Ancient History

BEFORE THE ROMANS
Before Romans arrived to the Peninsula, Spain was inhabited by other people. These people are called Pre-Romans peoples. When the Romans came, they met native people known as the Iberians. Iberians inhabited from the Southwest part of Spain thorough the Northeast part. Celts used to live in the North and Northwest part, while CeltiIberians inhabited in the inner part of Spain. But not only Pre-Romans lived in the Peninsula before the Romans. Other cultures came from the Mediterranean and found in Spain a good place for their business, such as the Phoenicians, who stayed in the South part of Spain, the Greeks who inhabited the East coasts from Catalonia to Valencia or the Carthaginians who came from Africa and stayed in different places like Murcia, Andalucia or Islas Baleares. Thanks to all these cultures, a lot of new things were introduced in Spain, such as the writing method, coins, unknown animals and plants, new techniques for agriculture… 

THE ROMANS

Romans stayed in Spain for a long time. When they arrived in the Peninsula, they found different cities and peoples with different habits, cultures and languages. The Romans spoke Latin, the official Italian language in the time, so they made everybody in their Empire speak Latin too. Latin became the international language of the time. So many cities and villages in all Europe started to speak Latin. In Spain, the Romans conquered almost the entire Peninsula. In these conquered territories, people had to speak Latin, but they mixed it with their own original languages, and this is how Castilian, Galician, Portuguese and Catalan languages were born. This is also why they are so similar! Because of the Latin they all have in common. These languages have changed since that period, but Latin is still present in the majority of their words. What about the Basque language? Why is it so different to the rest of languages spoken in the Peninsula? Well, we said earlier that the Romans conquered ‘almost’ the entire Peninsula, but not quite! The Basque People, in the North, never surrendered to the Roman invaders. Therefore their language was never influenced by Latin. 

Jazz: America´s Music

In this English challenge, you will listen to the famous song Fly Me To The Moon, sung by the jazz legend Frank Sinatra. As you listen, fill in the missing lyrics. 


Now, let´s learn more about this type of music. It is amazing!

Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of the United States. Jazz is sometimes called "America's classical music". Since the 1920s Jazz Age, jazz has become recognized as a major form of musical expression.

Jazz is characterized by swing and blue notes and improvisation. Jazz has roots in West African cultural and musical expression, and in African-American music traditions including blues and ragtime, as well as European military band music. Although the foundation of jazz is deeply rooted within the black experience of the United States, different cultures have contributed their own experience and styles to the art form as well. Intellectuals around the world have hailed jazz as "one of America's original art forms".

Find out more about this incredible American music by playing this video:

So, what do we know about jazz?

Jazz is an original American art form that in the southern United States in the early 20th century by African Americans. 

Three basic elements set this art form apart from classical music:

1) Rhythm
2) Improvisation
3) Conversation

1) Rhythm

While most classical and jazz music looks the same, the rhythms are performed differently. Classical music typically places an emphasis on the first and third beats of each measure. Jazz music switches that emphasis to beats two and four, as well as placing an emphasis on the upbeats. The tension created by switching the emphasis to the second and fourth beats and the stressing of upbeats within the measure is called syncopation.

2) Improvisation

One of the basic differences between jazz and classical music is that jazz musicians improvise. Musical improvisation is a creative process that requires the jazz artist to be spontaneous, composing music with on their instrument or scat singing music that has never been played or written down before.

3) Conversation

Classical music is composed before the concert begins. Jazz musicians play a composed tune to start and follow with improvisation that is composed on the spot. Jazz is never the same. It changes each time because the musical "conversations" that occur change as jazz musicians perform. An improvised idea from a trumpet player might be responded to by the supporting piano player, and then responded to again by the trumpet player.

Spanish Geography Project - Primary 2

🎨Click here for directions on how to make your Spain Map Art Project!🎨

Present Perfect vs. Past Simple (lesson + exersises)

Verb Tense Review: The Past Simple

We use the past simple verb tense to talk about events that happened at a specific time in the past. Usually, in these sentences, there is a word like ‘yesterday’ or ‘last year’ which shows the action happened at a time in the past that is finished.

Past Simple Keywords: yesterday, last week, last month, last year, in 1994

• I washed my clothes yesterday. (yesterday is finished)
• I met her in 2009. (2009 is finished)
• I woke up at 7 a.m. this morning. (this morning is finished)

This actions happened in the past, they are finished, and there is no connection with now.

Verb Tense Review: The Present Perfect

Subject + [ Auxiliary verb ‘have’ ] + [ Verb in Past Participle ]

• I have met her.
• She has visited Seoul.
• John has exercised twice this week.

Present Perfect Keywords: today, this week, this month, this year, in my life, recently, lately, since, ever, never, yet, still, so far

With the present perfect, we cannot use a specific time in the past such as ‘yesterday’ or ‘in 2008.’ We use the present perfect when we talk about 1) actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past, 2) actions in a period that has not finished yet, and 3) actions that began in the past and continue to the present.

Let’s review each case.

1) Using Present Perfect with An Unspecified Time in the Past – Talking about Experience

• I have seen the movie Titanic.
• She hasn’t met him.

These two sentences don’t say anything about time. They don’t have words like ‘yesterday’ or ‘in 2008’. When we speak like this, we are talking about the experience we have had in life. These sentences are the same as saying:

• I have seen the movie Titanic in my life. (I have this experience)
• She hasn’t met him in her life. (She doesn’t have this experience.)

We’re talking about your life. Is your life finished? No, you are still alive. Your life is a period that has not finished yet. This is usually how we use the present perfect (see the next case).

2) Using Present Perfect with a Period That Has Not Finished Yet

• I have paid my rent this month. (this month = a period that is not finished yet)
• I have gone to the doctor twice this year. (this year = unfinished)
• I have been to Japan twice in my life. (your life = unfinished)
• I have flown in an airplane.*

*Again, in the last example, we use the present perfect because there is no mention of time. We are talking our life experience. And because your life is not finished yet, we use the present perfect. We cannot use the present perfect for dead people. For example, ‘Michael Jackson has sang in many concerts‘. We cannot say ‘has sang’ because the period in which he sang (his career, his life) is finished. There is no connection with the present, so we use the Past Simple.

3) Using Present Perfect Progressive for Actions that Continue from the Past until Now

Subject + [ Auxiliary verb ‘Have’ ] + [ been ] [ Verb in ~ing form (Present Participle)]

This is similar to the rule above.

• She has been working here since 2010.
• We have been waiting for 30 minutes.

In these examples, it’s the action that is unfinished. You began working, or waiting, in the past, and you are still doing it now. There is a clear connection with the present. We want to focus on the fact that the action is still happening (now), we use the progressive tense — in this case, it is the present perfect Progressive.

Note: With the verbs live, work, teach, and study, there is no difference in whether you use the present perfect Simple or present perfect Progressive. For example, “I have lived here for two years.” is the same as “I have been living here for two years.”

There is one more situation in which we often use the present perfect.

4) Present Perfect for Actions in the Very Recent Past

• I’ve just had breakfast, so I’m not hungry.
• Jane has lost her job, so she’s sad.

We could use either the present perfect or the past simple (Jane lost her job) for these sentences. True, both actions have finished, but because they have happened very recently, there is still some connection with the present.

Prepositions with the Present Perfect: Since & For

We use since with the Present Perfect to indicate when an action (that continues to the present) began.

• I’ve been studying English since 2004. (I am still studying it)
• She has been married since she was 20 years old.  (She is still married)
• People have been fighting in wars since the beginning of time. (They are still fighting)

Again, these actions continued in the past until now. (Note: We use from for actions that started in the past and have finished, for example: I lived in that house from 2002 to 2004.)

We use for to show the amount of time that has passed since an action began.

• I have been studying English for 12 years.
• She has been married for 8 years.
• People have been fighting in wars for thousands of years.

Practice: Exercises for Contrasting the Past Simple and Present Perfect

Remember to look for the keywords, e.g. yesterday. These will help you decide if there is a connection with the present or not.

1. Alan  (graduate) from university last month.
2. There  (be) a large earthquake in Japan in 1995.
3. I like to exercise, but I  (not/exercise) yet this week.
4. My brother  (never/go) to university.
5. John and Lisa  (be) married since 2010.
6. Recently, it  (not/be) very hot.
7. My brother  (not/be) to the dentist for a long time.
8. My wife and I  (be) married for 1 year. So far we  (not/have) any big problems.
9. I started writing my essay two hours ago, and I still  (not/finish) yet.

 

1. A: Where’s John? — B: I don’t know. I  (not/see) him today.
2. A:  (you/ever/be) to Hawaii? — B: Yes. Twice.
3. A: When  (you/get) your dog? — B: Last summer.
4. A: How long  (you/study) English? — B: Five years.
5. A: Do you know anyone who  (be) to Thailand? — B: Yes, my sister.
6. A:  (you/see) my keys today? — B: Yes. I  (see) them this morning on the kitchen table.
7. A: Would you like half my sandwich? — B: I  (just/eat) lunch, so I’m not hungry. Thanks for asking though.

 

Exercises for For and Since (and From)

• Peter lived in Japan …forfromsince 2001 until 2005. Now, he lives in Chicago. He has been living in Chicago …forfromsince he left Japan. He works as a chef at a nice French restaurant. He has been working there …forfromsince almost two years.
• Laura is an excellent golfer. She has been playing golf …forfromsince she was 8 years old. Now, she’s a professional. She has also been coaching …forfromsince several years. She started coaching me last year. …ForFromSince then, I have become a much better player.

 

Exercises: Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous)

Hint: Do not use the progressive tenses for state verbs.

1. My sister  (watch) TV for four hours. She should take a break.
2. I’m hungry. I  (not/have) anything to eat yet today.
3. It  (rain) since noon. I wish it would stop.
4. A: When is the bus coming? — B: I don’t know. I hope it comes soon. I  (wait) for half an hour.
5. George is my best friend. I  (know) him since I was five years old.
6. The Johnsons are trying to find a house to buy. They  (look) for four months. They  (not/find) anything yet.
7. The weather  (be) so nice recently. I love summer.
8. You  (do) these exercises for several minutes.  (you/make) any mistakes?

 

Insert the Correct Verb: Present Perfect Simple, Present Perfect Progressive, or Past Simple

• A: Hi John. I  (not/see) you in a long time! How  (you/be) lately?
• B: Great! It’s nice to see you. How are you?
• A: I’m doing great too. Hey, Sarah  (tell) me that you have a new job.
• B: Yes, at Campbell’s Auto Insurance. I’m doing accounting, of course. I  (only/be) there for a month but it seems pretty good. And what’s new with you?
• A: Well, I  (move) into a new apartment last month with Jacob.
• B: Jacob?
  A: My boyfriend. You  (not/meet) him. We  (be) together for half a year now.
• B: Good for you. And what does Jacob do?
• A: He’s an accountant too. Actually, he’s searching for a job now. He  (look) for a few months now, but he  (not/find) anything good yet.
• B: I know how he feels. I  (have) about five interviews at different companies before I  (find) my job. I’m sure he’ll find something.
• A: I hope so. Okay, I’ve got to get going. It was nice talking to you, John. Have a nice day.

 

Adjectives with -ing or -ed (Participial Adjectives)

Boring or Bored? Interesting or Interested? (Participial Adjectives)

English has many adjectives that describe feelings which end in ~ed or ~ing, such as bored and boring. These adjectives actually come from verbs. For example:

• This book bores (verb) me. The book is boring (adjective). I am bored (adjective).
• This movie interests (verb) me. The movie is interesting (adjective). I am interested (adjective).

These adjectives are called participial adjectives. They are made by the participle of a verb. For regular verbs, participles end in ~ing (boring, the present participle) or ~ed (bored, the past participle).

Students often have a difficulty choosing the correct adjective in a sentences. This lesson will explain how to use them correctly.

Adjectives that Describe Causes of Feelings: ~ing Adjectives

Adjectives like boring/interesting describe something that causes a feeling. For example:

It was a boring movie. The movie was boring. <– The movie is the cause of the feeling. It creates the feeling.

This book is boring.

​​Adjectives that Describe Feelings: ~ed Adjectives

Adjectives like bored/interested describe the person (or animal) that is affected by this feeling. For example:

She was a bored girl. The girl was bored. <– She, the girl, is the one who feels the feeling. She is the feeler.

She is bored.

These adjectives always describe a living thing that can feel (a person, animal, or alien maybe!). A thing (e.g. a book) cannot be bored. But, it can be boring.

Be Careful: People Can Cause Feelings

Sometimes the cause of a feeling isn’t a book or a movie. Sometimes, it’s another person. For example, there are intersting books and there are interesting people. My friend Jay is interesting. He is the cause of the feeling of interest in people he talks to. For example:

Mary was talking to a new friend, Katie. Katie was boring. Mary was bored, so she left.

Here are some basic adjectives:

verb	~ing adj (describes cause)	~ed adjective (describes feeler)
bore	boring	bored
interest	interesting	interested
excite	exciting	excited
confuse	confusing	confused
surprise	surprising	surprised
tire	tiring	tired
annoy	annoying	annoyed

Try the following exercise!

This grammar lesson bores me. I am …boringbored because grammar is …boringbored.

English doesn’t excite me. English is not …excitingexcited so I am not …excitingexcited.

My job is …tiringtired. I have to carry heavy boxes all day. When I get home from work, I’m …tiringtired. If there is an …interestinginterested show on TV, I’ll watch it. If not, I’ll go to bed.

I’m taking an English course at university. It is difficult. Sometimes English grammar is …confusingconfused. Yesterday, my teacher tried to explain participial adjectives. I was …confusingconfused. I was …surprisingsurprised that everyone understood it but me.

I don’t like people who speak loudly on their mobile phones. They are …annoyingannoyed. Sometimes it sounds like they are arguing. Maybe they are just …excitingexcited about what they are talking about.