When to come, when to go

IMPORTANT INFORMATION  

-We have class these days:


         From Monday 26 to Friday 30 March.


-We have holidays these days:


        from Saturday 31 March to Sunday 8 April.


-We come back on:


        Monday 9 April.


Happy holidays from everyone al LCTIDIOMAS!

Easter is coming

Artists paint a giant Easter egg in Klostar Podravski, near Koprivnica, some 100 km north of Zagreb, April 2, 2011. During Easter holidays the egg will be displayed at a one of the squares in the Czech Republic capital of Prague. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Painted giant Easter eggs are displayed in the centre of northern Croatia's town of Koprivnica, some 100 km (60 miles) north of capital Zagreb, April 2, 2011. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) 

EASTER is coming, my friends. What are you going to do on your holidays? 

Be talkative. Be funny.

I am positive

Do you recognize yourself in this statement? Do you have any of your own? Share your thoughts.

Be brave. Be outspoken.

Spanish in the classrooms

Yes, my dear followers and learners of English, the strangest thing has happened. 100 students have attended our favourite academy but they didn’t speak a single word in English. The were all French. Oui. Mon Dieu! Actually, they all wanted to improve their level of… Spanish!

And it was all fun and games and food, oh, my, life’s good ;o). Vive la France!

Always try new things. Be curious. Be free.

 

Saint Paddy’s (3)

From Friday16th to Monday 19th March, Saint Patrick’s Day is spreading fun and gaiety all around the world.

 

From carousels to roller coasters, family attractions to ferris wheels there is something for everyone at the Funfairs.  Dare to be suspended upside down, turned over or whisked through the air.

Ireland’s leading pageant companies and marching bands will make the streets come alive in spectacular style on 17th March.

HOW? WHAT? WHY? is the theme for the 2012 St. Patrick’s Festival Parade which will explore the wonder and curiosity of science.  A selection of science related questions that children may ask have been explored by Ireland’s leading pageant companies who each will present their imaginative, colourful and thought provoking creations on March 17th.

The sense of discovery, wonder and amazement of science will truly come alive in spectacular style on the streets of Dublin this St. Patrick’s Day.

A celebration of Irish craft brewing, live music, and fabulous Irish artisan food stalls.  Family entertainment during the day includes, creative workshops for children, face-painting, street performers, and much more!

Dublin will be bursting at the seams with open-air performances as St. Patrick’s Festival fever swings into town.

Enjoy a very special walk in celebration of Ireland’s national patron, St Patrick in the company of professional and enthusiastic guides led by the renowned Dublin historian and author Pat Liddy. Much of the pre-Viking development of Dublin owed its origins to the legacy of St Patrick.

Uncover some of this fascinating history.  The tour takes in ancient sites including around the two great medieval cathedrals of Christ Church & St Patrick’s.

I would sure love to see that with my own eyes!

Be green. Be happy.

Saint Paddy’s day (2)

On Monday, we started a green week by introducing who Saint Patrick was. Today we bring you all about the basic traditions that give it a flair all around the world.

THE SHAMROCK

The shamrock as symbol of Ireland and St. Patrick's Day is partly due to the natural abundance of clover plants in the country, but largely due to its strong association with Christianity. Legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock to visually illustrate the concept of the Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) when trying to convert polytheistic pagans to Christianity.

THE FOUR-LEAF CLOVER

Although clovers are most often found in nature with three leaves, rare four-leaf clovers do exist. Finding one is thought to bring someone extreme luck. The folklore for four-leaf clovers differs from that of the Shamrock due to the fact that it has no religious allusions associated with it. It is believed that each leaf of a four-leaf clover represents something different: first is hope, the second is faith, the third is love, and the fourth is happiness.

THE LEPRECHAUNS

Just what does a mythical leprechaun look like and why are they so special? A leprechaun looks like a little old man and dresses like a shoemaker with a cocked hat and leather apron. A Leprechaun's personality is described as aloof and unfriendly. They live alone and pass the time by mending the shoes of Irish fairies.

According to St. Patrick's Day: Parades, Shamrocks, and Leprechauns by Elaine Landau, the legend is that the fairies pay the leprechauns for their work with golden coins, which the "little people" collect in large pots--the famous "pots of gold" often associated with leprechauns.

If you listen closely for the sound of their hammer you might be able to capture one. If you do you can force him (with the threat of bodily violence) to reveal where he's hidden his treasure. Be careful! Do not take your eyes off him for if you do he will surely vanish and your hopes of finding his treasure will vanish with him.

 

GREEN

So why do you have to wear green?

Probably because you'll be pinched if you don't! School children started this tradition. Green is also the color of spring, the shamrock, and is connected with hope and nature. Historically, green has been a colour used in the flags of several revolutionary groups in Ireland and as a result it appears in the official tri-color country flag, adopted in 1919.

In addition to that, Ireland is often called the "Emerald Isle" due to the lush natural greenery found on the island. "One of the things that strikes people all the time is how Ireland is incredibly green--it's very far north, but it doesn't get frozen. When people say that 'Ireland has 40 shades of green,' they are right!"

 

LUCK OF THE IRISH

Want to be lucky this St. Patrick's Day? Follow this advice:

1. Find a four-leaf clover. 2. Wear green (so you don't get pinched). 3. Kiss the blarney stone. 4. Catch a Leprechaun if you can.

In honor of the festivities we leave you with this Irish blessing: May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow and may trouble avoid you wherever you go!

See you next day with more fantastic tidbits about Saint Patrick’s Day.

Be green. Be happy.

MADRID TURNS GREEN

This week we will be celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. What? You don’t know what I’m talking about?

Let me put an end to your boredom and make your eyes shine green with glee.

Saint Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. St Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland.

Far from being a saint, until he was 16, he considered himself a pagan. At that age, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders that raided his village. During his captivity he became a Christian and adopted the name Patrick.

He escaped from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre for a period of twelve years. During his training he got the notion that his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity.

Patrick was then appointed as second bishop to Ireland.

Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. And this fact rightfully upset the Celtic Druids, who had their own native religion. Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his indoctrination of the Irish country into Christianity.

His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.

Now we know who he was. But there’s more to come. Don’t forget to pop in for gossip on floats, fun and parades!

Be green. Be Paddy.

TERM EXAMS: MARCH 2012

OS AVISAMOS de las fechas de los exámenes del segundo trimestre del curso 2011-2012.

GRUPOS DE LUNES y MIÉRCOLES

MIÉRCOLES 21 DE MARZO

GRUPOS DE MARTES YJUEVES

MARTES 20 DE MARZO

GRUPOS DE VIERNES

VIERNES 23 DE MARZO

Good luck to everyone! Be diligent. Be resourceful.

 

On my way to…

On my way to work I usually mind my own business and tend to give flight to my musings. I think about what I have to do that day, what might happen that day, what I would like to be doing instead.

Sometimes, on the other hand, I happen to notice what is around me. Yesterday on my way to work I noticed a tree.

This beautiful specimen looks like an almond tree. I’m not sure, though. So if your knowledge is far deeper than mine, feel free to leave a comment. It’s in bloom thanks to the warm weather we’ve been enjoying lately. The flowers are a pale pink in colour. Today a pigeon was resting on one of its branches. It looked so peaceful. It was a relief to see such an idyllic picture in the middle of Madrid.

And the sky was so blue it made me want to fly away.

Have you found something special on your way to school? Perhaps you haven’t noticed it yet, but it’s there, waiting for you to find it and frame it forever in your mind.

If you have a camera with you at the very moment you realize it, please, share the picture with us. There is always room in the blog for a moment of inspiration.

Be creative. Be free.

PHOTO COMPETITION

Hello, everybody! This is a quick reminder of the Photo Competition that is going on right now. It’s very easy to take part in it. Shoot a photo, send us a comment. All the info can be found in this post.

Click away! Be creative. Be free.