Stories to tell our grandchildren

 

One day we will tell our grandchildren that there was a power outage or blackout that left Spain and Portugal in the darkness, and they will probably think about grandpa talking again about his old battles and so on. It was not just a simple power failute, but will they believe us?

 

 

Actually, we have witnessed and suffered a pandemic, being locked down in our homes for months, the assault of the Capitol in the United States, the terrorist attacks to the Twin Peaks and the Pentagon, the capture of Osama Bin Laden, 5 Popes so far, many wars and so on. Regarding sport events, we have seen how Spain won the World Cup and 4 European championships, Indurain winning the Tour de France five times in a row, Rafa Nadal winning 14 Roland Garros, Real Madrid winning their 15th Champions League...

 

Some articles to read about the issue of the power outage or blackout in Portugal and Spain:

 

Spain and Portugal power outage: what caused it, and was there a cyber-attack? (The Guardian)

Spain, Portugal work to fix massive power outage (DW)

Power begins to return after huge outage hits Spain and Portugal (Reuters)

Power returns after massive blackout in Spain and Portugal as fallout continues (EuroNews)

Spain declares state of emergency as power blackout chaos continues | BBC News

 

 

 Here's my musical hint for today:  Dreams by Fleetwood Mac. And now here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along.

 

 

 

 

Road towards success in the new PAU (Selectivity exam)

 

Rephrase/Rewrite these sentences by using another suitable structure:

211. He wanted to know if they could use their calculators in the exam.   "

212. My father works for UFESA company.    Which....

213. I forgot your birthday party. If... 

214. I'm not sure if my neighbour's son is studying at the University of Granada. My neighbour's son...

215. The book was very long. I couldn't finish reading it before Christmas.   It was...

216. If only I had taken my umbrella. I...

217. It is compulsory to have a driving licence in Spain to drive a car.  You...

218. The doctor asked me politely to lie on the couch. "

219. My little brother managed to get out of the swimming-pool when he fell into it at the age of 3.  

My little brother...

220. "Can you do this simple exercise?"   The teacher...

 

Solution to the exercises in the previous post

 

Rephrasing

 

201. A robot is more accurate than a surgeon.

202. Many people hate having blood samples taken.

203. I wish we had medical robots in our hospitals.

204. "I'll open the door for you"

205. Richard suggested going for a drink.

206. If only I had studied more before doing this exercise.

207. In spite of being expensive, German cars are so reliable.

208. She must be in the supermarket.

209. If it rains tomorrow, I won't play tennis.

210. William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet.

 

Here are some activities for my students in case there is another blackout:

• The English We Speak:   It's giving  (BBC Learning English)
  

• 
  

  Office English: Misunderstandings  (BBC Learning English)  

• Real Easy English: Talking about gifts  (BBC Learning English)

• Ask BBC Learning English:   Present Perfect or Past Simple?  (BBC Learning English) 

 

 

 

"All work and no play makes Jack/Jill a dull boy/girl"

Learn English with   Little Women    

 

 

Madrid 2025 -  Day 5  ,    Day 6  ,

 

 

 

The forgotten crisis and problems in the world

 

 

The world is full of crisis and problems, but we just have eyes for few of them. For example, who knows or cares about the war in Sudan?

 

 

Learn English from the News: Sudan's war: "World's worst humanitarian crisis"  (BBC Learning English)

 

 Pope Francis dies   

 

 

Pope Francis died from a stroke followed by heart failure, Vatican says (The Guardian)

Pope Francis, voice for the poor who transformed the Catholic Church, dies on Easter Monday (CNN)

What happens after the death of Pope Francis and when is the funeral? (BBC News)

Conclave: Inside the secret election to choose the next Pope (the Independent)

 

 

Our newspapers are full of what happens in the Gaza Strip, in Ukrania, in the world because of the tariffs President Trump is setting... but have you ever heard of the war in Sudan? Does anyone care about a war that lasts more than two years?

 

 

 

Here are some articles related to the issue of the war in Sudan:

Death, displacement and devastation – two years of war in Sudan (The Guardian)

Sudan war: A simple guide to what is happening (BBC News)

Sudan’s army has captured the capital. Is it a turning point in the devastating conflict? (CNN)

The Forgotten crisis: War in Sudan | DW Documentary 

 

Here are some activities for my students, who are never forgotten by their English teacher:

in 1º ESO  on MODAL VERBS:  CAN / MUST / SHOULD    1   & changing adjectives to adverbs: exercise   1  2   

in 3º ESO on  ACTIVE / PASSIVE VOICE   1  2 

 

What would you say? Why?

Dog welcomes thief like a friend.            OR           Thief is welcomed like a friend by a dog.

The solution is below in the section Learn English with the News

 

 

 

 Here's my musical hint for today:  I wanna dance with somebody by Whitney Houston. And now here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along.

 

 

 

Road towards success in the new PAU (Selectivity exam)

 

Rephrase/Rewrite these sentences by using another suitable structure:

201. A surgeon is not as accurate as a robot.   A robot....

202. Many people hate going to hospital and asking nurses to take blood samples from them. Many people...

203. It would be so good to have medical robots in our hospitals.  I

204. The student offered to open the door for him.  -  "

205. "How about going for a drink?", said Richard.    Richard suggested...

206. I regretted not having studied more before doing this exercise. If only...

207. German cars are expensive, but they are so reliable.   In spite ....

208. Mum is not in. She's surely in the supermarket. She (modal verb)....

209. It may rain tomorrow, so I won't play tennis then.   If...

210. Hamlet was written by Willliam Shakespeare.       William Shakespeare....

 

 

Solution to the exercises in the previous post

 

Rephrasing

 

191. (Have sth. Done)  - You will have your hair cut tomorrow.

192. (Question)   - How often does he visit his parents?

193. (Reported speech)   - Tim asked his mother if he could go to the disco.

194. (Contrast connector)  - Although the questions were difficult, she got a high mark in her exam.

195. (Modals)   - You don’t have to make your bed. / You needn’t make your bed.

196. (Passive)   - We will be told the news tomorrow night.

197. (Conditionals)  - If I earned much money, I could buy a new car.

198. (Superlative)   - James Bond Is the most famous fictional secret agent.

199. (Modal verb) Robots can carry out most household activities.

200. (Modal verb) - You have to make the project if you want to have a good mark.

 

I will never forget to set some activities for my beloved students:

• Listening exercise to do:   Can AI solve crime?  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)
  

• 
  

  English in a Minute: Verbs to use with OPINION  (BBC Learning English)  

• Listening exercise for you to do: How climate change affects animal migration  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

• The English We Speak:   Dial down  (BBC Learning English) 

 

English with Lucy  >>>  Answer "HOW ARE YOU?" in Advanced English: Use These Phrases! (C1+) 

 

 

 

 

 

"All work and no play makes Jack/Jill a dull boy/girl"

Learn English with the NEWS -   Dog Welcomes Thief Like a Friend    

 

 

Madrid 2025 -  Day 3  ,   Day 4  ,  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazing, but true!

 

 

 
We are not laying it on thick when we are in the middle of the Bardenas Reales in Navarre and think we are goint to come across Clint Eastwood or a group of Apaches. The views are just amazing, but true and real and not very far from River Ebro or cities like Tudela.

 

The English We Speak: Lay it on thick (BBC Learning English) 

 

Is this really Spain? A desert? Mars?  Visiting Bardenas Reales in Navarre!!! 

Well, we come to the most important time of our school year and I hope we are all ready to reach our goals in these 10 weeks and put an end to this long race.

 

 

 Here's my musical hint for today:  Physical by Olivia Newton-John. And now here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along.

 

 

 

Road towards success in the new PAU (Selectivity exam)

 

Rephrase/Rewrite these sentences by using another suitable structure:

191. Someone will cut your hair tomorrow.   - You

192. He visits his parents every Sunday .   - ?

193. “Can I go to the disco?”, Tim asked his mother.   - Tim asked his mother

194. Despite the fact that the questions were difficult, she got a high mark in her exam.  - Although

195. It’s not necessary for you to make your bed.   - You

196. They will tell us the news tomorrow night.    - We

197. I don’t earn much money. It’s a pity I can’t buy a new car.   - If

198. No other fictional secret agent is as famous as James Bond.   - James Bond

199.  Robots are able to carry out most household activities.    - (Modal verb) 

200. It is necessary to make the project if you want to have a good mark.   -

 

Solution to the exercises in the previous post

 

Rephrasing

 

181. (Comparatives)   - The novel is better than the film.

182. (have sth. Done)   - I had my hair cut last week.

183. (Reported speech)   - Mary suggested going to the cinema on Tuesday.

184. (Wish)   - I wish the weather hadn’t been so bad last weekend.

185. (Verbal tenses)   - It’s ages since I last saw a good film.

186. (Question)   - What did John buy?

187. (Relative clauses)   - I visited a village yesterday which I did not like.

188. (Modals)   - He can play golf.

189. (Verbal tenses)   - I haven’t visited Russia for ages.

190. (Conditionals)   - Unless you listen carefully, you won’t understand the problem.

 

 

Here are some activities for you to do:

• English in a Minute:   How to use DURING  (BBC Learning English)
  

• 
  

  The Pronunciation Lounge: Consonant clusters at the beginning of words  (BBC Learning English)  

• Office English: PRESENTATIONS  (BBC Learning English)

• Real Easy English:   Talking about GAMES  (BBC Learning English) 

 

 

 

Lucy revising tenses:  QUIZ  

 

 

 

"All work and no play makes Jack/Jill a dull boy/girl"

Learn English with audio stories -   "When time runs out"   

 

 

Barcelona 2025 - Day 2   , Day 3  ,  Davidovich Fokina vs Rublev    ,

Semi-finals ,

 Final >> Carlos Álcaraz defeated by Holge Rune

 

 

Javier Lahora (1º ESO B) presents his comic of SINBAD!!

 

 

 

Never do it for the plot... at least in my class!

  

You should never do anything for the plot in the English class, or any classes at all. You have to be consistent in your efforts. This is no card game!Your future depends on it.

 

The English We Speak: Do it for the plot (BBC Learning English)

I agree there are times in life you have to do it for the plot even if you fail or have some negative consequences. In a relationship when you fancy someone, you have to make one step forward even if you are not 100% sure. When you are playing a match and you are losing, there's a moment when you have to do it for the plot and you may be lucky and win against the odds. That's the way to face a challenge.

 

 

 Here's my musical hint for today:  Drops of Jupiter by the group Train. And now here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along.

Here are some activities for my students:

in 1º ESO  on Asking and giving directions    1  2  3  4  and many more activities      

in 3º ESO on  JUST / ALREADY / YET    1   and more exercises  

 

Road towards success in the new PAU (Selectivity exam)

 

Rephrase/Rewrite these sentences by using another suitable structure:

181. The film is not as good as the novel.  - The novel

182. The hairdresser cut my hair last week.  - I

183. “Let’s go to the cinema on Tuesday”, said Mary.     - Mary suggested

184. What a pity the weather was so bad last weekend.    - I wish

185. I haven’t seen a good film for ages.   - It’s

186. John bought a new Rolls Royce .   - ?

187. I visited a village yesterday but I did not like it.    - I

188. He knows how to play golf.   - He

189. It’s ages since I last visited Russia.   - I

190. You won’t understand the problem if you don’t listen carefully.   - Unless

 

Solution to the exercises in the previous post

 

Rephrasing

 

171. (Conditionals)   - If he had revised for the test, he wouldn’t have failed.

172. (Have sth. Done)  - She has her eyes tested every year by the ophthalmologist.

173. (Relative clauses)  - The Da Vinci Code, which was written by Dan Brown, is a best-seller.

174. (Question)    - Who goes swimming twice a week?

175. (Wish)   - I wish I had remembered your birthday.

176. (Reported speech)   - He ordered us not to make so much noise.

177. (Causal connector)   - The children stayed up late because it was Friday.

178. (Verbal tenses / Superlative)  - This is the first time I have read such an interesting book. / This is the most interesting book I’ve ever read.

179. (Conditionals)   - Unless you hurry up, you won’t get tickets for the concert.

180. (Question)   - When do you have to wear a uniform?

 

Here are some activities for you to do:

• Office English:   Saying NO  (BBC Learning English) 
  

• 
  

  The Pronunciation Lounge: Where to pause naturally in English  (BBC Learning English)  

• English in a Minute: Verbs to use with TECHNOLOGY  (BBC Learning English) 

• A listening exercise for you to do:   Healthy meals on a budget  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English) 

And with regard to Trump's tariffs, he certainly did it for the plot:

• World leaders criticise Trump tariffs as 'major blow' (BBC News)
• Macron calls Trump’s tariffs ‘brutal and unfounded’ and warns France could suspend US investments – as it happened (The Guardian)
• Trump tariffs: How could Europe retaliate as trade war breaks out (The Independent)
• ‘Inflation Day Rather Than Liberation Day’: How the World Is Reacting to Trump’s Latest Tariffs (Time)

 

Lucy talking about 15 everyday phrases  for you to show off!!!

 

 

 

"All work and no play makes Jack/Jill a dull boy/girl"

Learn English with SHREK -   Donkey meets Shrek   

 

 

Monte Carlo 2025 - Day 2   , Day 3  , 

 Álcaraz in the Semi-finals (vs. Davidovich) and the FINAL against Musetti!!!