English in Madrid

Eight in 10 middle-aged Britons 'are overweight or exercise too little' Public Health England launches campaign aimed at 40 to 60-year-olds, 83% of whom weigh too much or drink above guidelines Eight out of 10 of middle-aged people in the UK weigh too much, drink too much or do not exercise enough, analysis from Public Health England (PHE) shows. Modern life is harming the health of the nation, according to the organisation, which has launched a campaign, One You, aimed at the 83% of 40 to 60-year-olds – 87% of men and 79% of women in this age bracket – who are overweight or obese, exceed the chief medical officer’s alcohol guidelines or are physically inactive. Obesity is one of the biggest problems for this group: 77% of men and 63% of women in middle age are overweight or obese. Obesity in adults has risen by 16% in the past 20 years. Research shows that many people cannot identify a healthy body, suggesting being overweight has become the new normal. Prof Sir...

Source:  dylan nolte on Unsplash The ultimate guide to 'El Gordo' - Spain's fat Christmas lottery   If you're puzzled by all the long queues   on streets around Spain in the lead-up to Christmas, then wonder no more. Welcome to Spain's unique 'El Gordo' (the Fat one) lottery, the richest in the world . Every year at Christmas, Spaniards go lottery mad , queuing for hours to buy tickets for the famous Christmas lottery and this year it is bigger than ever. The number of tickets on sale has risen by 5 million to 165 million meaning the 2016 prize money will total €2.31 billion ($2.46 billion), with the top individual prize, known as El Gordo (the Fat One), being €4 million. With the odds of winning at least something put at one in six, no wonder the Christmas lottery has a whole nation gripped . According to the 2015 stats, some 73.1 percent of the 34 million Spanish residents aged between 18 and 75 play the Spanish Christmas lottery. ...

I am testing different ways of creating quizzes. Try this one out. Review of Prepositions Choose the correct preposition (if one is needed). It depends __ the weather. of in on She is married __ an Italian. - with to We arrived __ the hotel very late. in at to Don't worry __ me. I'll be OK. about for to I'm still waiting __ a reply. for - to He's really good __ languages. in with at She spends a lot of money __ clothes. on in for I dreamt __ you last night. with about in We are thinking __ our jobs. to change in changing of changing She married __ her English teacher. to - with Review of Prepositions 2 Choose the correct preposition (if one is needed). What are you looking __? at - to I asked __ her __ a cigarette. - / for to / for - / - He reminds me __ my brother. about of - I borrowed some money __ my colleague. of to from What are you thinking __? of about in Who? I have ne...

Source: You Tube (Allegro) Key Words: Polish Christmas advert Polish Christmas advert about grandfather who learns English touches hearts around the world   Forget the John Lewis Christmas advert — this year's tear-jerker comes from Poland. Two and a half million people from around the globe have watched this year's advertisement from Allegro, an online auction website. It features a grandfather, who orders an "English for beginners" set from the website. He then sets about becom ing fluent, sticking Post-It notes around the house with English words on. The elderly gentleman even practices loudly on the bus, bemusing those around him. He seems particularly keen to learn how to introduce himself, and say "I love you" and "you are perfect". For those wondering why he is putting so much effort into learning English, the reasoning soon becomes clear. His son appeared to have moved to England, and married an English wom...

Source: Steve Harvey en Unsplash Charge the 'rich' to feed the poor: Madrid's Robin Hood homeless cafe  Charity restaurant makes money from customers by day to offer homeless people a dignified dining experience by night  A little before nine o’clock on Tuesday night, Antonio Gutiérrez found himself facing a welcome dilemma. Might he, a waitress asked, have room for a second helping of pudding? Gutiérrez, who had already seen off a plate of pasta, a fish stew and a slice of cake, gave it some thought. The option would have been unremarkable for most diners, but for him, it was entirely novel – as was the cafe in which he was eating. By day, the Robin Hood restaurant, which sits on a side street near the centre of Madrid, is a typical Spanish bar: coffee and croquetas, a fruit machine, cigarette machine, and a leg of ham dozing under a tea towel on the counter. But at night, it transforms itself into a pioneering place where homeless people such as Gutiérrez, 40,...