Blog de aula: 04/27/11

SET PHRASES RELATED TO PARTS OF OUR BODY

HEAD

Can't make head or tail of something: I can't make head or tail of what he's saying! No tener sentido. No tener ni pies ni cabeza
To be / fall head over heels in love with someone: He's head over heels in love with his new girlfriend. Estar profundamente, hasta las trancas, de la cabeza a los pies enamorado de alguien

HAIR

To split hairs: For Goodness' sake, stop splitting hairs. Can't you see his part is the same size as yours? Buscar tres pies al gato (la idea es la de una persona que es excesivamnete puntillosa)
One's hair stands on end: Henry: portrait of a serial killer is a film that still makes my hair stand on end. Los pelos de punta

FACE

To have the face to do something: After I had caught Mark stealing my wallet, he had the face to ask me if I could lend him some money. Tener la cara, el morro de hacer algo.
Let's face it: OK. Let's face it. I'll never be able to dance salsa well. So, what?. Afrontar, ser realista ante algo
To lose face: I don't think that apologozing for your mistakes means losing face at all. Quedar mal, desprestigiarse, humillarse

EYES

Can't believe one's eyes: I can't believe my eyes!Alice, you're here! What a nice surprise! No dar crédito a tus ojos, no creerse lo que uno está viendo.
In the twinkling of an eye: Her mood can change in the twinkling of an eye. En un abrir y cerrar de ojos

NOSE

Under one's nose: Have you seen my keys? They're under your nose! Delante de tus propias narices (si es un lobo te come, a veces decimos de algo que tenemos muy cerca y no lo vemos)
To pay through the nose: I paid through the nose for that flat but I think it was woth it. Pagar un dineral

EARS

To go in one ear and out the other: Talking to him is absolutely useless. The words go in one ear and out the other. Entrar por un oído y salir por el otro.
To lend an ear (to someone or something): Please, lend me your ears. I've got something important to tell you. Prestar atención.

MOUTH AND TEETH

To have/be a big mouth: Karen has such a big mouth.She's spilled the beans and now everybody knows about the love affaire between James and Kate! Ser un bocazas
To make one's mouth water: Thinking of your nice desserts makes my mouth water. Hacer a uno la boca agua
To have a sweet tooth: I have a sweet tooth so I find it difficult to cut down on eating cakes. Ser un goloso

FAILURES

Before reading the stories, watch this video. I hope you find it inspirational enough...........

1 B

Last summer I went running every evening. I really tried it hard to run for about 50 minutes but actually I never made it. I just was able to run for 40 minutes. This summer I want to try it again. (Gema)

Three years ago I tried to learn to cook. I began cooking at home with my mum. I couldn't cook good plates. It was horrible.Then I joined a cook school and I tried and I tried but to no avail either. The chicken got burnt and the pasta was awful. Eventually, I threw in the towel and so far I have not been able to cook anything . (Yolanda Navarro)

When I was a child I used to go to El Retiro with my mum and my sister. We used to hire a boat and my mum used to take the oars. I wanted to row but my mum never let me. Last month my dream came true. I went to this park with my friends and we got into a small boat and took the oars. I'd've liked to be able to row like a pirate but me and my friends all ended up soaked! (Lía)

When I was seventeen I did not know what to study. I had to study Bachillerato so I decided to do Sciences. The first term was terrible because I failed all the subjects. After that I dropped school and decided to look for a job but I didn't find anything interesting. It was a wasted year in my life. (Jaime)

Jaime at school

I've tried to read El Quijopte many many times but I've never been able to read the whole book because it is very boring for me. (Patricia)

I've always tried to do my homework and revise for the exams. But I always put it off until the very last moment as I find it hard to study and work every day for a long time. I won't ever learn! (Marta)

Marta the day before taking an exam

I've always wanted to sing. I try it hard all the time at home, in front of the mirror, in the bedroom.. I love singing but I sing terribly bad. I can't sing! (Raquel)

Raquel singing

My failure is not being able to learn English. I started learning English when I was six or seven. I always forget what I learn and so I can't say a word in English. Iwon't throw in the towel although it is difficult for me. (María)

I once tried to learn to dance tango but it was a failure because I can't move my body to the rhythm of that music. I won't ever try it again! (Elisa)

I've never been able to sew . It takes me two hours to thread a needle. In a few years' time I hope to be able to sew a button at least! (Chus)

My failure is related to love because I still haven't found a man who is really my soul mate but I guess one day he'll come into my life because finding is only a question of looking for. (Gladys)

Gladys waiting for the perfect man.

My biggest failure is not being able to save money for a car. I've always worked very hard but to no avail. In a future I hope to be able to save some money and buy a car. (Esther)

My biggest failure was when at fifteen I could not graduate in ballet because my teacher left school. (Noelia)

When I was a child I admired my father very much because he was a very good artist and I wanted to have his talent. My father tried to teach me to paint and draw but it was impossible for me and I've never been able to draw very well. (Alba)

A drawing by Alba

I love cinema. I've always wanted to be an actress but I'm very shy and I have never been able to act in front of an audience! (Cristina)

When I was a child my mom wanted me to help her to cook. I cooked well in my childhood but as I grew up my problem got worse and I have never been able to cook well since then. My level is worse than zero. For example, when I want to make a hot-dog the bun breaks and the sausages get burnt. I'm hopeless at cooking! (Ana)

sausages cooked by Ana

The biggest failure of my life was when I was seventeen and took part in a theathre competiton. I tried to win but I did not succeed, unfortunately. (Irene)

One of my biggest failures was when I dropped school and did not study Bachillerato. Therefore I could not go to university and have a degree in Veterinary Medicine which was the dream of my childhood. (Paula)

Paula, be our vet!

When I was a child I first rode a bike , fell off and got one of my teeth broken. But my worst failure was when I came back to Argentina and realised that I was not the same as before. (Nerina)

Nerina falling off her bike

When I was child I used to think of being in my mid twenties and being able to go to New York and learn new dance styles. Now I've given up this dream because the trip is so expensive..... (Bárbara)

When I was a child I always dreamed of becoming a professional volleyball player. Every afternoon I would play with my friends and trained every day. Even my team was the champion of Extremadura. But however much I tried, I was never able to make my dream come true. (Inés)

1 A

My father plays the guitar very well, perfectly and so does my brother. But I can't. I tried it hard but I gave up because I found it boring. (Lara)

One of my failures is when,as a child,I could not jump the rope, no matter how much I tried. I didn't learn until two years ago. (Estefanía)

I've always wanted to be able to speak English perfectly and I even tried to learn and study it at school and at university. Unfortunately, I've never been able to succeed! (Laura P.)

When I was a child I used to have guitar lessons with my father.He used to teach me short easy songs but it was useless. I've never been able to play the guitar well. (Virginia)

When I was a child my mother wanted me to take swimming lessons but I'm afraid I've never been able to swim properly. (Laura G)

I've never been able to speak French but my failure hasn't been not to learn that language but not to try it. No matter if someone tells you you are stupid. It sounds fantastic in French. (Marian)

One of my biggest failures was when I failed English and had to repeat the year at secondary school. (Coral)

Since I started secondary school I started having some problems with Maths but within time I could pass the retake with a very good grade. (Anaís)

I have tried snowboarding many times but I've never been able to learn it very well. I've also tried doing arts and crafts but I'm afraid I'm not very good at using my hands either.(Paula)

I've never been able to play poker. I think this game is too much for me because I can't understand the rules of the game. (Jorge)

My biggest failure is not being able to learn to play mus. (Patricia)

My biggest failure is not being able to play in a music band. (Gerardo)

One summer some friends tried to teach me to play mus but it was impossible. I couldn't learn the rules. (Soraya)

My biggest failure is not being a singer. When I was a child I wanted to be a professional singer, but I never tried it. (Ester)

My friends tried to teach me to play the guitar but it was impossible for me play some notes so I gave it up. (Esperanza)

I love horses.When I was 13 I wanted to ride one so I took some riding lessons. The first day, when I saw the big horse I felt so nervous and impressed that I fell down. So I've never had riding lessons since then. (Raquel)

When I was 18 I had some big problems with Maths. I never passed the exams so I spent the whole summer studying and having lessons at a school. Finally in September I failed again. It was so frustrating! (Andrea)

I've never been able to speak Chinese. A friend tried to teach me but to no avail. (Rebeca)

I've always thought that knitting was relaxing so I've tried to learn it three times. The last time my granny tried to teach me but she lost her patience and in the end we gave it up! (Candela)

I've never been able to play the guitar well. Actually, I've never been able to play any musical instruments. That is one of my biggest failures! (Leidy)

When I was a child it took me a long time to ride a bike. Finally I was able to ride but not very well so I must say I'm not very good at ridindg a bike! (Rocío)

When I was 12 I fell in love with one of the boys in my classroom. I tried to be his girfriend. We went out for an ice-cream, did our homework together... So one day I confessed that I was in love with him but he told me he was in love with my friend Raquel. He broke my heart! (Diana)

When I was younger I took hip-hop classes. At first I was so happy because I really liked it but one week later I realised that I would never be able to dance hip-hop. I felt so disappointed! This was my first failure. (Alba)

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