We have just finished our third tasty mini-inmersion in English: “Hey, Good Lookin’! What Ya Got Cookin’?” We organize gastronomic meetings that serve us as an excuse to get into subjects related to the kitchen: ways of cooking, spices, kitchen tools, and so on.

The generous board of Peña Aldapa accepted the proposal to provide us their facilities. Far from regreting that decision, they have opened their doors to whenever we want. Thanks a lot, specially to Natxo Irigoyen, who provided us the access to all the facilities.

People in general think that the kitchen of English-speaking countries is not as good as here. I wanted to show the students, says Lindy, how wrong they were. We have cooked dishes from Jaimaca, South Africa, Canada, Australia, Ireland, USA,… so students have been able to see that there is a whole gastronomic universe besides fish chips or hamburgers.

Some of the dishes we have enjoyed include salmon on maple syrup and mustard, brownies, squash sauté, smashed potatoes with cheddar cheese and garlic, carrot soup, luck of the Irish broccoli soup, baked bananas with rum, or almond coated halibut…

You can listen to -or download- an audio report we recorded while the cooks were preparing the dinner, febreary 21st.

You can also take a look to the pictures in miniatures, or as a slideshow.
Students have said:

“Cooking and talking in English, an innovative experience!” (Cheni, 4th Level)

“The cooking classes are exciting and I’m learning lots of new words. AMAZING!” (MariaEugenia, 3rd Level)

“Today was my first day, but I think it is going to be great. It is a good way to speak “normal” English, not only theory—JUST PRACTICE. I joined the group because I don’t want to forget my English!” (Maria, 4th level)

“Interesting way to learn how to cook dishes from other countries and a lot of new words!!!” (Shy Chick, 3rd Level)

“A funny way to break the long and boring work week and a great opportunity to meet people. Cool!” (Natxo, member of the Peña)

“A great opportunity to cook dishes from different countries and to meet nice people in an English atmosphere”. (Shy Guy, 5th Level)

“La primera vez nos parecía una idea rara, extraña. Pero, a la vez, la entendimos y, al ver las ganas de Natxo y Lindy, dijimos que sí. Ahora nos ha parecido tan buena iniciativa que creemos que se puede aprovechar la idea para hacerla también en euskera o en otros idiomas. Me da mucha envidia!” (Iñaki, miembro de la junta de la peña La Aldapa).

More info:

English speaking country’s recipes:

Global Cuisine

30 minutes or less recipes

All recipes

Yummy food

Alaskan recipes

Throughout this mini-immersion in English the students learned colloquial language, phrases, sayings, swearwords… Which is not usually addressed very often in the formal teaching of languages, but it is an important part of the real language. “We have made”, says Lindy, “a number of activities such as games, improvisation theater, contests, and so on”.

Foto by Fillmore Photography

You can listen to a couple of examples in wich students explained a embarrassing scene from Mr. Bean, or about the variety of words you can use to call someone “smart”.

Download example 1.

Download example 2.

Students have said:

“Finally I learnt some useful English. Now I must practise it!” (Cool Guy, 5th Level)

“A different course where we learnt common everyday language. Great atmosphere!” (Leire, 5th Level)

“Very, very funny! (Cheni, 4th Level)

Como cada último lunes de mes la EOIP estuvo en el programa de radio Hoy
por Hoy con Elvira Obanos. El directo lo emite la SER en FM 96.3 y en OM
1.575.

El pasado lunes 25 de febrero tuvimos a Caroline Dawson, profesora de yoga¬relaxation y a Yolanda López, que nos hablaron de yoga, de inglés y de otras cosillas zen…

Descarga el audio. (10:53. 3.74MB)

Welcome to “Take Off”. Today is February 20th , it’s Wednesday , and we have a very, very special progamme full of new and interesting activities. It’s Daniel Lovefield talking to you and on the technical part the one, the unique, the master: Ibon.

Foto by Cubbie_n_Vegas

To start with we have a short biography of a woman who is, probably, one of the most important alive exemples of charity, love and wisdom. We will talk about her life and about her humanitarian services as well. We are refering to Amma.

In the second part, we have a new quiz show called “Guess who!”. We will put a short and famous piece of classical music and you have to write the author (and the title,
if you know it). There is a great prize for the winner.

In the third part we have a joke.

And we will finish with rock and roll (we can’t imagine a better end)

Download the show (11.33. 15.8 MB)

EXTRAS:

Biography of Amma

Quizz

The Joke

Rock and Roll

More info:

Amma. org

Wilson Pickett - Land of 1000 Dances (lyrics)

Daniel is a 5th course student who came to our studios and recorded The Take Off, a magnificent radio show. He started with a little cinema, continued with a short tale, and finished with pure rock and roll.

Foto by Alaskan Dude

Download the show. (8:59)

Daniel is not Edward R. Murrow, but is getting closer.

EXTRAS:

The film of the week (pdf)

Dustine, Justine and Bustine (pdf)

Bob Seger & The Silverbullet Band (pdf)

This is a message from the fifth year group D English students at the Official School of Languages of Pamplona. Try to catch the feeling we sing with, not only our beautiful, harmonious, wonderful and angelic voices.

With this song by Nat King Cole (made famous by Frank Sinatra) we want to wish you for ever and a day the very best: the very best in love, the very best in health, the very best in happiness, the very best in relationships and, last but not least, the very best in joy.

Maritxu´s students, from English Group 2J, just did a great job perfoming “Jack and the Beanstalk”.

You can download the story by “saving target as…” (10 min. 34 seg.)

Storytelling in English, by Tim Bowley

“SPINNING TALES”

Wednesday, 28th March 2007.

Time: 18.15-19.05

Venue: Salón de Actos.

CONTESTS 2007: CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!

-COMIC STRIP CONTEST

Miriam Cameros Sierra (2N)
María Jesús Aguirre Salamero(4C)

-CULTURAL POSTER CONTEST

Amaya Indave Navarlaz (4B)

-WRITING CONTEST

1st year: Carmen Olza Leoné (1E)
2nd year: Idota Induráin Huarte (2Ñ)
3rd year: Mila Ibáñez Yabar (3C)
4th year: Margarita Leoz Munilla (4I)
5th year: Hugo Díaz Izu (5C)

And thanks to the rest for taking part!

Charuca Plá, from 4th level, Group H, presents the biography from “the punk-inspired quintet Yellowcard formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1997″.

You can also download it (“saving target as”) (4 min. 37 seg.)