03 March 2012 / by Radmila Gurkova

The rain 'NOT' in Spain

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVmU3iANbgk

''The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain''

Have you heard this expression before?
It is from My Fair Lady, a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion.
It is very common for practicing pronunciation, especially of -ei-

 

However did you know that there has now ben no rain in Spain for three months?
This will be the direst period during the winter months since the 1940'sThe Spanish State Meteorological Agency - AEMET said that February would end without more rainfall and they now can confirm it is a drought. This is an 'EXTRAORDINARY DRY CHARACTER'.

In only three months Spain has seen 58 litres of rain per square metre.
It's not rained in Leon for 26 days and Barcelona for 44 days - This must be a record?
Is it a global PHENOMENON or just the usual deforestation?
In the coming months agricultural businesses will suffer putting more strain on economic and financial situation causing more disruption.

... now everyone sing along to the video!

DEBATE



  • What will happen if it doesn't rain in Spain all year long?

  • Is weather always the topic for SMALL TALK?

  • What are the other main points of discussion in Spain?


KEYWORDS




































































Word Image Definition Example Listen
Driest Superlative of dry. A dry climate; the driest season Listen
Drought Severe lack of water, no moisture Very hot countries have DROUGHTS Listen
Phenomenon A fact, circumstance, event Ipads are a relatively new phenomenon. Listen
Deforestation   To cut down the trees in a forest. Deforestation of the Amazon is shortening the life of the planet. Listen
Drink To ingest a liquid I drink coffee in the morning. Listen
Rain When water falls from the sky It was raining all day Listen
Weather   What the temperature and climate is like. The weather was beautiful Listen
Longest Superlative of long Ana's hair is the longest in the class. Listen

 GRAMMAR STRUCTURES 

Click here to learn more about homophones

Click here to find out the difference between plain and plane

04

May 2012
Somebody, Anybody, Anywhere and Nobody
by Radmila Gurkova
Singular indefinite pronouns  Somebody, Anybody, anywhe...

04

May 2012
What is there? What are there?
by Radmila Gurkova
What is there in the classroom? There IS a table... There is a chair... there ARE windows! There IS a ceiling! There is/There a...

30

April 2012
APRIL Monthly Quiz
by Radmila Gurkova
Test your knowledge with our April Monthly Quiz! ...

29

April 2012
EUROVEGAS - America in Europe
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44ZRZDVVjuw An America tycoon wants to build Vegas in Europe and has chosen Spain as the destination. The American business tycoon, Sheldon Adelson wants to emulate Nevada’s state cash cow 'Las Vegas' here in Spain and is deciding where to build - Madrid or Barcelona. The decision has sparked a row...

29

April 2012
P2 Titanic prepositions of time
by Radmila Gurkova
Is it in the weekend, at the weekend or on the weekend? What time do you go to work?...

29

April 2012
Homophones...TWO, TOO, TO
by Radmila Gurkova
Do you know how to use TOO, TWO & TO correctly? These are homophones (words that are spelt differently but have the s...

29

April 2012
TITANIC - 100 Years
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xKDRmhp6lQ Titanic is the world’s most famous maritime disaster in history. The colossal four funnelled ship hit an iceberg in the Atlantic ocean during it’s maiden voyage on April 10 1912 and sank to the icy bottom, making history worldwide. The ships top speed was 23 knots with a total capacity ...

09

April 2012
To be or not to be
by Radmila Gurkova
TO BE I am You are He/She is It is We are They are Examples I AM a teacher. You ARE a student. He IS an actor. It IS a cat. We ARE Spanish They ARE politicians ...

09

April 2012
like and as
by Radmila Gurkova
Like and as can be confusing in English. Both like and as can be used to describe how similar things are. Like + noun/pronoun. For example I'm like my mother. Like my mother, I have brown hair. As + subject +...

09

April 2012
2nd Conditional - If I had a million dollars, I would give it to charity
by Radmila Gurkova
We use the second conditional to talk about impossible situations. IF + PAST SIMPLE - WOULD + INFINITIVE (Condition) WOULD + INFINITIVE + IF + PAST SIMPLE  (Condition) If I went to Madrid, I’d visit the Prado Gallery....