British food

Watch the video and do the tasks. You can also have a look at the script.

This website- Word on the Street- has lots of great videos with activities and scripts. You can learn a lot about British culture: food, transport, fashion, where to go out at night... You can also learn about different places in Britain.

How to write....

If you need some help with the writing skill, why don’t you have a look at this website?

It has been designed for university students, but you can get information on how to use linking words (with an exercise), how to write paragraphs or how to use punctuation. You also have information on how to write essays, reports, formal letters and some samples of them.

"The Spanish Revolution"

Demonstrators gather and shout slogans in Madrid's famous landmark Puerta del Sol, against politicians, bankers and authorities' handling of the economic crisis May 18, 2011. The demonstrations began on Sunday May 15, when thousands of people gathered in several cities in Spain to demand what they called 'real democracy' and protesters have vowed to occupy central squares in several Spanish cities until the May 22 local elections.
(photo taken from the front page of The Washington Post, 19 May)

Read an article about the Spanish demonstrations.

Watch this video and answer the questions. (key in "comments")

1. How have the protesters been dubbed?
2. What have thousands of them defy? Why?
3. How do they describe the camp?
4. Is the rally taking place only in Madrid?
5. Protesters are showing their frustation at _____________ and at the economic crisis that ________________________.
6. What is a major issue?
7. What does the young girl say?
8. What does the young boy say?
9. What does Egypt's Tahrir Square seem to be for them?
10. What do the protesters want?
11. Why do thousands of people go there?

Talking about a friend!

Watch Layla talking about her friend Michelle and answer these questions. You can do something similar if you're asked to talk about a friend in the oral exam.
(answers in "comments")
1. When and where did they meet?
2. Why did they become friends?
3. How are they different?
4. Why does she say Michelle is “flaky”?
5. How are they similar?
6. Have they ever argued?
7. How often do they see each other? Why?
8. When was the last time they saw each other?
9. Why couldn’t they go to Banksy’s exhibition?
10. Where did they go instead?
11. What do they both have now?

TEXT TYPES!

- Here you have a simple classification of some texts types with some examples.
- A further complicated explanation on text types can also be found here. Also related to this, find HERE a brief different explanation on text types.

Twitter

Listen to the first part of this radio programme where they explain what Twitter is and take some notes. Then listen and read the script to check your notes.

Home

A well-known image from Arthus-Bertrand's "Earth from Above" series, the grand prismatic hot spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States.

"Home": Watch this environmentally conscious documentary produced by Luc Besson, and narrated by Glenn Close. It presents the many wonders of planet Earth from an entirely aerial perspective and poses the prospect that unless we act quickly, we risk losing the only home we may ever have. (Unfortunately there are no subtitles, but the images are just wonderful and I don't think it's too difficult to follow).

Here's the Spanish version if you want to check what you've understood.

May Listening Handout

I. Tapping the power of wind (1’43”)
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,82090420001_1986203,00.html

II. NEWSPAPERS http://www.elllo.org/english/Mixer/42-NewsPart.html

III. MEDIA BLACKOUT (6’)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2010/11/101104_6min_media_blackout_page.shtml

IV. International Internet Sites now allowed in China (3’16”)
http://www.manythings.org/b/e/367

V. MEGACITIES (3’25”)
http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/prof_mp3/city-population.mp3 (recording)
http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/prof_mp3/city-population.pdf (exercise and script)

VI. Sandquist (2’36”)
http://www.podcast.tv/video-podcasts/frontlineshop-com-streetfashion-im-web-62094.html

VII. Fashion
http://www.elllo.org/english/Mixer/09Fashion.html

Obama's speech about Bin Laden's death

Watch Obama’s speech and take notes.
Then read these ideas from his speech and try to order them using your notes. Watch it again and check the order. (answers in “comments”)


You have the whole text here.

a) Obama announces the operation conducted in Pakistan that has ended with the death of Osama Bin Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda.



b) The war is not against muslims but against terrorists. American cooperation with Pakistan has led to the killing of Bin Laden and Pakistan and the US will continue to fight Al-Qaeda together.



c) Al-Qaeda openly declared the war on the US. They went to war against them to protect their citizens, friends and allies.



d) Obama tells American families that lost loved ones on September 11 that they’ll never forget it and they will do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on their shores.



e) Last August Obama was informed that Bin Laden had been located in a compound in Pakistan.
f) Obama describes September 11 as the worst attack ever and speaks about the nearly 3,000 citizens taken from them.



g) Obama says that American people didn’t want the war but as a country they couldn’t tolerate their security to be threatened. He says they have to be true to their values and states that justice has been done.



h) Obama knows this is not the end of Al-Qaeda and assures they must and will remain vigilant.



i) In the last ten years the Americans have disrupted terrorist attacks and have captured and killed terrrorists (even some involved in September attack). However, Bin Laden had managed to avoid capture and had escaped to Pakistan.



j) When September 11 took place the Americans showed they were united and didn’t pay attention to their different countries, Gods, races or ethnics. They helped each other and were determined to protect their nation and bring the responsible ones to justice.



k) Obama thanks everyone who carried out the operation and achieved this.



l) Today (1st May), under Obama’s direction, they launched a targeted operation in which no Americans were hurt, civilian casualties were avoided. There was a firefight and they killed Bin Laden and took custody of his body.



m) Obama says that today’s achievement shows the greatness of the USA and the determination of American people. He says that the USA can protect the world because they are one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.




n) Obama says that shortly after taking office he made the killing or capture of Bin Ladent the top priority on their war against Al-Qaeda.



o) Obama describes Bin Laden’s death as the most significant achievement in their effort to defeat Al-Qaeda

Naturally better homes!

Watch the video and learn about environmentally friendly houses. You can record yourself and work with the vocabulary. THIS WEBSITE IS JUST GREAT FOR YOU.

READING: main idea,details, inferences and restatements

Here you have some of the things you will be asked about in reading tests:

1. Read this to learn about how to find the main idea in a text and see an example.
2. Have a look at information about the details in a text here.
3. Click here to see some examples of inferences and restatements.

Global warming.

As we are dealing with the topic of environment in class, watch this video about global warming: causes and effects. You have the tapescript and there are some exercises too.

Speaking fluently.

Watch this video and learn some strategies for achieving fluency. You have the script and you can also read the study notes and do some exercises.

Royal Wedding

British Prime Minister David Cameron speaks about the upcoming royal wedding. CNN's Fareed Zakaria reports. Watch the video and answer these questions (answers in "comments") 1.- Chose the right answer

a.-According to the PM , the Government will be in charge of the plans

b.-The Royal family will be in charge of the plans

2.-Who is paying for the wedding?

3.-The PM said that……

a.- The royal wedding will be a success for the country

b.- The royal wedding will be a huge success for the country

c.- The royal wedding will be a huge success for London

d.- The royal wedding will be a success for London

4.-What does the PM think about the couple?

a.- He thinks they are remarkable

b.- He thinks they are 2 young people who love each other very much

c.-He thinks it´s a great balanced couple

5.- Fareed Zakaria asked the PM: have you seen the couple?

a.-The PM said he spent some time with the couple

b.- he said that he spent some time with William trying to bring the world cup to England

c.- The PM said he spent some time with the couple in Switzerland

6.- Fareed Zakaria asked the PM: will you give any words of advice as a married man , with some experience? And he answered:

a.- Yes, I did

b.-Certainly , I´ll tell you

c.-If I did, I certainly wouldn´t tell you what it is

April listening handout

FACEBOOK PHOBIA (3’34”) http://www.youtube.com/hotenglishmagazine#p/u/24/Ax6MLoLU-8E CROSSLANDS http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/firstcertificate2/listening/fce01a.htm SUPERSTITIONS (5’16”) http://www.examenglish.com/IELTS/IELTS_listening_part4.htm

April Fool's Day!

1. Click on here to find out some information about this day.

2. Listen to this report.

Food and water shortage in Fukushima

Watch the video about "Food and Water Shortage in Fukushima" and answer the questions (answers in "comments"). 1. What happened where he's located? 2. Apart from food, what's especially necessary and why? 3. What are the longest queues for? 4. What does he say about Japan's reaction to the catastrophe? 5. What's the main thing now?

Elizabeth Taylor

Watch the video and answer these questions. (answers in "comments")

1. How do younger people remember her?

2. For movie lovers she was a sex goddess _________________________________.

3. When did she start acting?

4. In “A Place in the Sun” she has a kind of warmth, _________________, _________________and toughness.

5. What was the great white elephant of her career?

6. What did she win with “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf”?

7. Who was Richard Burton?

8. She was a very good friend to a lot of people, among them _________________ _________________ and _________________ _________________.

9. What was the second important face of her career?

10. She was not just a _________________ _________________, she was also a real _________________ of a kind that is very rare and very precious.

How to write a film review

1.Read some tips on how to write a film review.


2. Have a look at this website and try the different tasks:


The aims of these tasks are to help you to write a short movie review. The tasks use specially written reviews of recent movies which will help you to expand your vocabulary and recognize the form of a standard movie review. These tasks should be seen as the first steps you take before writing your own movie review.

St. Patrick's Day.

1. Read an article about St. Patrick's Day.
2. Listen to a text about St. Patrick. You can do a comprehension activity and you can read the text too.
3. Watch the video "Facts vs Blarney" and learn about St. Patrick's History.

Isabel Allende's " Island Beneath the Sea".

Watch this interview with Isabel Allende in which she talks about her book "Island Beneath the Sea" and take notes. Then, listen and read it. Check your notes.

Great Appartment.

This is a listening activity, click on here and do all the activities.

Conditional Clauses.

1. Click one here to see the grammar reference about zero conditional, type 1 and type 2 . Do the exercises as well.
2. Here you will find third conditionals, mixed conditionals and some activities.

Organizing a talk: travel.

Eun-Kyung was asked to talk for about two minutes on the following subject:
Describe a place in your country you would recommend to tourists. Include:
- what it's called
- what kind of place it is
- where it is.
Listen to Eun-Kyung and decide how successful Eun-Kyung was in answering the question and in organising her talk using signposting expressions. Listen to the interview a second time if
necessary to answer the comprehension questions:

1) Who is Eun-Kyung's talk aimed at?
2) How long was the Joseon Dynasty?
3) How do Korean palaces differ from Western palaces?
4) What will you find at Insa-Dong?
5) Why might tourists find Insa-Dong an easy place to visit?
6) What two things does Eun-Kyung say are good about Korean restaurants?
7) What's a good place to visit at night?
8) What can you see in Namsan Park during the day?

And finally, while you listen, make a note of Eun-Kyung’s use of English, which we’ll look at in the feedback session.
Then have a look at the transcript and the answers to the questions.

SPEAKING: communication phrases and expressions

Learn and review some useful expressions for oral exams (you can listen to them).

1. Thinking time: Conversation Time Fillers
2. Agreeing and Disagreeing.
3. Taking turns: interrupting and turn-taking.
4. Interrupting politely.
5. Paraphrasing expressions: repeating things in a different way.

Writing.

You have the gift of travelling back in time. You may visit any of these periods:

- Egypt, in the days of the Pharaohs and the Pyramids.
- Rome, in the days of the Empire and the Caesars.
- England, in the days of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

While you are there, write a page in your diary (less than 200 words) so that future generations may read what daily life was like in those days.

The outback

Watch this video about a man talking about The Outback in Australia (This Outback life- 2'12")Then read the script.

The King's Speech

Select your level, watch the trailer and do the activities

Happy Valentine's day!

1. Have a look at this interactive book about St Valentine (it has vocabulary, listenings, songs and readings).
2. Reasons to love you. Fill in the gaps with the right word.
3. Follow the instructions and learn about the festivity and St Valentine. (listening, reading and exercises).
4. Listen to the story and take notes. Then you can listen and read it and see the vocabulary.
5. Listen and find out about buying the right present for St Valentine.

Short stories.

Here you can find some podcasts, scroll down the page to see the script.

The Oscars!!!

The race for the Oscars has already started. If you want to learn about the nominees and keep up to date about this year's ceremony, visit http://oscar.go.com/
You can watch videos, read about the hosts, the movies, the actors...

More about present perfect.

Click on this page. It is very useful.

Listening: Personal problems.

Click on here and do the pre-listening, post-listening and vocabulary activities that you can find at the top of this page. Remember that there are some idioms about this topic on the left side on the page.

Grammar reference: present perfect simple and continuous

1.Here you will find a brief explanation about the present perfect plus an activity.
2. Try this exercise about present perfect simple and continuous.

Present perfect

Into city.

Pernais and Coron discuss the trend of young people moving to cities. Listen to them and do the activities on the right side of the page.

Mobiles Phones!!!

This is the listening activity that we did last Wednesday in class. Do the suggested tasks. You can see the script in text.

Happy Birthday WWW!!!

Listen to the news story and see some vocabulary

The Christmas the lights went out

Listen and do the tasks connected to this Christmas story.You can see the script in text.