This week's movies

Hi there!

These are the movie picks of the week. What do you think? Which one would you like to see? Have you already seen any? How was it? Tell us!

Oct 5th World Teachers' Day

Today is World Teachers' Day.

Why don't you send an email to your favourite teacher(s)?

You can do it by clicking here.

You can also listen to EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen's video message for World Teachers' Day 2012.

Diagnostic Test

These days we will take a diagnostic test in class to see your level of English and for me to learn about your needs as well.

Meanwhile you can take this online test from Oxford University Press. You may tell us how well you did in the "comment" section below.

Some Info to begin with

Dear all,

This is what it is expected from you this school year as we read in class.

• NI1 Groups
• NI2 Groups

Have a good day!

Spain protests turn violent

Hi! 
Have you seen the news in English recently? How about this video from the CNN about Spain and the protests around the Parliament? What do you think about it?

Welcome to a new School Year

Dear students,

A new course has started yet again. This school year we will be using these coursebooks from Oxford University Press:

• For NI1, New English File. Intermediate.
• For NI2, New English File. Upper-Intermediate. 

I'll try to do my best in guiding you through the learning of English in 2012-2013. At the same time I hope all my courses at Intermediate 1 and 2 level can also make a commitment to employ some time at home, at the cinema, and/or with friends... to learn English outside the classroom. This blog is precisely a tool created for you to keep studying beyond the classes.

 Welcome!

I won't be there!

Dear NI2 students at Valdezarza school,

I'm afraid that I won't be at your exam on Tuesday 18th nor your speaking test on Friday 21st. At that time I'll be working in another school and another teacher will replace me. Sorry!

I wanted to wish you the best of lucks and an excellent beginning of a new course. 

Language tip of the week: access | Macmillan

I thought you might well benefit from the advice given on confusing words used in context. The example here is on access used as a verb without preposition: I could't access my account when abroad. and the use of "to" when used as a noun: We had access to the sauna area.

Language tip of the week: access | Macmillan

Language tip of the week: advice

Books

These are some recommendations for the Advanced Level:

• English Collocations in Use, Advanced. Cambridge University Press, 2008
• Raymond Murphy, English Grammar in Use. CUP
• Martin Hewins, Advanced Grammar in Use. Second Edition. Cambridge University Press.

Official Schools in Danger of Extinction

Dear all,

As you already know, the quality of language teaching is being threatened. If you want to vote against the bill that allows the transfer of Official School Teachers to Secondary School and tell your contacts as well, you can do it in this link through facebook.

http://www.change.org/es/peticiones/salvemos-la-ense%C3%B1anza-p%C3%BAblica-de-idiomas

Hope you are enjoying your summer!

And now, the schools

Dear all,

As you may already know, students' taxes next school year will be higher, between 250 and 280 euros. All civil servants will see their salary reduced AGAIN. What's more, there is a Royal Decree in project which says that teachers from the official schools will be liable to be transferred to Secondary Schools, baccalaureate or vocational training. 

You may not know that doing courses and improving our knowledge as teachers is a must and a right as well. But in the last 4 years there haven't been many courses to improve our teaching practice. 

I'm afraid that these tendencies are all heading to eliminate the Official Schools of Languages. I suppose the plan is to offer foreign language teaching to private business. 

I just feel we need to be informed. 

September Exams

Dear all,

These are the dates for the examinations in September:

NI1

Written Exam-> Tuesday, Sept 4th at 15:45

Groups E, I -> Room 1
Group H -> Room 2
Speaking-> Friday, Sept 7th in room 12!!

NI2
Written Exam   -> Tuesday, Sept 18th in room 1 at 15:45
Speaking Exam -> Friday, Sept 21st in room 1

See you again in September and
I hope you have a blast this summer!

Suggested readers

Dear NI1 students,

As some of you have asked, I'll suggest a few books for you to read during this summer:

•  In and Around London. Book + CD. Blackcat Publishing (Vicensvives) Book sample
•  Classic Detective Stories. Conan Doyle, Dickens. Book + cd. Blackcat Publishing.  Audio sample
•  Othello. Book + CD. Blackcat Publishing (Vicensvives) Book sample
•  Wicked and Humorous Tales Book + cd. Vicensvives) Book sample
•  A Love for Life (Cambridge University Press)

 UNABRIDGED:

•  The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas by Tom Boyne (unabridged)
•  The curious incident of the dog in the night time (unabridged). Mark Haddon

I hope you enjoy these readings. If you read any of these, don't forget to drop you opinion about it. Other students may want to read them as well!

Graded dictations

Dear all,

I suggest you check up this page called Graded Dictations. You can practice dictations at home which will also help you to improve your listening skills. Follow these steps:

• Choose your level
• Click on the diction you wish
• Listen to it different times.
• Write down your version on a piece of paper
• Eventually, you'll be able to compare your text with the written version!

NI2 Grades

Dear NI2G students,


As promised, you can see your grades here. Congratulations to those who passed! and sorry to those who didn't. You have another chance in September!
Pluck up courage for it!

As a reminder, you can check your exams on Wednesday 27th at 8pm.

The First Family Redefined

This is video about a very common issue among American families. They are very into knowing their roots. In this case, the story gets complicated by affecting the First Lady of the USA. She is related to a white family from South Carolina. 

If you want to know more, read the following article from the New York Times. As you can see, slavery is a very touchy issue in America. Some of those relatives didn't want to show up so that their names wouldn't be messed up with slavery. 

Call for NI2G students

This is the call for the students in group G to do their speaking exam on Friday 22nd. 

Good luck to you all!

Call for NI2F students

This is your schedule for the speaking exam today June 19th!

I know it's easier said than done, but don't get too nervours!

Good luck! :-)

Using mobiles to pay

Dear NI2 students,

Why don't you read this text from the BBC on the use of mobile phones and cards to pay? 
Match the following words with their definitions:

a. hurdle (paragraph 3)              to stay of fall behind

b. wave (paragraph 6)                barrier, obstacle

c. lag behind (paragraph 12)       use for gain, exploit

d. leverage (paragraph 15)         to swing (something) back and forth or up and down 

What does a virtual wallet in paragraph 43 mean? Can you explain with your own words?

AND HOW HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you still use cash to pay? How do you envision its future? Are there any drawbacks to the use of phones to pay? Could cash finally be on its way out?

For extra listening practice, watch this videofrom the BBC

NI2 Exam

Dear NI2 students,

As you already know, the exam on Thursday will start at 15:45 and we'll follow this timing: 

• Reading (70 minutes)
• Listening (40 minutes approx)
• Break (20')
• Writing (75 minutes)

Good luck!
PS The written exam in September will take place on Tuesday 18th at 15:45.