What a scary situation!!! Living on your own, with your parents, sharing...????

In less than a year's time, you will be living away from home and you will be so eager to become independent. You imagine it will be an ideal situation for you to live: wonderful experiences, no parents around to tell you what to do, no curfews, no limits... However, it is not all gold that glitters! No one to buy the bread for you, no one to do the cooking, washing or any of the household activities a house requires, no one to wake you up and tell you to go to class.... And finally, the money matters!!! Actually, this paradise you are dreaming about can become a hell.

Anyway, there is no need to exaggerate. There must be a balance and you must always be practical choosing the best option life offers. Let's see some awkward situations and the solutions found.

• Still living with your parents at 30? Get a life (The Guardian)

• Living with your parents when you are a parent yourself (The Guardian)

• Living with your parents after university (The Guardian)

• Single parent flat-sharing – a new way to live (The Guardian)

• I want my son to leave home (The Guardian)

And now let's analyse the situation from a comic point of view.

Living On Your Own: Expectations Vs Reality (BuzzFeed)

Before we go on with our next topic in this post, here's a video about some common mistakes in English:

And now let's talk about Halloween. Here's the history of Halloween to begin with:

And some other interesting videos to watch:

• Halloween Facts for Kids | Fun for ALL Children! 

• History of Halloween (The History Channel)

• The Origins of Halloween

 

Finally, here's Thriller by Michael Jackson  >>>

SELECTIVITY. Solutions to the exercises in the previous post:

55.  Here's a link to check your definitions.

56.  1. won't do    2.   know   3. see    4. will be    5. will happen    6. get   7. will look after   8. will reserve   9. finish   10. go

57.  1. She asked Carol not to go the next week.    2. She asked us if we liked English cheese.   3. Peter said he didn't know what to do that night and Jane suggested having dinner at a Chinese restaurant.     4. The teacher asked me when I had last seen my parents.     5. You said you ate something the previous day that didn't agree with you.

58.  1. The elderly man that lives opposite the petrol station has just retired.   2. She is so beautiful that she can marry whoever she wants.    3. It is said that... / He is said to be working in Germany, but he is also believed to be living in Spain.   4. Did you ever take part in a demonstration when you were a teenager? Yes, but I haven't done that since I was 19.    5. How long have you been waiting for me? I have been waiting for you for an hour.   6. Phone your girlfriend and ask her to marry you today.    7. My hair is too long, I will have to have my hair cut.    8. She has just seen the girl I used to go out with.   9. If I were you, I would buy  a new book.    10. 50 littres of beer were drunk on my birthday.

All your work cut out for you

As usual, I've got all your work cut out for you (check the meaning and origin of this phrase at BBC Learning English) these two days, so be ready.

 

Jo Rowsell: ‘I’ve got my work cut out to keep my place in the team’ (The Guardian)

 

Do you know what a 'tailor' is? But what is the meaning of 'tailor' as a verb 'to tailor', as in this example: "The school tailors the course to each student's needs." ?

Interesting video to watch. Pay attention to the pronunciation of certain words:

On the way to SELECTIVITY   >>> GRAMMAR & USE OF ENGLISH.

55. Define the following words:     to break down  /  spoon  /  holiday  / marchers

56. Put in the correct verb form :

1. We __________ anything until we hear from you.(NOT DO)

2. I'll tell you as soon as I __________ (KNOW)

3. If I __________ George,I'll tell him to come and see you.(SEE)

4. I __________ happy when this job is finished. (BE)

5. What __________ if the police find out? (HAPPEN)

6. It'll be nice when we __________ back home again. (GET)

7. I __________ your luggage until you come back. (LOOK AFTER)

8. As soon as you know when you want to leave,phone us and we __________ a flight for you.(RESERVE)

9. I'm going to take a short holiday when I __________ this job.         (FINISH)

10. Don't forget to put the lights out when you __________ to bed. (GO)

57. Put the following sentences into INDIRECT SPEECH :

1. Elizabeth to Carol:"Don't come next week,please!"

2. "Do you like English cheese?",she asked us.

3. Peter said,"I don't know what to do tonight".

        Jane said,"what about having dinner at a Chinese restaurant".

4. The teacher asked me: "When did you last see your parents?".

5. "I ate something yesterday that didn't agree with me",you said.

58. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. El viejo que vive en frente de la gasolinera acaba de jubilarse.

2. Es tan guapa que puede casarse con quien quiera.

3. Dicen que está trabajando en Alemania,  pero también se cree que está viviendo en España.

4. ¿Tomaste alguna vez parte en una manifestación cuando eras un adolescente? Sí, pero no he hecho eso desde que tenía 19 años.

5. ¿Cuánto tiempo llevas esperándome? Llevo esperándote una hora.

6. Telefonea a tu novia y pídele que se case contigo hoy.

7. Tengo el pelo demasiado largo, tendré que ir a pelarme.

8. Ella acaba de ver a la chica con la que yo solía salir.

9. Yo que tú le compraría un libro nuevo.

10. Se bebieron 50 litros de cerveza en mi cumpleaños.

SELECTIVITY. Solutions to the exercises in the previous post:

52.  1. Julius Caesar, who was a Roman general, came...    2. a prayer, which nobody understood and which he must composed himself.    3. the book I left on the table where there's a nice vase / which there's a very nice on ?   4. several houses, most of which were quite unsuitable.    5. his car, which broke down, for the first time.

53. 1. if she had been to the party.   2. why did you get lost if..    3. you study more    4. if you want to have a great time
5.  , I would ask her to dance.

54. 1. That car is no longer made in Britain.    2. Dinner is being cooked by my mother.    3. That can't be done.     
4. People believed that his cabinet did not totally accept the Prime Minister's policy.    
5. People say that Albert is going to buy a new car.    6. Nobody should kill anybody for any cause.

However, as I know that "All work and no play makes Jack/Jill a dull boy/girl", here's an old British sitcom to watch. Have some fun with the playlist. I hope you will enjoy it. By the way, do you know what a 'robin' is?

Have you got a sweet tooth?

Do you usually have the need to eat something sweet? If so, be careful. You may have a serious problem.

 

Listening exercise to do: Too much sugar (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

Interesting video to keep you fit:

This Happens to Your Stomach Fat When You Plank - 6 Good Reasons Why You Should Do Plank Daily

 

And for my students in 2nd of ESO, can you tell me things that made you a better person? But first, watch the next video, where Lucy tells you about the issue.

 

 

English with Lucy   >>>  10 things that made me a better person  

 

 

On the way to SELECTIVITY   >>> GRAMMAR & USE OF ENGLISH.

52. RELATIVE CLAUSES.Combine the following sentences by means of a relative clause :

1. Julius Caesar came to Britain in 55BC.He was a Roman General.

2. He began a prayer. Nobody understood his prayer. He must have composed it himself.

3. Will you give me the book? I left it on the table. There's a very nice vase on it.

4. I saw several houses.Most of them were quite unsuitable.

5. He was driving his car for the first time.It broke down.

53. CONDITIONALS.Write proper endings for these sentences:

1. I wouldn't have met her if _______________________________

2. You got lost,but why __________________________ if you knew the way?

3. You won't pass the exam unless ______________________________

4. Come to the party _____________________________

5. If she were my girlfriend ________________________________

54. Put the first three sentences into the PASSIVE VOICE and the last three sentences into the ACTIVE VOICE:

    

1. They no longer make that car in Britain.

2. My mother is cooking dinner.

3. Nobody can do that.

4. It was believed that the Prime Minister's policy was not totally accepted by his cabinet.

5. It is said that Albert is going to buy a new car.

6. Nobody should be killed for any cause.

SELECTIVITY. Solutions to the exercises in the previous post:

1.  1. lavish hotel   2. wealthy family    3. controversial issue     4. instant success    5. marvellous time

2.  1. before   2. medicine   3. help   4. always   5. neighbours    6. dancer    7. small     8. in a few hours

3.  1. round (visited)    2. on (a way to encourage someone)    3. across (find by accident)   4. in (enter) 

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 171025 / 25 October 2017    >>>  The risk of meat consumption   -  Language related to 'bacteria'.

JFK never-seen government documents to be released

More than 50 years ago, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was killed supposedly by a man called Lee Harvey Oswald, who was later also murdered by Jack Ruby. What do you know about all this?

This is how the article in The Guardian starts: "Kennedy assassination documents are set to be released on Thursday...."  Here's the article and some others about the issue:

• Conspiracy theorists – in the Oval Office and out of it – await release of JFK files (The Guardian)

• Trump JFK files release: Classified John F Kennedy assassination documents to be opened, President announces  (The Independent)

• JFK: Will Donald Trump allow release of secret John F Kennedy assassination papers? (ABC News)

• New Kennedy assassination documents: What will they tell us? (The Washington Post)

You can also have a look at this post:  JFK50

 

Listening exercise to do: What's wetiquette? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

English pronunciation   >>>>   Silent letters  (and if you like it, you can watch part 2)

On the way to SELECTIVITY   >>>  VOCABULARY

1.   Match the adjectives to a suitable noun.

Adjectives:    1.   lavish       2.   wealthy       3.   controversial       4.   instant        5.   marvellous        

Nouns:    .... a.  family    .... b.  time    .... c.  success    .... d.  hotel      .... e.  issue

                              

2.   Choose the correct answer to show you have understood the meaning of the words in italics.

1.   He introduced me to his fiancée before / after they got married.

2.   I caught a cold. I need some warm clothes / medicine.

3.   I hope he is willing to punish / help me.

4.   Sherry takes pride in her paintings. She always / never shows them to people.

5.   Mrs Smith gossips a lot about the neighbours / shops.

6.   A talent scout came to the performance looking for a new dancer / manager.

7.   They’re very wealthy, but they live in a huge / small house.

8.   Take your time. We’re leaving in a few hours / immediately.

3. PHRASAL VERBS   >>>   TO COME. Fill in the gaps with appropriate prepositions and write what they mean.

1. My friend came … last night and we watched a film together.
2. Come …, hurry up! We’ll be late!
3. I came … some old photos in a cupboard.
4. Someone knocked on the door, so I shouted, ‘… !’

SELECTIVITY. Solutions to the exercises in the previous post:

1. Nevertheless   2. such as    3. even though     4. also    5. For instance 

1. C   2. B   3. O   4. O   5. C

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 171018 / 18 October 2017    >>>  Language related to 'danger'.

Be water, my friend!

At last a rainy day!!! How happy all farmers must be!!!

 

Remember the motto of this blog:

"Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, the issue I would like to deal with here is: Tap water or bottled water? That is the question. You may even feel embarrassed to ask for tap water ('eau de robinet' in French) when you are at a restaurant. I prefer the bottle that comes out of fountains, for instance, in the Alpujarras even if I know that it has not been chlorine-treated.

 

Here's the story of bottled water >>>>

 

Some articles to read about the issue:

• Don’t bottle it – be brave and ask for tap water (The Guardian)

• Plastic fibres found in tap water around the world, study reveals (The Guardian)

Listening exercise to do: Why pay for bottled water? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

Watch this BBC Learning English video  >> Word on the street 01, which was filmed in Snowdonia (North Wales). Do you remember we were there when we went to Conwy and Caernafon on our IV Study trip to the British-Irish Isles (Chester)?

On the way to SELECTIVITY   >>>  WRITING SKILL. Choose the correct connector.

1.   Martin’s salary isn’t very high. Nevertheless, / Moreover, / For example, he enjoys his job.

2.   There are plenty of things I don’t like about Jenny, such as / as well as / despite the fact that she’s quite spoilt.

3.   We often eat out while / even though / in spite of my parents are excellent cooks.

4.   I’m under a lot of pressure because of exams. I’ve also / in addition / although got a big athletics tournament next month.

5.   My parents often help me. In contrast, / Despite this, / For instance, my mum lent me her car today.

6. Furthermore / However / In addition to the guided tour, the fee includes a lunch at a restaurant.

These sentences are taken from different for and against essays. Write where they belong:
O (in the opening), B (in the body) or C (in the closing).

......  1.  To sum up, I feel that putting people in prison does not help solve crime.

......  2.  On the one hand, limiting the number of cars in the town centre would be inconvenient to the town’s residents.

......  3.  It is true that people who take part in reality TV programmes such as Survivor and Big Brother sometimes win instant fame.

......  4.  The question is, should more practical subjects be added to our educational programme?

......  5.  In conclusion, more and more people today use vitamins and other food supplements.

SELECTIVITY. Solutions to the exercise in the previous post:

1. making   2. arguing, working/to work    3. making/to make, to see     4. crying    5. holding    6. driving    7. eating    8. breaking  9. leaving, going    10. buying   11. going     12. working, going      13. writing   14. borrowing   15. reading   16. reading, smoking   17. seeing  18. waiting 19. having 20. not to touch