Enjoy your summer Holidays!!!! See you next year!!!!

Sarmiento's History

Domingo Faustino Sarmiento (February 15, 1811 – September 11, 1888) was an Argentine activist, intellectual, writer, statesman and the seventhPresident of Argentina. His writing spanned a wide range of genres and topics, from journalism to autobiography, to political philosophy and history. He was a member of a group of intellectuals, known as the Generation of 1837, who had a great influence on nineteenth-century Argentina. He was particularly concerned with educational issues and was also an important influence on the region's literature.

Sarmiento grew up in a poor but politically active family that paved the way for much of his future accomplishments. Between 1843 and 1850 he was frequently in exile, and wrote in both Chile and in Argentina. His greatest literary achievement was Facundo, a critique of Juan Manuel de Rosas, that Sarmiento wrote while working for the newspaper El Progreso during his exile in Chile. The book brought him far more than just literary recognition; he expended his efforts and energy on the war against dictatorships, specifically that of Rosas, and contrasted enlightened Europe—a world where, in his eyes, democracy, social services, and intelligent thought were valued—with the barbarism of the gaucho and especially the caudillo, the ruthless strongmen of nineteenth-century Argentina.

While president of Argentina from 1868 to 1874, Sarmiento championed intelligent thought—including education for children and women—and democracy for Latin America. He also took advantage of the opportunity to modernize and develop train systems, a postal system, and a comprehensive education system. He spent many years in ministerial roles on the federal and state levels where he travelled abroad and examined other education systems.

Sarmiento died in Asunción, Paraguay, at the age of 77 from a heart attack. He was buried in Buenos Aires. Today, he is respected as a political innovator and writer.

HAPPY WINTER HOLIDAYS!!!!

Inject some fun into your winter holidays with these activities

“Mooom, I’m bored,” could be one of the most frustrating things your kids say. With just over two weeks of the winter school holidays left, you must be running out of ideas to entertain the children. To help you out, and keep you sane, we compiled a list of games and activities to keep your little ones busy. 

1. Catch a movie
If you’re lucky enough to be at home with your children, take them to the cinema for a movie. Despicable Me 2 will be opening in cinemas on 5 July. If your kids were too young to understand and really enjoy the first movie, hire the DVD this weekend before you take them to see the sequel. Featuring the return of Gru, the girls, the unpredictably hilarious minions and a host of new, outrageously funny characters, Despicable Me 2 is guaranteed to be a firm favourite for everyone. 

2. Go to the theatre 
If your kids are old enough to enjoy a theatre play, we recommend AristoCats at the Peoples Theatre in Johannesburg from 27 May to 28 July. Your little ones and even Dad will enjoy this rendition of the classic Disney story. Call 011 403 1563 for more info

3. Take the kids on an outing
Spoil the children with a fun day out and about. Take them to the Zoo, their favourite pet farmyard or their favourite play park. These venues often have special holiday programmes, specifically designed to keep little hands busy. 

4. Have a bake-off
If you don’t mind cleaning up the mess afterwards, gather the kids in the kitchen for a baking project. They can help you mix the ingredients for a cake or cupcake and decorate them afterwards. Make it fun, and offer a small prize for the cupcake with the best decoration. You can also make pizzas for a healthier option. The little ones can roll out their own dough and decorate their pizzas with healthy toppings. 

5. Have a puppet show
Make your own hand puppets and put on a show. Let the kids take turns to direct the puppets. When it’s your turn, be silly and creative. Here’s how to make your own farmyard hand puppets. They’re very simple and cheap to make. 

6. Have a picnic 
If it’s too cold to have a picnic outside, help the children build a fort with blankets and table cloths in the living room and have a picnic there. You can dress up to make things more fun. They can help you to prepare the snacks for your big feast. Click here for a healthy and easy chip and dip idea. 

7. Have an arts and crafts day
Children love making things and they’re always very proud of their own creations, which boosts their confidence. Lay out some newspapers in the living room and spend the day painting and colouring with them. If you’re up to it, you can help them make crafts too. Little boys will love this easy toilet roll race car.

8. Play a card game
Card games are great for rainy days and they are very challenging for young minds. The concentration/memory game is suitable for children from three years and older. 
How to play: Older children can use a standard deck of 52 cards. You can use fewer cards for younger kids. Make sure the deck you use is made up of pairs. Shuffle and spread the cards face down on a table. The object of the game is to find matching pairs. Let the children take turns turning over two cards. If they aren’t a matching pair, try to remember where they are, then turn them face down again. The next player turns over two cards and if they are a matching pair, he removes them from the table and keeps them. He then gets another turn. When all the cards have been removed from the table, let the kids count their cards. The player with the most cards win. 

History of the Argentinian Flag

The flag of Argentina was designed by military leader Manuel Belgrano in an effort to differentiate between the Argentine armies and the Spanish, who had both used the colors yellow and red. The flag of Argentina was raised for the first time on February 27, 1812, in Rosario, Argentina, during the country's war for independence. This flag featured the light blue and white bands, but the sun was not added until 1818. The national flag of Argentina was officially adopted on July 20, 1816.

National Flag Monument

The National Flag Memorial (Spanish, Monumento Nacional a la Bandera) in Rosario, Argentina, is a monumental complex built near the shore of the Paraná River. It was inaugurated on June 20, 1957, the anniversary of the death of Manuel Belgrano, creator of the Argentine flag, who raised it for the first time n an island on the opposite shore of the river on February 27, 1812.^[1][2]

The complex has a total area of about 10,000 square metres, and was built mostly using stone from the Andes, under the direction of architects Ángel Guido and Alejandro Bustillo, and the sculptors José Fioravanti, Alfredo Bigatti and Eduardo Barnes.

The monument and flag

The propylaeum

The Monumento has three parts: the Tower (Torre) or mast, 70 metres high, which commemorates theRevolution of May 1810 and houses Manuel Belgrano's crypt in its base; the Civic Courtyard (Patio Cívico), which symbolizes the effort of the organization of the state (the Courtyard is used for massive open-air shows), and the Triumphal Propylaeum (Propileo Triunfal), representing the Nation as organized after the 1853 Constitution. Under the Propylaeum there is the Honour Room for the Flags of America (where the flags of all American nations are displayed).

The complex faces Belgrano Avenue, and is delimited by Córdoba St. and Santa Fe St., which slope down towards the river at this point. The Propylaeum can be accessed from the pedestrian passage called Pasaje Juramento ("Oath Passage"), which starts at Buenos Aires St. between the municipal building (Palacio de los Leones) and the Cathedral, in front of Plaza 25 de Mayo (May 25th Square). The passage is flanked by statues by famous sculptress Lola Mora.

The Memorial and the National Flag Park located in front of it are the seat of the main celebrations ofFlag Day on June 20. The 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the complex, in 2007, was marked by a special celebration and by the unveiling of a new lighting system.^[3]

The monument is on the list of works and sites of patrimonial value of the municipality of Rosario, as item 011170000.^[4]

Why is May 25th an Important Date in Argentina?

May 25th is an important date in Argentina because it marks the annual celebration of the May Revolution. May 25th is known as el Día de la Revolución de Mayo, or the Day of the May Revolution. More specifically, this day marks the creation of the First Junta, a local authority that took over governance of Buenos Aires from the Spanish Viceroyalty on this date in 1810.

In the year 1810, the country of Argentina, along with neighboring Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay, were controlled by Spain through the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. This system of Viceroyalty was headed by Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros, who also served as the viceroy in the city of Buenos Aires at the time. Following news of Napoleon Bonaparte’s invasion of Spain and overthrow of the Spanish king, unrest grew among the Buenos Aires population.

On Friday, 18 May 1810, Viceroy Cisneros attempted to calm the stirring population by making a public announcement. He asked for allegiance to the overthrown Spanish king, Ferdinand VII Bourbon. Despite Cisneros’ attempts to conceal the true situation, the population of Buenos Aires, in particular the Creole population known as criollos, were savvy to the opportunity to change the power structure in the city.

A secret meeting was arranged to discuss the situation and the opportunity for changing the political power structure in Buenos Aires. It was decided that the people would request a public town meeting with Cisneros. This open town meeting would later come to be called the Cabildo Abierto. Two representatives were chosen to petition for the Cabildo Abierto, and on Saturday, 19 May 1810, the Viceroy met with Juan José Castelli and Martín Rodríguez to receive the petition.

Fearing that the outcome of the Cabildo Abierto would not be in his favor, Viceroy Cisneros avoided a decision. Over the following two days, Cisneros attempted to confirm whether he still had support, and just where that support lay. On Monday, 21 May 1810, restless and impatient with the delay, the people demonstrated their discontent in la Plaza de la Victoria. This plaza would later become la Plaza de Mayo, the location of Argentina’s Government building, the famed Casa Rosada. The will of the people was clear, and Cisneros authorized the Cabildo Abierto, which would be held the next day.

On the 22nd, the Cabildo Abeirto commenced, and speeches were made by prominent debaters on both sides of the argument. The Buenos Aires archbishop, Benito de Lué warned against sudden change. Representing the populace of Argentina and the other countries under control of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, Juan José Castelli affirmed need for self-governance in light of the ongoing upheaval in Spain. The affirmation was that the Viceroyalty was invalid since King Ferdinand, who had appointed the Viceroyalty, was not currently in power.

The Cabildo Abierto voted the following day and the decision was made to remove Cisneros as viceroy and replace his sole power with a Junta consisting of Cisneros and other important public representatives. Public opinion held that through governance by a Junta headed by Cisneros, the power dynamic would not be any different than when Cisneros had been Viceroy, and members of the Junta were persuaded to reject their positions.

Finally, on May 25th the will of the people was enforced. Although the Cabildo Abierto had planned to enforce the Junta and reject any resignations from appointed members, it was made clear that Cisneros no longer had any support, and the Junta he headed was therefore pointless. Cisneros was asked to resign entirely, and a new Junta known as the First Junta was formed. It was called the First Junta because it was formed entirely of members of the Buenos Aires populace, and free of direct influence from the Spanish Crown. Thus, through the creation of the First Junta, Buenos Aires became the first achieve self-governance, making it an example for other countries controlled by the Spanish Viceroyalty.

Events in the week leading up to the May 25th are celebrated collectively as la Semana de Mayo, or May Week. This is due to the fact that the so-called May Revolution took place within a week. Although the majority of significant events began on May 18th, the culmination of the May Revolution on May 25th is the day on which the commemorative festivities are held each year.

Argentines are likely to celebrate the national holiday by abstaining from work, spending time with family, and perhaps eating locro, a traditional food consumed on many Argentine national holidays.

Finally, on May 25th the will of the people was enforced. Although the Cabildo Abierto had planned to enforce the Junta and reject any resignations from appointed members, it was made clear that Cisneros no longer had any support, and the Junta he headed was therefore pointless. Cisneros was asked to resign entirely, and a new Junta known as the First Junta was formed. It was called the First Junta because it was formed entirely of members of the Buenos Aires populace, and free of direct influence from the Spanish Crown. Thus, through the creation of the First Junta, Buenos Aires became the first achieve self-governance, making it an example for other countries controlled by the Spanish Viceroyalty.

Events in the week leading up to the May 25th are celebrated collectively as la Semana de Mayo, or May Week. This is due to the fact that the so-called May Revolution took place within a week. Although the majority of significant events began on May 18th, the culmination of the May Revolution on May 25th is the day on which the commemorative festivities are held each year.

Argentines are likely to celebrate the national holiday by abstaining from work, spending time with family, and perhaps eating locro, a traditional food consumed on many Argentine national holidays.

May Day - the Real Labor Day

May 1st, International Workers' Day, commemorates the historic struggle of working people throughout the world, and is recognized in every country except the United States, Canada, and South Africa. This despite the fact that the holiday began in the 1880s in the United States, with the fight for an eight-hour work day.
In 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions passed a resolution stating that eight hours would constitute a legal day's work from and after May 1, 1886. The resolution called for a general strike to achieve the goal, since legislative methods had already failed. With workers being forced to work ten, twelve, and fourteen hours a day, rank-and-file support for the eight-hour movement grew rapidly, despite the indifference and hostility of many union leaders. By April 1886, 250,000 workers were involved in the May Day movement.
The heart of the movement was in Chicago, organized primarily by the anarchist International Working People's Association. Businesses and the state were terrified by the increasingly revolutionary character of the movement and prepared accordingly. The police and militia were increased in size and received new and powerful weapons financed by local business leaders. Chicago's Commercial Club purchased a $2000 machine gun for the Illinois National Guard to be used against strikers. Nevertheless, by May 1st, the movement had already won gains for many Chicago clothing cutters, shoemakers, and packing-house workers. But on May 3, 1886, police fired into a crowd of strikers at the McCormick Reaper Works Factory, killing four and wounding many. Anarchists called for a mass meeting the next day in Haymarket Square to protest the brutality.
The meeting proceeded without incident, and by the time the last speaker was on the platform, the rainy gathering was already breaking up, with only a few hundred people remaining. It was then that 180 cops marched into the square and ordered the meeting to disperse. As the speakers climbed down from the platform, a bomb was thrown at the police, killing one and injuring seventy. Police responded by firing into the crowd, killing one worker and injuring many others.
Although it was never determined who threw the bomb, the incident was used as an excuse to attack the entire Left and labor movement. Police ransacked the homes and offices of suspected radicals, and hundreds were arrested without charge. Anarchists in particular were harassed, and eight of Chicago's most active were charged with conspiracy to murder in connection with the Haymarket bombing. A kangaroo court found all eight guilty, despite a lack of evidence connecting any of them to the bomb-thrower (only one was even present at the meeting, and he was on the speakers' platform), and they were sentenced to die. Albert Parsons, August Spies, Adolf Fischer, and George Engel were hanged on November 11, 1887. Louis Lingg committed suicide in prison, The remaining three were finally pardoned in 1893.
It is not surprising that the state, business leaders, mainstream union officials, and the media would want to hide the true history of May Day, portraying it as a holiday celebrated only in Moscow's Red Square. In its attempt to erase the history and significance of May Day, the United States government declared May 1st to be "Law Day", and gave us instead Labor Day - a holiday devoid of any historical significance other than its importance as a day to swill beer and sit in traffic jams.

Nevertheless, rather than suppressing labor and radical movements, the events of 1886 and the execution of the Chicago anarchists actually mobilized many generations of radicals. Emma Goldman, a young immigrant at the time, later pointed to the Haymarket affair as her political birth. Lucy Parsons, widow of Albert Parsons, called upon the poor to direct their anger toward those responsible - the rich. Instead of disappearing, the anarchist movement only grew in the wake of Haymarket, spawning other radical movements and organizations, including the Industrial Workers of the World.
By covering up the history of May Day, the state, business, mainstream unions and the media have covered up an entire legacy of dissent in this country. They are terrified of what a similarly militant and organized movement could accomplish today, and they suppress the seeds of such organization whenever and wherever they can. As workers, we must recognize and commemorate May Day not only for it's historical significance, but also as a time to organize around issues of vital importance to working-class people today.
As IWW songwriter Joe Hill wrote in one of his most powerful songs:

Workers of the world, awaken!
Rise in all your splendid might
Take the wealth that you are making,
It belongs to you by right.
No one will for bread be crying
We'll have freedom, love and health,
When the grand red flag is flying
In the Workers' Commonwealth.

PARTS OF THE COMPUTER AND THEIR FUNCTIONS

http://www.otsego.k12.oh.us/bradley/basics.htm

Let's practise THE PAST PERFECT TENSE! 

http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/140.html

Let's practise THE PAST SIMPLE VS PAST CONTINUOUS TENSES!

http://www.learnenglish-online.com/grammar/tests/pastcontinuoussimplepast.html

Let's practise THE PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE! 

http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/65.html

Let's practise the verb TO BE!

http://www.bradleys-english-school.com/online/flashmultiplechoice/mc_amisare.html

RELATIVE CLAUSES

Let's read and practise:

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/clause-phrase-and-sentence/verb-patterns/relative-clauses

REPORTED SPEECH

Let's read and practise...

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-reference/reported-speech-1

QUANTIFIERS

Here is an explanation on quantifiers and two online exercises for you to read and practise:

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/quantifiers

NARRATIVE TENSES

Here is an online exercise for you to practise a bit more...

http://elt.oup.com/student/naturalenglish/upp/a_grammar/unit05/neup_grammar05;jsessionid=C1B6867E6299386314C143B8C72C41CB?cc=ar&selLanguage=en

THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

Here is a link for you to listen about this tense...

http://youtu.be/jP8OdFciXYw

Good luck for this new year!!! And don't forget to have lots of fun!!!