 A From rags to riches

Clothes. Vocabulary.

A Zara store in the International Finance Centre, Central, Hong Kong.

Check this link: http://www.learnenglish.de/vocabulary/clothes.htm

If you want to check Zara's site, click: http://www.zara.com/

Zara is the flagship chain store of Inditex Group owned by Spanish tycoon Amancio Ortega, who also owns brands such as Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Oysho, Uterqüe, Stradivarius and Bershka. The group is headquartered in LA Coruña, Galicia, Spain, where the first Zara store opened in 1975. It is claimed that Zara needs just two weeks[1] to develop a new product and get it to stores, compared with a six-month industry average, and launches around 10,000 new designs each year. Zara has resisted the industry-wide trend towards transferring fast fashion production to low-cost countries. Perhaps its most unusual strategy was its policy of zero advertising; the company preferred to invest a percentage of revenues in opening new stores instead.
Zara was described by Louis Vuitton fashion director Daniel Piette as "possibly the most innovative and devastating retailer in the world." Zara has also been described as a "Spanish success story" by CNN.[2]

Company history

A Zara store in the International Finance Centre, Central, Hong Kong.
The founder of Zara, Amancio Ortega, opened the first Zara store in 1975 in a central street in La Coruña.[3]
Its first store featured low-priced lookalike products of popular, higher-end clothing fashions. The store proved to be a success, and Ortega started opening more Zara stores in Spain. During the 1980s, Ortega started changing the design, manufacturing and distribution process to reduce lead times and react to new trends in a quicker way, in what he called "instant fashions". The company based its improvements in the use of information technologies and using groups of designers instead of individuals.[4]
In 1980, the company started its international expansion through Porto, Portugal. In 1989 they entered the United States and in 1990 France.
This international expansion was increased in the 1990s, with Mexico (1992), Greece (1993), Belgium and Sweden (1994), etc. until the current presence in over 73 countries.
Zara stores are company-owned, except where local legislation forbids foreigner-owned businesses. In those cases, Zara franchises the stores.

Zara's products

As of 2007 Zara stores have men's clothing and women's clothing, each of these subdivided in Lower Garment, Upper Garment, Shoes, Cosmetics and Complements, as well as children's clothing (Zara Kids). Currently their sizing on women's clothing goes to a US size 12 or a UK size 16 or extra large.

Manufacturing and distribution

The men's department of a typical Zara store. Almere, The Netherlands.
Zara is a vertically integrated retailer. Unlike similar apparel retailers, Zara controls most of the steps on the supply-chain: It designs, produces, and distributes itself.
Regarding the design strategy, an article in Businessworld magazine describes it as follows: "Zara was a fashion imitator. It focused its attention on understanding the fashion items that its customers wanted and then delivering them, rather than on promoting predicted season's trends via fashion shows and similar channels of influence, which the fashion industry traditionally used." 50% of the products Zara sells are manufactured in Spain, 26% in the rest of Europe, and 24% in Asian and African countries and the rest of the world. So while some competitors outsource all production to Asia, Zara makes its most fashionable items -- half of all its merchandise -- at a dozen company-owned factories in Spain and Portugal, particularly in Galicia and northern Portugal where labour is cheaper than most of Western Europe. Clothes with a longer shelf life, such as basic T-shirts, are outsourced to low-cost suppliers, mainly in Asia and Turkey.
Zara can offer considerably more products than similar companies. It produces about 11,000 distinct items annually compared with 2,000 to 4,000 items for its key competitors. The company can design a new product and have finished goods in its stores in four to five weeks; it can modify existing items in as little as two weeks. Shortening the product life cycle means greater success in meeting consumer preferences. If a design doesn't sell well within a week, it is withdrawn from shops, further orders are canceled and a new design is pursued. No design stays on the shop floor for more than four weeks, which encourages Zara fans to make repeat visits. An average high-street store in Spain expects customers to visit three times a year. That goes up to 17 times for Zara. (Wickipedia)

The gift of the Magi

1. Because she knew the chain would make Jim happy. She wanted to cheer him up.

2. No, they weren’t. I know that because they lived in a poor house and they didn’t have money.
3. One treasure was Jim’s gold watch and the other was Della’s hair because probably, at that time, the healthy and long hair was not common.

4. She sold her beautiful hair for only twenty dollars in a hair shop down the street from their apartment.

5. He sold his gold watch. He probably inherited the watch from his grand-father and beside to be expensive was valuable in the affective sense.

6. The Magi were three wise men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents.

7. Because Jim and Della sacrificed for each other their greatest treasures. The writer, O. Henry, wanted to prove that the important things are love and relations but materials things can be important or not too.

More information click: http://www.enotes.com/gift-magi/author-biography