Our Students' Christmas Cards

Our Students' Christmas Cards

This wonderful work of art has been made by Sirena (6 years old)

Shall we sing?

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by The Muppets
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.

White Christmas by Bing Crosby (1942)

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white




All I want for Christmas is you by Mariah Carey
I don't want a lot for Christmas.
There is just one thing I need.
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree.
I just want you for my own,
More than you could ever know.
Make my wish come true.
All I want for Christmas is you.

I don't want a lot for Christmas.
There is just one thing I need.
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree.
I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace.
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day.
I just want you for my own,
More than you could ever know.
Make my wish come true.
All I want for Christmas is you.

You, baby.
I won't ask for much this Christmas.
I won't even wish for snow.
I'm just gonna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe.
I won't make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick.
I won't even stay awake to
Hear those magic reindeer click.
'Cause I just want you here tonight,
Holding on to me so tight.
What more can I do?
Baby, all I want for Christmas is you.

All the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere.
And the sound of children's
Laughter fills the air.
And everyone is singing.
I hear those sleigh bells ringing.
Santa won't you bring me the one I really need?
Won't you please bring my baby home?
Oh, I don't want a lot for Christmas.
This is all I'm asking for.
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door.
Oh, I just want him for my own,
More than you could ever know.
Make my wish come true
Baby, all I want for Christmas is you.
All I want for Christmas is you, baby.

Christmas is coming!!!




Para celebrarlo os proponemos las siguientes actividades:

- For our younger students: Make a Christmas card.
(Para los más pequeños: elaborad una felicitación de Navidad. "Scanearemos" las mejores y las
publicaremos en este blog)

- For the others:
1. Send us a story about Christmas
2. or tell us how you celebrate it.
3. or send a recipe. What do you and your family eat at Christmas?

Did you know ....
...that Christmas was first celebrated in the 5th century, in the time of the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine?
... that many people in Russia celebrate Christmas on January, the 7th? This is because the Orthodox Church uses a different calendar - the Julian calendar - for religious celebration days.
... In 1659 the Puritans declared the celebration of Christmas illegal? -They said the holiday was just an excuse to eat and to drink too much -.

If you want to know more about Christmas and how people celebrate it around the world, then surf the net. We strongly recommed the following links:


Christmas. Soon Online Magazine
The legends of Christmas. Hoover Library
Christmas in Cyberspace
Holiday traditions. California Mall

Christmas is coming

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.

The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Luke (2, 1-20)

Sucedió que por aquellos días salió un edicto de César Augusto ordenando que se empadronase todo el mundo. Este primer empadronamiento tuvo lugar siendo gobernador de Siria Cirino. Iban todos a empadronarse, cada uno a su ciudad. Subió también José desde Galilea, de la ciudad de Nazaret, a Judea, a la ciudad de David, que se llama Belén, por ser él de la casa y familia de David, para empadronarse con María, su esposa, que estaba encinta. Y sucedió que, mientras ellos estaban allí, se le cumplieron los días del alumbramiento, y dio a luz a su hijo primogénito, le envolvió en pañales y le acostó en un pesebre, porque no tenían sitio en el alojamiento. Había en la misma comarca unos pastores, que dormían al raso y vigilaban por turno durante la noche su rebaño. Se les presentó el Angel del Señor, y la gloria del Señor los envolvió en su luz; y se llenaron de temor. El ángel les dijo: «No temáis, pues os anuncio una gran alegría, que lo será para todo el pueblo: os ha nacido hoy, en la ciudad de David, un salvador, que es el Cristo Señor; y esto os servirá de señal: encontraréis un niño envuelto en pañales y acostado en un pesebre.» Y de pronto se juntó con el ángel una multitud del ejército celestial, que alababa a Dios, diciendo: «Gloria a Dios en las alturas y en la tierra paz a los hombres en quienes él se complace.» Y sucedió que cuando los ángeles, dejándoles, se fueron al cielo, los pastores se decían unos a otros: «Vayamos, pues, hasta Belén y veamos lo que ha sucedido y el Señor nos ha manifestado.» Y fueron a toda prisa, y encontraron a María y a José, y al niño acostado en el pesebre. Al verlo, dieron a conocer lo que les habían dicho acerca de aquel niño;y todos los que lo oyeron se maravillaban de lo que los pastores les decían. María, por su parte, guardaba todas estas cosas, y las meditaba en su corazón. Los pastores se volvieron glorificando y alabando a Dios por todo lo que habían oído y visto, conforme a lo que se les había dicho. Cuando se cumplieron los ocho días para circuncidarle, se le dio el nombre de Jesús, el que le dio el ángel antes de ser concebido en el seno.
Lucas (2, 1-20)

Bronca

¡Bronca va! Para que nadie nos ponga la excusa de no haber entendido lo que aquí se dice, les dejamos la traducción. Esperamos que no caiga en saco roto.

We are afraid we have to come down on you, dear students, for not working enough. Some of you are too lazy and will have to suffer the consequences.
Reports are just around the corner. If you fail your exams this term, it will be harder for you to pass the next ones.

You'll see! You have been offered free extra classes and you haven't taken advantage of it. You know you should hand a composition in every fortnight and some of you haven't written a single one (and this is the last straw if we take into account that we have provided you with useful vocabulary and some ideas. Do have a look at the blog and use your book!. You even have good on-line dictionaries in the side bar)
Last Tuesday you took an exam and were allowed to use your books and notes. Most of you didn't even bother to look up a single word. We wonder why. Do you have a good grasp of the subject? We are afraid you haven't.

No mater how good a teacher can be if his pupils don't study and don't exercise what they are learning. Be aware of this: if you want to acquire knowledge on a subject you shouldn't be satisfied with just understanding the subject. You must also be able to remember it and to put it into practice.

You are grown-up. As we have mentioned before, you'll be the ones who will suffer the consequences. For us, as teachers, your laziness makes us feel upset (but just that). But the price you will pay will be much higher: you are wasting your parents' money, you are wasting your time, you might fail your exams at school and you might have problems to gain admittance to your chosen university.

You'll see

Me temo que hemos de echarles la bronca por no trabajar. Son demasiado vagos y tendrán que asumir las consecuencias.
Las notas están a la vuelta de la esquina. Si suspenden la primera evaluación en el instituto, les costará más trabajo aprobar la siguiente.
Ustedes sabrán lo que hacen. Saben que tienen horas extras y algunos ni siquiera las aprovechan. Saben que deberían entregar, al menos, una composición cada 15 días y algunos de ustedes no han entregado ninguna. (Y esto es el colmo, más si tenemos en cuenta que hasta les hemos proporcionado el vocabulario y algunas ideas. ¡Miren el blog y usen sus libros!. Incluso tienen acceso a buenos diccionarios on-line en la barra lateral del blog)
El martes pasado hicieron un examen en el que se les permitía hacer uso del libro y de los apuntes. La mayoría de ustedes ni se molestó en buscar una simple palabra. Nos preguntamos por qué. ¿Acaso dominan la materia? Nos tememos que no.
No importa lo bueno que pueda ser un profesor si sus alumnos no estudian y no ejercitan lo que están aprendiendo. Han de ser conscientes de esto: si quieren adquirir conocimiento en una materia, no se deberían conformar con entenderla. Deben ser capaces también de recordarla y de llevarla a la práctica.
Ya son mayorcitos. Como les hemos dicho antes, las consecuencias las pagarán ustedes. A nosotros, como profesores, su desidia puede costarnos un disgusto (simplemente eso), pero a ustedes les costará mucho más: están malgastando el dinero de sus padres, están malgastando su tiempo, podrían suspender los exámenes y podrían tener problemas para acceder a la carrera que quieran estudiar.
Ustedes mismos.

Classes on Thursday

Lamentamos comunicar que no haremos puente. Por tanto los alumnos de los grupos 1, 4, 7, 9, 11 y 12 tendrán clase el próximo jueves 7 de diciembre.

If you want to study with us, don't wait.

Shark'o School no admitirá nuevos alumnos de Bachillerato para el presente curso a partir del 10 de enero de 2007.

Classes on Friday

Este viernes, 1 de diciembre, los alumnos que tienen clases los lunes y miércoles (grupos 2, 3, 5, 6 y 8) tendrán clase normal en su horario habitual.

La primera evaluación está a la vuelta de la esquina

Dear students:

The first term is about to finish. Remember to study. Exams are coming!!!

Train your brain

Doing physical exercise is good to keep your body fit and healthy, isn't it?. However, a perfect body isn't everything. Mental activity is essential as well.

In this new section, you'll find riddles, logic problems, puzzles and stuff like that. Keep your brain and mind active. Think a little and send and answer to the following problem:

You are trapped in a room with two doors. One leads to a certain death and the other leads to freedom. Unfortunately, you don't know which door leads to freedom and which door leads to death.
Guarding the doors, there are two gatekeepers. One of them always tells the truth, the other always lies. Unluckily, you don't know who the liar is or who the honest one is.
To leave the room, you are allowed to ask a question (only one) to one (just one) of the gatekeepers. You want to be free, not dead, of course!
What would you ask?

What is your opinion about "Big Bottle" (Botellón)?

(Situation. Chiqui and Miguel's PAU pupils are waiting outside Shark'o School. They start talking about the next composition: a letter to a friend about Botellón parties)

Chiqui: Enrique, have you ever been to a "Botellón" party?
Enrique: No. Never. Pedroja and Pablo have told me about it, and I don't think I'll enjoy it because I only drink pineapple juice...
Keila: Ha, ha, ha. Are you kidding? Last Saturday you were having fun with Lorena and Cristina outside La Carpintería... And you didn't seem to be drinking soft drinks but something stronger.
Regina: Yeah, I think it was a "cubata". You know, rum with Coke.
Lorena: It wasn´t rum with Coke but with Malibú.
Pedro: Aahjjj! Rum with Malibú? How could you drink that? That's too sweet, isn't it?
Cristina: It was not bad... The worst thing is that I had a really nasty hangover on Sunday afternoon when I woke up.
Pablo: Cristina, I thought you didn't use to drink. You shouldn't drink such sweet beverages 'cos they're very bad for your head.
Enrique: You're right. I had a terrible headache last time I drank my pineapple juice...

(Miguel is coming from the bar near the school. He's bringing a bottle of pineapple juice in one hand and a bottle of Arehucas in the other)

Miguel: Enrrrrriquue, herrrre I am. I went to buy what you told me to make your favorite drink. Let's go to La Paz Square to have a Botellón. Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiihhhhhhhhhaaa!

(Miguel's astonished PAU pupils look at each other ... and decide to leave him alone and go to Chiqui's lesson instead because they're very responsible and would always prefer to work)

THE END

OK! Now I want you to write a letter to a friend of yours telling him the situation and your opinion about Botellón in Spain and in your hometown?


Useful vocabulary
alcohol, alcohol consumption, alcoholic, alcoholism
drink (noun / verb)
drunk, get drunk
sober
alcoholic beverages: beer, wine, spirits (whisky, vodka, rum ..)
soft drinks
party
binge drinking
hangover (n) / hungover (adj.)
bar, pub, disco
get together, meet, congregate
street, square, in the open air
party
a right to ...
nuisance
noise
rubbish
stench (bad smell)
vandalism
fighting
health
neighbour, neighbourhood
young people, youngsters, the youth (youths), teenagers
to be in favour of ...
to be against ...

Photos

Curso 2005 - 2006
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharkoschool/

Should P.A.U. exams be abolished?

Can you find the label "Bachillerato"? (Of course, you can. It's on the right) Well, ésta es una sección dedicada a nuestros alumnos de ... bachillerato, ¡cómo no!

En ella, propondremos periódicamente nuevas actividades. Esperamos vuestra participación.
De momento nos centraremos en los "writing"

Sabemos de sobra que una de las cosas que más odiáis, en lo que al inglés se refiere, es tener que escribir composiciones. However, you have to do it (y más teniendo en cuenta el tipo de examen que os exigirán para la P.A.U.) También sabemos que, en ocasiones, lo que falta son las ideas a la hora de componer la redacción. Por eso, os proponemos hacer un "writing" entre todos.

El tema elegido es: Should "P.A.U." exams be abolished?

After finishing "Bachillerato", Spanish Students who wish to go to University must take a general university entrance examination (P.A.U). The University course they are able to follow will depend on the result of this examination along with their Bachillerato marks.

De momento nos conformamos con que "posteéis" una o dos frases sobre el tema.

Useful vocabulary:
fair / unfair
university entrance exams
academic performance
discrimination
equal opportunities
learning
attend school/university
marks
assesment
homework
progress
classroom assignments
feel/get nervous
pressure situation
to be under stress
measure
overall performance

En cuanto a las expresiones útiles con las que expresar una opinión os recomendamos que consultéis el libro (page 128, los de 1º; page 117, los de 2º )

Come on! Don't be lazy and send your opinion. Let’s help each other!.
We will collect your composition next Thursday. Remember: This is a shared composition. You can not only use your own opinions but also your partners'.

Calendario escolar 2006 - 2007

Horario de los Fun Fridays:
- de 5.00 a 6.00: alumnos de los grupos 1, 2, 3, 4 y 5
- de 6.00 a 7.00: alumnos de los grupos 6, 7, 8 y 9
- de 7.00 a 8.00: alumnos de los grupos 10, 11 y 12

* Si se produjera algún cambio en el calendario, se avisará con la suficiente antelación.

** Les recordamos que la asistencia a los "Fun Friday" no es obligatoria, aunque sí es recomendable (especialmente para aquellos que necesiten mejorar en el colegio/instituto).

*** Nos permitimos recordarles, asimismo, que los alumnos que lo deseen podrán concertar horas de clase extra. Dichas horas no supondrán cargo adicional alguno - siempre y cuando el alumno asista regularmente a las clases de su grupo - y se impartirán de lunes a jueves a partir de las 7.00 y los viernes de "Fun Friday" a partir de las 8.00.

Help us! We want to play.

Games are a funny and useful way of learning, aren't they?

Uno de los juegos que solemos utilizar en clase es el Trivial. Desde aquí os proponemos que nos ayudéis a aumentar nuestra colección de preguntas. Enviad las vuestras.

Aquí van algunos ejemplos:

Who invented the telephone?

1. Marconi
2. Thomas Alba Edison
3. Alexandred Graham Bell
4. John Loige Baird

Answer: Alexander Graham Bell.

How many players are there in a basketball team?

1. twelve
2. eleven
3. eight
4. five

Answer: five

How many legs has a spider got?

1. five
2. six
3. eight
4. ten

Answer: eight

Remember to write your question in ENGLISH!

Questions on the English Language

Trouble with English? Have you got any doubts?
If you have a question on the English language, post it here.
We'll try to answer as soon as possible.


¿Problemas con el inglés?
En esta sección trataremos de aclarar tus dudas.
Si tienes alguna, te ofrecemos varias opciones:

1. Pregúntanos en clase.
2. Deja tu duda aquí. (Click on commnets, write your question and send. De esta manera la compartirás con tus compañeros, que también podrán contestar)
3. Envíanos un e-mail al correo de la academia: mailto:info@sharkoschool.com
   

Dudas: La academia

Si necesitas saber algo sobre Shark'o School, visita nuestra página web: http://sharkoschool.com
En caso de que necesites más información, click on comments y envíanos tu pregunta o manda un e-mail a la dirección de la academia: mailto:info@sharkoschool.com

Let's go, Sharkies!

Shark'o School inaugura su blog. Pretendemos que se convierta en un punto de encuentro para estudiantes, padres y profesores.

Esperamos vuestra participación y sugerencias.

Aviso a navegantes: el acceso a este blog es libre. No obstante, en caso de que las aportaciones de los participantes sean inadecuadas por su contenido o por su vocabulario, restringiremos el acceso y censuraremos tales participaciones. (Les rogamos que no nos obliguen a tomar tales medidas)

Let's go, Sharkies!