Dear NI1 students,
What about practicing quantifiers in these links?
Work Vocabulary
Dialogues: Renting a flat
April 27, 2012
Recycling Vocab
Dear NI2 students,
Let's review the vocabulary of the different units from the coursebook in these links from New English File:
April 26, 2012
Key to Reading on p. 70-71
4. READING
a.
1. encourage 2. increase 3. ban 4. promote
5. reduce 6. protect
b. Counter-revolution is a movement whose aim is to slow life down (so that we live in a happier and healthier way).
c. A
1. Carlo Petrini, an Italian journalist. Because he saw that McDonald's had opened a restaurant in a beautiful square in Rome.
2. He thought it was tragic that people live too quickly to sit down to eat proper meal and that they only eat mass-produced food.
3. To encourage people to stop during the day and eat slowly, to use local shops and markets, eat out in small family restaurants, cook with traditional recipes.
4. It is now a global organization and members in 100 countries.
c. B
1. It was inspired by the Slow Food movement. It was started by the mayor of Greve in Italy.
2. It aims are to make our towns places where people enjoy living and working and to protect things that make the town different.
3. It has spread all over the world, e.g. Japan, Australia, etc.
4. Most people are very happy ("delighted") because they think it increases their quality of life. Teenagers aren't so happy. They have to travel 25km to the nearest city if they want excitement.
5. VOCABULARY
a.
government movement
organization relaxation
discussion reaction
proposal survival
happiness madness
possibility similarity
April 23, 2012
Expressing contrast
Dear NI2,You may practice contrast in these online activities from (scroll down!):
For more grammar practice on this unit visit these:
Taking the Waste out of Wastewater
Don't pull a face when watching this video from the New York Times. It might be the key to be able to use water in the future!
April 21, 2012
NI2 Reading
This is the key to reading Wy Men don't Iron on pages 58 to59 from the coursebook:
1. Why men and women are so different
2. Why women are better with words
3. Why women get lost but are safer drivers
4. Why men don't iron
5. Why men can't find things
6. Why women don't fly planes
You can also read here the possible answers to the wrong sentences from the writing feedback:
April 17, 2012
Unit 4 Review
Dear NI1 students,
Find some links to review what we've learned in lesson 4:
VOCABULARY:
Education
Houses:
GRAMMAR:
- Lesson A first conditional and future time clauses + when, until, etc. (1)
- Lesson A first conditional and future time clauses + when, until, etc. (2)
- Lesson B first and second conditional
- Lesson B second conditional
- Lesson C usually and used to (1)
- Lesson C usually and used to (2)
April 15, 2012
Colin Firth in The King's Speech
Dear NI2 students,
Find the listening from Speak Up Magazine in this link: Colin Firth, Speaking Freely.
It talks about the right to keep a private life when you are a public person. What do you think about it? Are you entitled to decide which things to keep private and which not when you are a public figure?
Do the Royal Family represent England? What else is representative of the British people?
The Intouchables
Alberto once commented whether it was a comedy or drama. I think that comedies are precisily that; a sad story is dealt with humor and a happy ending. In a comedy what might turn up wrong becomes a happy ending.
Synopsis
After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caretaker. Two worlds are going to collide and come to terms with each other to give birth to a friendship as crazy, comical and strong as it is unexpected, a unique relationship that will create sparks and make them… Untouchable.
On the other hand, in the USA the film was thought to be "offensive", "which flings about the kind of Uncle Tom
racism one hopes has permanently exited American screens". In the film Driss (Omar Sy) is of Senegalese descent. Most French
journalists do not understand such an interpretation and highlight the
cultural issue that America has with anything linked to ethnicity.
What do you think? Have you seen it? Do you agree with the review? Is it a racist movie?
April 11, 2012
Lewis Hine
Dear all,As Carlos suggested, this is an interesting photograph exhibition that you can visit online, or in Sala Recoletos, Fundación Maphre.
It's about the photographs taken by Lewis Hine of the people who entered the USA through the Ellis Island.
Writing feedback
Dear NI2 students,
This is the feedback of your writings in the mock exam. Remember that we learn from our mistakes so that we don't repeat them. Try to correct the sentences on the second page. We'll go over them in class.
April 10, 2012
Why Bilinguals are smarted exploited
Dear NI2 students,
We will be working on Why bilinguals are smarter in class these days. If you are interested in this topic, you could also read this article from Iberosphere: Bilingual schooling obsession is gambling with children’s future
We will be working on Why bilinguals are smarter in class these days. If you are interested in this topic, you could also read this article from Iberosphere: Bilingual schooling obsession is gambling with children’s future
April 02, 2012
A love for Life
We are going to talk about A Love for Life on April 12 and Monday 16th. If you have finished the book, why don't you try to aswer these questions?? You can reply in the comment section!
1. Which character did you identify with most? Why?
2. Do you think A Love for Life is a good title? Why or why not? Make up an alternative title.
3. Leah and Fanella are two very different women. Make a list of their differences.
4. Rod loves working with children. Would you like to work with children?
5. Have you read in the newspapers about problems in adoption cases? What happened?
3. Leah and Fanella are two very different women. Make a list of their differences.
4. Rod loves working with children. Would you like to work with children?
5. Have you read in the newspapers about problems in adoption cases? What happened?
WRITING (OPTIONAL)
6. Fanella tells Rod that she hasn’t said anything yet to Ellie about the new baby (page 111). Write the conversation when Fanella gives Ellie the good news.7. What do you think happens after the end of the story? Write an extra chapter about what happens to the main characters.
8. Imagine you are Mrs Bedrock, Dan’s mother. Write a formal letter of apology to Mrs Grey, the headteacher.
March 31, 2012
Leap of faith
Hi!
In this video from the BBC, Words in the news, you can learn more vocabulary. Try to repeat and do the exercise below. By the way what does "leap of faith" mean?
Exercise
Use one of the words or phrases below to complete each of these sentences from BBC news reports.
Note that you may have to change the form of a word to complete the sentence correctly.
adrenaline junkie / into the void / a nightmare / in one piece / cuts and bruises
1.
"The __________ that I have is the memories of when I lived under the Taliban," she said. "That's what we went through and that's what might come back."
2.
She describes herself as an______________ having already tried skydiving and body boarding down sand dunes.
3.
The victim suffered _______________ in the attack.
4.
"Four months ago I was in a very critical situation," Mr Chavez said. "Thanks be to God, four months have passed and here I am, all ____________ and on my feet." Mr Chavez, who has been in power since 1999, has said his illness will not stop him from standing for re-election next year.
5.
Greece is "on the brink of the abyss", President Karolos Papoulias has warned, after three people died during protests over planned austerity measures. "We are all responsible so that it does not take the step ____________," the president said in a statement. It followed a day of violence during which protesters set fire to a bank, killing three employees.
Note that you may have to change the form of a word to complete the sentence correctly.
adrenaline junkie / into the void / a nightmare / in one piece / cuts and bruises
1.
"The __________ that I have is the memories of when I lived under the Taliban," she said. "That's what we went through and that's what might come back."
2.
She describes herself as an______________ having already tried skydiving and body boarding down sand dunes.
3.
The victim suffered _______________ in the attack.
4.
"Four months ago I was in a very critical situation," Mr Chavez said. "Thanks be to God, four months have passed and here I am, all ____________ and on my feet." Mr Chavez, who has been in power since 1999, has said his illness will not stop him from standing for re-election next year.
5.
Greece is "on the brink of the abyss", President Karolos Papoulias has warned, after three people died during protests over planned austerity measures. "We are all responsible so that it does not take the step ____________," the president said in a statement. It followed a day of violence during which protesters set fire to a bank, killing three employees.
March 30, 2012
Three little pigs commit a crime
This advert for the Guardian's open journalism, screened for the first
time on 29 February 2012, imagines how we might cover the story of the
three little pigs in print and online. Follow the story from the paper's
front page headline, through a social media discussion and finally to
an unexpected conclusion.
Is killing the intruder ever justified?
Why don't you try to listen for legal terms and collocations in the video? There are a few ones!
Why don't you try to listen for legal terms and collocations in the video? There are a few ones!
March 29, 2012
Type 2 conditionals
Dear NI1 students,
Check the answer to the exercises Manuel handed out in class here.
Type the correct answer in this online exercise.
They were retrieved from the University of Victoria in Canada.
March 28, 2012
Is it cold or allergy?
I found this interesting site on how to differenciate allergy symptoms from a cold. I hope it will provide good vocabulary. How about you? do you really suffer from any allergies? Do you easily get a cold?
Symptoms & Types
Symptoms
Got a raspy cough? Can’t stop sneezing? Maybe you feel achy and fatigued.
Chances are you have a cold. Learn about common cold symptoms so you’ll know if
you need to call the doctor.
Can you tell the difference between a cold and an allergy? Discover the difference between colds and allergies so you’ll know how to treat your stuffy head, runny nose, and congestion.
Sore throat, nasal congestion, coughing … is it a cold or the flu? It’s important to know the difference since prompt treatment may help lessen the flu. Check out this handy chart so you’ll be prepared.
Can you tell the difference between a cold and an allergy? Discover the difference between colds and allergies so you’ll know how to treat your stuffy head, runny nose, and congestion.
Sore throat, nasal congestion, coughing … is it a cold or the flu? It’s important to know the difference since prompt treatment may help lessen the flu. Check out this handy chart so you’ll be prepared.
Complications
When normal cold symptoms turn into sinusitis, bronchitis, sore throat, or
ear infections, you may need medical treatment. Learn about cold complications
— the symptoms, the treatment, and when to call the doctor.
When your nasal congestion and postnasal drip continue long after your cold should be over, you may have a sinus infection (sinusitis). Learn more about sinus infections and how this common problem is treated.
If you’ve ever had an ear infection, you know how painful it can be. Discover the causes of middle ear infections (otitis media) with colds and steps you can take now to ease the pain.
How bad are your sinus problems? Find out with WebMD's Allergy & Sinus Symptom Evaluator.
When your nasal congestion and postnasal drip continue long after your cold should be over, you may have a sinus infection (sinusitis). Learn more about sinus infections and how this common problem is treated.
If you’ve ever had an ear infection, you know how painful it can be. Discover the causes of middle ear infections (otitis media) with colds and steps you can take now to ease the pain.
How bad are your sinus problems? Find out with WebMD's Allergy & Sinus Symptom Evaluator.
March 27, 2012
The Benefits of Bilingualism
Dear NI2 students,
I'd like you to read this article for Spring Break, The Benefits of Bilingualism from the New York Times, March 17th.
As you can see, there are many benefits to being bilingual, can you think of more?
March 22, 2012
Housing
Dear NI1,
There are a few websites that I'd like you to check. They are related to housing vocabulary:
- Housing Vocabulary, listen and repeat
- Listening: Apartments for Rent (esl.lab)
- What type of roommate do you want?
March 21, 2012
Kony 2012
Hi!
I thought that this moving film should be known. Once more the power of people working together bears fruit. This movie will hopefully stop Kony's actions against children in Uganda!
For more info visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc
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