Exercises from 'Spain changes size in clothes for women'

3. Complete the sentences using information from the text

a) If the agreement is successful…, weight-related disorders such as anorexia or bulimia would fall in all the country.

b) Information on hip and shoulder sizes…will be obligatory in all women's clothes.

c) Minister Elena Salgado said that male's size will change if the agreement with fashion companies goes well.

d) The agreement… between Spanish goverment and fashion houses such as Zara or El Corte Ingles will mean the change in clothes size for women.

5. Can you summarize the basic aims and terms of the agreement?

The text mentions that the Spanish Ministry of Health, Elena Salgado and some Fashion houses have approved that the size of women in the clothes are more comfortable for everyone. For that, mannequins in fashion stories will be more size 38 and size 46 will no longer be considered extra-size. Information on hip and shoulder sizes will be obligatory in all clothes.

5. In your opinion, is there a direct connection between the world of fashion and weight-related disorders (anorexia, bulimia, etc.)?

From my point of view I think that is there a direct connection between the world of fashion and weight-related disorders because some clothing companies make t-shirts or dresses of small sizes. Therefore I agree with these measures.

Pinterest: Books

Source: melibro.com via Jose on Pinterest

A beautiful novel about the simplicity of life, happiness, friendship, love and maturity.

Source: upload.wikimedia.org via Jose on Pinterest

The novel anticipates the development of reproductive technology and sleep-learning that combine to change society. The future society is an embodiment of the ideals that form the basis of futurology. A disturbing story about the future of humanity.

Source: google.es via Jose on Pinterest

In I Am a Cat, a narrator arrogant cat describes the life of a variety of Japanese middle-class people. A funny story about humanity as seen through the eyes of a cat.

My Spanish Glog!

Falling Down - Bad day

A laid-off defense worker, kept from seeing his child on her birthday by a restraining order, looks at the landscape of moral decay in Los Angeles on one hot, congested day and, after being mugged, snaps. What follows is his bitter and pathetic mission of justice, vengeance and vindication that reads uncomfortably like too many news stories. 

Movie for A Rained-Out Ball Game presents: The Stupid

"People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history." George W. Bush

My Daily Spanish Routines! (with SoundCloud)

Hi, my name is Jose, I study at the IES Mediterranean Institute of Cartagena (Murcia) in Spain. To learn more about Spain I'm going to tell you my every day in this beautiful country. 

Every day I wake up at 7:30 a.m., I get dressed and I comb my hair. I have a typical breakfast in Spain, a carajillo with a 'sobado'. I say goodbye to my father who get up later to try to find a work. I leave my house to the Institute at 8:04 a.m. and I'm always late, as a good Spanish man.

Mondays in class are horrible, despite of the fact that I go back to see my buddies we're all tired but it happens every day and we want to arrive at the break in the refectory where the barwoman serves tapas of potato omelette, ham or squid (delicious!). When everyone has finished eating, the barman put on well-known songs here as Paquito El Chocolatero, Que viva España of Manolo Escobar or El Torito bravo of El Fary and we dance with emotion and joy.

Every day we have class of Latin, Greek, philosophy, History of Art, classes of Spanish guitar and typical dances of the country. We can't forget English class where we learn to thank the Lords of Despeñaperros who impersonates a nice Anglo-Saxon. In Spanish language classes we read a chapter of Don Quixote and analyze it on syntax. In History of Spain we watch every day a film about the Civil War of Spain although sometimes the teacher prefer some Paco Martinez Soria's movie or Andrés Pajares's and Fernando Esteso’s.

At the end of classes I come home where my father, who is looking for work, has prepared a succulent and very Spanish food: potato omelette with squid and tapas of olives and ham. After finishing eating around 4 p.m. I need some sleep and I have a siesta. At 6 p.m. I wake up, turn on the computer and I watch on youtube the Iniesta's goal in the final of the World Cup to remember one of the most important event in Spain. In the afternoon I do homework and study all subjects although I do breaks to read a daily sports newspaper.

At night, I have a paella or 'callos' for dinner and a good banana Canary Islands for dessert. At 12 p.m. I go to my bed until the following day and until the weekend where I go to Cartagena center where, as in all Spain, there are many bars in every corner where you can imbue with a friendly atmosphere.

If you want to come to Spain, doubt, it's a fabulous place for a crazy and intercultural party (though not for employment and honesty), you will have a good time in La Tomatina, San Fermines or Fallas from Valencia, I assure you. We're the country with more unemployment in Europe but we have a joy in the body that no one in the world has. Olé.

'Hugo': clocks and dreams

Hugo is an orphan boy living in the walls of a train station in the 1930s in Paris. He fixes clocks and other gadgets as he learned to from his father and uncle. The only thing that he has left that connects him to his father is an automaton that doesn't work; Hugo has to find its heart-shaped key. On his adventures, he meets with a cranky old man who works in the train station and his adventure-seeking god-daughter. Hugo finds that they have a surprising connection to his father and the automaton, and as he discovers it, the old man starts remembering his past and his significance to the world of film-making.


"If you've ever wondered where your dreams come from, you look around... this is where they're made." George Méliès (Ben Kingsley)

Exercises from 'Fernando Alonso'

3. Complete the sentences using information from the text:

a) ... was won by Fernando Alonso when he was only thirteen years old.

b) ... in a motor-racing team, he wouldn't win.

c) ... announced that the asturian driver had signed for their motor-racing team.

d) ... season of Fernando in this sport was really amazing.

5. Which are the main hits in Fernando Alonso's career as car racing driver?

The text mentions some hits of the spanish driver Fernando Alonso who won the Formula One World Championship with only fourteen years old in 2005 and becoming one of the most famous drivers in Formula One.

6. What do you think? Do you like car racing? Why or why not?

From my point of view I disagree that the car racing is a sport boring because there are many races, some more exciting than others. However this happens in many other sports like football, tennis or basket therefore I like car racing because it's so fascinating but I can't stand Alonso.

#4 Famous movie quotes: Shutter Island

"- You know, this place makes me wonder. 
+ Yeah, what's that, boss? 
- Which would be worse - to live as a monster? Or to die as a good man?" Teddy Daniels & Chuck Aule (Leonardo DiCaprio & Mark Ruffalo) -> Sinopsis 

Exercises from 'About Martenitsa''

• Is martenitsa a religious tradition?

The text mentions the Bulgaria tradition called martenitsa. However, this custom is pagan, not religious, because the celebration doesn't venerate any god of any religion.

• Do you know any old pagan Spanish tradition?

I know a lot of pagan Spanish tradition. One of them is Carnival. In Carnival people dress up animals, superheroes, bullfighters, famous people, politics, junkies and walk down the street and dance with other people to have a good time.

• Complete the sentences using information from the text:

a) ... signify a kind of custom that Bulgarian people celebrate the arrival of spring.

b) ... this amulet, the spring will come faster.

c) ... gifts for your family and friends.

d) ... as a new life, fertility and spring.

Johann Gambolputty de von Ausfern - schplenden - schlitter - crasscrenbon - fried - digger - dingle - dangle - dongle - dungle - burstein - von knacker - thrasher... aucher von Hautkopft de Ulm

Sagunto is waiting

I was really excited about my trip to Sagunto (Valencia) to watch a play in town with my friends and my latin's teacher to watch a play called 'Miles Gloriosus'. It's an amazing place, but unfortunately, we had a lot of bad luck.

First of all we took a school bus to Sagunto because it was very far. We arrived on time, but the bus couldn't drive through the streets of the town. However, we could get to the theatre of Sagunto although we got there late to the performance. When we arrived, the play had already begun and we couldn't listen to anything because we were very far from the stage.

When the play ended, we went to eat in the town square and go to the toilet but my sandwich wasn't good and there was no free bar toilet. Despite all these problems, we got the bus to come back to Cartagena. On the return trip, the bus driver put on a film of Quentin Tarantino 'Inglourious Basterds', one of my favourite directors, although it couldn't be heard. Luckily, we come back to Cartagena safe and sound. It was an exciting adventure, but I was glad to get back home.

Salvador Dalí, master of dreams

Salvador Dalí, maestro de sueños on Prezi

"There are some days when I think I'm going to die from an overdose of satisfaction" 

                                                        Salvador Dalí

#3 Famous movie quotes: High Fidelity

"What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?" -Rob Gordon (John Cusack)

Exercises from 'Dr Atkins diet''

1. What did Dr. Atkins' diet consist of and how was it received by doctors and by ordinary people?

The text mentions the weight-loss plan proposed Dr. Atkins who advises a group of foods. However, nutritionists don't agree with the diet because these foods don't have essential nutrients.

2. Do you think people should watch their weight?

From my point of view people should watch their weight but always with the help of a nutritionist who recommended an appropriate diet and beneficial to our health. However, people shouldn’t follow this kind of dangerous diets.

Italian lesson, Monty Python Flying Circus (1x01)