Instituto Internacional: Inglés Americano para Jóvenes

Happy Thanksgiving! Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias!

Thursday, November 26th is Thanksgiving in the United States. Thanksgiving’s historical roots date back to the 1600s when the English Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts. Since then the holiday has evolved into a day for giving thanks, eating a traditional feast, and most importantly, spending the day with family.

Our American teachers are looking forward to eating turkey and pumpkin pie with their Spanish and American friends and families right here in Madrid. Some traditions can never be broken!

Below are some links to learn more about Thanksgiving, in English and Spanish.

http://www.history.com/content/thanksgiving

http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/bbf/bfholidays_AccGracias.htm

So, what are you thankful for? Leave a comment!

Does anyone know what important day tomorrow is in the United States?

Here’s a clue:

Project-Based Learning at the International Institute

Barbara’s Level 5 class did group projects last week to practice making presentations and asking/answering questions. Each pair had to create an advertisement for a new Leisure Center in the town of “Barbaraville.” They had to give a presentation in front of the class to convince “Mayor (Alcalde) Barbara” that their idea for the Leisure Center (a pool, a gym, a football team, or a dance hall) was the best.

AND THE WINNER WAS…..THE FOOTBALL TEAM!  Nice work!

¡Cuentacuentos en inglés! Storytelling in English!

Saturday, November 28th, 2009.

Buffalo Woman by Paul Goble (Author, Illustrator)

With Storyteller and Actor Brian George

12:00 at the International Institute Library

Happy Anniversary, Sesame Street!

Celebrating 40 years with Kermit the Frog, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, Elmo, and many more!

Here is a link of some great clips of Sesame Street for younger learners of English.

Aquí tienen un enlace con unos videoclips muy buenos del Barrio Sesamo para niños más pequeños en inglés.

http://www.manythings.org/b/e/tag/sesame-street

Historic Election, One Year Ago

Just over a year ago, Americans were witnesses to a historic event: the election of the first African American President, Barack Obama. Politics aside, it was a significant and hopeful moment for the United States, and the world. Last year, our bilingual group, the Kids’ Club, learned this poem by Langston Hughes to commemorate the event. We hope you like this poem. What do you think? For more American poetry, take a look at: http://www.americanpoems.com/

I, Too, Sing America
by Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.

Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--

I, too, am America.

				

			

Trick or Treat! Halloween Celebration 2009

On October 31st, our “Bilingual Bunch,” including our American/Spanish families, and Saturday students celebrated Halloween here at the Institute. We played Halloween games, told scary stories, did arts and crafts, and even watched one class perform the “Thriller” dance!

Teachers were in costume also, from a pirate to a zombie to Wilma Flinstone!

And of course, students got some candy, but only because they said “Trick or Treat!”

Our teachers getting into the spirit of Halloween!

Scary stories…Cuentos de miedo! Sarah’s Level 6 Saturday Class did a group writing with Halloween themes.

Mary was walking home from school on Halloween when she decided to take a shortcut through the cemetery.  She was eating an apple at the same time as she was walking.  She saw her neighbor putting flowers on her husband’s grave.  She said “hi” to her, and she was looking very creepy.  There were spiders everywhere and she didn’t know how to escape.   She was looking for a way to avoid the spider webs when suddenly a ghost appeared.

Mary didn’t recognize him, but she walked slowly to it.  She was very near to touch it, but it suddenly turned around.  “Aaaahhh!!!” screamed Mary with all her soul.  She saw that it didn’t have a face!  It took a knife out of its hand and showed it to Mary.  She hit his arm with all her possible strength, but the monster ran to call other strange monsters so she saw the solution.

She hid in the crypt next.   One skeleton saw her and called all the monsters, who closed around the crypt.  She didn’t have any solution so she stayed there for hours.

When she thought she was alone, without ghosts, witches and so on, she went out and immediately she found all her friends laughing.  It was a joke for Mary.

She was in the videoclip of Thriller, with her favorite singer Michael Jackson!  It was the best scary surprise that they did to her on Halloween.