WORLD WIDE WEB

british festivals .... folklore ... anniversaries .... on this d On 6 August 1991, Tim Berners-Lee released his text-based Web software to the public creating the beginnings of the World Wide Web and general public use of the Internet. What is the World wide Web? The World Wide Web is a system of text links and multimedia capabilities that make the Internet accessible to mass audiences. Who is Tim Berners-Lee? Tim Berners-Lee is the primary inventor of the software program known as the World Wide Web. In 1989, Berners-Lee and his CERN colleagues created a communications protocol called HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) that standardised communication between computer servers and clients. Tim Berners-Lee was born on 8 June 1955 in London, England. Timeline of the WWW 1971: First email is sent by computer engineer Ray Tomlinson 1989 March:Tim Berners-Lee coins the term World Wide Web (www) 1994: First full-text Web search engine is launched – the WebCrawler 1995: September, eBay is launched 1996 4 July - Hotmail is launched commercially, linking America’s Independence Day with freedom on the internet 1998 September - Google is launched 1999 The first large peer-to-peer file-sharing network is launched – Napster 2003 April - iTunes is launched by Apple 2003 August - MySpace launched helping to break the music careers of singers including Lily Allen and bands like Arctic Monkeys 2003 February - Social network site Facebook and sharing application Flickr launched 2005 February - Video-sharing site YouTube 2006 March – Twitter launched

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OBAMA

Barack Obama was born 4 August 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Why is Barack Obama famous?

Barack Obama is the present President of the United States and the first African-American ever to hold the office of U.S. Commander-in-Chief.  
Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States on 4 November 2008, and sworn in on 20 January 2009.

Quick Facts about Barack Obama

Born: August 4, 1961 (Hawaii)
Lives in: Chicago, Illinois
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Height: 6′ 1″ (1.87m)
Family: Married wife Michelle in 1992, 2 daughters Malia and Sasha
Parents: Barack Obama, Sr. (from Kenya) and Ann Dunham (from Kansas)

THE FIRST UNION FLAG

On 28th July, 1707, during the reign of Queen Anne, the Union Flag was by royal proclamation made the National flag of Great Britain. The National Flags of Scotland and England were united to form the flag.

When the red cross of England was put onto the flag of Scotland, a white border was added around the red cross for reasons of heraldry. (The rules of heraldry demanded that two colours must never touch each other.)

The Union Flag today

Today's Union Flag not only represents Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) but also Northern Ireland.

On 1 January 1801, Ireland was united with Great Britain and it became necessary to have a new National Flag in which Ireland was represented. The cross St Patrick was combined with the Union Flag of Great Britain, to create the Union Flag that has been flown ever since.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland were all joined together and called the United Kingdom of Great 
Britain and Ireland.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The name was later changed to United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland when the greater part of Ireland left the United Kingdom in 1921.

The flags of the Patron Saints of England, Scotland and Ireland are represented on the Union Flag.

ST CHRISTOPHER - 25TH JULY

The 25 July is St Christopher's day. He is the patron saint of travelling and travellers, mariners, ferrymen and also athletes.

There are several legends about him including this popular one:

One dark and stormy night, a child came to Christopher and asked to be carried across the river. Christopher put the child on his shoulders and waded into the wild river. He found the child unusually heavy and had to struggle desperately to reach the other side. When he reached the othe other side the child told him that he was the Christ for and that he had carried the weight of the whole world on his shoulder.

The literal meaning of the name 'Christopher is Christ-bearer.

Some people where St Christophers pendants, or give them to friends and relatives, when they are going on a long journey.

The 25th July is also dedicated to St. James the Great, the patron saint of Spain.

FELIPE VI TAKES OVER AS NEW KING OF SPAIN

Felipe VI of Spain has acceded to the throne, following the abdication of his father Juan Carlos.

After the ceremonial act at La Zarzuela palace, the royal residence, father and son embraced each other and the new monarch greeted his wife, Queen Letizia, and his daughters Leonor, the new Princess of Asturias, and Sofía.

There was no actual crowning per se – no Spanish monarch has used a crown since the days of the Catholic monarchs – but rather a solemn proclamation. At 10.47am, a serious-looking Felipe VI took his oath, Posadas proclaimed him king, and Congress cried out “Viva el rey! Viva España!” as the national anthem was played again.

Felipe took to the stand to deliver his first speech as Spain’s new king, describing his reign as “a renewed monarchy for new times.”

THE FIFA WORLD CUP ACTIVITIES

You can learn some useful new vocabulary and practice your listening and writing skills on the following links:

Vocabulary, listening and writing

Word search puzzle

Matching questions and answers

Listening skills

Games

2014 FIFA WORLD CUP

• The 2014 FIFA World Cup "will be the 20th FIFA World Cup, an international association football tournament that will take place in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July 2014.(Wikipedia)

• 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP - Special report + Videos
  (BBC)

• Football and the world cup par Élisabeth PRÉVOST-KABORÉ (Ac. Dijon)

Des ressources sur le foot et la coupe du monde qui seront complétées tout au long de la coupe :

Football rules and vocabulary Worksheets Online activities Songs GamesEnglish, maths and football Videos Brazuca - The Official Match Ball of the 2014 FIFA World Cup (adidas.com)

• Jennifer Lopez won't sing World Cup song (June 12, 2014) - a lesson plan with AUDIO 
  "American singer Jennifer Lopez was supposed to perform the official song at the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Brazil."
  (breakingnewsenglish.com)

• Vocabulary
  
• Soccer/Football Vocabulary Worksheet 
  (english-to-go.com)

Source: henry4school

BRAZIL'S FOOTBALL WORLD CUP 2014 SONG

WE ARE ONE (OLE OLA)

The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Song

LYRICS

Put your flags up in the sky (put them in the sky)
And wave them side to side (side to side)
Show the world where you’re from (show them where you’re from)
Show the world we are one (one love, life)

Oe oe oe oh la
Oe oe oe oh la
Oe oe oe oh la

When the moment gets tough
You’ve got keep going
One love, one life, one world
One fight, whole world, one night, one place
Brazil, everybody put your flags in the sky and do what you feel

It’s your world, my world, our world today
And we invite the whole world, whole world to play
It’s your world, my world, our world today
And we invite the whole world, whole world to play

Es mi mundo, tu mundo, el mundo de nosotros
Invitamos a todo el mundo a jugar con nosotros

Put your flags up in the sky
(Put them in the sky)
And wave them side to side (side to side)
Show the world where you’re from (show them where you’re from)
Show the world we are one (one love, life)
Put your flags up in the sky (Put them in the sky)
And wave them side to side (side to side)
Show the world where you’re from (show them where you’re from)
Show the world we are one (one love, life)

Oe oe oe oh la
Oe oe oe oh la
Oe oe oe oh la

Put your flags up in the sky (put them in the sky)
And wave them side to side (side to side)
Show the world where you’re from (show them where you’re from)
Show the world we are one (one love, life)

Put your flags up in the sky (put them in the sky)
And wave them side to side (side to side)
Show the world where you’re from (show them where you’re from)
Show the world we are one (one love, life)

Oe oe oe oh la
Oe oe oe oh la
Oe oe oe oh la

SPAIN'S KING JUAN CARLOS I TO ABDICATE

After 39 years on the throne, King Juan Carlos of Spain will abdicate in favour of his son Crown Prince Felipe.

the king explained his decision on Spanish television and radio. He highlighted his pride in the "transformation of Spain" and the "tremendous amount achieved by all" since the country's transition into democracy.

"Today, when I look back, I cannot help but feel pride and gratitude towards all of you," he said.

The decision to step down, he said, was made after his 76th birthday in January. His son Felipe, he assured Spaniards, "has the maturity, preparation, and sense of responsibility necessary to assume the title of head of state and open a new era of hope which combines the experience and momentum of a new generation."

KINGS OF SPAIN FROM 1492 UNTIL JUAN CARLOS I

ASCENSION DAY_29th MAY 2014

Ascension Day is the day when Christians around the world celebrate the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven in the fourth decade AD. It is a moveable holiday and depends on when Easter occurs. Ascension Day is celebrated on a Thursday, 40 days after Easter Sunday because, before his ascension, Jesus spent 40 days with his disciples after he rose from death.

INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY_ 18TH MAY 2014

Every year since 1977 International Museum Day is organised worldwide around May 18.

International Museum Day website

The theme of theInternational Museum Day 2014 will be:

Museum collections make connections.

This day is an occasion to raise awareness on how important museums are in the development of society.

ICOM Advisory Committee organises the theme of this event that, given the high number of countries involved, lasts a day, a weekend, a week or even a month.

From America to Oceania including Africa, Europe and Asia, this international event has confirmed its popularity. 

These recent years, International Museum Day has been experiencing its highest involution with almost 30,000 museums that organised activities in more than 120 countries.

AUSTRIA WINS EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2014

 

It was an exciting evening at the B&W Hallerne where in front of thousands of people in the arena and millions of people on TV, Conchita Wurst from Austria won the 2014 edition of Europe's Favourite TV Show with the song Rise Like A Phoenix!

Austria was followed by The Netherlands and Sweden with 238 and 218 points respectively.

PRONUNCIATION ED_ PAST REGULAR VERBS

Listen to some examples: 1, 2

Practice: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

Let's practise the Simple Past Tense:

TO BE: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Pronouncing the -ED ending. Read, listen and practise: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6,

Affirmative Form:

Regular Verbs: 1, 2, 3, 4

Practise with sound: 1, 2, 3

Listen on Google Translate 

Without sound: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

PLAY THE GAME 

PILGRIMAGE OUR LADY OF CABEZA - 27th APRIL2014

Our Lady of Cabeza (Spanish: Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza, La Santísima Virgen de la Cabeza, Virgen de la Cabeza, Nuestra Señora la Virgen de la Cabeza), is a Marian apparition whose cult is centered at the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza, located in the Natural Park of the Sierra of Andújar, 32 km north of the city of Andújar, Spain. A Black Madonna, she is known popularly as La Morenita (“The Dark Lady”)

She is one of the patron saints of Andújar (the other is Saint Euphrasius) and the diocese of Jaén. Her name refers to the Cerro del  Cabezo ridge where she is said to have appeared. She was declared patroness of Andújar by Pope Pius X on March 18, 1909 and of the Diocese of Jaén by Pope John XXIII on November 27, 1959.

The pilgrimage is celebrated on the last Sunday of April. This celebration has its origins in the 13th century, and some half a million people gather to see the Virgin paraded among the forests for over 30 kilometres.

Regarding its popular customs, there is the pilgrimage in honor of the Virgen de la Cabeza, patron saint of the city and of the diocese of Jaen, which has its sanctuary 32 kilometres from the city and where more than five hundred thousand people congregate during the last weekend of April.

Calderón de la Barca and Miguel de Cervantes talk about it in some of their books and it is verified that it is the first pilgrimage of which there is known proven information that it has been celebrated since before recorded history in Spain.

THE BEATLES

On 10 April 1970, Paul McCartney announced the end of the band known as the Beatles. The the band officially split on 31 December 1970.

Who were the Beatles?

The Beatles, or the Fab Four, were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960. They were one of the most famous rock groups of all time. 




Musicians John Lennon and Paul McCartney played together in the late 1950s as 'The Quarrymen'. With Harrison they formed 'The Silver Beatles' in 1959 and then in 1962, Ringo Starr joined the trio and thy dropped the Silver to be know as the Beatles.

Why are the Beatles so famous?

They were the first British band to write their own songs and music.

They are the only group in recording history to have 20 songs reach number one.

How many songs did the Beatles record?

The Beatles recorded 214 songs from 1962 to 1970. Their first UK single was 'Love Me Do', released on 5 October 1962.

The 1964 song 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' sparked “Beatlemania” in the United States and the band became an international success.  

Other songs included:

• I Want to Hold Your Hand
• A Hard Day's Night
• Help!
• Yesterday
• Hey Jude
• A Little
• Help From My Friends
• Paperback Writer
• Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

The group's albums include 'A Hard Day's Night' (1964), 'Revolver' (1966) and 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' (1967). The Beatles last album recorded was 'Abbey Road' (pictured right). 

                                    

THE BEATLES

On 10 April 1970, Paul McCartney announced the end of the band known as the Beatles. The the band officially split on 31 December 1970.

Who were the Beatles?

The Beatles, or the Fab Four, were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960. They were one of the most famous rock groups of all time.

Musicians John Lennon and Paul McCartney played together in the late 1950s as 'The Quarrymen'. With Harrison they formed 'The Silver Beatles' in 1959 and then in 1962, Ringo Starr joined the trio and thy dropped the Silver to be know as the Beatles.

Why are the Beatles so famous?

They were the first British band to write their own songs and music.

They are the only group in recording history to have 20 songs reach number one.

How many songs did the Beatles record?

The Beatles recorded 214 songs from 1962 to 1970. Their first UK single was 'Love Me Do', released on 5 October 1962.

The 1964 song 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' sparked “Beatlemania” in the United States and the band became an international success.

Other songs included:

I Want to Hold Your Hand

A Hard Day's NightHelp!

Yesterday
Hey Jude
A Little
Help From My Friends
Paperback Writer
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

The group's albums include 'A Hard Day's Night' (1964), 'Revolver' (1966) and 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' (1967). The Beatles last album recorded was 'Abbey Road' (pictured right).

THE BEATLES

In the 1960s a new band known as the Beatles burst on the pop music scene and changed it forever. Band members included George Harrison (1943–2001), John Lennon (1940–1980), Paul McCartney (1942–), and Ringo Starr (1940–). With the release of three anthologies (collections) in the mid-1990s, the Beatles remain one of the best-selling musical groups of all time.

• HISTORY
• THE BEATLES WEBSITE
• LYRICS
• THE BEATLES ANTHOLOGY 1

ED SULLIVAN SHOW

The Beatles appeared on three consecutive Sundays in February 1964 to great anticipation and fanfare as "I Want to Hold Your Hand" had swiftly risen to #1 in the charts. Their first appearance on February 9 is considered a milestone in American pop culture and the beginning of the British Invasion in music. The broadcast drew an estimated 73 million viewers, at the time a record for US television, and was characterized by an audience composed largely of screaming hysterical teenage girls in tears. The Beatles followed Ed's show opening intro, performing "All My Loving", "Till There Was You" which featured the names of the group members superimposed on closeup shots, including the famous "Sorry girls, he's married:" caption on John Lennon, and "She Loves You". They returned later in the program to perform "I Saw Her Standing There" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand".

THE BEATLES. SHEA STADIUM (1965)

THE BEATLES. SHEA STADIUM (1965)

Concert At Shea Stadium

Read about one of the main events in the Beatles' history: the concert that they performed at the Shea Stadium, in August 1965, which probably remains the greatest and the craziest live moment of their career. READ

If you want to watch the concert, here you have the link. It's incredible but real.

WORLD HEALTH DAY 2014

Every year, World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April to mark the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948. Each year a theme is selected for World Health Day that highlights a priority area of concern for WHO.

World Health Day is a global campaign, inviting everyone – from global leaders to the public in all countries – to focus on a single health challenge with global impact. Focusing on new and emerging health issues, World Health Day provides an opportunity to start collective action to protect people's health and well-being.

World Health Day 2014

More than half of the world's population is at risk from vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue. Yet, we can protect ourselves and our families by taking simple preventive measures, including vaccination.

NATIONAL TARTAN DAY - USA - 6TH APRIL

             

National Tartan Day honors and celebrates Scottish culture and the role it has played in the development of the United States. Canada has been celebrating Tartan Day since 1993 and the U.S. Senate officially passed it into law in 1998.

There are three groups of people that came from Scotland to America -- the Lowland Scotts, the Highland Scotts, and the Scotch-Irish. Each of these groups has influenced American culture. They've passed on Scottish last names, introduced the sport of golf, shared the sounds of the bagpipes, and made tartan a fashion staple!

Tartan is a crisscrossed pattern of horizontal and vertical bands woven into cloth. It is made by weaving colored threads at right angles to each other. The Dress Act of 1746 attempted to ban tartan and other aspects of Gaelic culture in order to bring people under tighter government control. The law was repealed in 1782 and tartan became symbolic as the national dress of Scotland. 

To celebrate National Tartan Day, wear your favorite tartan and celebrate Scottish-American culture!