Why I think this world should end

Dear future generations,
Sorry.

Showrooming and shopping

Are these shoppers 'showrooming'?

Have you ever visited a shop to see and test a product but then gone and bought it cheaper online? If so, you have been 'showrooming' - a new word to describe this activity.
In 6 Minute English, Rob and Finn talk about why people do this and how it is affecting the shops in our town centres. They'll also be explaining some of the vocabulary related to shopping.
This week's question:
Which of these countries has the most online shoppers? Is it:
a) The United Kingdom
b) The USA
c) Korea

Shopping in town or online

Why not think and speak about shopping?

1 What's your favourite shop or website to buy?

• clothes
• shoes
• books and music?
• presents
• food

2 Do you ever shop ....? what do you buy?

• in Street markets
• in supermarkets
• in shopping centres or malls
• online

3 What do you...?

• enjoy buying
• hate buying

4 Do you prefer shopping for clothes... ?

• by yourself or with somebody
• at the beginning of the season or in the sales

5 What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of buying clothes online?

LISTENING:

1. Shopping online
2. Shopping for clothes
3. Shopping

Topics in the oral exam

I'm posting a question a classmate made. It might be useful for everybody.

 

I have a question regarding the next English exam. I´d like to know if the topics for the speaking test are only between the last lessons (that we have learnt after February) or whether it could be among the whole book? Is it possible that we have to speak abour money, shopping, an so on, again?

Thaks,

Esther

 

The topics for the oral exam are those that we've dealt with in class since February.

Conditionals

Type 1 conditionals: If I find her address, I’ll send her an invitation.

Thanks!

I want to send an invitation to a friend. I just have to find her address. I am quite sure, however, that I will find it.

• Conditionals Type 1
• IF Clauses Type I
• Second exercise on IF Clauses Type I

Type 2 conditionals: If John had the money, he would buy a Ferrari.

I know John very well and I know that he doesn't have much money, but he loves Ferraris. He would like to own a Ferrari (in his dreams). But I think it is very unlikely that he will have the money to buy one in the near future.

• Conditionals Type 2
• Exercise on IF Clauses Type 2
• Exercise 2 on IF Clauses Type 2

Tests on Conditional Sentences:

• Conditional Sentences Type 1 Level: elementary
• Conditional Sentences Type 1 and 2 Level: lower intermediate

Spain's Ruling Conservatives Suffer Local Election Losses

Among the new winners were members of a left-wing grassroots party that grew out of Spain's Occupy Movement. They won seats in regional governments across Spain, and Barcelona's city hall.

Spain enters a new political era

People have been celebrating the results of the vote in Valencia

As expected, in the wake of the economic crisis and high-profile corruption scandals which have tarnished the reputation of the traditional political parties in Spain, the country has now entered a new political era.

 

Anti-austerity parties, linked to the Podemos movement on the far left, which is barely one year old, have the prestige of holding power in Barcelona, and could form a coalition to rule in the Spanish capital.

Across the country the ruling Popular Party (PP) of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has been punished.

The PP will hold onto the fact that they still have the highest share of the vote of any single party. But they have lost absolute majorities in regional parliaments across the country, including in traditional heartlands like Valencia, where the party has been badly damaged by corruption.

Source: BBC

Grown up and living at home

Who's going to do your washing if you leave home?

The current economic situation means more young people are living at home for longer.
Many are unable to afford to buy or even rent their own place to live. But living at home can have its benefits – no bills to pay, no washing to do and food prepared for you – if your parents are generous!
Rob and Finn discuss the pros and cons of living at home and explain some related vocabulary.

Six-minute English programme

This week's question:
What percentage of 20 to 34-year-olds were living at home with their parents in 2013, according to the UK's Office for National Statistics?
a) 16%
b) 26%
c) 36%

How to be an elite student

You never know how the others see you. It seems that students of Tuesday and Thursday group know me quite well by now! :-)

 

Reading Comprehension

You can practice Reading comprehension in these sites from the University of Victoria:

• Raven and the First People
• Nasreddin and the Pot
• Nasreddin the ferry man
• Nasreddin's Visitors

More Difficult:

• The Hitchhiker
• The Carpet Fitter

Monday & Wednesday group

Hi,

This is the schedule for those students taking the Speaking Exam on Thursday, June 11. 

16h
Marisa A - Loreto F
Ana F - Aurea C
Pedro L - Rocío T

17:15
Luis Alberto R - Susana S
M.ª Antonia M - Jacinto Á
Julia A- Veracruz R
José Antonio P - Amparo H

18:30
Judith A - Mariano V
Zarko J - M.ª Teresa G
Patricia M - Esther M

20 h
Paz C - Sara G
Natalia G - Ana L
Luz Marina Á - Ángel F
Mónica C - Sebastián C

Tuesday and Thursday group

Hi,

This is the schedule for the Speaking Exam on Friday 12th.

16H
Lucía G - Leonor B
Marina U - Alberto B
Marcos C - Juan José C P

17:15
Sara S - Juan Ignacio F
Carlos B - Esther C
Jezabel S - Alejandro

18:30 
José Ángel C - Elena F
Verónica M - Raúl C
Manuel C - Aroa C

20H
Alba A - Elena L
Jorge Luis R - Irene S
Verónica M A - Violeta P
Abel G - Juan José G G
Rafael N - Begoña J

Blues Music Great BB King dead at 89

B.B. King was in the music business for almost 70 years. He influenced generations of musicians during his career. I'd like you to listen to the news about BB King's death on VOA English:

True Stories From Employees Who Made A Horrible First Impression At Work

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. But what if that first impression is at work? Here are two stories from employees who made a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad first impression at their jobs. As you’ll see, their reasons were very different. But don’t worry, they both have happy endings.

Robert Sollars was hired in 2001 as a supervisor at a security company in Kansas. Here’s how he tells his story:

The office manager didn’t think too much about it at all until she got a call from my now ex-wife. My ex told her all sorts of stories about me and how I was so mean and cruel and she was disabled. She actually ranted for about 20 minutes according to Mindy. From that point on, she thought I was just the worst sort of crumb bum that they could have hired.
Her attitude changed over the next few months and now, even 11 years later and I’ve move to Arizona she is one of my best friends. At the time she didn’t trust me nor want me around her, unless it was absolutely mandatory that I talk to her. 

Read more: http://www.thegrindstone.com/2012/10/19/career-management/employees-who-made-horrible-first-impression-at-work-789/#ixzz3ZjUsYSqP

B.B. King

This is Amparo's presentation in class. Enjoy!

My dream home mind map

This is an example of a dream home. How about yours? You might also create a mind map of your own dream home. Anyone would like to share it with us?

 

Athénaïse by Kate Chopin

Our story today is called "Athénaïse" by Kate Chopin. Women in the United States long wanted to be independent. This classic American Story tells about a young married woman in the Bayou of Louisiana who questions her role as a wife. Can she have her personal liberty and stay married to Mr. Cazeau?

Source: VOA English

More practice

Let's go over these grammar points and vocab:

• Relative clauses (1)
• Relative clauses (2)
• Second conditional (1)     
• Second conditional (2)
• Articles (1)
• Articles (2)

VOCABULARY:

• Relationships
• Sport

Debrett's guide to mobile phoning ettiquete

From loudly proclaiming you are 'are on the train' to accidentally interupting a West End show with your ringtone, there are dozens of ways to irritate others with your phone. Which is why Debrett's have come up with the ultimate rules for mobile etiquette:

Taking calls in bed or ignoring people who are present in favour of those at the end of the line are all banned according to Debrett's Photo: ALAMY

Source: The Telegraph

Letters from mum

Famous mums share letters to their daughters on Mother's day yesterday second Sunday of May.

To Beyoncé, Solange, Kelly and Angie

When I was asked to write an open letter to you, I thought about the hundreds of texts and emails that I have sent to you on holidays and on Sundays, when I ask you to say a prayer to thank God for each other. Every day, I wake up thinking about how much I love, admire and cherish each of you.
I gave birth to two of you, but I have four incredible daughters. Writing this brought to mind all the ways you guys have been such a blessing to me.

When I’m feeling sad or not-so-cute or maybe a little sorry for myself, and you all include me in your group chat and tell me how hot I still look or how cool I am. Maybe you send me a crazy YouTube video. What actually works best is a cute photo of my grandchildren.

Reviewing

It would be good to review the latest gramar points we've dealt with in class:

• Past tenses (1)

• Past tenses (2)
  
• Present and past habits and states: usually and used to (1)
• Present and past habits and states: usually and used to (2)
• The passive: be + past participle (1)
• The passive: be + past participle (2) 
• Modals of deduction: might, can't, must (1) 
• Modals of deduction: might, can't, must (2) 
• First conditional and future time clauses + when, until, etc. (1)     
• First conditional and future time clauses + when, until, etc. (2)

VOCABULARY:

• Education
• The body
• Houses

Education in Spain

Hi,

 

Juan provided the answer to our question in class about the percentage of Public Education in Spain.

You'll find estra information in Facts and Figures of the Education in the 2014-2015 school year by the Ministry of Education. 

 

Tiger Moms: Is Tough Parenting Really the Answer?

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother author Amy Chua's proudly politically incorrect account of raising her children "the Chinese way" has revealed American fears about losing ground to China and preparing our kids to survive in the global economy.

It was the "Little White Donkey" incident that pushed many readers over the edge. That's the name of the piano tune that Amy Chua, Yale law professor and self-described "tiger mother," forced her 7-year-old daughter Lulu to practice for hours on end — "right through dinner into the night," with no breaks for water or even the bathroom, until at last Lulu learned to play the piece.

For other readers, it was Chua calling her older daughter Sophia "garbage" after the girl behaved disrespectfully — the same thing Chua had been called as a child by her strict Chinese father.

Read the full article at Time.com

Ringleader

You can learn news words at VOA English:

Conditionals Review

Hi,
 
Let's review conditionals by going over these exercises:

If it rains, the grass gets wet.

-> This is basically always true, the rain makes the grass wet.

1.  Zero conditional

Juan will be sad if Paula leaves.

Maybe -> Paula will leave — that's possible.

1. First conditional 1
2. First conditional 3

If dogs had wings, they would be able to fly.

-> Dogs don't have wings — that's impossible.

1. Second conditional 1
2. Second conditional 2
3. Second conditional 3

Final lap

Hi,

You know that time runs fast and we don't have many lessons left. I encourage you to review, speak, listen and read as much as possible before the dates of the exam below:

• June 8th at 16:30
• Reading (65'),
• Listening (25'),
• Writing (75')
• June 11th (M&W group speaking)
• June 12th (T&T group speaking)

15 signs you were born and raised in Spain

Let's read some humorous article about Spaniards today. This is Irene's recommendation.
Ana Bulnes, March 26, 2015 Source: Matador

Photo: Gene Krasko Photography

 

1. You refer as aunt and uncle (tía and tío) to people who are not related to you.

Why? Well, who knows why, but for Spanish people tío or tía, which literally mean uncle and aunt, is the equivalent of the English “dude.”

2. You think if you have dinner before 9 pm you will wake up hungry in the middle of the night.

How are all those people from the rest of the world able to be so many hours without eating? It will always be a mystery for you.

Key

Hi:
This is the key to the Relative Clause Quiz we did in pairs in class:

A
Sport: 1 which; 2 which. Art and Literature: 1 who; 2 whose; Film and TV: 1 who, 2 who; Geography: 1 which, 2 where; Technology: 1 whose, 2 where

B
Sport: 1 where, 2 whose; Art and Literarute; 1 whose, 2 who; Film and TV: 1 where, 2 who; Geography: 1 where, 2 which; Technology: 1 where, 2 which

Speaking at home

Why don't you try to answer these questions at home? These review units 5 and 6:

1. Do you prefer doing sport or watching it?
2. What sport do you do?
3. What sports do you most like watching? Why?
4. Do you know anyone who has gone out with someone they met on the internet?
5. How did it work out?
6. Have you ever cheated in an exam?
7. How did you cheat?
8. Were you caught?
9. What's your favourite film of all time?
10. How many times have you seen it?
11. Why did you like it so much?
12. Do you have a profile photo?
13. What is it?
14. Why did you choose it?