WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO AT CHRISTMAS?

CHRISTMAS IN ENGLAND

CHRISTMAS SONG: FIGHTING EBOLA

Christmas is a time for charity: Many organizations record videos to raise money. This time our favourite stars united for a good cause: FIGHTING EBOLA. They recorded a new version of the 1984 Band Aid classic song, "Do they know It is Christmas" The song was recorded by One Direction, Ed Sheeran, Chris Martin, Rita Ora, Emeli Sande and others.

 

Do they know It is Christmas

 



"Do They Know It's Christmas?"One Direction:]It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid

[Ed Sheeran:]
At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade

[Rita Ora:]
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy

[Sam Smith:]
Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time

[Paloma Faith:]
But say a prayer and pray for the other ones

[Emeli Sandé:]
At Christmas time it's hard but while you’re having fun

[Guy Garvey:]
There’s a world outside your window and it’s a world of dread and fear

[Dan Smith:]
Where a kiss of love can kill you

[Angelique Kidjo:]
Where there’s death in every tear

[Chris Martin:]
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom

[Bono:]
Well, tonight we’re reaching out and touching you

[Seal:]
Bring peace and joy this Christmas to West Africa

[Ellie Goulding:]
A song of hope where there’s no hope tonight

[Sinéad O'Connor:]
Why is comfort to be feared, why is to touch to be scared?

[Bono:]
How can they know it’s Christmas time at all?

[One Direction:]
Here’s to you

[Olly Murs:]
Raise a glass to everyone

[Bastille:]
Here’s to them

[Sam Smith:]
And all there is to come

[Rita Ora:]
Can they know it’s Christmas time at all?

[All:]
Heal the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again

Heal the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again

Heal the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again

Heal the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again

Heal the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again

Heal the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again

Heal the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again

Heal the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again

GRAMMAR TIPS: COLLECTIVE NOUNS

Matching verbs to collective nouns

 Collective nouns are nouns which stand for a  group or collection of people or things. They include words such as audience, committee,police, crew, family, government, group, and team.

In American English, most collective nouns are treated as singular, with a singular verb:

√ The whole family was at the table.

√ The government is doing a good job.

√ He prefers an audience that arrives without expectations.

In British English, most collective nouns can be treated as singular or plural:

The whole family was at the table. [singular collective noun; singular verb]

The whole family were at the table. [plural collective noun; plural verb]

The government is doing a good job. [singular collective noun; singular verb]

The government are doing a good job. [plural collective noun; plural verb]

There are a few collective nouns (in both British and American English) that are always used with a plural verb, the most common of which are police and people:

√ She’s happy with the way the police have handled the case.

X She’s happy with the way the police has handled the case.

√ It's been my experience that people are generally forgiving.

X It's been my experience that people is generally forgiving.

If you aren’t sure whether to use a singular or a plural verb with a collective noun, look it up. Most dictionaries will tell you which is correct.

Translation 3º ESO A

Hi, guys. I hope you´ve enjoyed this long weekend but I hope you have revised hard for our exam too!
These are the translation sentences for you to correct:

1. When it got dark I drove  away from my house following the signposts to the nearest village.
2. His wife fell off her motorbike. She asked for help but nobody heard her. After a while, the police arrived and took her to hospital.
3. I´ m tired of wandering through the forest. Let´s take that path.
4. The swimmer dived into the (swimming) pool.
5. Their neighbour was charged with drug dealing. He faces three years in prison.
6. Did you get good scores/results/marks in your last geography test?
7. Take the books out of the box and put them on/onto the shelf.
8. I climbed to/towards the top of the mountain after I went trekking/ after going trekking for three hours.  ///  I climbed the mountain after ...
9. The baby was crawling across the room when suddenly we noticed/realized he ...

Every year, on the 4th Thursday of November
in the USA and on 2nd Monday of October in Canada
 people gather together with their families, have a
special dinner and give thanks.
 

Do you want to learn more about this traditional
celebration? For a start, watch this presentation
on the story of Thanksgiving. Then, you can
watch some of the videos below:

 

The first Thanksgiving told by kids

  

The first Thanksgiving (cartoons) 1º- 2º ESO




The First Thanksgiving Story (3º- 4ºESO)




Bet you didn´t know ( History.com videos) (3º - 4º ESO)

If you are tired of watching, try doing some of the

 activities on the links below:(wordsearches, puzzles, crosswords, colouring, etc)

 

The ESOL courses

 

The Holiday Zone

 

Finally, for writing practice, let´s answer this question:

What are you thankful for?

 

I am

 

thankful for ...

 

___________________

 

______________

 

________

 

 

Saint Martín' s Day is coming!

Nowadays, in many Western countries the latter half of autumn signals the coming of Halloween on October 31st. Halloween is the last major celebration before Christmas, and already in early October spooky decorations and costumes creep into shops, schools and houses. However, in many European countries, Halloween is a relatively new celebration which has only begun to be widely celebrated the last few decades, if at all.  For countries such as The Netherlands, Germany and Portugal, Martinmas, or Saint Martin's Day, is the more prominent autumnal celebration.  

Taking place on the eleventh of November, Martinmas celebrates the death Saint Martin, a Roman solider who was baptized as an adult, and who later became a monk. The legend states that Martin saw a beggar exposed to the freezing cold, and so cut his cloak in two to share with the man, saving his life. Martin is known as a symbol of charity and generosity and is a patron to the poor.

The date of Saint Martin’s death on the 11th coincides with the end of harvest, and so many traditional celebrations are synonymous with enjoying a feast or indulging in certain delicacies. In Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, school children design paper lanterns and visit houses in the neighborhood singing songs in exchange for sweets.

Here is an example of a Dutch 'Saint Maarten' song:

Elf november is de dag,  dat mijn lichtje branden mag
Eleventh November is the day, that my lantern may shine

In Portugal, the date also celebrates the end of wine season. The Portuguese celebrate in large communities by sampling newly harvested wine and roasting chestnuts on bonfires. They also sing a traditional tune:

É dia de São martinho. Comem-se castanhas; prova-se o vinho!
It is St. Martin’s Day. We will eat chestnuts, we will taste the wine

While in Malta, children are given a little bag of goodies, which often contain an assortment of dried figs, nuts, tangerines and oranges.

Halloween and Saint Martin's Day have very little in common; Saint Martin's Day shares none of the spookiness of Halloween, and Halloween is not connected to the historical figure of Saint Martin. However, one thing they do share is an appetite for treats and sweets!