English in Madrid

Gay Teacher Fights to Get Catholic School Job Back A (1) P.E. teacher at an Ohio Catholic school is fighting to get her job back after being fired . Carla Hale worked at Bishop Watterson High School for 19 years —  the termination came after she published her partner’s name in her mother’s obituary back in February. A parent wrote an anonymous letter to The Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus saying they were surprised a parochial school would employ someone who contradicted the (2) of the church. Hale told NBC she had no problem putting her partner Julie’s name in her mother’s obituary. CARLA HALE: “I told Julie what I (3) done. She instantly questioned me and she said, ‘ Are you sure you want to do this?’” The Columbus Diocese has not publicly commented to any news outlets , but has given a (4) that said, “The Catholic Church respects the fundamental dignity of all persons but also must insist those in its employ respect the tenet...

Source:  Tim Mossholder en Unsplash Also Also is used to add an extra idea or emphasis. We don't usually start a sentence with "also". It goes before the main verb but after the verb "to be". I enjoy gardening. I also like to do crosswords in my spare time. Glasgow has two important football clubs. It  is also the most populated city in Scotland. Engineers blame $3m structural 'flaw' for Baltimore's Francis Scott Key bridge collapsing - and tens of thousands of bridges across US could also have fault https://t.co/daXbwjhDWP pic.twitter.com/4rs9y2ckNv — Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) March 26, 2024 Portrait of late Queen Elizabeth II with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and taken by Kate Middleton was also manipulated, picture agency reveals https://t.co/xEH7OZLXOH pic.twitter.com/UG4cocBV3q — Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) March 19, 2024 Too / As well Too / As well mean the same as "also" but go at the end o...

In Part 1 the examiner will ask you questions about yourself such as where you come from, your  studies, your job, your interests, your family and future plans. This part only lasts around 3 minutes. (90 seconds per student!) There are no complicated questions. Example questions: Where are you from? / Are you from Madrid? What do you like about living in Madrid? Can you tell me something about where you live? What do you do? / Do you have a job or do you study? What would you like to do when you finish university? Tell me about what you do in your spare time. What do you usually do at weekends? What did you do last weekend? Do you have any plans for the summer? Where are you going for your next holiday? Tell me something about your family. Do you have a big family? How long have you been learning English? Why are you doing the FCE exam? Tips: Never give one word / sentence answers like: yes, no, maybe, sometimes, I think so... Exam...

Source:   Henrikas Mackevicius   en   Pexels 'Raining money': Belgians urged to return stolen cash   Police are urging people from a small town in Belgium to return tens of thousands of euros in cash that were thrown out of a speeding car by thieves attempting to make a getaway. The incident occurred in the Flemish town of Zedelgem after the thieves stole a safe from a nearby house. The thieves threw the safe out the car to distract police officers. It broke open and passers-by grabbed 50-, 100- and 200-euro notes that were scattered. The thieves are still on the run.  'Raining money'   One man said he had picked up two rolls of 5,000 euros only to have a police officer grab them back, reports the BBC's Matthew Price.  Another said it was as if it was "raining money". The local prosecutor says it was "self service" as passers-by filled their pockets with the scattered cash. While some have returned the money, a considerable sum is ...

Buy a coffee for someone who can't afford it: The new donation scheme coming to cafes in the UK 'Suspended coffee' scheme taking off as big firms look to get involved  Idea began in Naples, Italy, and is quickly spreading across the globe  John Sweeney, a plumber from Cork, Ireland, coordinating social networking campaign It doesn't sound as enticing as a cappuccino, flat white or latte, but a new beverage called the 'suspended coffee' is set to take cafes across the country by storm. In a concept born in Naples, Italy, caffeine drinkers not only place their own regular order, they also request a second drink for someone who cannot afford to pay for their own. Source: Daily Mail Vocabulary : to afford - to take off (a business, an idea) - to spread - a plumber - enticing (adj) - a beverage - to be set to to take (the country) by storm - to request - to aim at - the homeless - out of work - broke (adj) - s...

Source: Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash Why not join me on Twitter? I think it is a useful tool for learning English and you never know, you might get to like it. The tweets (messages) can only be 140 characters long, so you won't be overwhelmed by vocabulary and it won't take you long to write something. I sometimes write silly tweets about my day: #LaLatina , normally teeming with people on a holiday, was deafeningly quiet. Pleasant lunch at matritum.es . Bit tipsy after wines. — Graham Mad Teacher (@madteacher72) 25 de julio de 2011 I've had one of those days when you get up with a feeling of DOOM AND GLOOM and the day ACTUALLY TURNS OUT TO BE a positive one :D — Graham Mad Teacher (@madteacher72) 26 de septiembre de 2011 You can reply to any of my tweets. If you write a tweet of your own, I will reply. I sometimes retweet: personality adjectives - an interactive crossword puzzle ow.ly/aSvJb #esl #esol #efl #twinglish #engpls — english247 (@engli...

Source: Felipe Bustillo on Unsplash   Here's a typical conversation between two friends deciding which film to see. Complete the conversation with suitable words. Take a note of the different ways of making suggestions. Allan: What are you  (1) to tonight? Karen: Nothing much. Why? Allan: Do you (2) like  go ing to the cinema? Karen: Yeah, I ’d love (3) . What’s (4)? Allan: Have you seen the (5) Tarantino film? It’s had some good (6) . Karen: His films are too violent for my liking . I ’d (7) see a comedy. Allan: (8) have a look in the paper. Allan: How (9) this one? It  (10) Hugh Grant. Karen: Oh, I can’t stand him. Is there nothing else? Allan: Do you (11) see ing an action movie? This one  (12) quite good. Karen: I ’m not very keen  (13) them. Sorry for be ing so (14) . Allan:  (15) we see this one then? It’s a documentary; they give it 4 stars. Karen: We could just rent a DVD – a ...

Source: Erica Magugliani on Unsplash Pet poll reveals owners' devotion Many UK pet owners prefer to hug their animals (1) than a close relative when feeling low, a poll for a social networking website suggests. Half of the 1,124 people quizzed for My Social Petwork said they acted in (2) a way and a third said they spend (3) to 30 days a year caring for their pets. One in five has cancelled social plans to be with their pet, March's survey conducted by OpinionMatters found. The website described (4) survey as the "UK's first pet census". The survey suggested that one in five pet owners regularly uses social networking sites Facebook or Twitter to share pet images, and 10% of people have taken their pet to occasions such as christenings or weddings. 'Healthy and happy' About 7% of owners have cancelled a date and 4% have called in sick to work (5) of their pets, the survey said. A quarter of UK pet owners said their pet was...

Here is a selection of Margaret Thatcher's. What is the right way to complete the quotes? " To be / Being  powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't."  "In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done / made , ask a woman." "Don't follow the crowd , let the crowd follow / to follow  you." "I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end / at the end ." "Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by / for  the traffic from both sides." "If my critics would see / saw me walking over the Thames, they would say it was because I couldn't swim." "I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument / discussion   left ." "If you just set out to be liked, you...

Source: Wikipedia (Antonio Zugaldia ) The Spanish Monarchy is making headlines yet (1). The King’s son-in-law, Iñaki Urdangarin announced his plans to move to Qatar — while he is still facing corruption charges in Spain. Last week, Urdangarin’s wife, princess Cristina, prompted international headlines after she was named a suspect in the Noos Institute corruption case — in (2) her husband is involved. (Via The New York Times ) “The former olympic handball player who holds the title of Duke of Palma, is accused (3) diverting millions of euros of public money meant for the non-profit organisation he controlled to private offshore accounts.” (Via Euronews ) Bloomberg reports, Urdangarin was offered a job working alongside Spanish handball coach Valero Rivera training Qatar’s national handball team. Rivera trained Urdangarin (4) 14 years when he was still a player on Barcelona’s handball team and also in the Spanish selection before he became Duke of Palm...

  Source: You Tube (Geoff Thompson) Key Words: Viva España Sylvia Y Viva España - Sylvia All the ladies fell for Rudolph Valentino He had a * beano back in those balmy days He knew every time you meet an icy creature You've got to teach her hot blooded latin ways But even Rudy would have felt the strain Of making smooth advances in the rain Oh this year I'm off to Sunny Spain Y Viva España I'm taking the Costa Brava 'plane Y Viva España If you'd like to chat a matador, in some cool cabaña And meet senoritas by the score , España por favor Quite by chance to hot romance I found the answer Flamenco dancers are by far the finest bet There was one who whispered oh hasta la vista Each time I kissed him behind the castanette He rattled his maracas close to me In no time I was trembling at the knee When they first arrive the girls are pink and pasty but oh so tasty as soon as they go brown I guess they know ev'ry fellow will be q...

What's the difference between remind and remember? If you remember a fact or something from the past , you ( by yourself ) keep it in mind, or bring it back to your mind: Can you remember what we did in the last class? He didn't remember that it was his parents' anniversary. I don't remember turn ing off the light.*                            Past                                                   Now _____ | _______________________________________ | _______ I turned /didn't turn            (then)      ...

Today is April Fools' Day - a day when most newspapers try to fool their readers by publishing an absurd story. Check out its origins and some of the stories by clicking on the April Fools' label (in left hand column or at the end of this post). Here  is a video and article about high-tech googles from the Guardian. First glass cabin: Virgin launch new jet with SEE-THROUGH floor Pioneering bosses at Virgin are introducing a jet with a glass floor to give passengers an uninterrupted view of the Earth from 30,000ft. It will offer an amazing “walking on air” experience, with the world at your feet. The plane has been commissioned as a one-off to join the airline’s new domestic Little Red fleet – flying once a day between Heathrow and Aberdeen. And it has been granted special permission to fly over Loch Ness for a unique view of the Scottish scenery. It is identical to the standard Airbus A320, apart from a special strip of aviation-grade glass in the underbelly, with baggage store...