..:: El Espejo Escrito ::..: (( English ))

The Cave of the Forgotten Spirits

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 15:49:06 GMT

“Have you heard about the Cave of the Forgotten Spirits? About the ones that were neither animals nor humans? I’ll tell you. It is said that, when God created the world, somebody was watching him. If you’re religious you can say it was Devil himself, but it really doesn’t matter who he was, but what he did. Envious of this new world and its creatures, he decided to create some monsters that would destroy everything. These creatures had so much strength, that nobody could stop them. Everybody tried; everybody died. And then, the Angels found out, so they decided to gang up against them in an eternal battle. And thus, when the world was in the verge of being swallowed by shadows… they kill these monsters. But they couldn’t kill their spirits, so they decided to bury them in the deepest cave, and became its guardians. Centuries passed away and, suddenly, an earthquake buried the entrance of this cave. Then, the Angels thought their mission was over, and they went back home.

And now, in the 21^st Century, some archaeologist found the Cave. They were amazed by all the hieroglyphics, and decided to open it for visits. The Spirits awakened, and waited, waited and waited… until they found the perfect bodies to possess… and went on with their original mission: destroy the Earth and all the creatures within.”

Diaries

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 15:11:44 GMT

I have had lots of diaries. I can remember my first one, with its key. My mother bought it when she went shopping to the center, and, as I have always enjoy writting, she thought a diary would be a really good idea.

But I was afraid; afraid of writing stupid things and to fill all the pages without saying anything important. And, finally... after writing some things... I decided not to write more.

Days passed away and then, one day, I went into a shop and my eyes got aught by a beautiful handmade diary. It was so... amazing, I knew I couldn't go out of the shop without it.

-Mom, I need (not I want), that diary.
-But this diary is really expensive, and you'e gojng to fill it in a month.

Yes, maybe it was true, maybe it would be fiiled in less than a month and then put appart somewhere in this mess that is my bedroom.

But, I ended up going out of the shop with the diary in my hands, thinking and thinking what I was going to write.

But then, when the time of starting came, I didn't write anything. I left the diary on my table with the promise of writing something the day after... then the day after... and then, when I finally wrote something, I realized it was... a stupid thing of a teenager. So, the beggining of my diary was "destroyed".

I have had lots of diaries in my life. With keys, handmade, really expensive ones, and some other made by me. And all where badly started, with a lot of feelings inside them... and without an end.

Just as my life, as everybody's life. They all start badly, or we just don't know how they started... they're full of feelings, of great stories, great friends, romances, bad days, tears, sunny days... and they have not end.

How to survive the First Certificate Exam

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:08:31 GMT

First of all, you should be completely sure about taking this exam; thus, you'll avoid being in the exam and start thinking things like "and what on earth am I doing here?" "Why didn't put off it until next year?" and similar. These thoughts will only make you more nervous, and that is the worst thing that can happen.

So, for being really sure about yourself, about your chances of passing the F.C.E, I recommend you to follow this tips ;)

1- You cannot think of this exam as "another" exam. I mean, in this exam you have to put in practise what you've been learning for years. So, don't try to learn thousands of new things in the last week.

2- When writing, avoid the repetitive use of some verbs, such as go, have, be. For expanding your verb knowledge, there's a great exercise. Try to write a composition (using a dictionary, if you need), using each verb only once.

3-Make a list of phrasal verbs, but only the ones you know how to use with total security. There are some, such as find out (enterarse), run out of (quedarse sin), look forward to (tener muchas ganas de), look for (buscar), and go on (continuar), that you can use in every single writing. It doesn't matter what they ask you to wrtie about, there's always a way to include them in your compositions.

4- The same with idioms and some phrases. And idiom in the correct position will increase the level of your writing a lot. Bear in mind you have to show all you know so, instead of writing, for instance "it was a cold day and it had just started to rain", put "it was freezing cold, and it had just started to rain cats and dogs."

5-Improve your vocabulary in general. Watch a lot of DVDs in English and put down the phrases you like from there.

6- Read. It doesn't mind if it is a website in English, a book... just read. And try not to use the dicitionary every time you don't know a meaning, but try to understand the text in general. Thus, when you go to the exam and in the reading part you don't understand one word, you'll be accostumed to guess its meaning by the context.

And now, some tips for the different parts of the exam

1-SPEAKING:

You know before going some of the questions they are going to ask you. So try to keep in mind some answers where you can use phrasal verbs, idioms,... for giving a good impression from the beginning.
In the photos part, use some vocabulary such as "in the background", "in the center of the picture we can see..." don't tell things without thining twice and keep them in order.

2-READING:

First, read the questions, twice if it is necessary to know what you have to look for when you start reading the text.
If you get stuck with one answer, leave it and go to the next. You have to avoid the waste of time.

3- WRITING:

The first part it is always an informal letter, so make sure you know how to start and how to end. By the way, a good ending would be "looking forward to hearing from you soon".
be careful with the number of words. Not too short, neither too long. A good idea it's to keep in mind how many words you write in a line and then calculate how many lines you need.
In the second part, you can choose between different things to write. Before going to the exam you would have done lots of writings, so you'll know in which type you feel more comfortable. So, prepare at home some vocabulary and go to the exam with the clear idea of using them all.

4-USE ONF ENGLISH:

PART 1: they give you four words and you have to choose one. In the first round, try to delete the ones you're sure cannot be correct. Don't get nervous if you don't know wich one to shoose, that happens. Try to think of different phrases for the sitation to deduce what to put. And, although you have no idea, choose one. Always.
PART 2: there's no word. When reading, you'll fill the gap with a word it sounds good to you. Write it. Maybe after you change it, but at least you'll know what type of word you need in the gap.
PART 3: re-writing phrases. Most of the structures (if not all) that appear in this part are the same you have been doind during the year, so make sure you understand all the structures and that you can link them with a key-word. Thus, for instance, if you see" John is older than me", and then I'm not______________ John, the key word is the one in bold. The answer will always be, I'm not as old as John.
PART 4: forming new words. There's no a special tip for this, jut keep in mind negative words are possible too.

5-LISTENING: Ok, there's no a special tip for this part, but maybe if you have been watching lots of movies you will recognice different accents and won't worry. It is a pity to hear a conversation, to try to fill some gaps with a really really close accent you can't understand.

And finally... don't worry about the time. You have more than enough for finising each part and read it again and again.

And good luck!!

Four seasons... just a feeling

Wed, 23 May 2007 14:19:00 GMT

Autum.
The dance of the last leaves
that keep fighting
in the naked trees,
bring your image
to me.
Feeling that were asleep,
feelings I thought that were forgotten,
wake up.
And tears from yesterday,
come back,
quickly,
to my lonely eyes.
Hurt heart,
broken heart,
the piezes have gone with the air,
like the leaves
that have given up fighting.

Winter.
It's cold outside,
I feel cold inside.
Your image falls into me,
like the rain drops,
as the days fade away.
I have no strength,
it has gone to find the sun,
far from this storm.
But, where's the storm
in the black sky outside,
or in the darkness within?

Spring.
A garden that has grwon up
without love,
I feel just the same.
The sunshine
only gives light to my sadness.
I go on being here,
prison of a record,
in loneliness,
sadness,
wanting to be free.
I want to forget
your sweet lips,
your eyes, your face.
I just can't.
It would be easier
to forget how to love.

Summer.
Do you remember...
our first meeting?
The beach,
that was you.
And the sea,
that tries to get to you,
the hesitates,
and flies away,
that was me.
Better if I hadn't
reach to your sand,
if I hadn't tasted your kisses,
if you were here now with me.

Autum,
one more time.
People who never helped me,
are now trying to do something for me.
Too late.
What's the point
of trying to help a leaf
that was taken by the wind?

A song asking for freedom

Wed, 23 May 2007 14:15:01 GMT

There's really no excuse
for feeling this abuse
the only thing we want
is to sing...
there was a time for battles
a time for fairy tales
and now is time
to start again
this is not to play a game:

there was a time in our old heart
when we wanted to be free...
there was no weapon, there was no death
there was no enemy, there was no rage...
that could stop our fate...

We only wanted to be...
we just wanted to see...
and till now, day by day,
we had to stay, we had to wait...
no more...
there's no enemy, there's no death
that can stop our fate...

a song asking for freedom
is all we want to hear...
no more enemies, no more rage...
no stupid wars for revenge...

We only want to listen
a song asking for freedom
and there's no weapon, there's no death
that can stop...
a song asking for freedom...
is all we want to hear...
a song asking for freedom...
to heal the wounded Earth

a song asking for freedom...
it's our last desire...
we are the last voices...
of people from the war...