International Day of the Book

Hi again!

As you all know, yesterday was the International Day of the Book.

I've just found this video from the Book Council in New Zealand, whose aim is to promote reading.

Watch it till the end, even if you don't understand what the man is reading. It perfectly shows the magical and unique effect that reading has in our heads :)

International Day of the Book

Yesterday, 23rd April, was the celebration of the International Day of the Book.

I have just found this video online: it is from the Book Council in New Zealand and its objective is to promote reading.

The person is reading part of the book. I know you won't be able to understand it, but simply watch it and see the magical effect that reading has in our heads :)

International Day of the Book

Yesterday, 23rd April, was the celebration of the International Day of the Book.

I have just found this video online: it is from the Book Council in New Zealand and its objective is to promote reading.

The person is reading part of the book. I know you won't be able to understand it, but simply watch it and see the magical effect that reading has in our heads :)

Week 26

Hi everyone!!

Last week we started Unit 9 and we talked about everyday problems. We also learnt the first conditional, which is used to talk about things that are probable to happen:

If + present simple, will. For example: If I have time tonight, we'll go out OR we'll go out if I have time tonight

We saw other words that can be used instead of if, like when, before, after, until and as soon as.

Click here for a basic explanation of the first conditional, and here if you want some more details. And if you want to practise with some online exercises, click here.

Finally, we worked with the infinitive of purpose:

:( I come here for to learn English.:( I come here for learning English.:) I come here to learn English.

If you didn't come to class, here you have an explanation. And here you can practise with an exercise online.

On Wednesday you revised this with Leah and then in my hour we did a "special" listening test. Some of you failed, but the results were not bad at all! :)

After that we corrected the copies about "for, since and ago" and the first conditional. To end with, we listened to the song "The show must go on", by Queen. Thanks, Mª Ángeles, for the activity!


For homework, you had to write a recipe. Here you have a listening from www.mansioningles.com (very good website!!) where Steph talks about cooking. You have three different exercises. Try to do them! :)

First conditional; infinitive of purpose; "The Show Must Go On" (song)

Hi everyone!!

Last week we started Unit 9 and we talked about everyday problems. We also learnt the first conditional, which is used to talk about things that are probable to happen:

If + present simple, will. For example: If I have time tonight, we'll go out OR we'll go out if I have time tonight

We saw other words that can be used instead of if, like when, before, after, until and as soon as.

Click here for a basic explanation of the first conditional, and here if you want some more details. And if you want to practise with some online exercises, click here.

Finally, we worked with the infinitive of purpose:

:( I come here for to learn English.:( I come here for learning English.:) I come here to learn English.

If you didn't come to class, here you have an explanation. And here you can practise with an exercise online.

On Wednesday you revised this with Leah and then in my hour we did a "special" listening test. Some of you failed, but the results were not bad at all! :)

After that we corrected the copies about "for, since and ago" and the first conditional. To end with, we listened to the song "The show must go on", by Queen. Thanks, Mª Ángeles, for the activity!



For homework, you had to write a recipe. Here you have a listening from www.mansioningles.com (very good website!!) where Steph talks about cooking. You have three different exercises. Try to do them! :)

Week 26

Hi everyone!!

Last week we started Unit 9 and we talked about everyday problems. We also learnt the first conditional, which is used to talk about things that are probable to happen:

If + present simple, will. For example: If I have time tonight, we'll go out OR we'll go out if I have time tonight

We saw other words that can be used instead of if, like when, before, after, until and as soon as.

Click here for a basic explanation of the first conditional, and here if you want some more details. And if you want to practise with some online exercises, click here.

Finally, we worked with the infinitive of purpose:

:( I come here for to learn English.:( I come here for learning English.:) I come here to learn English.

If you didn't come to class, here you have an explanation. And here you can practise with an exercise online.

On Wednesday you revised this with Leah and then in my hour we did a "special" listening test. Some of you failed, but the results were not bad at all! :)

After that we corrected the copies about "for, since and ago" and the first conditional. To end with, we listened to the song "The show must go on", by Queen. Thanks, Mª Ángeles, for the activity!


For homework, you had to write a recipe. Here you have a listening from www.mansioningles.com (very good website!!) where Steph talks about cooking. You have three different exercises. Try to do them! :)

Curious laws in other countries

On Wednesday we had one hour with Leah and you talked about the political organisation of the United States.

I was surfing the Internet to look for information about that and I found some very curious laws! Below I post a few of them. Believe it or not, they are still in law books today, but some of them are absolutely ridiculous!!! :) - For a whole list, check this link.

IN THE UNITED STATES

In Ohio it is illegal to get a fish drunk.

In Tennessee, it is illegal to drive if you are asleep.

In Indiana, it is illegal to dress Barbie in Ken's clothes.

In Kentucky it is illegal to paint your lawn red. Any other colour is fine.

In Florida unmarried women can be jailed if they parachute on a Sunday.

In Miami, it is illegal to imitate an animal.

In Los Angeles, it is illegal to tell a customer you are really an actor.

In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to put a dollar on a string and pull it away when someone tries to pick it up.

IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament.

A pregnant woman can legally urinate anywhere she wants, including if she requests, in a policeman's hat.

In York it is legal to murder a Scotsman within its ancient city walls but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow.

IN OTHER COUNTRIES

In Toronto in Canada, it is illegal to drive a street car on a Sunday if you have been eating garlic.

In France it is illegal to name a pig Napoleon

In Iceland, it is illegal to blow on lampposts.

In Hong Kong, a woman can kill her husband if he has cheated on her. She must use her bare hand though.

In Samoa, it is illegal to forget your wife's birthday.

Learning styles

In our last session we talked a little bit about Multiple Intelligence Theory and different learning styles. If you want to listen to the audio again, click here. Below you have the transcription.







Learning Styles TRANSCRIPT






Maybe you can use some of these strategies in your own learning!

Apart from the quiz we did in class, you can learn a bit more about what type of learner you are by doing the quiz here. And here you have some ideas to help you studying depending on your type of intelligence (NOTE: Tactile refers to bodily-kinaesthetic). You can apply this to you, and also to your students if you are a teacher yourself!

Week 25

Hello everyone!

Last week we came back from our Easter holidays. I hope you come full of energy! We only have the last months of the course in front of us!

On Monday you told me about your holidays, and then we talked about the similarities between our nazarenos and the members of the Ku Klux Klan. We read a text that told us that there wasn't any relationship at all between them. After that, we learnt about different Easter traditions in other countries in the world.

KKK vs. Semana Santa

Finally, we talked a little bit about Multiple Intelligence Theory and different learning styles. If you want to listen to the audio again, click here. Below you have the transcription.








Learning Styles TRANSCRIPT



Maybe you can use some of these strategies in your own learning! Apart from the quiz we did in class, you can learn a bit more about what type of learner you are by doing the quiz here. And here you have some ideas to help you studying depending on your type of intelligence (NOTE: Tactile refers to bodily-kinaesthetic). You can apply this to you, and also to your students!

On Wednesday we had one hour with Leah and you talked about the political organisation of the United States. I was surfing the Internet to look for information about that and I found some very curious laws! Below I post a few of them. Believe it or not, they are still in law books today, but some of them are absolutely ridiculous!!! :) - For a whole list, check this link.

IN THE UNITED STATES

In Ohio it is illegal to get a fish drunk.
In Tennessee, it is illegal to drive if you are asleep.
In Indiana, it is illegal to dress Barbie in Ken's clothes.
In Kentucky it is illegal to paint your lawn red. Any other colour is fine.
In Florida unmarried women can be jailed if they parachute on a Sunday.
In Miami, it is illegal to imitate an animal.
In Los Angeles, it is illegal to tell a customer you are really an actor.
In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to put a dollar on a string and pull it away when someone tries to pick it up.

IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament.
A pregnant woman can legally urinate anywhere she wants, including if she requests, in a policeman's hat.
In York it is legal to murder a Scotsman within its ancient city walls but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow.

IN OTHER COUNTRIES

In Toronto in Canada, it is illegal to drive a street car on a Sunday if you have been eating garlic.

In France it is illegal to name a pig Napoleon

In Iceland, it is illegal to blow on lampposts.

In Hong Kong, a woman can kill her husband if he has cheated on her. She must use her bare hand though.

In Samoa, it is illegal to forget your wife's birthday.

On Friday we talked about awkward (strange) social situations: we learnt some expressions to use in different situations and we also watched a video in which a man was in a pretty uncomfortable situation... :P Then there was a powercut/blackout (this is the second time this has happened to us!!), so we corrected some homework.

Two of the exercises were about verbs that were followed by (i) infinitive with to; (ii) infinitive without to and (iii) -ing. Click here for a revision of this and here to do an activity online.

When the light came back, we watched two recipe videos that you have in the entry before! I had planned to do the song with most votes as well, but there was no time. We'll do it today :)

See you later!

Ku Klux Klan vs. Spanish "Semana Santa"; learning styles

Hello everyone!

Last week we came back from our Easter holidays. I hope you come full of energy! We only have the last months of the course in front of us!

On Monday you told me about your holidays, and then we talked about the similarities between our nazarenos and the members of the Ku Klux Klan. We read a text that told us that there wasn't any relationship at all between them. After that, we learnt about different Easter traditions in other countries in the world.




KKK vs. Semana Santa



Finally, we talked a little bit about Multiple Intelligence Theory and different learning styles. If you want to listen to the audio again, click here. Below you have the transcription.








Learning Styles TRANSCRIPT



Maybe you can use some of these strategies in your own learning! Apart from the quiz we did in class, you can learn a bit more about what type of learner you are by doing the quiz here. And here you have some ideas to help you studying depending on your type of intelligence (NOTE: Tactile refers to bodily-kinaesthetic). You can apply this to you, and also to your students if you are a teacher yourself!

On Friday we talked about awkward (strange) social situations: we learnt some expressions to use in different situations and we also watched a video in which a man was in a pretty uncomfortable situation... :P Then there was a powercut/blackout (this is the second time this has happened to us!!), so we corrected some homework.

When the light came back, we watched two recipe videos that you have in the entry before! I had planned to do the song with most votes as well, but there was no time. We'll do it today :)

See you later!

Week 25

Hello everyone!

Last week we came back from our Easter holidays. I hope you come full of energy! We only have the last months of the course in front of us!

On Monday you told me about your holidays, and then we talked about the similarities between our nazarenos and the members of the Ku Klux Klan. We read a text that told us that there wasn't any relationship at all between them. After that, we learnt about different Easter traditions in other countries in the world.

KKK vs. Semana Santa

Finally, we talked a little bit about Multiple Intelligence Theory and different learning styles. If you want to listen to the audio again, click here. Below you have the transcription.








Learning Styles TRANSCRIPT



Maybe you can use some of these strategies in your own learning! Apart from the quiz we did in class, you can learn a bit more about what type of learner you are by doing the quiz here. And here you have some ideas to help you studying depending on your type of intelligence (NOTE: Tactile refers to bodily-kinaesthetic). You can apply this to you, and also to your students!

On Wednesday we had one hour with Leah and you talked about the political organisation of the United States. I was surfing the Internet to look for information about that and I found some very curious laws! Below I post a few of them. Believe it or not, they are still in law books today, but some of them are absolutely ridiculous!!! :) - For a whole list, check this link.

IN THE UNITED STATES

In Ohio it is illegal to get a fish drunk.
In Tennessee, it is illegal to drive if you are asleep.
In Indiana, it is illegal to dress Barbie in Ken's clothes.
In Kentucky it is illegal to paint your lawn red. Any other colour is fine.
In Florida unmarried women can be jailed if they parachute on a Sunday.
In Miami, it is illegal to imitate an animal.
In Los Angeles, it is illegal to tell a customer you are really an actor.
In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to put a dollar on a string and pull it away when someone tries to pick it up.

IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament.
A pregnant woman can legally urinate anywhere she wants, including if she requests, in a policeman's hat.
In York it is legal to murder a Scotsman within its ancient city walls but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow.

IN OTHER COUNTRIES

In Toronto in Canada, it is illegal to drive a street car on a Sunday if you have been eating garlic.

In France it is illegal to name a pig Napoleon

In Iceland, it is illegal to blow on lampposts.

In Hong Kong, a woman can kill her husband if he has cheated on her. She must use her bare hand though.

In Samoa, it is illegal to forget your wife's birthday.

On Friday we talked about awkward (strange) social situations: we learnt some expressions to use in different situations and we also watched a video in which a man was in a pretty uncomfortable situation... :P Then there was a powercut/blackout (this is the second time this has happened to us!!), so we corrected some homework.

Two of the exercises were about verbs that were followed by (i) infinitive with to; (ii) infinitive without to and (iii) -ing. Click here for a revision of this and here to do an activity online.

When the light came back, we watched two recipe videos that you have in the entry before! I had planned to do the song with most votes as well, but there was no time. We'll do it today :)

See you later!

Ku Klux Klan; learning styles; extreme weather conditions

Hi everyone!

This week we've started the 3rd term... Hope you're all eager to start your engines! Only the last months remaining in front of us :)

On Tuesday you told me a bit about your Easter holidays and then we talked about how foreigners, especially those coming from the States, see our Semana Santa. We read a short text about the Ku Klux Klan and we also watched a National Geographic video (original link here). I post it below, with the activities and the corresponding answers.




KKK vs. Semana Santa




The Ku Klux Klan

After that we talked a little bit about Multiple Intelligence Theory and different learning styles. If you want to listen to the audio again, click here. Below you have the transcription.



Learning Styles TRANSCRIPT



Maybe you can use some of these strategies in your own learning! Besides the quiz we did in class, you can learn a bit more about what type of learner you are by doing the quiz here. And here you have some ideas to help you studying depending on your type of intelligence (NOTE: Tactile refers to bodily-kinaesthetic).

On Thursday we talked about extreme weather conditions and we watched a video from the Reuters agency about the tsunami in Japan. Here you have the video and the activity, with the answers (original link here):



Extreme Weather Conditions REUTERS

Remember you can use the REUTERS website for listening practice, since all videos are accompanied by the corresponding script.

For homework, do the copies about "The Natural World".

English summer courses

Hi again!

Since the beginning of the year, some of you have asked me about courses to study English in the summer. Here I give you information about two which I personally know.
Brighton

This first one is for students aged between 15 and 22 (approx.). The course takes place in Brighton (45 minutes far from London), and the students stay with host families. Tuition, accommodation, transport and activities are all included in the price. I've been to these courses for four years, and I'll go again this summer.

You have all the information on the official website: www.brighton.vacau.com. For any questions, doubts or registrations, you can either contact me or Isabel Amaro, whose details appear on the webpage.

The second organisation is for adult students. It's a very big organisation which works in different countries in the world (England, Ireland, Scotland, Malta, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.), offering many different types of courses. You can check everything online at www.newlink.es: choose the place, the duration of the course and the type of accommodation (hall of residence, family or apartment) and it will automatically calculate the price. For any questions, doubts, or further information, please ask me.

So what's the excuse now for not travelling abroad this summer?? :)

English summer courses

Hi again!

Since the beginning of the year, some of you have asked me about courses to study English in the summer. Here I give you information about two which I personally know.
Brighton

This first one is for students aged between 15 and 22 (approx.). The course takes place in Brighton (45 minutes far from London), and the students stay with host families. Tuition, accommodation, transport and activities are all included in the price. I've been to these courses for four years, and I'll go again this summer.

You have all the information on the official website: www.brighton.vacau.com. For any questions, doubts or registrations, you can either contact me or Isabel Amaro, whose details appear on the webpage.

The second organisation is for adult students. It's a very big organisation which works in different countries in the world (England, Ireland, Scotland, Malta, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.), offering many different types of courses. You can check everything online at www.newlink.es: choose the place, the duration of the course and the type of accommodation (hall of residence, family or apartment) and it will automatically calculate the price. For any questions, doubts, or further information, please ask me.

So what's the excuse now for not travelling abroad this summer?? :)

Immersion

Hi everyone,

Here I post some information I received today, in case you find it interesting:

Immersion

Hi everyone,

Here I post some information I received today, in case you find it interesting:

Some curiosities of the English language!

Here I leave you with some curiosities of the English language:

"Stewardesses"  is the longest word typed with only the left hand 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 

And "lollipop" is the longest word typed with your right hand. 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.        

  
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 

"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "MT".

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

The sentence:  "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet. 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' , and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes). 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous":  tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order:  "abstemious" and "facetious."
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Now you know (a little) more than you did before!! :)

Easter holidays

Hi everyone!

Wow, so we've come to the end of the term! I can't believe Easter is already here!!

I hope you've made the most of (make the most of sth= aprovechar) this term, and that you come back after Easter with renewed energy and eager to continue learning and enjoying the lessons :)

I don't know your plans for the Easter holidays, but why don't you find some time to watch films in original version or read? Reading is by far the best way to improve one's language, both in Spanish and English! It's scientifically proven that people who read a lot learn easier and faster.

The library in the Escuela will start running very soon, and then you'll be able to borrow as many books as you want. Meanwhile, why not read newspapers online? Or e-books? I'm sure many of you already have Kindles or e-book readers!

Meanwhile, here I leave you with some curiosities of the English language:

"Stewardesses"  is the longest word typed with only the left hand 
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 



And "lollipop" is the longest word typed with your right hand. 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =


No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.        
  
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 



"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "MT".
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

The sentence:  "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet. 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =


The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' , and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes). 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =




There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous":  tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =


There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order:  "abstemious" and "facetious."
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =


TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.


= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =


Now you know (a little) more than you did before!! 

Finally, today I found this funny video from the website www.mygrammarlab.com and which defends the use of correct grammar when you speak/write English. As you know, grammar is not everything, but it is a very important part of the language. I'm sure you can understand some of it :)

Have very nice Easter holidays and see you again on the 9th April!

Easter holidays

Hi everyone!

Wow, so we've come to the end of the term! I can't believe Easter is already here!!

I hope you've made the most of (make the most of sth= aprovechar) this term, and that you come back after Easter with renewed energy and eager to continue learning and enjoying the lessons :)

I don't know your plans for the Easter holidays, but why don't you find some time to watch films in original version or read? Reading is by far the best way to improve one's language, both in Spanish and English! It's scientifically proven that people who read a lot learn easier and faster.

The library in the Escuela will start running very soon, and then you'll be able to borrow as many books as you want. Meanwhile, why not read newspapers online? Or e-books? I'm sure many of you already have Kindles or e-book readers!

Have very nice Easter holidays and see you again on the 9th April!

Easter holidays

Hi everyone!

Wow, so we've come to the end of the term! I can't believe Easter is already here!!

I hope you've made the most of (make the most of sth= aprovechar) this term, and that you come back after Easter with renewed energy and eager to continue learning and enjoying the lessons :)

I don't know your plans for the Easter holidays, but why don't you find some time to watch films in original version or read? Reading is by far the best way to improve one's language, both in Spanish and English! It's scientifically proven that people who read a lot learn easier and faster.

The library in the Escuela will start running very soon, and then you'll be able to borrow as many books as you want. Meanwhile, why not read newspapers online? Or e-books? I'm sure many of you already have Kindles or e-book readers!

Meanwhile, here I leave you with some curiosities of the English language:

"Stewardesses"  is the longest word typed with only the left hand 
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 



And "lollipop" is the longest word typed with your right hand. 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =


No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.        
  
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 



"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "MT".
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

The sentence:  "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet. 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =


The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' , and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes). 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =




There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous":  tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =


There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order:  "abstemious" and "facetious."
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =


TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.


= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =


Now you know (a little) more than you did before!! 

Finally, today I found this funny video from the website www.mygrammarlab.com and which defends the use of correct grammar when you speak/write English. As you know, grammar is not everything, but it is a very important part of the language. I'm sure you can understand some of it :)

Have very nice Easter holidays and see you again on the 9th April!