CLASS 19TH MAY - UNIT 12C

Hi there!

And here it is the last section in our books. Go to page 106 and let's talk about "Around the world". Do exercises 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 (check answers here). Remember to do the grammar practice on page 135 too (click here to check your answers).

The grammar point in this section is modals of deduction:

1. When we think something is true we use 'must'. Example: This must be her house. I can see her car in the entrance. 
2. When we think something is probably true, but we aren't sure, we use 'might', 'may' or 'could'. Example: She's not here yet. She might be stuck in traffic.
3. When we don't think something is true we use 'can't'. Example: It can't be far. We've been driving for hours. 

If you need some extra practice on this, check these links:

• English Exam Page
• British council
• Gap fill exercise
• ESL lounge

Have a nice day!

TIPS TO ORAL MEDIATION

Hey students!

If you still have trouble when doing oral mediation activities, have a look at these tips. They apply to the exercises we did last month on the environment and covid-19. You can find those tasks on my blog (click here to see that post). 

Remember to bear in mind:

• Nice introduction: say hello to your friend and introduce the context (e.g. I know you’re a bit worried about the situation with covid19…, etc.).

• Selection of information: you don’t have to talk about all the information that is given to you. You always need to select what to tell and what NOT to tell. The exercise will tell you what you need to say and what you don’t need to say. Read the tasks again and check.

a.  Envionment: talk about reduce waste and save water, not about saving energy or means of transport.

b.   Covid: talk about be socially active, eat well, keep fit, and stay productive at home, (not about all the others).

Paraphrase information: tell the same information that is given to you but in other words. You can’t read phrases from the given text. You need to explain in your OWN WORDS.

These 3 things are very important. If you do these 3 things it’s almost impossible to fail this skill. So, REMEMBER them. 

CLASS 12TH MAY - UNIT 12B

Hey students!

We keep on talking about travelling, but this time with some videos. So, open your books on page 104 and do exercises 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6. (You can check your answers here). You also need to do and study the vocabulary practice section on air travel, which is on page 155 (answers here).

I also found an interesting article on the future of air travel and I adapted it for you. I invite you to read it and we'll talk about it. Here you are the adaptation, click. 

In our next online class on Tuesday 19th we'll talk about this topic. (Remember this Thursday 14th  May we'll do the writing and written mediation exams).

I hope you'll enjoy this work! 

CLASS 7TH MAY - UNIT 12A

Well, today we're going to start the last unit in our books and it's about my favourite topic: travelling. I know nobody's thinking about trips right now, but hopefully we'll get back to normal soon enough to dream with new destinations.

Shall we start then? Go to page 102 and do exercises 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 (check your answers here). Remember to do the vocabulary practice on page 154 (answers here) as well as the grammar practice on page 134 (answers here).

The grammar point in this section is 'so' and 'neither'. We use both of them to AGREE. This is something important because people often think that 'neither' is used to disagree, but no! Both 'so' and 'neither' are used to agree with things other people say. With 'so' we agree with positive statements and with 'neither' we agree with negative statements. That's the difference. And remember there are always 3 words in the answers (so/neither + auxiliary/modal + subject pronoun).

Examples: 

A: I'm good at English.   B: So am I. 

A: I don't like spinach.   B: Neither do I.

You can also watch this video which explains this grammar point. 

If you need extra practice on this grammar point, here you are some links:

• Test your English 
• To learn English
• Learn English
• English grammar
• English exercises

We'll talk about all of this on our next online class. See you around the world! 

CLASS 5TH MAY

Hey students!

There are no homework on the blog today, because next Thursday 7th May we have speaking exams (monologues on all the topics we've seen from our book). Each one of you has a specific time to do this exam. 

If you don't have that appointment, please send me an email before Thursday and we'll arrange for you to do the exam. 

CLASS 30TH APRIL- UNIT 8C

Hey there!

Let's start unit 8C about mobile apps. Do exercises  1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 (check your answers here). You also need to do the grammar activities on page 127 on modal verbs of obligation and advice (check answers here). It's very easy and I'm sure you already use all of them. Just a reminder:

• Obligation we use: 'have to' (external obligations, rules, laws) and 'must' (personal obligations, things we believe are necessary or important)
• No obligation we use: 'don't have to'.
• Prohibition we use: 'mustn't'.
• Advice we use: 'should' and 'shouldn't'. 

Of course if you need some extra practice on this grammar point, there are plenty of online exercises:

- Perfect English
- Test English

We'll see if you have doubts on our next online class. Have a nice practice! 

NEW WRITING TASK - FILM REVIEW

Hey students!

We're going to study a new type of writing related to unit 7, the film review. First of all, we're going to see an example and do the activities in the sample sheet. 

Film review sample (click). And to check your answers click here.

Then, you'll have to write your own review of a film. Remember to think before writing! Plan your content and divide it in 4 parapgrahs: 

• Paragraph 1: the name of the film, the director, the stars and the prizes it won.
• Paragraph 2: where and when it is set, where it was filmed. 
• Paragraph 3: the plot  (always in present simple)
• Paragraph 4: why you recommend this film. 

You should write about 180 words and send it to me by email. Have a nice practice! 

Besides, you need to do vocabulary practice 10B on page 149 (check answers here). Remember unit 10 is the only one in our book we won't study, but we've already seen the grammar practice in unit 10 and this vocab today. 

CLASS 23rd APRIL - UNIT 8B

Hey there!

So, today's topic is getting fit, which is a trending topic now that we're almost in summer. In this section of your books you'll discover if it's true that one third of people pay for a gym membership but never use it, or how many calories a day a person needs. Shall we start working?

Open your books on page 68 and do exercises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. (Check your answers here). Don't forget to do the vocabulary practice on page 149 (check answers here).

We'll discuss all these ideas on our next online class, Tuesday 28th April. Be prepared to talk a lot about this topic. 

CLASS 21st APRIL - UNIT 8A

Hey students! How are you after the holidays? 

We're starting unit 8 on sport and health. The idea is that you work on your own checking the keys here on the blog, and then in the next online class, which will be on 23rd April, we'll try to answer all your doubts and we'll do some extra speaking practice. So, don't forget to do your part before you join us on Thursday.

So, open your books on page 66 and do activities 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, (click to check the asnwers here). And don't forget to do the vocabulary practice on page 148 (answers here) and the grammar activities on page 126 (answers here).

The grammar content of this section is questions tags. We use them when we think we know something but we want to check, and also to start a conversation or to encourage other people to speak.

Examples;
You'll join me in the next online class, won't you?
It's a nice day, isn't it?
You passed your last exam, didn't you?

If you feel that you need some extra practice on this, check the following links:

• English learner
• Perfect English grammar 
• English hilfen
• Exam English Practice
• ESL lounge

Have a nice day! And remember to prepare your doubts for the next online class. 

HOMEWORK FOR EASTER: ORAL MEDIATION

Hi students, 

From today on we're officially on holiday, but I'm afraid you need to continue studying. So, here's your homework:

First, do all the activities on the blog you didn't do so far. Let's summarize: extra things on the environment, grammar practice on reported speech, and the whole unit 7 in your books.

Then, if you haven't sent me your for and against essay, try to send it to me as soon as possible.

And last but not least, you need to do the following two activities on oral mediation. Record your  2 audio messages and send them to my email address.

• Oral mediation on the pandemic (click here), done by my colleague Pilar Guillen. 
• Oral mediation on the environment (click here).

Have fun!

ONLINE CLASS 7TH APRIL UNIT 7C + 7D

Hi there!

Our topic today is TV and music? So, what do you do in the evening to relax? If you watch TV, what do you watch and where?

You can go now to page 147 in your books and do the vocabulary activities related to this topic. (Check answers here). By the way, the other day when we did unit 7A we forgot the vocabulary activities on page 146. You can do them now and check answers here.

Then, go to page 62 (unit 7C) and do exercises 1, 2 and 3. (Check answers here). Now, we'll look at the grammar part. Do exercises 4, 6 and 7, and remember the acticity 7C on pages 161 and 170. (Check answers here). You should also go to page 125 and do all the grammar activities on that page. Remember to read the grammar explanation first. (Check answers here). This grammar is quite simple since you already now that we use 'can', 'could' and 'to be able to' to talk about ability and possibility. 

Examples:

• I can speak English. (ability). 
• I can't go the the school right now. (possibility)
• I'll be able to speak better Engish in 2 years' time. (ability). 
• I'll be able to go to school next year. (possibility)

Then, go to pages 64 and 65 in your books (unit 7D) and try to do all the video activities you have there. Remember you can watch the videos on the richmond platform. After you've done the activities you can check answers: exercises 1-5 click here, and exercises 6-10 click here.

Have a nice class at home!

ONLINE CLASS AND WRITING ESSAY FOR HOMEWORK

Hi students! 

It was great to see some of you online in real time. We scheduled another online meeting for next Tuesday (at 10:00am with class A, and at 11:15am with class B). I hope more people will join us. 

Well, during the online class we had a look at section 10D (page 90+91) in your books, which is about writing a for and against essay. We did exercises 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7. (You can check your answers here).

It's very important to keep in mind the structure of this text, which has 4 paragrpahs:

1. Introduction
2. Arguments in favour of the topic
3. Arguments against the topic
4. Conclusion 

You should remember that all the arguments in favour go together in the same paragraph, and all the arguments against go together in another paragraph. During the whole text you should be objective and you can include your opinion only in the conclusion. The register is formal, so forget about contractions. And on page 91 you have some useful expressions: The main advantage is..., However, one disadvantage is..., To sum up, On the one hand, On the other hand, among others.

Your essay should be about one the titles in exercise 5:

• Are exams good for learning?
• Public transport should be free for everyone.
• People should only have to work four days a week.

Once you've done your writing (180 words), you should send it to me by email. Have a nice practice!