How much / many?; some / any; line dancing

Hello everybody!!

How are you? I hope you are enjoying the weekend, but apparently it is going to rain a lot... (fingers crossed!!).

Last week we talked about Easter holidays and we had a special activity with Lauren and Chanelle, who prepared a quiz about the differences between Canada and the United States. I hope you learnt a lot!!!

We also learnt a little bit of line dancing. Here you have the video so that you can show your family and friends! :) It's a bit old, but it's the easiest dance we could find!






In the rest of classroom time, we talked about healthy habits and about facts and myths of drinking water. We also learnt the difference between:

• How much...? How many...? Click here to revise this.
• Too much / Too many
• Much / Many

Remember that much is used for uncountable nouns, and many for countable nouns. For both of them (countable and uncountable), you can also use some (+), any (-, ?), quite a lot of, a lot of.

For the differences between some and any, please have a look at the following tables (taken from www.theyellowpencil.com). You can practise here and with the second exercise here (ONLY the second).

In the last example, they ask the question with "have got". Remember that we use "have" with the auxiliary "do", like any other verb: Do you have any milk? / Do you have any water? / You don't have any sugar.

Finally, you had to write the shopping list for four different events: a picnic for 8; a romantic dinner for 2; your birthday part and a barbecue for 5. We learnt a lot of vocabulary here! :)

For homework, you have to write a postcard (please, have a look at the model on page 73 in your books. Write between 100 and 120 words; deadline: 4th May (Basic E) / 5th May (Basic D) at 23.59h.
Basic level D, please, finish Grammar Bank 7B too.

Have a great bank holiday!
:)

Question tags; line dancing

Hello guys!

I hope you're having a great weekend, although it's apparently going to rain a lot... (fingers crossed!!).

Last week we talked about Easter holidays and we also had a special activity with Chanelle and Lauren, who prepared a quiz about the differences between Canada and the United States. I hope you learnt a lot!!

We also learnt a bit of line dancing. Here you have the video; I'm sure you're dying to show your family and friends! :) It's a bit old, but it's the easiest dance we could find!






In the rest of classroom time, we continued with the topic of crime and we did a listening where a robber tried to stick-up a bank. Click here if you want to listen to it again. We also learnt some colloquial expressions such as chit-chat, get all worked up, cranky, etc. Make sure you study them!

As for grammar, we talked about question tags, which are little question that are added at the end of the sentence to ask for confirmation. Click here for a complete explanation of question tags and here if you want to practise with exercises.

Remember that questions tags can be pronounced with two different intonations (NOTE: this is important!):

With Intermediate E we had time to correct unit 28 about question tags, reply questions and indirect questions; Intermediate F will do it next week. On the other hand, with Intermediate F we did an activity called "In court", where you had to behave as judges and decide the sentence for some criminals. Intermediate E will do it next week.

As for homework, remember that you have to write a formal letter to apply for a job (an application letter or a covering letter). Read carefully the handouts I gave you, and also have a look at page 81 in your books. Write between 180 and 200 words. Deadline: 4th May (Int E) / 5th May (Int F) at 23.59h.

Intermediate E, please, also complete Grammar Bank 7B.

Have a great bank holiday!
:)

The Canterbury Tales

Hello everyone,

During these days I'd like you to read The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer. I know it's a book you have to read for the Escuela, but, please, don't read it with a feeling of obligation: I want you to enjoy the book, and to appreciate the real treasure you have in your hands. It's one of the best works ever written in English, a veritable masterpiece, and don't forget that Chaucer is known as the Father of English Literature.

Some of you might not like reading, but, trust me, The Canterbury Tales has something for everybody's taste: some stories are deep, some others are hilarious, some are a bit bold/dirty, others are a lesson of morale... And they portray a perfect picture of 15th century England.

As I said in class, the context of the tales is that of a group of pilgrims travelling from London to Canterbury Cathedral to visit Thomas Beckett's tomb; they are people from all the levels of society, from a miller to a knight, from a squire to a priest. The original idea was for every character to tell four tales, two on the way to Canterbury and two on the way back. But, instead of 120 tales, the text ends after twenty-four tales.





The original text was written in verse and in Middle English (you'll see how different it is from the English we speak now!!). You can have a look at the original manuscript here. Click here to read part of "The Nun's Priest's Tale". If you know a bit of German, Latin or a bit of History of the English Language, you might be able to understand a few words!

And here you have a video where you can actually listen to how Middle English sounded like!

I've found a website where you can read all 24 tales. The only thing is that they are not adapted, and they're in verse -I'm sorry but I haven't been able to find any adapted version on the Internet-. Anyway, it's a chance to try your hand at something different! :)

Now, here I leave you some links for your stories. Remember that you have to prepare a summary for your classmates, and add any extra information you feel like:

Geoffrey Chaucer and his world: Click here to read about Geoffrey Chaucer, his life, his style and his importance in English literature. Also talk about the context he wrote in.

Thomas Beckett: click here and read the assassination and the legacy.

The General Prologue: Click here for an analysis of the Prologue. When it comes to describing the characters, only pay attention to the 5 in our stories (The Knight, the Nun's Priest, the Pardoner, the Wife of Bath and the Franklin).

The Knight's Tale: Click here and here for some more information about "The Knight's Tale", and an analysis of its real meaning. Remember that our book is an adaptation, so many details have been deleted. Tell us about them in class.

The Nun's Priest's Tale: out of curiosity, click here to have a look at the original; click here for some more information about "The Nun's Priest's Tale", and an analysis of its real meaning. Remember that our book is an adaptation, so many details have been deleted. Tell us about them in class.

The Pardoner's Tale: click here for some more information about "The Pardoner's Tale", and an analysis of its real meaning. Remember that our book is an adaptation, so many details have been deleted. Tell us about them in class.

The Wife of Bath's Tale: click here for some more information about "The Wife of Bath's Tale", and an analysis of its real meaning. Remember that our book is an adaptation, so many details have been deleted. Tell us about them in class. You can also watch this video of the story!



The Franklin's Tale: click here for some more information about "The Franklin's Tale", and an analysis of its real meaning. Remember that our book is an adaptation, so many details have been deleted. Tell us about them in class.

Fruit and vegetables; dictation exercise on food

Hello guys!!

Lat week we finished Unit 6 correcting some final revision exercises and we started Unit 7 about food! We learnt some vocabulary and also the difference between countable and uncountable nouns. Click here and here to revise some vocabulary about fruit and vegetables. And here you have a dictation exercise about food too.

On Wednesday / Thursday we also played a game to see how good your memory was!! "I went to the supermarket yesterday and I bought..." You all remembered very well!! :)

During these holidays, I would like you to read the book Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, and also to revise Units 1 - 6.

I hope you make the most of these holidays (que las aprovechéis al máximo), in the way you prefer: spiritual, relaxed or simply normal holidays. I'll see you again on the 25th / 26th and we'll have our last push before the final exam!

Jack the Ripper

Hello everyone!

Last week you presented your advertisements in class and, oh boy, how original they were!!! We had a potion to pass English exams, removable heels, products against baldness, hotels, holidays, language courses, books... Great job!!

I said it in class, but I tell you here again: thanks a lot for your effort, and congratulations on your hard work and dedication :) It's a real pleasure to do things with you guys.


On Wednesday/Thursday we talked about murders and Jack the Ripper. After the Easter holidays, we'll continue investigating the case a little bit more, and we'll watch several scenes from the film "From Hell" (2001, starring Johnny Depp). If you want to watch it during the holidays, click here for the link.

As for grammar, we finished reported speech and we corrected some final revision exercises. Please, have a look at them during the holidays and make sure you've got the grasp of it.

I hope you make the most of these days in the way that suits you best: spiritual, relaxed or simply normal holidays. I'll see you all again on the 25th / 26th, and we'll start our final push towards the end of the academic year!

Present simple & continuous; vocabulary "in town"; website for listening practice

Good afternoon!

How are you? Are you enjoying this sunny, warm weekend? :)

Last week we talked about monuments in London and in Granada and we learnt some vocabulary related with places in a town. Here you have some of them:

Then we worked with a map and we learnt how to give directions. Revise the expressions with this exercise and then practise clicking here.

About grammar, we learnt the difference between the present simple and the present continuous. We did a few exercises in class and for homework, but if you want to practise more, you can visit these links:

• Exercise 1
• Exercise 2
• Exercise 3

Finally, we did an exercise about real English sounds! Did you like them? And can you remember any of them?? In class, you can use "ummm", "huh?" and "uh-huh" (no more "eeeees" in the oral exam, please!!), and some others like "yummy!", "ouch!", "oops!"

Here I post a website with lots of listening exercises for your level. Now you have no excuse to practise at home! :)

And here you have the video from the last Wednesday's theatre play: "I'm too sexy!". Some of you appear on the video!!

I hope you have a great weekend!

Reported speech; listening practice

Hi! Good morning everyone!

I hope you're all enjoying this warm, sunny weekend! :)

Here you have the usual summary at the end of each week. We continued with the topic of shopping and we did a listening about a girl who wanted to buy a present for her father. Click here if you want to listen to it again.

We also did an activity about "some real English sounds". I hope you all enjoyed it!! Remember to use "ummm", "uh-huh"and "huh?" in class (no more "eeees" in the oral!!), and of course, feel free to use any others! (yummy!, duh!, ouch!, oops!...).

As far as grammar is concerned, we worked with Reported Speech. The process is actually very mechanic, but I understand it needs practice. If you need to revise the "theory", click here for a very detailed explanation. If what you want is practice, then try the following links:

• Click here to report statements ("normal" sentences).

• Click here and/or here to report questions.

We also learnt the different between say and tell. You can revise the difference here, or... go straight to some exercises!

Finally, we talked about complaining and we listened to three people complaining in three different situations: a taxi, a hotel and a restaurant. Intermediate F practised with Chanelle on Thursday; Intermediate E will do a communicative activity on Monday.

See you all next week! :)

The Simpsons

Hello guys!

How's the weekend going? :)

I hope you are all more relaxed after the exams and receiving your marks (notas)! I'm very happy with the results, but I'm sure we'll all do even better in June :)

Last week we started talking about neighbours, and we watched an episode from the Simpsons: "The Lemon of Troy" (season 6, episode 24). If you want to watch it again, you can download it here. And click here for the subtitles in English.

On Wednesday we went to a theatre play by Andrew Marshall. Could you more or less understand him? And did you like it? I think we all had great fun seeing him dance and doing his work-out!!




Apart from that, we also saw the present continuous. Remember that it's used for actions happening now and there are always two elements: to be + verb in -ing. We will continue with this next week.

Finally, Basic Level D did a "special" activity on Thursday :) Did you like it? Were you suprised at your creativity? :) Basic Level E will do it next week.

Well, that's all for now! I hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend, and I'll see you on Monday / Tuesday!

The world of advertising

Hello there guys!

How's the weekend going? I hope you're all feeling more relaxed after the exams and, especially, after your marks! I'm relatively happy with the results, but I'm sure we can all do better in June :)

The most problematic area continues being the "listening", so we'll continue doing as much practice as we can in class, but it's of the utmost importance that you also listen to English at home. Please, have a look at the labels "videos", "listening" and "words of advice"; you'll find very useful practice there. And remember that it's better to listen to 5-10 minutes of English a day, rather than spending a whole evening doing listening practice. Languages, like sport, are a matter of perseverance (constancia).

Last week we started the topic of shopping and supermarkets. On Monday / Tuesday we talked about advertising and we discussed the following commercial from Sussex Safer Roads:

And now it's your turn to show me your creativity and originality! In groups of 4-5, you have to design your own commercial/ad for a product of your choice. You can do it in video format, or prepare a "printed version" (e.g. an ad on the newspaper). You'll present it in class on Monday 11th / Tuesday 12th April. Remember that you have to cover the following points:

• Say what you’re advertising
• Explain the elements in the ad and why you’ve chosen them
• Say why you think your ad will be effective
•  Make a quick reflection about the effect of advertising on shopping/buying.

On Wednesday we had a "theatre play" by Andrew Marshall. I hope you managed to follow him, although it's true he had a broad Cockney accent. At any rate, I think we all had fun doing the "work-out" before his performances! hahaha.

During the rest of class timetable, we learnt some vocabulary relating to shopping, we did a listening about a new supermarket who had just opened, and Intermediate F also did a role-play which I think you enjoyed a lot! Intermediate E will do it next Monday.

And that's all for now!

Feel free to post any comments! :)