Presenting a piece of news

We have just seen the PERFECT TENSES and one of its uses is when presenting a piece of news (for further information have a look at my site) and watch these two New That's English episodes (module 6):   Unit 1A   &   Unit 1B  

Heathrow Airport expansion approved by government - and a top Tory MP is resigning in protest (Daily mirror)

"The government has chosen to expand Heathrow Airport over its rival Gatwick in a move that will affect Britain's future for decades.
The long-awaited decision was taken by a nine-strong Cabinet committee at Downing Street today in 75 minutes - after 40 years of debate and delay." (...)

Heathrow third runway

Heathrow airport expansion gets government approval (the Guardian)

LINGOHACK  >>>

Episode 261012 / 26 October 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: given the green light, severity & charity.  (Heathrow Airport expansion approved)

 

Exercises on the difference between the PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND THE PAST SIMPLE:

 

Match the sentences 1-10 with suitable contexts a-j.

1. My parents have lived in London for three years.      a. There's a good film on this week.

2. My parents lived in London three years.                   b. The students are still waiting for the teacher.

3. Have you eaten breakfast?                                       c. It is eight o'clock in the morning.

4. Did you eat breakfast?                                             d. It is eight o'clock at night.

5. I hope you have enjoyed the party.                           e. The party has just finished or is just about to finish.

6. I hope you enjoyed the party.                                   f. There was a good film on last night.

7. The teacher hasn't come.                       g. They live in London now.

8. The teacher didn't come.                       h. The party was last week.

9. Have you seen that film?                        i. The students waited for the teacher and the lesson is now over. 

10. Did you see that film?                          j. They lived there from 1980 to 1983.

Use the correct form of the verbs in brackets + FOR, SINCE, AGO (...) in the following sentences.

1. I (not speak) ___________________ to her .............. she (go) ___________ to London.

2. He (leave) ______________ school three years ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, , then he (work) _____________ in France .............. a few months before coming back to England.

3. She (have) ______________ a headache .................. she (get) _____________ up this morning.

4. How long (you know) _________________ him? ................... I (be) ____________ ten years old.

5. I (be) _____________ here ..................... an hour! Where (you be) ________________?

6. He (just get) _________________ a new job, and he's going to work in the States ............... two years.

7. I (have) _____________ this car ................. six years, and it (never break down) ______________.

8. It's two weeks ............... I last (see) ______________ him.

Listening exercise to do: How do you read your news? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

News Review : Study into women's drinking habits

English at university: Registration (episode 5)

Fears, phobias...number 13!!!

Do you know what 'triskaidekaphobia' is?   Here's some information about the issue.

What is the difference between a phobia and a fear if there is any?  Read this article about it:

Fear or Phobia? (The Washington Post)

and here are

America’s top fears: Public speaking, heights and bugs (The Washington Post)

Another interesting article about the topic:

Phobias: The rationale behind irrational fears (The Guardian)

All these articles would be an excellent preparation for this Selectivity exam (Andalucia)  >>>   Triskaidekaphobia  (option A)

Listening exercise to do: 'Do opposites attract?' (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

English at university: Freshers' Week (episode 4)

Bob Dylan, the minstrel of the 21st Century

In the Middle Ages there were minstrels who would go from village to village singing the news, entertaining the people, dancing... Actually, that was the way people learned about El Cid Campeador and the battles in which he participated. There are still a few of them left nowadays. Here are a couple of examples.

Some articles to read:

• Bob Dylan wins Nobel prize in literature (The Guardian)

• Bob Dylan just won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Don’t know him? Listen here. (The Washington Post)

 

And here's an amazing story  >>> 

The real story of HURRICANE CARTER

Another poet singer, Canadian Leonard Cohen.

Some other hits by Leonard Cohen: Suzanne , First we take Manhattan , 

Some phrases to learn and use in your compositions: 'keen on', 'fond of' and 'fan of' in English with Lucy. And some linking words of CAUSE & EFFECT (English grammar).

LINGOHACK  >>>

Episode 191012 / 19 October 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: classified, deficiency & vessel. By the way, what is the Spanish for 'sweet potato'?

English at university: Room mate (episode 3)

FINDMEWORDS: Interesting tool to have a look at.

findmewords.com is not an average dictionary, but a most interesting tool for our students in Bachillerato.

Here are some words from its creator:

"There are many English dictionaries on the Internet, Findmewords is the first one to collect more than 450,000 words in English and classify them to offer users all kinds of dictionaries and search tools to find the word they are looking for. Among the tools findmewords.com offers we can highlight:

>> Lettered word search, which allows to search for all words that can be formed with a set of letters, it is ideal for solving crossword games.

>> It also has a word finder beginning or ending with a set of letters, in all cases the words that are obtained as search results are presented sorted by length and you can find the meaning of either of them by simply clicking on the word in question.

>> A comprehensive dictionary of synonyms and antonyms with more than 68,000 entries for each one of them presents a wide range of synonyms and antonyms according to different meanings of each entry.

>> Dictionary definitions, containing the etymology, origin, grammatical category and definition for over 450,000 words

>> Rhyming dictionary, where it's possible to find rhymes for more than 40,000 words sorted by number of syllables.

>>  Scrabble word search with the official dictionaries for English. The SOWPOD dictionary with 267,751 words is the official for UK and the TWL06 dictionary with 178,691 words is the official dictionary for USA, Canada and Thailand. 

>> findmewords.com also has a blog that contains interesting articles that address issues related to grammar and spelling."

I hope you find it useful!!!

Alone or with company???

There are certain moments in life when one really enjoys solitude (especially, teachers, who are always in crowded and noisy places), but there are also great moments we love sharing with people (like our study trips to the British-Irish Isles).

Here's an incredible video about the Scottish mountain-biker Danny Macaskill in the Isle of Skye. Enjoy the gorgeous Scottish landscapes that this year I would like to share with my students:

And here's another one: Danny MacAskill’s Wee Day Out  (Enjoy Scottish landscape!!)

Two listening exercises to do: "Is loneliness in our genes?" (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English). However, to begin with, you have to know yourself: "Who do you think you are?" (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

Article to read:

All by myself: is loneliness bad for you? (The Guardian)

And here's another one:

What's the difference between being lonely and a loner? (BBC News)

LINGOHACK  >>>

Episode 161012 / 12 October 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: destabalise, appetite, limiting the damage & nudge.

English with Lucy >>>>

New Series >>>> English at university: Just landed (episode 2)

A final question before ending: How do you know you're real? Interesting video about it to think about it:

Next mission: VI Study trip to the British-Irish Isles (Edinburgh 2017)

 

NEXT MISSION: EDINBURGH 17

SO FAR WE ARE 15!!!   >>  Ángela Mancilla, Valeria Aguilera, Lucía López,  Lucía Pérez, Lucía Torres, Helena, Mª Carmen, Sofía, Sara, Laura Natividad, Julia, Alba Venegas, Rosana Prados, Alberto & Guille.

Stay alert for the clues and keep tracking...

VI STUDY TRIP TO THE BRITISH-IRISH ISLES: Edinburgh 2017 (IES Mediterráneo, Salobreña)

If you are still interested in participating in the experience here's the link to the form you have to fill in  >>>

Hey, I'm going to Edinburgh next year!!

 

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

And remember: Keep tracking!!! Albert and J. Luis will always be there.

 

Clue number 4 >>> next meeting on 

Tuesday, 18h October in the Language

 Department. 

CURRENCY CONVERTER 

LAST CHANCE FOR EDINBURGH 2017!!!!

We'll be having our third meeting (clue number 3) next Thursday, 13^th October, during the break in the Language Department. We will be handing out the lottery tickets for our ham raffle. So don't miss the meeting!!!

Today a group of students came to the Language Department thinking that we had our second meeting (CLUE NUMBER 2). I happened to be there and I told them that I hadn't planned any further meetings as there was only one girl who had fill in the form for the study trip, so we have decided to have our second meeting tomorrow during the break in the Language Department.

 

Therefore, if you are interested in participating in the experience here's the link to the form you have to fill in  >>>

Hey, I'm going to Edinburgh next year!!!!

 

Here are some activities to do for those preparing for the B1 or B2 exams:

• Three listening exercises: 'Does punctuation matter?' , 'Penicillin breaking the mould' & 'Global warming' (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

• New Series >>>> English at university: Leaving home (episode 1)

• And, to end, some interesting episodes of Lingohack. Pay attention to the word 'deadline'.

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 161005 / 05 October 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: inability, deadline, stigma & auctioned.
• Episode 160928 / 28 September 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: forging, injuries & novels.
• Episode 160921 / 21 September 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: potential, saddened & sensation.

English with Lucy >>>