French Open Tennis

 

An advert for Haier, made as part of their French Open tennis sponsorship, seems to me to provide an excellent listening practice for your students (especially those who play tennis). I'd suggest you play it without pictures as a listening practice first.

https://youtu.be/BU3pzih9PKU

And while you're here... have you ever wondered what living and teaching in Spain was really like...?

“The detailed way Dean has described the atmosphere of this little city in Spain is magnificent.” Salford University, The Salfordian.

Click below for free sample chapters:

  Zen Kyu Maestro      Cucarachas eBook paperback 

Saber es Empezar a Evitarlo

Warning - this is a very graphic video from the Spanish Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) I'd advise you to watch it before deciding whether or not to show it to your classes.

There are also posters and text for translation and/or discussion.

https://www.dgt.es/comunicacion/campanas/los-atropellos-mas-famosos/

In Spain We Call it Igualdad

 

A recent Gobierno de España resources pack with posters and video on the theme of equality for women. Lots of good reading, listening and discussion resources for MFL Spanish lessons.

WEBSITE

IGUALDAD video

And while you're here... have you ever wondered what living and teaching in Spain was really like...?

“The detailed way Dean has described the atmosphere of this little city in Spain is magnificent.” Salford University, The Salfordian.

Click below for free sample chapters:

  Zen Kyu Maestro      Cucarachas eBook paperback

May 2nd, International Day Against School Bullying

Such an important message - here's an excellent video for use in your MFL classes, showing the upside of not joining in the bullying as it starts.

Bullying 

If you like the blog, why not read the eBooks? Zen Kyu Maestro: An English Teacher's Spanish Adventure, (Monday Books) available from Amazon. 

And the sequel: Cucuruchos or Cucurachas? An English Teacher's Spanish Dilemma, eBook or paperback from Amazon.

Two years in the life of an English teacher, teaching a class of lively Spanish seven-year-olds, in English, in Spain.

What could possibly go wrong?

“The detailed way Dean has described the atmosphere of this little city in Spain is magnificent.” Salford University, The Salfordian.

Click below for free sample chapters:

  Zen Kyu Maestro      Cucarachas eBook paperback

Yo Me Vacuno Seguro

 You might find these three health education videos (from the Spanish Ministerio de Sanidad) useful for your students to translate:

Vera Enfermera

Juan Jubilado

Sonía Viróloga

If you like the blog, why not read the eBooks? Zen Kyu Maestro: An English Teacher's Spanish Adventure, (Monday Books) available from Amazon. 

And the sequel: Cucuruchos or Cucurachas? An English Teacher's Spanish Dilemma, eBook or paperback from Amazon.

Two years in the life of an English teacher, teaching a class of lively Spanish seven-year-olds, in English, in Spain.

What could possibly go wrong?

“The detailed way Dean has described the atmosphere of this little city in Spain is magnificent.” Salford University, The Salfordian.

Click below for free sample chapters:

  Zen Kyu Maestro      Cucarachas eBook paperback

Científicas: el Comic

Científicas: el Comic is an interesting, 17-page 'comic' telling the stories of a number of the most famous female scientists in history: Hypatia, Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin, Hedy Lamarr.

A must for anyone interested in Spanish, science and feminism.

Downloadable as a colour PDF from the following site:

https://institucional.us.es/cientificas/comic/

I've written two books about life teaching Spanish children in English.

There are free sample chapters available to download from the Amazon page. Click on the covers to find them.

"This (Zen Kyu Maestro) hugely entertaining compilation of stories and experiences is a must-read for anyone interested in travelling the world and experiencing other cultures. Positive and inspiring." University of East Anglia, Concrete Magazine.

El Roto Cartoon from el País

 

El Roto is my favourite Spanish political cartoonist. He appears in El País every weekday. Here are some recent offerings to give you a taste of his style. The link I provide is for the El País in English page where you'll find more of his work. I thought the English page would be useful for students who might want to follow el Roto, as it gives a helpful English translation should they get stuck with anything. 

Why not have an el Roto cartoon up on your IWB as children enter your class? It could be a good 'settling' activity.

Here's the link: https://english.elpais.com/news/opinion/

Way back in 2014 (gulp!) I blogged some of my favourite el Roto cartoons. Here's the link to that:

http://spain4exams.blogspot.com/2014/12/vinetas-el-humor-negro.html

More recent Roto:

I've written two books about life teaching Spanish children in English.

There are free sample chapters available to download from the Amazon page. Click on the covers to find them.

"This (Zen Kyu Maestro) hugely entertaining compilation of stories and experiences is a must-read for anyone interested in travelling the world and experiencing other cultures. Positive and inspiring." University of East Anglia, Concrete Magazine.

Zen Kyu Maestro available as an eBook - Cucarachas or Cucuruchos (the sequel) available as an eBook or paperback.

¿Cómo usar la mascarilla de forma segura?

 

Hi again,

Another short Covid video from the Spanish Health dept on the correct use of masks. 

Hide the picture and use it as a listening-practice quiz.

Stay safe!

Cómo usar la mascarilla de forma segura 

If you want to know what it's like living and working (as a teacher) in Spain, why not read Zen Kyu Maestro: An English Teacher's Spanish Adventure, (Monday Books) available from Amazon, or Cucarachas or Cucuruchos: An English Teacher's Spanish Dilemma the sequel? Both available as eBooks, Cucarachas also as a paperback edition, from Amazon. 

There are free sample chapters available to download from the Amazon page. Click on the covers to find them.

Historia de un Brote

 

Spain's Ministerio de Sanidad have produced a simple little public information film warning about how easy it is to spread covid and how wide-reaching the consequences can be. 

It's just over two minutes long but is ideal to use as a stop-start translation exercise and/or discussion-starter on Covid.

¡Quedaos seguros!

Here's the link:

Historia de un Brote.

If you want to know what it's like living and working (as a teacher) in Spain, why not read Zen Kyu Maestro: An English Teacher's Spanish Adventure, (Monday Books) available from Amazon, or Cucarachas or Cucuruchos: An English Teacher's Spanish Dilemma the sequel? Both available as eBooks, Cucarachas also as a paperback edition, from Amazon. 

There are free sample chapters available to download from the Amazon page. Click on the covers to find them.

Spain's Radar Covid App: It might not be 'world beating' but it works.

 I'm sure the Coronavirus will be a hot topic during this term, so here's a reading and video resource which your students might find interesting. It's El País's report on Spain's Radar Covid app which is the fastest downloading app in Spain atm. There's a lot of detail on how it works and a nice promotional video near the bottom of the page. My wife and I have both downloaded it - it even has the option to work in English! (Which we don't use.)

Stay safe everyone!

Radar Covid app

If you want to know what it's like living and working (as a teacher) in Spain, why not read Zen Kyu Maestro: An English Teacher's Spanish Adventure, (Monday Books) available from Amazon, or Cucarachas or Cucuruchos: An English Teacher's Spanish Dilemma the sequel? Both available as eBooks, Cucarachas also as a paperback edition, from Amazon. There are free sample chapters available to download from the Amazon page. Click on the pictures to find them.

Me llamo Bond, Santi Bond...

No, it just doesn't have the same ring, does it? Santiago might be the Spanish version of James, but I don't think it's going to stick to 007.

XL Semanal, a popular weekly Spanish magazine, have recently published two Bond-related articles: an interview with Daniel Craig plus some snaps and brief notes on each of his 007 films. Useful reading exercises for any Bond fans. 

Here they are:

Daniel Craig interview XLSemanal

15 years of Craig as Bond


If you want to know what it's like living and working (as a teacher) in Spain, why not read Zen Kyu Maestro: An English Teacher's Spanish Adventure, (Monday Books) available from Amazon, or Cucarachas or Cucuruchos: An English Teacher's Spanish Dilemma the sequel? Both available as eBooks, Cucarachas also as a paperback edition, from Amazon.

  
For free sample chapters:

 of Zen Kyu Maestro, click HERE.

Cucarachas paperback, click HERE.

Cucarachas eBook, click HERE.

El Gordo 2019 Videos

The Spanish Lotería de Estado has launched its annual Xmas lottery video publicity campaign. This time there are four videos telling heart-warming stories which your students might find useful listening opportunities.

Here's a link to the official site:
https://www.laloterianavidad.com/videos/

Also an article from El País newspaper discussing this year's campaign as reading practice:
https://elpais.com/cultura/2019/11/14/television/1573726006_744458.html

I've already got my décimo so, buena suerte a todos!

If you like the blog, why try the books?

Zen Kyu Maestro: An English Teacher's Spanish Adventure, 
(a Monday Books eBook) available from Amazon.  

Cucarachas or Cucuruchos? An English Teacher's Spanish Dilemma. eBook or paperback from Amazon.

The first years of an English teacher, teaching a class of lively Spanish seven-year-olds, in English, in Spain.

What could possiobly go wrong?

“The detailed way Dean has described the atmosphere of this little city in Spain is magnificent.” Salford University, The Salfordian.

 For free sample chapters:

 of Zen Kyu Maestro, click HERE.

Cucarachas paperback, click HERE.

Cucarachas eBook, click HERE.

Alguien Quiere Brunch?

English is well known for 'borrowing' words from other languages, or simply inventing new ones, but Spanish is not usually considered to be such a 'magpie' language. In the following article (link below,) el Mundo newspaper outlines some of the latest additions to Spain's Real Academia Española (RAE) (digital) dictionary, the 'bible' of castellano, the Spanish language. 

So, anyone for a Spanish 'brunch'?

elmundo.es

If you like the blog, why try the books?

Zen Kyu Maestro: An English Teacher's Spanish Adventure, 
(a Monday Books eBook) available from Amazon.  

Cucarachas or Cucuruchos? An English Teacher's Spanish Dilemma. eBook or paperback from Amazon.

The first years of an English teacher, teaching a class of lively Spanish seven-year-olds, in English, in Spain.

What could possiobly go wrong?

“The detailed way Dean has described the atmosphere of this little city in Spain is magnificent.” Salford University, The Salfordian.

 For free sample chapters:

 of Zen Kyu Maestro, click HERE.

Cucarachas paperback, click HERE.

Cucarachas eBook, click HERE.

Back to School Ham.

Yes, it's true! A certain Spanish supermarket near to me is offering 'Back to School Hams' to beef up the children (and their teachers?) It promises to make 120 sarnies!

It might be a little translation exercise to keep your students amused.

¡Que rico!

If you enjoyed this resource, you might like to read about my first two years here in Spain as an immersion teacher of a class of Spanish primary children. 

Zen Kyu Maestro: An English Teacher´s Spanish Adventure is published as an eBook by Monday Books. There´s a free sample chapter available to download here: Zen Kyu Maestro 

Cucarachas or Cucuruchos: An English Teacher's Spanish Dilemma is available an eBook and paperback. Free Sample chapter here: Cucarachas

Also, you can keep up with my current observations on life as an ex-pat teacher in Spain, as well as thoughts on the Spanish and English languages on my blog: zen kyu maestro...teacher in Spain or follow me on Twitter (@JeremyJoseDean) and/or Facebook (Jeremy Jose Dean).

Acoso Escolar: Bullying

Here's a reading/translation/discussion resource from Argentina which your students might find interesting.

It comes from the following website where you might find some more resources. Do let me know if you find it useful: https://libresdebullying.wordpress.com/

JJD

If you enjoyed this resource, you might like to read about my first year here in Spain as an immersion teacher of a class of Spanish primary children. Zen Kyu Maestro: An English Teacher´s Spanish Adventure is published as an eBook by Monday Books. There´s a free sample chapter available to download here: Zen Kyu Maestro

 Also, you can keep up with my current observations on life as an ex-pat teacher in Spain, as well as thoughts on the Spanish and English languages on my blog: zen kyu maestro...teacher in Spain or follow me on Twitter (@JeremyJoseDean) and/or Facebook (Jeremy Jose Dean).

New Season... (or should that be, New School Year?)

Hola otra vez. So the World Cup is over and a new season, I mean term, begins. The season didn't start well for my local team, Villarreal, they lost 1-2 at home to Real Sociedad. But it was what I found on my seat as I arrived for the match that forms the resource for this post.

Unlike the Premiership, LaLiga is introducing VAR this season. Here's the leaflet explaining how VAR will operate. I hope any football-mad students you have will enjoy translating it.

Also, LaLiga has produced a number of short videos explaining how VAR is going to work, here's the link you might wish to use in class, or pass on to your students to view as homework: https://www.laliga.es/var

If you enjoyed this resource, you might like to read about my first year here in Spain as an immersion teacher of a class of Spanish primary children. Zen Kyu Maestro: An English Teacher´s Spanish Adventure is published as an eBook by Monday Books. There´s a free sample chapter available to download here: Zen Kyu Maestro

 Also, you can keep up with my current observations on life as an ex-pat teacher in Spain, as well as thoughts on the Spanish and English languages on my blog: zen kyu maestro...teacher in Spain or follow me on Twitter (@JeremyJoseDean) and/or Facebook (Jeremy Jose Dean).

Estamos más cerca de lo que creemos...

Saw this ad in the cinema the other night. Yes, it's coke; yes, it's a huge generalisation; yes, I've seen at least one other version (for Argentinians, not Spaniards) but... I live in Spain and it just felt 'right'.

I've certainly been kissed, squeezed, stroked and pawed (by males and females) much more than I'd ever experienced in the UK. Well, actually, aside from close relatives and my wife, I don't think I'd ever been kissed, squeezed, stroked or pawed at all in the UK. (And certainly never by the parents of children in my class!) There's certainly something to the sentiment of this ad that you can (quite literally) 'feel' if you live here.

Your students can debate all the issues, at a minimum I'd say it's an entertaining intro to the topic. I also enclose a newspaper article which co-incided with the release.

¡Y feliz año nuevo a todos!

JJD

Estamos más cerca de lo que creemos...

Spanish newspaper article 

 If you enjoyed this resource, you might like to read about my first year here in Spain as an immersion teacher of a class of Spanish primary children. Zen Kyu Maestro: An English Teacher´s Spanish Adventure is published as an eBook by Monday Books. There´s a free sample chapter available to download here: Zen Kyu Maestro

 Also, you can keep up with my current observations on life as an ex-pat teacher in Spain, as well as thoughts on the Spanish and English languages on my blog: zen kyu maestro...teacher in Spain or follow me on Twitter (@JeremyJoseDean) and/or Facebook (Jeremy Jose Dean).

The Spanish Word-of-the-Year 2017 is...

Here's a video (and some other resources - including an excellent 'gráfico interactivo') of the 12 finalists for Spanish word-of-the-year, as suggested by FundéuBBVA.

The winner will be chosen on December 29th.

fundeu.es/palabra-del-año/2017/
 

If you enjoyed this resource, you might like to read about my first year here in Spain as an immersion teacher of a class of Spanish primary children. Zen Kyu Maestro: An English Teacher´s Spanish Adventure is published as an eBook by Monday Books. There´s a free sample chapter available to download here: Zen Kyu Maestro
 Also, you can keep up with my current observations on life as an ex-pat teacher in Spain, as well as thoughts on the Spanish and English languages on my blog: zen kyu maestro...teacher in Spain or follow me on Twitter (@JeremyJoseDean) and/or Facebook (Jeremy Jose Dean).

Zadie Smith, Entrevista en el Mundo

Here's an interview with novelist Zadie Smith, recently published in el Mundo, for your students to translate. It's a wide-ranging piece which includes references to her latest book, Swing Time.

Zadie Smith: Swing Time

If you enjoyed this resource, you might like to read about my first year here in Spain as an immersion teacher of a class of Spanish primary children. Zen Kyu Maestro: An English Teacher´s Spanish Adventure is published as an eBook by Monday Books. There´s a free sample chapter available to download here: Zen Kyu Maestro
 Also, you can keep up with my current observations on life as an ex-pat teacher in Spain, as well as thoughts on the Spanish and English languages on my blog: zen kyu maestro...teacher in Spain or follow me on Twitter (@JeremyJoseDean) and/or Facebook (Jeremy Jose Dean).