Let Me Kiss You

Still haven't quite got St Valentine out of our system. Here's Morrissey singing "Let Me Kiss You," from the 2004 album You Are The Quarry.



Nancy Sinatra released her version of the song in the same year, with Morrissey himself. Here the song is accompanied by scenes from Jean Cocteau's La Belle et la Bête. Choice inspired by the line "But then you open your eyes and you see someone that you physically despise" perhaps?

New Material for February 2010

Here are the items soon to appear on the English Department shelves of the school library.

Audio Books

Seven stories with a twist in Further Tales of the Unexpected by Roald Dahl.




A modern-day defence of poetry persuavively made by Stephen Fry in The Ode Less Travelled



An overview of the English language wittily given by Stephen Fry in Fry's English Delight



DVD

Man Friday (1975),directed by Jack Gold and starring Peter O'Toole and Richard Roundtree. A critical post-colonial look at the classic by Daniel Defoe.



Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins and Keanu Reeves. If you want to know why the Count never drinks wine, watch the movie and find out.

Baby, I Love You

With St Valentine's Day just round the corner we thought "Baby, I Love You" would be appropriate. First, we have the original version by a sixties girl group the Ronettes, released in 1964, the same year as the previous song, "Where Did Our Love?" Listen and enjoy the slideshow, especially the hairstyles sported by the singers.



In 1980 Phil Spector, the man who produced the Ronettes' version, got the Ramones to do a cover of the same song. Here they are on the BBC's Top of the Pops. Same song, different haircut.

Requests

Are there any postings you would like to see on the blog? Have you been to the library only not to find what you were looking for? Do you think there is anything missing on the blog? From now on you can make suggestions to help improve this site. How? Just send us a mail to englisheoisagunt@gmail.com. Don't forget your suggestions must be related to the English-speaking world or English language, for example, literature, music, hyperlinks to interesting sites, or stuff you have produced that you would like to see posted.

Where did our Love Go?

After the excess testosterone of "Hey Joe!" something a little more romantic. The first clip, in black and white, is a performance of Diana Ross and the Supremes singing their 1964 hit "Where did our Love Go?"



Too mournful for your taste? How about the 1981 synthpop cover by Soft Cell, originally blended into another classic, "Tainted Love"?



Or you might prefer the slightly jazzed up version by Declan Galbraith, from his 2006album "Thank You." (Sorry about the tacky photographs)

Material Soon to Arrive at the Library in January 2010

Look here if you want to know the new stuff you'll soon find on the shelves in the English section of the library.

Audiobooks:

Abridged version of Charles Dickens's "Great Expectations" read by Hugh Laurie (of "House" fame)


Unabridged version of Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol" read Anton Lesser (a bit late now, we're afraid)


A Selection of Oscar Wilde's Short Stories read by Stephen Fry (good for the kids)




DVD:

"For Queen and Country" starring Denzel Washington as an ex-soldier returning to a far from hero's welcome to the gritty London inner-city district he grew up in (English with Dutch subtitles (Sorry about that, folks))



"Life on Mars, Series Two" the sequel to the immensely popular sci-fi police procedural drama set in Manchester in the '70s (Head and shoulders above "La chica de ayer")

Hey, Joe!

From Jesus to Joe. "Hey Joe" is a traditional ballad, though it's associated with the legendary Jimi Hendrix. We've uploaded a clip of one of the numerous versions the guitar-playing genius recorded of the song, with him plucking the chords with his teeth and all. With the clip we've included Willy Deville's mariachi version, together with Franco Battiato's mournful rendition, transformed into a damning indictment of domestic violence. Which one do you like best?

Personal Jesus

Here's a video of "Personal Jesus" as originally sung by Depeche Mode with the lyrics so you can amaze your friends with your singing skills at the Karaoke. We've included a couple of cover versions of the same song so you can vote for the one you think's the best. Listen, sing, enjoy - and tell us what your favourite version is!

Dido

Hi, there! This time I'll try to get you all to sing. Here's a video of Dido, a popular British singer.
I'm sure you'll love the song and will be willing to learn the lyrics! So here they are. Don't miss the opportunity to sing along with Dido, while you learn and have fun!
Hope you enjoy it!

Guy Fawkes Answers to the Webquest

As it was promised last week, here come the answers to the webquest about Guy Fawkes.
Hope you enjoyed learning about the plot and its characters.
And don't forget to leave your comments about the activity!

Guy Fawkes
Webquest Answers

1 - What happens all over Britain on the night of November 5th?

On the night of November 5th, throughout Britain, people commemorate the capture of Guy Fawkes with bonfires and fireworks, and by burning an effigy of Guy

2 - Who do people commemorate that way?

Guy Fawkes. Britain’s most notorious traitor.

3 - What did Guy Fawkes, together with a group of men, try to do?

They tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

4 - What were English Catholics hoping when Queen Elisabeth I died in 1603?

After Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, English Catholics who had been persecuted under her rule had hoped that her successor, James I, would be more tolerant of their religion.

5 - Why were they disappointed?

As the group worked on the plot, it became clear that innocent people would be hurt or killed in the attack, including some people who even fought for more rights for Catholics. Some of the plotters started having second thoughts.

6 - What would people like Fawkes and his fellow conspirators be called now?

Today they would be known as extremists, or terrorists.

7 - How did they try to put their murderous plan into practice?

To carry out their plan, the conspirators got hold of 36 barrels of gunpowder - and stored them in a cellar, just under the House of Lords.

8 - At what moment did some conspirators start questioning what they were doing?

Yes, they did. Some of them started having second thoughts because it seemed apparent that innocent people would be hurt or killed.

9 - How did one conspirator try to warn a friend of his?

By sending a letter to him. The addressee was Lord Monteagle, a Member of Parliament.

10 - Who was that letter even shown to?

It was even shown to the King, James I.

11 - What happened to Guy Fawkes when the authorities searched the cellar of the parliament?

He was caught, tortured and executed.

12 - Why might the conspirators' plans have failed anyway?

Some have suggested that the gunpowder was so old as to be useless.

13 - What other term is often used to refer to Guy Fawkes Day?

Bonfire Night.
14 - What might some Englishmen be celebrating rather than the traitor's execution?

Some people might be honouring his attempt to do away with the government.

15 - How many conspirators were there altogether?

It was a group of thirteen young men.

16 - Who was their leader?

It was Robert Catesby.

17 - Why did Guy Fawkes become famous even though he wasn't the leader?

Because he was found in the cellar of the Parliament with 36 barrels of gunpowder and was later executed.

18 - Why wasn't Jeremy Tresham executed like all the others?

Because he fell sick and died in prison.

19 - What did the authorities use the conspirators' confessions for?

The government used the Gunpowder Plot to justify further anti-Catholic repression, including executing at least two Jesuits leaders they felt were threatening to their authority.

20 - How were the traitors executed?

All imprisoned plotters were executed publicly in March 1607. They were "hanged, drawn, and quartered"

21 - Why was that method of public execution chosen?

Because authorities hoped it would instil terror in other potential traitors.

22 - Who might the letter have been 'fabricated' by?

The letter warning one of the members of government to stay away from Parliament is believed today to have been fabricated by the king's officials.

23 - What do some historians believe concerning the letter?

Historians suggest that the King's officials already knew about the plot, that one of the plotters in fact revealed the key points of the plot to the authorities.

24 - Which of the traitors is suspected of telling the authorities about their plans?

Francis Tresham

25 - In what year did the tradition of lighting bonfires start?

1605

26 - Whose effigy is sometimes burned along with the guy dummy?

The effigy of Fawkes

27 - How do children collect money? What do they use it for?

Children walk down the street trying to collect money for fireworks and they ask for "a penny for the guy”.

28 - Which town in South East England attracts thousands of visitors for its festivities?

Lewes

29 - Where has the custom spread to?

The custom spread to the British colonies for centuries. It was actively celebrated in New England as "Pope Day" as late as the 18th century. Today, November 5th bonfires still light up in far out places like New Zealand and Newfoundland in Canada.

Guy Fawkes

Who the heck was Guy Fawkes?

Have you heard about this British tradition? It'll take place tomorrow, on the 5th of November.

Remember, remember the fifth of November

The Gunpowder Treason and plot
I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

Would you like to learn what is behind these lines? Take the following webquest.
You have to visit this website to answer the questions.
Next week the answers to the webquest will be published and you'll have the chance to correct your exercise!

WEBQUEST - GUY FAWKES

Go to http://www.bonefire.org/guy/index.php and answer the questions:

1 - What happens all over Britain on the night of November 5th?

2 - Who do people commemorate that way?

3 - What did Guy Fawkes, together with a group of men, try to do?

4 - What were English Catholics hoping when Queen Elisabeth I died in 1603?

5 - Why were they disappointed?

6 - What would people like Fawkes and his fellow conspirators be called now?

7 - How did they try to put their murderous plan into practice?

8 - At what moment did some conspirators start questioning what they were doing?

9 - How did one conspirator try to warn a friend of his?

10 - Who was that letter even shown to?

11 - What happened to Guy Fawkes when the authorities searched the cellar of the parliament?

12 - Why might the conspirators' plans have failed anyway?

13 - What other term is often used to refer to Guy Fawkes Day?

14 - What might some Englishmen be celebrating rather than the traitor's execution?

15 - How many conspirators were there altogether?

16 - Who was their leader?

17 - Why did Guy Fawkes become famous even though he wasn't the leader?

18 - Why wasn't Jeremy Tresham executed like all the others?

19 - What did the authorities use the conspirators' confessions for?

20 - How were the traitors executed?

21 - Why was that method of public execution chosen?

22 - Who might the letter have been 'fabricated' by?

23 - What do some historians believe concerning the letter?

24 - Which of the traitors is suspected of telling the authorities about their plans?

25 - In what year did the tradition of lighting bonfires start?

26 - Whose effigy is sometimes burned along with the guy dummy?

27 - How do children collect money? What do they use it for?

28 - Which town in South East England attracts thousands of visitors for its festivities?

29 - Where has the custom spread to?

___________________________________________________________________________

Take a look at this video to find out about the real ringleader of the Gunpowder Plot and his fellow conspirators.

Good luck with your webquest and enjoy!

videoclips

Hello! This is for all 1st year students! Enjoy it

What's the most offensive swearword in this office?

What's the most offensive swearword in your workplace? Catherine's colleague names a few, but does she guess the right one? Watch this hilarious video and find out! For advanced students.
Enjoy!

Pronunciation

This is a good choice for a laugh. English pronunciation is not an easy subject, as we all know, but Steve Martin is determined to succeed!
Enjoy!

Body parts

We have not forgotten about our elementary students. Here is a video that will help you revise the parts of the body in a very amusing way! You're gonna have fun!

Food for thought

Hello back! Our first post this year goes to advanced students, particularly those who are interested in new technologies. Here is a video that will make you think of the advantages and drawbacks of those gadgets which have become so essential in our lives that we could not possibly live without most of them. But, what of those days when we also went to the cinema, hung around with friends, did sport and were not hooked on a screen?

You're fired

English has many ways of beating about the bush, of not saying straightforward what it really means to say. On this ocassion, we recommend this text in which you can learn fifty ways for a boss to tell their staff that they're fired. Hope you enjoy it!

St Patrick's Day

Rafael's contribution explains the Irish day and saint, St. Patrick, to the last detail.

She doesn't wake up

Revise your daily routine activities by naming the actions shown in this video:

Students' corner

Tania has found a text about Slow Cities. You may need a dictionary to fully understand it.