MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

MY BEST WISHES FOR YOU AND THE BEST FOR 2014, I HOPE ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE.

CURIOSITIES: THE HISTORY OF THE SANDWICH

The word sandwich that we use today was born in London during the very late hours one night in 1762. It was named after John Montagu, the Fourth Earl^[1] of Sandwich, an 18th century English aristocrat (1718-1792). As the story goes, in 1762, during a 24 hour gambling streak he instructed a cook to prepare his food in such a way that it would not interfere with his game. The cook presented him with sliced meat between two pieces of toast. Perfect! This meal required no utensils such fork or knife and could be eaten with one hand, leaving the other free to continue the game. The nobleman was able to continue his gambling while eating his snack and because Montagu also happened to be the Fourth Earl of Sandwich, others began to order "the same as Sandwich!". It is said that Lord Sandwich was fond of this form of food because it allowed him to continue playing cards, particularly cribbage, while eating without getting his cards greasy from eating meat with his bare hands.

From that incident, we have inherited that quick-food product that we now know as the sandwich. Sadly, the name of real inventor of the sandwich (be it inventive cook or the creative consumer) was not recorded for posterity. Besides the more obvious meaning of sandwich, "something edible between two or more slices of bread", metaphorically speaking, it also means "to squeeze in between two other people, places, things, materials, etc. "For example: Her car was sandwiched between two other cars in the parking lot. 

Earl^[1]= it's a title of nobility from Great Britain that means "count", like Count Dracula.

TEST YOUR LEVEL

Do you want to know your level of English? Check  the following website and do the two level tests (grammar/vocabulary and listening) . It is also a good website to practise for the CEF levels exams (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2)

Note: Take this test as a reference. It can't be 100% reliable as it doesn't contain any reading, writing or speaking assessment

http://www.examenglish.com/leveltest/index.php

2nd BATX - GERUND & INFINITIVE

Do you need more practice? This link contains a tutorial of Gerunds and Infinitives and many exercises to check your progress. 


http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/

SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN

"Searching for Sugar Man" is a documentary about the unknown and mysterious singer Sixto Rodriguez. A true story that was awarded an Oscar as best documentary in 2013. It is an inspiring story that will make a difference! Here is "I wonder" one of the soundtrack songs. Hope you like it too

2n BATX - MIXED TENSES REVISION

If you need to practise verb tenses,  here you have some activities. Click on them:

Activity 1 Gap filling

Activity 2 Past Simple / Past Perfect

Activity 3 Future mix

Activity 4 Mixed tenses

2n BATX- IDIOMS (2) BLUE COLOUR

Let's learn some more idioms! This time related to the BLUE colour! 

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD (Playing For Change)

Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. Musicians from all over the world participate in this project which aims to promote music and arts education. If you like music, you will enjoy the different videos they have released. 

MOVEMBER IN NOVEMBER!

Movember happens every November. In November, men (and women - theoretically) are encouraged to grow mustaches around the world. With their "Mos", the men engage in fundraising that researches issues related to men's health, specifically prostate cancer and other campaigns.
Read more here!

2n BAT MODAL REPHRASINGS & IDIOMS ANSWER KEY

Modal rephrasing:
Here you have the remaining modal sentences
25) I'm sure something is happening tonight. Look at those preparations! (deduction)
Something must be happening. Look at those preparations!

26) It's compulsory for all students to attend lessons. (obligation)
Students must attend lessons.

27) It's possible that they move to Australia. (probability)
They may / might move to Australia.

28) I'm sure Helen knows about the accident. She looks very unhappy. (certainty)
Helen must know about the accident. She looks very unhappy.

29) Perhaps he hired a vannette. (Probability of a past action)
He might have hired a vannette.

30) You are not allowed to use the phone without permission. (prohibition)
You mustn't / can't use the phone without permission.

31) If I were you, I wouldn't trust John. (giving advice)
You shouldn't /  had better not trust John.

32) I'm sure she didn't take the key. (certainty of a past action)
She can't/ couldn't  have taken the key.

33) Perhaps I start a new career. (probability)
I might / may start a new career.

34) It was not necessary for you to tell Jan what really happened. (some past action was unnecessary)
You needn't have told Jan what really happened.

35) I regret selling the house. (we regret a past action)
I shouldn't have sold the house.

36) It's compulsory for all visitors to show their ID card. (obligation)
All visitors must show their ID card.

IDIOMS DEFINITIONS
1- Go down a storm : when something it's been enjoyable or successful
2- Every cloud has a silver lining: in every situation we can see something positive.
3- Steal someone's thunder : to take credit and praise for something somebody else did.
4- Shoot the breeze: to have an informal conversation about silly things.
5- Down in the doldrums: be depressed and without energy. It's more common the expression: to be down with the blues.

2n BAT PRONUNCIATION (1)

To start with pronunciation practice, I want you to watch this video and get some tips to help you with your pronunciation skills. It's obvious that we are not  native speakers, but you can improve your pronunciation by listening to the news in English or watching original version films. Here I give you a website link where you will find information and activities to practise. Remember that in your University entry exam there will be one question related to pronunciation (1 point) where you will have an odd-one-out activity. 

Website for pronunciation: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/

PHONETIC CHART 
Become familiar with the different sounds.
http://www.pearsonlongman.com/phonetic-chart.html

2nd BAT - MODAL AND MODAL PERFECT VERBS

Have a look at this presentation and then click on the activities to practise

1. MODAL VERBS
2. MODAL VERBS REPHRASING
3. MODAL MIXED
4. MORE REPHRASING (there are 4 activities)

ENGLISH IDIOMS - 2nd BATX

" It's  raining cats and dogs", "You're the apple of my eye" . Would you guess the meaning of these expressions? These are what we call idioms. There are many and they help us to understand language better. The following website includes a list with some of these English idioms. It's good to know some of them :)

ENGLISH IDIOMS LIST

HOMES IN BRITAIN

Some of you asked me in class about houses in Britain. Watch this video and you will see the most common houses there. Are they different from ours?

2nd BATX UNIT 2- THE ENVIRONMENT

VOCABULARY

1) Revision environment 
2) Terminology
3) Climate Quiz
4) National Geographic video about Global Warming.

5) Listening activity: Deforestation Decreased over the past 10 years

THE KILLERS - READ MY MIND

One of my favourite songs! Hope you like it too!

2nd BAT - REPHRASING PRACTICE

Here you have two rephrasing activities to practise more before your exam. 

1. Rephrasing with gerunds and infinitives

2. Mixed rephrasing

4th D - INTRODUCTION PRACTICE

You are about to have your first exam. So it's time to practise what we have studied so far. Here you have some activities to help you.

Activity 1 - Present Verb to Be

Activity 2 - Object Pronouns

Activity 3 - Possessive adjectives

Activity 4- Present Simple

Activity 5 - Present Continuous

Activity 6- There is / There are

4th SSEE - UNIT 1 PRACTICE

Practice for your next exam. Click on the different activities.

Activity 1. Compound adjectives
Activity 2. Compound adjectives quiz
Activity 3. Present Perfect or Past Simple?
Activity 4. Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous Uses
Activity 5. Present Perfect Simple/Continuous activity

James Blunt - 1973, Music Video, Song Lyrics and Karaoke

James Blunt - 1973, Music Video, Song Lyrics and Karaoke

2nd BAT - ANSWERS GERUND AND INFINITIVE WORKSHEET

Now you can check and correct your answers. If there's anything you didn't understand, ask me in class.

1. calling  /  2. going  /  3. to stay /  4. to understand  /  5. lie  /  6. not to buy  /  7. going  /  8. to tell  /  9. to look after  /  10. to see  /  11. use  /  12. reading  /  13. Waiting  /  14. drawing  /  15. to express  /  16. to work  /  17. doing  /  18. to visit  /  19.  to play  /  20. to hear  

WRITING- FOR AND AGAINST ESSAY

2nd BATXILLERAT- GERUND & INFINITIVES

This is a summary of the uses of Gerund and Infinitive in English. To practise more you can also do the following online activities.

Activity 1
Activity 2

SONG- WHATEVER by OASIS

This is a song adapted for the Coca Cola commercial that was released in 2011. Here you have the original song of the commercial we have seen in class. Compare the two versions, which one do you like the most? Find in the song synonyms for the following defenitions and bring them to the next class. 

Find in the lyrics the words or expressions that match to the following definitions:
1. a quarrel or dispute.
2. to understand or control a problem or subject.
3. disturbance (informal).

There is one grammatical mistake in the song, can you find it?

QUIZ: ARE YOU AN INTERNET ADDICT?

The average British web user apparently spends one in every 12 waking minutes online. Does that sound like rather a lot, or do you check Twitter before getting out of bed? Find out if your habit is out of control with our quiz

Click here to do the quiz

2nd BATXILLERAT. PRESENT PERFECT, PAST PERFECT SIMPLE / CONTINUOUS

These slides show you the different uses of Present Perfect Simple and Continuous. I think they can help you to understand these tenses. Have a look!

Now listen to this video. It gives you a clear idea about the different use of Past Perfect Simple and Continuous. After this, you can practise with the activities below.

ACTIVITIES
1. Present Perfect Simple / Continuous
2. Past Perfect Simple / Continuous
3- Present Perfect Simple/ Continuous, Past Perfect Simple / Continuous.

ARE YOU THE PERFECT LANGUAGE LEARNER?

Here there are some tips for you to improve your English knowledge. If you follow some of them, you will realise how much you progress! Try it!

LIVE YOUR SUMMER!

CONGRATULATIONS! You have reached  the end of the school year 2012-2013. Now it's time to enjoy your summertime and have fun. Those who have to study for September,  I give you one piece of advice: DON'T leave it for the last moment! ;) 

See you soon and have a nice holiday! To cheer you up, I leave this song dedicated to you! 

The Beatles - Help!

The Beatles - Help!, Music Video, Song Lyrics and Karaoke

UNIT 8 - RELATIVE CLAUSES - 3rd EESS

Look at this presentation to learn about the Relatives Clauses. Then click on the links and do the activities proposed.



Activity 1: Rephrasing sentences
Activity 2:  Realtive pronouns and adverbs
Activity 3:  Relative pronoun necessary or not?
Activity 4:  Defininf or non-defining relative clauses?
Activity 5: SONG (choose a song and complete the gaps)

To study at home and to solve your doubts here you have a very good explanation  fo Relative Clauses:
- Relative Clauses
- Exercises

3rd EESS PROJECT SECOND TERM - GLOBAL ISSUES

Here you have a slide presentation about the project for your poster. Read all the information and the instructions. 

Global issues from Laura Cambril Hernández

3rd ESO PAST TENSE REVISION

Have a look at the video, it will help you to understand the use of the Past tenses.

Now practise with these exercises:
 Activity 1- Past Simple
Activity 2 - Past Simple text
Activity 3- Past Continuous
Activity 4- Past Simple or Past Continuous?

4th ESO FUTURE TENSE REVISION

Here you have a very good presentation about the Future. Have a look and then click on the activities.

Activity 1 - Will / Be going to
Activity 2 - Mixed exercise
Activity 3 - Transport
Activity 4- Future Be going to / Present Continuous

2nd ESO B - UNITS 4 & 5 REVISION

Next week we have got the exam of these units. Let's practise with some exercises. Click on the links below and do the activities. 

UNIT 4
- Activity 1  Around the house
- Activity 2 Past Simple - Affirmative
- Activity 3  Past Simple- Negative

UNIT 5
- Activity 4 The weather
- Activity 5 Past Continuous

1st ESO - UNITS 4 & 5 REVISION

As you know the 15th February you are having Units 4 & 5 exam. Today we are going to practise with some online exercises. This will be your last day to ask doubts! Click on the activities and START!

Vocabulary

- Activity 1 : The house: rooms and household activities

- Activity 2: Food and drinks

- Activity 3: Feelings

Grammar

- Activity 4: Present Continuous

- Activity 5: Present Simple & Present Continuous
- Activity 6: There is / There are
Game: Trolley dash
           The Haunted House

3rd SSEE - GLOBAL ISSUES

As you know, global warming and climate change are one of the most threatening issues we are facing at present. As a consequence, in 2011 Japan was hit by a devastating earthquake and tsunami. We are going to listen to the telephone interview between a CNN reporter and a witness. In your worksheets  decide if the sentences below are True  or False.

4t D- COMPUTER SESSION - UNITS 1-4

Here you have some links to practise Unit 4 and revise some other units contents. 
Click on the links and do the following activities:

Activity 1 : Past Simple (affirmative, negative and questions)
Activity 2: Past Simple - Irregular /Regular
Activity 3: Present Simple - Present Continuous
Activity 4: Song: Brian Adams "Summer of 69"

3rd B SONG "WHO KNEW" BY PINK

This is the song "Who Knew" by Pink we practised in class. Sing it again and pay attention to the Past Simple verbs! 

3rd SSEE - UNIT 4 - OPINION ESSAY

We are back to school after the well -deserved Christmas holidays. In Unit 4 we are learning to express our opinion about different topics. Your writing task will be to write an opinion essay (minimum 170 words) choosing ONE of the following topics. 

a) "Bullfighting in Spain should be banned by law" Do you agree?
b) "In the USA the use of arms should be illegal" What's your opinion about this topic?
c) " Learning foreign languages is important to get a good job". Give your opinion.
d) " We are becoming too dependent on computers" Do you agree? 

e) " Teachers shouldn't give so much homework" . What do you think?

Before starting to write, have a look at these slides about how to write an opinion essay. It is important you organise the paragraphs and use connectors.