Monday 12 July 2010

Tuesday 29 June 2010

Class Dinner Coming Up

The word's out that there's some special event coming up:
What - Meeting for dinner 
 When - Friday, 2nd July 
Where - El Albero Tapas Bar (Las Yucas), at 22.00. 
Who - Everyone!: Classmates + friends + husbands/wives + anyone who would like to have fun!
See you there! Please, spread the information! 

Thanks Ruth for letting us know. I'll try to be there, but it will depend on the date of my oral exam at the "oposiciones".

Tuesday 15 June 2010

Test Revision: 22 June

Hi there everyone!
All your final tests are over now. However, and as I told you, don't forget about your test revision!
- When? Next Tuesday, 22nd June.
- What time? From 6 to 8 p.m.
- Where? In our classroom.

We can really say now that...
=]

Monday 31 May 2010

Oral Tests

Hi there!
Your exams are almost over. Just one more left!
Below is what I have for your speaking tests. Remember that you have 10 minutes to prepare for your exposition (and read the interaction card).
Practise as much as you can these days and I'll see you next week or in two weeks! =]
TUESDAY 8th June

Times
NAMES
18.00
Francisco J. Payá and Alicia García
18.20
Maika Sánchez and Pili Oller
18.40
Teresa Rodríguez and Pedro Oller


19.10

19.40

20.00
Lola Fernández and Sara Sobrino


TUESDAY 15th June

Times
NAMES
18.00
Ruth Peralta and Toñi García
18.20
Pedro M. Belmonte and Ana B. García
18.40
Laura Hernández and Jose L. Castillo


19.10
Silvia Flores and David Muñoz
19.40
Juani Jiménez and Mª Francis Ponce
20.00
    Juani Miras and Pedro J. Sánchez
    Fran Pérez

Friday 28 May 2010

Good luck!!

Hey there folks!
I wish you all the best of lucks!! Take it easy and I'll see you on Monday!!  
Try to come with a positive attitude!! =]

Wednesday 26 May 2010

Here's what NOT to do in the exam

Hi there!
I've seen this on one of my colleagues' blog and I just couldn't help myself!! lol
Enjoy!

Saturday 22 May 2010

Turn Around Bright Eyes

Hi there folks!
Total Eclipse of the Heart, performed by our friend Bonnie Tyler, is a beautiful song to learn new phrasal verbs.
Download here an activity to work with it.

Click here to watch the video clip with the whole song. (It's great, like all the other videos from the 80s!).
You can check your answers in the comments section.

I'm posting below a video with a somewhat shorter version of the song.
Enjoy!

Tuesday 18 May 2010

Present Perfect with For and Since

Hi there!
There seems to be some confusion about the correct use of the present perfect with the adverbs for and since. Here's what to do:
- Firstly, do the activities in the handout I gave you a while back and then, check your answers with the e-mail I sent you.
- If this is still not enough, visit the websites below for further practice.
And remember, we use the present perfect with for or since to talk about an action which started in the past and continues up to the present.
(BBC Learning English)
(BBC Learning English)

I hope all these links help!

Thursday 13 May 2010

Weather and Environment Videos

Hi there!
You can watch below the ads I played in class yesterday. I'm also posting here a video for the song we listened to on Tuesday, Bad Moon Rising, by Creedance Clearwater Revival.
Greenpeace Ad about Global Warming


You're never too young to start recycling Ad

Bad Moon Rising (CCR)


Sunday 9 May 2010

Always look on the bright side of life!

Hi there!
Below is the video I told you I'd post (together with the lyrics to the song). It's taken from the well-known film The life of Brian by the Monty Python.
Enjoy! And... remember to follow their advice! =]

Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best...

And...always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the light side of life...
If life seems jolly rotten
There's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps
Don't be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle - that's the thing.

And...always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the light side of life...
For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
Forget about your sin - give the audience a grin
Enjoy it - it's your last chance anyhow.

So always look on the bright side of death
Just before you draw your terminal breath
Life's a piece of shit
When you look at it
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true.
You'll see it's all a show
Keep 'em laughing as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.

And always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the right side of life...
(Come on guys, cheer up!)
Always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the bright side of life...
(Worse things happen at sea, you know.)
Always look on the bright side of life...
(I mean - what have you got to lose?)
(You know, you come from nothing - you're going back to nothing.
What have you lost? Nothing!)
Always look on the right side of life...

Wednesday 28 April 2010

Rome wasn't built in a day

Hi there!
Enjoy this beautiful song by Morcheeba with a tiny bit of passive voice and useful expressions.
And, as they say, Rome wasn't built in a day.

You and me, we're meant to be
Walking free in harmony
One fine day we'll fly away
Don't you know that Rome wasn't built in a day?

In this day and age it's so easy to stress
'Cause people are strange and you can never second guess
In order to love, child, we got to be strong
I'm caught in the crossfire why can't we get along?

'Cause you and me we're meant to be
Walking free in harmony
One fine day we'll fly away
Don't you know that Rome wasn't built in a day?

I'm having a daydream, we're getting somewhere
I'm kissing your lips and running fingers through your hair
I'm as nervous as you 'bout making it right
Though we know we were wrong, we can't give up the fight
Oh no

'Cause you and me we're meant to be
Walking free in harmony
One fine day we'll run away
Don't you know that Rome wasn't built in a day?

You and me we're meant to be
Walking free in harmony
One fine day we'll fly away
Don't you know that Rome wasn't built in a day?

You and me (you and me) we're meant to be (meant to be)
Walking free (walking free) in harmony (in harmony)
One fine day (one fine day) we' ll run away (we gonna run away, we gonna run away)
Don't you know that Rome wasn't built in a day?

Thursday 22 April 2010

Talking about Mobiles

Hi everyone!
Why don't you try this great quiz about mobiles? You will learn very useful vocabulary connected to cell phones. 
I loved it! =]
Enjoy!

Wednesday 21 April 2010

Next Writing Assignment due on Wednesday 28 April

Hi there!
Remember your next written assignment is due next week. You can submit it on Monday,  26th April, or Wednesday 28th. You have to write a covering letter to apply for a job at the next Olympic Games. You'll find the instructions on page 81 in your book.
You can download the document below to help you organise your ideas:

Do you think you'd get a job at Ikea?  
 I never would. :(

Sunday 18 April 2010

Confusing Words

Hi again!
I've found a useful website where you can do activities dealing with commonly confused pairs or groups of words, such as work and job; home, house and household and so on.
Once you're on the site, look for the topics we have dealt with in class, like the ones I've just mentioned, or hurt, ache and pain. Then, you have two options:
- If you click on the mouse icon, you will get an online exercise.
- If you click on the pdf icon, you will get an exercise ready to be printed out.

A few of the activities, like the one about homophones, also offer links to video tutorials where you can learn about the words at the same time that you practise your listening skills. Great, isn't it?

I hope it helps!

Speaking Prompts

Hi there!

Some days ago one of your classmates asked me for help to get handouts to practise your oral English. 
Click on the links below to visit some websites where you can find useful prompts to practise your spoken skills.

Be careful, though, since some of the sites contain grammatical or spelling mistakes. If you have a doubt, please ask me.


* EFL: English as a Foreign Language
ESL: English as a Second Language

Sunday 11 April 2010

Avatar II

Hi there!
This goes out to all those who liked Avatar... you'll love its sequel. 
Enjoy! =]

Friday 9 April 2010

Latest News!!

Hi there everyone!
I can now inform you that your final exam will take place on
31st May (Monday) at 16.30.


You will have to be at the school at 16.15 that day so we can organise your seating arrangements with plenty of time.
This is the test schedule (approximately):
16.30-17.45: Reading Comprehension
17.55-18.25: Listening Comprehension
18.40-19.55: Written Expression & Interaction

The speaking tests will take place on a different day, but I can't tell you yet when that will be. We'll figure it out in time, don't worry.

That's all for now! Enjoy your weekend! =]

Tuesday 6 April 2010

A Healthy Lifestyle Listening

Hi there folks!
How did your Easter go? I hope you had time to do a bit of everything, including working on your English. =] 
As you know, we're going back to school tomorrow and we'll continue talking about our latest topic: health. Interesting, isn't it?
Well, I've found a practical (and cute) listening activity on Randall's ESL Lab. Click here to visit the site and do the exercise.
I'll see you tomorrow!

Friday 19 March 2010

St Patrick's 'cartoon biography'

Hello!
This is the last post I publish about St Patrick's Day, I promise.
Play the video below to watch a very funny version of St Patrick's biography.
Enjoy!

Next Writing Assignment due on Monday

Hi again!
This is a reminder for everyone to do their next writing assignment for Monday 22 March. The topic is Describing a house or a flat
You can do, however, a different version if you feel like it, entitled My Dream House.

Please write a maximum of 150 words (double space them too). The instructions are on page 65 of your book. 
Besides, don't forget to use a varied vocabulary and a wide range of structures. And, as usual, don't forget connectors!!

If you want to read one more sample of this kind of writing, just click on this link and you will find a very good one written by a teacher of English in Madrid.

As for me, I could make the effort and live in the house you can see in the photo below. Not that it's likely to happen, but daydreaming never hurt anyone!!
Hope it helps!

Learn about the Irish Celts

Hi there!
Click here to download an interesting text about a mythical people: the Irish Celts. It also deals with Gaelic sports.
Have fun!

Thursday 18 March 2010

The Dubliners: 'Molly Malone'

Hi everyone!
Here's the video we watched yesterday with The Dubliners performing their own version of the traditional Irish song 'Molly Malone'.
My favourite is the 'Jeez, if the pubs are closed, I'll never forgive you' part.
Enjoy!!


And here's a video of some Celtic music- with the bodhran- and dancing. Great, isn't it?

Friday 12 March 2010

'Thank you for being a friend'

Hi there!
We've been talking about friendship in class. A nice topic indeed. Now, do you remember the Golden Girls show from the 80s? Some of you won't, but maybe some will. Here's a video with the title song 'Thank you for being a friend'.
You can read the lyrics below. They're a bit 'naïve', but I've always loved the show, I still do, and it brings back wonderful memories!
Thank you for being a friend.
Travelled down the road and back again.
Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant.
And if you threw a party,
invited everyone you knew,
you would see, the biggest gift would be from me
and the card attached would say:
'Thank you for being a friend'.

Thursday 11 March 2010

Writing Samples: An Informal Letter to a Friend

Hello there!
Here's a good (and funny) example of an informal letter to a friend written by your classmate Lola Fernández.
Enjoy!

C/ Aire, 30 
30880 Águilas (Murcia) 
Spain
 
1st March 2010
Dear Willy,

Sorry for not writing earlier but I’ve been studying very hard for my English exam. Thank God I passed it!

I’m writing to thank you for letting me stay with you and your family last Christmas. It was such a wonderful week that now it’s hard for me to go back to the routine!

London is a gorgeous city but I know that a week is not enough time to discover all that it has to offer. The sightseeing tour was fantastic and I really loved ‘Mamma mia!’, the musical. I miss the long hours we spent having some tea with your grandmother while she was telling us old stories. I’m sure my English is better now thanks to her!

For the last two months I’ve been making a lot of arrangements and I think I’ll be able to move to my new house next weekend. I’m really looking forward to showing it to you!

That’s all for now. I must start my homework for my English class. The teacher wants us to write an informal letter to a friend and I don’t even know how to begin! Please write soon and tell me all your news.

Give my love to your family.

Best wishes.

Lola

PS I enclose the photo I took of you and Kate in the Stamford Bridge stadium.

Wednesday 10 March 2010

Friendship

Hi there!
Here are some hilarious cartoons about friendship.
Enjoy! ;)

Tuesday 9 March 2010

Great website to work at home

Hi there folks!
I strongly advise you to visit this site, created by Eugenia Ortega at Educantabria, since it has a great deal of resources to revise and do further practice on everything we're seeing in class. You have extra material for every single file in your book. 
You shouldn't miss it!!

Saturday 6 March 2010

Second Conditional: Songs

Hi there!
Here's the video to the song we listened to in class last Wednesday: All I want is you


And here are other songs with lots of second conditional in their lyrics:
If I Were a Boy by Beyoncé


To watch a video with the lyrics, click here.

If you had my love by Jennifer López



If you were a sailboat by Katie Melua




For all you Coldplay lovers out there =] What if?



And finally, one classic: If I were a rich man from the Fiddler on the roof


Enjoy!!

Sunday 28 February 2010

Writing Letters and Informal E-mails

Dear students,
As you know your next piece of writing (150 words) is due tomorrow 1st March. It's an informal letter and the assignment is on page 49. Don't forget to do it!
Now, for a bit more practice on writing this kind of correspondence, why don't you try this exercise? It's a kind of cloze where you need to complete the unfinished words. I think it's pretty easy (it's level 1), but useful to learn idiomatic expressions used in letters. Try to do it without looking at the words on the right so you think more for yourselves.
If you want it to be a bit more challenging, do this one at level 2.

Hope it's useful!

Sunday 21 February 2010

Phrasal Verbs related to Money and More

Hi folks again!
Some of you asked me about phrasal verbs. There are zillions of exercises on the web (just look for them!) to practise them. I've found one quiz dealing with phrasal verbs and money (a topic we've seen in class) that I think could be useful to you.
I know it can be a bit difficult for you at your level, but it won't hurt to learn a few ones, such as shop around. Click here to try it.
Now, click on the links below to keep learning about phrasal verbs.


Modal Verbs

Hi there!
Click here to find exercises about some of the modal verbs we've seen in class on my colleague Ainhoa's blog.

Enjoy!

Monday 15 February 2010

Make and Do

Hi there folks!
Click here to download your full-colour copy of the make and do handout I gave you last week.
I made some small changes to the sentences too.

That's all for now!!

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Tips to improve your writing skills

Hi there!
Click on this link to see my colleague Ainhoa's post about improving your writing skills. It's very useful!!

Monday 8 February 2010

Xmas Party Photos

Hi there!
If you want to see some pics taken during our Xmas Party, click here and enjoy!

Sunday 7 February 2010

Carnival Crossword

Hi there folks!
Carnival is almost here again (time flies...) and I thought you might find this crossword enlightening, as well as entertaining, about our most beloved festival.
Have fun!

Monday 1 February 2010

Next PROE: Tomorrow, 2 February

Hi there again!
With all the hustle and bustle of exams I forgot to remind you that your next PROE will take place tomorrow, 2nd February, at 5 in Pedro's classroom.

As I always say, you shouldn't miss it!!

DMB's Performance at the 2010 Grammy Awards

Hi there!
I guess it wasn't meant to be and I'm not surprised. I wish I could have stayed up all night to watch the show, but I wasn't feeling well and I'm too old for that now... lol

Anyway, here's Dave Matthews Band's performance from yesterday at the 2010 Grammy Awards. I wonder... how many musicians can you possibly fit on one single stage?

Also, for listening practice, try to get some of what actor Adam Sandler says about the group (he talks about one of their members, Leroi Moore, who died in 2008).
Enjoy!!

Wednesday 20 January 2010

Improve your writing skills

Hi there!
To improve the quality of your writings, please, download this document dealing with capital letters and punctuation and don't forget to put these tips into practice!!

Besides, you should visit this comprehensive site from Argentina to learn tons about the art of writing in English.


Hope they help!! Enjoy!