A time to learn

Hello new students!

The course has started and now it's...

a) time to remember everything you learnt last year and have gradually forgotten over the long lazy summer, and...

b) time to learn new things, study and revise regularly, and in the case of 5th level students, time to make that extra effort in order to obtain the prized "nivell avançat" certificate to frame put on your sitting room wall.

To sweeten the moment, here is a song about time, and the moment for doing different things:Turn! Turn! Turn! by The Byrds, in my opinion one of the most beautiful songs in the world, so we can forgive them the pudding-bowl haircuts. A lot of you may know the song from the Forest Gump movie OST (original soundtrack).

The words were adapted from the book of Ecclesiastes by Pete Seeger in 1959.

Strangely enough, there's no mention of a time to study English, but that was probably because in biblical times English didn't exist yet, and then in the 60's people were too busy doing other things and studying was not a priority.

I chose this particular video in spite of the imagery (although some of you might like it) because of the lyrics., so as to make it easier for you to sing along.

Oh, see if you can spot the spelling mistake!

Enjoy!

The art of translation

Such a good, accurate translation, but somehow I get the impression that s/he didn't quite finish the job.

Passers-by unite to rescue trapped motorcyclist

It happened in Utah.

Read about it and watch the video here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14898430

Hats off, especially to the girl who seems to take the initiative.

Ten years later

I know the 11th of September is also an important date in Catalunya, but the events on 11-9-2001 in New York shocked the world and will have far-reaching implications for a long time to come.

CNN's coverage of the attacks and their consequences: here.

1 in 25 bosses is a psychopath

You probably suspected it already, but now you can be sure:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2032912/One-25-bosses-psychopath-hides-charm-business-speak.html

Back to school

For those of you who have "relaxed" too much this summer and need to refresh your memory, apart from the usual links in the right column, try one or more or all of these level tests.

http://www.learn4good.com/languages/english_level.htm

http://www.englishjet.com/english_courses_files/test_level.asp

http://www.pass-english-exams.com/en/courses/test.php