English in Madrid

Spain proposes 100% tax on homes bought by non-EU residents Pedro Sánchez announces measure in response to anger over rising housing costs Spain has announced plans to impose a tax of up to 100% on real estate bought by non-residents from countries outside the EU, such as the UK, in an aim to tackle the country’s housing crisis. The measure was one of a dozen unveiled on Monday by the country’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, as the government seeks to quell mounting anger over housing costs that have soared far beyond the reach of many in Spain. Sánchez sought to underline the global nature of the challenge, citing housing prices that had swelled 48% in the past decade across Europe, far outpacing household incomes . “The west faces a decisive challenge : to not become a society divided into two classes, the rich landlords and poor tenants ,” he told an economic forum in Madrid. The proposed measures include expanding the supply of social housing, offering incentives...

Remind yourselves of the #WOTD: Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4   and then test your knowledge with this Quizlet Week 1-4:       The following story contains 10 #WOTD from above. Use these words to rewrite the 10 sentences. It had been a long day at work, and Elena’s feet were sore after standing for hours. To make matters worse, she had to drag herself through the rain to catch the last bus home. Normally, she wouldn’t bother anyone for help, but tonight, she decided to call her friend Jake for a ride . Jake was a bit fussy about his schedule but agreed to pick her up . On the way home, he reminded her that she still owed him dinner for helping her move last month. They joked about splitting the cost of a parking fine they once shared after parking in a no-parking zone. When they arrived at Elena’s house, she said, “I fancy a warm meal right now. Want to join me for some takeout ?” Jake smiled and agreed. They chatted about how their favourite cafe had decided to ...

Source: You Tube (The80sJukebox )   Key words: Billy Ocean tough When The Going Gets Tough (Billy Ocean) When the going gets tough  / Cuando el ca mino se pone difícil, The tough get going, tough, tough, huh, huh, huh / Los fuertes se ponen en marcha. When the going gets tough, the tough get ready / Los fuertes se preparan Yeah, ooooh, du da du da (When life becomes challenging , strong and determined people rise to the occasion and take action. They don't back down ; instead , they prepare themselves to face difficulties head-on . I got something to tell you / Tengo algo que decirte/contarte I got something to say / Tengo algo que decir (The singer wants to share their thoughts and emotions with someone, emphasising that what they have to say is important and heartfelt .) I'm gonna put this dream in motion / Voy a poner este sueño en movimiento Never let nothing stand in my way / Nunca dejaré que nada se interponga en mi camino. (The s...

Image created by Chat GPT Losing your mind looking at memes ? The dictionary has a word for that Are you spending hours scroll ing mindlessly on Instagram reels and TikTok? If so, you might be suffering from brain rot , which Oxford University Press has named its phrase or word of the year. It is a term that captures concerns about the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media. The usage saw an increase of 230% in its frequency from 2023 to 2024. Psychologist and Oxford University Professor Andrew Przybylski says the popularity of the word is a "symptom of the time we're living in". Brain rot beat five other phrases or words on the dictionary publisher's shortlist , including demure, Romantasy and dynamic pricing. What is brain rot? Brain rot is defined as the supposed deterioration of a person's mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material considered to ...

Muhammad overtakes Noah as most popular boy's name Muhammad was the top choice for parents naming their baby boys in England and Wales in 2023, with more than 4,600 children registered with the name. It has been among the top 10 names for baby boys since 2016, but has now overtaken the previous favourite, Noah, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). There is , however , a level of regional variation with Muhammad not appearing in the top 10 for three regions of England. Other spellings of the name Mohammed and Mohammad also made the top 100 list for England and Wales. The ONS considers each spelling as a separate name, with different variations of Muhammad proving popular in previous years. Olivia remains the most popular choice for baby girls, followed by Amelia and Isla. These top three have remained unchanged since 2022. Hyphenated names jumped in popularity for girls last year, standing at more than 19,140 names, up from around 12,330 the year before. ...

Image source:  Brandee Taylor en Unsplash The Andy Warhol painting that put him at odds with Donald Trump has a new owner   In 1981, the tycoon commissioned the artist to do a series of works inspired by Trump Tower, but he did not like the result and did not pay for it. Four decades later, ‘New York Skyscrapers ’ has been auctioned for almost $1 million  In 1981, six years before his death, Andy Warhol devoted the spring to a limited series of paintings commissioned by Donald Trump. The American tycoon, then 34 years old, asked the artist for paintings inspired by Trump Tower, which was still under construction, to adorn the atrium of his first architectural project, located at 725 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. “New York Skyscrapers stands as a testament to Warhol’s ability to encapsulate the spirit of an era characterised by excess, and it remains a powerful commentary on the pursuit of the American Dream as seen through the lens of one of the 20th century’s most ic...

Image generated by Chat GPT Here are some more commonly heard expressions that Chat GPT came up with . See the previous post on in-expressions . Click on words in red - some have listening practice. 11. Mansplaining  - a man explaining something to someone, typically a woman, in a condescending or patronising manner. e.g. She found it frustrating when her male colleague kept mansplaining basic concepts to her. e.g. Mansplaining can undermine professional confidence in meetings. 12. Doomscrolling  - the act of spending an excessive amount of time reading negative news online. e.g. He stayed up until 2 a.m. doomscrolling through updates on the crisis. e.g. Doomscrolling can exacerbate anxiety and stress. 13. Clout Chasing  - seeking attention or fame by associating with popular trends or people. e.g. Critics accused the influencer of clout chasing by aligning with the latest viral cause. e.g. Clout chasing can lead to shallow interactions and short-lived fame. 14...

Image generated by Chat GPT Duct-taped banana artwork sells for $6.2m in NYC Maurizio Cattelan's provocative artwork of a banana duct-taped to a wall has fetched $6.2m (£4.9m) at Sotheby's in New York - four times higher than pre-sale estimates. The auction house says Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun outbid six other rivals to get the "Comedian" installation of the Italian visual artist on Wednesday. " In the coming days , I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience," Mr Sun was quoted as saying. The taped banana - now perhaps one of the most expensive fruits ever sold - was actually bought earlier in the day for a mere $0.35, according to the New York Times. "Comedian" was first unveiled to the public in 2019, instantly becoming a viral sensation and also provoking heated debates about what art is. The installation - which has travelled around the world - comes with instructions on how to rep...

Image generated by Chat GPT Elon Musk mocks   new Jaguar for new advert that doesn’t feature any cars The video, which was posted on the company's social media channels, shows a group of models modelling bright and flamboyant clothing across a series of equally vibrant sets - and prompted a pile on line. Elon Musk has ripped into British carmaker Jaguar after the company's bizarre new promotional video prompted ridicule online. The manufacturer is undergoing a major rebrand and revealed its new logo on Tuesday morning in a cryptic advert. Jaguar is set to launch three new electric cars in 2026 as it relaunches to being an electric-only brand. But the bold new commercial sparked a pile on when it was posted to X, with viewers noting that one important element of most car adverts was conspicuously absent - any actual reference to cars. The video shows a group of models modelling bright and flamboyant clothing across a series of equally vibrant sets. It begins with th...

Image generated by Chat GPT Today in class the expression echo chamber came up . It's a term that you can come across quite often nowadays. I asked Chat GPT for other expressions that may come in handy . 1. Echo Chamber - an environment where a person only encounters information or opinions that reflect and reinforce their own. e.g. Social media algorithms often create echo chambers that limit exposure to diverse viewpoints. e.g. Living in an echo chamber can make people more resistant to opposing ideas. 2. Gaslighting - manipulating someone to question their reality. e.g. He was gaslighting her by denying events she clearly remembered. e.g. The politician was accused of gaslighting the public to cover up the scandal . 3. Virtue Signalling - demonstrating one's moral values to gain approval. e.g. Critics argued that the celebrity's tweet was mere virtue signalling. ¡e.g. There's a fine line between genuine advocacy and virtue signalling." 4. Cancel Cultur...