CONVERSATION QUESTIONS: NEW YEAR AND NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

Como primer artículo del 2026, una serie de preguntas acerca del año nuevo y de los propósitos que trae.

1.- What traditional ways of welcoming the New Year do you have in your family or in your region?

2.- Are children allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve in your country?

3.- Are there any special meals or activities for New Year's day?

4.- Did you celebrate New Year's Eve? What did you do?

5.- Can you think of two things you were happy about from last year?

6.- What are you looking forward to this year? If you aren't looking forward to this year, why aren't you?

7.- Have you ever made a New Year's resolution?

8.- Was last year a good year for you? In what way or why not?

9.- How can New Year's resolutions help you in the coming year?

10.- What are some New Year's resolutions you have made in the past?

11.- What are some New Year's resolutions that you have broken quickly?

12.- What New Year's resolutions are you still keeping now?

ON THE BEACH - CHRIS REA

1.- Historia

El cantante y compositor británico, Chris Rea, nació el 4 de marzo de 1951 en Cleveland, Inglaterra. Fue artista Soft-Rock. Esta es una de las canciones que no obtuvo altas posiciones en las listas, pero que suele estar presente en la programación radial. Según Rea, es de inspiración española pues fue creada a partir de su viaje a la isla de Formentera, junto a su pareja. Sólo llegó a la casilla 57 en la lista oficial británica, pero al 9 en la lista Adult Contemporary de Billboard.

Fuente: https://the-music-history.blogspot.com/2025/12/chris-rea.html

2.- Lyrics

Between the eyes of love I call your name

Behind those guarded walls I used to go

Upon a summer wind there's a certain melody

Takes me back to the place that I know

(Chorus)

On the beach, yeah yeah

Down on the beach, yeah yeah

The secrets of the summer I will keep

The sands of time will blow a mystery

No-one but you and I

Underneath that moonlit sky

Take me back to the place that I know

(Repeat Chorus)

Forever in my dreams my heart will be

Hanging on to this sweet memory

A day of strange desire

And a night that burned like fire

Take me back to the place that I know

(Repeat Chorus)

3.- Vocabulary

- Between = Entre

- Behind = Detrás

- Guarded = Guard = Vigilado/a, protegido/a

- Walls = Paredes

- Upon = Encima

- Wind = Viento

- Keep = Mantener, permanecer, conservar

- Sand = Arena

- Blow = Soplar

- Underneath = Debajo de, por debajo

- Moonlit = Iluminado por la luna

- Forever = Por siempre

- Desire = Deseo

- Burned = Burn = Arder

4.- Gramática

a) Present Simple

Ejemplo:

- I call your name

b) Simple Past

Ejemplo.

- A night that burned like fire.

c) Future Will

Ejemplo:

- The secrets of the summer I will keep.

d) Used to

Ejemplo:

- Behind thoseguarded walls I used to go.

e) Phrasal Verb

- Hang on = Aferrarse

Ejemplo:

- Hanging on to this sweet memory.

5.- Videoclip

CONVERSATION QUESTIONS: CHRISTMAS

Con motivo de la Navidad, un nuevo listado de preguntas para practicar conversación.

1.- Do you celebrate Christmas in your country?

2.- Do you celebrate Christmas in a special or traditional way?

3.- Did you believe in Santa Claus when you were a child?

4.- Do you decorate the outside of your house for Christmas?

5.- Do you eat turkey or pork for your Christmas dinner?

6.- Do you enjoy Christmas time?

7.- Do you sing Christmas songs?

8.- Do you exchange presents with your friends?

9.- Do you go to church on Christmas day?

10.- Do you have a Christmas party?

11.- Do you have a Christmas tree?

12.- Do you see your relatives at Christmas time?

13.- Have you ever celebrated Christmas in a foreign country?

14.- What do you usually do for Christmas?

15.- What is the best Christmas present you have ever gotten?

16.- What is your favorite Christmas song?

17.- What traditions do you have during the Christmas season?

18.- Do people behave differently during Christmas?

19.- Do you do your Christmas shopping?

20.- What was the most regretful thing about this year?

WRAPPING GIFTS/PRESENTS - FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS

En esta época del año abundan los regalos. Por tal motivo, dedicamos un artículo en el cual seguimos instrucciones para envolver presentes.

1.- Things we need

- Ribbon = Cinta (de papel o tela)

- Boxes of different sizes = Cajas de diferentes tamaños

- Stickers = Pegatinas

- Scissors = Tijeras

- Wrapping Paper = Papel de envolver (regalo)

- Sticky tape = Cinta adhesiva

2.- Instructions

- Put the box facedown on the the center of the back face up of the wrapping paper.

- Cover the box with the paper. First, from side to side and then, from up to bottom.

- Stick every side of the paper. Fix it with sticky tape.

- Cut the excess of paper with the scissors.

- Make a bow with the ribbon.

- Decorate the present with the bow.

- Put stickers on the present.

NOTE.- If the present doesn't need a box, just follow the instructions changing the word "box" to "present".

3.- Videoclip

NOTA.- El siguiente es un videoclip de demostración hecho por estudiantes de inglés. Por ello, puede contener errores en la comunicación y subtítulos.

CONVERSATION QUESTIONS: DIET

Un tema que siempre causa polémica: la dieta.

1.- Have you ever been on a diet?

2.- What is the best way to diet?

3.- Do you think dieting can be dangerous?

4.- Do you think fiber is important in your diet?

5.- Do you think protein is important in a balanced diet?

6.- What is a good source of protein?

7.- Do you think people in general are gaining weight or loosing weight?

8.- What kind of diet would you recommend to your friend?

9.- Is there a difference between being thin and being healthy? Which one is better?

10.- Do you think being slim equals beautiful?

11.- Do you think there is more pressure now for teens to look slimmer?

12.- In what way can diet influence our appearance and personality?

MANY RIVERS TO CROSS - JIMMY CLIFF

1.- Historia

James Chambers (Jimmy Cliff) nació el 30-07-1944 en Jamaica. Inició su carrera musical en los 60s. Pero su fama llegaría en 1972 con la película "The Harder They Come". En la banda sonora de este film se encuentra este tema. Desde entonces, ha sido versionada por artistas como Cher o UB40. Cliff, describe su frustración al ver desaparecer sus esperanzas en sus primeros años y viajes desde Jamaica hacia Europa.

2.- Lyrics

(Chorus)

Many rivers to cross

But I can't seem to find my way over

Wandering I am lost

As I travel along the white cliffs of Dover

Many rivers to cross

And it's only my will that keeps me alive

I've been licked, washed up for years

And I merely survive because of my pride

And this loneliness won't leave me alone

It's such a drag to be on your own

My woman left me and she didn't say why

Well I guess, I have to try

Many rivers to cross

But just where to begin, I'm playing for time

There are times I find myself

Thinking of committing some dreadful crime

Yes, I've got 

(Repeat Chorus)

Yes, I've got

(Repeat Chorus)

3.- Vocabulary

- Cross = Cruzar

- Seem = Parecer

- Find = Encontrar

- Wandering = Preguntándome

- Lost = Perdido/a

- Cliffs = Acantilados, precipicios

- Will = Voluntad, deseo

- Keep = Mantener

- Alive = Con vida

- Licked = Lick = Apalizar, dar una paliza

- Wash up = Llevar a alguien (a tierra)

- Merely = Simplemente

- Survive = Sobrevivir

- Pride = Orgullo

- Loneliness = Soledad

- Alone = Solo/a

- Drag = Aburrido

- Left = Leave = Dejar, abandonar

- Guess = Imaginar, adivinar

- Try = Probar, intentar

- Dreadful = Terrible, espantoso

4.- Gramática

a) Simple Present

Ejemplo:

- It's only my will that keeps me alive.

b) Present Perfect Tense

Ejemplo:

- I've been licked.

c) Future Will

Ejemplo:

- And this loneliness won't leave me alone.

d) Simple Past

Ejemplo:

- My woman left me and she didn't say why.

e) Present Continuous Tense

Ejemplo:

- I'm playing for time.

5.- Videoclip

EARTH

En este último artículo dedicado a los elementos, nos ocupamos de la tierra.

1.- Earth - Noun

Puede referirse a:

a) Earth = Tierra (Planeta)

- The Earth is the third planet.

b) earth = Tierra. Uno de los elementos naturales.

- To fall to earth = Caer a tierra

2.- Earth - Verb

Como verbo se usa en terminología de electricidad como "conectar a tierra".

- The blue is the neutral wire, the green and yellow stripped is the earth wire and the brown is the live wire.  = El azul es el cable neutro, el de rayas verdes y amarillas es el cable de toma de tierra y el marron es el cable principal.

3.- Earth - Idioms

- To cost the earth = Costar mucho dinero

- To come back to earth = Regresar, volver

- To bring somebody down to earth. = Volver a alguien a la realidad.

- To be/feel like nothing to earth. = Tener mal aspecto.

4.- Earth - Phrasal Verb

- To earth up = Colocar tierra alrededor de una planta para protegerla o hacerla crecer.

5.- Earth - More vocabulary

- Down-to earth = Con los pies en la tierra

- Earth-shattering = Trascendental

- To go to the ends or the earth. = Ir al fin del mundo.

- To move heaven and earth. = (Re)mover cielo y tierra (para encontrar algo/alguien)

- To wipe somebody/something off the face of the earth. = Desaparecer algo/alguien de la faz de la tierra.