LADY GAGA - BORN THIS WAY.

It doesn't matter if you love him, or capital H-I-M
Just put your paws up
'Cause you were born this way, baby

My mama told me when I was young
We are all born superstars
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir

"There's nothing wrong with lovin' who you are"
She said, "'Cause he made you perfect, babe"
"So hold your head up girl and you'll go far,
Listen to me when I say"

I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

Ooo there ain't no other way
Baby I was born this way
Baby I was born this way

Ooo there ain’t no other way
Baby I was born this way
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

Don't be a drag – just be a queen
Don't be a drag – just be a queen
Don't be a drag – just be a queen
Don't be!

Give yourself prudence
And love your friends
Subway kid, rejoice your truth

In the religion of the insecure
I must be myself, respect my youth

A different lover is not a sin
Believe capital H-I-M (hey hey hey)
I love my life I love this record and
Mi amore vole fe yah (love needs faith)

I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

Ooo there ain't no other way
Baby I was born this way
Baby I was born this way

Ooo there ain’t no other way
Baby I was born this way
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Whether you're broke or evergreen
You're black, white, beige, chola descent
You're lebanese, you're orient

Whether life's disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied, or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
'Cause baby you were born this way

No matter gay, straight, or bi
Lesbian, transgendered life
I'm on the right track baby
I was born to survive

No matter black, white or beige
Chola or orient made
I'm on the right track baby
I was born to be brave

I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

Ooo there ain't no other way
Baby I was born this way
Baby I was born this way

Ooo there ain’t no other way
Baby I was born this way
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

I was born this way hey!
I was born this way hey!
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way hey!

I was born this way hey!
I was born this way hey!
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way hey!

CHER - YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF ME ("BURLESQUE").

Feeling broken
Barely holding on
But just there's something so strong
Somewhere inside me.
And I am down,

but I'll get up again. 
Don't count me out just yet

Me siento rota por dentro
apenas sin fuerzas para tenerme en pie
Pero todavía queda algo de fuerza
en algún rincón dentro de mi.
Y aunque me encuentre hundida,

volveré a levantar cabeza.
No cuentes con que estoy fuera de juego.

I've been brought down to my knees
And I've been pushed

way past the point of breaking,
But I can take it.
I'll be back - back on my feet
This is far from over
You haven't seen the last of me (x 2)

Me has humillado hasta ponerme de rodillas
Y me has empujado hasta el abismo
Pero puedo con eso y con más
Renaceré de mis cenizas,
Volveré a ponerme en pie
Todavía tengo mucha guerra que dar
Todavía no has visto de lo que soy capaz (x 2)

They can say that
I won't stay around
But I’m gonna stand my ground
You're not gonna stop me.You don't know me,

you don't know who I am.Don't count me out so fast

Habrá quién diga
que voy a salir corriendo
Pero volveré a pisar fuerte
y no podrás detenerme
Tú no me conoces, ni sabes de lo que soy capaz
No cuentes con que estoy fuera de juego.

I've been brought down to my knees
And I've been pushed

way past the point of breaking,
But I can take it.
I'll be back - back on my feet
This is far from over
You haven't seen the last of me

Me has humillado hasta ponerme de rodillas
Y me has empujado hasta el abismo
Pero puedo con eso y con más
Renaceré de mis cenizas
Volveré a tenerme en pie
Todavía tengo mucha guerra que dar
Todavía no has visto de lo que soy capaz 
 

There will be no fade out
This is not the end
I'm down now
But I'll be standing tall again.Times are hard but
I was built tough
I'm gonna show you all what I'm made of

No tengo intención de ir apagándome
Ni se te ocurra que éste es mi final
Ahora puede que esté hundida
Pero volveré a ponerme en pienuevamente
La cosa pinta difícil pero
la vida me enseñó a saber aguantar

Y voy a enseñarte de qué pasta estoy hecha

I've been brought down to my knees
I've been pushed

right past the point of breaking,
But I can take it.I'll be back - back on my feet
This is far from over
I am far from over
You haven't seen the last of me

Me has humillado hasta ponerme de rodillas
Y me has empujado hasta el abismo
Pero puedo con eso y con más
Renaceré de mis cenizas
Volveré a tenerme en pie
Mi final todavía está por venir
Conmigo no se acaba tan fácilmente
Todavía no has visto de lo que soy capaz

No, no, I'm not going nowhere
I'm staying right here
Oh no, you won't see me begging
I'm not taking my bow
Can't stop me - it's not the end
You haven't seen the last of me
Oh no, You haven't seen the last of me (x 3)

No, no, no tengo intención de marcharme
Voy a permanecer justo aquí mismo
Oh, no, no voy a mendigarte nada
No pienso volver a agachar la cabeza ante ti
No puedes detenerme – no has acabado conmigo.
Todavía no has visto de lo que soy capaz (x 3).

PARA PILAR... UN TEMA MARAVILLOSO (GRACIAS POR TU AYUDA DESINTERESADA).

ENYA - CARIBBEAN BLUE.

So the world goes round and round
with all you ever knew
They say the sky high above
is Caribbean blue.

 If every man says all he can
if every man is true,
do I believe the sky above
is Caribbean blue.


 if all you told was turned to gold,
if all you dreamed was new,
imagine sky high above
in Caribbean blue ...

GREAT BRITAIN: BEAUTY OF NATURE & CRADLE OF ACTING.

Gran Bretaña es una nación que, aunque esté perdiendo parte de su renombre y en algún que otro momento  se note que le resulta imposible escapar a la decadencia de occidente, sigue siendo un lugar que goza de enclaves maravillosos.  Lugares inmersos en la bruma, castillos medievales de belleza sin parangón, ciudades cosmopolitas de indudable atractivo para el visitante...  Es un país al que merece la pena ir con frecuencia para poder perderse en esos lugares, a veces un tanto apartados de las rutas turísticas, pero de increible belleza.

He querido reunir en esta presentación mis dos pasiones: la cuna de la lengua de Shakespeare y la mejor cantera de actores y actrices que en el mundo han sido.  Siempre me he considerado un gran amante del séptimo arte, y no cabe duda de que Gran Bretaña ha sido el trampolín para que un sinfín de actores y actrices maravillosos hayan podido llenar con su presencia las pantallas de todo el mundo: Desde Elizabeth Taylor a Richard Burton, pasando por artistas inolvidables de la talla de Peter O'Toole, Julie Andrews, Jude Law y tantos otros.  Sin embargo, resulta triste admitir que tales figuras resultan del todo desconocidas para nuestros alumnos y alumnas, tan dados a ver por televisión programas de contenido amarillista de dudoso gusto y tan aficionados a asistir a las salas de cine para ver cintas llenas de efectos especiales pero vacías de contenido y lo que es peor, carentes de valores que que no hacen sino envilecer al ser humano

  

Mi presentación no es más que un modesto escaparate donde mi alumnado podrá contemplar entre perplejo y alucinado que antes que Orlando Bloom y Keira Knightley, protagonistas de la serie PIRATAS DEL MAR CARIBE, hubo una lista inmensa de actores y actrices que conseguían con su mirada traspasar la gran pantalla y llegarnos a algunos al corazón. Vaya por delante este modesto homenaje que me he permitido realizar.  Jamás debemos olvidar que el séptimo arte, el cine con mayúsculas, es cultura (y de la buena).

View more webinars from Antonio Aragón Morales.

ROBERT MILES - ONE AND ONE.

The sky isn't always blue

The sun doesn't always shine

It's alright to fall apart sometimes

I am not always you

And you are not always mine

It's alright to fall apart sometimes

After all is said and done

One and one still is one

When we cry - when we laugh

I am half - you are half

A heart isn't always true

And I am not always fine

We all have an angry heart sometimes

After all is said and done

One and one still is one

When we cry - when we laugh

I am half - you are half

Look how far we have come

One and one still is ...

One moon - one star

I love the one we are

One thread - one line

One standing still in time

One moon - one star

I love the one we are

One thread - one line

One standing still in time

After all's said and done

One and one still is one

When we cry - when we laugh

I am half - you are half

Look how far we have come

One and one still is one

BAND AID - DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME?

It's Christmas time

There's no need to be afraid
At christmas time

We let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty

We can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world

At christmas time

But say a prayer

Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time
It's hard, but when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dreaded fear
Where the only water flowing

Is the bitter sting of tears
And the christmas bells that ring there

Are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you

And there won't be snow

In Africa this christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows
No rain or rivers flow
Do they know it's christmas time at all?

Here's to you
Raise your glass for everyone
Here's to them
Underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's christmas time at all?

Feed the world
Feed the world
Feed the world
Let them know

It's Christmas time
Feed the world
Let them know

It's Christmas time
Feed the world
Let them know

It's Christmas time …    

BACKSTREET BOYS - AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME.

 

Although loneliness has always been a friend of mine
I'm leaving my life in your hands
People say I'm crazy and that I am blind
Risking it all in a glance
And how you got me blind is still a mystery
I can't get you out of my head
Don't care what is written in your history
As long as you're here with me

I don't care who you are
Where you're from
What you did
As long as you love me

Who you are
Where you're from
Don't care what you did
As long as you love me

Every little thing that you have said and done
Feels like it's deep within me
Doesn't really matter if you're on the run
It seems like we're meant to be

I don't care who you are (who you are)
Where you're from (where you're from)
What you did
As long as you love me (I don't know)
Who you are (who you are)
Where you're from (where you're from)
Don't care what you did
As long as you love me (yeah)

As long as you love me
As long as you love me

I've tried to hide it so that no one knows
But I guess it shows
When you look into my eyes
What you did and where you're coming from
I don't care, as long as you love me, baby

I don't care who you are (who you are)

Where you're from (where you're from)
What you did
As long as you love me (as long as you love me)
Who you are (who you are)
Where you're from (where you're from)
Don't care what you did (yeah)
As long as you love me (as long as you love me)

Who you are (who you are)
Where you're from
What you did
As long as you love me
Who you are (who you are)
Where you're from (where you're from)
As long as you love me
Who you are

As long as you love me
What you did (I don't care)
As long as you love me

SE ACERCAN LOS EXÁMENES.

Los exámenes están cerca y eso se nota bastante en la vida diaria de un estudiante. Si antes lo que te hacía madrugar era el hecho de tener que ir al instituto porque papá o mamá te dicen que hay que ir a clase a primera hora de la mañana, lo que te hace ahora desperezar por las mañanas es la angustia que te produce saber que tienes tal o cuál examen que realizar, y hay que repasar, porque la materia es mucha y francamente, no lo has llevado al día como hubiera sido de desear. 

Y realmente es algo que a mí, personalmente, me hace mucha gracia como profesor, porque la llegada a clase, al menos en el caso de aquellos alumnos que se toman sus estudios en serio, es siempre que vienen con la misma cara, con el ceño fruncido. Si llegan de los primeros a clase es porque han tenido que despertarse bastante pronto a repasar (cosa que no le gusta a casi nadie). Si llegan en el pelotón de los que se les han pegado un poquito las sábanas, su cara es de perplejidad porque no saben muy bien cómo va a acabar el día ("¡Dios mío, no me sé nada!"). Por último, y no menos importante, si llegas muy tarde, no sería la primera vez que el profesor se coge una del quince porque no hay cosa que a un profesor le siente peor que un alumno llegue con un retraso considerable a clase, y no menos a un examen.

En cambio, por las tardes, la cara es la misma, y casi en la mayoría de todos vosotros, y eso lo demuestra la más típica de las preguntas. “¿Qué tal?” Os preguntáis unos a otro por teléfono, o en el consabido chat de turno, o por el messenger mientras hacéis un parón entre tanto apunte y tanto ejercicio. ¿Y cuál suere ser la respuesta? "cansado", "harto", "esto no hay quién lo apruebe", y tantas otras. Y esas respuestas junto con “Aquí estudiando” es la que más se repite. Pero bueno, la verdad, es que entre tanto cansancio, y tanta cara de mala uva, siempre os acabáis riéndo con los amigos, que en estos duros momentos es cuando más falta hacen.

Y cómo no, siempre hay que saber sobrellevarlo, unos con música, otros metiéndose en Tuenti en los ordenadores, y otros como yo, escribiendo para vosotros en este Blog.  Porque no os olvidéis que los profesores hemos sido monaguillos antes que curas.  Y es por ello que me permito daros una serie de consejos para hacer frente a tan dura prueba:

• Ven preparado y procura llegar temprano a los exámenes:  Tráete todos los materiales que vas a necesitar tales como lápices, bolígrafos, calculadora y reloj.  
• Esto te ayudará a tener todo a mano y concentrarte en la tarea: Permanece relajado y confiado.  Recuérdate a tí mismo que estád bien preparado y va a salir todo bien.
  No le des cuartelillo a la ansiedad; si te sientes angustiado antes o durante un examen, realiza varias respiraciones lentas y profundas para relajarte.  No hables con otros compañeros antes de un examen, ya que la ansiedad es contagiosa.
• Siéntate cómodo pero alerta:  Escoge un sitio bien iluminado para realizar el examen.  Asegúrate de que tienes suficiente espacio para trabajar, y mantén  una postura erguida en su a
• Planea contestar las preguntas fáciles primero, y las preguntas más difíciles en último lugar.  Contesta las preguntas del examen en un orden estratégico.
• Haz una lectura detallada de todo el examen:  Marca los términos clave y decide cómo administrar tu tiempo.  A medida que vayas leyendo las preguntas, escribe breves apuntes indicando ideas que podráa utilizar más ta
• Reserva un tanto por ciento adecuado de tu tiempo de examen para la revisión:  Repasa su examen, y resístete el impulso de entregarlo tan pronto hayas completado todos los items.  Asegúrate de haber contestado todas las preguntas.  Corrige tu escrito en cuanto a ortografía, Verifica tus respuestas en matemáticas, inglés y francés para errores por descuido (por ejemplo, errores en los decimales, errores consistentes en escribir ‘hasen´t’ por ‘hasn´t’) en tus respuestas.  
• Decide qué estrategia de estudio es la que  mejor te funciona y adóptala:  Identifica aquéllas que no te funcionaron bien y reemplázalas.
• Y sobre todo, recuerda lo siguiente:  No dejes todo para el final, pues un estudio continuado a lo largo de todo el trimestre facilita el que adquieras no sólo conocimientos sólidos que no vas a olvidar con facilidad, sino que a la hora de la verdad vas a sentirle seguro de tí mismo.

CHER - STRONG ENOUGH.

Music is an essential part of human existence. Different kinds of birds have different cries, songs and melodies to communicate about their world. Similarly music is used by human beings to express their thoughts and feelings about their inner world as well as their social world. It is hard to imagine a culture without music. Thus, music can be seen as the soul of human culture. In the context of education, music has become a popular subject in primary and secondary education and it is an established academic subject in tertiary education. However, research on the role of music in second language learning is surprisingly still in its embryonic stage while its popularity is strong and its impact on society is readily recognised. It would be interesting to examine the importance of music in education, particularly in relation to second language learning. 

Though music has been an important aspect of school culture, its role in language learning has not received great attention in educational research. The research on the role of music in second language learning is still at an embryonic stage, as I've just said. The general assumption is that music enhances a learning environment due to its affective power. A qualitative study has been conducted to examine how music is perceived by second language educators and students. The focus was on its role in second language learning. The study reveals interesting insights about the permeation of music in various extracurriculum activities and learning experiences of tertiary students of English. Pedagogically, English music has been highly valued by teachers and students of English in teaching speaking, listening, reading and writing. It is argued that music, particularly songs, is an encoding of cultural values and ideology which need to be viewed critically if foreign music is used in teaching a second language in our schools.

  CHER  ("STRONG ENOUGH").


I don't need your sympathy
There's nothing you can say or do for me
And I don't want a miracle
You'll never change for no one

And I hear your reasons why
Where did you sleep last night?
And was she worth it? 

Was she worth it?

'Cause I'm strong enough
To live without you
Strong enough and I quit crying
Long enough 

Now I'm strong enough
To know you gotta go

There's no more to say
So save your breath
And walk away
No matter what I hear you say
I'm strong enough to know you gotta go

So you feel misunderstood
Baby, have I got news for you
On being used, I could write the book
But you don't wanna hear about it

I've been losing sleep
You've been going cheap
She ain't worth half of me - it's true
Now I'm telling you ...

... That I'm strong enough to live without you
Strong enough and I quit crying
Long enough 

Now I'm strong enough
To know you gotta go

Come hell or waters high
You'll never see me cry
This is our last goodbye - it's true

I'm telling you ...

... Now I'm strong enough to live without you
Strong enough and I quit crying
Long enough now I'm strong enough
To know you gotta go

There's no more to say
So save your breath
And walk away
No matter what I hear you say
I'm strong enough to know you gotta go

CÓMO CONVERTIR DOCUMENTOS PDF A FORMATO WORD.

Cuántas veces tenéis que preparar algún trabajo que requiere cierto grado de investigación en la red, y en multitud de ocasiones os topáis con documentos en formato PDF que son un tanto molestos a la hora de trabajar con ellos.  Es por eso que os he preparado un sencillo tutorial que requiere la descarga de un programa gratuito y que os permitirá convertir dicho formato en WORD, mucho menos engorroso y más útil en todos los aspectos.  Para ver de qué se trata, picad en el siguiente link.  Seguro que os va a interesar:

http://www.scribd.com/full/44996966?access_key=key-wqm4nyd0l6w9u6tclxr

DEBORAH COX - BEAUTIFUL U R.

 

Music is an essential part of human existence. Different kinds of birds have different cries, songs and melodies to communicate about their world. Similarly music is used by human beings to express their thoughts and feelings about their inner world as well as their social world. It is hard to imagine a culture without music. Thus, music can be seen as the soul of human culture. In the context of education, music has become a popular subject in primary and secondary education and it is an established academic subject in tertiary education. However, research on the role of music in second language learning is surprisingly still in its embryonic stage while its popularity is strong and its impact on society is readily recognised. It would be interesting to examine the importance of music in education, particularly in relation to second language learning. 

Though music has been an important aspect of school culture, its role in language learning has not received great attention in educational research. The research on the role of music in second language learning is still at an embryonic stage, as I've just said. The general assumption is that music enhances a learning environment due to its affective power. A qualitative study has been conducted to examine how music is perceived by second language educators and students. The focus was on its role in second language learning. The study reveals interesting insights about the permeation of music in various extracurriculum activities and learning experiences of tertiary students of English. Pedagogically, English music has been highly valued by teachers and students of English in teaching speaking, listening, reading and writing. It is argued that music, particularly songs, is an encoding of cultural values and ideology which need to be viewed critically if foreign music is used in teaching a second language in our schools.

In life
Things may not always go right for you
In those times - Just leave it behind
’Cause sometimes you gotta play the game
Just to survive

Without losing yourself
It’s a fight, it’s true - It takes time
Don’t have all the answers
No matter how hard it gets
Hold on to what’s inside

(CHORUS)
Don’t ever let nobody bring you down girl
Don’t ever let nobody tear your world apart
Look in the mirror and say who you are
Beautiful U R

In the dark
The paint chips have waited your heart
So deep - Can’t you see
See the light in the distance
Open up your eyes and look, look to the sky
And believe

There’s much more to life when you're free
That’s the key - And in time
You will find all the answers
Don’t have to lose your pride
Hold on to what’s inside

(CHORUS x 2)

Beautiful U  R (x 4)

 
Don’t care what they say anymore
There’s no time to be insecure
I leave it all at the door

She’s staring at him in the face
She’s taking it day by day
I’m finally on my way

(CHORUS x 3)

 

APRIL 15th, 1912 : A NIGHT TO REMEMBER AND A MOVIE NEVER TO FORGET.

Based on the data and results of different surveys, it is found that studying in the authentic context that movies provides students with helps them in several ways:
(1) improve their English competence through watching, listening, speaking and writing.
(2) gain self-confidence in speaking English in front of audiences.
(3) improve their presentation skills.
(4) develop an awareness and understanding of cultures in English-speaking countries.

Students really enjoy watching movies and TV for a variety of reasons. For one, they get exposure to natural language in a non-threatening setting. Secondly, movies and video provide common ground to students of any international background.  So pop yourself some popcorn and settle down in front of your TV set for some fun with movies like the one I'm focusing on at the moment, an epic tale of History's most famous ocean liner: TITANIC.  If you find it hard to follow the dialogues, that's why english subtitles are for.  You, my dear student, have no excuse for at whatever level of Shakespeare's language you are.  Just make the most of it and watch this wonderful movie in original sound.  And now let's concentrate on this wonderful film. 

Deep-sea explorer Brock Lovett has reached the most famous shipwreck of all - the Titanic. Emerging with a safe believed to contain a diamond called 'The Heart of the Ocean', he discovers the safe does not hold the diamond but a drawing of a beautiful woman wearing it. When Brock is later interviewed on TV, he shows the drawing to the cameras, and a 100-year-old woman living in Michigan recognizes the woman in the drawing - herself! On a visit to Brock's explorer ship over the wreck, she tells her story of the Titanic and its ill-fated voyage:  After winning a trip on the RMS Titanic during a dockside card game, American Jack Dawson spots the society girl Rose DeWitt Bukater who is on her way to Philadelphia to marry her rich snob fiancé Cal Hockley. Rose feels helplessly trapped by her situation and makes her way to the aft deck and thinks of suicide until she is rescued by Jack. Cal is therefore obliged to invite Jack to dine at their first-class table where he suffers through the slights of his snobbish hosts. In return, he spirits Rose off to third class for an evening of dancing, giving her the time of her life. Deciding to forsake her intended future all together, Rose asks Jack, who has made his living making sketches on the streets of Paris, to draw her in the nude wearing the invaluable blue diamond Cal has given her. Cal finds out and has Jack locked away. Soon after wards, the ship hits an iceberg and Rose must find Jack while both must run from Cal even as the ship sinks deeper into the freezing water. When the ship sinks on April 15th, 1912 at 2:20 in the morning, Jack dies and Rose survives and 84 years later Rose tells the story about her life on Titanic to her grand daughter and friends on the Keldysh and explains the first sight of Jack that falls into love, then into a fight for survival. When Rose gets saved by one lifeboat that comes back, they take her to the Carpathia with the 6 saved with Rose and the 700 people saved in the lifeboats. The Carpathia Immigration Officer asks Rose what her name is and she loved Jack so much she says her name is not Rose DeWitt Bukator, but her name is Rose Dawson. She seen Cal looking for her, but he doesn't see her, and they never ended up together, her mom, Cal, and friends of the family has know choice but to think that she died on the Titanic. By the time the crash of 1929 took place, Cal had already got married, but when he lost everything he had he put a pistol in his mouth and committed suicide. So Rose is an actress in the 20's, and now 84 years later Rose Calvert is 100 years old and tells her grand daughter Lizzy Calvert the whole story from departure until the death of Titanic on its first and last voyage. To Rose, all Titanic and the real love of her life, Jack Dawson, is all an existence inside of her memory, and Titanic is to rest in peace at the bottom of the North Atlantic from 1912 until the end of time.

Hollywood doesn't make films like this anymore. With the two-hundred million budget of Titanic, one can see why. If moviemaking has reached the point where economics can restrain a vision, then we have a creative tragedy of near-Titanic proportions. In Titanic, James Cameron puts that two-hundred million on the screen. Every costume, every set, and every prop were carefully designed to meet Cameron's exacting standards of historical representation. The ship itself, whether sailing or sinking, is a testament to the power of the epic film that Cecil B. DeMille and David Lean would appreciate.  When the theatrical release of James Cameron's Titanic was delayed from July to December of 1997, media pundits speculated that Cameron's $200 million disaster epic would cause the director's downfall, signal the end of the blockbuster era, and sink Paramount Studios as quickly as the ill-fated luxury liner had sunk on that fateful night of April 14, 1912. The general public has always wanted the element of realism in their fantasy. It didn't matter that Charleton Heston wasn't Jewish as long as the clothes were right, the buildings had columns and he rode a chariot in Ben Hur. Likewise today, Saving Private Ryan has been hailed for its realism and has raised the bar for future war films. People don't mind the story, as long as it seems real to them.

 

This illusion is an art, and James Cameron is one of its masters. Cleverly starting the film in the present, he is able to build anticipation for the return to 1912 while seemlessly convincing us that Rose DeWitt Bukater and Jack Dawson were as real to the world as Molly Brown or J.J. Astor. Perhaps most of all, Cameron accomplishes a great feat by making the audience painfully aware of the human tragedy while at the same time amazing them with the spectacle of the ship's demise.  Although there are weaknesses in the script, the sheer magnitute of the film keeps the story captivating while the actors bring the passengers and crew to life. Much has been spoken about Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, but the true backbone of the film are the supporting characters whose presence evokes the wide range of emotions needed for a viewer to invest in the plot. Whether watching Titanic again or for the first time, take special note of Kathy Bates as Molly Brown, Francis Fisher as Rose's mother and especially Victor Garber as Thomas Andrews.

 

Some studio executives were confident, others horrified, but the clarity of hindsight turned Cameron into an Oscar-winning genius, a shrewd businessman, and one of the most successful directors in the history of motion pictures. Titanic would surpass the $1 billion mark in global box-office receipts (largely due to multiple viewings, the majority by teenage girls), win 11 Academy Awards including best picture and director, produce the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time, and make a global superstar of Leonardo DiCaprio.

An awesome pop-cultural phenomenon, the film has all the ingredients of a blockbuster (romance, passion, luxury, grand scale, a snidely villain, and an epic, life-threatening crisis), but Cameron's alchemy of these ingredients proved more popular than anyone could have predicted. His stroke of genius was to combine absolute authenticity with a pair of fictional lovers whose tragic fate would draw viewers into the heart-wrenching reality of the Titanic disaster.

As starving artist Jack Dawson and soon-to-be-married socialite Rose DeWitt Bukater, DiCaprio and Kate Winslet won the hearts of viewers around the world, and their brief but never-forgotten love affair provides the humanity that Cameron needed to turn Titanic into an emotional experience. Present-day framing scenes (featuring Gloria Stuart as the 101-year-old Rose) add additional resonance to the story, and although some viewers proved vehemently immune to Cameron's manipulations, few can deny the production's impressive achievements. Although some of the computer-generated visual effects look artificial, others such as the sunset silhouette of Titanic during its first evening at sea, or the climactic splitting of the ship's sinking hull are state-of-the-art marvels.

In terms of sets and costumes alone, the film is never less than astounding. More than anything else, however, the film's overwhelming popularity speaks for itself. Titanic is an event film and a monument to Cameron's risk-taking audacity, blending the tragic irony of the Titanic disaster with just enough narrative invention to give the historical event its fullest and most timeless dramatic impact. Titanic is an epic love story on par with Gone with the Wind, and like that earlier box-office phenomenon, it's a film for the ages.  As I said before, Hollywood doesn't make them like this anymore, but they should. Watching Titanic is a hell of an experience that should sail into your heart and stay there for ever.

 

THE STORYTELLER.

In recent times, English has become the most commonly spoken language throughout the world, thus it has become necessary for us to teach this language to our childen right from their early age so that it would be convenient for them to adjust themselves globally later on in their lives. The best possible way to make your kids learn English is to have them listen to a very short, interesting  story that has a rhythm of its own.

It is a known fact that children gradually learn the story as they are told.  Soon they start repeating the story by themselves ,this unknowingly builds a confidence in them and make them happy that they too can say the story. In this way the child starts speaking small sentences in English.  We should get a picture book and start naming the pictures, and also give them a picture talk. Next, we must try and do actions for  words such like eating, clapping, jumping, laughing, etc. In order for us to teach them gradually complex sentences, story time or picture reading in simple sentences are the best way.  Here's a good example of what I mean to say:

THE RABBIT AND THE TORTOISE.

Once upon a time there lived two friends in a jungle, a tortoise and a rabbit. One day they wanted to take part in a race. They both started running together, but after a while the rabbit sat down to rest and fell asleep under a tree on the half way thinking that he was a fast runner so he could make up with the tortoise the moment he wakes up.

As the tortoise reached the midway he saw the rabbit sleeping under the tree, he halted for few seconds and then kept on going thinking that if he sat down to rest he might loose the race.  After some time the rabbit woke up and started running but when he reached the winning point he saw the tortoise had already won the race.

Show the pictures if possible so that you can draw the child's attention towards the story. If this is done regularly the results will be seen in no time, and we will notice the child may be trying to say the story along with us The next step will be to start a sentance and prompt the child to complete it. We will see the child gradually enjoying when he tries to tell you the story by themselves and thus learning the language without really noticing he is learning.  Have a try, and tell me your experience.

CONSEJOS DE INTERÉS PARA MIS ALUMNOS.

A continuación voy a ofreceros una relación de ideas que puedes adoptar a modo de consejo para sacarle el mejor partido posible al aprendizaje del inglés:

Elige un lugar en el que tengas cerca todo lo que necesite y nadie te pueda molestar. Elabora una lista antes de comenzar a estudiar en la que figure el material de estudio, los pasos de estudio correspondientes así como también las plazos de las tareas. Ten en cuenta en qué momento realizar una pausa. Confecciona fichas con el vocabulario recientemente aprendidos así como las reglas gramaticales que has estado poniendo en práctica. Así mantendrás la visión de conjunto y podras aprender de forma eficaz.  Trata de encontrar un compañero de conversación que hable el inglés como lengua materna.  

En caso de que dispongas de conexión a Internet, en determinados sitios web podrá encontrar gente que busque amigos para cartas o mails. Seguramente encontrarás gente con intereses similares con la cual establecer contacto.Trabaja con diccionarios y otras obras de referencia. Esto te permitirá un desarrollo más rápido del trabajo.  Para mejorar las habilidades lingüísticas en la vida cotidiana, deberías practicar con las conversaciones o textos de la clase fuera del aula y repertirlos varias veces. Trata de modificarlos y llegado el caso también reformularlos para construir nuevas frases a partir de ello.  Para mejorar tu comprensión lectora, deberías tener en cuenta los siguientes pasos: lee el texto detenidamente, busca los términos clave, determina las ideas principales del texto, relaciona la estructura con el contenido, y finalmente identifica personajes, situaciones, acontecimientos, relaciones, tiempo y lugar de los  acontecimientos.

ENGLISH HOMEWORK.

Éste va a ser el rincón del blog reservado exclusivamente a todos mis alumnos y alumnas, en una serie de páginas cuyos enlaces podrán encontrar ubicados en la esquina superior izquierda justo debajo del encabezamiento que da título al blog, distribuidos por grupos, y a las que tendrán que acceder de forma periódica para consultar las actividades que vaya subiendo.  

Entre todos procuraremos ir avanzando en el aprendizaje del idioma que nos ocupa y que tantas puertas puede abrir  en el futuro.  Nadie nace sabiendo y los errores que de seguro van a cometer a lo largo del camino van a ser muchos y de diversa índole, pero poco a poco irán viendo cómo su nivel de competencia lingüística irá afianzándose de forma gradual.  De igual forma, irán superando lagunas y cuando menos se lo esperen se darán cuenta de que aprender inglés no es tan difícil como se piensan.

Y este último párrafo va a dirigido a vosotros:  de vez en cuando os pediré que realicéis las  actividades que vaya subiendo al blog en vuestro ordenador portátil, y los documentos que creéis (preferentemente en formato .doc) habréis de enviarlos a la siguiente dirección:

                               aragon.morales@hotmail.com

Ahí podré comprobar cómo realmente se va desarrollando vuestro proceso de aprendizaje y el grado de aprovechamiento de las clases.  Ánimo y adelante. 

THE ROLE OF GRAMMAR IN LANGUAGE TEACHING.

During the late 1960’s and the early 1970’s, education, influenced by the social changes of the 60’s went through a period where the teaching of grammar was thought to be stifling to creativity. Often I was made to feel like a dinosaur for teaching grammar.  Oddly enough, much of the criticism came from colleagues who held master’s degrees. It was so easy for them to think like that but they already had grammar skills or they wouldn’t have been able to write a master’s thesis.  Then, why did they want to deny these same skills to present and future students?  Nobody is obviously against progress in education but, in the heat of the excitement of making changes, we must be very sure that what we consider to be progression is not regression, or even suppression, in disguise.

There came the moment when teachers were told into learning to use a computer.  As for myself, the instructor suggested that I would learn more quickly if I worked on a continuous project.  I spent every opportunity available to me in the computer room; early mornings, lunch times, after school, and in the evenings (learning to use new technologies has always been a slow time-consuming process to me). But thank goodness I managed to get used to so many new words and expressions that now it's become an integral part of my everyday's life. You cannot measure progress against your plan.

However, in this world of ‘instant everything’ the art of discipline is easily eroded.  With the flick of a switch, the push of a button, the turn of a dial, or the click of a mouse, we can be distracted immediately.  Mastering a technique is not instant.  It needs the discipline to focus, to organize, and to practise.  It also needs the encouragement of parents and teachers.  It is time to stop giving grammar a bad name and look at it for what it is: a technique.  It is a tool that can enhance creativity, not stifle it. 

Grammar is not only a valuable tool for creative writing but also a wonderful aid for teaching.  When I was guiding students in creative writing classes, it was so helpful, from a teaching point of view, to be able to say, “Here you used an adjective where you should have used an adverb” or “at this point you used a principal verb without an auxiliary verb” or “if you place the subject at the end of this sentence it will improve the flow of your story.  ”This is a much more satisfying learning situation than saying, “You have made some mistakes so I have inserted the corrections in red ink.”

There are many comprehensive grammar books available in bookstores and on the Internet.  No matter what resources you prefer to use, never underestimate the importance of grammar.  It would be wise to note that if you can’t speak well and write well – your windows of opportunity are closed.

MI PRIMERA ENTRADA: BIENVENIDOS A MI BLOG.

Seguramente no será para ti, visitante de mi blog, una novedad que el inglés sea la lengua más extendida del planeta, si bien no la más hablada (el chino es la que ostenta el record). Es lengua materna de 340 millones personas, casi la misma cantidad hablan inglés como segunda lengua. En muchos países el inglés es la lengua oficial. Entre ellos, por supuesto Gran Bretaña e Irlanda, los Estados Unidos, Canadá y Malta, India, pero también muchos estados del Caribe así como también países africanos. Además el inglés, en muchos países, si bien no es la lengua oficial, es la lengua de la economía. Según un estudio más del 56% de los sitios de Internet están editados en inglés. En segundo lugar se encuentra el alemán con un 8%. El 75% de la bibliografía científica especializada está en inglés. 

En casi todas las partes del mundo la mayoría habla al menos un poco de inglés, de modo que en casi todo el mundo gracias al inglés podrá "sobrevivir". Aún cuando otras partes del planeta están experimentando un importante boom económico, el inglés seguirá siendo durante mucho tiempo el idioma más importante en el ámbito financiero a nivel mundial, y también te seguirá siendo útil a la hora de planear tus vacaciones.  La lengua inglesa procede del indoeuropeo. Gracias a la expansión del Imperio británico, se difundió por muchos territorios del mundo, y todavía en la actualidad el inglés es lengua oficial en muchos países que  pertenecieron a dicho Imperio en un pasado no demasiado lejano.  

A partir del inglés se desarrollaron diversos dialectos y, como muchas de las zonas donde se habla inglés están separadas unas de otras por fronteras a veces no demasiado rigurosas surgieron en estos dialectos palabras que no se utilizan en otros lugares del mundo angloparlante. De acuerdo con estimaciones oficiales hay alrededor de 1.000.000 de diferentes palabras en inglés, de las cuales de todos modos solo la mitad pertenece a lo que se considera 'standard english' o 'modelo estándar del idioma inglés'.  Los dos tipos de inglés más conocidos son el americano y el británico, este último denominado también "Oxford English" por ser el inglés que se enseña en la Universidad de Oxford. Este inglés se expande en forma creciente, ya que es el que se enseña como lengua extranjera y también está difundido en los medios de comunicación angloparlantes.

Una dificultad que tienen muchos principiantes es la ortografía, ya que las palabras se escriben según su etimología. La pronunciación de las mismas se ha modificado en gran medida, y siempre fracasaron todos los intentos de acercar la ortografía a la actual pronunciacion. La gramática inglesa es por el contrario relativamente sencilla, hay sólo unos pocos verbos irregulares , las terminaciones de los verbos en general no se modifican, de modo que la gramática puede dominarse velozmente, toda vez que uno haya comprendido las estructuras básicas.