Help is on hand… with the new Babylon Idiomas Podcast!

What is a podcast?

A podcast is an audio clip, like a short radio show, that you can listen to online, or download onto your computer, MP3 player or i-pod.

What is the Babylon Idiomas Podcast?

The Babylon Idiomas Podcast is a great way to learn new vocabulary, and practise your listening skills

Every Monday we will podcast a new word, expression or phrase (in conjunction with our word of the week)

The podcast is short – each is 2 minutes long – and quick to download.  It is presented by two teachers who explain the word in natural English and show it being used in context

Where can I listen to the Babylon Idiomas Podcast?

You can listen to the podcast on http://soundcloud.com/babylon-idiomas-ingles

We will also post a link to the new podcast on our Facebook page in each city: Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Valencia

1. Reading! that’s the part that helps you the most, it pays dividends at any level. Find something you really fancy and read about it.
2. Get confident and expand your comfort zone step by step
3. Get speaking partners to chat with, mainly natives.
4. Forget about your mother tongue and focus on English. Produce sentences while doing your usual routine.
5. Speak and read outloud. The more you get involved, the more you learn.
6. Watch movies and series with English audio and subtitles. Do not confuse your brain with different languages at the same time.
7. This could be tricky on occasions, so stick to known stuff to build listening skills and confidence.
8. Live English, it’s not just a language but a useful tool to communicate all around the world.

9. Watch the Anglosaxons and get used to their different attitudes, accents and manners. Learning a language is more than just learning some dull grammar rules by heart.
10. There are tons of online resources, make good use of them.

In short, as much English as possible!

My Babylon experience:

I had given some thought to take English lessons but finally I put aside my worries and doubts and moved on. I joined Babylon-Madrid right after summer to take the FCE exam before Christmas.
You can tell it was the right decision as I will sit the CAE exam in June! Going there on a daily basis leads to a comfortable environment. Let’s say it’s not just a teacher but the whole staff who cares about us students.
You get a nice feeling from the word go. There is plenty of resources at hand such as books, conversation lessons, movies. However, none of them can beat “Happy Friday” events, where socializing is the cardinal rule.
I tell you what, I’m going to miss some things once I’m done with my exam. Still, I’m not talking about phrasal verbs or reported speech.
Thank you, Babylon-Madrid, for letting me get involved in English in such style, it’s appreciated.

Favourite English expressions:

It’s my way or the highway: when somebody makes a decision and there is no choice but stick to that.
The novelty wears off: that feeling that vanishes once you get used to things.
A cheap shot: a quite bad joke, often offensive.
An icebreaker: anything you say or do to face a tense moment.
Shake a leg!: doing or saying something to let people know you are alive.
My cup of tea: a particular thing you are fond of.
To be stuck in a rut: your live becomes a mere routine.
Over the moon: being ecstatic.
To learn the ropes: knowing how things work in a particular enviroment.
It’s all Greek to me: having no idea whatsoever about a topic.

Blogger: Alvaro

Es hora de renovar nuestros marcapáginas divertidos que contienen refranes en inglés y español y nos gustaría saber vuestros favoritos y publicarlos en la próxima edición. Publica refranes en inglés con una traducción o frase correspondiente en español durante el mes de mayo y el día 1 de Junio nuestros jefes de estudios de las cuatro escuelas elegirán los 10 mejores para publicar en nuestra marcapáginas. Si eligen el refrán que has publicado tú, recibirás una clase particular completamente gratis.

*El vale debe utilizarse durante 2012 y es transferible si se quiere regalar a otra persona.

It’s time to remake our famous bookmark with new proverbs in English and Spanish and we would like your help in creating our new edition! Write your favourite English proverbs with the Spanish translation either on our facebook pages or on this post during the month of May. On the 1st of June the Head of Studies of each of our 4 schools will between them choose the 10 best ones to be published on our bookmarks. If they pick a proverb that you have sent it, you will get one private class for free!

*Private class has to be taken before the end of 2012 and is transferable to someone else in case you want to give it as a present.

Our Facebook Pages:

Barcelona page

Madrid page

Sevilla page

Valencia page

• Read what you are keen on, but read!
• Watch movies, sport events or news in English.
• Listen to music and understand the lyrics. It is a fun way to learn.
• Underline unknown words and after that look them up.
• Use new words and expressions, share them with other students.
• Avoid translating in to your own language, only if the English definition doesn’t help.
• Learn from your mistakes, don’t be frustrated.

 The BASIC pieces of advice:

• Spend almost 20 minutes per day reading (book, newspaper, network…).
• Go out! Travel and meet new people to improve your skills and knowledge.
•  Ask if you don’t know something don’t be shy, the next time you will remember.
• If you are exhausted, relax a while, after that keep doing it (do always your best).

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Background information:

My name is Pablo, I’m a young guy from Barcelona. I’m doing multimedia in the university and studying in an English academy as well. My decision to join into an English course came from me. Obviously, one big reason, is necessity, having enough English skills would open loads of opportunities to all people. But, I strongly believe that willing to learn is always a challenge and a positive desire, mainly in all fields. I’ll add something more; you will never stop learning if you really like it. “The more you know, the more you want to know” I believe that. If you don’t like something, the best thing to do is to give it up and go for another thing.

My curiosity, interest, enthusiasm and obviously necessity have brought me where I am and fortunately constantly improving, so that is one reason that encourages me to follow with firm steps in one direction. This year I will have my FCE exam which is one of my new-year resolutions and I’m looking forward to achieving it. I think that having this level may encourage me to keep doing more and, why not, go for the next level Advance. There are several reasons to apply for them, such as work opportunities, simply improve your skills and your person, be able to go around the world and make you understand and understand others as well. I look at FCE like it was a sort of gold medal, and achieving it would give me power and desire to go for more, also it would show me, that if you want you can. ¿Did you remember Obama’s slogan? Repeat with me, yes we can!

I have travelled several times to England and always I want to go back. In my opinion is a very nice place, there you can meet people and improve your English easily. The last summer I was in Bristol for one month. There, I was with a host-family and I had no chance to speak other languages but English, I recommend that to all those people who want to improve quickly and why not have a good experience.

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Greatest achievements:

Since I’m in Babylon, I have improved considerably and that is great. See how you are improving, it is a good way to encourage yourself. I feel confident when I’m talking to others and I can identify where are my week points, such grammar or reading, the only think I must do is review them on and on. Now I’m able to watch a movie without subtitles and understand the plot or read a newspaper review and get most of it content.
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Fun things about English language:

English language unfortunately has lots of expressions or slangs that may confuse you. Don’t worry! You will learn them, but, don’t use them, only with your friends or relatives. Understanding slang may help you to understand people who use them, and it is quite important. I like knowing them and telling to other but I avoid using them in formal conversations. There are some fun things about slang. Do you know about Cockney Rhythmic Slang? The aim is saying words with the same value of sound, for example:

• You must be joking, I can’t Adam and Eve! (Adam and Eve = believe)
• Do you mind waiting, she is on the dog and bone. (Dog and bone = phone)
• Hey guy I can’t wait any more, I need an Ali G (Ali G = pee)
• Do you mind waiting, she is on the al Capone (Al Capone = phone)
• Look those jeans! That price is Anneka Rice! (Anneka Rice = Good price)
• Hello Danny, how is your trouble and strife. (Trouble and strife = wife)
• Hey guys! Where is the Moriarty tonight? (Moriarty = Party)
• The best think I saw there, was their airs and graces. (Airs and graces = Faces)

And my favourite one:

Don’t care about him. He must be an ancient Greek. (Ancient Greek = Freak)

These are a few, if you want more check out this website! http://www.cockneyrhymingslang.co.uk/

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Blogger: Pablo Miravalles Pérez

Well, perhaps. But I’m here to inform you of various other traditions shared by those friendly foreigners, the Irish. Sure, drinking is big business on the small island and a heavy part of the Irish stereotype. But surely there must be more to this national day than meets the eye? As the name suggests, the Patron Saint of Ireland is St. Patrick, who was in fact born in… Wales! The date celebrates the arrival of Christianity to Ireland and marks the anniversary of the saint’s death. This religious day falls during the Christian festival of Lent, however, the prohibition of eating meat and drinking alcohol is waivered and families tuck into a feast of Irish bacon and cabbage, all washed down with a hearty pint of Guinness (the national drink). Mmm! And now, on this day all over Ireland, there are parades and festivals in honour of ‘St. Paddy’, as he is affectionately called. This saint’s day is probably the most celebrated of all the patron saints… not bad for a country that’s the same size as the American state of Indiana, home to about 6 million, whereas Ireland’s population is roughly only 5.5 million!

So why is it such a big celebration? Well, nations all over the world take part, and festivities include some traditions that are definitely not Irish. In America it is common to knock back (that’s “drink” to those non-native English speakers reading) a beer that has been dyed a shade of green! New York boasts the second largest parade behind Dublin, and sees about 2 million people take part in the event which honours the 12% of Irish Americans in the population. In both Quebec City and Montreal in Canada there are energetic street parades and Buenos Aires comes alive with the South American chaos of all-night street parties where the drink of choice is, of course, beer!

So, this St. Patrick’s Day celebrate in style with a pint of Guinness at one of the many Irish pubs across the globe and raise a glass to your friends with the word, Sláinte! (Or in other words… cheers, good health, salud or in Seville, arriba, abajo, al centro, adentro…!)

Expressions to do with the Irish:

Luck of the Irish

Meaning: This isn’t really luck at all, but more of an attitude. A positive take on a bad situation.
When to use: The Irish are well known for their sense of humour and their ability to laugh when everything looks like it’s going wrong. Turn a negative situation into a positive one, take a deep breath, open your mouth and laugh!
Example: “I was wearing my new shoes today when I stepped in dog poop!”
“Well, it’s lucky you were wearing shoes!”
“Yeah, that’s the luck of the Irish!”

Top of the morning (to you)!

Meaning: Here top means the best so you are literally wishing them “the best part of the morning”. The typical response should be, “And the rest of the day to you.” That way, you’ve both balanced out your day by wishing the best possible outcome for both parties.
When to use: At the start of the day, obviously! Oh, and it helps if it’s to somebody that you like!

Irish Gaelic expressions, spelled phonetically (try learning these in your EFL classroom!):

Níor bhris focal maith fiacal riamh

Translation: A good word never broke a tooth.
Meaning: A compliment never hurts.
When to use: Use this informal phrase when a situation starts turning negative. If you only ever say nice things and don’t offend anyone, you will hopefully have no reason to get punched in the mouth! Chicos, this is a good one to remember, especially if another guy is looking for trouble and you’d rather not get involved!

Níl aon sean stoca nach bhfaigheann sean bhróg

Translation: There is no old stocking that doesn’t find an old boot.
Meaning: Everyone has a soul mate.
When to use: An alternative to the phrase “plenty of fish in the sea”. Use this expression when giving comfort to a heart-broken friend and take reassurance in the fact that there’s a certain someone out there for everyone.

Get into the Irish spirit:

Sinead O’Connor, the famous Irish songstress is most famous for her version of “Nothing Compares to You”. Check it out on Youtube (and for all you language learners, I’ve chosen the video complete with lyrics, so get warming up your vocal chords…):

This television advert for Guinness from 1999 is now just as famous as the black and white pint itself. With a killer soundtrack from Leftfield, the audio and visual treat results in an uber-hypnotic, minute-long ad, that’ll have you reaching for your lose change and running to the nearest watering hole. Thanks, Youtube!

One By One in The Darkness by Deirdre Madden. If you’re a language learner who likes to take the bull by the horns (an animal expression which means to tackle your problems directly and confidently without being worried by the risks involved) than why not try this excellent novel based on the events of the IRA ceasefire of 1994 and stories of childhood in Ireland in the 1960’s and 1970’s. An extremely moving account and a must-read for all history and literature lovers. Read an excerpt of the novel here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Darkness-Deirdre-Madden/dp/0571175511

And finally…

The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow

This expression talks of the supposed hiding-place of gold coins belonging to an Irish Leprechaun. A Leprechaun is a kind of fairy in Irish folklore that looks like a tiny, old man and wears green. In honour of this expression, Babylon Idiomas is offering a fantastic deal for the whole of March. Sign up for any Cambridge Exam preparation course this month and get a discount of up to 30% off the price of the course! For further details, follow this link.

Rosie Nicholas (English Teacher, Sevilla)

Happy Friday

Meet up with us on Friday 9th March @ Bar Bärlín at 7pm to practice English and generally have  a nice time. First beer free!

(Calle Augusto Figueroa 21, Chueca)

New conversation class times

In case you didn’t know already, our new Conversation Friday times are the following:

• A1 – B1 and PET – 15:00-16:00h
• B2 – C2 and FCE and CAE – 16:00-17:00h

We love reading, and that is why we have added lots of new books for all levels to our library.

If you are Elementary level (A1), we have a new book about London; for Pre-intermediate (A2) students a new book about Australia & New Zealand; for Intermediate (B1) students an abridged version of George Orwell´s 1984; and for Upper Intermediate (B2) and Advanced (C1) students looking to curl up with a good book at the weekend, we have the Talented Mr Ripley and Dublin People, a selection of short stories.

Write us a book review for our next blog, and we´ll let you choose a book to add to the library!

Happy Friday

The next Happy Friday is on 2nd March from  20:00 til late in Timeline Bar. As always, the first drink and tapas are free, and we speak in English the whole night. Current and former students are welcome. Be there or be square!

New Cambridge Courses

This week and next week we opened/are opening two new Cambridge Exam Preparation courses for the July 2012 exams:

• FCE Cuatro: Tuesdays & Thursdays 19:00 – 21:00
• CAE Cuatro: Mondays & Wednesdays 11:00 – 13:00

There are still some places left, but not many! If you are interested email liz@babylon-idiomas.com or raquel@babylon-idiomas.com for more information.

Do you love challenges? Are you ready for success? Do you want an internationally recognised English language qualification?

Look no further!

We have new First Certificate (FCE) and Advanced Certificate (CAE) courses starting the week of 27th February for the July 2012 exams. Places are limited. Contact kat@babylon-idiomas.com for more information.

Word of the Week

We love words…which is why we´ve started a “Word of the Week“. We´re kicking off with “chuffed” – a colloquial adjective used in the U.K. to mean “pleased”, “delighted”, “happy”. Eg: I passed the Fist Certificate exam – I´m really chuffed!

Congratulations

Congratulations to Luke´s Upper Intermediate group on successfully completing  and passing the course! Good work guys – keep in touch!

Blog for us!

We love blogging and bloggers… that´s why we want to invite you to help us write our next blog. Send us a review of an English language book or film before March 12th – the best one will be published and will win an Oxford Graded Reader!

Email kat@babylon-idiomas.com with your blogs or for information.

The next CELTA teacher training courses will be held in July and August 2012. For more information on the CELTA Certification, the course dates and prices, Spanish courses and accomodation or how to apply, please visit our CELTA website.

One of the things I like to do most when I am feeling romantic and loving is snuggle up with a good film and a glass of wine. I thought maybe you girls would like some suggestions of films you could watch this February and guys, you might want some help knowing what to pick up at the store or download for a night in with your girlfriend. Films are also a great ways to practice your English language listening skills and you will also find that watching movies and tv in English will help with your pronunciation. So….you get to cuddle with the one you love AND practice your English….perfect!

Here is my list of my all-time personal favourite Romance films with a little explanation as to why I love them so much and some fun links…

1.    Pretty Woman [1990]
I am sure most of you have seen this ‘prince and the pauper’ film about a wealthy man that picks up a prostitute one night and finds her so intriguing that he pays her to stay the week and be his escort, during which time he falls in love. I have always loved this film and Julia Roberts character in it, even the cheesy ending. Richard Gere remains an endearing character throughout, even if he thinks he can buy women. I must be a fan of RG….he is in my top 2 films. Watch the trailer for Pretty Woman.

2.    An Officer and a Gentleman [1982]
This film has me crying on multiple occasions both tears of sadness and tears of joy. Richard Gere is very handsome as the wannabe RAF pilot from a bad background and the ending is one of the most romantic endings of all time, all sing together, ‘Love lifts us up where we belong!’ It is also a good choice as guys may think it is less of a ‘chick flick’ and enjoy the action scenes. I think it’s a Valentines must-see!

3.    Sleepless in Seattle [1993] (& You’ve Got Mail)
Ok…this film is very cheesy but there’s something so believable about it even though it’s unbelievable. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan star as individuals destined to be together. The highlight of the movie for me is when Tom Hanks’ young son phones a chat line to say that he thinks his dad needs a new wife after they lost his mum to cancer, Tom Hanks is tricked into speaking on the phone. Here is a video of the scene; unfortunately it doesn’t have English subtitles. Try not to cry!
(Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan had such great chemistry is this movie that years later they did another romantic comedy together which is also worth seeing if you haven’t…it’s called You’ve Got Mail)

4.    An Affair to Remember [1957]
This is a beautiful classic film starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. Both characters meet on a ship and fall in love even though they both have relationships at home. They agree to end their relationships and meet at the top of the Empire State building in 6 months but things don’t go to plan. In this clip from Sleepless in Seattle, one of the characters explains how emotional the ending of An Affair to Remember is. Don’t worry, it has subtitles to help with you understand what she is saying through her tears!

5.    PS. I Love You [2007]
Ok we have gathered from the first four films that I am a crier when it comes to romantic or sad movies, this is undeniable. If you also cry easily at movies and you haven’t seen this before, I recommend you stay well away! I have never cried so much at a movie in my life. The plot is a young married man dies of cancer and leaves his wife letters to help her move on and enjoy life without him. All the letters are signed, p.s. I love you. (I nearly cried just writing that.) Have a look at the trailer.

6.    Love Actually [2003]
Just missing out my Top 5, Love Actually is a British film with many celebrities in the cast. The film consists of many different stories that come together at the end of the film for a great big ‘happily ever after’. One of my favourite moments is Hugh Grant (who plays the prime minister) dancing, here’s the clip.

7.    Notting Hill [1999]
This film again stars Hugh Grant as a bumbling englishman and also Julia Roberts as an American actress. It is a very sweet romantic comedy with one very famous line, “I’m also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her” (see it here).

8.    Ghost [1990]
A ridiculous story line featuring an even more ridiculous dance between Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze’s soul which is inside the body of Whoopi Goldberg, but one very sexy scene and one very sweet (and yes, tear filled) ending. Here’s a sneak peak at part of the film.

9.    Jerry Maguire [1996]
This Tom Cruise and Renee Zelwegger film makes the list for one reason… “You had me at hello.” I could watch it over and over again.

10.    Casablanca [1942]
This classic has been voted the #1 greatest Romance Movie by the American Film Institute. A beautiful Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman film that made famous the line, ‘Here’s looking at you kid’. Here’s the trailer.

If you are a movie lover and have seen all my suggestions, or just don’t like my choices here are two websites with their own lists of the most romantic movies of our time, these will hopefully give you even more ideas….

• ***All Womens Talk – Top 10 Romantic Movies
• ***American Film Institute’s 100 Greatest Romance Movies

Have a LOVELY Valentine’s Day!

Blogger: Nellie