Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Happy New Year!

With lots of :
JOY
HAPPINESS
HEALTH
CREATIVITY
PEACE
SERENITY

NO MORE TEARS
NO MORE SORROWS

BE WELL!!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

playing around with glitter!

Xmas movies (part 7)



And the ultimate all time favourite... It is not Xmas if I don't watch this - I just bought the DVD and watch it every year ... I never find it boring!!
Highly recommended for a Great laugh!!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Xmas movies (part 6) by Giannis



"Home Alone" is a comedy film. It takes place in America and tells the story of Kevin and his family.
At the beginning of the film the family travels for Christmas holiday to Paris. In the plane Kevin's mother remembers that Kevin was in the house alone. In America Kevin has to protect the house and himself from two bad thieves with very brilliant tricks. The film is very funny and exciting. It is entertainment for all the family. I recommend this movie for a rest and funny afternoon with friends and relatives of all ages!

Monday, December 22, 2008

Xmas movies (part 5)



I don't like Jim Carrey!!! But It is Christmas!!! This one is for the whole family!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Xmas movies (part 4)



This is a classic "must"!!! Cary Grant as a guardian Angel. I used to watch this every Christmas with my dad, who just LOVED black and white classic movies!! He would always fall asleep in the armchair, but that's another question... hehe
A wonderful film!
Highly recomended!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Xmas movies (part 3)



I was trying to remember what movies I'd love to watch these days (yes I think I will definately stay away from the computer) and this one came to my mind! I could not remember the title but I managed to find it!!!
More info

Weihnachten in Deutschland (von Vaso)

Für die Deutschen ist das Schmücken der Häuser sehr sehr wichtig. Auf den Fenstern montieren sie Kerzen, Lampionen und verschiedene Figuren. In vielen Häusern gibt es auch die traditionelle Kippe.

Der Adventskranz ist ein Brauch in Deutschland. Es gibt ein Leuchter mit vier Stellen, das die vier Wochen vor Weihnachten symbolisiert. Jeden Sonntag stellen sie eine Kerze in diesen Leuchter.

In Deutschland ist der Zeitraum bevor Weihnachten sehr wichtig und es heißt Advent. Für die Familien sind die Plätzchen, das Christstollen, der Adventkranz und der traditionelle Adventskalender mit einem Geschenk Tag vom ersten bis zum vierundzwanzigsten Dezember die Bräuche für diesen Zeitraum. Es ist auch typisch, dass die Leute Süßigkeiten, Schmücken, und Glühwein kaufen. Der Weihnachtsmann bringt die Geschenke am Heiligen Abend.



Friday, December 19, 2008

Letter to Santa (by Konstantina)


Dear Santa,
Do you remember me? I am this little girl who always wants you to bring her so many things... But now I'm not so little anymore...
So this time I am going to ask you for something different! I want you to disappear my lovely sisiter!! I am just kidding!!
As a present I want you to disappear my lovely teacher Mrs Dora!!
There are so many reasons why!!!
  1. She doesn't believe in you!
  2. She's always in a crazy, happy mood!
  3. She gives me tooooooooo much homework and I don't have time to do it!
I am only joking - I just want a new mobile phone! (cry) (tears)

I love my teacher hehe!

I have to go now!
See you on New Year's!!!

love
Konstantina (Salamaki)

Christmas dessert (by Aggeliki)


Chocolate filling: 350gr bitter chocolate
225gr butter
125gr thin sugar
1 spoon rum

Performance:
We melt the bitter chocolate and then we let it cool for a few minutes. After that we mix softly the butter with the sugar until it turns white. Then we add the chocolate and the rum and finally we mix it till it blends very well.
Put it into the fridge until it becomes solid!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Favourite Christmas songs...

I thought I could bring Xmas mood to everybody today... I do need it!!
Here's my top ten!
So what's your favourite?





















I couldn't find the original version of every song but I tried to be .... original
Especially the last one "I'll be home for Christmas" performed by Twisted Sister is one of my faves!!!
Have a nice holiday everybody!

This blog will continue with Xmas projects by my students!
Until next year!!!!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Christmas Gedicht





When the snow falls wunderbar

And the children happy are,

When the Glatteis on the street,

and we all a Gluewein need,

Then you know, es ist so weit:

She is here, the Weihnachtszeit

Every Parkhaus ist besetzt,

Weil the people fahren jetzt

All to Kaufhof, Mediamarkt,

Kriegen nearly Herzinfarkt.

Shopping hirnverbrannte things

And the Christmasglocke rings.

Mother in the kitchen bakes

Schoko-, Nuss- and Mandelkeks

Daddy in the Nebenraum

Schmuecks a Riesen-Weihnachtsbaum

He is hanging auf the balls,

Then he from the Leiter falls...

Finally the Kinderlein

To the Zimmer kommen rein

And es sings the family

Schauerlich: "Oh, Christmastree!"

And the jeder in the house

Is packing die Geschenke aus.

Mama finds unter die Tanne

Eine brandnew Teflon-Pfanne,

Papa gets a Schlips and Socken,

Everybody does frohlocken.

President speaks in TV,

All around is Harmonie,

Bis mother in the kitchen runs:

Im Ofen burns the Weihnachtsgans.

And so comes die Feuerwehr

Witch Tatue, tata daher,

And they bring a long, long Schlauch

And a long long Leiter auch.

And they schrei - "Wasser march!",

Christmas is - now im Eimer...

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas,

Hear the music, see the lights,

Frohe Weihnacht, frohe Weihnacht,

Merry Christmas allerseits...


It has become a tradition actually - I post this poem every year! I think it's the 4th or fifth time I do this but I just can't resist!

And my "traditional" elf transformation over here!! Just click!

My family

My friends and I

My dear students!!


Saturday, December 13, 2008

Eggnog


12 eggs, separated
6 cups milk
2 cups heavy/ thickened cream
2 cups bourbon
1+ ½ cups sugar
¾ cup brandy
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

In a large bowl and using a mixer, beat the egg yolks together with the sugar for approx 10 minutes (you want the mixture to be firm and the colour of butter).
Very slowly, add in the bourbon and brandy - just a little at a time.
When bourbon and brandy have been added, allow the mixture to cool in the fridge (for up to 6 hours, depending on how long before your party you're making the eggnog).
30 minutes before your guests arrive, stir the milk into the chilled yolk mixture.
Stir in 1+ ½ teaspoons ground nutmeg.
In a separate bowl, beat the cream with a mixer on high speed until the cream forms stiff peaks.
In yet another bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Gently fold the egg white mixture into the egg yolk mixture.
Gently fold the cream into the egg mixture.
After ladling into cups, garnish with the remainder of the ground nutmeg.

Serves: 8.

For more:
http://www.eggnogrecipe.net/

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Xmas movies (part2)




Christmas carol is a classic for this period...
My favourite version is the one with Patrick Stewart..
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0216621/

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Xmas movies (part 1)



One of my all time favourites is this one. It's a bit "scary", but I just love Tim Burton's ideas and I think it is a "must"!!

More about the story:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107688/plotsummary

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Glühwein


Hot Mulled Wine (Glühwein, "glow wine")

Ingredients (serves 2-3 persons)

  • 1 bottle of dry red wine (750 ml)
  • one lemon
  • 2 sticks of cinnamon
  • 3 cloves
  • 3 tablespoons of sugar
  • some cardamom (or ginger)

Directions
Heat the red wine in a pot (don't boil). Cut the lemon into slices and add to the wine. Then add the cinnamon, cloves, sugar and a little cardamom (to taste). Heat everything for about 5 minutes - do not boil - and let stand for about an hour. Before serving, reheat and strain. Serve in prewarmed glasses or mugs.


http://german.about.com/library/blrezept_gluehwein.htm

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Ain't no mountain...


I was working on adjectives and derrivatives with one of my students the other day and this song came to my mind...
You could use it as a warm up if you want to work with adjectives.

Lesson plan:

  • Play the song
  • Give the students the lyrics

Artist: Diana Ross
Album: Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Title: Ain't No Mountain High Enough

(nickolas ashford/valerie simpson)

If you need me, call me. no matter where you are, no matter how far. just call my name. i'll be there in a hurry. on that you can depend and never worry.
(you see, my love is alive it's like a seed that only needs the thought of you to grow. so if you feel the need for company, please, my darling, let it be me. i may not be able to express the de
F the love i feel for you, but a writer put it very nicely when he was away from the one he loved. he said down and wrote these words:)

No wind, (no wind) no rain, (no rain)
Nor winter's cold
Can stop me, babe (oh, babe) baby (baby)
If you're my goal

No wind, no rain,
Can stop me, babe
If you wanna go

I know, i know you must follow the sun
Wherever it leads
But remember
If you should fall short of your desires
Remember life holds for you one guarantee
You'll always have me

And if you should miss my love
One of these old days
If you should ever miss the arms
That used to hold you so close, or the lips
That used to touch you so tenderly
Just remember what i told you
The day i set you free

Ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough (say it again)
Ain't no river wild enough
To keep me from you

Ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough (say it again)
Ain't no river wild enough
To keep me from you

Ain't no mountain high enough
Nothing can keep me
To keep me from you

Ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough (one more time)
Ain't no river wild enough (say it again)
To keep me from you

Ain't no mountain high enough
Nothing can keep me
To keep me from you

  • Students should underline the adjectives
  • Play the chorus again - Students should mime the words "mountain", "high", "valley", "low", "river", "wild" while listening to the song
  • Students form derrivatives from the adjectives, e.g. high - height
In higher levels students could discuss the situation (what is this song about, how does the woman feel etc and maybe even act it out)

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