Level 3 Convenio

February 25

Hi dear teachers:

Today we are going to listen to two people speaking about an English teacher profile. Go to:

http://www.elllo.org/english/0751/T798-Tini-Teachers.htm

Play the audio and listen to Todd and Tini.

In order to understand more the text, go to:

http://www.wordchamp.com/lingua2/Reader.do

Select the text, copy it and paste it in the web reader.

Then, go to the quiz and take it! how much did you understand?

http://www.elllo.org/english/0751/Q798-Tini-Teacher.html

Write down in comments how this exercise was for you, was it difficult? easy? more or less? How do you think you could improve your listening skill?

Another good topic to know more about...

http://www.elllo.org/english/0701/T730-Peter-English.htm

Hi dear teachers:

Every February 14, across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint, and where did these traditions come from? Find out about the history of this celebration:

St. Valentine's biography

Let me introduce myself. My name is Valentine. I lived in Rome during the third century. That was long, long ago! At that time, Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius. I didn't like Emperor Claudius, and I wasn't the only one! A lot of people shared my feelings. Claudius wanted to have a big army. He expected men to volunteer to join. Many men just did not want to fight in wars. They did not want to leave their wives and families. As you might have guessed, not many men signed up. This made Claudius furious. So what happened? He had a crazy idea. He thought that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So Claudius decided not to allow any more marriages. Young people thought his new law was cruel. I thought it was preposterous! I certainly wasn't going to support that law!

Did I mention that I was a priest? One of my favorite activities was to marry couples. Even after Emperor Claudius passed his law, I kept on performing marriage ceremonies -- secretly, of course. It was really quite exciting. Imagine a small candlelit room with only the bride and groom and myself. We would whisper the words of the ceremony, listening all the while for the steps of soldiers. One night, we did hear footsteps. It was scary! Thank goodness the couple I was marrying escaped in time. I was caught. I was thrown in jail and told that my punishment was death.

I tried to stay cheerful. And do you know what? Wonderful things happened. Many young people came to the jail to visit me. They threw flowers and notes up to my window. They wanted me to know that they, too, believed in love. One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit me in the cell. Sometimes we would sit and talk for hours. She helped me to keep my spirits up. She agreed that I did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and going ahead with the secret marriages.

On the day I was to die, I left my friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it, "Love from your Valentine." I believe that note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. It was written on the day I died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love, and they laugh -- because they know that love can't be beaten!

Reading and listening comprehension activity:

After watching the video and doing the reading, answer the following questions:

1.       What’s the relationship between mid-February and Romans?
2.       How did the Lupercalia festivity begin in Roman time?

3.       Who was Claudius and what did he declare?
4.       How did Valentine help people?
5.       What happened when Valentine was arrested?
6.       What did young couples do when Valentine was in prison?

7.       When was Valentine executed and what happened in that date?

ANSWERS

1. What’s the relationship between mid-February and Romans?

The association between mid-february and Romans goes back to a pagan festival known as Lupercalia, likely honoring either Lupa, she was who suckled Romulus and Remus or Faunus, their god of fertility.

2. How did the Lupercalia festivity begin in Roman time?

The festivity began with an animal sacrifice.

3. Who was Claudius and what did he declare?

He was an ambitious ruler, his battles required vast armies of men so he sent the young men to war during long time. So Claudius determined to stop love and banned marriages.

4. How did Valentine help people?

Father Valentine found the ban unjust and continued marrying young lovers in secret.

5. What happened when Valentine was arrested?

He was sentenced to death

6. What did young couples do when Valentine was in prison?

They passed flowers and notes through the bars as symbols of gratitude

7. When was Valentine executed and what happened in that date?

On February 14, the day he was executed, it is said he passed the young girl a note, it was signed “from your Valentine”, and a tradition was born.

Level 3 Convenio

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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Teachers' Profiles

Friday, February 11, 2011

Valentine's Day

Thursday, February 3, 2011

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