How smart animals are!!!

Animals are really intelligent, but how intelligent they are. Probably more than what we think.

 

     Top ten smartest animals    

Here are some articles to read and amazing videos to watch:

• Animals know more than you think (The Guardian)

• Which animals are smartest: Dogs, cats, or ... raccoons? (The Washington Post)

• The octopus: One of Earth's smartest (CNN)

• Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? (The Guardian)

 

A Crow named 007 - Intelligence of animals - BBC Episode 2

And... How does a chimp wash its hands?   &   CNN Amazing Animals Lemurs are incredibly intelligent


José Miguel's contribution (1º Bach A):   How smart are dolphins? by Lori Marino

What is for you the most intelligent animal?

Here's a listening exercise to do: How intelligent is the octopus? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)


Here you can learn phrasal verbs made with GET.   (Exercise to do)

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 180815 / 15 August 2018    >>>  The AI that spots eye disease   -  Language related to 'surprising changes'.  Need-to-know language: on the brink off, jaw-dropping, gasp, game changer & the advent of.

We say a little prayer for you

This time we will say a little prayer for you, Aretha!

Aretha Franklin, 'the queen of soul', dies aged 76 (The Guardian)

'No One Did It Better'-Reaction to Aretha Franklin's Death  (The New York Times)

Some other songs by Aretha Franklin:

• (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman [1967]  

• Respect [1967]   

• George Michael, Aretha Franklin - I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)   

• Ever Changing Times ft. Michael McDonald  

and so many more.

What Really Hid Behind The Tragic Life Of Aretha Franklin?  

Holidays will always be holidays!!!

You may sometimes feel disappointed because your holidays are not as smashing and unforgettable as you would like. However, believe me holidays will always be holidays no matter how dull they may look. To begin with, they are a break in our routines and that will make us stronger when we go back to our routines. Then, and as long as no negative things affect you, it is time to do activities you cannot do during all the year long, such as tidying old papers or having a look at old photographs or videos or meeting friends or relatives you don't usually see or reading books for fun...

 

Anyway, here are some articles for you to read about the issue:

• Summer Life Hacks: how to make the most of your holidays (BBC)

• Nearly 40% of Britons to stay at home during summer holidays (The Guardian)

• How to stay happy after the vacation is over (CNN)

• Home alone: 'It made me feel that I was unloved' (BBC)

Here's a listening exercise to do: Not going out (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

A secret about collective nouns (BBC Learning English)

Understand FAST English Conversations [Advanced Listening Lesson]

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 180801 / 01 August 2018    >>>  Child announcer on London Underground   -  Language related to 'safety'.  Need-to-know language: safety, take care, handrail, injured & takes notice.

Food and food waste, a big world problem

Food is a big problem for some people. Hunger, starvation... are common problems in many places in the world such as Africa, India... However, we've got enough people for everybody. Actually, in some places such as USA they have so much food that they waste it.

 

One possible solution >>>>

• Forget Aldi - this is Australia's cheapest supermarket: Melbourne store gives food away for FREE (Daily Mail) 

• Australia's first rescued-food supermarket opens in Sydney (The Guardian)

 

 

Here's an article to read about the issue:

Tesco pledges to end edible food waste by March 2018 (The Guardian)

 

What do you do not to waste so much food at home? Read the following article and watch the video and tell me interesting words connected with the semantic field of 'food'. For instance, 'edible'. What does this word mean? Which verb does this adjective come from?

 

In your comment you can use QUANTIFIERS (Here's a video for you to watch and some exercises for you to do). For example: "At home we eat very little bread, so we do not buy much".

 

Here's some basic vocabulary for the World Cup 2018.

What is the Passive Voice? 😅 English Grammar Lesson

 

A couple of English exercises to do about the PASSIVE VOICE  >>>   1   2  

 

Now let's cook the PERFECT OMELETTE!!!  Watch this video and tell me how to make it using the PASSIVE VOICE. Here's a possible start:

Example: First of all, a frying pan is needed. Then three eggs are taken from the fridge.

Useful verbs you may need: stir, pour, fry, add, set, serve...

 

And obviously a good nose is required to cook  >>>  The English We Speak (BBC Learning English)  >>>  To have a good nose (for something)  

 

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

Roger Federer's Replacement?

 

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 180606 / 06 June 2018    >>>  Using a smart bin to tackle food waste   -  Language related to 'Inventories'.  Need-to-know language: accurate records, keeping tabs on, adjust & catalogue.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

After some years and long hours of work, Here I present you my latest mission accomplished. In my site you will find not only links to every single episode of the more than 200, but also notes to every single module of the 12 this course has. Enjoy it and make the most of it!!!

NEW THAT'S ENGLISH

In my site I also provide you with this useful link:

   Complete Index and table of contents   

Here are two listening exercises to do: Smartphone addiction & Is technology always the solution? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

Here's an interesting article for you to read telling you how to overcome phone addiction:

How to overcome your phone addiction: Five tips to help you stop checking your mobile (The Independent)

Learn with Lucy the 3 (everyday) words you should NEVER say

 

By the way, do you know the difference between these two verbs?     Raise vs rise  

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 180808 / 08 August 2018    >>>  Strandbeests   -  Language related to 'mechanics'.  Need-to-know language: engineer, powered by, trial and error, mechanical & robust design.

 

SUMMER 2018

We are in the middle of the summer and so far we have done many things and there are still loads of more wonderful experiences to live in the coming weeks.

To begin with, we can revise the PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE by watching these two episodes of That's English so that we can talk about our past experiences.

  Unit 9A            Unit 9B   

Do you know the difference between 'meeting' and 'reunion'? And what about 'gathering'?

A meeting is any kind of gathering of people, a reunion is a meeting where people get back together. For example a school reunion, where former students meet up again after they have left school. 

A meeting is an assembly of people, either by chance or by prior arrangement. This is the most generic term that covers the coming together of two or more people. A gathering is a meeting or an assembly held especially for a social or festive purpose (e.g. a family gathering).

And here's a most completed explanation provided by BBC Learning English.

And if you want to have a look at the notes I have prepared for you, here's the place where you can look them up:

NOTES for Module 3

 

Talking about music, what is the song of the summer 2018? Send me your hints.

And what about your favourite summer food?

Do you know any other words for 'gazpacho'?  Here's another recipe. And if you want to watch it in French, here's my hint. Any other suggestions?

By the way, very few people are working this summer. Here's our link to the  SUMMER SCOREBOARD 

 

Shopping online

Have you ever bought anything online? Online shopping is so extended, but...

Here are some articles you can read about the issue:

• How green is online shopping? (The Guardian)

• All under one roof: how malls and cities are becoming indistinguishable (The Guardian)

• 'Going shopping is a nightmare for me' (BBC News)

• Compulsive shopping: When spending is like substance abuse (CNN)

Here's a listening exercise to do: Surf and turf (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

 

 

 

YOU KNOW YOU'RE FLUENT IN ENGLISH WHEN... (fluency quiz! test your English!!) by The English Coach

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

65. Fill in the gaps with prepositions:

1. My office is ________ the second floor ________ the lift.

2. My parents live ________ South Street.

3. When do you usually come home? _______ about six o'clock.

4. I work _______ 17, Rocky Lane ________ 9 am_________ 2 pm.

5. I don't go ________ school _______ the afternoon.

66. Now ask when you do these things and then answer the following questions with the times given :

1. ___________ go to school ? ______________________________

2. ___________ have lunch ? ________________________

67. LANGUAGE IN USE. Write questions for these answers :

1. _______________________________ ? I'm from Spain.

2. _______________________________ ? She's 24 years old.

3. _______________________________ ? I'm sorry. I don't know.

4. _______________________________ ? Next to the post office.

5. _______________________________ ? 9, Malaga Avenue.

68. Put in THE where necessary:

1. "I've got one apple and a piece of chocolate." "I'll have ______ chocolate."

2. I don't like ______ fish.

3. She's got two boys and two girls. ______ two girls are Jane and Betty.

4. ______ girls usually like dolls.

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

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 180725 / 25 July 2018    >>>  Helping the puffin make a comeback   -  Language related to 'research'.  Need-to-know language: exploring, tracked, identify, monitored & carry out.