Waltzing Matilda

January 26^th is Australian Day. What better way to celebrate than listening to the song Waltzing Matilde, considered the unofficial hymn of Australia. It was written in 1895 by Banjo Peterson. It tells the story of a swagman (vagabond) who camps by a billabong (stream) next to a coolabah tree (type of Euculyptus). While he is boiling some water in his billy (saucepan), a jumpbuck (sheep) comes by. The swagman captures him and puts him in his tucker bag (food bag). Then the squatter (rancher) comes on his thoroughbred (horse), along with some troopers (police), and accuses the swagman of stealing his jumpbuck. To avoid getting arrested, the swagman jumps into the billabong and drowns. From then on, the spirit of the swagman haunts that place. So what does the title Waltzing Matilda mean? A matilda is like a backpack, and waltzing, I suppose refers to wandering, not dancing!

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a coolabah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong,
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee,
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred,
Down came the troopers, one, two, three,
"Where's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?"
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"
"Where's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?",
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong,
"You'll never take me alive", said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me."
"Oh, You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me."

The Man Your Man Could Smell Like

Sometimes the ads (anuncios) can be more successful than the actual programmes. This Old Spice tv commercial ( anuncio ) is a case in point (buen ejemplo) .It rapidly became a massive hit on YouTube, resulting in millions of views. The slogan "The Man Your Man could smell like" ( el hombre al que tu hombre podría oler -es decir: tu hombre podría oler como él) ) also became very popular.The commercial is especially fun if you watch it with your partner (pareja).
Pay special attention to the use of like(1) and the preposition on. The man (Isaiah Mustafa ) talks very fast but the text isn't really difficult to understand and you can also check the script below .

And remember...anything is possible (cualquier cosa es posible) when your man smells like Old Spice. I am on a horse.

1- Cuidado en no confundir este like (como) con el verbo like (gustar) .He likes horses (Le gustan los caballos) He smells like a horse (Huele como un caballo)



SCRIPT “Hello, ladies, look at your man, now back to me, now back at your man, now back to me. Sadly, he isn’t me, but if he stopped using ladies scented body wash and switched to Old Spice, he could smell like he’s me. Look down, back up, where are you? You’re on a boat with the man your man could smell like. What’s in your hand, back at me. I have it, it’s an oyster with two tickets to that thing you love. Look again, the tickets are now diamonds. Anything is possible when your man smells like Old Spice and not a lady. I’m on a horse.”

Now watch the spoof (parodia) Sesame Street did on this advertisement (anuncio)Anything is possible when you smell like a monster and you know the word on !!



SCRIPT Hello, everybody, now look at yourself, now back to me, now back at yourself, now back to me. Sadly, you are not a Monster, but if you listen to Grover you will learn all about the word: “On”. Just as this monster does. Look down, back up. Where am I, ah, “I am on a boat”. What is in your hand? Back at me. I have it, it is a clam with two tickets to that thing your love. “On my nose”. Anything is possible when you smell like a Monster and you know the word “On”. “I am on a horse”.
[Cow]Moo

Discussion:

Did you like the commercial or did you find it offensive ?
Do you think it is sexist or just a satire ?

The Sundance Film Festival

Every January, Utah hosts(1) the Sundance Film Festival. Films are shown in three locations: Park City, Salt Lake City and Sundance. The Festival has its origins in the Utah/US Film Festival that was created in 1978. Later, in 1985, the Festival became part of the Sundance Institute and was officially renamed the Sundance Film Festival in 1991. It is now the second largest showcase(2), after Cannes, for independent cinema in the world. Some of the films that were shown for the first time at Sundance include Sex, Lies and Videotape, El Mariachi, Reservoir Dogs and The Blair Witch Project.

The Sundance Institute is an organisation dedicated to the support(3) and development of emerging screenwriters(4) and directors of vision, and to the national and international exhibition of new, independent dramatic and documentary films. It encourages(5) the development(6) of artists of independent vision and the exhibition of their new work. The Institute offers artistic and professional resources to filmmakers, writers, playwrights(7), actors and composers so that they can develop their work in an atmosphere of support, collaboration, freedom of expression and freedom to experiment. The Institute was founded in 1981 by the actor Robert Redford and is located in Sundance, Utah.

Sundance is a canyon where, centuries ago, the Ute Indians used to go to spend(8) the hot summer months of the year and to hunt(9) the abundant game(10). In 1969, Robert Redford bought a lot of this land from a family of Scottish immigrants, who had settled(11) the canyon in the early 1900’s. Redford saw his new land as an ideal place for environmental conservation and artistic experimentation, and so Sundance was born.

If you want to learn more about the Sundance Film Festival, check out the official website.

(1) ser la sede de, (2) escaparate, (3) apoyo, (4) guionista, (5) anima, (6) desarrollo, (7) dramaturgo, (8) pasar tiempo, (9) cazar, (10) caza, (11) colonizado

Top Ten New Year's Resolutions

New Year (‘s) resolution “ a promise that you make to yourself to start doing something good or stop doing something bad on the first day of the year” .

Have you made any New Year’s resolutions ? As the final seconds of the year tick away (pasan) , we become introspective. Inevitably, that introspection turns to thoughts of self-improvement ( pasa a pensamientos de auto-mejora ) and the annual ritual of making resolutions.
The following list is the result of an extensive survey (encuesta) , which consisted of over 300,000 responses worldwide ( http://www.goalsguy.com/).

1. Lose Weight and Get in Better Physical Shape (perder peso y ponerse en forma)
It begins by opting for the stairs instead of the lift, fruit in place of chocolate, and active rather than sedentary activities.
2. Stick to a Budget ( ceñirse a un presupuesto)
Keep a diary of all money spent. Once you know where your money is going you can take the steps needed to prepare a budget.
3.Debt reduction
4. Enjoy More Quality Time with Family & Friends
5. Find My Soul Mate (encontrar mi alma gemela)
6. Quit Smoking
Becoming a non-smoker is probably one of the best decisions you can ever make, and is a life changing as well as a life saving decision.
7. Find a Better Job
Examine whether your current career (actual trayectoria profesional) matches your interests, beliefs, values, needs and skills.
8. Learn Something New
You'll find education to be one of the easiest, most motivating and beneficial resolutions to keep.

Have you finished your Lesson and sent the Progress Check ? Remember that a good rhythm of 1 PC every 2-3 weeks will help to improve your English !
9. Volunteer and Help Others
10. Get Organized
Resolve this year to plan your days, reduce interruptions, clean off your desk, say "No", and make detailed lists.

Post a comment with your New Year's resolutions !!

Now please watch the video below and try to answer the following questions:

1-How many people keep their promise for the entire year ?

2-Which is the most difficult promise to keep ?

3-Which was the second most popular New Year's resolution last year?

Answers: 1-Less than one in three. 2- Giving up cigarettes( Quit smoking). 3- Saving money.