TEXT-TO-SPEECH

If you are using your Mac, iPhone or iPad, and you want to train your listening and speaking skills, you can make it talk to you in different ways with it's built-in Text-to-Speech abilities. The easiest one is using the simple text editor TextEdit. Set the cursor to where you would like it to start, and from the Edit menu, select 'Speech', then 'Start Speaking'. You could also open system preferences and go into 'Speech setting' to switch it on. It needs fixing, but still comes in handy. Check out these external links for on-line services with virtual assistants : 

http://imtranslator.net/translate-and-speak/

http://www.oddcast.com/home/demos/tts/tts_example.php?sitepal

ENGLISH, BABY!

Visit daily for free real conversations about popular culture. Downloadable lessons for iPod or MP4 player. You can chat with people from all over the world or join online forums to practise English while meeting international friends. Cool. Quizzes and vocabulary building lists provided.

SKYPE IN THE CLASSROOM

Check out this project created by Debating Europe to give students the opportunity to debate with fellow students from other European countries, and learn more about the work of the European Union. Register  through facebook to join the Skype lesson called: What does Europe mean to you?. Do you dare to set up your own lesson? Just let me know. I Would love to.

BRITISH COUNCIL ON iTUNES U

Visit the British Council on iTunes U. You can download or listen to a wide range of audio and video resources from LearnEnglish. Over 150 series of podcasts and videos providing insights into British culture, and listening materials  with free activities that you can do on your computer while you listen, or print out and do whenever you want. Food, sports, environment, jobs, there is a large number of topics available. Worth playing on your iPod, iPad or Mac. 

DEBATING EUROPE

Debating Europe is an innovative online platform launched in partnership with the European Parliament, to allow citizens discuss their ideas on vital issues shaping our future. You can  debate with Europe's leaders. Join now! Visit them in facebook or go to their website. They heavily rely on social media. Last week they were liveblogging British Prime Minister David Cameron's EU speech and people joined the debate.

TEA ETIQUETTE: TO MIF OR NOT TO MIF

                                                                      PIC by P. ÁLVARO

Samuel Twining theorised that milk in first prevented early china from cracking in reaction to boiling water; thus, back in 1760s those able to afford the latest china demonstrated their social supperiority by adding the tea in first versus the MIFs, common people. There after, is it only a question of snobbery? 

Hundreds of articles have been published about how to make the perfect cup of tea (Check out Fortnum and Mason's site)

SPLENDID SPEAKING

A colleague of mine has just recommended this website to practise speaking skills for work or University, and learn new strategies for exams like, BULATS CAE, FCE, CPE, IELTS, TOEFL. You can download free vocabulary quizzes and student interviews, and watch free videos in YouTube.

LES MIS: CRAFT FEATURETTE

Les Misérables, the epic musical seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and in 21 languages, has just opened in cinemas. Don't miss the official behind the scenes featurette: the cast and the crew talk about production design, costume design, sound editing  and the process of singing live during filming.

THE ITALIAN MAN WHO WENT TO MALTA

Taboo words, phonetics and cultural misunderstanding. Do you find it extremely dull when we do insist on long and short vowels? Watch this video on the net. So true.

HUGH LAURIE: BRITISH SLANG VS: AMERICAN SLANG

Hugh Laurie visited Ellen's show and they played a brilliant game on slang. Have a gig watching it at YouTube.

US CAMPAIGN RESUMES AFTER SANDY

Excellent update at BBC site. Both teachers and learners will find it useful to check out the above heading at the 'Words in the press' section. You can read reports, listen to them, download them or check relevant vocabulary. I would recommend as well: 'Challenges remain after Sandy'

BBC THE FLATMATES

The Flatmates is a weekly online soap opera for learners of English. If you are a teacher, the resources on the page will help you to exploit the series and its materials in the classroom (lesson plans, cartoon strips and worksheets)

BBC WORDMASTER

Check this game out to test your vocabulary skills. Three levels and thousands of words to practise. Use the clues if you're stuck, and remember to click listen for the right pronunciation. Great fun.

WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT EFSA?

CEO (Corporate Europe Observatory) publishes a new educational tool explaining some of the major problems at EFSA, the agency responsible for food safety in Europe. Pass it on.

ITALIAN FOR LIT GEEKS

Blogging about language geekery. If you are not big on it, save us both the embarrasment and stop reading this. If it is too late for you, check out the Lang-8 site. Just fell for Italian culture? Then, this could be one of your Ten Top Sites:  

http://www.mixcloud.com/mezzorainitalia/

DENIS DUTTON: A DARWINIAN THEORY OF BEAUTY

Controversial presentation by Denis Dutton that argues for a universal philosophy of beauty based on science. Is our appreciation of beauty an evoultionay adaptation? Leave a Reply.

ERNEST DOWSON

The late nineteenth-century poet Ernest Dowson, led a tragic life. When I'm in your shoes, surfing the net in search of emotion, I run after links like this video: Richard Burton reading Dowson's poem 'Non solum qualiseram bonae sub regno Cynarae' 

BLACK MIRROR

I would encourage everyone to watch Black Mirror, Channel 4. It is  a neo-Victorian dystopia in three chapters that will leave you breathless. El primero le hubiera encantado al Welles de Sed de Mal por su arranque. El segundo es berlusconiano. El tercero es casi Paprika de Tsusui + Philip K. Dick. En la línea de Huxley y Orwell. Muy darwincotidiano.