Christmas seems to be a recurring theme in films. My favourite Christmas film of all times is rerun almost every year, but I never tire of watching it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJfZaT8ncYk
What’s your favourite Christmas film or scene?
“To learn a language besides one’s native idiom, to penetrate its syntax, is to open for oneself a second window on the landscape of being.” Steiner, G. (1971)
I have always enjoyed reading children’s literature. I love the stories, and I admire adults who write for children and are able to look at life from a child’s perspective.
Here are some examples of books for children in English:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/14838/14838-h/14838-h.htm (Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JggkF7jsi78&feature=related (Mr. Men by Roger Hargreaves)
http://www.kids4classics.com/l_frank_baum/The_Wonderful_Wizard_of_Oz.php?chapter=1 (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum)
http://www.planetebook.com/ebooks/Treasure-Island-2.pdf (Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson)
What children’s story do you find special?
Onomatopoeia is language used efficiently.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/onomatopoeia?q=onomatopoeia
Here’s a list of onomatopoeia in English:
http://www.englishbanana.com/big-activity-book/bab_page33.html
Do you like any in particular? I really like fizz, zip, and mmm (we use this last one in Spanish too…)
What is the significance of the 5th of November in Britain?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9k6ZvfGCac
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Guy.html
http://www.parliament.uk/about/faqs/house-of-commons-faqs/gunpowder-plot/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2011/oct/17/autumn#/?picture=380556551&index=0 (UK)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gvOVWKKxmo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv1L0Fp2n8Y
Is there anything that comes to mind when you think of autumn?
October 12 is called ‘Día de la Hispanidad’ in Spain. In the US, Columbus Day is observed on the second Monday in October. I’ve always wondered why I got so little information about such an important event in history when I was at school. Here are some interesting videos about Columbus:
http://www.history.com/topics/columbus-day/videos#christopher-columbus-man-and-myth
http://www.history.com/topics/columbus-day/videos#christopher-columbus-sets-sail
http://www.history.com/topics/columbus-day/videos#christopher-columbus-sets-sail
http://www.history.com/topics/columbus-day/videos#columbus-ships-are-marvels-of-engineering
Is history always written by the victors?
Almost 61 years ago Charles M. Schulz published his first comic strip. I have always found comic books fascinating, and have always admired people who are able to draw and concisely write a powerful story in just a few frames. Comic strips are easy to read and therefore will improve your English in a fun way.
Here’s a page with lots of cartoons:
http://www.gocomics.com/explore/comics
Do you read comics? What’s your favorite comic character?
Source of image: www.amazon.co.uk