CAMBRIDGE TEST

This is a quick, free online test. It will tell you which Cambridge English exam may be best for you.

FIRST UPDATED 2015 (FCE): EXAM FORMAT OF CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH

The updated exam (for exam sessions from January 2015) is made up of four papers developed to test your English language skills. You can see exactly what’s in each paper linking on the photo. 

57th ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS WINNERS

Sam Smith won the Grammy for record of the year at the 57th Grammy Award for his song "Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)" Sunday.

All the winners linking on the photo.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2015_ 8TH MARCH

nternational Women's Day 2015 Theme: MAKE IT HAPPEN

All around the world, International Women's Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality.

Make It Happen is the 2015 theme for our internationalwomensday.com global hub, encouraging effective action for advancing and recognising women.

Each year International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. The first International Women's Day was held in 1911. Thousands of events occur to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Organisations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women's groups, corporations and the media celebrate the day.

Various organisations identify their own International Women's Day theme, specific to their local context and interests. Many charities, NGOs and Governments also adopt a relevant theme or campaign to mark the day. For example, organisations like the UN, Oxfam, Women for Women, Care International, Plan, World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and more - run exciting and powerful campaigns that raise awareness and encourage donations for good causes. The UN has been declaring an annual equality theme for many years.

Why purple?

From 1908, the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in Great Britain adopted the colour scheme of purple, white and green to symbolise the plight of the Suffragettes. Purple symbolised justice and dignity - two values strongly associated with women's equality. The three colours were used for banners, flags, rosettes and badges to show solidarity.

MARTIN LUTHER KING. Jr. FOREVER

!Martin Luther King

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MLK - The King and his dream

MARTIN LUTHER KING

Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the African-American civil rights movement. His main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the United States, and he has become a human rights icon. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president. King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. There, he raised public consciousness of the civil rights movement and established himself as one of the greatest orators in U.S. history.

In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means. His non-violent protests met with success as Congress passed civil rights laws (1964) and voting rights laws (1965). King’s friendship with President John F. Kennedy also helped his cause. By the time of his death in 1968, he had refocused his efforts on ending poverty and opposing the Vietnam War. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. national holiday in 1986. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, near the time of King's birthday.

MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr. DAY IN UNITED STATES- 20 th JANUARY 2014

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King's birthday, January 20.

King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. 

"The Stone Of Hope" memorial by master sculptor Lei Yixin was opened to the public in West Potomac Park, Washington DC, on August 22, 2011.

His most famous address was the "I Have A Dream" speech. He was an advocate of non-violent protest and became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was assassinated in 1968.

In 1968, shortly after Martin Luther King died, a campaign was started for his birthday to become a holiday to honor him. After the first bill was introduced, trade unions lead the campaign for the federal holiday. It was endorsed in 1976. Following support from the musician Stevie Wonder with his single "Happy Birthday" and a petition with six million signatures, the bill became law in 1983. Martin Luther King Day was first observed in 1986, although it was not observed in all states until the year 2000.

MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr. DAY

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. QUIZ

Martin Luther King Jr.

MARTIN LUTHER KING. Jr.

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THANKS TO JAVI, RAÚL AND SAMUEL

Last Friday, when I arrived 4º A classroom I was surprised by a writing on the activeboard. All the students were waiting my reaction, I started to laugh when I read it.  It was funny and very moody.

I took a photo of the laptop to show you. I'm very proud of my students, not only because of the picture but also because they are very nice, and hardworking. Thank you very much!!!!

CRISTIANO RONALDO WINS THIRD FIIFA BALLON D'OR

CR7 was the highest scorer in La Liga (31), Champions League (17) and winner of the Golden Boot. In 2014 he scored 61 times from 60 games (while playing for both Real Madrid and Portugal). Real Madrid player wins vote ahead of Leo Messi and Manuel Neuer, regaining the trophy he won a year ago. The Portuguese star has been awarded his third Ballon d'Or, the second in succession, with 37.66% of votes. Messi was second with 15.76% of the votes and the German, Manuel Neuer, third, attracting 15.72%. 2014 has been a magical year for Cristiano, in which the forward and his Real Madrid team conquered the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup. In winning his third trophy, Cristiano is now only one away from Leo Messi (winner of the award four years running) and among a select group of players with three; Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco Van Basten. His spectacular figures and being collectively part of Real Madrid's outstanding results tipped the voting in favour of the Portuguese, who is confirmed as the current best player in the world and one of the greats in the history of football.

THE THREE WISE MEN

The three wise men

THE THREE KINGS DAY (Three Wise Men) IN SPAIN - 5th JANUARY

On 5 January Spain celebrates the end of Christmas with a great party where everybody gives and receives presents. It is to celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise Men - Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar - to the city where Jesus was born. In the same way that the Three Wise Men gave gifts to baby Christ, here they share out presents amongst children around Spain - in fact; they are more popular than Santa Claus.

There are lots of processions of the Three Wise Men in each city, the children go along with there parents to see the kings and receive sweets from them.

The three Kings are:

Gaspar has brown hair and a brown beard and wears a green cloak and a gold crown with green jewels on it. He is the King of Sheba. Gaspar represents the Frankincense brought to Jesus.

Melchior has long white hair and a white beard and wears a gold cloak. He is the King of Arabia. Melchior represents the Gold brought to Jesus.

Balthazar has black skin and and wears a purple cloak. He is the King of Tarse and Egypt. Balthazar represents the gift of Myrrh that was brought to Jesus. 

Before going to sleep, children put some milk and biscuits next to the Christmas tree for the Three Kings and some water for their camels. They also leave out their best pair of shoes to be filled with presents.

On the next day, 6 January children wake up and see how many presents they have received. If they have behaved properly, they will find a lot of good presents but if they have been naughty they will find coal. These days, the coal is actually made of sugar, but some years ago it was real coal.

During this day, all families enjoy a piece of roscon (a sugar-frosted fruit-filled bread) for breakfast tradition says that the person who finds a novelty such as a coin, in his or her portion will have good luck for the next year.

Both young and old enjoy opening their presents on this day, but sadly it also marks the end of Christmas.

TWELFTH NIGHT - DECORATIONS

Twelfth Night is the night before Twelfth Day.

Twelfth Night (5th January) is when all Christmas Decorations should be removed so as not to bring bad luck upon the home. If decorations are not removed on Twelfth Night, they should stay up all year.

Why is it bad luck to leave the decorations up after Twelfth Night?

Long ago it was thought that leaving the decorations up would cause a disaster. People believed that tree-spirits lived in the greenery (holy, ivy etc) they decorated their houses with. The greenery was brought into the house to provide a safe haven for the tree-spirits during the harsh midwinter days. Once this period was over it was necessary to return the greenery back outside to release the tree-spirits into the countryside once again. Failure to do this would mean that vegetation would not be able to start growing again (spring would not return), leading to an agricultural disaster.

It was also thought that, if you left the greenery in the house, the tree-spirits would cause mischief in the house until they were released.

Today people still feel uneasy about leaving the Christmas decorations up after Twelfth Night. Despite decorations now being made of foil or paper, and even though the tree-spirits are long forgotten, the superstition still survives.

THE 2015 LONDON NEW YEAR'S DAY PARADE

NEW YEAR FIREWORKS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

The world celebrates with spectacular firework displays lighting up the sky across the globe. Watch celebrations from Sydney's Harbour Bridge and the London Eye, Dubai's world record 500,000 firework extravaganza and the celebrations in Time Square, New York, where revellers embraces to the tune of Auld Lang Syne.

NEW YEAR'S EVE IN SPAIN

In Spain, New Year is observed on the first date of the Georgian calendar. New Year’s Eve, ithe major day of celebrations, is also referred as ‘Nochevieja’. 

New Year’s Eve in Spain is more of a family affair. No one prefers to go out before midnight, till the time all traditions and traditional celebrations are concluded appropriately. Once, they are over, one can see the emerging crowd over the streets, and in the community parties organized in clubs and bars. 

Madrid, the capital and the largest city of Spain, is also credited as the best host of the New Year’s Eve celebrations for the evening. Thousands of people gather in the main square of Puerta del Sol in Madrid, to witness the best of the community celebrations of Spain. At the stroke of midnight, the sight of thousands of people eating grapes in concord with the ring of each bell does make one feel a part of a magical time. The further magical and spectacular show of fireworks filling the skies seemed to be put to action directly from heavens. 

New Year’s Eve is also a time to abide by the traditions and customs associated with the occasion. As far as that goes, people can remain pleasantly engaged in fulfilling traditions only, all through the New Year’s Eve as they are plenty in numbers. 

People usually stay back to their homes, along with their family members till the moment of the arrival of New Year occurs. At the stroke of twelve, there is a tradition of eating twelve grapes. It is a prominent and highly popular tradition, which is followed in many other countries, though with different beliefs and in different ways. In Spain, one has to eat one grape with each ring of the bell, and thus, has to complete one’s share of twelve grapes by the time the clock rings the last bell. Usually, people in Spain listen to the rings of the bell from the live telecast of the clock of Puerta del Sol in Madrid. 

There is another tradition of wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve, and that too must not be bought by you, but should be gifted or given by someone else. Wearing red colored underwear is believed to confer one with good luck in the coming year.

NEW YEAR'S EVE IN NEW YORK

New Year's Eve

Saturday, December 31, 2014

Every year as the clock nears midnight on December 31st, the eyes of the world turn once more to the dazzling lights and bustling energy of Times Square. Anticipation runs high. New Year's Eve at the symbolic center of New York City has become more than just a celebration - it's a global tradition.

The world holds its breath...and cheers as the clocks strike twelve.

As the famous New Year's Eve Ball descends from the flagpole atop One Times Square, an estimated one million people in Times Square, millions nationwide and over a billion watching throughout the world are united in bidding a collective farewell to the departing year, and expressing our joy and hope for the year ahead.

LONDON'S NEW YEAR'S DAY PARADE 2015

London's New Year's Day Parade started in 1987 and has raised or donated nearly a million pounds to a wide range of London based charities.
More than 10,000 performers representing several countries worldwide and more than half a million spectators line the 2 mile route making this the biggest event of its kind in the world. Around 200 million TV viewers watch The London New Year's Day Parade so it's a very popular event.

OFFICIAL WEB

NEW YEAR'S EVE IN LONDON

2014 was amazing.
2015 is going to be even better! 





New Year’s Eve in London is all about fun and celebration and we all want to have a great time.

28TH DECEMBER - DAY OF THE INNOCENT SAINTS

December 28 marks a day of celebration exclusively Spanish called the Day of the Innocents. Although the roots of this day are bloody, in modern times, the customs practiced on this day are very jovial and fun. The anniversary of the murder of many children committed by Herod in Judea, . On this day, people play inocentadas (pranks or practical jokes) on friends and relatives: people make jokes hoping that the victim believes the false thing. When people get caught, the joker says: "Inocente, inocente!" ("Innocent, innocent!"). The newspapers and other media are in on the joke as well, reporting false news for the people to figure out.

BOXING DAY IN ENGLAND

In Britain, Boxing Day is usually celebrated on the following day after Christmas Day, which is 26 December.

Like Christmas Day, Boxing Day is a public holiday. This means is it typically a non working day in the whole of Britain.

Tradicionally, 26 December was the day to open the Christmas Box to share the contents to the poor.

WHAT HAPPENS ON BOXING DAY IN ENGLAND?

- Boxing Day hunts: tradicionally Boxing Day is a day for fox hunting.Horse riders dressed in red and white riding gear, accompanied by a number of dogs called foxhounds, chase de fox through the countryside in the hope of tiring it out.

- Family time:It is a day of watching sports and playing board games with the family.

- Shopping: In recent times,some shops have broken from tradition and started opening on Boxing Day to start the New Year sales.Hundreds of people spend Boxing Day morning in queues outside shops, waiting to be the first to dive for the sales racks as the doors opened.

WORST CHRISTMAS PRESENTS!

This video asks people about the most bizarre electrical Christmas present they have ever received. Have you ever received a strange electrical gift? - 

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ShowCheck your understanding: matching

ShowCheck your understanding: multiple choice

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