video of the 1st karaoke casting 2013-14

The karaoke contest, organised by the English teachers of ESMaia, has already become a tradition. Students always look forward to having the opportunity to participate in this event, either as singers or as part of a very enthusiastic audience. Once again, the "polivalente" was too small for all the students who wished to watch the show. And, as usual, the event was a huge success. Congratulations to everyone! 

XMAS is coming!

Hidden Pictures, ESL, Powerpoint Games, Powerpoint, Vocabulary Games

Hidden Pictures, ESL, Powerpoint Games, Powerpoint, Vocabulary Games

Some inspiring thoughts

Summer holidays are over and a new school year is just starting - a whole new experience with new teachers, new and old friendships and, of course, new knowledge. The English Club teachers wish you all a very successful year !

HAPPY 4th OF JULY

Karaoke contest finale - the winners!

Our star students are getting better and better and this year the jury had a very difficult task in hands.
 The quality of the performances was so good that, instead of one winner, we had two, exequo!
Here are the videos of their  performances. All the videos of the other performances can be seen on the page " karaoke contest finale 2013", which you can find on the right side of the home page of the blog.
Congratulations to ALL the contestants. You were really amazing and we  loved listening to you!
Keep on participating!

Karaoke Finale

On 7th June the "polivalente" of Maia Secondary School was the stage of another finale of the karaoke contest. Once again, this edition was a huge success. The number of seats available was not enough. Therefore, every free place of the floor was occupied by students, eager to watch not only the performances of their friends but also Mariana Domingues's performance, our school star, who won the 2nd place in this year's "Ídolos" contest. 

A novelty of this show was the amazing background canvas painted by the art students of class 11th K, under the direction of their Art teacher, Lídia Castro.

Congratulation to them all. 

Below you can appreciate their excellent work.

English Language Day and Shakespeare

What has the English Language Day got to do with Shakespeare?

in http://www.un.org/en/events/englishlanguageday/

Margaret Thatcher - Mini Biography - Margaret Thatcher Videos - Biography.com

Margaret Thatcher - Mini Biography - Margaret Thatcher Videos - Biography.com

Iron Lady

Margaret Thatcher was Britain’s first female Prime Minister and is regarded today as one of the most important political figures of the 20th century. The daughter of a grocer, she was born Margaret Hilda Roberts on October 13, 1925 in Grantham, Lincolnshire. After she graduated from Oxford University, Margaret’s eye was clearly on politics; she first served as a member of parliament in 1959. A member of the Conservative Party, Thatcher held multiple government positions, including Education Secretary. Shocking those who vowed that a woman could never rise to political power in Britain, Thatcher became Prime Minister in May 1979. She served three consecutive terms, making her mark on the political stage.

As Prime Minister, Thatcher established herself as an active and authoritative political force. Her mission was to protect the autonomy of individuals and limit the powers of the state. She became known for her role in privatizing aspects of Britain’s government, for reducing social services and for restricting labor unions. “Thatcherism” was the term used to describe these policies, many of which were met with protest even as she vowed that her economic policies would allow the Britain to thrive. Thatcher stood firmly with the U.S. against Communism, earning her the nickname "Iron Lady" from the Soviets. She became known as a bold, uncompromising figure; she is remembered as one of the most important leaders in modern history. She died on April 8th 2013 at age 87.

April fool's day

St. Patrick's Day + 2nd karaoke casting

Once again, Saint Patrick's Day was celebrated at Maia Secondary School!

 Green was the colour of the day and four- leaf shamrocks covered the walls and hung from the ceiling spreading a joyful spirit.

 Irish music, Irish blessings , trying out one's "Irish luck", to grab a sweet out of the pot of gold , as well as other traditional symbols and decorations of this day were mandatory!

 The second karaoke casting was also part of the activity plan of this day and, as usual, it attracted lots of students (so many that they had no place to sit except on the floor !). Their enthusiastic reaction at the performances of their school mates once again proved how much this activity, organised by the English Club, is appreciated by them.

The pictures below  portray the lively atmosphere and the good mood which was felt at school and the English Club teachers hope everyone may have made the most of this day.

May your thoughts be as glad as shamrocks,

May your heart be as light as a song,

May each day bring you bright, happy hours,

That stay with you all the year long.

                                                      (Irish Blessing)

   

Medley of the 2nd karaoke casting

Here is a medley of almost all the performances of this karaoke edition. For reasons which were out of our control, one or two performances weren't recorded. We apologise for that.

Below you can also watch the video of the best performer of this karaoke casting.

The English Club teachers  congratulate all the students, performers and audience, for their excellent behaviour and enthusiasm, which definitely contribute to the success of this activity.

2nd Karaoke casting - Mª João Gens performing

This is the performance which received the highest number of points. Some others will be posted soon, but you'll have to be a bit patient. School work speaks louder right now!

St. Patrick's Day - Bet you didn't know!

Why green on St. Patrick's Day?

School Day of Languages

Well, although the School Day of Languages has already gone by for some time now, here is the video which portrays how we celebrated this day at our school. It was a fantastic day, indeed! All the students participated in this event and we hope they have enjoyed it and learned with it too!

2nd KARAOKE CASTING RESULTS

St.Patrick's Day

Once more St. Patrick's Day is coming to our school and we are going to celebrate it on the 15th March.
So, don't forget to wear something green or colours related to this celebration.

Traditional Irish Blessings

• Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter; Lullabies, dreams and love ever after. Poems and songs with pipes and drums; A thousand welcomes when anyone comes.
• May St. Patrick guard you wherever you go and guide you in whatever you do -- and may his loving protection be a blessing to you always.
• May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields and, until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

1st casting videos

You can already watch all the performances of the first karaoke casting!
 Just scroll down and under the heading "PAGES" , which is on the right side of the screen, click on  the page under the name . 1st karaoke casting 2012/ 2013.

1st karaoke casting - video clip of part I

Enjoy the first set of pictures regarding part I of the 1st karaoke casting! The rest will be included in the video clip about the School Day of Languages.

Karaoke 2012/2013 - 1st casting

And here is the best performance of the first karaoke casting 2012/ 2013.

The videos of the other performances as well as photos will be posted soon. You just have to be a bit patient, OK?

The English Club congratulates  ALL the students who have participated in this first casting and they were many, indeed !!!

By the way, on the 15th March a second casting is going to take place. So, if you haven't been selected in this casting, you still have another opportunity to shine! You just have to enrol on the next casting and rehearse your favourite song very well. We are looking forward to listening to your amazing performances.

KARAOKE RESULTS

Our students were brilliant once again this morning!
Awesome performances!

8th February -Language Day at Maia Secondary School

Karaoke - 1st casting - part II

1st casting - PART II

Join us next Friday, 8th February, at 10 a.m. in the school auditorium ! 

Burns Night - 25th January

Celebrate Robert Burns on the anniversary of his birth on 25 January with a spectacular Burns Supper which includes haggis, whisky, singing, dancing and a lot of laughter and fun.

Haggis is a savoury pudding containing sheep's pluck (heart, liver and lung); minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally encased in the animal's stomach and simmered for approximately three hours.

Scotland celebrates the life of the National Bard, Robert Burns, every 25 January with Burns Night, an entertaining evening of fantastic food, delectable drams, dancing and rousing verse.

Held on the anniversary of Burns’ birth, the celebrations were originally started by some of his close friends a few years after his death and now Burns Night is celebrated across the world each year. Burns’ life and works are commemorated with songs, recitals and tributes and a hearty feast, including haggis, is enjoyed at a traditional Burns Supper.

You can join in with the festivities at many restaurants across Scotland that host formal Burns Night dinners .

WHO WAS ROBERT BURNS?

Robert Burns is one of Scotland’s most important literary figures and is best known for his famous, and often humorous, songs and poetry. Burns was an inspiring and passionate pioneer of his generation and is regarded as Scotland’s National Bard.

More commonly known as Rabbie, Burns was born to a poor family in Alloway, Ayr, on 25 January 1759 and began his working life on the family farm. Burns’ father recognised the importance of education and hired a local teacher for Burns, who went on to demonstrate signs of an exceptional writing talent from a very young age.

As Burns grew older, his great passion for Scotland and his dynamic, contemporary vision played an important role in inspiring the founders of socialism and liberalism. His literary fame began when his first work Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, later known as the Kilmarnock Edition, was published in 1786 after which his writing career flourished.

Although Burns only lived to the age of 37, he enjoyed an eventful life and produced an astonishing amount of great literary work during his career.

Although more than 200 years have passed since his death, Burns remains one of the most celebrated figures in Scottish history and culture, demonstrated by the annual Burns Night celebrations held across the country on 25 January each year.

Probably his most famous work is "Auld Lang Syne" which is sung at the beginning of each New Year all around the world! Listen to it and ... sing along!

Happy New 2013 !!!