Category: culture

C 2 · C1 · culture · Listening · Media, arts, literature & entertainment

C1-C2 Listening ‘How old-timey skiffle music liberated British rock

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Last month I was reading Mark Kermode’s novel ‘How Does it Feel?’, which is a funny and interesing recount of his goal towards becoming a famous popstar. At a certain period of his life, the author enrols in a band that played skiffle, and I thought to myself ‘skiffle! What’s that?’ I hadn’t the slightest…… Continue reading C1-C2 Listening ‘How old-timey skiffle music liberated British rock

culture

50,000!

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This tongue-twisting post is just to say how thrilled I am! A year and a half after having set up this blog for my English classes and it has reached 50,000 visits. Of course, this hasn’t  only been my  students, but people from all around the world and all walks of life. Many thanks for…… Continue reading 50,000!

culture

Viking words

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The English language is the result of many different cultures moving into the British Isles throughout history. One of them were  ‘the Danes’. At first, when this new group of people arrived, it was only for the purpose of plunder or rather, ‘to go a viking’ and this is the reason why these people were eventually…… Continue reading Viking words

culture

Listening Intermediate B1 :Why Countries Don’t Use Purple on Their Flags

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Ever wondered why purple doesn’t appear on flags, or why there are always four strawberry flavoured yogurts in a packet of eight? I can’t explain the second question, but here’s a really interesting video that explains the reason why countries traditionally didn’t use purple on their national flags. The video is from After Skool Youtube…… Continue reading Listening Intermediate B1 :Why Countries Don’t Use Purple on Their Flags

culture · Cultures, customs, tradition & religion

Listening Advanced C1: Skara Brae

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So you thought you  knew all about interior design and comfort at home, right? You thought that we, modern-day humans, had invented comfortable beds, hygienic bathrooms and all those things that make our homes tasteful and cosy. Well I have some news for you, because that is what I thought until I discovered Skara Brae.…… Continue reading Listening Advanced C1: Skara Brae

culture

Midnight Oil ‘Beds are burning’

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejorQVy3m8E I was listening to this song launched in 1987 by the Australian rock band Midnight Oil, when I realised that it would be a nice way to introduce the use of present continuous with 'when and while'  for low levels of English, along with a bit of English and Australian history to explain the… Continue reading Midnight Oil ‘Beds are burning’

B1 · culture

British culture Pancake Day

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What is Pancake Day? Well, you may not be familiar with this typical British celebration but the matter of fact is that this day, some people (me too, if I get a break I mean) stuff to the point of bursting themselves with pancakes.(ha, ha, ha!!!) Every year this day is usually celebrated about six…… Continue reading British culture Pancake Day

culture

Viking words

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The English language is the result of many different cultures moving into the British Isles throughout history. One of these groups were the Danes. At first, when this new group of people arrived, it was only for the purpose of plunder or rather, 'to go a viking' and this is the reason why these people… Continue reading Viking words