• ✔ How do you normally spend your summer holidays?
• ✔ Is it the typical way of going on holidays in your country?
• ✔ What other activities do people do on holidays in your country?
• ✔ Is it summer in every country in the months of June, July and August?
• ✔ Do you know how people in other countries spend their summer holidays?
• ✔ How long are summer holidays for students in the United Kingdom, Ireland or the United States? Compare these aspects among the different countries.
• ✔ How did your parents and grandparents spend their holidays when they were young?
• ✔ Where did they go? How did they spend their time? How did they travel to their destination?

Find the English equivalents that correspond to the Spanish words below that appear in the story. Then, check your answers in the text.

• › Que viniesen a empeorarlo todo
• › Para colmo de males
• › Amigos de que
• › Is it summer in every country in the months of June, July and August?
• › Con su afán de
• › Perder de vista
• › De repente

Find at least six examples of the word “so” in the story and translate them into Spanish. Do they really mean the same? Contrast your translation with the bilingual text and then debate with the rest of the class.

Translate the sentences below paying attention to the meaning of “so”.

• - “I like chocolate.” - “So do I.”
• – “This is very difficult.” - “I think so.”
• In order to put it correctly, you have to move it so.
• I have finished all my homework so that I can have some free time now.
• To make the cake, we need a dozen eggs or so.
• He is rude sometimes, even so we still appreciate him very much.
• You need to tidy your room: put the books on the shelves, all the clothes in your wardrobe, all the papers in the folders, and so on.

Using the prompts given from the story, make a short sketch in English and Spanish. Then, you will represent it first in Spanish and then in English.

• “Que viniesen a empeorarlo todo”
• “Para colmo de males”
• “Amigos de que”
• “A pretexto de no sé qué”

Translate this summary of the story and find the mistake. Then put it in common with the rest of the class.

Tomasita y Selim son dos hermanos que pasan el verano con unos tíos, Tomás y Selina, que son muy exigentes. Los niños encuentran una pelota que les ofrece ir a un lugar donde pueden hacer lo que quieran siempre y cuando sean buenos. Los niños, que están muy contentos en Villadondequeráis, empiezan a portarse mal, se pelean y se enfadan. En el momento en el que se enfadan, pierden libertad y poco a poco tienen más dificultades para hacer lo que quieren. Finalmente, se portan muy mal y la pelota que los regaña, los envía a un país donde están castigados en casa de sus tíos, donde no pueden jugar en la calle.

The following excerpts have the word “que” in Spanish. Translate them into English paying attention to the way you express the word “que” in this language.

• ✔ “Los que tienen costumbre de pasar el verano a orillas del mar.”
• ✔ “Una foca muy amable que les enseñó a nadar y a bucear.”
• ✔ “Les dio, en vez de sus vestidos, unos muy cómodos de piel que le habían quedado cortos a sus hijos mayores.”
• ✔ “Se cambió en uno muy gordo que nos los perdía de vista.”
• ✔ “Se quedaban en compañía de su tío Tomás y su tía Selina, cuya severidad tocaba los límites de la rareza.”
• ✔ “No” -dijo Tomasita, que ya le había oído otras veces las mismas palabras.”

Then, check your translation in the story and contrast it with those of the rest of the class. What are the main differences between the Spanish and English expressions of this word?

Sabre

A heavy sword with one sharp curved edge.

Example: My grandfather has a sabre on the wall from the Mexican war.

Find examples in the text of the first and second conditionals. Then, find them in Spanish. Are the same tenses used in each language? What are the main differences and similarities?

Find examples with the following words: “if”, “as if “; “as long as”; “if only”. How do you translate them into Spanish? Do they all have the same meaning? What are the differences among them? When do you use each one of them?

Read the following excerpts of the story. Would you speak the same way to express these ideas? Why? What characteristics do you find in these sentences?

• ✔ Una horrible tarde, calurosa en demasía.
• ✔ Apaciguáronse por fin.
• ✔ No bien lo había dicho, cuando una robusta moza con vestido negro y delantal blanco surgió delante de ellos.
• ✔ Mucho encanto perdían con ello, pero aún les quedaban las dunas.
• ✔ No hizo más que decirlo, y lo que habían de comer se convirtió el arroz.

Try to adapt these expressions to your everyday language. Then, translate them into English and compare your options both with your classmates’ answers and the story.

Do you remember the moments of the story to which these expressions correspond? Translate them into English and explain the moment of the story.

• - “A pretexto de no sé qué”
• - “Una pelota de goma mitad encarnada, mitad verde”
• - “Acomodándose en un montón de arena se echó a descansar”
• - “Nada de lo que se haga aquí es malo mientras seáis buenos”
• - “Ojalá fuese pavo”
• - “Tontos, más que tontos”

What would happen if Tomasita and Selim behaved differently in the story?
Look at the example: If Selim made the beds with Tomasita, they would not have a maid. If they did not have a maid in the story, they would not go to bed early.

In this story, the kids live a fantasy in an unreal world. Could you find other examples of English or Spanish literature in which the protagonist lives a fantasy in an unreal world? What are they about? Here you have some help.

Alquicel

Alquicel: Es una palabra que viene del árabe y se refiere a un tipo de vestidura a modo de capa, que normalmente era blanca y de lana.

Si quieres conocer qué otras palabras son de origen árabe, utiliza el diccionario e investiga: ¿Son de origen árabe estas palabras: “alcohol”, “almohada”, “aleta”, “alcázar”, “alcaldía”, “alhelí” y “altura”?

Lead

A grey metal which is very heavy.

Example: That shield is made of lead to protect the doctor against radiation.

Harvest

The gathering of ripe crops or plants grown on a farm.

Example: Summer is the time of year when the farmers harvest their wheat.

Rebecca at the well

A story from the Bible which narrates how a woman called Rebecca was chosen to be Isaac’s wife by his father’s servant because she was by a particular well and said and did what he was expecting, which he interpreted to be a sign of God.

Daoiz and Velarde

Two Spanish captains who raised against French Napoleonic occupation and rule, and fought in a famous and decisive battle which took place in Madrid on May 2nd 1808.

By heart

Using the memory.

Example: The child learnt the song by heart for the festival.

Alcubilla

A famous Spanish legal dictionary written by lawyer Marcelo Martínez Alcubilla in the 19th century.

Divine Comedy

A long narrative poem by 14th century Italian author Dante Alighieri. It is considered to be one of the greatest works of world literature.

Ran out of

To use up the entire amount of something.

Example: It was such a hot day that we ran out of drinks.

Cloak

A long, loose, outer garment without sleeves that is used as a coat, to protect the wearer from the cold.

Example: The wizard had a purple cloak with stars on it.

Moors

North African Muslims.

Example: In the Middle Ages the Moors introduced many new scientific techniques to Spain and the rest of Europe.

Wheeled Board

A plank with wheels underneath. It can be a skateboard, which is a flat, short, narrow board that has four wheels on the bottom and is used for practising a sport.

Example: It is more fun to stand on your skateboard than to sit on it.

Rivadeneyra

A famous Spanish editor who lived in the 19th century, who published many Spanish works and collections with high quality.