Where in the World Can You Speak English?

Students worked in groups to research different countries that speak English as their official or native language. Each poster includes cultural information such as food, things to do, festivals, sports and music. Other materials consist of famous people, landmarks, animals and education. The students also gave advice on the best ways to get to their chosen country and what kind of currency you will need while you're there. The posters can now be seen in the "English Corner" in the hallway!

Scotland and Ireland

Nigeria and Jamaica

Canada and Wales

England, United States, South Africa and the Bahamas

The Fiji Islands

English Central

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English central (advanced videos)

U.S. Version of Carnival

Carnival, but more widely known as Mardi Gras, originated in the French colonies of the southern United States. In the late 17th century, the French King Louis XIV sent a group to protect the country’s claim to the territory of Louisiane, which currently consists of Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. Mardi Gras is now celebrated in other areas of the United States, but its most famous location is in New Orleans, Louisiana, due to the origin and growth it encountered from the French colonizers. The first celebration took place on March 3, 1699, just 60 miles from New Orleans.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans consists of floats, parades, music, decorations, costumes and masks. The parade is one of the main staples of the celebrations. Groups spend thousands of dollars and months of labor preparing their floats. Floats can consist of light-hearted themes such as animals, skeletons, jesters and celebrities. Occasionally, the float-builders incorporate political undertones or satirical pieces based on society and culture. It is estimated that about half a million people attend this parade each year. Another famous event is the Masquerada Ball, where all attendees are required to wear masks to hide their identity.

“Fat Tuesday” is the English translation of the French word “Mardi Gras.” It consists of the tradition of eating very rich and fatty foods to prepare for the fasting of Lent. “Fat Tuesday” comes from the Christian calendar that allows for this activity the day before Ash Wednesday. In the United States, the most common food is a paczki, which is deep-fried dough with filling inside. Paczki came from the Poland immigrants and is still being consumed today.

Irish students in Torrejón!!

A group of students from Sligo, Ireland, visited our school in January. Here are some of our students' impressions:

We miss you all and we are looking forward to seeing you again in April!

Valentine's Day

The history of Valentine's Day is based on the story of St. Valentine. The story begins in the third century when Emperor Claudius II ruled over the city of Rome. The emperor believed men made better soldiers if they were not married, so he decided to ban the act of marriage. Saint Valentine, a Roman priest, was a romantic and did not agree with the emperor's decision.  Valentine continued to perform marriages in secret for young couples.  He was eventually sentenced to prison and death by the emperor.

While in prison, Valentine wrote a letter to his love (who was the jailor´s daughter) and he addressed it “From Your Valentine.” Therefore, he sent the first ever “valentine.”

In 1537, England’s King Henry VII declared February 14 the official holiday of St. Valentine’s Day. Today, we still celebrate Valentine’s Day by gifting cards, flowers, and chocolate to our loved ones. About 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged each year.  More than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate and 189 million red roses are sold on Valentines Day.

Check out this video for more interesting facts about Valentine’s Day!