Hello everybody,
Last week we finished The Canterbury Tales. I hope you enjoyed the book. Why don't you use our C-Box and write your opinion about it? You can refer to specific tales or to the book a whole. You can explain whether you liked it or not and why, if you can understand its historic value... I don't know, anything that comes to your mind. It will be interesting!
You can watch again The Wife of Bath's Tale. I am sure with your headphones you will understand it much better. I must admit the sound quality in the classroom wasn't the best.
In our speaking revisions, we practised money,banking,shopping, and food. Next week we will revise the topic of houses and cities (Tuesday) and family (Thursday).
We also started our last unit in the programme, in which we will learn how to make film reviews. Regarding grammar, we will study the passive voice.
I gave you a lot of handouts, but you don't have to work on them yet (only if you wish)
See you on Tuesday then!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Third term, fifth week
Hello everyone,
Last week we were learning how to make questions more polite intruducing them with expressions like "Could you tell me... " "Can I know..." etc. You have more explanations, listening activities and more practice here.
We also learnt how to make question tags, and you had some activities on that. You can also practice here.
Next week, we will continue talking about films, so you can start thinking about you favourite movie. You'll probably have to tell me something about it.
Have a nice weekend and don't forget to read the Franklin's tale!
Last week we were learning how to make questions more polite intruducing them with expressions like "Could you tell me... " "Can I know..." etc. You have more explanations, listening activities and more practice here.
We also learnt how to make question tags, and you had some activities on that. You can also practice here.
Next week, we will continue talking about films, so you can start thinking about you favourite movie. You'll probably have to tell me something about it.
Have a nice weekend and don't forget to read the Franklin's tale!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Third term, fourth week
Hello everyone,
This week has been more dynamic, hasn't it?
We participated in the complementary activity with our language assitants on Tuesday. I hope you learnt some curiosities... for example:
Which leave appears in the Canadian flag?
What does "to raise the roof", "booze" or "this is not my cup of tea" mean?
Where is Jim Carrey from?
We were even doing line dancing! We certainly had a good time, didn't we?
Then, on Thursday we were roleplaying the Nun's Priest's Tale and we started talking about Jack the Ripper. Be careful if someone offers you grapes... I know the film was a bit difficult to understand, but if you watch it at home I am sure it will be much easier.
Patricia Cornwell led an investigation to find out the identity of Jack the Ripper. Next week we will learn somthing more about this theory, which is different from the one underlying the movie. If you want, you can have a look at this website which shows paintings by the 19th century artist Walter Sickert. Don't open the website if you are very sensitive.
And then, have a look at this article. (Just a curiosity)
Well... for next Thursday, you have to work on indirect questions on page 143. Read the Pardoner's tale as well, and try to practise telling it aloud. You don't know if you will be the narrator!
We will also practice one topic of oral production and interaction: money, banking, quality of life, social relationships, shopping...You could speak about aspects such as people who are too materialistic, retail therapy, having quality of life even though it means not so much professional success, what you would do if you had a lot of money, online shopping, saving money, bank loans... or anything you might want to say. And don't forget that now you know a lot of new structures and vocabulary which I hope to hear you use!
Well... enjoy the long weekend, but don't forget about English! We only have one month left!
This week has been more dynamic, hasn't it?
We participated in the complementary activity with our language assitants on Tuesday. I hope you learnt some curiosities... for example:
Which leave appears in the Canadian flag?
What does "to raise the roof", "booze" or "this is not my cup of tea" mean?
Where is Jim Carrey from?
We were even doing line dancing! We certainly had a good time, didn't we?
Then, on Thursday we were roleplaying the Nun's Priest's Tale and we started talking about Jack the Ripper. Be careful if someone offers you grapes... I know the film was a bit difficult to understand, but if you watch it at home I am sure it will be much easier.
Patricia Cornwell led an investigation to find out the identity of Jack the Ripper. Next week we will learn somthing more about this theory, which is different from the one underlying the movie. If you want, you can have a look at this website which shows paintings by the 19th century artist Walter Sickert. Don't open the website if you are very sensitive.
And then, have a look at this article. (Just a curiosity)
Well... for next Thursday, you have to work on indirect questions on page 143. Read the Pardoner's tale as well, and try to practise telling it aloud. You don't know if you will be the narrator!
We will also practice one topic of oral production and interaction: money, banking, quality of life, social relationships, shopping...You could speak about aspects such as people who are too materialistic, retail therapy, having quality of life even though it means not so much professional success, what you would do if you had a lot of money, online shopping, saving money, bank loans... or anything you might want to say. And don't forget that now you know a lot of new structures and vocabulary which I hope to hear you use!
Well... enjoy the long weekend, but don't forget about English! We only have one month left!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Third term, third week
Hiya!
This week we have continued practicing reported speech in different contexts. We role-played a situation in a clothes shop and in a restaruant in which there had been a problem and you had to complain. In the end, you had to fill in a complaint form, which I hope you can hand in after Easter.
On Thursday we interpreted The Knight's Tale, with Lady Tíscar Emily, Palamon-Daniel and Arcite-Paco. (It sounds like a soap opera!) Thanks to our great narrator, The knight Inma. Then, we focused on the for and against discourse (either in oral speech or in writing), and you have to write a for&against essay (or advantages-disadvantages).
As for the key to handouts 42, 43 and 44 (Reported Speech and Shopping vocabulary), you can download the key here.
As for the use of "thus", it can be a synonym of "in this way", and at the beginning of a sentence, it is like "therefore". In any case, it introduces a consequence of the previous action:
These are some examples from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary:
The universities have expanded, thus allowing many more people the chance of higher education. (Thus = in this way)
He is the eldest son and thus heir to the title (Thus = Therefore = Hence
We do not own the building. Tus, it would be impossible for us to make any major changes to it. (Thus = Therefore = Hence)
There is an expression: "thus far", which means the same as "so far".
Well... have a nice Easter, enjoy with your family and friends and see you on the 26th at the meeting hall. Don't forget the language assistants have prepared a talk for all of us.
See you then!
This week we have continued practicing reported speech in different contexts. We role-played a situation in a clothes shop and in a restaruant in which there had been a problem and you had to complain. In the end, you had to fill in a complaint form, which I hope you can hand in after Easter.
On Thursday we interpreted The Knight's Tale, with Lady Tíscar Emily, Palamon-Daniel and Arcite-Paco. (It sounds like a soap opera!) Thanks to our great narrator, The knight Inma. Then, we focused on the for and against discourse (either in oral speech or in writing), and you have to write a for&against essay (or advantages-disadvantages).
As for the key to handouts 42, 43 and 44 (Reported Speech and Shopping vocabulary), you can download the key here.
As for the use of "thus", it can be a synonym of "in this way", and at the beginning of a sentence, it is like "therefore". In any case, it introduces a consequence of the previous action:
These are some examples from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary:
The universities have expanded, thus allowing many more people the chance of higher education. (Thus = in this way)
He is the eldest son and thus heir to the title (Thus = Therefore = Hence
We do not own the building. Tus, it would be impossible for us to make any major changes to it. (Thus = Therefore = Hence)
There is an expression: "thus far", which means the same as "so far".
Well... have a nice Easter, enjoy with your family and friends and see you on the 26th at the meeting hall. Don't forget the language assistants have prepared a talk for all of us.
See you then!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Third term, second week
Hello everybody,
Not many people came to class last week, and I am worried because we studied a new and important topic: reported speech (Unit 6A)
We were practicing how to report what other people said, asked or told.
We will practice some more this week, but it would be a good idea that you revise how to do it.
I gave you a couple of handouts about this, but here you have a website with more activities to practice.
We were also learning the differences between some shopping establishments.
Tomorrow you will tell me your opinions, advantages and disadvantages, arguments for and against the following:
- shopping in big supermarkets or small local shops.
- getting into debt.
- keeping up with the latest fashion trends.
- retail therapy as a cure for unhapiness or stress.
- buying expensive designer brands.
- wasting money.
I hope you can revise the vocabulary related to these topics (Remember that some months ago we studied the topic of money and banking, and this vocabulary could also be useful)
And don't forget to finish reading the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. I hope Daniel can tell us about it.
See you tomorrow!
Not many people came to class last week, and I am worried because we studied a new and important topic: reported speech (Unit 6A)
We were practicing how to report what other people said, asked or told.
We will practice some more this week, but it would be a good idea that you revise how to do it.
I gave you a couple of handouts about this, but here you have a website with more activities to practice.
We were also learning the differences between some shopping establishments.
Tomorrow you will tell me your opinions, advantages and disadvantages, arguments for and against the following:
- shopping in big supermarkets or small local shops.
- getting into debt.
- keeping up with the latest fashion trends.
- retail therapy as a cure for unhapiness or stress.
- buying expensive designer brands.
- wasting money.
I hope you can revise the vocabulary related to these topics (Remember that some months ago we studied the topic of money and banking, and this vocabulary could also be useful)
And don't forget to finish reading the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. I hope Daniel can tell us about it.
See you tomorrow!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Third term, first week
How are you doing?
What did you do last Thursday? Did you enjoy the theatre? I hope you could come.
On Tuesday we did two different things: one was a role-play of a job interview. Previously we were reading about some pieces of advice which should be taken into account when being interviewed for a job.
As homework you had to write a cover letter to apply for one of the four jobs advertised.
Then, we were having a look at your exams and we were revising some mistakes you made in your exam. Click here to download the document and try to correct them yourselves.
If you want to come and see you exam in more detail, email me so that I can tell you the time on Thursday.
What did you do last Thursday? Did you enjoy the theatre? I hope you could come.
On Tuesday we did two different things: one was a role-play of a job interview. Previously we were reading about some pieces of advice which should be taken into account when being interviewed for a job.
As homework you had to write a cover letter to apply for one of the four jobs advertised.
Then, we were having a look at your exams and we were revising some mistakes you made in your exam. Click here to download the document and try to correct them yourselves.
If you want to come and see you exam in more detail, email me so that I can tell you the time on Thursday.
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