English in Madrid

Source: infobae.com have/get + object + past participle -   like a passive form i.e. someone else does the action / have is more formal. I neet to fix my oven. (You'll attempt to fix it yourself) I need to get my oven fixed . It hasn't been working for ages. (You'll ask someone to fix it for you) I should have my eyes tested again. I think I might need new glasses. I never have my hair cut . I save some money by cutting it myself. If you need to get something translated , I can do it for you. My parents are always having some room in the house redecorated . I remember how we used to get the newspapers and milk delivered to our house. If the bags under my eyes get much worse, I'll get them removed . Listen to the Grammar Challenge and practice the get/have something done structure here . Then create, like I have, some examples of your own. In  the first part  you will have the opportunity to listen to a lesson using the construction as well as prac...

Source:  Raychel Sanner en Unsplash Source: You Tube (Annabell98)   Key Words: Powter bad day Bad Day - Daniel Powter Where is the moment we needed the most You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost You tell me your blue skies fade to grey You tell me your passion's gone away And * I don't need no carryin' on You stand in the line just to hit a new low You're faking a smile with the coffee to go You tell me your life's been way off line You're falling to pieces every time And I don't need no carryin' on Because you had a bad day You're taking one down You sing a sad song just to turn it around You say you don't know You tell me don't lie You work at a smile and you go for a ride You had a bad day * The camera don't lie You're coming back down and you really don't mind You had a bad day You had a bad day Well, you need a blue sky holiday The point is they laugh at what you say And I don...

Source: Fredrik Öhlander on Unsplash   Sex-on-beach trial Britons guilty A British man and woman have been sentenced to three months in jail in Dubai after being found guilty of having sex on a beach. Michelle Palmer, 36, of Oakham, Rutland, and Vince Acors, 34, of Bromley, south-east London, were arrested on 5 July. They were fined 1,000 dirhams (£160; $350) and will be deported after serving their sentences . Their lawyer says the pair will appeal against the verdict. A spokesman for the judge said Acors and Palmer would be jailed and then deported for the offences of unmarried sex and public indecency. He added that they had been fined for being drunk in a public place. "The sentence of three months is usual in these cases. We get many cases of this kind," he said. Acors and Palmer were not at Dubai's Court of First Instance to hear the ruling but had been ordered not to leave the emirate. 'Not happy' Their defence law...

Source: cottonbro 106-year-old voter chooses Obama A 106-year-old American nun living in a convent in Rome could well be one of the oldest voters to cast a ballot in the 2008 US Presidential election. Sister Cecilia Gaudette, who last voted for President Eisenhower in 1952, has registered to vote and says she will vote for Democrat Barack Obama. Although hard of hearing , she keeps herself informed by reading newspapers and watching TV at the convent. "I'm encouraged by Senator Obama," she says. "I've never met him, but he seems to be a good man with a good private life. That's the first thing. Then he must be able to govern," she adds . Sitting in her modest office in the convent where she has lived for the past 50 years , the diminutive nun appears uninterested in the row inside the American Catholic church over Senator Obama's support for pro-choice policies on abortion. Asked about her hopes for the US under an Obama preside...

Source:  K. Mitch Hodge en Unsplash 105-year-old virgin says no sex the key to long life A woman celebrating her 105th birthday says that celibacy and staying single has been the key to her long life. Clara Meadmore, a retired secretary, who still has her own hair, teeth, and sharp wit , never had time for a family and lived alone until going into care . She said: "I've always had lots of platonic friendships with men but never felt the need to go further than that or marry." Miss Meadmore, who was born in Glasgow, and lived in Canada and New Zealand, before settling in Cornwall 40 years ago, also added that she had never had any interest in sex. "I imagine there is a lot of hassle involved and I have always been busy doing other things," she said. "When I was a girl you only had sex with your husband and I never married. I grew up in an era where little girls were to be seen and not heard so I had to learn to stand up for myself and earn my o...

Source:  Andrea Ferrario en Unsplash England veto Madrid for Spain tie The Football Association will not allow a planned friendly with Spain to be played at Madrid's Bernabeu stadium because of fears over racist abuse. Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips suffered racist abuse the last time England played there in 2004. "We are currently in talks with the Spanish Federation," said FA director of communications Adrian Bevington. "The FA were clear from the outset that we would not play the game in Madrid due to racial abuse we faced in 2004." England manager Fabio Capello had two spells as manager at Real Madrid, winning La Liga in 2007. "This fixture is one of the friendly games that Fabio Capello requested to play," added Bevington. "But as yet , a venue is still to be confirmed and the contract still to be signed. "Fabio is totally supportive of this fixture." The friendly would be an attractive game with Spai...

Source: Wikipedia (Caballero2015)   King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia preside over the military parade The royal couple took the salute in what was a smaller display than normal. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, together with the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, presided over the military parade on the Day of the Armed Forces yesterday. Also in attendance was the leader of the Partido Popular, Mariano Rajoy, who described the parade the previous day as a ‘coñazo’ – ‘ pain in the arse ’ – speaking without realis ing that a microphone was open and tape recorders were running . He later apologised for his comments. More than 4,600 soldiers took part in yesterday’s parade in the Plaza de Colón in Madrid, with the flags from 13 countries represented, including the United States. The Prince and Princess of Asturias were also in attendance and the Minister for Defence, Carme Chacón greeted the several Spanish missions abroad by video. The flypast was o...

Leona Lewis turns down £1million to open Harrods sale over fur Leona Lewis has reportedly turned down a £1million offer to open the sale at Harrods because the store sells fur. Celebrities including Victoria Beckham, Lily Allen, Eva Longoria and Christina Aguilera have all officially opened the sales in the past - after a parade around Knightsbridge in a horse-drawn carriage then given a private tour of the famous department store by owner Mohammed Fayed and first pick of the discounted selection. But Leona is said to have turned down the offer - and the seven figure pay packet - because the shop sells fur coats and accessories. Sex and the City’s Kim Cattrall is said to have been offered the job instead . The X Factor winner has been a vegetarian since the age of 12 and avoids all fur and leather. After be ing voted this year’s World’s Sexiest Vegetarian by animal rights group PETA , she explained: “I’m totally against animal cruelty. “I don’t have clothes, shoes...

Source: Foto de Taylor Wilcox en Unsplash Head teacher forced to use sign language at school of 24 nationalities Staff and pupils at a primary school where 26 different languages are spoken are learning sign language so they can communicate with each other. Of the 311 children at Fairlight Primary School in Brighton, East Sussex, 55 are from overseas , originating from a total of 24 countries. Between them, they speak 26 languages ranging from Spanish and Polish to Arabic and Mandarin Chinese. The school's new head teacher, Damien Jordan, realised he and the other teachers would struggle unless they found a way to communicate with all of the pupils, but it would be impossible for them to learn all the different languages. So he and his staff have learned how to use the basics of Makaton , a form of signing that involves speech and facial expressions as well as gestures, and are now using it in classes with children as well. Recent figures show one in seven primary...

Source:  Daria Nepriakhina 🇺🇦 en Unsplash Italy pupils ditch books for PCs Pupils at a school in Italy are replacing all their text books with computers for a year - in what is being described as a unique  experiment. More than 60 children - aged between eight and 10 - at Turin's Don Milani school will be using mini laptops with the full curriculum. Their access to the internet will be controlled by special software. The experiment, which is backed by parents, aims to test how a computer alone can improve the learning process. Cheaper alternative Until Wednesday, the Don Milani di Rivoli elementary school was like any other in Italy. Children turned up , got out their books and pens and began the process of learning. But now, 60 fifth grade pupils and a number of third graders will start using computers only. The mini laptops, which run Windows software, weigh less than a kilogram, can be dropped from a height of one-and-a-half metres and are waterpro...

Source:  John Thomas en Unsplash This is one of the songs that I sing in the shower from time to time , or hum going along the street to cheer myself up . I don't think they make cartoons like they used to. What songs do you whistle or hum? Source: You Tube  Key words: bare necessities jungle book Look for the bare necessities The simple bare necessities Forget about your worries and your strife I mean the bare necessities Old Mother Nature's recipes That brings the bare necessities of life Wherever I wander , wherever I roam I couldn't be fond er  of my big home The bees are buzzin' in the tree To make some honey just for me When you look under the rocks and plants And take a glance at the fancy ants Then maybe try a few The bare necessities of life will come to you They'll come to you! Look for the bare necessities The simple bare necessities Forget about your worries and your strife I mean the bare necessities That's w...