This is a follow-up to the English classes for level 'Básico 2' at the Official School of Languages in Aranjuez. Enjoy!

Bye, bye!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Well, this is all, folks! It's time for me to say goodbye and I just want to thank you all. It's been a real pleasure!

Thanks to all,
Mariluz

SEPTEMBER 2010 EXAMINATION SCHEDULE

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Hi, there!


This is the final schedule for your exams in September this year.


THURSDAY, 16th and TUESDAY, 21st
SPEAKING TEST
From 16.00 onwards
Room: 2.22

CONVOCATORIA DEFINITIVA AQUÍ
(In case you find it impossible to attend, please let me know as soon as possible)


Remember that you will have to do 2 tasks. In task 1 you will have to interact with the teacher and in task 2 you will have to talk to other students in your group. Here you have more information about this test, and you can check exam samples here.


MONDAY
, 20th
READING, LISTENING AND WRITING TESTS
From 15.45 to 18.30
Room: 0.19

In the reading part you will have to do 4 tasks. For each task you will be given different texts and different activities to test your comprehension level. In task 1 you will need to be able to identify the main topic by matching texts and headings. In task 2 you will need to be able to understand the most important ideas by doing a true/false or multiple choice activity. In task 3 you will have to be able to understand the most significant details by filling in the gaps in a text. Finally, in task 4 you will have to find specific information with a time limit of 10 minutes.

In the listening part, you will have to do 3 tasks. For each task you will be given different listening extracts and different activities to test your comprehension level. In task 1 you will need to be able to identify the main topic by matching extracts and headings. In task 2 you will have to be able to understand the most important ideas by doing a true/false or multiple choice activity. In task 3 you will have to be able to understand the most significant details by completing a chart or filling in the notes.

In the writing part, you will have to do 2 tasks. In task 1 you will have to interact with a written text by filling a form or replying to written texts such as e-mails, letters, notes, etc. using about 50/80 words.  In task 2 you will need to be able to write a piece of 100/120 words about your routine, studies, leisure time, etc.


WEDNESDAY, 22nd
Marks will be published at 18.00 (approx.) on the door of the teaching room.
Review of the exam with your teacher (18.00-20.00) in the teaching room.

EVALUATION

PARTES
Porcentaje
Puntuación
Mínimo
Duración
Comprensión de lectura
25%
25 p
15 p (60%)
55’ aprox.
Comprensión oral
25%
25 p
15 p (60%)
30’ aprox.
Descanso






20’
Expresión escrita
25%
25 p
15 p (60%)
55’ aprox.
Expresión oral
25%
25 p
15 p (60%)
15-20’ aprox.

Please, be punctual and good luck!

JUNE 2010 EXAMINATION SCHEDULE

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Hi, there!


This is the final schedule for your exams in June this year. NOTICE THE SPEAKING TEST TAKES PLACE BEFORE THE READING, LISTENING AND WRITING TESTS!!!


MONDAY, 14th and TUESDAY, 15th
SPEAKING TEST
From 16.00 onwards
Room: 2.22

CONVOCATORIA DEFINITIVA AQUÍ
(In case you find it impossible to attend, please let me know as soon as possible)

Remember that you will have to do 2 tasks. In task 1 you will have to interact with the teacher and in task 2 you will have to talk to other students in your group. Here you have more information about this test, and you can check exam samples here.


FRIDAY, 18th
READING, LISTENING AND WRITING TESTS
From 15.45 to 18.30
Room: 0.19 for group A and 1.14 for group B

In the reading part you will have to do 4 tasks. For each task you will be given different texts and different activities to test your comprehension level. In task 1 you will need to be able to identify the main topic by matching texts and headings. In task 2 you will need to be able to understand the most important ideas by doing a true/false or multiple choice activity. In task 3 you will have to be able to understand the most significant details by filling in the gaps in a text. Finally, in task 4 you will have to find specific information with a time limit of 10 minutes.

In the listening part, you will have to do 3 tasks. For each task you will be given different listening extracts and different activities to test your comprehension level. In task 1 you will need to be able to identify the main topic by matching extracts and headings. In task 2 you will have to be able to understand the most important ideas by doing a true/false or multiple choice activity. In task 3 you will have to be able to understand the most significant details by completing a chart or filling in the notes.

In the writing part, you will have to do 2 tasks. In task 1 you will have to interact with a written text by filling a form or replying to written texts such as e-mails, letters, notes, etc. using about 50/80 words.  In task 2 you will need to be able to write a piece of 100/120 words about your routine, studies, leisure time, etc.


TUESDAY, 22nd
Marks will be published at 16.00 (approx.) on the door of the teaching room.
Review of the exam with your teacher (17.00-20.00) in the teaching room.

EVALUATION

PARTES
Porcentaje
Puntuación
Mínimo
Duración
Comprensión de lectura
25%
25 p
15 p (60%)
55’ aprox.
Comprensión oral
25%
25 p
15 p (60%)
30’ aprox.
Descanso






20’
Expresión escrita
25%
25 p
15 p (60%)
55’ aprox.
Expresión oral
25%
25 p
15 p (60%)
15-20’ aprox.

Please, be punctual and good luck!

Exam training sessions: reading and listening skills

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Hi guys!

Well, time has come to revise and prepare for the final exam and I know this is a really stressful situation for you but don't panic: there's still time to train for it. Here you have the reading and listening exam tasks that we did in class last Wednesday and yesterday in case you couldn't come or you want to check the answers and listening transcripts:






Listening task 1 + Answer key + transcript (audio file -- right-click and choose "guardar destino/enlace como"--)

">

Listening task 2 (audio file -- right-click and choose "guardar destino/enlace como"--) +Answer key + transcript

">

Listening task 3 + Answer key + transcript (audio file -- right-click and choose "guardar destino/enlace como"--)

">

Extra cloze texts:



Extra listening matching:


Extra listening gap-fill:



And don't forget to hand in your last assignment or send it by e-mail as soon as possible, so I am able to correct it and give it back to you before the classes are finished.

Tomorrow Wednesday we'll continue with some more exam training because as an English proverb says, "Practice makes perfect" (=the more you practice, the better you will become). Please, do this multiple choice exercise for homework tomorrow.

Keep up the good work!




Unit 10C. Marathon men and Unit 10D. Doctor, doctor

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Hi, there!

Yesterday we talked about sports and learnt how to use "play", "go" or "do" with sports and activities. For extra vocabulary practice, try these sites:
How to use Play, Do and Go
Quiz: Play, Go & Do

Extra listening:
Sports
Football
Tennis
Rugby
Should sports focus on winning? (video exercise)
What sports did you play on the school ground? (video exercise)

Please, do exercise 3 on this worksheet for Wednesday's homework.

We finished the unit by revising your body parts and listening to a conversation between a doctor and her patients. You can do the exercises that we did in class again by clicking here and here. Finally, we completed a table which described seven common reasons for going to the doctor and roleplayed a doctor-patient conversation.

Extra listening:
The doctor and the patient (video + open questions)

To revise this unit, download these files:

Unit 10 test
Unit 10 test Answer key

You can also do the Revision test of unit 10 on page 157 of your Student's Book and check your answers here.

Cheers!

Unit 10A. Animal lovers and Unit 10B. Stress

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Hi, there!

It's been a really busy week, with lots of things to do, and I find it difficult to keep the blog updated, so please, be patient with me! :) Last Monday we started unit 10 by reading a shocking article about Americans' attitude towards their pets. Then we learnt how to use the present perfect with for and since. On Wednesday we basically corrected homework and talked about stressful experiences. Finally, we learnt how to use present perfect for unfinished time.

Extra grammar:
Present perfect+for and since (1)
Present perfect+for and since (2)
Present perfect or past simple (1)
Present perfect or past simple (2)

Extra vocabulary:
Animals
Collocations with get

This is the listening exercise we did in class:


Stress (multiple choice) (see key and transcript)

Extra listening:
What is your favorite animal? (multiple choice)
Are holidays stressful for you? (multiple choice video)

Please, do exercise 1 of the vocabulary section on p 99, exercise 3 and 4 of the speaking and vocabulary section on p 100 and exercise 2 of the grammar section on p 101 for homework.

Cheers!

Because our blog is worth it!

Friday, May 7, 2010


Congrats to all! Our blog was kindly given an award by a fellow blogger from the self-learning blog of the English Department at EOI Coruña, which is also worth checking out. Apparently, this is an initiative to make your favourite blogs known to your readers. There are some rules you need to follow:

1. Copy and display the picture of the award given to you.
2. Link back to the blog that nominated you.
3. Nominate 10 different blogs yourself.

So, bearing that in mind, here are the blogs that I find most useful and well worth a visit:

Alpozo's Phonetic Blog (Ana López Pozo)
Blog de Alejandro Valero 
Blog de Ana M. Almarza 
Blog de Cristina (Cristina Cabal)
EOI Leganés (Laura Acebes)
EOI Nivel Básico 1 (Sergio Viñals)
Kaleidoscope (Leticia González Cepeda)
Matilde's English Corner (Matilde Seara) 
Ms Bermejo's NA2 classes (Mª José Bermejo Sánchez)
Nik's Daily English Activities (Nik Peachey)

 

Unit 7D. The recruitment agency

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Hey guys!

Well, it's been really hot this week in Aranjuez and I guess this is the reason why some of you find it increasingly difficult to come to class on time...I can understand but try to be more punctual, please! On Monday we basically corrected homework and learned phrases used in CVs. We also watched a very ingenious short film about a man getting advice on his way to an interview for a job as a sales rep. Here you have the video to watch it again and here you have the transcription. We finished the unit yesterday by learning how to ask for & give advice, as well as how to read aloud email & website addresses.

Extra grammar:
should, shouldnt (1)
should, shouldn't (2)

Extra listening:
Job options (multiple choice quiz) (transcript here)
Students and jobs (multiple choice quiz) (transcript here)

To revise this unit, download these files:
Unit 7 test
Unit 7 test Answer key

You can also do the Revision test of unit 7 on page 154 of your Student's Book and check your answers here.

Unit 7C. Job selection

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Hi, there!

Sorry I haven't updated the blog in a while, but it's been a very busy week. So, where are we? We are learning more about the present perfect simple with already, just and yet. We also learnt more verb collocations about work and adjectives and phrases about personality.

Extra grammar:
Present perfect+already,just,yet (1)
Present perfect+already,just,yet (2)
Present perfect+already, just, still, yet

Extra vocabulary:
Personality adjectives
Appearance and personality adjectives game

Extra listening:
Personality traits (multiple choice quiz) / What are you like? (with transcript)
Good qualities (multiple choice quiz) / Good qualities (with transcript)
Best quality (multiple choice quiz+transcript)
Worst quality (multiple choice quiz+transcript)
Signs from the Stars (multiple choice quiz) / Signs of the Stars (with transcript)

And finally I told you to write 3 sentences describing the most important qualities needed to do your own jobs and explaining why for homework. Use the words and phrases in the horoscope on p 71 of your Student's book. For example, I think that "Good teachers have a lot of patience because students often ask teachers to explain the lesson over and over again".

Have a nice weekend!

Unit 7A. Rising stars

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Hi, guys!

Well, yesterday we started a new unit about jobs. We learnt some vocabulary related to work and listened to a radio talk show about people who have met celebrities to introduce the present perfect simple.
Now watch this video to see how people use this verb tense:


Exercise about Ann
Exercise about Jim and Robin
Video transcript

Extra grammar exercises:
Present perfect (form)
Present perfect (uses)
Present perfect or past simple?
Present perfect or past simple? 1, 2
Game: past participles

Extra vocabulary exercises:
Jobs
Jobs and work
Work and working conditions
Office jobs, relationships
Life events, professions
Job families. Can you find your job?

Extra listening:
What was your first job?
Game:Job center

For homework tomorrow, please do the exercises on this worksheet.

Cheers!

Unit 6D. Class meal

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Many thanks for the delicious eggs you brought me, Joe!
Hi, there!

I hope you all had a very nice Easter break and are refreshed and ready to begin work again. On Wednesday we finished unit 6 by listening to a man making a restaurant reservation and practising the language used by customer and assistant in a fast food restaurant. Then we watched Jamie Oliver cook a barbecued salmon. Here you have the video to watch it again and here you have the transcription.

Extra listening:
At the restaurant
Restaurant review
A Cuban recipe
An omelet recipe
A spaghetti recipe
A dessert recipe (see transcript here)

Finally, I asked you to write your next assignment: a recipe. Follow the instructions, read the sample recipe (here you can watch the video) and keep it simple. Please, hand it in or send it as an attachment by e-mail (DOUBLE SPACE, please!) before the end of Wednesday, April 21st.

To revise this unit, download these files:

Unit 6 test
Unit 6 test (answer key)

You can also do the Revision test of unit 6 on page 153 of your Student's book and check your answers here.

See you next week, have fun!

Unit 6C. Coffee break

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Hi, there!

Well, Easter holidays are round the corner and I guess you are packing your luggage for your trip to the beach or thinking about staying at home and relax. I thought it would be interesting for you to tell us what you are planning to do at Easter or whether there are any traditional activities you are going to take part in, or any special food you are going to eat, etc..... You can use the comments to do so or write a new post if you are one of the contributors to the blog. I am waiting for you to drop a line or two......don't be lazy! ;-)

And now, let's get down to business: yesterday we basically talked about your coffee drinking habits and learnt how to form superlatives. Here you can find more exercises to work on them:
Superlatives (1)
Superlatives (2)
Game

Now, watch this video and complete the sentences below:




(See transcript here)

Extra listening:
Do you prefer coffee or tea? (with video)
Coffee song

And that's all for now, folks! Enjoy your Easter holidays and mind your English!!!

Unit 6B. Slow food

Tuesday, March 23, 2010


Hey, foodies!

Well, yesterday we basically talked about your eating habits and listened to a radio programme about slow food as opposed to fast food. If you want to know more about this topic, read this text about fast food facts and try to answer the questions.

Now, we also learnt about how to make comparative adjectives. Here you have exercises to practise:
Comparative adjective 1
Comparative adjectives 2
Comparative adjectives (game)

Extra vocabulary:
Food
Vegetables
Fruit
The big food quiz

Extra listening:
Daily Diet
Making a sandwich
Favorite fruits
Food and Health
Do you eat much fast food? (with video)
Fast food factors

Extra reading:
McDonald's + matching exercise + general comprehension exercise

For homework, please do exercises 1 and 2 of the Grammar section on p 59, read the text "Coffee break" on p 60 and do exercises 1,2 and 3 on the same page.

Enjoy your meal!

Happy St. Joseph's/Father's Day!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Hi, guys!

Just in case you didn't know, today is Father's Day in Spain (in English-speaking countries they celebrate it in June), and to celebrate it I want to share two of my favourite songs with you: the first one is Father and Son, a beautiful song where the father gives advice to his son about what he's going to face in life, by British singer Cat Stevens, and the second one is Tears in Heaven, which Eric Clapton wrote for his 4-year-old son Conor, who died when he fell out of a 53rd floor window in the apartment where his mother was staying in New York City. I hope you like them!





BTW (=by the way): I just found this fantastic site where you can read and listen to real English. It's called LingQ. Registering is free, so once you register you can jump right in and start lessons. Lessons are short little dialogues, or sometimes short descriptions that link every word to a dictionary, so you can build vocabulary and pick up grammar on your own. You can also write things and have them corrected by a tutor, and also speak in English with a tutor, but this isn't a free service.

Unit 5D. Holiday Heaven

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Hello everyone!

Yesterday we finished unit 5 by reading about different kinds of holiday. Surfing on the net I found the Poseidon Undersea Resort website, a really different sea holiday experience!

We also learnt some verb patterns and practised speaking with a travel agent-clients role play.

Now, watch this video to learn more about verb patterns (people in this video are American, that's why they usually say "like to do" instead of "like doing") :

Exercises about the video
(Video transcript)

Finally, I asked you to write your next assignment: an e-mail to arrange a trip (exercise 6 only). Try to include the verb patterns studied in this unit and the language expressions used in any formal e-mail. Please, hand it in or send it as an attachment by e-mail (DOUBLE SPACE) before the end of Friday, March 26th (before Easter).

To revise this unit, download these files:
Unit 5 test
Unit 5 test (answer key)
You can also do the Revision test of unit 5 on page 152 of your Student's book and check your answers here.

Extra listening:
Great places (+multiple choice quiz)
Resort game
Vacation game
New York (+cloze exercise)
New York City Top 5 Things to Do (+cloze exercise)
California (+cloze exercise)
Adventure game (+multiple choice quiz)
Immigration and customs (+multiple choice exercise)

Extra vocabulary:
Holiday crossword game
Holiday wordsearch game
'Journey', 'travel' and 'trip' quiz

That's all for now, see you tomorrow and
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Grants to study English during the summer

Friday, March 12, 2010

Hi, there!

Just a quick post to tell you about the grants that the Ministry of Education is offering to study English abroad.  Don't miss this opportunity and apply for the ones you like, some are really interesting. And be quick, the deadlines are near!

Unit 5C. A weekend break

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Hi, folks!

Well, this week we are back to regular classes after a neverending exam period. Yesterday I gave you out this worksheet to check the most common mistakes you made in your writing exams. Then we basically learnt some vocabulary related to hotels and talked about the best and worst hotels you've been to. I also explained the use of WILL for spontaneous decisions in contrast to BE GOING TO for plans. I told you to do exercise 3, p 51 as well as this worksheet for homework tomorrow.

Extra exercises:
Future forms
Future forms game
Will or Be going to?

Extra listening:
Hotel check-in
Checking into a hotel
Hotel life

Extra video:
Complaining in a hotel
           (See transcript here)

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT MONDAY: Read the webpage on p 52 and do exercises 1, 2 and 3 of the Reading section and exercise 1 of the Vocabulary section, p 53.
Enjoy!

exams!

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Hi mates!!

What about your exams? Let's share your pain with me!!

FEBRUARY MOCK EXAM

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Hi, guys!

As I promised you, here is the exam that you did in February with the answer keys and transcripts of the audio files. You can download the files to your computer by right-clicking your mouse and choosing "Guardar destino como" on each one:

Comprensión lectora
Comprensión oral
Claves (CL y CO)
Audio 1, Transcript 1
">
Audio 2, Transcript 2
">
Audio 3, Transcript 3
">
Expresión escrita
Expresión oral

And remember that tomorrow we'll have an ordinary class, not the usual Friday oral practice, ok? See you then!

NATIONAL DAY OF WALES

Monday, March 1, 2010



Hi!

Today 1st March is St David's Day, the national day of Wales. Follow this link and find out how much you know about Wales. Finally, here is a list of useful organisations and Internet sites about Wales.

Good luck for the students who are going to sit for the oral exams this afternoon and see you all next Wednesday in class!

Exam samples

Thursday, February 18, 2010


Hi, and welcome to all the new contributors to the blog!

Yesterday we had a lot of fun learning how to actually write your own posts on the blog and I hope you keep on writing new ones to make the most of it.

Some students told me they feel the need to see more exam samples. Well, here you have the links to download past official exams used in Madrid:

Reading comprehension:
Task 1
Task 2
Task 3
Task 4 
Keys

Listening comprehension:
Task 1, Audio 1
Task 2, Audio 2
Task 3, Audio 3
Keys

Writing:
Task 1
Task 2

Oral:
Task 1
Task 2 

That's all for now, see you next week, and GOOD LUCK!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

hi mates!!!

I'm Jose (Joe for my friends)

Hello:

Hi!

This is my first post.
I hope I will write other post again, but more complete^^.
xoxoxo
Big hugs 4 everyone



One day in the Royal Palace

HOLA EVERYONE

Hello,I´m Darío and this is my first post.BIGS HUGS FOR EVERYONE!!

Unit 5B. Planes

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Hi, there!


Well, yesterday we learnt some new vocabulary about air travel and we listened to some conversations at the airport. Here you have 3 exercises to learn more vocabulary on this area.

We also learnt how to make polite requests with the right intonation. Check this website and learn more about it. Then, do exercises 1, 2, 3, and 4. Again, this is particularly important because it's usually included in the oral exam tasks.

Extra listening:
Could you do me a favour? 

Finally, did you know that today is Pancake Day in UK? Check this site where you can learn everything about this festivity. And if you want to make pancakes at home, watch this video for the recipe:


How To Make English Pancakes

Enjoy the meal!