June Week Two

Hi Everyone,

Don't forget that Friday is our extra activty.  We're meeting on Friday June 15th at 18:00 at the Sala de Amos Alvador to check out the latest photography exhibit.  Feel free to bring English speaking friends and/or family.

This week we talked about color (or colour if you're using the British spelling), a seemingly simple topic that gave us a lot to talk about.  First off, many of you learned new vocabulary for some common color words like maroon, tan, and teal. Look here for the most common and not so common color words in English. Also, there are tons of expressions that use color words.  Check out these color idioms in different languages (English is at the end).

For listening, the BBC has several interesting videos about color expressions with Blue, Silver, Red, White, Gold and Green.  More advanced students should try listening to Radiolab's episode about Colors, it's really fascinating!  Lastly, try Color in Motion about color symbolism.

There are some interesting reading activities for learners about scientific studies of color, for example Why Men Are Attracted to Women in Red or if Color Predicts Personality.  Advanced students may enjoy reading about what colors animals see.

Now on to writing.  Try describing a vividly colorful place, like a market or a tropical country!

Last but not least, for you music fans, there are tons of songs with color-related lyrics: Yellow Submarine by the Beatles, Blue Moon by Ella Fitzgerald,  Yellow by Coldplay, Colours by Donovan, Heart of Gold by Neil Young, Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison.

Best,
Kelly

--"Sit in reverie and watch the changing color of the waves that break upon the idle seashore of the mind." -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow