Background to A Passage to India: Learning about Hinduism

Here you have a link in which you can do some basic research about Hindu philosophy and religion. It's not very profound, but it gives you some idea.

English accents in the world

This is the site with the different pronunciations of the little text that I gave you in a photocopy:

English accents

And here are two links where you can watch a comedian who has the amazing ability to imitate a lot of different English accents from both the Bristish Islands and outside. Difficult to follow, but extraordinary. Try to watch them two or three times.

Inside the British Islands
Outside the British Islands

A Passage to India

We'll see Sir David Lean's film version of A Passage to India on Thursday 15th May, 18.30. Click the image to get some info about the film.

David Lean is one of the greatest directors in the history of cinema, with such titles as Lawrence of Arabia and Great Expectations. More about him: DavidLean.com

Poem

Your classmate Marina Spa won this year's contest of short stories. Hers was also this good poem. She says it's a mixture between Fank Sinatra and the 'copla'. It starts almost as a parody and ends on a melancholic note.

I saw you,

a man in navy blue.

I love you,

a sailor inside my heart.

All winds bring me sorrow.

Dark skies won't tell me you messages.

White clouds won't write you words.

Damp sands won't shape your steps.

Even quiet seas have so many ways,

I wish I listened to you across the waves.

This absence runs and fills my days.

A sailor inside my heart:

all winds bring me sorrow.

Speeches

Remember that you will have to deliver a brief speech in the oral exam.

Here you have the video with Kennedy's speech about Martin Luther King's death. Click on the photo.


Try to watch/listen to some of the great speeches in the Online Speech Bank of American Rethoric

Coming back

We had various problems concerning the mail address to which the blog was attached. We are back for the last month

Bono the Speaker

Here you have the link (Bono's video) with the commencement speech that Bono gave at the University of Pennsylvania.Read the sript I gave you first. The video is very long and Bono doesn't start talking until the minute 1:56:00.

As a tip, here you have the link to a wonderful classic song by U2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpVbLm4TN3g

The ultimate adventurer: Richard Burton and The Mountains of the Moon

On Tuesday, 2nd February, 18.45, we'll be watching a wonderful film about the topic of travelling. Please, be punctual!

The title is The Mountains of the Moon, and it deals with an incredible journey in the 19th century to discover the sources of the river Nile in Africa. It also deals with topics such as what travelling really means, intercultural dialogue and friendship. Above all, it presents one of the most interesting figures in British history, Sir Richard Burton, who was a writer, translator, geographer, explorer, adventurer, antropologist, soldier and -most interestingly for language students- spoke more than 20 languages (it's true!). You can find more information about this larger-than-life figure in this site: http://burtoniana.org/index.html

As an activity for the class, I'll give you a series of questions that you have to answer and think about. On Wednesday 9th February, we'll debate about them in the class. Needless to say, this is a compulsory activity for everybody! I hope you enjoy it.

Love song

Talking about love songs. This is a video clip of one of my favourite ones. Extremely simple to understand, and simple in construction, but deeply moving and true. Baby, can I hold you tonight?

Fergal Keane

Here you can listen again to the wonderful text by Fergal Keane. Some of you had tears in your eyes yesterday! Me too.

Letter to a newborn son

Welcome to the Fifth Year's Blog

Hello everybody

This is the new blog for the Fifth Year's students. Here you can find interesting material, updated activities, links, etc.

Please, introduce comments or suggestions as you see fit.

Modal verbs

In the two links on the right you can find interesting explanations and exercises about Modal Verbs

To practice your listening

Try to watch a little clip at least every two days.

Ask yourself: What are the main ideas?

The Art of Loving

This is a link to a site about Eric Fromm, the author of The Art of Loving.

Remember that you have to write a summary about it, and, above all, reflect!