What does the word family means foo you?

For me, ''family'' are the people who love you and who you love. The people who are going to be next to you even if the things in your life are bad. That's why the family is very important. ''Family'' is a big word which means to feel secure, to have someone who you can count on, who shares your problems. But it also means to have respect for each other and responsibility.

I think the word family express love and protection for the most of your life. Your family is the best thing you have in your life.

It's something very important because they always help you in difficult moments and you have people to love and to play with. I think it's very important everyone in a family.

A family who tells the truth and are honest. Also they tell not be sad. Furthermore, they love you if something happens even though they don't like it.

For me it means love. I think it means that because they are all with me especially my mother. She loves me a lot.

For me the word family means a lot of different feelings like love. I think the family are one of the most important things in our lives. Family are people you know will never fail you. They can give you pieces of advice with your problems.

Family for me means love and things like that, because your family are always going to be with you and loves you.

10 common Spanish speaker mistakes

Conversations

L-How ell are you at singing?
A-I´m so so, but I went to learn more
L-When did you learn?
A-Ilearnt when I was 8 yeras old, my aunt taught me
L-How did you learn?
A-I respected all what my aunt said
L-Did ou find it easy or difficult?
A-I found it difficult, very aunt is very strict
L-Why did you find it difficult?
A-I think I´m very bad at learning things
L-Would you like to be able to?
A-Yes , because in the future I went to be a singer star

Lucia and Alex

Homophones

Homonyms, homophones, and homographs are words that are easily confused 

because they look alike or sound alike (or both) but have different meanings.

Choose the correct homophone to complete this sentence.

(a) The boy put shampoo on his (hare/hair).

(b) Mum put some (flower/flour) in the cake mix.

(c) James didn't have a very good (nights/knights) sleep.

(d) A rabbit is a bit like a (hare/hair).

(e) Tony got chased by a large (bare/bear).

Choose the correct homophone to complete the sentences.

(a) Lucy couldn't wait to (meet/meat) her friend.

(b) Andrew (missed/mist) the bus.

(c) The mouse got his (tale/tail) caught.

(d) Glen has a long (wait/weight) for the bus.

(e) The cat hurt its (pour/poor/paw).

(f) The old man had no money, he was (pour/poor/paw).

(g) "Could you (pour/poor/paw) the orange juice, please?"

(h) Mark got a letter in the (mail/male).

Choose the correct homophone to complete this sentence.

1. We usually go to bed at __________________. (ate, eight)

2. My _________________ let us stay up late last night. (ant, aunt)

3. We _______________ strawberries with chocolate sauce. (ate, eight)

4. I have _____________ lunch today. (no, know)

5. There is a ________________ in my jeans. (hole, whole)

6. I won the game _____________ two points. (by, buy)

7. I would like ______________ have cookies with my milk. (to, two)

8. Billy _______________ the race. (one, won)

9. Please make sure to _______________ a jacket outside. (wear, where)

10. My favorite story is the “Tortoise and the _______________”. (hair, hare)

Choose the correct homophone to complete this sentence.

1. The wind ______________ the newspaper right out of my hands. (blue, blew)

2. _______________ sister will walk you home from school. (You’re, Your)

3. Maggie will _______________ a story in her notebook? (write, right)

4. Can you help me find ________________ shoes? (their, they’re)

5. There is a ________________ in my left sock. (hole, whole)

6. I won the game ___________ two points. (by, buy)

7. I would like __________ have cookies with my milk. (to, two)

8. Billy couldn't decide which ___________ to wear to school. (close, clothes)

9. Please make sure to _____________ a jacket outside. (wear, where)

10. Have you heard the fable about the tortoise and the ___________? (hair, hare)

their/there              isle/aisle              pair/pear
sew/so                   here/hear             sail/sale
grate/great           seen/scene            not/knot
threw/through      flower/flour          cellar/seller
maid/made              lane/lain              die/dye

Directions: Match the homonym or homophone from above with the correct definition below.

______ a single situation or conversation in a play

______ basement

______ past and past participle of MAKE

______ used to make a word or group of words negative

______ to stop living

______ of or relating to them or themselves

______ this place

______ the act of selling

______ to stain or color usually permanently

______ one who sells

______ two things that match or are meant to be used together

______ past participle of SEE

______ that place

______ to make into small particles by rubbing against something rough

______ a narrow way or road usually between fences, hedges, or buildings

______ to take in through the ear

______ an interlacing (as of string or ribbon) that forms a lump or knob

______ a female servant

______ large in size: not little or small

______ a passage between sections of seats (as in a church or theater)

______ to join or fasten by stitches

______ past participle of LIE

______ a fleshy fruit that grows on a tree related to the apple and is commonly larger at the end opposite the stem

______ a plant cultivated or outstanding for its blossoms

______ past of THROW

______ a sheet of fabric (as canvas) used to catch wind to move a craft through water

______ finely ground powdery meal of wheat or of any cereal grain or edible seed

______ island ______ in a manner or way that is indicated or suggested ______ in at one end and out the other

Spanish Culture

Meeting and Greeting

• Shake hands with everyone present--men, women and children--at a business or social meeting. Shake hands again when leaving.
• Men may embrace each other when meeting (friends and family only).
• Women may kiss each other on the cheek and embrace.

Body Language

• Never touch, hug or back slap a Spaniard you do not know well, unless a friendly Spaniard touches you first.
• Generally, Spaniards stand very close when talking.
• Spaniards speak a lot with their hands. Never mimic them.

Corporate Culture

• Spaniards do not take punctuality for business meetings seriously, but expect that you will be on time; call with an explanation if you are delayed.
• Spain is not a meeting culture. Meetings are to communicate instructions or to save time.
• Spaniards will want to spend time getting to know you and establishing chemistry before doing business. Personal qualities are valued over technical ability, professionalism or competence.
• Typically, Spanish is the language of business, but most large companies conduct business in English and Spanish. You cannot expect English to be widely spoken. Check ahead to determine if an interpreter is needed.
• Spaniards' lack of trust in institutions produces a constant atmosphere of crisis and emergency.
• Spaniards like making decisions on their own. Do not impose a decision in direct language. It could be humiliating to your associates.
• The organizational chart is social, not functional. The third or fourth level down may be more powerful than those at the top.

Dining and Entertainment

• It is acceptable and common to be late by 30 minutes in southern Spain and 15 minutes in northern Spain for social meetings. Never be late for a bullfight.
• Lunches/dinners are a vital part of business used to establish a relationship, to see if the chemistry is correct and to develop trust.
• Attempt to give a toast in Spanish. Be brief when toasting. It is acceptable for women to give toasts.
• Tip everyone for everything.
• No bread and butter plate is used. Bread is set directly on the table. Restaurants generally charge for bread by the piece.
• Spaniards don't waste food. It is better to decline food rather than leave it on your plate.

Dress

• Appearance is extremely important to Spaniards. They dress elegantly, even for casual occasions.
• Dress conservatively. Avoid bright or flashy colors.
• Shoes are the most important element of dress. Shabby looking shoes can ruin a very nice outfit.
• For business, men should wear jackets and ties, even in warm weather. If the senior person takes his/her jacket off during a meeting, you may do so, too.
• Women should wear dresses, blouses and skirts.

Gifts

• When invited to someone's home, always bring a small, wrapped gift for the hostess.
• Open a gift immediately upon receiving it in the presence of the host.
• Give: pastries, cakes, chocolates, flowers (red roses connote passion, yellow roses infidelity; give an odd number of flowers).
• Do not give: chrysanthemums, dahlias or 13 flowers (unlucky number).
• Gifts are normally not exchanged at business meetings, but small gifts may be appropriate at the successful conclusion of negotiations. Do not give a gift at the first meeting.
• Do not give a gift until meetings are finished, and then give only a token gift. Be careful not to imply a bribe.
• Give: desk items, books, art, music.

Helpful Hints

• Expect to be interrupted when speaking.
• Be patient. Nothing is done in a hurry. Spanish trademarks are procrastination and delay.

Especially for Women

• Foreign women are accepted in the business community. Establish credentials and ability immediately.
• Traditionally, a macho and chauvinistic behavior toward women has persisted, known as machismo. This has changed drastically over the last few years.
• Be aware of eye contact. Returning a man's gaze may be interpreted as flirting or a show of interest.
• Do not dine alone in a restaurant or bar at night. However, it is acceptable to do so at lunch.
• It is acceptable for a visiting businesswoman to invite a businessman to dinner. However, realize it is very difficult for women to pay for a man's meal. Spanish men expect to pay. Speak to the maitre d' or waiter in advance if you wish to pay.

GREETING PEOPLE 

1.- Kiss people on both cheeks when you meet them for the first time.

In my opinion, I think it's normal that people give two kisses on the cheek. As I am a teenager I do this when I meet a female but with a male I shake the hands.

Although girls don't ahve this problem, they kiss whoever they meet for the first time.

2.- Call older people by their first names.

It alls depends if I know the person or not. If I don't know them I use the word ''usted'' which means respect for this person.

3.- You use more formal language to speaking for an older person.

Like I said before, the only thing I take into consideration is if I know them or not. 

Holy week

One of the great things about Spanish life is the absurd number of public holiday .

Holy Week,  is like a Catholic version of Spring Break.

1. Processions

Religious processions are a big deal for a lot of people, and they basically involve taking the images of the Virgin Mary or of Christ out of the local church and walking them very slowly around the neighborhood. There are lots of guys in pointy hats–KKK-style, which is creepy.

Since it’s always raining somewhere in Spain during springtime, you can see the news reports of small-town people weeping because they can’t take their Virgin out–they spend a lot of time preparing for these things and it ruins their whole spring when the procession is cancelled. But at some point during the week you should be able to catch one. They’re a little bit boring if you’re going to stand there and watch the whole thing–don’t say I didn’t warn you!

2. Torrijas

Please, whatever you do, don’t tell a Spaniard that their torrijas are just what we call French Toast by another name. Well, almost. I guess we could fixate on the little differences (torrijas are fried rather than cooked on a griddle, for example) but I’d say that torrijas are a pretty good stand-in for French Toast anytime. Also big at this time of year are buñuelos

From my point of view, here in Ceuta the processions are quite good.

As I'm musician in a musical band of Ceuta. I have to play the trumpet for one procession every day following the different Virgins. I think that the only " bad " thing is that all the procesion pass the same places because Ceuta isn't very big and the majoraty of them starts in the city center.

But in my opinion I think it is very beautiful to watch the imagies in the smalls streets in Ceuta.

In Ceuta the Holy Week is fantastic because the people like it. That the procession go out with the militaries and legiones too.

In my opinion the procession that I like is " The Meeting " " El Encuentro " because it is when the Virgin meets with her son " Jesus ".

The penitents with tunics and a purple mask and sash. These walk with the float that has Jesus on it. The others penitents wear white tunics and a green powled hat and sash who go with the Virgin's float.

If it  is raining the floats don't go out and the bearers are very sad because they have practising for a long time.

This year  all the floats could go out because the weather was very good so everyone was happy. 

Here in Spain, in Ceuta, the Holy Week, the processions, etc. are very important for us, the worshipers (the cristians).

Holy Week is specially celebrated in the South of Spain, in Andalucia. Many people take part in the processions, not only adults, but children, too. For many years, Holy Week here in Spain has been very important and meaningful. That's why people who like it very much take part a lot and take care of the details about it.

For me, Holy Wek is my favourite holiday, I don't know exactly why. Maybe it is because since I was a child, my mother has tried to bring me up to like ''Holy Week''.

In my opinion, one of the most beautiful floats is ''The Meetting'' where two floats meet and greet each other.

It's very exciting for me to see the Holy Week processions, especially here because I think each Holy Week in Ceuta is different from the others one.

Finally I think that what brings people to like Holy Week, is because each procession and float has its own ''personality''.  

Last week was Holy week. I think that Holy week is boring because I don't belive in God but for the other people it is the one of best time of the year. When they watche they cry a lot because they become emotional. In my I don't like Holy week even though the "thrones" I think are very  beautiful with their wooden cared sigles covered where in silver or gold.

This year in the Holy week I didn't go the processions. I was in Malaga. My parents asked me to go to the center to watch the processions. But if you go you  need to walk a lot so I didn't go.

My sister told me that the most beautiful processions in Spain are in Malaga and in Sevilla.

In Spain Holy Week is an important time for christians. The brotherhoods bring some image from the cathedral or their churches to celebrate when Jesus went into Jerusalen and the people welcomed him with palms, when he death and resurrection. In my opinion the best days are Palm Sunday because is the first day of "the Holy Week", and Tuesday, because the bearers represent very well the meeting of Christ with the Virgin which is called the "Encuentro".

Culture shock

What you need to know about Culture Shock

Most people who move to a foreign country or culture may experience a period of time when they feel very homesick and have a lot of stress and difficulty functioning in the new culture. This feeling is often called ‘culture shock’ and it is important to understand and learn how to cope with culture shock if you are to adapt successfully to your new home’s culture.

First of all, it’s important to know that culture shock is normal. Everyone in a new situation will go through some form of culture shock, and the extent to which they do is determined by factors such as the difference between cultures, the degree to which someone is anxious to adapt to a new culture and the familiarity that person has to the new culture. If you go, for example, to a culture that is far different from your own, you’re likely to experience culture shock more sharply than those who move to a new culture knowing the language and the behavioural norms of the new culture.

There are four general stages of cultural adjustment, and it is important that you are aware of these stages and can recognise which stage you are in and when so that you will understand why you feel the way you do and that any difficulties you are experiencing are temporary, a process you are going through rather than a constant situation.

The first stage is usually referred to as the excitement stage or the ‘honeymoon’ stage. Upon arriving in a new environment, you’ll be interested in the new culture, everything will seem exciting, everyone will seem friendly and helpful and you’ll be overwhelmed with impressions. During this stage you are merely soaking up the new landscape, taking in these impressions passively, and at this stage you have little meaningful experience of the culture.

But it isn’t long before the honeymoon stage dissolves into the second stage – sometimes called the withdrawal stage. The excitement you felt before changes to frustration as you find it difficult to cope with the problems that arise. It seems that everything is difficult, the language is hard to learn, people are unusual and unpredictable, friends are hard to make, and simple things like shopping and going to the bank are challenges. It is at this stage that you are likely to feel anxious and homesick, and you will probably find yourself complaining about the new culture or country. This is the stage which is referred to as ‘culture shock’.

Culture shock is only temporary, and at some point, if you are one of those who manage to stick it out, you’ll transition into the third stage of cultural adjustment, the ‘recovery’ stage. At this point, you’ll have a routine, and you’ll feel more confident functioning in the new culture. You’ll start to feel less isolated as you start to understand and accept the way things are done and the way people behave in your new environment. Customs and traditions are clearer and easier to understand. At this stage, you’ll deal with new challenges with humour rather than anxiety.

The last stage is the ‘home’ or ‘stability’ stage – this is the point when people start to feel at home in the new culture. At this stage, you’ll function well in the new culture, adopt certain features and behaviours from your new home, and prefer certain aspects of the new culture to your own culture.

There is, in a sense, a fifth stage to this process. If you decide to return home after a long period in a new culture, you may experience what is called ‘reverse culture shock’. This means that you may find aspects of your own culture ‘foreign’ because you are so used to the new culture that you have spent so long adjusting to. Reverse culture shock is usually pretty mild – you may notice things about your home culture that you had never noticed before, and some of the ways people do things may seem odd. Reverse culture shock rarely lasts for very long.

TRUE - if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE - if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN - if there is no information on this

1. Some people will find the process of adapting to a new country easier than others.
2. Knowing about these four stages will help people adjust to a new culture more quickly.
3. People can ease culture shock by learning about the language and customs before they go to the new culture.
4. Culture shock is another name for cultural adjustment.
5. The first stage is usually the shortest.
6. In the first stage, people will have a very positive impression of the new culture.
7. Many people will leave the new culture while they are in the second stage.
8. By the third stage, people do not experience any more problems with the new culture.
9. In the fourth stage, people speak the new language fluently.
10. Reverse culture shock is as difficult to deal with as culture shock.