Mind Your English!

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!

Published by Mariluz en 10:05 PM Comments

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!

Published by Mariluz en 8:53 PM Comments

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!

Published by Mariluz en 4:50 PM Comments

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!

Published by Mariluz en 3:17 PM Comments

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!

Published by Mariluz en 9:29 PM Comments

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!

Published by Mariluz en 2:15 PM Comments

Hi, guys!

Yesterday we practised a True/False listening exercise with three real conversations, and you told me they were really difficult to understand. Well, here you have the possibility of listening to them over and over again until you get to understand them: (see transcripts here)

Conversation 1:

Download it from here (right-click --botón derecho del ratón-- and  choose 'guardar destino/enlace como')

Conversation 2:

Download it from here (right-click --botón derecho del ratón-- and  choose 'guardar destino/enlace como')

Conversation 3:

Download it from here (right-click --botón derecho del ratón-- and  choose 'guardar destino/enlace como')

I also told you to practise the writing task with this worksheet, which includes the answer key to the exercises.

Finally, we started unit 5 by studying how to talk about plans in English. Now, watch this funny video:


Exercises about the video here: 1, 2, 3

Extra grammar work:
Going to/present continuous 1
Going to/present continuous 2 
  
Extra listening:
What are your plans for tonight?

For homework tomorrow, please do ex. 2 and 3, p 46 of your Student's book and the exercises on this worksheet. And remember that tomorrow is the last day to hand in or send your formal e-mail!

Cheers!

Published by Mariluz en 6:21 PM Comments

Hi, guys!

Well, yesterday we learnt some more vocabulary about dating, and we listened to two phone calls and also learnt how to make invitations and suggestions. This is particularly important because it's usually included in the oral exam tasks. Check the following web where you can practise these questions and responses by listening to a short explanation with examples and answering a quiz at the bottom of every page:

Asking someone out

(See transcript here)


 Informal invitations
(See transcript here)


Polite invitations
(See transcript here)


Declining invitations 
(See transcript here)

Remember to do exercises 3, p 42, and 4, p 43, from the Functional Language section and exercises 2 and 3, p 43, from the Grammar section, for homework tomorrow. I also asked you to do exercises a and b of this worksheet. Exercise c is your next assignment. You must choose ONE of the advertisements and write a formal e-mail asking for information. Please, hand it in or send it as an attachment (DOUBLE SPACE) to my e-mail before February, 10th.

Extra listenings:

What makes a good date? (with video)
When is the first time you fell in love? (with video)

Finally, if you want to revise unit 4, download these files:

Unit test 4
Unit test 4 (answer key)

You can also do the Review test of unit 4 on page 151 of your Student's book and check your answers here.

Bye, see you tomorrow!

Published by Mariluz en 6:29 PM Comments

Hi, everyone!

Here you have the video that we watched yesterday in class. Just click on the link and press the "play" button:

Speed dating video (see transcript here)

Extra listenings:

Speed dating 
Would you like to do speed dating? (with video)

Please, remember to do exercises 1 and 2 of the Vocabulary section on p. 41 for homework.

See you!

Published by Mariluz en 8:18 PM Comments

Hi, guys!

Did you survive blue Monday yesterday? In case you don't know what I'm talking about, every third Monday in January is known as "Blue Monday", the most depressing day of the year. Check this video on the Scottish newspaper Daily Record  and find out why this is and what you can do to survive this terrible day. You can read more about it in this article on the British newspaper The Independent  (Thanks, Sergio!).

Anyway, yesterday we basically corrected homework and we learnt some vocabulary about weddings. Here you have more vocabulary on this topic: Marriage and Weddings in the UK. You can also practice some dictation here:
The Wedding Feast Part 1
The Wedding Feast Part 2  

Now listen to Kitty and do this Marital Status exercise. 

Finally, this is a video about a very unusual wedding. Before watching it, what do you think is going to happen?

 a) the doors close, the bride starts walking down the aisle, trips over her wedding dress, and falls down.
 b) the doors open and a marching band enters playing the "Macarena" theme.
 c) the doors close and the bride, the groom and their friends start dancing down the aisle to their special song.

Now, watch the video and see what the right answer is:




That was shocking, wasn't it? Please, remember to read the magazine article on page 38 and do exercises 2, pg. 38 and 3, pg. 39 of the reading section for homework.

Cheers!

Published by Mariluz en 5:49 PM Comments

Hi, folks!

Yesterday we started unit 4 by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of internet dating and you chose three adjectives to describe yourselves for a dating advertisement. Find out more about this by listening to Jonathan and Jeff:

Online dating

We also revised the use of present simple and progressive. Watch the following video and answer this question:

What is the difference between the two questions?


Do versus Doing exercise 1, 2, 3 

Extra exercises:
Present Progressive 
Present simple or progressive? 1, 2, 3 
Action and Stative verbs 

Monday's homework: Read about Lynn on p.36 and do exercises 2 and 3 on page 37. To revise present simple, do exercises 1, 2 and 4 of the grammar section, p37. Also, to revise present progressive, do exercises 1 and 2 of the grammar section on p. 39. Finally, download this worksheet in pdf and do it for Monday as well.

Cheers!

Published by Mariluz en 12:52 PM Comments

Hi!

I'm back in action! After a long weekend it's always hard to get down to work but we'll try and do it. Yesterday we learnt some vocabulary for describing towns and worked on quantifiers, words (or phrases) that say how much or how many of something there is (or isn't), that is, the quantity. This is the chart I wrote on the blackboard for you to learn:

We use…	with CNs	with UNs	in + sentences	in questions	in – sentences
some	√	√	√	√*	x
any	√	√	x	√	√
much	x	√	x	√	√
many	√	x	√	√	√
a lot/lots of	√	√	√	√	√
a few	√	x	√	any	few
a little	x	√	√	any	little
enough	√	√	√	√	√

For homework, you must do the exercise 3 on the grammar section, p 31 and the exercise on this activity sheet.

Extra activities:

Much and many
Little and few 
Quantifiers, too, not enough (1)
Quantifiers, too, not enough (2)

Quantifiers worksheets with answers (pdf)

Extra listenings:

What is good about your home town?
What is bad about your home town?

See you on Friday!

Published by Mariluz en 5:02 PM Comments

Hi, folks!

December is finally here and it's freezing out there, but the good news is that few weeks are left for Christmas! Anyway, before the end of this term, I'd like to test you on the reading and listening skills. If we have time left tomorrow, you'll complete a reading task and I'll mark it for you so you can see if you're doing well so far.

Yesterday 30th November was St. Andrew's Day. St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland and St. Andrew's Day is Scotland's official national day. Check this site to learn about this festivity. Tomorrow's homework is on page 28. Do exercises 2, 3 and 4 about the text "Scots Abroad", and also think about any words that you associate with Scottish culture.

In our latest lesson we spoke about the problems in a shared flat and we learned some house and home collocations. We also listened to a conversation between two friends about where they live. Finally we did some exercises on countable and uncountable nouns with some, any & no.  For more practice, do the following activities.

Grammar:

(Un) Countable nouns

Some/any

Extra listenings:


British Council Elementary Podcast 05 Home (download the file and listen to section 6, Carolina)   
(+ exercises and transcript)

The Roommate quiz game (see transcript)

Finally, remember that tomorrow is the last day to hand in your assignment on an embarrassing situation. If you can't attend the class tomorrow, you can always send me an e-mail with your assignment in an attachment.

Cheers!

Published by Mariluz en 4:41 PM Comments

Hey, guys!

Yesterday we finished unit 2 speaking about where you would travel to study English and learning vocabulary about school facilities. We also learned how to ask for information in a language school and I asked you to do exercise 1 on the Functional Language section, pg. 23, for homework.

If you want to revise the unit, you can do the Revision test on page 149 of your Student's Book and check your answers by downloading the Answer key.

If you want extra revision:
Unit test 2
Unit test 2 key

Finally, I highly recommend that you check out the new series of the British Council Elementary podcasts that you can play on the site or download to your Ipod or mp3 player and listen to them wherever you are (at home, on the bus/underground/subway/car, at work, etc. You can also download the Support Pack with exercises and transcripts, do activities online, or write your comments on the site.

If you don't know anything about podcasts, watch this video and learn how they work:



Cheers!

Published by Mariluz en 4:12 PM Comments

Hi, everyone!

After a very busy week, I can finally write a new post on our blog. During the last classes we worked on the past tenses (past simple and progressive, used to) and vocabulary about education. For next week I told you to do the exercises on these pdf worksheets for homework.

Extra practice:
Past progressive (1)
Past progressive (2)
Past simple or progressive (sentences)

 Answer Key

Past simple or progressive (text)
Answer Key

We also read about some embarrassing situations at school. I told you to think about an embarrassing experience that happened to you or someone you know and write about 80-100 words describing the situation. Download the plan in pdf and read it before writing your story. This will be your next assignment due December, 2. 

Extra listening:
Embarrassing moments in high school
(Read the transcript after doing the exercises)

Used to:



Read the transcript after watching the video.

Have a nice weekend!

Published by Mariluz en 5:22 PM Comments

Hi!

This is the final list of students that will do the speaking practice tomorrow. Please, note that these times are estimated and subject to change.

Yesterday, in group A we introduced the used to structure to talk about past situations and repeated actions which no longer happen in the present time. I told you to do exercises 2 and 3, p 19 of the Grammar section for homework. For more practice:
used to 1
used to 2

Finally, I want to thank those students who attended the World March activities and even went on to the stage to sing. YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY GREAT!

Published by Mariluz en 8:20 PM Comments

Hi, there!

Yesterday it was Election Day for CR (no, this doesn't mean "Cristiano Ronaldo", but "Class Representative"!) in the class. It was hard to find candidates (some of you did an anti-campaign not to be elected!) but finally you voted for Julia to be the class rep and Mª Belén to be her deputy (subdelegada) for group A, and Rubén to be the class rep and José to be his deputy for group B. Their job is basically to be the link between the students and the teacher for this course, but please feel free to speak to me personally whenever you want.

Then we did a brainstorming of vocabulary about school. Study the mind maps about Subjects, People, Verb collocations, in class, and Adjective collocations. Mind-mapping is one of the best ways of learning new vocabulary!

We also studied the past simple and I told you to do exercise 3, p.16, of the grammar section for homework. For more practice, do the following exercises:

Past simple (regular and irregular)
Past simple (regular and irregular 2)
Pronunciation of -ed exercise (Choose the mininal pair /d/ or /id/)


Now watch this video:

19 exercises about the video

Sing the Irregular Verbs song to learn them!



Last, but not least, a bit of British culture. Read about Guy Fawkes and learn how Bonfire Night is celebrated across the UK doing the multiple choice exercise.

Happy bonfire night!

Published by Mariluz en 5:04 PM Comments

Hi, how're you doing?

Well, yesterday we finished unit 1 learning how to make phone calls. We practised how to say phone numbers and how to take and leave phone messages. Then we did some pairwork telephone roleplays.  Finally we learnt how to write an informal e-mail and I gave the first writing assignment for you this year. Do the final task: choose one of the situations to write an e-mail and send it to my personal e-mail address or use the blank "e-mail page" given and hand it in to me before the end of 16th November.

To revise this unit, I recommend that you download the following test and do it at home. You can also download the key to check your answers.

Now, watch this video to practise saying phone numbers:

 Do this listening comprehension exercise about the video.

Download this worksheet and write down information from phone conversations:

Published by Mariluz en 12:47 PM Comments

Yesterday we corrected homework and introduced the topic of neighbours (neighbors in American English) by making a list of the top 5 best and worst famous people as our neighbours. Most of your choices were really funny and shocking: your best neighbours ranged from Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Rafael Nadal or Bill Gates to Paquirrín or Torrente. On the other hand, some of your worst neighbours were Zapatero, Paris Hilton and Belén Esteban!

For Wednesday (tomorrow), please read the text on page 10 with the title "Who would you like as...a neighbour?" and do exercises 1 and 2 of the Reading section. (If you want to see how Alan Titchmarsh secretly transformed gardens while the owners were away, click here.)

If you have extra time, visit the fantastic elllo page to practise your listening skills:

Neighbors game (easy)

Neighbors quiz (a bit difficult without looking at the transcript)

Published by Mariluz en 12:47 PM Comments

Hi guys!

In our last class yesterday we learnt some verb collocations about friendship. Please, revise them and do exercise 3, pg.8 by next Monday. We also revised questions with auxiliary verbs (present and past) and I told you to do exercise 1 on the SPEAKING section, pg. 9 for homework.

More exercises on auxiliary verbs here:
Making questions (explanation)

Exercise 1, exercise 2, exercise 3, exercise 4, exercise 5, exercise 6, exercise 7, exercise 8, exercise 9

More exercises on collocations here:
Words that go together (adjectives)
Words that go together (verbs)

Speaking about friends, Twitter is the internet site that everyone's talking about this year. Find out about the site in this worksheet and create you own Twitter messages (you can use the "comments" section below to write them). Remember you can only use up to 140 characters!

Now play the video to learn more about the site and answer this question:

Published by Mariluz en 3:57 PM Comments