Universidad Europea de Madrid

"Jacaranda"- Fabulous dancers at the UEM

"Jacaranda" is the contemporary dance troupe at the UEM. The dancers are all students in their first year of the Dance degree or in the Sports degree programs. These kids can really dance! That's an understatement if I have ever made one.

They put on a very professional show in the halls of the UEM last week and impressed us all. The choreographer, Eduardo Castro was present. He's a professional dancer with the Compañia Nacional de Danza de Nacho Duato.

We were all impressed. You would have been too.

Wendy

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A 3-day weekend! and then Thanksgiving, a 4-day weekend !

We have a 3-day weekend! There's a holiday this Monday. All holidays should be on Mondays. In fact, in the U.S. most holidays are celebrated on Mondays so that everyone who can, gets a 3-day weekend. We should do that in Spain!

And then there's Thanksgiving. That's a 4-day weekend! Yep, it's always a 4-day weekend, because Thanksgiving is the 4th Thursday in November so that everyone who wants to can get home for the weekend. The airports, train stations, bus depots and highways are crowded because Americans are all "going home" to see the family and have a Thanksgiving Feast.

All of you at the UEM campus are invited to our THANKSGIVING PIE TASTING FEAST. We can't put on a whole Thanksgiving dinner, but everyone is encouraged to try our APPLE PIE and PUMPKIN PIE and to contribute a home-made dessert. You could be the winner of the "Best Cook at the UEM" Award ! We'll cut all the desserts up into little pieces so that you can try a lot of them. If you don't contribute a dessert, you can try them anyway for 1 Euro.

All the money collected will go to the NGO: FUNDACIÓN RAIS, an "ONG" which helps the homeless in Madrid.

Hope to see you here in Building A on November 26th 13:30-15:30.

Wendy

Some of the dessert contributed in 2008

Grammar: 3-day weekend, 4-day weekend.

Notice that "day" is singular: There's no "s". This is because it is used as an adjective and adjectives in English are NEVER PLURAL.

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Traffic on the bridge

There's always a lot of foot-traffic on the bridge at the UEM and this week was no exception. In fact, there were more people than usual. 18 NGOs, non-governmental volunteer organizations, set up their stands around campus and gave out information about volunteering on the bridge. UEM LAB Reporters were out there too, encouraging students and employees to register for English and handing out "I speak English" stickers. Lots of you stopped for a chat, in English, of course!

I speak English!
Mahou was there too. They were giving away free samples of their new Mixta, a low-alcohol content beer with lemon drink. It was thirst-quenching on a hot afternoon, and several students walked over the bridge again and again, collecting free bottles for an after-school party.

bridge = puente (long weekend = puente)

Wendy

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An inspiring book: "Three Cups of Tea"

"Three Cups of Tea" : One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time.

by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin

This is an important book.......right now! It's an outsider's inside look at what schools mean to people who want to educate their children, especially their daughters, and can't. It shows first hand what Mortenson was willing to do to bring hope to isolated villages, in this case in Pakistan and Afganistan.

He found a need and found a way to fulfill that need, by building schools. Then he searched for collaborators and funds. And he's been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Read it.

www.threecupsoftea.com

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West Side Story--The musical GO SEE IT TONIGHT !

This is your big opportunity to see a live production of WEST SIDE STORY in Madrid.

The outdoor theater at Escenario Puerta del Ángel, just off Paseo de Extremadura inside Casa de Campo is a wonderful venue.

My seat was in the B section. I could see the stage, the translation of the songs in lights over the stage, the moon rising center stage and moving off to the right as the show progressed.

The tickets are 20,30,35 and 40 Euros. You can get them on line and don't have to wait in line.

The sound system was good. The singing was good. The dancing was absolutely fabulous!

YOU know the music! YOU know the songs! YOU know the story: Romeo and Julliet a la New York of the 1950's.

***The last shows are July 3rd, 4th and 5th at 9:30 pm.

Go! Go! Go! Don't miss it !

Wendy

www.esmadrid.com/veranosdelavilla

Vocabulary:

a live production: en vivo

on line : via internet

in line: en la cola

don't miss it! : No te lo pierdas!

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UEM LAB Students Around the World!

This is the UEM LAB Logo which is used by our UEM LAB REPORTERS. In September and October you may see the UEM LAB REPORTERS ON THE BRIDGE, interviewing people in English. Well, now it's YOUR TURN to become a reporter this summer. Actually it's even easier than that. All you need to do is print out one of the logos (under each logo there is a direct link to the image) and take a picture of YOURSELF with the logo, or even just the LOGO in front of a famous place you visit.

Send the photo to me as an email attachment. wendy.frankel@uem.es . I'll print it out and put it on the bulletin board at the university. We'll also put it into the UEM LAB photo album. Let's see how far and how many places our UEM LAB reporters can go this summer.

Here's a double logo for the UEM LAB that is easy to print out:

Have fun! See you soon! Wendy

http://img8.imageshack.us/i/copiadeshakespeareblueh.png/

This is the UEM LAB-English Language Program Logo. Notice that it is blue, black and white instead of the International logo which is red, black and white.

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Don't Drink and Drive: Have a designated driver!

Do you drink and drive? PLEASE DON'T

Haven't you seen enough of those car accidents on the News? Haven't you or your friends or your family been in accidents? Don't the statistics mean anthing to you?

You took driver's training. They showed you films of accidents, trying to scare you enough to make you a good careful driver. Did you see the one about a high school graduation in the US: The kids are happy, talking about their future. They go to their all-night party, have a great time and drink too much. The next scene was at the morgue. Two of them never saw the next day.

In Spain the police set up check-points, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. We also have a point system. Most of the rules are pretty basic:

Wear your seat belt.

Don't use your cell phone while driving

Stay below the speed limit

DON'T DRINK and DRIVE

Let me tell you my story. One Saturday night I was coming home from our annual Christmas party. I got stopped by the police at a check point. Normally they do a spot check, flag down a few cars and let the others go by. This time they stopped everyone. I had to do the breathalizer test. Fortunately I'd only had a glass of wine 3 hours earlier. I was still worried that I wouldn't pass that test. As the policeman told me what to do, a camera man with a huge light stuck his camera in my face. I passed the test. I didn't get aDUI. I didn't argue about being filmed, and continued on my way. The next day I got an email from the owner of the restaurant who had been a student of mine here at the UEM. He asked if I was OK. He'd seen me on the news! Don't drink and drive. STAY SAFE.....STAY ALIVE. Don't get into a car with a driver who's been drinking. Don't let him/her drive to begin with. Be tough. Be insistent.

Young people, and not very young people, and even old people need to name a "DESIGNATED DRIVER" when they're out. A couple of beers or glasses of wine, a shot of tequila or a pint of Guinness....STAY OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. Take turns being the designated driver. There are 4 or 5 of you in the gang: one of you can have a Coke or some other soft drink. Big Deal! Be responsible for your friends and stay sober.
It's really scary to be in a car with a driver who's drunk too much. Maybe nothing happens and you get home safely. Maybe there's just a little swerving from lane to lane. Maybe a door flies open and you're almost thown out. Maybe there's an "accident" and someone gets injured or killed.

Don't drink and drive!

This is a coaster I was given in a bar in Dublin. Everyone was drinking Guinness, except one who had a coke. What a great idea!

VOCABULARY:
Scare: frighten, asustar
The morgue: the place the dead are taken, el deposito
Seat belt: strap used in cars and planes, cinturón de seguridad
Cell phone: portable phone, mobile
Breathalizer: breath analizer, test de alcol en sangre, te hacen soplar
DUI: driving under the influence, conducir bajo la influencia

Be tough: hard, adamant decidido, duro
Designated driver: one who doesn’t drink conductor que NO bebe alcohol
Take turns: alternate turnar
Big deal: gran problem ¿y qué?
Gang: group of friends pandilla
Scary: frightening da miedo
Swerving: swinging
Injured: hurt herido
Coaster: table protector , posa vasos

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Advice for UEM graduates: next step...the real world

You'll be graduating soon.

You're finishing your courses, taking your finals, turning in your last projects, doing your internships.

We've done our best to get you ready. You're about to turn the page and get out of here. It's time to take the next step, but.....but....do you know which way to go? Where are you headed? What are you GOING TO DO when you get out into the real world?

Here are 2 great books I'd like to recommend to help you on your way.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

This book is based on the last lecture "Really Achieving your childhood Dreams" given by Carnegie Mellon University porfessor Randy Pausch after he discovered than he had pancreatic cancer. It isn't about dying: it's about living each day to the fullest, with purpose and happiness. It's about overcoming obstacles, helping others on their way, and seizing every opportunity because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think."

Professors often give parting advice to their graduating classes. However this advice takes on a whole new meaning when it is also the professor's very last class.

Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss: Dr. Seuss gives you advice, in rhyme. It's advice about weathering fear, loneliness, and confusion. He recommends taking charge, being responsable for your actions.

It looks like a children's book because it follows the same format as his 44 children's books, but this one is really for college graduates and is marketed as such at universities in the United States. It's always in a prominent position at university book stores at the end of every academic year.

You can find these books on Amazon, in ENGLISH of course. The actual lecture given by Randy Pausch is on YOUTUBE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

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Big Book Sale-Read! Read! Read in English!

-Design by Rebecca Casado

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

Please come to our big book sale sponsored by the UEM LAB.

We're trying to encourage everyone to read in English! Please join us.

Bring in any books you have at home that you don't really want any more. Someone else on campus might really enjoy them. You can donate your books or trade them for others, or you can buy books for 1 Euro.

All the money collected will go to an NGO: Fundación Theodora.

And while you're at the stand in Building A, Universidad Europea de Madrid, we hope you'll talk to us in English! --Wendy

trade: exchange intercambiar

NGO: Non-governmental organization, ONG
the stand: a stall, a temporary shop, un puesto

COME TO THE 8^th

ENGLISH BOOK EXCHANGE & SALE

Mercadillo del Libro

BRING I & TAKE I or BUY I FOR A EURO !

Yes, only I Euro*

Sponsored by the UEM LAB

*ALL proceeds go to the NGO (ONG): Fundación Theodora

Clown doctors for hospitalized children in Spain

Day: WEDNESDAY, March 11^th

THURSDAY, March 12^th, 2009

Time: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm

Place: Basement Building A In front of the UEM LAB

PLEASE donate your used books & magazines

Take them to the UEM LAB

**Add your name to the list of contributors**

Clean out your bookshelves: professional journals, novels,

joke books , cookbooks, children’s books,

comic books, dictionaries,

graded readers, music books, audio tapes, road

maps, atlases,

Share your interest in: history, geography, engineering,

home maintenance, health, nursing, medicine,

wild life, art, architecture, sports, exercise,

law, business, tourism, travel, communications,

advertising, journalism, poetry, economics....

Mercadillo de libros de segundo mano en inglés. Toda la universidad está invitada a contribuir libros en inglés, intercambiar libros o comprar libros por 1 euro. Queremos animar a la comunidad universitaria a que venga a hablar con nosotros en inglés, intercambiar ideas sobre la lectura y ayudar a la ONG, “Fundación Teodora: Payasos para nuestros niños hospitalizados” http://theodora.org/esp-es/index-new-es.htm

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Designer of the Obama "O"

YOU can create a high profile LOGO. Sol Sender did.

Sol Sender, grandson of Spain’s famous writer Ramón J. Sender Garcés, and his team at Sender LLC in Chicago presented seven or eight design options for the OBAMA campaign logo. They were asked back for the second round, and within 2 weeks their now famous “O" for OBAMA was chosen. The rest, as we say, is history.
Listen to Sol himself describe the process of creating the Obama "O"

Wendy

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