Talking machines

We are talking more and more with machines instead of human beings and we don't seem to care much. Is it really good for the humankind and our social skills?

Here are some articles you can read about the issue:

• Human-robot interactions take step forward with 'emotional' chatbot (The Guardian)

• Rise of the machines (The Washington Post)

• Will we ever really talk with the machines? (The Guardian)

Here's a listening exercise to do: Talking to machines (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

Speak English Naturally! Pronunciation Lesson 👉Contractions

 

On the highway to our B1 in 2020   >>>  Some activities for you to do:

61. ADJECTIVES OR ADVERBS ? Underline the correct option:

1. My mother is a very ( good / well ) cook, she cooks especially ( good / well ) the Spanish        omelette.

2. My brother paints ( beautiful / beautifully ) pictures.

3. Be ( nice / nicely ) with your teacher and he will not get ( angry / angrily ).

4. I'm not a very ( good / well ) student, but I speak English ( good / well ).

5. Why do you always speak so ( loud / loudly ) ?

6. Don't drive ( slow / slowly ) or everybody will laugh at you.

62. Fill in the gaps with INDEFINITE PRONOUNS (pay attention to the clue given at the beginning of each sentence) :

1. (thing) Is there __________ to drink in the fridge? No, I don't think there is __________, but   there is __________ in the bottle.

2. (body, one) Yesterday I was alone, __________ came. __________ went to the Betty's party.

3. (where) I'm looking for my socks, but I cannot find them __________. I left them __________   in my bedroom, but now they are not there any more.

63. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. ¿Te gusta hacer el jardín (tarea de la casa)? No, pero alguien tiene que hacerlo.        2. ¡Escuchemos la cinta!    

3. Todos los sitios son más caros que esta tienda.         4. El miércoles por la mañana vamos a leer un libro nuevo.

5. ¿Con qué frecuencia vas al cine? Dos o tres veces al mes.       

6. Yo trabajo duro todo los días, pero este examen es demasiado difícil para mí.

7. ¿Te gusta hacer la limpieza (de la casa)? Sí.     8. ¡Estudiémos inglés! Tenemos que ir de compras esta tarde.

9. ¿Hay algo en el armario? Creo que no hay nada.     10. El miércoles por la mañana vamos a leer un libro nuevo.

11. ¿A qué hora te levantaste esta mañana? A las 9.  12. Mi padre no conduce muy rápido, porque es demasiado peligroso.

64. TENSES. Put in the verbs into their correct tenses (Simple Present, Present Continuous or Simple Past):

"I  (WRITE)__________  a book about voodoo,"  she  (SAY)__________.  "Everyone  here (TALK) __________ about  you.  They  all (SAY) __________ you (BE) __________  the best houngan in  Haiti. They (SAY)__________  you (BE)__________  a very strong and  good  houngan, and that you always (HELP)__________  people."

       Kee (SMILE)__________ . "I  try to  help  good  people,"  he (SAY)__________ . "Come into the house, Dr  Jackson. Let me get you a drink and we can talk."

 

And for more revision and extension exercises you can visit this page in my site: MOCK EXAMS (3º ESO) 

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 180711 / 11 July 2018    >>>  Rooftop garden market   -  Language related to 'agriculture'.  Need-to-know language: freshest, going green, pesticides, harvested & horticulture.

The eSports are already here!!

Can eSports be really considered as any other average sport? Do they deserve to be included in the Olympic Games?

Some articles for you to read about the issue:

• eSports are real sports. It’s time for the Olympic video games (The Guardian)

• Seven-figure salaries, sold-out stadiums: Is pro video gaming a sport? (CNN)

• Extreme eSports: the very male, billion-dollar gaming industry at a stadium near you (The Guardian)

• Should pro gamers be considered athletes? (CNN)

• Is computer gaming now a sport? (BBC)

Here's a listening exercise to do: Is gaming a sport? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

And if you want to have a try here's a good expression  >>>  The English We Speak (BBC Learning English)  >>>  Have a pop   

 

On the highway to our B1 in 2020   >>>  Some activities for you to do:

56. Ask for more information :

 1. My teacher bought a new car. What kind __________________________?

 2. My grandmother came to see us last Saturday.     ___________ your grandfather ____________________, too ?

 3. She got up at six o'clock. Why ___________________________?

57. TENSES. Put the verbs in brackets into the SIMPLE PAST and fill in the four gaps with these     words:    and    magazines  Friday    beautiful 

JOE: On _________ I (travel) ........................  by tube to Heathrow airport. I (buy) ....................        some ____________ at the airport. I (take) .................... a plane to Edinburgh. On the plane       I (have) .................... lunch and (see).................... a film.

MARY: Where (you, stay) ........................................ in Edinburgh?

JOE: I (not stay) ........................ there, I (phone) .................... a friend ____________ we (go)       .................... to his flat in a little village not far from Edinburgh.

MARY: (you, visit) ........................................ the castle?

JOE: Yes, of course. It (be).................... really ______________.                                     / 5

58. Fill in the gaps with the comparative forms of superiority of the adjectives in brackets. Then write sentences using the superlative form in the dotted gaps:

1. Russia is (large)___________ than China.  ............................................................................................................

2. The Suez Canal is (long) ___________ than the Panama Canal.   ...........................................................................

3. Mount Blanc is (high)___________ than Mount Etna.    .....................................................................................

4. A snail is (slow) ___________ than a tortoise.   ........................................................................................................

5. Betis' supporters are (happy)___________ than Sevilla's supporters this season.  ..................................................

6. The Pacific Ocean is (big) ___________ than the Atlantic Ocean.   ....................................................................

7. The Parthenon is (old)___________ than the Colisseum.   ......................................................................

8. Venus is (near) ___________ the sun than Mars.   ..........................................................................

9. Raul plays (good) ___________ than Ronaldo.   ........................................................................

10. This class is (noisy) ___________ than 2º Bachillerato.   .....................................................................

59. GIVING REASONS. Complete these sentences with suitable words and write the questions:

1. Mary went out __________ a walk.  ___________________________________________ ?

2. I'm going to bed __________ I'm tired. ________________________________________ ?

3. He wants a match __________ light his cigarette. _________________________________?

60. LANGUAGE IN USE. Write questions for the following answers:

1. __________________________________ ? A, L, B, E, R, T.

2. __________________________________ ? On 12th April, 1978.

3. __________________________________ ? A letter to my girlfriend.

4. __________________________________ ? There are 32 students in my class.

5. __________________________________ ? Almost always.

6. __________________________________ ? At ten o'clock in front of the cinema.

  

And for more revision and extension exercises you can visit this page in my site: MOCK EXAMS (3º ESO) 

 

And now, changing topics, a bit about the natural disasters caused in Greece, Sweden, UK... by the wildfires, as every summer. Last year we had similar cases in Portugal and Spain.

Here's an article for you to read:

Daily Telegraph: Sweden fights 80 wildfires amid heatwave  

News Review: Wildfires rage in Greece (BBC Learning English)

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 180718 / 18 July 2018    >>>  Wildfires in the UK   -  Language related to 'fire'.  Need-to-know language: smoulder, wildfires, smoky, plume & drifting.

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!  I can already receive your comments in my email account as in the old days, so feel free to write as many comments as you can and I will correct them as soon as I can.

 

And if you have the same problem receiving your comments, let me know and I will help you. It is really easy.

On the highway to our B1 in 2020   >>>  Some activities for you to do:

49. Ask for more information :

 1. My teacher bought a new car. When __________________________?

 2. My grandmother came to see us last Saturday.  _________ grandfather ____________________ ?

 3. She got up at six o'clock. Where ___________________________?
 4. My teacher bought a new car. What kind __________________________?

 5. My grandmother came to see us last Saturday.

   ___________ your grandfather ____________________, too ?

 6. She got up at six o'clock. Why ___________________________?

                                                                                    

50. Tell me what you did last Sunday using the following connectors(circle them):

        and / and then / but / in the afternoon   / in the evening  / until  / when

  

51. Fill in the gaps with prepositions :

 1. I never go ______ school ______ Sunday.      2. My sister works ______ the supermarket.

 3. The shoes are ______ the table.                      4. Listen ______ the recording.

 5. My father is ______ bed because he is ill.

                                                                                                                                            

52. Put the words in the correct order :

1. blue have small a car we got       2. dark has long Jane hair got  

3.TV colour a and chairs blue dark two are there kitchen my in

                                                                                                                                 

53. TENSES. Put the verbs into the Simple Present (+ affirmative;  ‑ negative; ? interrogative):

  1. When _______________ breakfast ? (he / ? to have)

  2. _______________ at 8.00 a.m.  (they / + to get up)

  3. _______________ on Sunday.  (I / ‑ to work)

  4. _______________ basketball ?  (you / ? to play)

  5. _______________ everyday.  (students / + to study)

                                                                                                                                             

 54. Fill in the blanks with : HER /  SHE /  THEIR /  THEM /  HIM / THEY /  WE /  HER

  1. They work in Cambridge. ______ address is 156 Milton Road.

  2. Where does your mother work? ______ works in Almuñécar. ______ job is very interesting.

  3. Mary and Joe are friends. ______ are German.I like ______ , but  I don't like ______ .

  4. My wife and I are teachers. ______ work in Almeria.

  5. Lions are my favourite animals.I like ______ very much.

                                                                                                                                             

 55. Translate the following sentences into English :

  1. Me gustan bastante los coches.       2. Mi madre odia cocinar los domingos.

  3. ¿Te gusta la cerveza? No me gusta mucho,pero me encanta la fanta.

  4. ¿Cómo vas al instituto? En coche.       5. ¿A qué hora se levanta tu padre? A las ocho y cuarto.

  6. ¿Dónde estabas ayer a las diez? Estaba en el instituto.

And for more revision and extension exercises you can visit this page in my site: MOCK EXAMS (3º ESO) 

 

How To Talk About MONEY 💰 English Conversation & Vocabulary

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 180627 / 27 June 2018    >>>  Daimbars academy's World Cup four   -  Language related to 'success'.  Need-to-know language: passion, motivation, collective achievement & inspiration.

Drama & miracle in Thailand

A few weeks ago in Thailand, a teenage football team and their coach were reported to be missing after some heavy rains in the middle of a jungle. Eventually they were found alive in a flooded cave complex.  

 

Families were exposed to a wide range of emotions: anxiety, fear, drama, happiness, hope... It seems that this drama that could have ended in tragedy (actually, one of the divers died because of the lack of oxygen) may turn out to be a miracle if all the group is rescued safe and sound.

 

As you can see, football provides us with emotions not only in the World Cup in Russia, but also in ordinary lives.

 

Here are some articles for you to read about the issue:

• Boys trapped in Thailand comforted by rescuers (The Guardian)

• Thailand cave rescue: how are the boys getting out? (The Guardian)

• Cave rescue: Four more boys rescued by Thai Navy divers (BBC News)

• The boys trapped in the Thailand cave could face an unusual disease (ABC News)

 And eventually...

All 12 boys and soccer coach freed (CNN)

Here's a listening exercise to do: Are you excited about the World Cup? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

News Review: Missing Thai boys found trapped in a cave (BBC Learning English)




Here's a listening exercise to do: Broken hearts (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)
 

Learn about Modal Verbs with English with Lucy | MUST CAN WOULD SHOULD MIGHT WILL COULD SHALL MAY

 

Use as many modal verbs as you can in your comments!!!!

Check the  SUMMER SCOREBOARD

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 180704 / 04 July 2018    >>>  London's biggest air display   -  Language related to 'flying'.  Need-to-know language: flypasts, the RAF, air traffic centre, air space & aircraft.

Women to set foot on Mars??

Who will be the first human being to set foot on Mars, a man or a woman? More and more women are setting foot on every field of work.

Valentina Tereshkova: First Woman in Space

Here are some articles for you to read:

• Gender equality at work is a matter of respect, not just money (The Guardian) 

• The Ascent of Woman (BBC)

• How do women handle their periods in space? (CNN)

• Women in space: beyond Gravity (The Guardian)

 

English Modal Verb TIPS 🔸PART 2🔸 Ability 💪🏼

Some exercises for you to do:  1   2    3   

 

 

Here's a listening exercise to do: Women in space (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

Another funny episode of John McEnroe talking about tennis in "The self-appointed Commissioner of Tennis":

McEnroe "Nadal was saved by the God of Roland Garros"

 

 

Rafael Nadal, the God of Clay

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 180620 / 20 June 2018    >>>  Saving the Mexican salamander   -  Language related to 'Animal conservation'.  Need-to-know language: critically endangered, wiped out, rearing (something) in captivity & sanctuary.