This Week's Festival

Notting Hill, London

Europe's biggest street festival, the Caribbean inspired Notting Hill carnival, takes over the west London district for its second and final day. For more images, click here.

 

Source: The Guardian newspaper

This Week's Question

"That's one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind"

Was Neil Armstrong a real hero? What do you think? Read this article from The Guardian. Do you agree?

This Week's Activities

Here are some activities to help you get ready for the new academic year!

Every text that we read, write or speak is made up of different elements which should form a coherent whole if we are to be understood. First, click on a link below appropriate for your level. Next, select a lesson and then, choose a text. Read the text. After that, take out some of the words. Finally, type in the missing words to rebuild the text again. How quickly can you do it?

 

Elementary

http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/elementary/g_ef_elem_builder?cc=us&selLanguage=en

 

Pre-intermediate

http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint/g_ef_pre_builder?cc=global&selLanguage=en

 

Intermediate

http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/intermediate/g_textbuilder?cc=us&selLanguage=en

 

Intermediate Plus

http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/intplus/g_textbuilder?cc=us&selLanguage=en

 

Upper Intermediate

http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/upperint/i_textbuilder?cc=global&selLanguage=en

Source: OUP

This Week's Idiomatic Expression

"Till the cows come home!"

Cows coming home after milking is still a
typical scene in rural Ireland

"Until the cows come home" is an idiomatic expression which means, "for a very long period of time." Here are some examples: "The party wasn't over until the cows came home;" "You can diet until the cows come home, but if you don't stop eating chocolate and icecream, you won't lose any weight."

One of our student-friends sent us a very amusing quote from Groucho Marx. In it, Groucho has changed this expression to create a humorous effect. Look:

"I could dance with you till the cows come home. Better still, I'll dance with the cows and you come home."



Do you know which film this quotation is from?

This Week's Quote

Groucho Marx

"I find television very educational: when someone turns it on, I go to another room and read a book."

This Week's Space

Use this link to access a 360º panorama from the Mars Curiosity Rover; it's amazing!

This Week's Petition

If you think the Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas form an important part of our quality state education system, please sign here.

This Week's News

Las Escuelas de Idiomas de Canaria temen el cierre de centros

Los profesores denuncian que las nuevas medidas del Gobierno de Rajoy supondrá a la larga la privatización de estos centros públicos

You can read the article from La Provincia here.