"What a player!"

 

 

Jannik Sinner recognised after the match against Rafa Jódar in Madrid what a good player his opponent was. A display of fair play from the talented Italian tennis player, current ATP number 1 seeded.

 

  

In sport and many other areas of life, modesty is such an important value to compete and also to grow. You never reach the summit, there are always challenges in life and they don't have to be extraordinary. Simple goals such as having a family or carrying out everyday tasks may be as important as winning a major tournament.

 

 

 

 

 

Learning English from the News:   Hungary election landslide  & Trump shooting attempt (BBC Learning English)  

  

Road towards success in the Selectivity exam.....

(and here's the rubric to evaluate the composition) 

• 2025_Monsieur Tan-Tan  

  The weird way language affects our sense of time and space (BBC News)

  The big idea: could the English language die? (The Guardian)

  7 mysterious languages that have yet to be deciphered (DW)

   

 

  Here's my musical hint for today:    Fair play by Van Morrison. And here are the lyrics for you to sing along.  

 

 

 

Easy English Conversations:   What can you do?  (BBC Learning English)  

 

 

Here are some more activities for my students:

• English in a Minute:  Phrases with 'GAME'  (BBC Learning English)

• 
  

  Office English: Extra work  (BBC Learning English) 

• The English We Speak:  Think on your feet  (BBC Learning English)

• Listening exercise for you to do:   Why are we all so stressed?  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

     

Some activities for my students:

• in 4º ESO... 

D. Rewrite the following sentences either using the passive voice or the causative have

1. Someone will send me new books this term.   I...

2. Cleaners are ironing my new shirt at the moment.  I...

3. My mother usually bakes bread for me in the morning.   Bread...   / I...

4. A plumber replaced the old pipes in my bathroom.   I...

5. A technician has installed a new app on my laptop.   A new app... / I...

6. Someone must fix your motorbike as soon as possible.  You...   /  Your motorbike...

7. Painters painted my granny's fence last week.   My granny...

8. Someone should edit my videos for me, it takes me ages!   I....   / My videos....

9. The hairdresser didn't cut my hair during lockdown.    I...

10. A producer was recording her new album yesterday.   Her new album...

11. Doctors have tested my blood this afternoon.   I... 

•   

Real Easy English >>>   Talking about MEMORY  (BBC Learning English) 

 

 

English with Lucy... Avoid embarrassing mistakes in English - Stop confusing these words! 

 

 

 

"All work and no play makes Jack/Jill a dull boy/girl"

Learning English with  Tom Holland  - funny story  

 

 

 HOW FISH AND CHIPS WAS INVENTED | The Forgotten Story Behind Britain’s National Dish  

 

Jannik Sinner beating Rafa Jódar and the other quarter-finals ( RJ vs Joao Fonseca, Daniel Mérida vs Moutet)  -  Madrid 2026 

 

Crying for help

 

 

 

Everywhere in the world you can see and hear people crying for help. Wars, droughts, poverty, floods... There are few solutions to all these problems, but those in charge must have the will. There is still hope, as the quote below states.

 

 

 

In Spain we have got plenty of problems everywhere (housing, corruption, immigration, jobs...), but "we still have a cup" and we have got the power in our hands to try to change things if we make the effort. We should not waste that possibility, especially our students.

 

 

 

Learning English from the News:   Mass shooting at Mexican pyramids  (BBC Learning English)  

 

Spain champions migration’s benefits with regularisation scheme – but queues are long (The Guardian)

Spain approves plan to give around 500,000 undocumented migrants legal status (BBC News) 

ICE detains wife of US Army soldier at immigration appointment (BBC News)

 

 

  Here's my musical hint for today:    Cry for help by Rick Astley. And here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along.  

 

 

 

Learning English Grammar  (Comparatives with 'a bit', 'a lot' and 'sort of':   Choosing a home  (BBC Learning English)  

 

 

Here are some more activities for my students:

• English in a Minute:  4 Phrases with 'FRIEND'  (BBC Learning English)

• 
  

  Office English... Learn how to check you've understood things: Ideas  (BBC Learning English) 

• The English We Speak:  Can't see the wood for the trees  (BBC Learning English)

• Listening exercise for you to do:   Love the foods you hate  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

     

 

Real Easy English >>>   Talking about WORK  (BBC Learning English) 

 

 

English with Lucy... 5 things to practise everyday to improve your English communication skills 

 

 

 

"All work and no play makes Jack/Jill a dull boy/girl"

Learning English with Disney's  ELEMENTAL  

 

 

 The History of Cheese: From Ancient Mistake to Global Obsession  

 

Federer was destroying Nadal, but Rafa doesn't like to lose - The Fedal match you've never seen!! (Hamburg 2008) 

 

 

 

 

Have you got enough on your plate?

 

 

 

I think my students have got enough on their plates (check the meaning of this expression in the section at the end of this post Learning English with...), but the problem is that they haven't started eating yet. With their teacher on medical leave they were supposed to be working following his directions, but...

 

 

So, look out before the sky is falling on you (another expression used in the section Learning English with...).

 

 

 

Learning English from the News:   'God's influencer': First millennial saint named  (BBC Learning English)  

 

 

 

New section in BBC Learning English... EASY ENGLISH CONVERSATIONS:    Where is the train station?  &   What are you doing?   

 

Quick English Lessons:   How to use ARRIVE with 'IN' & 'AT'  /  5 ways to build your vocabulary (BBC Learning English) 

 

  Here's my musical hint for today:    No more tears (Enough is enough) by Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer. And here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along.

 

 

Real Easy English:   Talking about BOOKS  (BBC Learning English)  

 

 

Here are some more activities for my students:

• English in a Minute:  Phrases with 'CHANGE'  (BBC Learning English)

• 
  

  Office English... Learn how to check you've understood things: Clear communication  (BBC Learning English) 

• Real Easy English:  Talking about WORK  (BBC Learning English)

• Listening exercise for you to do:   The future of food  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

     

 

Real Easy English >>>   Talking about SUNSHINE  (BBC Learning English) 

 

Here are some activities for my students:

  

• in 4º ESO... 

SOLUTIONS TO THE EXERCISES IN THE PREVIOUS POST:

1. Bread is made from flour.     2. Jane was offered a wonderful job. / A wonderful job was offered to Jane.

3. I have been sent a strange letter. / A strange letter has been sent to me.

4. The telephone was invented by Alexander Bell.     5. The guard dogs were being trained (by a woman).

6. Trivial Pursuit can be played by people of all ages.   7. Fresh eggs are sold in Vélez Benaudalla.

8. The books have been packed.      9. Letters are typed for my boss.

10. The town has been attacked by Israeli troops several times since the beginning of the war.

 

 

How to break your English comfort zone | Please watch this video...

 

 

 

"All work and no play makes Jack/Jill a dull boy/girl"

Learning English with Disney Pixar's  A BUG'S LIFE  

 

 

 

 

Tennis: two Spanish legends (Orantes 1 & Higueras 1) from Granada and a possible new Spanish top player (Rafa Jódar 1)

  

 

 

Tennis experts admit Rafa Jodar is the next STAR in tennis  

 

 

The clay season has just started... in Montecarlo!

 

Without Rafa Nadal on court, but with Number 1 Carlitos Álcaraz, the clay season in tennis started a few weeks ago and this is the moment for our Spanish tennis players. The first big tournament has been held in Montecarlo, but the winner this time has been the Italian Jannik Sinner.

 

Tennis Legends Explain How TERRIFYING Rafael Nadal Was  

 

 

Meanwhile, matters in the world still remain unsolved. Talks in Pakistan has not been very successful, war doesn't find an end, innocent people keep being killed and the economic crisis is becoming a reality. At least we have some good news from space mission Artemis II returning home safely from their trek around the Moon.

 

 

Artemis crew home safely after completing historic mission to the Moon (BBC News)

Artemis II crew speak out at welcome home event: ‘Earth was this lifeboat hanging in the universe’ (The Guardian)

Artemis II splashes down in Pacific after historic moon trip (DW)

 

 

Learning English from the News:   'God's influencer': First millennial saint named  (BBC Learning English)  

 

 

 

New section in BBC Learning English... EASY ENGLISH CONVERSATIONS:    What is in your town?  &   What do you do every day?   

 

 

Quick English Lessons:   How to use ARRIVE with 'IN' & 'AT'  /  5 ways to build your vocabulary (BBC Learning English) 

 

  Here's my musical hint for today:    Missing you by John Waite. And here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along.

 

 

 

Here are some more activities for my students:

• English in a Minute:  5 phrasal verbs for SAY  (BBC Learning English)

• 
  

  The English We Speak: Yap  (BBC Learning English) 

• Office English:  Giving advice without sounding rude  (BBC Learning English) 

• Listening exercise for you to do:   The future of food  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

     

 

 

 

Real Easy English >>>   Talking about CREATIVITY  (BBC Learning English) 

 

Here are some activities for my students:

• in 1º ESO...  

REVISION EXERCISES        

Exercise on the MODALS: CAN , MUST & SHOULD    

 

SOLUTIONS TO THE EXERCISES IN THE PREVIOUS POST:

1. Do we study English at school.   We don't study German at school.

2. Is Tom Cruise American? He isn't from Brazil.

3. Does James like playing football? He doesn't like English at all. 

4. Has my mother got a big car? She hasn't got a motorbike.

5. Are we studying English? We aren't studying German.

6. Do trains go faster than motorbikes? Trains don't go faster than a Ferrari.

7. Have we got a new French teacher? We haven't got a new English teacher.

8. Does Albert have cereals for breakfast? He doesn't have any tea.

9. Are you listening to the radio? I'm not  watching TV.

10. Do they read Sinbad? They don't read Braveheart.

27.  1. Where does Mrs Wagner work?  2. Does George like fast cars?  3. What is the girl eating?   4. What does your wife usually have for breakfast?

28. My proposal:  My mother is working in hospital, my father is driving to Granada and my little brother is still sleeping.

This afternoon my mother is going to buy a new folder for me, my father is going to order some pizza for dinner and my little brother is going to play with his toys.

29.  1. Penny played the guitar a lot when she  was young.  2. Last summer we took lots of photos.  3. We watched a very interesting  programme last night.  4. William Shakespeare wrote many famous plays.

30. 1. Beethoven didn't write drama; he wrote music.   2. We didn't see fire; we only saw some smoke.    3. Greek philosopher Socrates didn't live in Rome; he lived in Athens.

 

• in 2º ESO... Exercise on the Future Simple. 

 

Possible answers:  Do exercise 2 on page 95.

a. Did they catch the criminal? Why were they chasing the criminal? What happened when the earthquake began?

b. What did the criminal steal?   How fast could the criminal run?

c. Why did the criminal fall? Was he hurt?

d. What time did the criminal enter the house? How much did he steal from the house?

e. How much did the computers and mobile phones cost?  Why did he steal their jewellery?

f. When did the witness call the police?  Was the witness nervous or afraid? 

 

 

• in 4º ESO... Exercises on the PASSIVE VOICE:

PASSIVE VOICE

PASSIVE VOICE. Rewrite these sentences into the PASSIVE VOICE:

1. Bakers make bread from flour.

2. They offered Jane a wonderful job.

3. Somebody has sent me a strange letter.

4. Alexander Bell invented the telephone.

5. A woman was training the guard dogs.

6. People of all ages can play Trivial Pursuit.

7. People sell fresh eggs in Vélez Benaudalla.

8. She has packed the books.

9. Someone types letters for my boss.

10. Israeli troops have attacked the town several times since the beginning of the war.

 

 

How to Remember English Vocabulary Permanently | Please watch this video...

 

 

 

 

"All work and no play makes Jack/Jill a dull boy/girl"

Learning English with Disney's  HOPPERS  

 

 

 

 

Tennis:  Álcaraz vs Bublik  - vs Vacherot & Sinner vs Zverev in the semi-finals  - and this time Sinner was the winner in Montecarlo 2026