Javier’s English Corner

English Bites is a specific ESL section within the framework of Australia Network, which devotes a whole area of expertise to supporting websites and blogs related to ESL, in other words, learning English as a second language. I would like to recommend this site to advanced students like you, who would like to improve your listening comprehension skills with additional help for vocabulary, grammar and syntax. Do not worry about the Australian accent, as it is not difficult to understand at all. Besides, you will be broadening your knowledge of English accents (not only English people speak English, you know! wink, wink).

It is very easy to browse through the site. If you have a look at the picture above, you will notice three labels on the right. By clicking each one of them you will access specific videos which are always supported by very helpful explanations on vocabulary and the whole transcript just in case you need that extra help, or simply if there are some words you have trouble with.

Once you get to a specific programme, you will be given three options to watch it. You can download the full episode or you can stream it through Real Player or Windows Media Player. The best thing about it is that you can choose how you want to work with the video. For instance, if you feel confident enough, you can just have the video in front of you and you can try to see how much you can understand. However, if that proves too difficult, you can have the whole transcript in front of you along with very useful explanations on vocabulary and grammar.

Why don’t you give it a try? Click on the video below to watch an episode from November 2004 or go to this ACTIVITY page if you would like to access the original site where you can find the transcript for this episode and some vocabulary notes as well.

Can you think of a better way to say hello to the festive season other than taking part in a cooking contest? OK, smarty pants, we cannot, so as usual in our school around this time of year, some of our dear and dynamic students put their cooking skills to the test and regaled us with their specialities. We all had a great time, and after the final verdict to decide who the winners would be, our very own Luisa and Carmen gave away lots of goodies to all the students who had participated in our Christmas writing competitions.

We hope you like the pics, and I almost forgot: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

If you would like to see a slideshow about our celebration, click on the picture below

You can also watch a short video about our gathering right below

It was indeed a joyous evening and a fantastic prelude to the Holiday Season that we experienced yesterday, December 16, at Santa Eulalia’s parochial church in Luarca. The night was freezing cold, but Sjuwana Byers and The Children of God managed to warm up the atmosphere with their powerful gospel singing. Sjuwana’s exuberant personality got everybody clapping and moving to her rhythm and by the end of the concert the whole audience had surrendered to the touching qualities of this characteristically African-American music.

This concert proved the power of music, the way in which a combination of voices and rhythm can reach and grab you, even though you can’t understand the lyrics. My family and I had the privilege of attending a Pentecostal church service through the invitation of some dear friends of ours back in Philadelphia a couple of years ago, and it felt special to be able to experience that joyful spirit all over again in Luarca last night.

I would like to share with you a short video I recorded yesterday. I apologize in advance for its poor quality, but in my defence I have to say I used my photo camera, which has many limitations, but at least you will be able to hear the power of Sjuwana Byers’ group.