Discourse Markers List

If you need a complete list of discourse markers to use when writing and speaking, check out this one. Look at the examples since each marker is usually used in a particular position in the sentence and you need to bear that in mind. 

Discourse Markers List

Useful Expressions

When you're discussing topics they are some expressions you can use to sound more natural in English, for example to ask somebody's opinion "Helen, what do you think about this?", to state your opinion "The way I see it..." or to interrupt if the other speakers don't let you talk "Can I add something here?".

Besides, it's also necesary to agree or disagree with others in a conversation. So, you can use "I'm with you on this" to agree, or "I'm not sure about that" to disagree.

These are only some examples, but there are many others you can use. 

Here you have a document with a list of useful expressions. I recommend you print it and use it when discussig topics. It's good practice for the exam!

New academic year 2015-2016

Here we are again starting a new academic year 

and it's absolutely true the saying 'time flies'!

So a new year with new students, new things to learn and teach, 

to share, to discuss, to work hard and enjoy. 

I hope my students will be as curious as me.

Merry X-mas

How are you doing these Christmas holidays? 
I hope you're enjoying free time with friends and family, having fun and tasting good food.

 And talking about food, would you like to try some Christmas recipes?
(Click on each image to see the recipe.)

         

And finally a Christmas song to wish you the best Christmas ever.

Practise Discourse Markers

Hey students, we've seen in class how important discourse markers are. Now here you are some more activities to practise them. 

Linkers 1
Linkers 2
Linkers 3
Linkers 4

Remember you have the grammar explanation in your book in unit 1 and also in unit 4. Besides, there's also a very complete list of discourse markers which you should print and study.

Enjoy the practice!

Extra Grammar Activities 2B2

Hi English Students!

I've included in this post the links to all the extra grammar activities which you can use to reinforce the contents seen in class (in the 2nd advanced course 2B2). You need to print the documents in order to do them. Remember to use these documents after seeing the corresponding section in class.

1A     1B     1C     2A     2B     2C     3A     3B     3C     

4A     4B     4C     5A     5B     5C     6A     6B     6C     

7A     7B     7C     Answers 1    Answers 2 

The correct answers are also included, so you can check your answers once you've done them, of course.

If you have questions, ask in class or in a comment and other students or the teacher will answer your doubts.

Enjoy the practice!

Grammar Checker for Advanced

Hey students! How are you doing?

As you know when you buy your advanced books, inside the workbook you can find a bunch of activities to revise the grammar contents of the previous year, called the Grammar Checker for Advanced. However, the key for these exercises is not included. Well, here you are.

Answer Key

You need to know the contents of this booklet well in order to be ready for the grammar contents of the advanced book. 

So, enjoy the weekend revising them!

Welcome 2014-2015

Hey students! So, here we are again with a whole academic year ahead of us, a year to experience new things and meet new classmates, to read English books and online newspapers, to get hooked up on new TV series and enjoy English films, a year to learn a lot and work hard. 

Since it's the beginning of the academic year we have plenty of time but we also have many things to do. So don't rest on your laurels!

And start the year with a positive thought! This year is going to be your year!

It's a boy

Hi students! As some of you already know I'm on maternity leave because last week I gave birth to a baby boy, Izan! We're both great and incredibly happy!!

I'll be off work for a few months in order to enjoy my kid and this new experience in my life. Consequently, I'm going to take a break on publishing things on the blog. I'll continue posting regularly next academic year. 

Word of the week: Homebody

This week's word is

homebody

which is a noun used to refer to a person who likes staying at home rather than going out, something normal when it's cold, isn't it? 

Example: I have always been a homebody, just hiding out in my little cottage. 

Hostages

This is a new TV show I've been watching recently. The family of a surgeon is taken hostage by a team led by a rogue FBI agent the night before she is scheduled to perform surgery on the President of the USA. She is ordered by the kidnappers to assassinate the President during surgery in order to save her family. 

I like this show because it's about something new, or at least a new approach to killing the American president. There's also a lot of conspiracy in it, with many people involved in the assassination and lots of dark secrets and reasons. Nothing is left at random. 

Live in English

source: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/412994228299034704/

Hey students! Do you remember I told you at the beginning of the academic year that at this level you should surround yourself by English as much as possible in your daily life? That means you should use your free time to read original version books in English or watch films or TV shows in English. Reading and listening are the basis for good writing and speaking. If you don't read and listen to English things daily you won't be able to write and speak properly in English. 

If you don't have much free time, as you always say, perhaps you can read one or two online articles of newspapers, such as The Guardian, or magazines, for instance Time Magazine, everyday. Or maybe you can follow some English blogs related to any topic you're interested in, decoration, DIY, fashion, history, etc. 

It's just a matter of finding your thing, that is to say, to find something entertaining for you so you don't feel that you're doing homework; you're using your free time in some kind of hobby but you're also practising the English language.