COUNTDOWN

Your countdown to the final schoolday at GROŠ has already started.
For our tomorrow's English class and/or your further practice
here are two links to
test your level of English (PET Test and British Council Tests)
or try to learn some English (or other languages) online.

(Image source: blindwillie.wordpress.com)

22 APRIL 2009 - EARTH DAY

IMAGE SOURCE: www.allstarlodging.com

What can we do to save the blue planet?
Can we save it or is it too late?

Let's share our views on global warming, its causes and effects.

In my opinion, we still take too many things for granted
( fresh water, oil, clean air, etc.).

Global warming, causes, solutions, photography, pictures, photos ...

Global warming - 2nd link

FOR TEENS BY TEENS

10 KEYS TO A GOOD FRIENDSHIP
TEEN POEMS
FRIENDSHIP TEEN FRIEND E-CARDS

COMMUNICATION

As I assume, your favourite way of communication is listening, reading, speaking or writing, either in Slovenian or English language. Have you ever wondered about the fact that nearly everybody understands English?
According to one statement made by the main spokesman at OUP
Conference in 2000, thanks to . _ _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ _ . ( first name &
surname), English language has become 'The Latin of the New Millennium'. Can you guess, who this person is ?

Test your verbal communication skills by trying
the online Free ESL Quiz
A link to a lot more online Quizzes
Find out more about US teens and Internet use
Here are some Bad News About Couch Potatoes

SHROVE TUESDAY

Enjoy every minute of tomorrow's Shrove Tuesday
and also Slovenian Men's Day ! (Images from: photos.igougo.com)

Bill Gates' 11 rules

This should be posted in all schools and work places:

Love him or hate him, B.Gates sure hits the nail on

the head with his speech at a High School about

11 things kids did not and will not learn in school.

(Image from: transientreporter.wordpress.com)
A link to B.Gates' speech
How do you feel about these 'rules'?

WINTER HOLIDAYS

Here's a snapshot of a snowy countryside, taken
this afternoon at a railway station in Schladming.
I've just arrived home from a two-day-journey abroad
and realized that this year's winter holidays are nearly
over. Do you miss school?
I have a brainstorming exercise for you:
think about the word HOLIDAYS and the letters
it contains. Try to make new words using each of
the letters (H-O-L-I-D-A-Y-S) in any order only once
and become the winner of this 'holiday competition'
- with the longest list of words.

SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY

Since our country declared its independence
Saint Valentine's Day has become 'our' holiday
as well.

To learn more about its origin
and history visit the
Saint Valentine's Day site

(Image from: www.cardcow.com)

Questions about food

(Image from: web.mit.edu)

Food for thought:
What is your opinion of the best food (meal) for teenagers
to keep you active for the school- and homework and
revising for the tests?

Our national food:
Can you name at least two national dishes (from Pomurje
or any other Slovenian region) that you like the most and
give the reason for your choice?

Your own recipe:
If you are ready to share it with us,
write it down (with the ingredients and instructions).

A link to the Food quiz
A link to food vocabulary

After a long break....

This winter is very cold,
at last snow has covered our country
and we are trying to avoid the freezing
temperatures by staying in.
(Picture from: www.freefoto.com)


Before thinking of answers to my questions about food,
the current topic of our English lessons,
enjoy reading these 'restaurant jokes':

“Waiter, your finger is in my soup!”
"It's all right sir. It isn’t hot.”

“Waiter! There’s a fly in my soup!”
“It’s OK., Madam. It’s dead”

"Waiter, do you serve fish?” “Sit down, sir. We serve anybody.”
“Waiter, have you got frog’s legs? ” “No, sir. I always walk like this.”

A family finished their meal in a restaurant and the father called the waiter and said:

"My son has left quite a lot of meat in his plate.
Could you put it in bag so that I can take it home for dog?”

“Oh dad!” shouted the excited boy. “Are we getting a dog then?”

A man in a restaurant said to a stranger sitting at the next table: “Do you realize that you are reading your newspaper upside down?” “Of course I realize it. Do you think it’s easy?”
(Seliškar, Bits and Bobs, ZRSŠŠ, 1992)

More
food jokes

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

Till today, there were no replies to my question on Xmas tradition, so here's another Christmas topic : PRESENTS.

Do you feel more pleasure in receiving or giving Christmas presents?

In many European countries a lot of C. presents end up on eBay where people try to sell them as soon as possible (to get rid of them?).

Therefore, can material things really make us happy?

I wish you a joyful Xmas.

XMAS CAROLS NET

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Beck's and Lucija's views on Xmas presents and

human values are worth reading:

Beck's said: Christmas isn't just about giving and receiving presents.

It's more than that. Christmas is about speding your time with family,

friends and people who you love...

For some people presents and material things are very important and

make them happy. But others don't think so.

lucija said: Yeah, I agree with Beck's.

Presents can be nice and beautiful and all that, but in the end you throw

them all away (or at least most of them). I think material things are important

to people who don't have many friends or family members...

They feel lonely and are trying to fill the emptiness with material things.

To me, the most important thing in Christmas time is that I can see my friends

(the ones I can't be with every day or week) and also spend some time with my family...

And I think that's what Christmas is about, in the good old times people didn't care

that much for presents (and other material stuff) as we do in our time.

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FIND OUT.....

Here is the first task, a rather simple question for you:
Christmas songs are also called Christmas _ _ _ _ _ _ .

What's the missing word?


The second task is to write down the second line of the first stanza of Jingle Bells:

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
oh _______ _______ ______ _____
to ride in a one horse open sleigh.
Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells......

The 3rd task is the answer to the following question:
Who (name and nationality) wrote one of the most
popular (Christian) Christmas carols, translated in
many languages, its English title is Silent Night?

Blogging beginners

I'm glad that you like our new blog.
Feel free to write some more text
about your Xmas & New Year holidays
and the coming 2009.

LINK: XMAS TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD

DEAR 9TH GRADERS

Welcome to our first school blog in English.
It has been created with two main aims:

• to enable you to publish your own text or exchange your views and thoughts in English
• and to provide some links to websites for learnig English language and cultural facts.

You are welcome to join us, but before publishing your own comment or text you have to create an account at Google (with your existing e-mail address).

A link to ESL listening files

A link to grammar practice

A link to 'train your accent'

IT'S XMAS TIME

It's December, the last month of the year, on the one hand the busiest
month (written tests, oral assessments.....), but on the other hand the time
of great pleasure, secret wishes and expectations.
Soon the school Christmas & New Year holidays will start.
Are you looking forward to these holidays or would you rather stick to your
everyday routine? What are your plans for the last week of 2008?
In your opinion, is the new year 2009 going to be different, better or worse?

1st link to Christmas topics
2nd link to Christmas topics