THE ART OF SORT OUT THE LIFE

The "art" of sort out the life

This is not ordinary art but I want to make a reference to the current situation. In many cases survival is really a kind of art.  Today the youngs are the most affected group because of the crisis; if you’re young and immigrant to get ahead in real life is really a true art.

Euronews Report

Training: one of many examples to avoid being the last in the line of unemployment.

Alfonso Dolset

THE HOUSE OF MY DREAMS by Isidro

I imagine a house in a typical village  in Seville painted in  white colour that shines under the sun.

The facade of the house would have a large wooden door and two big windows in the lower part, I mean in the ground floor, called "cierros" and two windows at the top, I mean on the first floor.
 

The first zone you would find when you enter, is a type of hall called "Zaguán", with an iron gate in the front. Through the glass gate, you could see an open courtyard.

The courtyard is the heart of the home. A corridor would go around, from there you could have access to all the rooms on the ground floor.

The living room would have a fireplace, one comfortable sofa and a bookcase full of books.
An inmense kitchen with a big wooden table for many people.
Also a small toilet and a beautiful tiled staircase.

In the back of the house, there would be a farmyard with orange and lemon trees.

On the first floor they would be the bedrooms. There would be four bedrooms with high balconies.  There would be fine bathrooms and big closets.

The house wouldn't have an attic, just a roof terrace with a small laundry area.

The home of my dreams is in a town called Arahal.

What do you think about it?

Would you also like to live in a place like this? 

Have you got any house of your dreams?  Let us know.

Could you tell us about typical houses in your city or in your region?

SOME LISTENINGS

Let's try to do these listenings and after each of them, click on some of the Vocabulary Activities to review a bit more.  You can also find the Script below.

Music:

http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-music.htm
http://www.esl-lab.com/music/musicrd1.htm

Books:

http://www.esl-lab.com/reading/readingrd1.htm

Films:

http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-movies.htm
http://www.esl-lab.com/like1/like1.htm
http://www.esl-lab.com/eslbasic/movies-1.htm
http://www.esl-lab.com/rent/rentrd1.htm
http://www.esl-lab.com/review/review.htm
http://www.dailyesl.com/movie-tickets.htm
www.esl-lab.com/show/showrd1.htm

Music (Alberto, Belén and Rosa)

First at all take a look of this video.

Understand Music from finally. on Vimeo.

Internet has changed our way to know the world.  Nowadays, lot of information is close to us and is at our fingertips. That fact has done that even in the music we have a new way to learn and improve our skills. Internet is full of lessons, tests, shops, tabs, covers... about music and whatever intrument you like.  You can search a new or second hand instrument, watch or read reviews about it, buy it and learn to play it conveniently from home. Do you think it is a good idea? Is it better or worse to learn it from the Internet than going to a private tutor or music school?

Online

To buy an instrument, there are many possibilities.  New or not, different sellers, prices and opinions.

You choice your timetable, when it is good to you a new lesson.
Lot of different lessons and teachers.
Almost an infinite source of tabs or scores.
Free lessons.

Tradicional way 

You can test your new instrument. It´s really in your hands. You make your own and personal opinion.

Maybe the obligation makes you study regularly.
A tutor watches your specific failures and helps you.
The next songs and lessons are according to your level and you grow step by step.
If you have a question or doubt, the teacher answers you directly.

Now it's time to feel the groove!! 

I want to invite you to take part in an especial day: The “Fetê de la musique”.

The name is in French because this festivity started to be celebrated in France, and the idea is very simple: It’s a day to share the music in a different way, to take the usual places or locations out and show freely on the street. All the musicians that participate, professionals or amateurs, play their music for free and the public can enjoy with them freely, too.

If everything goes well on the 21th of June we’re going to celebrate it here, in our village, by La Puebla de Alfindén streets on the summer solstice.

By the way, if you want more information about this international event here you are the official website but we're going to have our own blog as soon as we can. 

http://www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr/en/International/presentation/

So if you play an instrument or have a good voice, come and join us to do that this project could be a real party.  Don't be shy and share your music with all our neighbours!

And don't forget to enjoy with the music every day of your life!

THE JOY OF BOOKS

My ideal home by Angelica - Elementary Course

I like small houses because the cleaning is easier, but my ideal house would have a round garden where I could grow vegetables because I like to eat ecological products.  I don't like the inorganic compost, I think organic fertilizer is the best.

The house would have two kitchens, one of them outside near the vegetable garden and the second one inside the house for everyday cooking.  I would like this kitchen would be roomy and open, next to the living room, similar to an American kitchen; but it should have a big and wonderful extractor.

In my family we are four people: my husband, two sons and me.  I would like three bedrooms and two bathrooms, but I don´t like baths, I would prefer modern showers, and these showers would have inside a radio, steam and a telephone.

I would like in the living room a big window and a big table, too, because I like traditional dinners with all the family around at Christmas.

You can see in this picture some vegetables from my rented garden. Now unfortunately I don´t have a garden in my house since I live in a small flat.

What do you think about my ideal home?

Do you like it? 

Is iPad the future?

Having dinner at a restaurant

 

Usually, every Friday, here in La Puebla, we go to eat to a restaurant with some friends. It is a beautiful custom that we have just a few years ago.

We are usually four adults, two teenagers and two children. But in some occasions the number of members grows.

'Piadinas',  broken eggs with foie or Spanish ham treated of pork, sandwiches, hamburgers,  salads, crepes, varied pieces of toasts, squid, cuttlefish or octopus sharers, and brave potatoes are some examples of the plates that we are in the habit of eating in this restaurant.

Three times a year (Christmas, summer vacation and Pilar festivities), all the workmates meet and go to have dinner together.  Every time to a different restaurant. But always next to the zone of bars.

That way, it is not necessary to take the car or a taxi  after taking a few beers after dinner.

Also my wedding anniversary is about the middle of July and we usually stay in La Puebla, though last year we went to Pastriz to celebrate it.

But the best restaurant we have, is “our house”: Every two years, in a little town of Teruel, all my maternal relatives (uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews...) join together to celebrate Christmas.  We are 30 persons of three generations.

 The best cooks of the world (our mothers) delight us with exquisite plates, elaborated with the best intention, a great experience and  much much love.

MY IDEAL HOUSE

GLORIA’ S IDEAL HOUSE

Hello,

I have got my ideal house on the beach.

It is a small apartment but it has got a big terrace where we eat and the children play, we can listen to music and read a book while we see the sea and the beach.

It is perfect whenever we can go there.

The apartment has got two bedrooms separated by the fitting room.

The first bedroom has two beds, a bedside table and many toys, the second one is our bedroom with one big bed, two bedside tables and many pictures.

The bathroom is big, there is one mirror, two washbasins, one bath, one bidet and one toilet.

The dining room is united to the kitchen, so it is large and separated by one table and six chairs.

There are an oven, a microwave oven, a washing machine and an induction hob.

Up agaisnt the wall  there is a sofa and a lamp, and in front of there,  it is a television and many CDs.

There are also two big windows from where we can go to the terrace.

I like my house because it is small, warm and just ideal for our holidays.

Welcome to our restaurant by Antonio Orna

 Hello classmates,

Hello to everybody and welcome to our restaurant.  Here all of you can taste a world of flavour,  here we prepare all types of food because we've got a complete team of chefs researching how to make, develop and create new forms and tastes in traditional meals like beef stew with mushroom cream or hamburgers made with vegetable foam, as well as all type kind of garnish brought here from all around the world.

You can also have at your disposal traditional food as a main course, first course and desserts.  We've got typical fish and chips, too and also a group of entertaiment and children's games to have fun and get the kids enjoyment.

Our waiters and waitresses are at your disposal and come early your wishes.  They receive our customers with a tasting wine from the region and eveything with our cheap and affordable prices.

Don´t wait more and  just come with the family.

Thanks for your attention.

MY IDEAL HOME by Ana Delia

My ideal home will have a kitchen, a living room, a dining room, a bathroom, three bedrooms, a garage and a big garden.  But it has to be everything in a single flat.

 To go there it will be necessary to walk over a path of red tiles, with lawn on both sides and a lot of flowers.

When opening the front door you will come into a nice hall and a corridor which will go directly to the kitchen, the living room, the loo and the bedrooms.

On the left side of the corridor would be the living room and the dining room, with big windows. In front of this, it would be the kitchen and to enter it you would have to go under a nice arch. The kitchen will also have a door to the corridor. From the kitchen we would find the terrace all covered with glasses, like a wonderful conservatory with a view and an exit to the back garden.

In the corridor on the right  it would be the guest bedroom, the loo and my daughter's bedroom with a bathroom inside of the room.

At the end of the corridor it would be my bedroom which would also have a bathroom and a dressing room.  My bedroom would have a relaxing corner with two armchairs and a small table, besides a big mirror.  I imagine it with a large window with a view to the garden.

I like very much  gardening so I will grow a lot of flowers and high trees.  I would also have a rest or a nap in my comfortable hanging hammock.  Moreover I would like to have got a small pool with gold fish.

Ah! I forgot it, to access to the garage it would be another tiled path in the front side of the house.

I hope you like my home. You will be welcome!

See you soon!

 

Having some trouble by Carmelo

 

Dialogue  to solve some little problems in a restaurant by Carmelo Polo

CUSTOMER: Good afternoon!

WAITER: Good afternoon, have you got a reservation?  

CUSTOMER: Excuse me, my name is Baker and I have reserved a table for two people but we are, unexpectedly, three people. Could you change our table for two to a table for three people, please?

WAITER: I do not know if it will be possible. I will check the reservation book and I'll see if I can do what you ask me.

CUSTOMER: Thank you!

WAITER: Well. I have seen that there is a free table for three because a reservation has just been cancelled and I can offer it to you.

CUSTOMER: Thank you.

WAITER: Come this way, please.

CUSTOMER: Sorry. I have a bad cold and this table is too close to the window. Could you change this table for another one which was farther away from the window, please?

WAITER: Sorry. It is impossible. I have no more free tables. I could close the window if you want.

CUSTOMER: Oh! Yes. Thank you, if you could do it, I will be so grateful!

WAITER:. Would you like any drink while you watch the menu?

CUSTOMER: Excuse me. I have a wine list but I have no menu. May I have one, please?

WAITER: Sorry, sir. Immediately I bring one.

WAITER: Here you are.

CUSTOMER: Thank you.

WAITER: Anything to drink?

CUSTOMER: Just some water, please.

WAITER: Are you ready to order?

CUSTOMER: Sorry. Is there any milk in the Yorkshire Pudding?

WAITER: Yes sir. There is some milk.

CUSTOMER: Uhmmm, I don’t like it. And excuse me, my wife does not like rice but she likes salad. Could you change the chicken and rice for chicken and lettuce, please?

WAITER: Yes, sir.

CUSTOMER: Well, we'll have the chicken with lettuce for my wife, fish and chips for my friend, and the vegetable pasta for me, please.

WAITER: Yes, sir. Good choice!

WAITER: Enjoy your meal!

WAITER: Would you eat any dessert?

CUSTOMER: Yes, we would like a lemon ice cream, a tiramisu and a rice pudding, please.

WAITER: Are you satisfied? Would you have anything else?

CUSTOMER:  Regarding to the first question, I say, yes. Concerning to the second, we say, no.

CUSTOMER: Could we have the bill, please?

WAITER: Yes, here it is.

CUSTOMER: Is V.A.T. included in the bill? Can we pay cash or by credit card?

WAITER: YES. You can pay individually what has taken each, cash o credit card.

WAITER: Here you are the leftovers of each dish; I have put them in a doggie bag.

CUSTOMER: Good bye!

WAITER: Good bye!

Ebooks Vs Printbooks

Hello mates!

As you know some time ago our class was discussing about the advantages and disadvantages of eBook format.

It is time to solve this question! Today we are going to have our own Trial " E-BOOKS VS PRINT BOOKS"

First of all, to help you to make a choice between one or another, here you are this small quiz which will help you  to decide what format do you prefer

Source: us.123rf.com

http://www.blogthings.com/areyouaprintbookoranebookquiz/

Source: blog.blogthings.com

Now that you could have a clear idea about your preferences, here you are these websites where you can strengthen and prepare your arguments!

http://www.successconsciousness.com/ebooks_benefits.htm

Source: successconsciousness.com

http://online-bookstores-review.toptenreviews.com/the-advantages-of-ebooks-versus-traditional-books.html

Source: online-bookstores-review.toptenreviews.com

Also, we have made a small list with the strengths and weaknesses of each format, keep it in your mind during our trial.

OPEN IT!

Here you are all  the arguments which have been spread out!

OPEN UP!

And now that all of us are ready and plenty of information...

Take a stand for or against and let's start the battle!! 

 

Next to Teruel city

 

My mother and my father were born in a small town in Teruel called Alba del Campo,  placed 30 km far from Teruel.  It is located in the south, direction Zaragoza, in a high plateau with almost 1,000 m over the sea.

In summer and winter, the climate is very radical and extreme.

In the hottest months (June, July and August) in the evening, it is “Impossible” to go outside.  The sun burns the arid and dry lands, without a small breeze.

At night, the temperature is very nice in comparison to Zaragoza (in August, in the middle of the night, a cover is almost always necessary).

We live next to the remains of a little and emblematic castle, in the highest place of the town; there summer storms are very impressive, with big thunders!.

And the winter is not better… there is not the fog we can to find in Zaragoza, but the cold weather is very hard. Everybody knows Calamocha cold weather, since almost every year the local TV Breaking News speak about this town and its radical weather. Temperatures are bellow 0 degrees in many occasions with abundant and copious snowfalls.  And my town is only 30 km far from Calamocha.

And to end with it, just a picture of Alba del Campo (Teruel) and a karaoke hard song for a hard land.

AZTECA Mexican Restaurant by Andrea

"AZTECA Mexican Restaurant" by Andrea

• Waiter: Good afternoon Madame.
• Andrea: Good afternoon, can I have a table for two, please?
• Waiter: Yes, of course, follow me, please. Do you like this table?
• Andrea: Thank you, it’s OK.
• Waiter: This is the menu, the special today are Mole poblano and Pozole.
• Andrea and Friend: Thank you.
• Waiter: What would you like to drink?
• Andrea: Can I have a glass of Jamaica water?
• Friend: Can I have a glass of  tiger nut milk drink?
• Waiter: Ok, I go for your drinks.

Five minutes later:

• Waiter: Here are your drinks. What would you like to start?
• Andrea: Can I have a Mole poblano and some rice, please.
• Friend: Can I have a Tosatadas with guacamole.
• Waiter: Would you like some salad with it?
• Andrea and Friend: Yes, Can we have a house salad?
• Waiter: A good choice.   

Ten minutes  later:

• Waiter: Here you are, enjoy it!
• Andrea and friend: Thank you!

Twenty minutes later:

• Waiter: Is everything all right?
• Andrea and friend: Yes, everything has been delicious.
• Waiter: Would you like a dessert?
• Andrea: Yes, what is in the dessert menu?
• Waiter: We have chocolate and strawberry ice cream, cream puff pastry,  chocolate cake,  rice pudding and fruits, such as, apple and orange.
• Andrea: Can I have a banana split, please?
• Friend: Can I have a chocolate ice cream?
• Waiter: Good choice. Would you like coffee?
• Andrea: No, that's all and Can I have the bill, please?
• Waiter: Yes of course, Madame.

Five minutes later:

• Waiter: This is the bill, Are you paying altogether?
• Andrea: Yes, I invite. Can I pay by credit card?
• Waiter: Of course, Madame.
• Andrea: Thank you. See you later.
• Waiter: See you later, come back soon!

If you are interested in Mexican food, just visit this site.

              * * *

In a restaurant by Alvaro

Once again I am writing  about  a situation in a restaurant:

-          Hello, good afternoon!

-          Hello, have you booked a table?

-          Yes, I booked a table for two.

-          All right, what’s your name?

-          My name is Mr. Casanova.

-          Very well, Mr Casanova, could you follow me, please?

-          Sure, we go with you.

-          This is your table.

-          Thank you, can we  have the menu please?

-          Yes, sir, in a jiffy. Yes, certainly.

-          Here you are. What would you like to drink?

-          Have you got the beverage list?

-          Yes, I'll bring you one just now. What do you prefer?

-          Well, can we have a bottle of champagne Louis Roderer, please?

(The waiter brings us the champagne and five minutes later he asks us.)

-          Can I take your order, madam and sir?

-          Can you make us any suggestion?

-          Yes, I  recommend you as entree Chorizo et Jesus du pays Baske, as main course, grilled rabbit, mustard sauce and smoked bacon, and as dessert, pudding.

-          Ok so, as entree I would have hot foie-gras on a piece of toast, warm duck yolk in red wine sauce. And my partner would have scallops in squid ink sauce, please.

-          What would you like as a main course?

-          I’d like Roast best end of welsh lamb, wild mushroom, thyme and pomme salardaise, and wild sea bass, marinda tomatoes, wilted greens and aioli, please.

      (The waiter brings us the starter and asks us.)

-          Can I help you in anything else?

-          No, thank you, it’s all perfect.

-          Sorry, have you finished?

-          Yes, we have already finished.

-          Sorry, who is the fish right for?

-          It’s for me, thank you.

-          Waiter please, Can I have another bottle of champagne? Colder, please.

-          Yes sir, just a while. 

-          What would you like for dessert?

-          I don’t  want anything more, I’m  full.

-          I don’t want anything either.  

-          Is everything all right?

-          Yes, really tasty.

-          Can we have coffee, please?

-          Yes sir, what do you prefer?

-          Can I have a macchiato and a cappuccino, please?

-          Yes, sir.  Sure.

-          Would you like any spirits?

-          No, thank you.  I think we have drunk too much.

-          Can I have the bill, please?.

-          Yes, a moment please. Are you paying altogether?

-          Yes, altogether.

-          Can I pay with my credit card?

-          Yes sir, just now I bring you the terminal.

-          Can you enter your secret number, please?

-          Yes, of course.  Done.

-          Very well, everything is correct.

-          Can I help you with anything else?

-          No, thank you,  we are leaving now.

-          Very well,  I'll show you the way out.

-          Thank you, good bye.

-          Good bye.