Past tenses for the good old days and good old rockers' songs!!!

Let's make a revision of the past tenses (for further information about tenses, click here):

Past Simple	completed actions or events that happened in the past at a specific time. (We wrote 4 compositions in the first term). things which happened with a certain frequency in the past (They often played in the park). past states (He was very happy with his exam results).
USED TO	habits in past which are no longer true in the present situation (We used to play football in the streets because there weren't many cars. Chilren can no longer do it because of the heavy traffic).
Past Continuous	actions in progress at a specific time in the past. (I was working yesterday evening at 9 o'clock). past actions interrupted by other actions, most of the times using WHEN (They were playing when the accident happened). two parallel actions in progress using WHILE (I was having a shower while my sister was doing the washing up).
Past Perfect Simple/Continuous	actions or states that happened before other past actions. (I had already had dinner when you arrived home). the continuous form is used when there is an emphasis on the action, as it happened with the Present Perfect Continuous (I had been working for more than five hours by the time you arrived home = Llevaba trabajando más de 5 horas para cuando llegaste a casa).

Long, long time ago when I was younger and I used to dance at discos (when discos were a place for dancing) to the rhythm of Baby Jane by Rod Stewart. I no longer go to discos, but I still listen to some good old rockers' songs such as: Way Back Home (have a look at the lyrics), Love is & Please .

However, there are still wonderful songs to listen to. Let me introduce you to Mr. Brian Culbertson and his song Our Love.  

Now it is time for you to send me your favourite songs.

I wish you all the best for the coming year!!!!

Superlatives and wishing

It is Christmas time and it is time to wish everybody the best. Let's revise then what we know about wishing and the superlatives:

SUPERLATIVES  (click here for further information)  >>>

1. Remember the difference between  'oldest' and 'eldest' (remember: an elderly lady). Although both of them are possible to use for relatives, it is better to say 'My eldest brother works as a civil engineer in New Zealand'.
2. Remember the difference between the  RELATIVE SUPERLATIVE , that is, a superlative used regarding a specific group (for instance: "He is the tallest boy in the class"), and the  ABSOLUTE SUPERLATIVE meaning 'very' and which does not make reference to any specific group (for example: "The book you lent me was most interesting.")    
3. Finally, after superlatives we use in with places (the longest river in the world) and of for a period of time (the happiest day of my life)

WISHES AND REGRETS  (click here for further information)  >>>

- wishes for change in the present  (I wish + PAST SIMPLE / PAST CONTINUOUS)   

I wish I were rich / we were spending our holidays in Honolulu this year. 

- regrets about something in the past (I wish + PAST PERFECT)         

I wish At Madrid had defeated Real Madrid in the Champions League Final in 2014.

- complaints about a thing or situation and that you would like it to change in the future.         

I wish my students would listen to me (Actually they don't do it, but I would like them to do it).

And you can also visit this blog: MY ENGLISH CLASS for more details.

Listening exercise to do: Christmas kindness (BBC Learning English - 6 Minute English)

LINGOHACK: Episode 151223 / 23 Dec 2015  >>>  Expressions presented: confront, reinforces & stepping down.

FREE WILLY!!!! What would you do?

Is it possible that Japan resumes Anctartic whale hunt (listening exercise)? What does 'resume' mean?

Articles to read and videos to watch about the issue:

• Japanese whaling fleet to set sail for Antarctic (The Guardian)

• Japan resumes 'scientific' whale hunts (The Washington Post)

• Japanese whaling ships depart for Antarctic hunt (BBC news)

Have you seen the film Free Willy? Here's a video about this kind of whales. Do you know what their name is?

Here's a song by Michael Jackson:

Learn about the different uses of WOULD (BBC Learning English)

Student life: Star wars or the Eden?

      We have almost finished our first term at school and it has been probably the hardest part of the school year as we had to start the engine and get used to many new things: new subjects, new contents, new teachers... and, what's really important, more and more demanding and challenging. So, is it student life all good? (listening exercise) especially when you go to university and you have to move from home. What big changes have you gone through so far this school year?

Related articles:

• Pros and cons of student life (UK university search)

• Home or away while studying at university?  (The Guardian)  

• What nobody tells you about studying abroad  (The Guardian)

     In my humble opinion, it is just like in the film Star Wars (listening exercise), a life full of experiences, dangers, risks, full of moments of success, failure, disappointment, love, sadness... By the way, what is your opinion about the film and all the big hustle organised around the film premiere? 

 

 

Related articles to read about the film:

• ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ gets the nostalgia-novelty mix just right (The Washington Post)

• 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens': What the critics say (CNN)

• Every emotion you'll feel during the film (BBC)

• Star Wars: The Force Awakens get rave reviews (BBC)

And if you haven't had enough with risks, here's this listening exercise: Why do we take risks?  

LINGOHACK:

  Episode 151216 / 16 Dec 2015   >>>   Expressions presented: plant, broke new ground & to renovate.

Interesting blog to visit: Idioms with people's names 

Our Christmas carols' hit parade

Christmas is close and it is time to sing!!!

 

Here's our list of traditional Christmas carols:

• Silent night 

• Jingle Bells  

and here's our list of modern Christmas carols:

• Motown Christmas  
• Silent night by the Temptations   
• Silent night by Beyoncé
• Silent night by Sinead O'Connor
• Carol of the bells by Hard Rock Christmas 
• This Christmas by Chris Brown

 You can send me your hints.

New That's English: Module 11 (links to the episodes)

GOOD NEWS for those who are preparing for the B2!!!!

They are beginning to upload brand new That's English episodes (Module 11) onto YOUTUBE. You've got all the links on my site.

NEW THAT'S ENGLISH - albertomeditutor

What 35 long years!!!!

35 years have passed since the murder of John Lennon. This and all the gender-based violence cases we hear everyday on the news have reminded me of this beautiful song by John Lennon.

Which are the songs by Lennon you like most?

Can you tell me anything about his murder?

Pay attention to the exclamatory sentence used for the heading of the post. Here's another example: How Bizarre!

Paris: World Climate Summit 2015

RED ALERT!!!!! 

Beijing smog (listening exercise)   >>> Do you still think that pollution isn't a most prominent issue nowadays in our planet? (Air pollution in China)

What does 'smog' mean? 

Related articles to read: "Smog in China closes schools..."  (CNN) & "Beijing issues first pollution red alert..." (The Guardian)

The United Nations is organizing a conference on climate change to come to certain minimum agreements about what we can do about it.

PARIS 2015

What do you think we should do as nations and as individuals?

Articles to read:

• Paris climate summit: world leaders told to iron out differences before talks end (The Guardian)

• Climate change protests take place around the world on eve of summit (The Washington Post)

• 100 days to save the world (CNN)

• What is climate change?   &   COP21: Rallies call for Paris climate change action   (BBC)

  Listening exercise: Global waste: Food for thought (6 Minute English)  and related article to read: One third of world's food is wasted (BBC)

Debating climate change: here's a link to a series of podcasts on BBC World Service Radio.

Related Selectivity exams to do: 2018   >>         Licence to drive & American leaders should read their official climate science report

 

Robin Hood and James Bond

In our real world, do we still have this kind of characters? Tell me about someone who may be similar either to Robin Hood or James Bond.

What do you know about Robin Hood? Here is a good listening exercise to discover this character, but if you want to have further details about him and the city of Nottingham at the end of this That's English programme: Module 9 / 8b. (Remember you've got a page on my site with all the links to the different chapters).

Here's another interesting listening exercise about James Bond: Licence to kiss .

And finally, what about listening to two songs connected with these two fictional characters? 
'(Everything I do) I do it for you' by Bryan Adams and 'Skyfall' by Adele.

Relationships and laughing

Here are four listening exercises about relationships, women and making people laugh (you don't have to do everything, just do the activities proposed to the issue you prefer and write about it):

• How much is your spouse worth?    

• 100 Women  

• What makes us laugh?  ,    BUT  Laughter is bad for you   

Related reports and articles to watch and read:

• Couples who share childcare are happier (CNN)

• Ending violence against women (The Guardian)  

• Asking Google why people laugh (The Guardian) & what makes us laugh (BBC)

• Want a good laugh? Head to the hospital  (The Washington Post)

LINGOHACK:

Episode 151125 / 25 Nov 2015   >>>   Expressions presented: striving, offset, revolutionary advances & ambassadors.

One last pronunciation tip: 

 

A visit to Brussels, which is currently on high alert

What do you know about Brussels and Belgium? Watch this video and discover this gorgeous city in the centre of Europe. Why is it dangerous to visit Belgium if you have got a sweet tooth?

And what about Belgium?

However, these days Brussels is on high alert because of terrorism:

Brussels lockdown (listening exercise, 6 minute English, BBC)

Read this article about the issue:   Brussels on highest alert level as authorities warn attack 'imminent'  (The Guardian)

Revising the Future Perfect Continuous   

Lingohack:   Episode 151118 / 18 Nov 2015   >>>  Expressions presented: on the run, legacy of, inevitable anxiety & symptomatic of.

And just to finish, here's this song by Bob Dylan (pay attention to the lyrics):

What can we tell people who want to hurt peaceful people?

What solutions would you give to all the menaces our world lives: terrorism, bullying, gender-based violence, child abuse...? 

Here's my piece of advice:

 

TERROR IN PARIS!!!! Nous sommes tous Paris!!!

You remember some time ago when we talked about Paris here in this blog:

Le Tour de France est fini...mais Paris est toujours là!!!

and when we also talked about the intolerance of certain people in this world:

Palmyra: Historic temple destroyed, archaeologist murdered and AMERICAN HEROES IN FRANCE!!! 

Well it seems that this neverending sad story is not over yet. Some sad stories:

• Paris attacks: day after atrocity - as it happened (The Guardian)

• ‘It is horror’: French President Hollande’s remarks after Paris attacks (The Washington Post)

• BBC: Paris attacks, how do you explain Paris attacks to children, Anonymous group threatens to 'track down' Islamic State (in French), Bataclan attack survivor: 'I thought I would die'.

• Special report: Terror in Paris (Sky News)

  Some videos in French:  1  2  3  

And remember that the Russian plane crash that happened some weeks ago was also due to a terrorist attack: Listening exercise (6 Minute English)

Latest breaking BBC news: Friendly match between Germany vs. Holland cancelled 

LINGOHACK:

Episode 151111 / 11 Nov 2015   >>> Expressions presented: stem the flow, deteriorating, retaliatory steps & star lot.

  And we should never forget John Lennon's song:   IMAGINE  

 

Congratulations to María Béjar (4º ESO, IES Mediterráneo, Salobreña)

Congratulations to María Bejar, student of 4º ESO at IES Mediterráneo (Salobreña) for her project on the reader 'Rabbit-Proof Fence' as it has been published in the ESL Times.

We are now members of these collaborative project and I encourage you all to present your projects and they may also be published in this magazine.

And here's a present from your English teacher (I hope you all will enjoy this song by Michael Jackson):

 

 

PLASTIC, the menace!!!!

Listening exercise: The impact of plastic (BBC Learning English)

Articles to read:

• Great Pacific Garbage Patch (National Geographic)

• How big is the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch? (Office of Response and Restauration)

• 

  Trash-mapping expedition sheds light on 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch' (The Guardian)

• Pacific 'garbage patch' changing insect mating habits  (The Guardian)

SOLUTION: How to recycle old plastic bags (Wiki How to do anything)  

LINGOHACK:

Episode 151104 / 04 Nov 2015   >>>  Expressions presented: investigated, to secure, artisans & donations.

Eating less meat could save 45,000 lives a year, experts claim

Some articles to read about the issue:

• WHO links processed meat consumption to cancer (Aljazeera)

• Processed meats rank alongside smoking as cancer causes – WHO (The Guardian)

However, read about the reactions in Argentina:

• Argentinians react to report linking meat to cancer: 'I'd rather die than give it up' (The Guardian)

What does WHO stand for? 

And some time ago we posted this in this blog:

• Eating less meat could save 45,000 lives a year, experts claim.

Joint of honey roast ham

 Read the article and write a comment about your eating habits or anything about the issue.

And finally. LINGOHACK:   Episode 151028 / 28 Oct 2015 

What will happen in the future? Here's an exercise on the FUTURE PERFECT tense.

   

McFly's dream comes true!!!!

Did you the film BACK TO THE FUTURE?
Here are two things (listening exercises from BBC Learning English) you may think it will happen in the near future:

• New transport on two wheels: A HOVERBOARD  

• Will robots take our jobs one day? Here's the answer.

Here's an interesting link: Use this real-time calculation to determine how far we are from Back To The Future Day 

LINGOHACK: Episode 151021 / 21 Oct 2015    >>>>   Expressions presented: displaced, launched offensives, defining moment & controversy.

And here are some notes and an easy exercise to revise the EXCLAMATORY SENTENCES in English. (Further exercises)

Reading and Lingohack!!!

Listening exercise: Do we read to show off? (BBC Learning English)

What does 'show off' mean?

Which are the best books to read on your commute? (The Guardian)

Review of conditionals   

New and most interesting section in BBC Learning English: LINGOHACK

14th October  >>>   TODAY'S HEADLINES   

Excellent listening practice for those students preparing for the B1 or B2. Pay attention to the expressions presented!!!!

What do you think 'lingohack' means?
You can write a summary or a comment of any of the three pieces of news or of all of them altogether.

Miraculous operation and some tips to live in the UK

Toddler's miracle operation (BBC)

NBC: 'Miracle' Surgery Reattaches Australian Toddler's Head After Internal Decapitation 

 

Getting used to life in a foreign country can be difficult…

Life in the UK – 7 tips  (BBC Learning English)  

Talk about habits in the past and getting familiar with new things

Used to, be used to & get used to   (BBC Learning English) 

 

NO SMOKING: Drive me home, Daddy!

Here's a new law that has come into effect:

• Smoking in cars with children banned in England and Wales (BBC)

• Car smoking ban comes into force (BBC)

• UK smoking ban: smoking in cars with kids illegal from October 1st (Autoexpress)

• Police plan grace period for ban on smoking in cars with children (The Guardian)

  Glossary: harzadous, smoking ban, second-hand smoke, they are being exposed to, inhaling smoke, vulnerable, their lungs are still developing, the findings, on the spot fine, come into force, the new rules apply to any driver or passenger, on board, to break the law, grace period, offenders, unlikely to be fined, concern, raise/rise, spokeswoman, public awareness, ultimately

DUBLIN 2016: V Study trip to the British Isles

V Study Trip to the British Isles to Dublin (Easter 2016). 

SO FAR WE ARE 35!!!

Esperanza, Patricia, Mª José García, Irene, Alberto Pineda, Alba, Mª José Prados, Lucía López, Álvaro Ruíz, María, Lucía Pérez, Lucía Torres, Lara, Nicolás, Beatriz, Joaquín, Juan, Gonzalo, Helena, Mª Carmen, Estela, Natalie, Valeria, Miguel Ángel Glez., Sara, Alex, Andrea, Laura Natividad, Miguel Ángel Rguez., Francisco, Julia, J. Gonzalo Almendros, Javier Gallardo, Alberto & Guille.

 

 COME ON! DON'T MISS THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY!!!!

And remember: YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!!! because Albert and J. Luis will always be there.

 

Third meeting on Monday, 5th October in the Language Department. 

 

NEXT MISSION: DUBLIN 16

                      

Have a look at the information about DUBLIN 2016 below and in my blog. Then, if you are interested, fill in this form as soon as you can because we need to do everything very quickly to buy our flights cheaper. By the way, those of you who are interested to go on your own, let me know. I have been told that you will have to pay 30€ extra.

Why Ireland split into the Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland