Enjoy Christmas!

To all my students and their families!!

THE FONIX: 7th ENGLISH COMPETITION FOR CATALAN SCHOOLS

Once more we have decided to enrol our students on to the Fonix. Why? Because it is fun and exciting to compete with other children from Catalonia who are the same age as us.

Do you want some more information?

Calendar

• 9th November - 15th January 2014: enrolment form.
• 16th January - 21st February 2014: time period in which to carry out the English tests at the Local Stage of the competittion in your educational centres.
• Up until 24th February: the closure of the enrolment of finalist from the Local Stage who want to take part in the Regional Stage of the competition.
• Saturday 1st March at 12:00 o'clock: the Regional Stage will take place.
• From 7th April on , the winners of the Regional Stage will be published on the web-site.
• Saturday 3rd May: the Final Stage of the competition will take place.
• From 20th May, the final classifications of the winners at the Final Stage of the competition will be published.
• At the end of May: the FONIX award ceremony of prizes and diplomas will take place.

The Spirit of the Holidays: Gifts of Hope

The situation we're living nowadays is really difficult for lots of families. Our school is always trying to help other people. And the first step to help others is to consider our own situation. Do we live better? Do we have unnecessary things which can be consider luxurious? Could we do without many of the things we have?

Have a look at this video and think about it?

GERUND VS INFINITIVE GAME

ING gerunds vs. infinitive game

BEGINNERS: INFINITIVES OR GERUNDS?

 The most common uses of the infinitive are:

1. After certain verbs, e.g. decide, would like, etc.

              I decided to study hard for my exams.
              I would like to travel around the world.


2. After adjectives.

              It is difficult to understand.
              It is not easy to get up early on Mondays.

3. To indicate purpose.

              We use a camera to take photos.
              We study a lot to pass all the exams.


The most common uses of the gerund are:

1. After certain verbs, e.g. love, don't mind, spend (time)

             She spent hours chatting with her friends.
             I love reading.

2. As the subject of a sentence.

              Smoking is bad for your health.
              Pointing at people is rude.

3. After prepositions.

             He is really good at dancing.
             Turn off the lights before leaving.

Gerund or infinitive? (www.englisch-hilfen.de/)
Gerund or infinitive?2 (www.englisch-hilfen.de/)

LISTENING COMPREHENSION: TALKING ABOUT OUR FAMILY

You're going to listen to seven people talking about their family. After listening, try to answer the questions and check your answers by clicking on the yellow tick.

My family

PRONUNCIATION OF -ED (REGULAR VERBS)

As you know, regular verbs in the past simple always end in '-ed'. But how do we pronounce this ending? These letters can be pronounced in three different ways: /id/, /t/ or /d/. The pronunciation depends on the sound at the end of the bare form (or infinitive) of the verb.

Look at the chart to help you with the pronunciation.

Now watch this video and listen carefully. (from ElementalEnglish.com)
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3

ESO 2 READING COMPREHENSION: BILL GATES

Read a text about Bill Gates and answer the questions. Don't forget to use an online dictionary to help you.


Bill Gates (from http://mrnussbaum.com)

ESO2 COMPUTERS

As you all use computers in class, you should know how to say things in English.
This link will give you the opportunity to learn vocabulary in an easy way.


Computers 1

Computers 2

LISTENING COMPREHENSION: SONGS

The Script - Hall of fame

You will hear seven seconds of a song by The Script. Before you listen, discuss whether they will sing a), b) or c) in the gap.


Yeah, you could be the greatest … (+5 words) .. You could be the king kong, banging on your chest 
a) man in the whole world.
b) you could be the best.
c) babe of all the rest.

Now play the video below from 00.52 to 00.59. (Though you may want to hear more)






Pitbull ft Christina Aguilera - Feel This Moment


You will hear seven seconds of a song by Pitbull and Christina Aguilera. Before you listen, discuss whether they will sing a), b) or c) in the gap.


Ya'll call it a moment, ... (+4 words)

a) I call it life.
b) a moment in life.
c) just tell your wife.

Now play the video below from 00.07 to 00.14. (Though you may want to hear more)



Bruno Mars – Locked out of heaven .

You will hear seven seconds of a song by Bruno Mars. Before you listen, discuss whether he will sing a), b) or c) in the gap.


Never had much faith ...  (+4 words)

a) in being so original.
b) in love or miracles.
c) in those being satirical

Now play the video below from 00.20 to 00.27. (Though you may want to hear more)




Now is your turn. Get in groups of three. Find a 7 second clip from you tube, write out some of the lyrics and leave a gap of between 3 and 5 words, then give three possible answers, one of which should be the real answer.

READING COMPREHENSION: EASTER IN THE UK

In Spain, schools close for a 10 ten days at Easter time, whereas in the UK, schools close for two weeks. What do you know about Easter in the UK? Click on the link and read the text to find out more about how Easter is celebrated in Britain.



Easter in the UK (from www. britishcouncil.org)

ESO3 SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

Watch the video and answer the questions.

 
  

1. What day is St. Patrick's day?

______________________________________________________

2. What nationality was he?

______________________________________________________

3.What happened to him when he was 16?

______________________________________________________

4. How long was he a prisoner?

______________________________________________________

5. What was his religion an what did he spend his life doing?

______________________________________________________

6. When did he die?

______________________________________________________

7. What did myth claim St. Patrick did? Was it true?

______________________________________________________

8. What did the shamrock symbolise?

______________________________________________________

9. Do shamrocks exit? What plants are used as shamrocks?

______________________________________________________

10. Where did the tradition start? Why?

______________________________________________________

READING COMPREHENSION: RED NOSE DAY

RED NOSE DAY

Red Nose Day is a UK-wide fundraising event organised by Comic Relief every two years. On Red Nose Day everyone, including celebrities, is encouraged to cast inhibitions aside, put on a Red Nose and do something funny for money.

Red Nose Day unites the entire nation in trying to make a difference to the lives of countless people across Africa and the UK who are facing terrible injustice or living in desperate poverty.

And now that we know what Red Nose Day is, let's try with this reading ... and don't forget to do the True/False exercise.

Red Nose Day

ESO1 IRREGULAR VERBS

I think it's high time you studied irregular verbs. Although some of you have already told me you know all of them, irregular verbs must be revised now and again.

Here you will find a funny way of revising.

First of all you must have a look at them (irregular verb wheel from www.macmillandictionaries.com) and then you can start playing (Verb wheel game www.macmillandictionary.com).

ESO4 FCE PRACTICE ONLINE

The best way to prepare the FCE Cambridge test is by practising.

Everybody has heard about this test, but what is it like?





The test has 5 sections:

Reading (1 hour): 3 parts - 30 questions

Writing (1 hour 20 minutes): 2 parts

Use of English (45 minutes): 4 parts - 42 questions

Listening (40 minutes): 4 parts - 30 questions

Speaking (14 minutes per pair of candidates): 4 parts

Each section carries 20% of the total marks.

Ready then?

FCE test

ESO3 MAKING BISCUITS: A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE

Well, I think this has been a ... different experience. What do you think? Please leave your comments.
 

Making biscuits from paqui2

ESO1 CÉLINE DION

And for Valentine's day a love song.



"Because You Loved Me" is a song by Canadian singer Céline Dion from her album Falling into You. This is a really special song for me and I hope you like it.

ESO3: MAKING BISCUITS

English lessons are not always boring. We sometimes try to do other activities and have some fun! My ESO3 students (15 year-old teens) tried to make some biscuts following Ellie's instructions. Well some of the biscuits were inedible, but some of them were awesome.

Looking for divine inspiration.

Shall we move on?

Oh look at this! It's disgusting!

Who said this was going to be boring?

It's a matter of eggs!

At last we see Ellie! We thought you had disappeared!

That's weird!

We're the best!

ESO4 LISTENING COMPREHENSION: FAWLTY TOWERS

Watch the video and answer the questions in the worksheet.



After watching the video leave your comments.

BASIC ENGLISH: COLOURS AND NUMBERS

Today some colours and numbers, specially numbers.

Click on the following link and do the exercises on colours and numbers.

Colours and numbers (www.linguasnet.com)

Remember you have to do all the activities in the 5 sections you will find. Have fun!

ESO1 LISTENING COMPREHENSION: MEETING FRIENDS

Today we're going to try a new activity for you. Click on the following link and follow the instructions. In this first episode some young people meet up in a café.



Big city, small world-Episode 1

Do the Preparation task first. Then listen to the audio. Next go to each Task and do the activity. If you need help, you can read the Transcript at any time.

ESO 4: SECOND CONDITIONAL

At the end of next this week you have the next test (UNIT 12). Here you will find some exercises to practice the second conditional.



Remember:

If + Past Simple, would + infinitive

OR

Would + infinitive if + past simple (here the comma disappears)

If the verb you have to use in the Past Simple is the verb 'to be', remember to use 'were' for all the subjects:

If I were you ...
If he were here ...

As simple as this. If you need some more examples, click on this link. At the bottom of this page you will find a link to some exercises (Continue with the exercises).

Grammar guide: Conditional type II

And some more practice:

Conditional type 2. Exercise 1
Conditional type 2. Exercise 2
Conditional type 2. Exercise 3
Conditional type 2. Exercise 4
Conditional type 2. Exercise 5
Conditional type 2. Exercise 6

ESO4 READING COMPREHENSION: FRIENDSHIP

Who is your best friend? How long have you known this person? Did you likethem the first time you saw them?

We all agree friendship is something quite complex. Read the following text and answer the questions. Then posta comment to tell me if you agree with it or not.

Friendship

ESO4 LISTENING COMPREHENSION: FRIENDSHIP

  Listen to the conversation and then answer the questions about the birthday party. 

The birthday party




Now try this Quiz Show. Remember to read the instructions before listening.

Circle of friends

And another one. Rebecca talks about her best friend and where and how they met and why they like each other. While you listen answer the questions in Comprehension Q's.

Her best friend

ESO 4 VOCABULARY: FRIENDSHIP

In the following link you will find a list of 57 expressions related to friendship. Read the list and learn the new expressions you find - don't worry not all of them are new. Below the flashcards you have different exercises to do (deletreador, aprender, ...), try them and have fun.

Friendship

Before the end of the class read the list again and choose the 10  expressions you think will be useful for you to learn them.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 I want to wish all my students and visitors a ...