NO FEAR... Nothing gets me down!!

 

May is nearly gone and June is knocking on the door. We are tired, the weather conditions don't help... but we still have to struggle to reach the finish line and achieve our goals. 

 

Summer holidays are just round the corner and we will always have time to rest and recover from another hard school year. Interacting with your friends and relatives will help, not social media!

 

Learning English from the News:   Is social media "the new smoking"?  (BBC Learning English)  

 

Excessive social media 'negatively impacts wellbeing' (BBC News)

I’m a young woman, and people keep telling me the internet has ruined my brain. (The Guardian)

Social media addiction: How can we avoid it? (DW)

 

 

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

Here's the English exam they have done:   June2026_The theft of the century  ( Related post: The return of the Pink Panther? )

  

These are my proposed answers, although I haven't double-checked them....

A1- d  (line 10)  A2- b  (lines 17-18)   A3: False. Lines 2-3: "a gang of thieves,... treasures"   

A4: True. Lines 12-13: "The final price ... considerable."   

A5: False. Lines 16-17: "Never for a moment... for that."

A6: True. Lines 23-24: "which has been ... French government."

A7.1: display (line 7)   A7.2: tight (line 15)    A8.1: closet (line 18)   A8.2: wrap (line 19) 

USE OF ENGLISH

B1: That's the most interesting documentary I have ever seen.
B2: Whereas my parents enjoy watching movies in the sitting room, I like to stream them in bed.
B3: My neighbour is not fond of parties.
B4: Security knows how many people there are inside the building at every time.
B5: Tim founded an advertising firm, which has recently gone bankrupt.
B6: Would you like to dance with me?

B7: Some influencers are known to buy their Instagram followers.
B8: I wish I could afford to travel abroad next summer.
B9: All you need for a good hike is Google Maps and some snacks.
B10: The couple is having their baby looked after while they are out for the evening.
B11: Joe must have stayed up gaming all night, because he looks very tired.
B12: As long as you do yoga, you can reduce stress. 

 

  Here's my musical hint for today:    Jump by Van Halen. And here are the lyrics (with Spanish translation included)for you to sing along.  

 

 

 

Easy English Conversations:   What's this?  (BBC Learning English)  

 

 

Here are some more activities for my students:

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

• 
  

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

• The English We Speak:  Gatekeep   (BBC Learning English)

• Listening exercise for you to do:   Do collagen supplements really work?  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

Quick English Lessons:   How to use ARRIVE with IN and AT (BBC Learning English) 

 

 

English with Lucy... We don't say the "T" in British English!! 

 

 

 

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

Learning English with  Madagascar  - "You didn't see anything"

 

 

 Albert Einstein, the quiet boy who changed the Universe  

 

 

Surprising scores in Roland Garros 2026: Rafa Jódar beating Michelsen & Carreño, Joao Fonseca beating Djokovic, Cerundolo beating Sinner and Landaluce, Casper Ruud beating Tommy Paul.... and all in 5 sets!!        

Granollers vs Zeballos & Heliovaara & Patten | Doubles Final | Roland Garros 2026 Highlights 🇫🇷

 

 

Are you in over your head?

 

 

You may feel overwhelmed and stressed due to the amount of homework you have to do and the number of hours you spend studying for the exams, but I wonder if you have worked regularly all along the school year. In most cases, I have my doubts!

 

 

The English We Speak:   In over my head  (BBC Learning English)  

 

Do you feel overwhelmed? Here’s why – and how to fix it (The Guardian)

 

 

 

I may admit that certain situations are unavoidable, but preventive actions can always be taken. A good glass of fresh orange juice provides you with enough vitamin C to prevent colds, some exercise and avoiding the use of electronic devices makes you sleep better... and working all the year long results in better marks and less anxiety at the end of the school year!

 

 

  Here's my musical hint for today:    The Heat is On by Glenn Frey. And here are the lyrics for you to sing along.  

 

Yassin El Fachati ( a student in 1º ESO B at our school) presenting Portalico's Restaurant (Writing 14) 

 

 

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

 

 

Here are some more activities for my students:

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

• 
  

  Office English: Writing notes  (BBC Learning English) 

• Learning English from the News:  Hantavirus ship evacuated  & Ebola: deadly virus spreads (BBC Learning English)

• Listening exercise for you to do:   How reading shapes your brain  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

     

Solution: to the exercise in the previous post (4º ESO) 

My mother usually goes to the hairdresser's on Saturday mornings  OR   My mother usually has her hair done on Saturday mornings.    

Quick English Lessons:   What's the difference: JUST, ALREADY & YET? (BBC Learning English) 

 

 

English with Lucy... Would rather vs Prefer!! 

 

 

 

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

Learning English with  Wednesday & Lady Gaga   

 

 

 The history of wine  

 

Old stories about Nadal:

John McEnroe Was Right About Rafael Nadal But Nobody Listened  - making reference to his 5-hour marathon match against Guillermo Coria in the 2005 Rome final.

 

 

Food and war!!!

What connection can food have with war? Apart from the difficulties in finding food when a country is at war...

 

 

Learning English from the News:   Iran war puts global food production at risk, says fertiliser boss  (BBC Learning English)  

 

In the Middle Ages armies would set siege on castles or even entire towns so as to make them surrender because of the lack of food supplies or just water. Now with the Strait of Hormuz blocked we are actually having problems with petrol, but also with certain fertilisers and... food!

 

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

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

• 2025_Monsieur Tan-Tan  

Solutions to the exam...

A1- d  (line 3: "in conjunction with quite varied intonation and expressive gestures.")  A2- b  (lines 16-18)  

A3: FALSE (lines 3-4). “He spent the rest of his life hospitalized.”

A4: FALSE (lines 9-10). “Auburtin was attempting to support the hypothesis that the brain did not work as a homogenous mass, at least when it came to higher functions such as language.”

A5: TRUE (line 13). “He could count (and understand time).”

A6: FALSE (lines 19-20) “Although not all of Broca’s colleagues accepted his conclusions (, the road to studying the biological basis of language had already been taken).”

A7.1: unusual (line 2)   A7.2: meeting (line 7)    A8.1: nickname(d) (line 3)   A8.2: attempt(ing) (line 9)

USE OF ENGLISH 

B1- Julia’s performance was more impressive than Adriana’s.   

B2- If Mike did (some) exercise, he wouldn’t be so unfit / he would be fit(ter).

B3- I am having / going to have lunch with Joyce today.

B4- The babysitter looks after Tommy in the afternoon.

B5- The house was being painted while we were away on holiday. // We were having/getting our house painted while we were away on holiday.

B6- The person whom you have been laughing at is / was Sam’s little brother.

B7- Karen said that she had to hide Jane’s birthday present before she got home.

B8- John hasn’t got any brothers (or sisters) / siblings.

B9- It was such a heavy microwave that I needed help to carry it.

B10- The six o’clock train to Brighton couldn’t leave due to a storm // Due to a storm, the six o’clock train to Brighton couldn’t leave.

B11- They might not have heard the good news last night.

B12. People believed that Houdini was a fabulous magician. 

 

  Here's my musical hint for today:    American Pie by Don McLean. And here are the lyrics for you to sing along.  

 

 

 

Easy English Conversations:   How's the weather?  (BBC Learning English)  

 

 

Here are some more activities for my students:

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

• 
  

  Office English: Career development  (BBC Learning English) 

• The English We Speak:  A hunch  (BBC Learning English)

• Listening exercise for you to do:   Should we eat ultra-processed food?  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

     

Solutions to the exercise in the previous post (4º ESO) 

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

1. I will be sent new books this term. 2. I am having my news shirt cleaned at the moment.

3. Bread is usually baked for me in the morning by my mother.   / I usually have my bread baked in the morning by my mother.

4. I had the old pipes replaced in my bathroom.

5. A new app has been installed on my laptop. / I have had a new app installed on my laptop.

6. You must have your motorbike fixed as soom as possible.   /  Your motorbike must be fixed as soom as possible.

7. My granny had her fence painted last week.

8. I should have my videos edited, it takes me ages!   / My videos should be edited by someone who knows, it takes me ages!

9. I didn't have my hair cut during the lockdown.   

10. Her new album was being recorded yesterday by a producer.

11. I have had my blood tested this afternoon.  

How would say in English:

Mi madre suele ir a la peluquería los sábados por la mañana.    

(2 possibilities)

Learning English Grammar (makes me..., about to, on the verge of) >>>   EMOTIONS  (BBC Learning English) 

 

 

English with Lucy... STOP COMMITTING THESE MISTAKES!! 

 

 

 

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

Learning English with  Ed Sheeran  - funny story  

 

 

 History of COFFEE  

 

Still in the clay season and just before Roland Garros, with Jannik Sinner seeded number 1, Carlos Álcaraz out of that race for the moment being because of his wrist injury, but with the emerging new Spanish champ Rafa Jódar, here we are in Rome, just before Roland Garros.

 

Once upon a time there was a great (tennis) emperor who ruled all over clay courts named RAFA NADAL ( L'imperatore di Roma  ,  NADAL: l'imperatore è tornato a Roma!!! ). We all thought "there ain't no sunshine when he's gone", but life goes on. So, I wonder now who will the be the next (tennis) emperor in Rome.

 

Another Spanish promising star: Martín Landaluce (a lucky loser) vs Medjedovic   -  Rome 2026  

 

The only player who refused to respect Rafael Nadal: The Soderling Rivalry   

 

 

 

 

 

"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    

And what a superb player Jannik Sinner is!!! He won the title in Madrid beating Zverev in the final.