INTRODUCING THE MORGANS (VI), JOSE MORGAN

Hi, I'm Jose Morgan. I was born in Kyoto, Japan and I am an acrobat. 

A few months ago, I discovered that the famous Welsh pirate Henry Morgan was an ancestor of mine and that I had brothers and sisters to meet. Thanks to The Grandma, an Andorran grandmother, who made every effort to locate us, today I know them all and to celebrate this meeting we decided to spend two months together travelling and reviewing our level of English because we have all decided to retire to Kingston, Jamaica, to enjoy the Morgan fortune, and English is its official language.

-What's your full name?

-My name is Jose Morgan Tanaka.

-How do you spell your second surname?

-T-A-N-A-K-A

-Are you a student? What are you studying?

-No, I'm not a student. I completed my professional training in acrobatics and performing arts several years ago.

-Are you working? What is your job?

-Yes, I am. I'm a circus acrobat. I perform in circus shows and live events, where I do acrobatic routines, aerial performances, and balancing acts.

-Do you like your job? Why?

-Yes, I love my job because it combines athletic skills, creativity, and entertainment. Every performance is exciting, and I enjoy making people smile.

-Where are you from?

-I'm from Kyoto, Japan.

-How long have you lived there?

-I lived in Kyoto for most of my life before travelling internationally with different circus companies. I still visit my hometown whenever I have the opportunity.

-Why are you studying English?

-I'm studying English because I often work with performers from different countries. English helps me communicate with my colleagues and audiences around the world.

-How long have you been studying English?

-I've been studying English for two months with The Morgans. I didn't study it at school.

-Tell me about your city.

-Kyoto is one of the most famous cities in Japan. It is known for its temples, traditional gardens, and cultural heritage. Many visitors come to experience its history and beautiful scenery.

-What music do you like?

-I enjoy many kinds of music, including classical music, Japanese traditional music, and modern pop. Music is very important when preparing for performances.

-Can you play any instrument?

-Yes, I can play the shamisen a little. It is a traditional Japanese string instrument. I enjoy practising it in my free time.

-Tell me about your favourite place.

-My favourite place is Fushimi Inari Taisha. I love walking through the thousands of red torii gates and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

-What do you like doing in your free time?

-In my free time, I enjoy training, visiting historical sites, reading, and taking photographs. I also like spending time with friends and family when I'm not travelling.

-Do you practise any sport? Which?

-Yes, I do. Acrobatics requires a lot of physical training. I also practise gymnastics, stretching, and running to stay fit and improve my performance.

-How did you become interested in acrobatics?

-I became interested in acrobatics when I was a child. I watched circus performances on television and was amazed by the athletes' skills and discipline.

-What is the most difficult part of your job?

-The most difficult part is maintaining excellent physical condition. Acrobatics requires strength, flexibility, balance, and constant practice.

-Have you ever performed in another country?

-Yes, I have. I've performed in several countries across Europe and Asia. Travelling for work has allowed me to experience different cultures and meet many interesting people.

-What do you enjoy most about performing?

-I enjoy the connection with the audience. It's rewarding to see people surprised, excited, and happy during a performance.

-Would you like to teach acrobatics in the future?

-Yes, I would. I would like to share my experience with younger performers and help them develop their skills safely and confidently.

-What qualities should a good acrobat have?

-A good acrobat should be disciplined, patient, physically fit, and willing to work hard. Confidence and teamwork are also very important in circus performances.

-How is a normal day with The Morgans?

-We haven't got similar days. Every day is different and this is something very important because it offers to you the possibility of living fantastic experiences every day and you can enjoy them with all your heart because you know that next day you're going to put the score to zero and we're going to start again. It's a non-stopping life.

-Which is your best memory with The Morgans?

-It's difficult to choose only one. I remember when we travelled back in time to the Kingdom of Camelot. It was a fantastic experience to meet King Arthur and the members of his court.

-Which is your favourite song?

-I love 'The Sheltering Sky' by Ryūichi Sakamoto. The piano is an instrument that gives me calm, concentration and introspection, which is what I need most in my work, but also in my life, but I want to choose 'Life in Mars?' by David Bowie sung by Jessica Lange in American Horror Story: Freak Show.

 But the film is a saddening bore
For she's lived it ten times or more
She could spit in the eyes of fools
As they ask her to focus on.

David Bowie 

LET'S DANCE! THE GREAT DAVID BOWIE & THE MORGANS

Today, The Morgans and The Grandma are having a busy day. This morning they have been studying English grammar with the invocative Let's, Some/Any/No for Countable Nouns and the Relative Pronoun Whose.

Carme Ruscarella, the Catalan chef with seven Michelin stars, has paid them a surprise visit and they have been talking about English cuisine and its differences from other cuisines.

Later, the family has been debating which car to give to Valentina Morgan, who is taking her driver's license exam tomorrow.

Tonight, the family is invited to Stereo, a fantastic live music venue in Covent Garden where another old friend of The Grandma, David Bowie, is waiting for them, with whom fun and good music are guaranteed.

Let's go Morgans! Let's dance!

More information: Let's 

More information: Some/Any

More information: Whose I, II & III

David Robert Jones (8 January 1947-10 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie was an English singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. 

He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his innovative work during the 1970s. His career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation, and his music and stagecraft had a significant impact on popular music.

David Robert Jones was born on 8 January 1947 in Brixton, London.

Bowie developed an interest in music from an early age. He studied art, music and design before embarking on a professional career as a musician in 1963. He released a string of unsuccessful singles with local bands and a solo album before achieving his first top-five entry on the UK Singles Chart with Space Oddity (1969).

After a period of experimentation, he re-emerged in 1972 during the glam rock era with the flamboyant and androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust. The character was spearheaded by the success of Starman and album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, which won him widespread popularity.

In 1975, Bowie's style shifted towards a sound he characterised as plastic soul, initially alienating many of his UK fans but garnering his first major US crossover success with the number-one single Fame and the album Young Americans.

In 1976, Bowie starred in the cult film The Man Who Fell to Earth and released Station to Station. 

In 1977, he again changed direction with the electronic-inflected album Low, the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno that came to be known as the Berlin Trilogy. Heroes (1977) and Lodger (1979) followed; each album reached the UK top five and received lasting critical praise.

After uneven commercial success in the late 1970s, Bowie had three number-one hits: the 1980 single Ashes to Ashes, its album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) and Under Pressure (a 1981 collaboration with Queen). He achieved his greatest commercial success in the 1980s with Let's Dance (1983).

Between 1988 and 1992, he fronted the hard rock band Tin Machine before resuming his solo career in 1993. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continued to experiment with musical styles, including industrial and jungle. He also continued acting; his roles included Major Jack Celliers in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth (1986), Phillip Jeffries in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), Andy Warhol in the biopic Basquiat (1996), and Nikola Tesla in The Prestige (2006), among other film and television appearances and cameos. He stopped touring after 2004 and his last live performance was at a charity event in 2006.

He returned from a decade-long recording hiatus in 2013 with The Next Day. He died two days after both his 69th birthday and the release of his final album, Blackstar.

During his lifetime, his record sales, estimated at over 100 million records worldwide, made him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. Often dubbed the chameleon of rock due to his constant musical reinventions, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Rolling Stone ranked him among the greatest artists in history. 

As of 2022, Bowie was the best-selling vinyl artist of the 21st century.

Bowie died in New York City on 10 January 2016.

Bowie's songs and stagecraft brought a new dimension to popular music in the early 1970s, strongly influencing its immediate forms and subsequent development.

Perone credited Bowie with having brought sophistication to rock music, and critical reviews frequently acknowledged the intellectual depth of his work and influence.

The BBC's arts editor Will Gompertz likened Bowie to Pablo Picasso, writing that he was an innovative, visionary, restless artist who synthesised complex avant garde concepts into beautifully coherent works that touched the hearts and minds of millions.

More information: David Bowie

I find only freedom in the realms of eccentricity.

David Bowie

NÚRIA WINSOR & DAVID BOWIE'S MARS SPACE ODDITY

Today, The Winsors and The Grandma have visited The Hampstead Scientific Society (HSS). 

They have had a wonderful partner, David Bowie, the Starman, who has driven to Mars in Space Oddity with Núria Winsor to discover the red planet during a day-trip.

Before this visit, the family has studied some English grammar with the modal verb Have to/Don't have to and they have started to read Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe.

More information: Have to/Don't have to 

More information: Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe's Creator In Prision

The Hampstead Scientific Society (HSS) in north London was founded in July 1899 as the Hampstead Astronomical and General Scientific Society by P.E. Vizard. It aims to be inclusive, promoting and nurturing an interest in all branches of science, while catering for wide levels of knowledge, from layman to expert alike. The society maintains specialist astronomy and meteorology sections and runs a programme of lectures on various scientific topics in the Hampstead area of North West London.

The HSS is a registered charity which is affiliated with the British Science Association and the Richmond Scientific Society.

More information: Hampstead Scientific Society

David Robert Jones (8 January 1947-10 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie was an English singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. 

He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his innovative work during the 1970s. His career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation, and his music and stagecraft had a significant impact on popular music.

David Robert Jones was born on 8 January 1947 in Brixton, London.

Bowie developed an interest in music from an early age. He studied art, music and design before embarking on a professional career as a musician in 1963. He released a string of unsuccessful singles with local bands and a solo album before achieving his first top-five entry on the UK Singles Chart with Space Oddity (1969).

After a period of experimentation, he re-emerged in 1972 during the glam rock era with the flamboyant and androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust. The character was spearheaded by the success of Starman and album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, which won him widespread popularity.

In 1975, Bowie's style shifted towards a sound he characterised as plastic soul, initially alienating many of his UK fans but garnering his first major US crossover success with the number-one single Fame and the album Young Americans.

In 1976, Bowie starred in the cult film The Man Who Fell to Earth and released Station to Station. 

In 1977, he again changed direction with the electronic-inflected album Low, the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno that came to be known as the Berlin Trilogy. Heroes (1977) and Lodger (1979) followed; each album reached the UK top five and received lasting critical praise.

After uneven commercial success in the late 1970s, Bowie had three number-one hits: the 1980 single Ashes to Ashes, its album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) and Under Pressure (a 1981 collaboration with Queen). He achieved his greatest commercial success in the 1980s with Let's Dance (1983).

Between 1988 and 1992, he fronted the hard rock band Tin Machine before resuming his solo career in 1993. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continued to experiment with musical styles, including industrial and jungle. He also continued acting; his roles included Major Jack Celliers in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth (1986), Phillip Jeffries in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), Andy Warhol in the biopic Basquiat (1996), and Nikola Tesla in The Prestige (2006), among other film and television appearances and cameos. He stopped touring after 2004 and his last live performance was at a charity event in 2006.

He returned from a decade-long recording hiatus in 2013 with The Next Day. He died two days after both his 69th birthday and the release of his final album, Blackstar.

During his lifetime, his record sales, estimated at over 100 million records worldwide, made him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. Often dubbed the chameleon of rock due to his constant musical reinventions, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Rolling Stone ranked him among the greatest artists in history. 

As of 2022, Bowie was the best-selling vinyl artist of the 21st century.

Bowie died in New York City on 10 January 2016.

Bowie's songs and stagecraft brought a new dimension to popular music in the early 1970s, strongly influencing its immediate forms and subsequent development.

Perone credited Bowie with having brought sophistication to rock music, and critical reviews frequently acknowledged the intellectual depth of his work and influence.

The BBC's arts editor Will Gompertz likened Bowie to Pablo Picasso, writing that he was an innovative, visionary, restless artist who synthesised complex avant garde concepts into beautifully coherent works that touched the hearts and minds of millions.

More information: David Bowie

I find only freedom in the realms of eccentricity.

David Bowie

CRISTINA FOSTER MEETS DAVID BOWIE, 'LIFE ON MARS'

Today, The Fosters have said goodbye to one of their members, Cristina Foster, the Norwegian acrobat, who is starting a new adventure in a new light in Quebec.

The family and The Grandma are missing her a lot, but they are happy because she is following her dream: to be one of the best acrobats of all time in circus history. 

She is not travelling alone. David Bowie, who is an English artist and Grandma's friend, is starting this new adventure with her.

Good luck friend and sister! You deserve the best!

Before saying goodbye to Cristina, the family has studied some English grammar, vocabulary about transports, and they have been talking about the origins of circus with some TV Series examples like Carnivàle or American Story: Freak Show.

Finally, they have been reading Oscar Wilde's The Ghost of Canterville.

Download Transports

David Robert Jones (8 January 1947-10 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie was an English singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. 

He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his innovative work during the 1970s. His career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation, and his music and stagecraft had a significant impact on popular music.

David Robert Jones was born on 8 January 1947 in Brixton, London.

Bowie developed an interest in music from an early age. He studied art, music and design before embarking on a professional career as a musician in 1963. He released a string of unsuccessful singles with local bands and a solo album before achieving his first top-five entry on the UK Singles Chart with Space Oddity (1969).

After a period of experimentation, he re-emerged in 1972 during the glam rock era with the flamboyant and androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust. The character was spearheaded by the success of Starman and album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, which won him widespread popularity.

In 1975, Bowie's style shifted towards a sound he characterised as plastic soul, initially alienating many of his UK fans but garnering his first major US crossover success with the number-one single Fame and the album Young Americans.

In 1976, Bowie starred in the cult film The Man Who Fell to Earth and released Station to Station. 

In 1977, he again changed direction with the electronic-inflected album Low, the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno that came to be known as the Berlin Trilogy. Heroes (1977) and Lodger (1979) followed; each album reached the UK top five and received lasting critical praise.

After uneven commercial success in the late 1970s, Bowie had three number-one hits: the 1980 single Ashes to Ashes, its album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) and Under Pressure (a 1981 collaboration with Queen). He achieved his greatest commercial success in the 1980s with Let's Dance (1983).

Between 1988 and 1992, he fronted the hard rock band Tin Machine before resuming his solo career in 1993. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continued to experiment with musical styles, including industrial and jungle. He also continued acting; his roles included Major Jack Celliers in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth (1986), Phillip Jeffries in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), Andy Warhol in the biopic Basquiat (1996), and Nikola Tesla in The Prestige (2006), among other film and television appearances and cameos. He stopped touring after 2004 and his last live performance was at a charity event in 2006.

He returned from a decade-long recording hiatus in 2013 with The Next Day. He died two days after both his 69th birthday and the release of his final album, Blackstar.

During his lifetime, his record sales, estimated at over 100 million records worldwide, made him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. Often dubbed the chameleon of rock due to his constant musical reinventions, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Rolling Stone ranked him among the greatest artists in history. 

As of 2022, Bowie was the best-selling vinyl artist of the 21st century.

Bowie died in New York City on 10 January 2016.

Bowie's songs and stagecraft brought a new dimension to popular music in the early 1970s, strongly influencing its immediate forms and subsequent development.

Perone credited Bowie with having brought sophistication to rock music, and critical reviews frequently acknowledged the intellectual depth of his work and influence.

The BBC's arts editor Will Gompertz likened Bowie to Pablo Picasso, writing that he was an innovative, visionary, restless artist who synthesised complex avant garde concepts into beautifully coherent works that touched the hearts and minds of millions.

More information: David Bowie

I find only freedom in the realms of eccentricity.

David Bowie

THE BEANS ADOPT A PET: COMPARING SOME OPTIONS

The Beans' pets

Today, The Beans have continued their English classes rewieving some examples of question tags in present simple and the comparative adjectives.

The Grandma has explained a story about the possible origins of Saint George and the Black Virgins and the family has thought about it in their compositions.

Download Animals Vocabulary

The day after visiting the zoo, the family has another goal to reach. They have adopted some new pets with particular characteristics and they need to find a better place from them. It's not an easy work but it's easier if you have enough money to cover their needs.

More information: Question tags & Comparative Adjectives

This afternoon, The Beans have visited the Brooklyn Museum. David Bowie left us in a day like today two years ago and the Museum is preparing a new exposition in his honour next March. The Grandma, who is a great fan of Bowie, still remembers his fantastic concert in the Madison Square Garden in 1997.

Past and present in the Brooklyn Museum

The Brooklyn Museum is an art museum located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. At 560,000 52,000 m2, the museum is New York City's third largest in physical size and holds an art collection with roughly 1.5 million works.

Located near the Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Flatbush, and Park Slope neighborhoods of Brooklyn and founded in 1895, the Beaux-Arts building, designed by McKim, Mead and White, was planned to be the largest art museum in the world. 

The museum initially struggled to maintain its building and collection, only to be revitalized in the late 20th century, thanks to major renovations. Significant areas of the collection include antiquities, specifically their collection of Egyptian antiquities spanning over 3,000 years. The museum also has a Memorial Sculpture Garden which features salvaged architectural elements from throughout New York City.

More information: The Brooklyn Museum

In the evening, The Beans are going to watch the NBA basketball match between the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls in the Madison Square Garden. Edgar Bean, who is a great sportman, is very excited with this proposal because he's a great fan of Carmelo Anthony and in his opinion, the Knicks are better, more original and twenty years older than the Bulls. The Grandma still remembers those incredible nights with Pat Ewing.

Michael Jordan & Pat Ewing, the best

The Knicks are an American professional basketball team based in New York City in the borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the NBA as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. 

The team plays its home games at Madison Square Garden, located in the borough of Manhattan. They are one of two NBA teams located in New York City; the other is the Brooklyn Nets. The team, established by Ned Irish in 1946, was one of the founding members of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which became the NBA after merging with the rival National Basketball League (NBL) in 1949. Along with the Boston Celtics, the Knicks are one of only two original NBA teams still located in its original city.

 Anxiety and spiritual searching 

have been consistent themes with me, 

and that figures into my worldview. 

But I tend to make my songs 

sound like relationship songs. 

David Bowie

GOODBYE DAVID, WELCOME MILA

Oscar Wilde

Today, The Holmes have returned to their English classes after their Japanese travel. 

The first surprise has been the appearance of a new member of the family: Mila Holmes, a mime from San Marino. She's Karen’s secret daughter. 

Although their minds and souls were in Japan, they have reviewed Present Simple and Adverbs of Frequency.

More information: Adverbs of Frequency

They also have started a new book, The Ghost of Canterville, a great work of Oscar Wilde, the Irish writer who had an interesting life and who is a source of inspiration for The Grandma, who adores him.

They have been talking about Japan practising with a Password Game.

Meanwhile, The Grandma was sad because another genius has decided to go far away in a journey without return. Thanks David, for all these years of art, imagination, creation, innovation and passion. We will miss you. 

Download The Canterbury Ghost by Oscar Wilde

I, I will be king And you, you will be queen
Though nothing will drive them away
We can be Heroes, just for one day
We can be us, just for one day.

David Bowie