Christmas Carols

Do you like traditional Christmas Carols? Well, a lot of people don't. Some of us actually hate walking in the Mall and hearing tha tacky melodies all along, once and again, endlessly repeated till one is sick.

Luckily, inferior quality divas aren't the only ones to sing them. Rock stars are also conquered by the Christmas Spirit. Some of them have their own version whether from their own creation or adapted from the classics.
Lynyrd Skynyrd, "Christmas Time Again", Flaming Lips, "Christmas at the Zoo", Beck's "Little Drum Machine Boy", Subjam Stevens' "Songs for Christmas", Bright Eyes, "A Christmas Album", Barenaked Ladies, "Green Christmas", AC/DC, "Mistress for Christmas" and Darness, "Christmas Time" are some of them.

So, if you want to get out of the trodden path, try one of these to create an original atmosphere at home. What do you think?

Theatre as event

According to Aristotle's seminal theatrical critique Poetics, there are six elements necessary for theatre: Plot, Character, Idea, Language, Music, and Spectacle, Moving On Theatre Company used mainly Interaction, which is an element Aristotle didn't take into account. Interaction is something which has become essential nowadays, both in communication and in education. Not that interaction wasn't present in Shakespeare's days, interaction has always been present in performance arts, and of course in Shakespeare and Lope de Vega's days, when audiences ate and drank and shouted at the actors without any restraint.
Lope de Vega wrote that for theatre one needs "three boards, two actors, and one passion". That is exactly what Moving On Theatre Comapany offered us at the Language School. Music and Spectacle together with an ability to involve audiences and make people participate. Everybody enjoyed seeing our students go on stage and take part as the professional actors asked volunteers to act when they realised that the audience was there waiting for them to put on a play.
Did you see the show? Give us your opinion.

The magic city

If you would like to dicover this magnificent city, if you have never walked along the streets of this magic city, you can still try to find a place in the trip the English Department is organizing. Contact us at eventeoivalencia@gmail.com or call Rosa at 963823433 as soon as possible. We are going to close the passengers' list before the Christmas Holidays

Quiz

Cecilia invites us to a Quiz in Valencia's Pubs.

Juan Marsé, Premio Cervantes 2008

Spanish novelist, Juan Marsé (Barcelona 1933) belongs to the group of realists from the 50s rooted in Barcelona, together with Jaime Gil de Biedma, Carlos Barral, José Agustín Goytisolo, Juan García Hortelano, Manuel Vázquez Montalbán, Juan Goytisolo, Terenci Moix and Eduardo Mendoza.
La oscura historia de la prima Montse, is a key novel in his career as a writer as this is the novel where we can find the events and characters that have obsessed him throughout his life as a writer. In this book he expresses strong feelings and opinions about Catalan society under Franco's regime.
Some of his novels, such as Últimas tardes con Teresa, Si te dicen que caí, La muchacha de las bragas de oro and El amante bilingüe, have been adapted for the cinema or the theatre with little success.
Marsé analyzes the moral and social downfall of postwar Spain, class differences in his native Barcelona, the memories of those who lost the Civil War, the fight between workers and burgeois students and lost childhood. He analyzes Spanish society with the techniques of social realism, although, sometimes, he also experiments with other more avant-guard mechanisms, always with irony and satire and humour. His books have often been censored in the past.
Have you read any of his books. Well, if you haven't, this is an opportunity to see if his writing is still alive. Did he deserve this prize? Tell us your opinion.

Barcelo's dome

500.000 euros from The Development Aid Fund have been spent in decorating room XX United Nations building in Geneva. During the Spanish Republic, Jusep Maria Sert, the Catalan artist, painted three murals in this building. Eighty years later The United Nations asked the Sapish monarchs to make a second contribution to the building. Miquel Barceló was the artist chosen for a job that has taken him 13 months and has needed 35.000 kilograms of colour, besides much talent and engineering.

"Un planeta-cueva que reúne a los hombres y que viaja al futuro", that is the idea for the dome swept by waves and pointed by thousand of stalactites which summarizes his vision of the world.

Finanzing this art work has not been easy. ONUART, la institution created to carry out the project, is 60 per cent private, with some of the most important Spanish companies involved, and 40 per cent public. The work cost 20 million euros (40% by the government while the rest is private).

In his defense, Moratinos, the Spanish Foreign Office Secretary, said that according to article 68 of the law 42/2006 from december 28, finianzing the Human Rights and Civilizations Aliance Room -as Room XX in the United Nations Palace will be called - "cae bajo la categoría de ayuda al desarrollo".

Controversy is served. Give us your opinion. Write a comment!

Juan Goytisolo, the outsider

A whole life devoted to the Spanish language, mostly outside our borders, Juan Goytisolo has received the National Prize (Premio Nacional de las Letras) from the Spanish Ministry of Culture with a cold attitude. His work has been at last recognized with 40,000 €.

Apart from novels, Juan Goytisolo has written essays and travel books, and is also well known for his opinion articles in El País newspaper, where he expresses his anger against injustice, for he is seriously compromised with improving our world and uncovering hypocrisy. Above all, he fights against crimes committed against immigrants in Europe, for, as he says, «una cultura es la mezcla de las influencias externas que ha ido recibiendo con los años. Y yo, personalemente, de la mezcla cultural he aprendido tanto como de Cervantes».

Finally, Juan Goytisolo maintains that «más que nunca, en estos tiempos difíciles y de crisis, la cultura es un asidero para la gente. Hay muchas causas dignas de ser defendidas, podría estar toda la noche enumerándolas».

Theatre at the Language School

Laughing is the best way to overcome the hardship of reality. Our students love theatre in English, but it is not easy to see a show unless the English Department organizes the event at the school.

Next Thursday 11th (December 2008) Moving on Theatre Company will visit us. There will be two shows. One at 11.00 a.m. and the other at 7.00 p.m. There are plenty of activities to do related to the show, as you will see, but the company keeps the story secret, so the performance will be a complete surprise. Don't miss it!
Today could be your big day!is the title of the show which will last for about one hour ten minutes. Don't forget to tell us what you think about it.

Hottest band

Glasvegas has just published an album in Spain. This is the hottest band now. They are from Glasgow (Scotland) and have worked very hard to find their own voice. Have you heard about them?

The boy in the striped pyjamas

If you haven't seen the film or read the book, you can still see it in English at Babel Cinema at 0'55.
Here you can read a review.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" is not only about Germany during the war, although the story it tells is heartbreaking in more than one way. It is about a value system that survives like a virus.

Alternatively, you can read the book, which is written in very easy English, as it is narrated from the point of view of an eight-year-old child.
Then, tell us your opinion by writing a comment on this post. Thanks!

A Weekend in London

Some classmates of mine, Carmen Torres, our last year´s English teacher and me went to London to spend a weekend in October. I think we had a good time and fantastic weather.

First I’d like to thank Viviana and Lorena (two of my classmates) for their efforts in all the preparations for the flight , accommodation, plans……

We travelled by plane with a low-cost company and we stayed in a cheap hotel near Kings Cross Station.

The Valencia – London flight was very pleasant. We met an Indian Englishman who we spoke with about a lot of things.He even wanted a photo with all of us!!. Well, he spoke to us much more than we spoke to him because our English is still limited

When we arrived in London at about 19:00 pm (I don’t know exactly), we went to the hotel by underground. I liked my very small and tiny room (please don´t go if you suffer from claustrophobia) and the hotel in general but the waitress was very unpleasant ( she didn’t seem an Englishwoman but she had the same stiff upper lip).

At night, we went for a walk around London : Coven Garden, Trafalgar Square, Soho…. We went shopping , and had dinner in Pizza Hut ( yes , it may seem strange but we were hungry ).

The following day , we caught a bus to London centre , went for a walk around Hide Park , and went on a tour with Alex, our tourist guide.for three hours. We could see Wellington park , Napoleon´s nose on a wall, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace and St. James Palace (Lady Di´s last residence), and we went shopping once again

We went on a boat trip along the Thames. Riverboat services are a great way of beating the traffic while soaking up fantastic views like the Bridges, London Eye, Canary Wharf, Tate Modern, London Bridge, Tower of London, a lot of London Docklands Riverside until getting to Greenwich.

We tried to have lunch in a London Pub, but it was impossible because it was too late. We had just a Marks & Spencer sandwich for lunch (typical of London).

Well into the evening, some of us went to Harrods , a big English department store and others went to look for a restaurant to have dinner between Piccadilly Circus & Soho.

The next day we were in a hurry. Some people visited St Paul's Cathedral and Camden Market Street and we all arrived at the airport by the skin of our teeth (the underground broke down on our way to the airport and we had to take an express train , very expensive public transport).

We have a lot of anecdotes about this journey but we´ll keep them to ourselves. I hope you understand it.


INMACULADA GARCÍA GUILLAMÓN
Intermedio 1

London seen by a student

A trip to London for only a weekend requires a fair bit of planning. First we booked the flight tickets before summer so that they were cheap. We were eight English classmates, our teacher Carmen and also one funny character that joined us at the very last minute. It was a tiny sevillana doll we bought at the airport. You can see her in some of the pictures, we called her Jenny.
When we arrived at Heathrow Airport, we bought a TRAVEL CARD for 3 days, zone 6. so we didn’t waste time and we saved money.
We stayed in Howard Winchester Hotel, near King Cross Station and St. Pancras. We were very lucky because the rooms were a bit small but very tidy and inexpensive. The English breakfast was included in the price.
If you want to see the best views of London, I recommend you to take a fabulous full-commentary sightseeing cruise along the river Thames and get on the London Eye.
Don´t forget to visit Camden Market on a Sunday morning. You'll buy some clothes, shoes, etc and also you'll taste international food near the canal.
We had a good time. The weather was mostly cloudy but it didn´t rain any day.
London is undoubtedly the most exciting city in the world. I recommend you to go across its streets, look at its houses and talk with the people, you’ll love it.
In conclusion, I think London is a city with an unbeatable charm. I'm sure I’ll go back as soon as I can.

VIVIANA JUAREZ
Intermedio 1

London seen by a student

LONDON

A trip to London for only a weekend requires a fair bit of planning. First we booked the flight tickets before summer so that they were cheap. We were eight English classmates, our teacher Carmen and also one funny character that joined us at the very last minute. It was a tiny sevillana doll we bought at the airport. You can see her in some of the pictures, we called her Jenny.
When we arrived at Heathrow Airport, we bought a TRAVEL CARD for 3 days, zone 6. so we didn’t waste time and we saved money.
We stayed in Howard Winchester Hotel, near King Cross Station and St. Pancras. We were very lucky because the rooms were a bit small but very tidy and inexpensive. The English breakfast was included in the price.
If you want to see the best views of London, I recommend you to take a fabulous full-commentary sightseeing cruise along the river Thames and get on the London Eye.
Don´t forget to visit Camden Market on a Sunday morning. You'll buy some clothes, shoes, etc and also you'll taste international food near the canal.
We had a good time. The weather was mostly cloudy but it didn´t rain any day.
London is undoubtedly the most exciting city in the world. I recommend you to go across its streets, look at its houses and talk with the people, you’ll love it.
In conclusion, I think London is a city with an unbeatable charm. I'm sure I’ll go back as soon as I can.

VIVIANA JUAREZ
Intermedio 1

Tonight is the answer!

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled -- Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation's next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics -- you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to -- it belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington -- it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.

I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime -- two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America -- I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you -- we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek -- it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers -- in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House -- a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends…though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn -- I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world -- our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down -- we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security -- we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright --tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America -- that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

Watch the video of Obama's speech

A Journey from Gloss to Misery

Dr. Carmen Manuel took us by the hand to a long journey from the gloss of handsome president-to-be Barack Obama and his wife Michelle to the misery of one of the most horrendous episodes of humanity: slavery, which is linked to American history, because American History cannot be understood without the segregation of balck and white, without stories of pain and sorrow.

But Carmen made this journey as entertaining as possible, although the task was not easy. Summarizing the story of North America in a lively and enjoyable way is a mammoth task which she performed successfully before an enthisiastic audience. It was a great pleasure to have her at the school. I am sure everybody benefited from her energy, enthusiasm and ability to communicate.

Did you enjoy her talk?



Did you know that Billy Holliday's song referred to lynching, an amazing past American sport?

download list of travellers

Last list

Lista definitiva de viajeros.pdf

Obama and the Legacy of American Racism

USA Presidential Elections will be held next November 4th. Democarats and Republicans are fighting hard to win them.

The EOI Valencia Coordinación Cultural has invited Dr. Carmen Manuel (University of Valencia) to give a talk on the Democrat candidate and the issue of racism in USA, which can be a crucial one on November 4th.

The title is "Obama and the Legacy of American Racism". After the talk there will be a debate.

Time: 17.00
Place Annex 1 ground floor

Everybody is welcome!

Don't miss it!


Is America a united country?

Give your opinion. Register in gmail.

Book your ticket

Finally the Travel Agent has been able to enlarge the number of travellers to London on March 16th.

FERNANDO ORFILA ABADIA and FRAN JOVER FERNANDEZ will coordinate the last ten travellers in the list, while INMA GARIN MARTINEZ, the English teacher, will coordinate the first twenty three. The list can be downloaded from the widget on the right of the page.

A deposit of 200 euros is necessary with your full name (the same you have in your I.D. or passport).

DATOS BANCARIOS:

" SAIMA TRAVEL, S.L "
------------------------------------------
Caixa Penedes

cta nº. 2081 0653 10 3300000228.
===========================

PONER EN EL INGRESO VIAJE A LONDRES.

If the deposit is not in the bank before October 30th, we understand that you are not interested in the trip.

If you want your name to be removed from the list so that somebody in the waiting list can take your place, please send a note to: eventeoivalencia@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Listado de viajeros definitivos

Tras un sorteo realizado en la Sala A-1 de la EOI con los asistentes, ya tenemos el listado definitivo de las personas que pueden proceder a realizar el ingreso-reserva de 200 euros en la CC de la Agencia, cuando sea el momento oportuno. Este listado se puede consultar en el tablón de anuncios del Dto. de Inglés.

Si hay alguien que quiere ser sacado de la lista por favor que informe a la coordinadora Inma Garín con un correo a:
eventeoivalencia@gmail.com
O mediante una nota en un sobre a su nombre en centralita (planta baja).

Estamos viendo la posibilidad de hacer más grupos, pero, de momento, no podemos anticipar nada todavía. Cuando tengamos más información la iremos poniendo en el blog y en el tablón de anuncios.

Meeting

This Thursday 23rd of October there will be a meeting to discuss the trip to London. The meeting will be held in room A-1 on the first floor.

72 students have signed up for the trip. This is amazing!

If you are not able to come to the meeting, ask someone to be there for you!

Dates: March 16-20
The price includes:
-Flight (low cost).
-Three star hotel in triple bedrooms with bathroom (next to British Museum; Breakfast included.
-Transfer from and to the hotel.
-Cancellation Insurance.

440 euros/ per person

An advanced amount of about 200 euros will be necessary to book the trip.

The price can be modified as this is a low-cost flight. No changes or cancellations will be possible unless justified by a hospital/ doctor, etc.

FAQs

Q. Who can write?
A. Teachers and students at Valencia EOI are the target audience.
Q. Do you need an account?
A. Yes, you have to follow the steps and get one if you don't have one already.
Q. Why should I write?
A. Because you want to express yourself or share knowledge with the school blogger community.
Q. What are the characteristics of a post?
A. It deals with only one topic. Its information is structured and it is brief, as it has only about three paragraphs.
Q. What are the functions of the blog?
A. To inform, to give help, to give an opinion, to open a debate, to keep in touch with the discoursive community.

Exiled Valencian artist back

La Universitat de València, La Nau has brought back Antonio Bernard, a great Valencian artist who belonged to tha surrealist mouvement in La República Dominicana, after having spent some time in the French republican concentration camps.

Why don't you write a review of this exhibition? Don't linger and delay. It will only be on until Nov. 22nd.

Trip to London

The announcement that a trip to London is being organized by the English Department Coordinación Cultural has been very well received by students. The budget will be published this week and we hope it will not be too expensive, so that people can sign in. As soon as the budget is published there will be a meeting to discuss the details of the trip. Event will keep you informed.

For the moment, if you have time, visit London from your laptop or the Multimedia room or the school library! There you will find "what's on", places to go, etc. Finally, if you find other websites of public interest about this wonderful city, don't forget to write a post and tell us about them!
Remember, in order to write a post, you have to register and open an account!

Valencia's Cultural Agenda

The Town Hall has a very complete guide to events that take place in Valencia. Visit it and recommend something to your schoolmates.

News

The French writer Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio has been awarded The Nobel Prize for Literature. What do you think?

October Activities

Mostra de Cinema
Muvim
Museu Valencià d'Art Modern
Museu Pius V
UGC Cinemas (Campanar)
Cinemas Albatros and Babel
Filmoteca de Valencia

New Releases

This Friday, October 10, new release at UGC Cinemas, in Campanar: Happy go lucky, a comedy by Mike Leigh. The film is about the life of Poppy, a cheery, colorful, North London schoolteacher whose optimism tends to exasperate those around her.
Poppy (Sally Hawkins) is a life-loving, irrepressibly cheerful, Pollyanna-type primary school teacher who is thirty years old, single, and infinitely optimistic and accepting. She lives with her best friend and flatmate Zoe (Alexis Zegerman) in London. She is tested by a repressed driving instructor with anger problems (Eddie Marsan), and tests him in turn. She has exciting flamenco lessons, an encounter with a homeless man, a row with her pregnant sister, and a love-affair with the social worker guiding one of her students.
Don't forget to write a review!

Read

The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing, a wonderfunl novel about a woman who leaves her life to get married.

Watch

"Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona" opens this week in Valencia's Cinemas.
Don't forget to watch it in V.O.
Enjoy it!