He may be one of the GOATs

 

 

 Carlos Álcaraz did it!!  He got his Australian Open to complete his 4-Grand Slam career!!! 

 

His best points all along the tournament!!! 

 

UNBELIEVABLE Journey to Career Grand Slam   

   

Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic | Final | Australian Open 2026 Extended Highlights 🇦🇺

• Carlos Alcaraz beats Novak Djokovic in Australian Open final to complete career grand slam (The Guardian)

• Tennis immortality at 22 - Alcaraz's historic win (BBC News)

• Carlos Alcaraz wins 2026 Australian Open, gets kangaroo tattoo (news.com.au)

Carlos Alcaraz wins Australian Open final, defeating Novak Djokovic | 9 News Australia   

Tennis Players Explain Why Carlos Alcaraz May Be THE BEST EVER After Beating Novak Djokovic At AO

 

 

Today is Wednesday, 4th February, and we have no classes due to a RED ALERT for heavy rains and snowfalls all over Andalusia, so....

 

Here are some activities for my students:

• in 1º ESO about the Present Simple vs Present Continuous  ,  Present Simple vs Present Continuous 1 2 and  ALSO / TOO / EITHER    

• in 2º ESO:  Exercise on Comparatives 1  ,   Exercise on Comparatives 2       ,     Exercise on Comparatives 3   (SUPERIORITY, EQUALITY & INFERIORITY) 

• in 4º ESO: REAL CONDITIONALS &  CONDITIONAL SENTENCES - MIXED            

 

Learning English Grammar (Present Perfect Simple and Continuous):   What have you been up to?  (BBC Learning English)   

 

 

Beating Speaking Anxiety:   I'm scared I won't understand people  (BBC Learning English)   >>>>  What to do if you can't understand someone       

    

 

  Here's my musical hint for today:    Aperture by Harry Stiles. And here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along.

 

 

 

Real Easy English:   Talking about YOUR YEAR  (BBC Learning English)  

 

Here are some more activities for my students:

• Work in the Future:   How do generations work together?  (BBC Learning English)  

• 
  

  Learning English from the News: Syria: One year since Assad's fall  (BBC Learning English)  

  
  

• Listening exercise for you to do: The country that measures happiness  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

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

     

 

 

Lucy tests your level of English: What is your level of English in 2026?    

 

 

 

 

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

Learning English with - Killing Sherlock   (series trailer)

 

No need to shoot off when the class is finishing!!!

 

 

Students, teenagers... deserve attention, respect!!! Yes, they also have to give something back, that is to say, they have to show respect, pay attention... to their teachers, elderly people and even their peers!!!!

When the music or bell rings is just a kind of signal for the person speaking that he must come to an end with his explanations or whatever. What would students think if the teacher left the classroom as soon as the bell rings or the music starts when doing an exam?? 

So there's no need to shoot off when your teacher is finishing, or maybe one day YOU WILL BE SHOT!!!😠😠😠😠😠😡😡😡😡

 

Beating Speaking Anxiety:   I'm scared I'll forget my words  (BBC Learning English)   >>>>  What to do when your mind goes blank       

Real Easy English:   Talking about SPEAKING LANGUAGES  (BBC Learning English)  

 

The Listening Room:   Can people be freed from peanut allergy?  (BBC Learning English)  

  

  

 

  Here's my musical hint for today:    We are the World by USA for Africa. And here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along.

 

 

 

Learning English Grammar (Causative 'HAVE', get someone to...):   Using services  (BBC Learning English) 

 

Here are some more activities for my students:

• The English We Speak:   Shoot off  (BBC Learning English)  

• 
  

  Learning English from the News: Doomsday clock: Highest ever disaster risk  (BBC Learning English)  

  
  

• Listening exercise for you to do: Why are billionaires building bunkers?  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

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

     

Extra activities for my students in...

....4º ESO

41. TENSES. Put the verbs in brackets into their correct past tense, and fill in the gaps (...) with the following words:  now, anywhere, never , still , last, ago, yet (note there are three too many)

 1. (see) __________ you _____________ my watch? I can't find it ......................... 

    No, I ___________ . When (see) __________ you ................... _______________ it?

2. (speak) _________ you ____________ to your teacher about your homework?

     No, I (not speak) ___________________ to her ................... .

3. She (want) ___________ .................... __________________ to play Strip-poker with me.

42. TENSES. Put the verbs in brackets into their correct tense, and fill in the gaps (...) with the following words:  if  ,  when  ,  until 

1. The doctor (not let) _________________ him get up ................. he (get) ___________ better.

2. Albert said: "................... we (finish) _______________ Unit 10, we (begin) ______________    the final exams.

3. ................. I (pass) ______________ English and all the other subjects, I (go) ____________    to the beach every day.

 

 

 

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

Mind your language -    A Must Watch   

 

 

 

The Australian Open still on fire!!! 

   

Álcaraz on the road to the final....   match against Alex de Minaur (Quarter-final), and then the epic semi-final against Zverev with muscle cramps, vomiting... due to the harsh weather conditions (but remember Victory belongs to the most tenacious ), and the other semi-final between Djokovic and Sinner. 

Carlos Alcaraz beats Alexander Zverev in epic five-set Australian Open semi-final (The Guardian)

Australian Open recap: Djokovic and Alcaraz win epic semi-finals (BBC News)

Carlos Alcaraz clarifies ‘fake retirement’ situation during epic Australian Open win over Alexander Zverev (7NEWS)

 

 

Spaniards, scared? NEVER!!

 

 

Spanish students are said not to speak foreign languages very well and that is absolutely false, as I have had the chance of meeting Spaniards all over the world being able to speak even four languages fluently and without the need of having learned them at school. It was just the need to communicate what forced them to make the effort.

 

 

Here's a new section in BBC Learning English which deals with the issue:

 

Beating Speaking Anxiety:   I'm scared of making mistakes  (BBC Learning English)  >>>>>  How to fight the fear of mistakes   

Keeping an eye on the issue...

Listening exercise for you to do:   Scared to speak English?  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

 

And this is true as I could come to the conclusion when carrying out all my researches for my PhD, which you can download from one of the banners on the right of this page. That is why I encourage my students to make their own video sketches at home to reduce their anxiety to speak. Here are two examples of students from Mediterranean Sea Secondary School who made two excellent video sketches long ago (actually, it was in the late 20th century)...

 

Rol Game + Red Hot Chilly Peppers (Link to the video sketches) +   video sketches   

 

 

Britons 'nervous to speak foreign language when abroad' (BBC News)

British 'linguaphobia' has deepened since Brexit vote, say experts (The Guardian)

 

The Listening Room:   Michelin-starred chef's lobster bisque and foie gras heading to space  (BBC Learning English)  

 

Work in the Future:   What is wellbeing at work?  (BBC Learning English)  

 

  

 

  Here's my musical hint for today:    Cry to me by Solomon Burke. And here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along.

 

 

Learning English Grammar (QUANTIFIERS: all, every, most, both, either, any, no):   Film genres  (BBC Learning English) 

 

Here are some more activities for my students:

• The Reading Room:   How can restaurants earn a Michelin star?  (BBC Learning English)  

• 
  

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

  
  

• The Pronounciation Lounge: How to use word stress  (BBC Learning English) 

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

     

 

Extra activities for my students in...

....2º ESO

43. Complete the sentences with the comparative form or the superlative of the adjectives in brackets.

 

1. My mother is usually the _______________ person of my family when I don't make my bed, but I am often _________________ than her when she tidies my bedroom. (angry)

2. Asensio was not the ______________ player in the Olympics, but I’m sure I am not _______________ than him. (fast)

3. My holidays this summer are _______________ than when we went to Honolulu, but I think next year our holidays will not be the _______________ holidays in our lives.(boring)

4. Bob is ___________ than Corvax, but who is the __________________ student in your class? (brave)

5. The Queen is _______________ than the Princess, but Muzzy is ___________________ creature in this cartoon. (fat)

                               

44. Complete the negative and interrogative sentences with the verbs in brackets using the PAST SIMPLE:

How (students, get) ____________________________ to school before?

They (not take) __________________________ the train.

(your grandparents, watch) _____________________ the news on TV?

No, they (not watch) _________________ them because there were no television sets in the kitchen and they (not have) ____________________ lunch in the dining-room.

 

....4º ESO

 

19. Translate the following sentences into English:

 

1. Roberto es el de los vaqueros y la camisa celeste.

2. ¿Cómo es tu novio? El es muy divertido, pero es bastante tímido.

3. ¿Quién es la chica que se está quitando el abrigo?

4. Tenemos exámenes en el instituto tres veces al año.

5. ¿Con qué frecuencia hace tu madre la colada? Dos veces a la semana. 

 

20. TENSES. Put the verbs in brackets into their correct tense, be careful with the position of the other words in brackets:

 

1. I (like/go)________________ out tonight with Michelle Pfeiffer.

2. Most bread in England (now/produce) _______________ by large industrial bakeries.

3. How many students (pass) _____________ the last English exam?

4. We (do)_____________ anything until we (hear)________ from you.

5. Where (stamps/sell) __________________________ in your country?

6. Look at my agenda, Mary! We (not/have) ____________________  any more English classes this week.

7. Paul (go) __________ into the bathroom just when Julia Roberts (have) _______________ a shower.

 

 

 

English with Lucy: Never use THE with these common words  

 

 

 

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

Learn English with movies -    Disney's Alice in Wonderland   

 

 

The Australian Open has just started!!! 

And Álcaraz on the road to the final....   match against Moutet  and the one against  Tommy Paul.