Of Virtues and Sins / De Virtudes y Pecados

                                                        

OF VIRTUES AND SINS / DE VIRTUDES Y PECADOS

Most people have heard of the Seven Deadly Sins, but not that many know there are Seven Heavenly Virtues.

La mayoría de la gente ha oído hablar de los Siete Pecados Capitales, pero pocos saben que hay Siete Virtudes Celestiales.

These virtues are the counterpart of the sins. Against Pride, we have Humility, against Envy, there is Charity, Generosity is the opposite of Greed, Patience counters Wrath, Diligence fights Sloth, Temperance controls Gluttony and Chastity defies Lust.

Estas virtudes son la contrapartida de los pecados. Contra la Soberbia, está la Humildad, contra la Envidia, existe la Caridad, la Generosidad es lo opuesto a la Avaricia, la Paciencia pone fin a la Ira, la Diligencia lucha contra la Pereza, la Templanza controla la Gula y la Castidad desafía a la Lujuria.

However, the important thing to keep in mind here if you are seeking perfection is moderation, for as Aristotle said, the virtues are the midpoints between extremes. An excess of a good trait may also be a defect.

Sin embargo, lo importante a tener en cuenta si buscas la perfección es la moderación, puesto que como dijo Aristoteles, las virtudes son el punto medio entre dos extremos. Un exceso de una buena cualidad también puede ser un defecto.

Thus, too much Humility can become Self-loathing, an excess of Charity can become Servilism, an excess of Generosity tends to Wastefulness, too much Patience can lead to Apathy, exaggerated Temperance may lead to Deficiency, excessive Diligence can turn into Workaholism and Chastity can degenerate into Prudishness. 

Así, demasiada Humildad puede redundar en Autodesprecio, un exceso de Caridad puede acabar siendo Servilismo, demasiada Generosidad tiende al Derroche, el exceso de Paciencia acaba en Apatía, la Templanza exagerada puede traer la Deficiencia, demasiada Diligencia se convierte en Adicción al Trabajo y la Castidad excesiva puede degenerar en Pudibundez.

Here are two writing activities you can practice if you are…DILIGENT!

Aquí tenéis dos ideas para escribir sobre virtudes y pecados si es que sois…¡DILIGENTES!

1. What about your character? Which of these sins is your weakness? Which of these virtues is your strength? / ¿Y tu carácter? ¿Cuál de estos pecados es tu debilidad? ¿Cuál de las virtudes es tu fuerte?

2. Write a short story-like example of each sin and /or its corresponding virtue. For example:  Leoncio never does his homework because he is a lazy bum. His cousin Baudelio, who is in the same class as he is, is a grind who worries a lot about Leoncio, to the point of even doing their homework twice so Leoncio will have something to hand their teachers. Though he is in truth left-handed, Baudelio can write with both his hands and he fakes what passes for Leoncio’s handwriting with his right hand. Is Baudelio diligent or workaholic?  / Escribe una historieta cortita que sirva de ejemplo de cada pecado y virtud opuesta. Por ejemplo: Leoncio nunca hace sus deberes porque es un vago inmundo. Su primo Baudelio, que está en la misma clase que él en el cole, es un empollón que se preocupa muchísimo por Leoncio y que hace los deberes dos veces para que Leoncio tenga algo que entregar a sus maestros. Aunque en realidad es zurdo, Baudelio puede escribir con ambas manos y falsifica la letra que pasa por ser de Leoncio con su mano derecha. ¿Es Baudelio diligente o un adicto al trabajo?

We found the images that illustrate this post on Images from the Internet. The image of the sins has animales represent each sin, that of the virtues is by Pollaiolo and by Boticelli, and that of Aristotle is part of a painting by Raphael. 

Encontramos las imágenes que ilustran esta entrada en Imágenes de Internet. La imagen de los pecados representa a cada pecado con un animal, la de las virtudes es de Pollaiolo y de Boticelli, la de Aristóteles es parte de un cuadro de Rafael.  

The mini myth of Summanus / El mini mito de Sumano

 

Long time no see. 

Hace mucho que no nos vemos. 

Today, I want to tell you about Summanus. 

Hoy os quiero hablar de Sumano.

Summanus was a god of Etruscan origin who had his own temple in Rome. Originally, his image could be found in a temple dedicated to Jupiter. One day, lightning struck the temple, landing on the head of the image of Summanus. The head fell into the river Tiber where it was eventually found by people who believed that all this meant Summanus wanted his own temple. And they gave it to him. Summanus was god of nocturnal thunder. He didn't make noise at night to molest or frighten people. He made it to warn people that storms and floods might be about to happen and that they should get up and go keep safe anything they valued that could be 

damaged by these natural disasters. Grateful people would offer Summanus cakes shaped like wheels. 

I love those cakes, which are called summanalia. I think my wife and I should make some one of these days. We will need flour, milk and honey. 

Sumano era un dios de origen etrusco que tenía su propio templo en Roma. Originalmente, su imagen se encontraba en un templo dedicado a Júpiter. Un día, un rayo cayó sobre ese templo, concretamente sobre la cabeza de Sumano que se desprendió y acabó en el río Tiber. Las personas que encontraron la cabeza pensaron que esto significaba que Sumano debía tener su propio templo, y le hicieron uno. Sumano era el dios de los truenos nocturnos. No metía ruido para molestar ni para asustar a la gente. Lo metía para advertir a los mortales que era probable que hubiesen tormentas e inundaciones y que sería mejor que se levantasen y pusiesen a salvo todo lo que valoraban y que podrían estropear estos desastres naturales. En agradecimiento, los devotos de Sumano le ofrecían pasteles con forma de rueda. Me encantan esos pastelitos, que se llaman sumanalias. Creo que mi mujer y yo deberíamos hacer algunos un día de estos. Necesitaremos harina, leche y miel.   

Write a composition of about a hundred words telling us about the worst storm you have been in. Or, if you are afraid of thunder or were so as a child, tell us about this fear. 

Escribe una redacción de unas cien palabras sobre la peor tormenta que has soportado. O, si tienes miedo de los truenos o lo tenías cuando eras pequeño/a, cuéntanos sobre este miedo. 

There is a great article about roman cakes in facebook, and we found this image in it. We´ll try to find a recipe for summanalia. 

Hay un gran artículo sobre pastelitos romanos en facebook, y encontramos esta imagen ahí. Intentaremos encontrar la receta de las sumanalias.  

 

What's a pumpkin? /¿Qué es una calabaza?

 Tiny writing exercise for beginners  

It’s not in verse, but it’s still a poem of sorts. Pumpkins are one of the elements of October and the fall season. Write some lines in the style of these about another of those elements, such as falling leaves,  black cats, spiders, creeping things, the moon, the harvest, birds that leave, candy, chestnuts and so forth.

What is a pumpkin?

Pumpkin in the seed, plant a promise in a patch,

Pumpkin in the patch, beautiful yellow, white and pink flowers,

Pumpkin sprang from flower, orange ball of fire,

Pumpkin on kitchen window sill, pie or cake tonight,

Pumpkin turned lantern, on dark paths the light.

 

Pequeño ejercicio de escritura para principiantes

No está en verso, pero no deja de ser una especie de poema. Las calabazas son un elemento propio de octubre y del otoño. Escribe unas líneas en el estilo de estas sobre otro de esos elementos, tales como hojas caídas, gatos negros, arañas, cosas que reptan, la luna, la cosecha, castañas, pájaros que emigran, dulces, y más.

¿Qué es una calabaza?

Calabaza en una semilla, promesa que hay que plantar,

Calabaza en huerto, hermosas flores amarillas, rosas y blancas,

Calabaza que brotó de una flor, naranja bola de fuego,

Calabaza en alféizar de ventana de cocina, empanada o tarta esta noche,

Calabaza convertida en linterna, iluminadora de caminos oscuros.

Mediaeval Markets / Mercadillos Medievales



I love mediaeval markets. This weekend there was one in my hometown. On Thursday afternoon, I passed by Main Square and they were putting up the stalls for the vendors and their wares. I didn't have much money with me, but, luckily, I live near Main Square, so I went home for more. That same night I was able to buy some of the stuff sold in the market.

Me encantan los mercadillos medievales. Este fin de semana hubo uno en mi ciudad. El jueves por la tarde pasé por la Plaza Mayor y estaban levantando los puestos para los vendedores y sus mercancías. No llevaba mucho dinero, pero afortunadamente vivo cerca de la Plaza Mayor y me fui a casa a por más. Esa misma noche pude comprar algunas de las cosas que vendían en el mercadillo.

There were many different stalls. Most of them sold trinkets and lovely silver jewellery. But there were also stalls that sold Spanish and Morrocan pottery, colourful clothes and scarfs, leather bags, lamps and decorations for your house. My favorite stand is the one that sells herbs that can cure all kinds of ailments. It smells so magical and exotic. I also like the stand that sells many coloured soaps with different properties.



Habia muchos puestos diferentes. La mayoría vendían joyería de plata y otros abalorios. Pero también había puestos de cerámica española y marroquí, ropa y pañuelos con mucho colorido, bolsos de cuero, lámparas y decoraciones para tu casa. Mi puesto favorito es el de hierbas que pueden curar todos los males. Huele tan mágico y exótico. También me gusta el que vende jabones de muchos colores y distintas propiedades.

 People who are into bearing weapons even with their teeth could buy fine knives and swords.

 Las personas que gustan de armarse hasta los dientes podían hacerse con buenos cuchillos y espadas.


You can also buy food in these kinds of markets. There was a candy stand with lots of gumdrop style sweets of varied colors and flavors. There were stands that sold cheese, olives and huge loaves of bread. There was another with cakes and pies, both sweet and salty. You could also buy potato chips and pita sandwiches and crepes. A little further off, in the neighbouring park, you could have Moroccan cookies and tea or enjoy barbecued meats and cocktails. 

También puedes comprar comida en estos mercadillos. Había un puesto de chuches con caramelos tipo gominola de variados colores y sabores. Había puestos que vendían  olivas, queso y enormes hogazas de pan. Había un puesto con tartas y empanadas dulces y saladas. También podías comprar patatas fritas y sandwiches de pan pita y crepas. Un poco más alla, en el parque contiguo, podías tomar pastas marroquíes y té o disfrutar de carnes y embutidos a la barbacoa y cócteles.

There were mediaeval musicians roving about playing music of the period, there were games for kids and a puppet show and other spectacles.

Había músicos medievales paseando y tocando música de la época, juegos para niños y un teatro de títeres y otros espectáculos.

I returned the next day and the day after that and bought even more stuff than the first, including seven pendants (one for each day of the week),  a little jade instrument to massage your face with (because it is pretty), a lamp with the shape of an owl (for Halloween, it will soon be here) a fat little wooden owl (to keep the first company), and lots of Moroccan cookies (I was expecting visitors for tea).



Yo volví al día siguiente y al siguiente a ese y compré incluso más cosas que el primer día, incluyendo siete colgantes (uno para cada día de la semana), un pequeño instrumento de jade para masajear la cara (porque es muy mono), una lampara con forma de buho (para Halloween, que está a la vuelta de la esquina), un buho gordito de madera (para hacerle compañia al primero) y montones de pastas marroquíes (porque esperaba que viniesen visitas a tomar el té). 

The only thing I didn't like was a toy salesman, who was mean and wouldn't let me take a picture of the toys he was selling. But not all toy salesmen are unfriendly. So don't let what I said keep you from buying toys at  mediaeval markets. Tonight, they will still be there, so maybe if you haven't been there, you can still make it. You'll have a good time. 

Lo único que no me gustó fue un vendedor de juguetes que fue desagradable y no me dejó hacer una foto de los juguetes que vendía. Pero no todos los vendedores de juguetes son antipáticos. Así que no dejeís de comprar juguetes en los mercados medievales por lo que he dicho. Esta noche siguen allí, así que a lo mejor, si no has ido ya, todavía puedes pasar por el mercadillo. Te lo pasarás bien.

Speaking English to Skip Queues / Hablar inglés para colarse

Sancho Panza 

I´m going to tell you one more thing speaking English is good for. It occurred to me to go to the airport at Barajas to see off a friend who was emigrating in search of a job. I travelled to Madrid by Avant and from the train station at Atocha went to the airport at Barajas by a special bus that follows this route. This bus is quite convenient and costs only two euros, but most of the time it is very crowded with people and luggage. If the owners of the luggage are rude and impolite, they don´t place their suitcases in the space reserved for them but put them on the seats next to the ones they occupy, thus forcing other passengers to ride standing or put up a fight for their rights the result of which depends on the fortune of war. But what surprises me the most is the shameless ease with which some people manage to avoid the very long queues to get on the bus.

Os voy a contar una cosa más para la que sirve el inglés. Se me ocurrió ir a Barajas a despedir a un amigo que ha tenido que emigrar para encontrar trabajo. Fui a Madrid en el Avant y de Atocha a Barajas en un autobús especial que hace este recorrido. Está bien el tal autobús, y sólo vale dos euros, pero las más de las veces va muy lleno de gente y de maletas. Si los dueños de las maletas son maleducados, no las colocan en los espacios para las maletas. Las colocan directamente en los asientos que están junto a los que ellos ocupan, obligando a los demás pasajeros a ir de pie o a pelear por sus derechos, dependiendo el resultado del conflicto de la fortuna de la guerra. Pero lo que más me chocó es lo hábiles que son algunas personas para saltarse las colas larguísimas que a veces se forman para subir a estos autobuses.

I was able to see how this works on my way back to Atocha from Barajas. One of these buses slammed its doors right in my nose, thus placing me in the enviable position of first in the queue for the next bus. Being in this privileged position, I was able to learn how some people get to sneak in before others who should rightfully go first. First three fine and elegant gentlemen ignored the queue and went all the way up to the post with a sign on it that announced the bus´s route, pretending to read what was written on it. I, of course, as first in line, was standing next to the said post. Soon, smiling and acting as if I were an old friend of theirs they asked me in good English though they were clearly from the Middle East, if this was where the bus to Atocha stopped. I answered that this was indeed the queue to the said bus, gesturing towards a lady who was some five people away and last in line. They gave me an evil look and stayed put right next to the post. They remained there until they saw another fifteen persons had taken their places in the queue and that it was very likely that there would be a riot if they tried to get in first.

Lo pude comprobar cuando volvía de Barajas a Atocha. El autobús me cerró la puerta en las narices y se fue, dejándome el primero de la cola para el siguiente autobús. Por estar en esta posición privilegiada pude aprender como hacen algunos carotas para colarse. Primero se me acercaron unos caballeros muy finos y elegantes fingiendo que se habían saltado la cola para leer el cartel pegado en un poste que anunciaba el recorrido del autobús y al que yo, como primera persona en la cola, también estaba pegado. Enseguida me saludaron y preguntaron en buen inglés, aunque por el aspecto eran clarísimamente de oriente medio, si ese era el autobús que iba a Atocha. Yo les contesté que esta era la cola para ese autobús, y señale que les tocaba colocarse detrás de una señora de blanco que estaba unas cinco personas más atrás. Me miraron fatal pero no se movieron de mi lado. Permanecieron allí hasta que vieron que la cola había aumentado en otras quince personas y que era muy posible que se liase una gorda si intentaban colarse.

Now, this story might not make much sense just now, but it soon will. Because a very pretty little Chinese girl with her gigantic suitcase came all the way up to me and asked me with a great big smile and in an English she was clearly very proud of, the same question the gentlemen from the Middle East had asked. I gave her the same answer. She was not willing to take her place at the end of the now very long queue, so she also tried to pretend we were friends by continuing the conversation, which she could only do asking another stupid question. “But… which terminal is this?” “Terminal one,” I answered. “Ah, I know, but…which terminal is this?” “Terminal one,” I replied again. “Oh,” she persisted, “terminal one. Yes, but is this really terminal one?”

Puede que esto no tenga mucho sentido de momento, pero lo va a tener enseguida. Porque en breve llegó con su enorme maletón una chinita monísima que se acercó a mí y en un inglés del que se veía que estaba muy orgullosa me hizo la misma pregunta que los señores de oriente medio. Recibió la misma respuesta. Tampoco estaba dispuesta a colocarse al final de la cola, así que intentó fingir que nos conocíamos haciendo otra pregunta para que los demás viesen que conversábamos. “Pero…¿qué terminal es esta?” preguntó. “La uno,” respondí. “Ay, pero, es que…¿qué terminal es esta?” “¡La uno!” volví a responder. “¡Ah! Ya, la uno. Pero es que…¿es realmente la terminal uno?”

And the second person in the queue bit the hook. This was also a young girl, but Spanish. I had noticed she looked a bit depressed, like many people who are returning from a holiday they have enjoyed, but she not only looked wistful, she also looked a little worried. The Spanish girl, in a rudimentary English, said that perhaps this was terminal three. “One!” I said, pointing at a huge sign behind us that left no doubt where we were at. The Chinese girl laughed and gestured that she was appealing to me to let her remain where she was instead of sending her to the end of the queue. I? Certainly not! But the Spanish girl suddenly saw that she could continue speaking in English with someone. She could – this now became evident – practice everything she had travelled to learn. Not everything was lost. It was not yet over. She still did not have to return to a place where no one would speak to her in the language she had been struggling to learn. She began to talk like mad to the minx who, of course, was second to get on the bus, unfairly before more than thirty people. Since I had no suitcase with me, the enterprising girl was first to place her suitcase on a passenger´s seat – the one for the handicapped, of course. What a smile she gave me when she did that! But that yes – she had to put up with the faltering English of her benefactress all the way to Atocha. Well, like I said, another reason to learn foreign languages.

Y la segunda persona que había en la cola mordió el anzuelo. Era esta una chica también joven, pero española. Yo había observado que parecía un poco deprimida, como la gente que vuelve de una vacación de la que ha disfrutado plenamente, pero además de triste parecía preocupada. La españolita, en un inglés bastante rudimentario, dijo que quizás se tratase de la terminal tres. “¡La uno!” grité yo, señalando un cartel gigantesco que había detrás de nosotros y que no dejaba lugar a dudas. La chinita se rió y me hizo gesto de que se quería colar y que yo la dejase. ¿Yo? Desde luego que no. Pero la españolita,  sin darse cuenta de que la otra lo que quería era colarse, se percató de que podía seguir hablando en inglés con alguien. Podía (esto ahora se hizo evidente) practicar todo aquello que había viajado para aprender. No todo estaba perdido. Aun no tenía que volver a un lugar en el que nadie la seguiría hablando en el idioma que se había estado esforzando por aprender. Se enrolló como las persianas con la carota, que por supuesto subió la segunda al autobús pasando por delante de unas treinta y tantas personas con sus engorrosas maletas. Como yo no llevaba ninguna, la suya fue la primera en ocupar un asiento – el de minusválidos, por supuesto. Menuda sonrisa me dió cuando lo ocupó así. Pero eso sí. Tuvo que viajar hasta Atocha aguantando la conversación de su benefactora. Bueno, lo dicho. Otra razón para aprender idiomas.

And now it is your turn to practice by stating your opinion in English about all this.

Y ahora os toca practicar a vosotros, dando en inglés vuestra opinión de todo esto.

We found this image of the said bus on Images from Internet.

Encontramos esta imagen del autobús en cuestión en Imágenes de Internet.

Ballydehob Jazz Festival / Festival de Jazz de Ballydehob

David Sánchez Romero de Ávila tells us something about his week at  Ballydehob, Ireland.

David Sánchez Romero de Ávila nos cuenta algo sobre la semana que pasó en Ballydehob, Irlanda.

Last week I was in Ballydehob, a little town in Ireland, near Cork City. I was there because I had the opportunity to travel with a group of students from the Brother Garate, a high school in Ciudad Real and from Liffey, an English Language School, also from Ciudad Real.

La semana pasada estuve en Ballydehob, un pueblecito en Irlanda que está cerca de la ciudad de Cork. Fui allí porque tuve la oportunidad de viajar con un grupo de estudiantes del Hermano Garate, un instituto de Ciudad Real y de Liffey, una academia de la lengua inglesa, también de Ciudad Real.

Although I did the same tour last year I was surprised once again by what I found there. It´s a very small town with only a main street and a few streets on the side but it has a very great cultural activity. There are many pubs where concerts are organized; poetry recitals, traditional sessions during which people play and sing the traditional songs of Ireland. etc. To sum up, it´s a very busy cultural place.

Aunque hice el mismo viaje el año pasado, me volvió a sorprender lo que encontré allí. Es un pueblo muy pequeño con solo una calle principal y unas cuantas más pero tiene una gran actividad cultural. Hay muchos pubs donde se organizan conciertos, recitales de poesía, sesiones tradicionales durante las que la gente toca y canta las canciones tradicionales de Irlanda, etc. En resumen, es un lugar con mucha movida cultural.

I wish that in our towns and cities of Spain we had that love for culture and that community spirit, because Ballydehob is a little town but its people have created a jazz festival which is known all over the world. This event lasts for a weekend. This year, it was celebrated from the 29th of Abril to the 2nd of May and there were many concerts and activities. For example, a street busking where young and adult people can play in the street with a place number and an inscription. The musicians who the jury thinks are the best are given a prize. There is also a youth music workshop for young people who never played instruments before so they can learn to do it and play in a group, compose songs, etc. And many more activities.

Me encantaría que en nuestros pueblos y ciudades de España tuviesemos ese amor por la cultura y ese espíritu comunitario, porque Ballydehob es un pueblo pequeño pero su gente ha creado un festival de jazz conocido en el mundo entero. Este evento dura una semana. Este año, se celebró del 29  de abril al 2 de mayo y hubo muchos conciertos y actividades. Por ejemplo, un concurso de artistas que tocaban en la calle en el que personas jovénes y mayores podían tocar en la calle con un número, un lugar y una inscripción. Un jurado otorgaba un premio a los mejores músicos. También había un taller de música para gente joven que nunca había tocado un instrumento musical para que pudiesen aprender a hacerlo y tocar en grupo y componer canciones, etc. Y muchas más actividades.

But in a big Jazz Festival there have to be big concerts and I went to one. It was so amazing! Andreas Varady´s trio opened the festival and it was a jazz trio with drums, bass and soloist guitar. The most amazing thing about that concert was the age of the guitarist and the drummer - they were fourteen!!! And they played very well some original songs and very difficult phrases. Andreas is a guitarist who started to play when he was four and his dad, the bass player, taught him. Very good concert, I enjoyed it. But that wasn´t the only concert, everywhere, all the time in the streets, in the pubs, there were concerts with very different jazz bands. You can´t get bored in Ballydehob Jazz Festival if you love music!

Pero en un gran festival de jazz tiene que haber grandes conciertos y yo asistí a uno. ¡Fué genial!

El trio de Andreas Varady abrió este festival y era un trio de jazz con tambores y guitarristas. Lo más sorprendente de este concierto era la edad de uno de los guitarristas y del tambor, ya que tenían ¡¡¡catorce años!!! Y tocaron muy bien unas canciones originales y frases muy difíciles, Andreas es un guitarrista que empezó a tocar a los cuatro años cuando le enseño su padre, tambien músico. Estupendo concierto, disfruté mucho. Pero no fué el único concierto, todo el tiempo, por todas partes, en las calles, en los pubs, había conciertos con bandas de jazz muy distintas. No te puedes aburrir en el festival de jazz de Ballydehob si te encanta la música.

It was a nice week in Ireland. I learned English, I saw the wonderful Irish Glenealy and I enjoyed myself and played in the street busking, I really enjoyed this musical experience, it was really good!

Fué una semana muy agradable la que pasé en Irlanda. Aprendí inglés. Ví el maravilloso Glenealy irlandés y me lo pasé fenomenal y hasta toqué en el concurso callejero. Realmente he disfrutado de esta experiencia musical. ¡Fué genial!

Sample Scholarships Compo / Ejemplo de redacción sobre becas

This exercise is based on an opinion essay written by a pupil.
Este ejercicio esta basado en una redacción de opinión escrita por una alumna.

Sample Scholarships Compo

Read the composition below and circle the mistakes with a red ballpen or pencil. Number and correct them below the text.

Redaction

I know that scholarships are good to meet people and to visit another countries.People are happy when they get scholarships to learn a new language and practice it and they can study in a popular and important university.
There are many kinds of scholarships and all are good for the people. The scholarships for books are very goods and importants for the people because much families haven´t got very money for schoolbooks and this scholarships help them to pay for the books. A minority of students use your scholarships for another kinds of thing, for example to buy a guitar or a computer.
In conclusion, my opinion is that scholarships are very important and goods for the people, but another people use them very bad.


Compare the corrections you made with these ones:

Redaction (Composition: My Opinion on Scholarships)*

I know that scholarships are good to meet people and to visit another (other) countries. People are happy when they get scholarships to learn a new language and practice it and they can study in a popular and important university.
There are many kinds of scholarships and all are good for the (X) people. The scholarships for books are very goods and importants (good and important) for the (X) people because much (many) families haven´t got very (much) money and can´t pay for schoolbooks and this (these) scholarships help them to pay for the books. A minority of students use your (their) scholarships for another (other) kinds of thing (things), for example to buy a guitar or a computer.
In conclusion, my opinion is that scholarships are very important and goods (good) for the (X) people, but another (other) people use them very bad (badly).


*About the title: In titles, words that have more than three letters have to start with a capital letter even if they normally wouldn´t.


Read the rounded text below asking yourself why it is a better version of the texts above.

My Opinion on Scholarships

There are many kinds of scholarships and all are good. Why? Because they are useful and they make people happy. Some scholarships permit (allow) people to learn a foreign language and practice it in the foreign country. Others allow people to study in a popular and important (famous and exclusive) university. They can help people meet other people too. There are also more modest scholarships that are nevertheless very useful (helpful). Like those that help students buy books. Many families have little money and can´t pay for (afford) schoolbooks. Other scholarships help people buy other things they need to study, for example a guitar or a computer. Of course, there are always people who use scholarships badly. But in conclusion, my opinion is that scholarships are very important and good for people.


Yes or No?
1. It is completely different.
2. The first line tells us exactly what this opinion essay will be about, including what the writer´s opinion is.
3. The different kinds of scholarships are organized in better order.
4. It uses a lot more adjectives and adverbs.
5. A few words are more carefully chosen.

6. The idea that some people don´t use scholarships well is not the last thing written. It is inserted into the text before reaching the final conclusion.

About Lucas / Sobre Lucas

Lucas came visiting all the way from Belgium and got interviewed.

This is how Amanda M.J. saw him.

Lucas vino a visitarnos nada menos que desde Bélgica y fue entrevistado.

Así le vió Amanda J.M.

Class Cabinet / El armario del aula

Elisa of 4B describes the cabinet in our English classroom in this composition.
Elisa de 4ºB describe el armario de nuestra aula de inglés en esta redacción.

The cabinet in the English classroom is vanilla coloured and is bordered by a green band. These two colours match with those of the classroom because its walls are bright yellow and the chairs and the desks are green. It is made of several materials such as wood and plastic. It is rectangular and its shape reminds me of a box of matches. It is not very tall, so you can accede to it easily and it does not occupy too much space. It is very symmetrical because it has two doors of the same size with two handles of a silver coloured metal. It has a lock of the same material as the handles so it can only be opened by the teacher who has the key. It is not a luxury cabinet, but it serves to keep many things because it has several shelves and since it is made of opaque materials you can´t see what is inside. Also, on top you can leave things without their falling off because the wings are higher than those of most cabinet tops. In conclusion it is a cabinet that fulfuills its function very well: not to decorate, but to store.

El armario del aula de inglés es de color vainilla y esta bordeado con una franja de color verde. Estos dos colores concuerdan con los de la clase porque las paredes son amarillas y las sillas y las mesas son verdes. Está hecho con varios materiales como madera y plástico. Es rectangular y su forma me recuerda a la de una caja de cerillas. No es muy alto, para que se pueda acceder a él con facilidad y no ocupe demasiado espacio. Es muy simétrico porque tiene dos puertas del mismo tamaño y dos asas de un metal plateado. Tiene una cerradura del mismo material que las asas para que sólo lo pueda abrir la profesora que tenga la llave. No es un armario de lujo pero sirve para guardar muchas cosas porque tiene varias estanterias y está hecho de materiales opacos y no se puede ver lo que hay en el interior. También en la parte de arriba puedes dejar cosas sin que se caigan porque los laterales están más altos que la parte de arriba del armario. En conclusión, es un armario que cumple muy bien su función: no decorar, sino almacenar.

Elisa has mentioned: colour, size, shape, materials, value, purpose and owner of the article described as well as other details.

Elisa ha mencionado color, tamaño, forma, materiales, valor, propósito y dueño del artículo descrito, además de otros detalles.

Doña Matilde

Here is a composition about an old photograph by Vicky Gillman-Pabón.
Esta es una redacción sobre una vieja foto por Vicky Gillman Pabón.

My great-grandmother Matilde de Olmos - second from the left way behind - was from a town in Burgos, which is in Castille. She moved to Manila when she married, because her husband´s family had settled there when it was the capital of a Spanish province. She learned how to sew from Jean Patou in Paris and became a high society dressmaker in Manila. She also taught others how to sew and in the picture she is with a group of her pupils. Some of them stayed to work with her and others opened their own businesses. In the picture, many are wearing typical Filipino clothes they have made for themselves. They all look very solemn. If the picture had been taken today, two or three people would be sticking their tongues out, and others would be holding two fingers behind the heads of those that are standing up front. Practically everyone would be leaning sideways. The little girl in the picture is my grandmother, Blanca, who lives with us in Ciudad Real today.

Mi bisabuela Matilde de Olmos - la segunda a la izquierda del fondo del todo - era de una ciudad de Burgos, en Castilla. Se mudó a Manila cuando se casó, porque la familia de su marido se había asentado ahí cuando era la capital de una provincia española. Aprendió a coser con Jean Patou en Paris y se convirtió en modista de la alta sociedad en Manila. También enseñó a otros a coser y en la foto está con algunas de sus alumnas. Algunas se quedaron a trabajar con ella y otras abrieron sus propios negocios. En la foto, muchas llevan ropa típica de Filipinas que han cosido ellas mismas. Todas tienen un aspecto muy solemne. Si la foto hubiese sido tomada hoy, dos o tres de estas chicas estarían sacando la lengua, y otras estarían alzando dos dedos detrás de las cabezas de las que tuviesen delante. Casi todas estarían apoyadas de lado. La niña pequeña que hay en la foto es mi abuela, Blanca, que hoy vive con nosotros en Ciudad Real.

The Bonfires / Las Hogueras

Julian tells you about local Bonfire Night:

One of the most important events of the year in the place where I live is the day of the bonfires. This event takes place every year on the nights of the sixth and the seventh of December in Castille-La Mancha and especially in Miguelturra and Pozuelo. On this night all kinds of people - children, teenagers, adults, and senior citizens - gather together with their friends and families and enjoy food, drink and a lot of laughs around a bonfire. The bonfires are very important for me because they are an old tradition. Originally bonfires were lit to drive away evil spirits because the next day was the day of the Immaculate Conception. This is a religious tradition but nowadays most children and young people don´t know anything about this and don´t care. In the future nobody will know why they are celebrating this day. And yet, two weeks before this night we are all excited waiting for it to arrive. We go to the supermarket and buy everything we need to celebrate. My friends and I contribute 20 euros each and with that we have enough for two days. This is an amazing night when we spend a really special moment around the fire.

Celia tells us more about this special night:

Bonfire Night has always been celebrated. Oral tradition says that we light fires to purify our souls and to put an end to everything that is bad. In reality, this is half a ritual, half an attempt to be sheltered on a cold night. The bonfires used to be lit close to churches or hermitages, but today they are familiar, kids light them in many different places. Some people go with musical instruments from one bonfire to another, without forgetting to eat and drink. The children are the ones in charge of gathering the firewood for the bonfire days before.

Our Rooms / Nuestras Habitaciones

Vanesa and Jesse of class 4A have described their rooms for you:

Vanesa´s Room
In my room there are two beds, because I have slept with my little sister for ten years. The room is painted yellow with a green line. I have a large closet where I keep all my clothes. I have pictures on the walls and a poster on the door of my room. I also have a desk that is where I do my work, study and have the computer. I also have a shelf with some very big photos and many books. Above the beds I have stuffed animals. From the window of my room I can see the backyard. I like my room.

Jesse´s Room
I share my room with my brother. In my room there are two beds and between them is the night table with two alarm clocks and a lamp. My bed has a cushion and a pillow and an eiderdown. The door of my room is made of wood, the walls are blue with some photos of ours.
The room also has shelves with my trophies and some books. I have a wardrobe where I have my clothes. My room doesn´t have a balcony, but it has a window with a view to the street. For me, my room is very pleasant.

Think up 6 questions to ask Jesse and Vanesa about their rooms.

Sancho´s Formal Letter / La Carta Formal de Sancho

Sancho

I have to write a formal letter for my English class. I am a practical person, so if I take the trouble to write a letter, I don´t want to throw it in the recycling bin once my teacher has seen it. I mean to send the letter I write.

Now, who would I, Sancho Panza, want to send a formal letter to? Read my letter and you´ll know the answer.

The Tall Tale of the Littlewell Whale / La Historia Inverosimil de la Ballena de Pozuelo

Jennifer and Aurelius of 2C have rescued from oblivion a story about a whale that terrorized their town, Littlewell.

Jennifer y Aurelio de Bachillerato 2ºC han rescatado del olvido una historia sobre una ballena que aterrorizó a su pueblo, Pozuelo de Calatrava.

How could a whale get into the Lagoon of the Meadow, a pretty pond next to Littlewell in La Mancha, that sometimes dries up for lack of rain?

¿Como pudo una ballena meterse en la Laguna del Prado, un bonito estanque junto a Pozuelo en la Mancha, que a veces se seca por falta de lluvia?






Jennifer and Aurelius are going to tell you in their own words the scientific explanation of this incident.

Jennifer y Aurelio os van a dar en sus propias palabras la explicación científica de este incidente.

We of this blog believe there are many more theories that explain it. Anyone acquainted with alternative theories is invited to share them with us. A present we are publishing a second, alternative explanation, the stork theory.

Nosotros, los del blog, creemos que hay muchas mas teorias que lo explican. Cualquiera que conozca teorias alternativas queda invitado a compartirlas con nosotros. De momento vamos a publicar una segunda explicación, alternativa, la teoría de la cigüeña.

I - The Scientific Theory / La Teoría Científica

In Littlewell, many years ago, people used to tell a story about how in their lagoon, the Lagoon of the Meadow, there was a whale.




En Pozuelo de Calatrava, hace muchos años contaban que en su laguna, la Laguna del Prado,
había una ballena.

We are going to tell you how this idea developed and reached different parts of the province as a tall tale, so we can laugh for a few minutes.

Nosotros os vamos a contar cómo se desarrolló esta idea hasta llegar a distintos puntos de la provincia como una historia para reir unos minutos.

This story began hundreds of years ago, since ignorance was rife in those years in all the villages of the province and people lacked the knowledge most of us count with nowadays.

Esta historia comenzó hace cientos de años, ya que la ignorancia en esos años era elevada en todos los pueblos de la provincia y no tenían los mismos conocimientos con los que contamos hoy en día la mayoría de nosotros.

Because of this ignorance, it was easy to think that a whale could be found in a lagoon that dries up in the summer.

Basados en esta ignorancia era fácil pensar que una ballena podía encontrarse en una laguna que se seca en el verano.




This story began because a man who was returning from work in the fields passed by the lagoon and saw a strangely shaped object in the water that had never been there before.

Está historia se desarrolló porque un día un hombre, viniendo de cultivar el campo pasaba por la laguna y vió una extrana forma dentro del agua que no era habitual en ese lugar.

When the man saw the object, he ran off to town and told the whole town about what he had seen and between them all they came to the conclusión that it had to be a whale.

Cuando el hombre vió el objeto, se fue rápidamente al pueblo y se lo comunicó a todo el pueblo y entre todos llegaron a la conclusión de que tenía que sería una ballena.

After the news had spread all over town, the local people agreed to gather together on a certain day, armed with rakes and spades and other tools used to plow the land and go get the whale.

Después de correrse la voz por todo el pueblo, quedaron todos en reunirse un día con rastrillos, palas y otros instrumentos de labrar la tierra para ir a por la ballena.

When they got there they realized that it was nothing but a rumor and that the object the man had seen when returning from work wasn´t a whale but some packsaddles of the kind donkeys wore to transport products, tools, etc., that somebody had thrown in the lagoon, thus confusing thw whole town.

Al llegar se dieron cuenta de que todo era un falso rumor y de que el objeto que el hombre había visto cuando volvía del trabajo no era una ballena sino unas albardas que antigüamente llevaban los burros para transportar productos, instrumento e trabajo etc., que alguien había tirado a la laguna confundiendo a todo el pueblo.




II - The Stork Theory / La Teoría de la Cigüeña

Once upon a time there wa a pretty big baby. Big even for a baby whale.
Now, a stork had to carry the baby all the way from Paris to Baja California, Sur, Mexico, where his proud parents waited anxiously for her arrival.

Érase una vez un bebé bastante grandecito. Grande incluso para una bebé ballena. Bien, pues una cigüeña tenía que cargar al bebé desde Paris a Baja California, Sur, Mexico donde sus orgullosos padres esperaban ansiosamente su llegada.

The baby whale proved to be so heavy that she was just too much for the stork, who dropped it...right in the middle of the lagoon of Pozuelo and flew off towards home.

La ballenita resultó ser tan pesada que fue demasiado para la cigüeña, que la dejó caer...justo en el centro de la laguna de Pozuelo, y salió volando en dirección a casa.

This is where the stork was going to deliver the baby.

Aquí es donde la cigüeña tenía que entregar a la ballenita.

This is where she dropped it:

Aquí es donde la dejó caer.

A while later, a stubborn and obstinate kid began to play near the lagoon, heedless of his mother´s warnings to keep away from the water.

Un rato después un niño terco y obstinado empezó a jugar cerca del lago, haciendo caso omiso de las advertencias de su madre de que se alejase del agua.

"Don´t go into the water! You don´t know how to swim!"

"¡No te metas en el agua, que tu no sabes nadar!"

The kid ignored his mother and waded into the lagoon.

El niño ignoró a su madre y se adentró en la laguna.

"Come to your granddaddy!" called his grandfather, who was just returning from work in the fields.

"¡Vente con el yayo!" llamaba su abuelo, que volvía a casa de trabajar en el campo.

"Come to your Ma!" insisted the kid´s mother.

"¡Vente con la mama!" insistía la madre del niño.

The kid finally went to his ma and his granddaddy when the Littlewell whale suddenly rose to the surface and gave the kid the fright of his life by calling the kid "Mama!"

El niño finalmente se fue con su madre y su abuelo cuando la ballena de Pozuelo salió a la superficie y le dió el susto de su vida al llamarle "¡Mamá!"

And now you may ask, why didn´t the villagers find the whale when they came to lynch it?

Y ahora podéis preguntar ¿por qué los vecinos no encontraron a la ballena cuando fueron a lincharla?

Because while they were preparing themselves for the hunt the stork returned with several coleagues and together they recuperated the baby whale from the water and flew off with it to Mexico, where its mother was anxiousy looking up at the sky wondering why her baby was taking so long to arrive.

Pues porque mientras se organizaban para la caza, la cigüeña volvió con varias colegas y entre todas recuperaron a la ballenita del lago y se la llevaron volando a Mexico, donde su madre oteaba el cielo ansiosa preguntándose por qué el bebe tardaba tanto en llegar.

These are the storks looking for the baby whale in the water.

Estas son las cigüeñas buscando a la ballenita en el agua.

This is the baby whale´s mother looking anxiously at the sky.

Esta es la madre de la ballenita mirando ansiosamente al cielo.

Now, the moral of this story is clear from the beginning: don´t carry loads that are too heavy for you without help if you want to avoid having an hernia, causing a panic or being the motive for tall tales.

Bien, pues la moraleja está clara desde el principio: no cargues cargas que son demasiado pesadas para ti sin ayuda si quieres evitar tener una hernia, causar el pánico o ser motivo de cuentos inverosímiles.

It is also true that moms and grandparents have always told kids there were monsters in places they mustn´t go near.

También es verdad que las madres y los abuelos siempre les han dicho a los niños que hay monstruos en lugares a los que no deben acercarse.

And coming up as soon as possible, a quiz about Grey Whales and other stuff.

Y en cuanto pueda ser, añadiremos un test sobre ballenas grises y mas cosas.

Sardines / Sardinas

If you have a sardine, don´t forget to bury it today.

Lourdes of Bach. 2C sends us these photos of the Burial of the Sardine in her town, Littlewell. She looked about for Nuño, but he seems to have left by the time she got there.




Here´s what Lourdes has to say about Carnival in Pozuelo:

This party in my town is celebrated during a whole week:

- We began to party on Friday with a parade of Brazilian ladies. At night, people dressed in the fashion of the 60s, 70s and 80s.
- On Saturday night, there was a dance at the Carnival Palace.
- On Sunday and Monday there were more parades. different groups, such as The Housewives, paraded in the streets. Masked people on their own wandered everywhere about, some playing jokes.
- On Tuesday was the children´s party. There were many children in costume, parading to the Carnival Palace, where they had a party with a circus and sweets. Wednesday in the afternoon we dressed up in mourning to accompany the sardine in the traditional Burial of the Sardine. We ended up at the huge tent which is the Carnival Palace where we ate sardines.
- On Friday there was a Rock parade and at night a concert.
-Saturday was the last day and my town was full of people because this is the great day of the carnival in Pozuelo.