Halloween!

In the last week of October, we taught about the American tradition of Halloween. Halloween is October 31, the night before All Saints Day (Festividad de Todos los Santos), and it is also known as the "Day of the Dead." In the United States, it is popular to celebrate Halloween by dressing up in costumes (disfraces). Many children like to go "trick or treating" ("truco o trato"): they walk around town in costumes, knock on the doors of houses, say "Trick or treat!" - and then receive candy. For teenagers and adults, house parties are sometimes popular and everyone dresses in costume.

Here at school during the week before Halloween, we taught a Halloween lesson and celebrated Halloween with the students. We talked about the history and traditions of Halloween. We also discussed Halloween words, such as "pumpkin" (calabaza) and "vampire" (vampiro). We played some Halloween games in which the students guessed the Halloween word. In some classes, we colored a Frankenstein mask.

We finished class with an activity in which students had to close their eyes and put their hands in a jar - a "Halloween Surprise" ("Halloween Sorpresa"). They did not know the contents of the jar. We told the students that the jar contained guts and eyeballs (intestinos y ojos). Then at the end of this activity, we showed the students that the jar actually contained spaghetti and grapes (espaguetis y uvas). The students had fun and it was a good week of Halloween! Hope you had a Happy Halloween!

- Elsie

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En la última semana de octubre, nos enseñó acerca de la tradición americana de Halloween. Halloween es el 31 de octubre por la noche antes de Festividad de Todos los Santos, y también es conocido como el "Día de los Muertos". En los Estados Unidos, que es muy popular para celebrar Halloween por vestirse con disfraces. Muchos niños como para ir "truco o trato": se pasea por la ciudad en los trajes, llamar a las puertas de las casas, dicen que "Truco o trato!" - y luego recibir golosinas. Para adolescentes y adultos, fiestas populares son los vestidos de veces y todo el mundo con el traje.

Aquí en la escuela durante la semana antes de Halloween, nos dio una lección de Halloween y Halloween celebra con los estudiantes. Hablamos de la historia y las tradiciones de Halloween. También hablamos sobre las palabras de Halloween, como "calabaza" y "vampiro.". Hemos jugado algunos juegos de Halloween en el que los estudiantes adivinar la palabra Halloween. En algunas clases, de color de una máscara de Frankenstein.

Terminamos la clase con una actividad en la que los estudiantes tuvieron que cerrar sus ojos y puso sus manos en un recipiente - una "Sorpresa de Halloween." Ellos no conocían el contenido de la jarra. Les dijimos a los estudiantes que el recipiente contenía intestinos y ojos. Luego, al final de esta actividad, que mostró a los estudiantes que en realidad contenía el frasco de espagueti y uvas. Los estudiantes se divirtieron y fue una buena semana de Halloween! Espero que hayan tenido un Feliz Halloween!

A New Perspective

As native English speakers, we often forget what we must sound like to our non-native students. Elsie and I can certainly relate to what hearing strange and foreign languages sounds like; even after over a decade of studying Spanish, I often feel like my students are speaking some crazed and mysterious language to me during class. The daily moments of misinterpretation and miscommunication have, for myself at least, become quite entertaining. Living in a foreign country, you quickly learn to say phrases such as 'Can you repeat, please?' and 'Sorry, I don't understand.' At first, many of my students were overjoyed that I could speak (somewhat broken) Spanish with them. This excitement soon turned into confusion as to why I couldn't understand every word they shouted and mumbled in my direction. Now, after one month at Lope de Vega, the students have become the teachers. Before I explain new vocabulary words in English, I always preface with the question 'And how do you say this in Spanish?' Students have taken to pointing out vocab and dichos to me on a daily basis. For example, in a conversation I had with a student about soccer, I learned the words chanda, jersey, and a detailed description of the difference between a camisa and a camiseta.

But what exactly do Elsie and I sound like to those around us with little if no English experience?

Here is a short film by Brian Fairbairn, giving us a new perspective on what all of us native English speakers must sound like to the rest of the world.

- Robyn

The Countries of Europe

Recently, the students learned about the different countries of Europe. They drew and colored the countries in Europe, as well as the national flags of the countries to represent their location within Europe. The students also learned about the different countries' weather, languages and culture, such as popular foods and famous sites. All of the classes worked together to create beautiful posters that show the countries and cultures in Europe.

Welcome Back!

We welcome all students and staff at C.E.I.P. Lope de Vega to a new school year, full of fun and learning! This blog is where you can see some of the English and bilingual activities that we are doing in the classes.

This year, we have two American assistant teachers to help us learn some English and American culture: Elsie (from San Francisco, California) and Robyn (from Eugene, Oregon). Elsie and Robyn are very excited to share their English and culture with the students and all of you. Stay tuned for our blog posts! :)

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Damos la bienvenida a todos los estudiantes y el personal de C.E.I.P. Lope de Vega a un nuevo año escolar, lleno de diversión y aprendizaje! Este blog es donde se pueden ver algunas de las actividades de Inglés y bilingüe que estamos haciendo en las clases.

Este año, tenemos dos profesores de apoyo estadounidense para ayudarnos a aprender algo de la cultura Inglés y Americano: Elsie (de San Francisco, California) y Robyn (de Eugene, Oregon). Elsie y Robyn muy emocionados de compartir su Inglés y la cultura con los estudiantes y todos ustedes. Manténgase en sintonía para los puestos de nuestro blog! :)

Find out about... Us!

The bilingual students in 4th, 5th and 6th grade have spent the spring trimester working on this geography and culture presentation about Andalusia, Seville and Casariche. Great work!
Have a look!
Trabajo geografía final

View more presentations from violap22

The Grand Finale: Spelling Bee

Today, May 26th, 20011 was the grand finale of the Second Annual Spelling Bee at CEIP Lope de Vega. This year's contest was slightly different from last year for two reasons: first, we had two finals; and second, our neighbors from La Roda de Andalucía participated in today's inter-school finale.

The first "final" was held Tuesday. It was a competition among the top two best spellers from each class to compete for cycle title. The winners were:

First Cycle: Miguel Ángel España Moriana

Second Cycle: Carmen Barea Rodríguez

Third Cycle: Dylan Barrera Averland

We wrapped up this month-long competition with the inter-school competition held today. It was an exciting morning in the gym for all the students at CEIP Lope de Vega and our visitors from CEIP Manuel Siurot.

The first cycle competition was a difficult battle with words that tested the furthest limits of our students' knowledge. The two contestants from La Roda were in it until the very end when our second grader, Sergio Jurado Estepa, took the Cycle Champion title.

The second and third cycle competitions were more lively and fast-paced. Students from Casariche and La Roda were very well matched in skill and it was a fight to the end. For our second cycle competitors it came to a spell-down between the two contestants from CEIP Manuel Siurot: Francisco Manuel Villalobos Páez and Alberto Martín Moreno--a guaranteed victory for La Roda. Fourth grader, Alberto Martín Moreno won Cycle Champion for his school. The third cycle went all the way into round 8 with competitors from both schools until finally fifth grader, Dylan Barrera Averland, came out victorious for Casariche.

Thank you for your cooperation, participation and all the hard work put into studying for this year's competition. And congratulations to all the winners!

Also a special thank you to the bilingual team and other members of the staff who stepped in to help with all the details of planning and preparation for this year's event. It was a success. Good job!

Hoy, día 26 de mayo de 2011 ha sido la gran final de nuestro Segundo Cocurso Anual de "Spelling Bee" (deletreo en inglés) aquí en CEIP Lope de Vega. Este año cambió un poco el concurso: primero, hubo dos "finales", y segundo nuestros vecinos de La Roda de Andalucía han participado en el gran final inter-escolar de hoy.

El primer "final" tuvo lugar el martes pasado cuando lo dos mejores "deletreadores" competieron entre ellos para el título de ciclo de nuestro centro. Los ganadores fueron:

Primer Ciclo: Miguel Ángel España Moriana

Segundo Ciclo: Carmen Barea Rodríguez

Tercer Ciclo: Dylan Barrera Averland

Concluímos nuestro concurso que ha durado en total algo más de un mes, hoy con la competición inter-escolar. Ha sido una mañana de emociones para todos los alumnos de CEIP Lope De Vega y también para nuestros visitantes de CEIP Manuel Siurot.

La competición de primer ciclo fue muy difícil y ponía a prueba los límites del conocimiento de nuestros alumnos de primero y segundo. Los dos concursantes de La Roda estuvieron hasta el final cuado nuestro Sergio Jurado Estepa llevo el título de Campeón de Ciclo.

Las competiciones de segundo y tercer ciclo eran más vivos y rápidos. Los alumnos de Casariche y La Roda tenían niveles bastante igualados y ha sido una lucha hasta el final. Para nuestros concursantes de segundo ciclo llegó a ser un duelo entre los dos representantes de CEIP Manuel Siurot: Francisco Manuel Villalobos Páez y Alberto Martín Moreno--una victoria garantizada para La Roda. Al final, Alberto Martín Moreno de cuarto llevó el título de campeón. La competición de tercer ciclo llegó a la ronda 8 con concursante de los dos colegios aunque al final Dylan Barrera Averland de quinto salió victorioso.

Muchas gracias por vuestra cooperación, participación y todas las horas que habéis echado estudiando para el concurso de este año. Y enhorabuena a los ganadores!

También quisiera dar las gracias especialmente al equipo bilingüe y otros miembros del profesorado que nos han echado una mano a la hora de preparar los materiales y organizar detalles de preparación de este evento. Ha sido un éxito. Buen trabajo!

The End in Sight

This week is the final round of C.E.I.P. Lope de Vega's second annual Spelling Bee.

The inter-school championship round will be held Thursday May 26th when the winners from each level will compete within their cycle for the title of All School Speller. In this year's Bee there will be a Spell-down between the winning students from La Roda de Andalucía and Casariche--may the best speller win!