30 Dec 2011

Dance Music for Dancing Days

It's almost New Year's Eve!

Do you have plans? Are you having dinner with family or friends?

In my family we eat together for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Three Kings Day.
However, we spend New Year's Eve with friends having dinner out or going clubbing.

This video is a very famous dance music song by Bob Sinclar & Craig David.
Listening to this song always cheers me up! It's an old song but I like it a lot!

I haven't found a video with the lyrics. So, check the lyrics on the following link:


Which song cheers you up?
Share your plans with us!

29 Dec 2011

Positive Thoughts

I want to share with you some positive thoughts for the New Year!

In 2012 I want to spend more time with family and friends,
laugh more, help more and teach more!

What are your New Year's resolutions?

28 Dec 2011

Word of the week: "That makes two of us"

This week's expression is

That makes two of us

which means 'the same is true for me', in other words, this is something you say in order to tell someone that you are in the same situation or have the same feelings.

In Spanish we say 'ya somos dos'.



Examples:
A: I just passed my English exam.
B: That makes two of us!

A: I think this film is really boring.
B: That makes two of us!

26 Dec 2011

Podcast: Witches

This podcast is about the Pendle witches, a group of people in north-west England who were hanged for using magic in the 17th century. Recently, the remains of a 17th century house which may be linked to the witches was found in Pendle Hill.


Remember to check the transcript after listening:

Do you believe in magic and witches?

23 Dec 2011

Merry Christmas

I hope you enjoy the holidays with your family and friends.
Have fun and remember to study English too.

I want to show you my favourite Christmas carol
which is from one of my favourite films Love Actually.


I'll see you in the new year 2012.



22 Dec 2011

Pieces of News

Newspapers can keep you informed of all the news that happened in your country or all over the world. Nowadays thanks to the Internet we don't need to go to the newsagent's and buy a paper newspaper. We can check the news online.

On this blog you have a list of newspapers from different countries in a column on the right. Therefore, you can practise your English while reading the news. You also have a Spanish newspaper with an English version.

Have a look at it!

21 Dec 2011

Word of the week: "Fib"

This week we have the noun "fib".

A fib is a lie.

Fibs are usually small lies that someone tells to impress their friends or colleagues. Fibs involve elaborate stories and people who tell fibs are usually addicted to them.

You also have the noun "white lie" which is a harmless or small lie you tell to avoid hurting somone.


Example:
A: You know, yesterday I met a beautiful girl. I invited her to a drink and she gave me her phone number.
B: That's a fib! Yesterday I talked to your brother and you were grounded at home!

Come on, tell us a fib in a comment! We'll believe you! ;-)

19 Dec 2011

Podcast: Robots

Robotville festival in London's Science Museum celebrates some of the latest inventions in robot designs in the world. Listen to the following podcast:


As usual, you can check the transcript and vocabulary after listening 2 or 3 times.

Transcript

I'd love to have a robot to do my domestic chores, escpecially to clean my house.

Would you like to have a robot? What for?

18 Dec 2011

Phrasal Verbs Quiz

Phrasal verbs are difficult for Spanish speakers since we don't have anything like that in the Spanish grammar. Therefore, if you want to learn how to use them you need practice!

You know, in English you can add a particle to a verb and change the meaning of that verb completely. For example, if you are "asked out" by a handsome man, he isn't telling you to leave the place, he's asking you on a date.

Here you have a quiz to practise them in context. You're given a sentence and you only have to choose the correct verb from the choices. You'll immediately be told if you're right or wrong.

Besides, if you want to check definitions and examples of phrasal verbs, have a look at the following webpage:  Phrasal verbs List

Have a good practice!

16 Dec 2011

The Killers

I like The Killers very much. They are an American indie rock band. I've known them since 2005. I was living in Ireland by the time and my flatmate told me about them. When I listened to their first single I immediately liked them. My favourite songs are: "Jenny was a friend of mine" and "Human".

In this post I'm showing you one of their most famous songs: Mr Brightside.


Do you like them?
How long have you known them?

15 Dec 2011

Sesame Street

Good memories from my childhood come to my mind when I see these characters since I grew up with them. I still remember getting home from school and going directly to the sofa to watch them while eating my afternoon snack. Years later my friends and I used to laugh about how silly those cartoons were. However, now as an adult I can appreciate its importance for very young children since their characters used to teach moral values. 

Nowadays there are great cartoons but they seem to be created for adults more than for children.
What do you think?
Do you know these cartoons?
Did you use to watch them?

14 Dec 2011

Word of the week: "Sleep on it"

This week's word is more an expression than a word, but I'd like to teach it to you.


Sleep on it

It means not making an immediate decision about a plan or idea, but waiting until the next day in order to have more time to think about it.


Example: You don't have to give me your decision now. Sleep on it, and let me know tomorrow.


The only way to learn vocabulary is by using it. So, write a sentence with this expression in a comment and remember to include your name.

12 Dec 2011

Podcast: Online Shopping

Shops are finding it difficult to stay in business because sales are down for the third year in a row. On the other hand, the trend of online shopping is increasing and a quarter of all Christmas shopping will be done online. Listen to the following podcast about this topic:



As always, you can check the transcript on this link:

Transcript


I'm a little bit shopaholic and I like buying things online since you can access shops from all over Spain and even international shops. I've bought many things online: books, flights, clothes, accessories... I must confess I've already bought a Christmas present online this month.

What about you? Have you ever bought anything online?
What did you buy? Are you a shopaholic? Tell us!

10 Dec 2011

My Favourite Christmas Dessert Recipes

Still haven't decided which recipe to prepare
for the dessert contest?

Have a look at these 
delicious easy recipes I've selected for you!


Wake up, students! Our class has to win!

9 Dec 2011

Ashlee Simpson

Another amazing singer, songwriter and actress is Ashlee Simpson. She rose to prominence with her debut album Autobiography in 2004. Her older sister Jessica Simpson is also a singer. In fact, Ashlee began her career as a back-up dancer for her sister who was already famous. However, Ahslee was from the very beginning different from her sister due to her particular music style and her rock-punk image.

The song I want to show you is Shadow and belongs to her album Autobiography. I've always thought that in this song she's singing to her sister Jessica. Pay attention to the lyrics and tell me what you think.


Other interesting songs from her are: Undiscovered, No Time for Tears and Pieces of Me.

8 Dec 2011

ed Pronunciation

When you form the regular past tense in English you need to pay attention to the
'-ed' pronunciation.
As you already know -ed can be pronounced in three different ways: /t/, /d/ and /id/.
We pronounce /t/ when the pronunciation of the infinitive of the verb finishes in a voiceless sound, /d/ when the verb finishes in a voiced sound and /id/ when the pronunciation of the verb finishes in -t or -d.

Here you have a video which gives an explanation of this pronunciation.



and some exercises about this pronunciation:

Listen to the pronunciation of the verb and choose the correct sound:  Quiz 1

Listen to each sentence and decide if the pronunciation is right or wrong: Quiz 2

7 Dec 2011

Word of the week: "Cheesy"


  Today we open a new section in this blog: the 'Word of   the Week Section' which will be published every Wednesday.
In it I'll teach you a new colloquial word or expression.
I hope you enjoy it.

And this week we have the adjective "cheesy" which means too emotional or romantic in a way that is embarrasing.
              Our Spanish equivalent will be 'pastelĂłn'.

                         Example: Celine Dion songs are so cheesy.

                                         Write a sentence in the comment space using this word.


5 Dec 2011

Podcast: Volcano

What's the most dangerous thing you've done on holiday?
In the Democratic Republic of Congo a very unusual and dangerous tourist attraction has appeared. People go to see an erupting volcano!
Listen to discover what's happening there.



Volcano

After listening to this piece of news 2 or 3 times have a look at the transcript to check vocabulary and understanding.

Transcript

Would you like to see an erupting volcano? Why / Why not?

2 Dec 2011

Kelly Clarkson

I want to share with you this videoclip from an amazing singer: Kelly Clarkson, a girl from Texas who won the first season of the TV contest 'American Idol' in 2002 and became a great artist overnight. Since then she has won many awards and sold millions of records thanks to her wonderful voice.

This is one of my favourite songs: Behind these hazel eyes.


What do you think?
Did you already know her?

1 Dec 2011

Christmas Party

Christmas is coming and in our school we're organising activities to celebrate it
and have fun with classmates and teachers.
On 22nd December we will have a dessert contest and karaoke singing.
So, join us and show your cooking skills and your beautiful voice.













To participate in the dessert contest have a look at the recipes and tell your teacher.
Besides, you can practise your singing with these videos.

28 Nov 2011

Podcast: TV Addicts

Most people can't imagine life without TV, yet it's only 75 years since regular broadcasting began. Listen to the following recording about TV addicts.


After listening to it 2 or 3 times, have a look at the transcript to check vocabulary and understanding.

Transcript

Are you a TV addict?
How many hours a day do you spend watching TV?
What do you usually watch?

25 Nov 2011

Snow Patrol

As you know music is a great help when learning English.
You can listen to songs while looking at the lyrics at the same time and so you'll  learn plenty of vocabulary and pronunciation.

Today I want to show you one of my favourite bands: Snow Patrol.
They're an Irish/Scottish indie rock band and they've just released their 7th album:
Fallen Empires.

This is their single: Just Say Yes. Give it a try!



What do you think? Do you like this music band?
Do you have a favourite band which sings in English? Tell us!



24 Nov 2011

Happy Thanksgiving Day!



Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays in the United States of America. Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November. Today, families celebrate Thanksgiving by eating turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, yams, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie, and say thanks for all they have.

I'm thankful for my family and my friends and for my students whom I love working with!

What are you thankful for?

23 Nov 2011

Discourse Markers

Here you have a list of linkers or discourse markers you can use in your writing
and also when giving a formal speech.

Try to start using some of them in your compositions.

Download File

21 Nov 2011

Our Wiki on Easter

Hey Students!
Remember in our school we have the Easter Wiki Project.

You can participate by writing about Easter in Hellin or in any other Spanish town.
If you know a lot about Easter write about it.
If not, you can also talk about your own experience, about how you live Easter time.
You can include pictures, videos or you can even record a message.

Come on, enter the site and read your classmates messages and include your own.


You can use the following English vocabulary for the wiki.


14 Nov 2011

Podcast: An Ingenous Invention

Rob and Cath talk about an ingenious invention which is bringing a bit of brightness into the lives of the poorest people in the Philippines. Listen to the conversation and explain what this invention is by writing a comment.


After listening to the recording 2 or 3 times you can have a look at the transcript to check understanding and vocabulary.

Transcript

12 Nov 2011

Question Tags

Question Tags are an important part of the English language. It's essential to use them.

If you need to practise more exercises on Questions Tags, here you have some websites.

Multiple Choice Exercise

Fill-in Exercise

If you have doubts you can write a comment and the teacher or other students will answer.

7 Nov 2011

Short Stories

Do you enjoy reading?
Would you like to improve your English by reading short stories?

Here you have a webpage with a lot of short stories you can read online.

I recommend Paris, At Night by Sung J. Woo

Choose the story you like and start reading!

If you read a good story, write a comment with the title to recommend it to other students.

5 Nov 2011

News: Hello Europe!

Congratulations students from Hellin. You have a new project: Hello Europe!
You can join our language assistant Kara Simmons in her speaking classes
on Fridays at 5pm in Centro Joven. They're free!
So, there's no excuse! Meet new people and practise English at the same time!

28 Oct 2011

Happy Halloween!

Here you have "100 Scariest Movie Moments" with comments from directors, authors, actors, critics and audience.
Enjoy and watch your back!

The Shining


The Exorcist

14 Oct 2011

Coldplay

Practise listening and pronunciation and have fun with this Coldplay song:
The Scientist.



Do you like Coldplay?
What's your favourite Coldplay song?
Would you like to see them in concert?

10 Oct 2011

Podcast: Happiness

Britain is less happy than in the 1950s despite the fact that we are three times richer.
So what exactly makes us happy?
Listen to the speakers and make a list of the things that make them happy.


After listening to the recording 2 or 3 times you can have a look at the transcript
to check understanding and vocabulary.

Transcript

What makes you happy? Write a comment and tell us!

28 Sept 2011

Welcome Students!

Hi everyone and welcome to this blog!
This blog has been created for my Intermediate Students of EOI Conde de Floridablanca, HellĂ­n, and for my former students in Almansa. However, any person interested in studying English can use it!
Here you’ll find everything from exercises to interesting resources to improve your English.

Check posts and have fun while studying at home and, of course, you are very welcome to participate and add any comments to any of the published posts.