BEING A TEACHER....

BEING A TEACHER IS A DIFFICULT TASK NOWADAYS, SO I DECIDED TO FOLLOW THIS PIECE OF ADVICE BY BRUCE LEE:

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.

by Bruce Lee

sábado, 31 de enero de 2026

No need to shoot off when the class is finishing!!!

 

 

Students, teenagers... deserve attention, respect!!! Yes, they also have to give something back, that is to say, they have to show respect, pay attention... to their teachers, elderly people and even their peers!!!!

When the music or bell rings is just a kind of signal for the person speaking that he must come to an end with his explanations or whatever. What would students think if the teacher left the classroom as soon as the bell rings or the music starts when doing an exam?? 

So there's no need to shoot off when your teacher is finishing, or maybe one day YOU WILL BE SHOT!!!😠😠😠😠😠😡😡😡😡

 

Beating Speaking Anxiety:   I'm scared I'll forget my words  (BBC Learning English)   >>>>  What to do when your mind goes blank       


Real Easy English:   Talking about SPEAKING LANGUAGES  (BBC Learning English)  





 

The Listening Room:   Can people be freed from peanut allergy?  (BBC Learning English)  

  

  


 

  Here's my musical hint for today:    We are the World by USA for Africa. And here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along.

 

 


 


Learning English Grammar (Causative 'HAVE', get someone to...):   Using services  (BBC Learning English) 



 

Here are some more activities for my students:

     

Extra activities for my students in...

....4º ESO

41. TENSES. Put the verbs in brackets into their correct past tense, and fill in the gaps (...) with the following words:  now, anywhere, never , still , last, ago, yet (note there are three too many)

 1. (see) __________ you _____________ my watch? I can't find it ......................... 

    No, I ___________ . When (see) __________ you ................... _______________ it?

2. (speak) _________ you ____________ to your teacher about your homework?

     No, I (not speak) ___________________ to her ................... .

3. She (want) ___________ .................... __________________ to play Strip-poker with me.

42. TENSES. Put the verbs in brackets into their correct tense, and fill in the gaps (...) with the following words:  if  ,  when  ,  until 

1. The doctor (not let) _________________ him get up ................. he (get) ___________ better.

2. Albert said: "................... we (finish) _______________ Unit 10, we (begin) ______________    the final exams.

3. ................. I (pass) ______________ English and all the other subjects, I (go) ____________    to the beach every day.

 

 

 

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



Mind your language -    A Must Watch   

 


 


 

The Australian Open still on fire!!! 

   

Álcaraz on the road to the final....   match against Alex de Minaur (Quarter-final), and then the epic semi-final against Zverev with muscle cramps, vomiting... due to the harsh weather conditions (but remember Victory belongs to the most tenacious ), and the other semi-final between Djokovic and Sinner


Carlos Alcaraz beats Alexander Zverev in epic five-set Australian Open semi-final (The Guardian)

Australian Open recap: Djokovic and Alcaraz win epic semi-finals (BBC News)

Carlos Alcaraz clarifies ‘fake retirement’ situation during epic Australian Open win over Alexander Zverev (7NEWS)

 

 



domingo, 25 de enero de 2026

Spaniards, scared? NEVER!!

 

 

Spanish students are said not to speak foreign languages very well and that is absolutely false, as I have had the chance of meeting Spaniards all over the world being able to speak even four languages fluently and without the need of having learned them at school. It was just the need to communicate what forced them to make the effort.

 

 

Here's a new section in BBC Learning English which deals with the issue:

 

Beating Speaking Anxiety:   I'm scared of making mistakes  (BBC Learning English)  >>>>>  How to fight the fear of mistakes   



Keeping an eye on the issue...


Listening exercise for you to do:   Scared to speak English?  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)


 

And this is true as I could come to the conclusion when carrying out all my researches for my PhD, which you can download from one of the banners on the right of this page. That is why I encourage my students to make their own video sketches at home to reduce their anxiety to speak. Here are two examples of students from Mediterranean Sea Secondary School who made two excellent video sketches long ago (actually, it was in the late 20th century)...

 

Rol Game + Red Hot Chilly Peppers (Link to the video sketches) +   video sketches   

 

 

Britons 'nervous to speak foreign language when abroad' (BBC News)

British 'linguaphobia' has deepened since Brexit vote, say experts (The Guardian)

 

The Listening Room:   Michelin-starred chef's lobster bisque and foie gras heading to space  (BBC Learning English)  

 



Work in the Future:   What is wellbeing at work?  (BBC Learning English)  

 

  


 

  Here's my musical hint for today:    Cry to me by Solomon Burke. And here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along.

 


 


Learning English Grammar (QUANTIFIERS: all, every, most, both, either, any, no):   Film genres  (BBC Learning English) 



 

Here are some more activities for my students:

     

 

Extra activities for my students in...

....2º ESO

43. Complete the sentences with the comparative form or the superlative of the adjectives in brackets.

 

1. My mother is usually the _______________ person of my family when I don't make my bed, but I am often _________________ than her when she tidies my bedroom. (angry)

2. Asensio was not the ______________ player in the Olympics, but I’m sure I am not _______________ than him. (fast)

3. My holidays this summer are _______________ than when we went to Honolulu, but I think next year our holidays will not be the _______________ holidays in our lives.(boring)

4. Bob is ___________ than Corvax, but who is the __________________ student in your class? (brave)

5. The Queen is _______________ than the Princess, but Muzzy is ___________________ creature in this cartoon. (fat)

                               

44. Complete the negative and interrogative sentences with the verbs in brackets using the PAST SIMPLE:

How (students, get) ____________________________ to school before?

They (not take) __________________________ the train.

(your grandparents, watch) _____________________ the news on TV?

No, they (not watch) _________________ them because there were no television sets in the kitchen and they (not have) ____________________ lunch in the dining-room.

 

....4º ESO

 

19. Translate the following sentences into English:

 

1. Roberto es el de los vaqueros y la camisa celeste.

2. ¿Cómo es tu novio? El es muy divertido, pero es bastante tímido.

3. ¿Quién es la chica que se está quitando el abrigo?

4. Tenemos exámenes en el instituto tres veces al año.

5. ¿Con qué frecuencia hace tu madre la colada? Dos veces a la semana. 

 

20. TENSES. Put the verbs in brackets into their correct tense, be careful with the position of the other words in brackets:

 

1. I (like/go)________________ out tonight with Michelle Pfeiffer.

2. Most bread in England (now/produce) _______________ by large industrial bakeries.

3. How many students (pass) _____________ the last English exam?

4. We (do)_____________ anything until we (hear)________ from you.

5. Where (stamps/sell) __________________________ in your country?

6. Look at my agenda, Mary! We (not/have) ____________________  any more English classes this week.

7. Paul (go) __________ into the bathroom just when Julia Roberts (have) _______________ a shower.

 

 

 

 


 

 

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



Learn English with movies -    Disney's Alice in Wonderland   

 



 

The Australian Open has just started!!! 

And Álcaraz on the road to the final....   match against Moutet  and the one against  Tommy Paul.




sábado, 17 de enero de 2026

Teenagers' bedrooms: the key to success?

 

 

Are our teenagers' bedrooms suitable for what they have to do? Can they study properly? Can they sleep well? I'm afraid not. And that is the main cause of the problems they have nowadays to concentrate, to rest, to study... What is your bedroom like?

 

Work in the future:   Does office design affect your work?  (BBC Learning English)

 

Don't take my word for it and read some articles about the issue:

 




Learning English from the News:   Iran protesters killed  (BBC Learning English)  

 

 



 

The Reading Room:   Britain celebrates 200-year anniversary of passenger trains   (BBC Learning English) 

 


 

  It's been a long day without our great master and we all hope to see him in a better place one day:    See You Again by Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth. And here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along.

 


  

 


Learning English Grammar (ask someone out, had been broken into, get on with someone, hit it off):   First dates  (BBC Learning English) 






Here are some more activities for my students:

     

Extra activities for my students in...

....1º ESO

5.- Translate into English :

 1) ¿Cómo es la señora Harrison? Es gorda y fea.

 2) Tengo mucha sed.   

 3) Aquellos vasos están en la estantería,¿dónde está el vino?

 4) Hay carne en el plato,pero no hay leche en el vaso.

 5) ¿Tienes buen vino? Sí,tenemos un vino muy bueno.

 

19. TENSES. Put in the verbs into their correct tenses.

"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." he (say) ________. "(come) ______ into the house, Dr Jackson. Let me get you a drink and we can talk."

41. Make sentences in the PRESENT SIMPLE (routines) or the PRESENT CONTINUOUS (actions happening now)with the clues given:

1. How often / your brother / play / basketball ?   

2. He / play / basketball / twice a week    

3. you / study / English / now ? No, I / not study / English / now.

4. Teenagers / not get up / early / on Sundays.   

...2º ESO 

45. Fill in the gaps with the comparative forms of superiority or the superlatives of the adjectives in brackets:

1. Mike is (old) .......................... than Pete. In fact he is (old) ............................... of the four.

2. Pete is (slim) .......................... than Mike, but Kate is (slim) .............................. of the four.

3. Kate is (tall) ........................... than Pete and Trig is (short) ............................... of the four.

4. I think Kate is (intelligent) ...................................... than the boys. In fact Pete is (silly) ........................................... of the four.

5. Trig looks (happy) .............................. of the four, but it isn't (happy) ........................ than me.

22. Fill in the gaps with one of these words:  dangerous, best,  worse, most,  than, more, longer

1. Big cities are ______________ polluted ___________ small towns.

2. Rock music is the ____________ exciting music in the world.

3. Snakes are more  ______________ and ______________ than cows.

4. I think Ronaldinho is the _______________ footballer in the world.                         

42. Fill in the gaps with: TOO  ,   SO   ,   ENOUGH  and then add exclamatory sentences using the information given.

1. That book is ____________ high. You are not tall _____________.

2. Mbappe is __________ fast, but he hasn't got ______________ golden balls!

3. Albert is ___________ strict and he is not kind ____________, but he plays tennis _________ well.

4. There is __________ ice-cream for all my cousins and it is ________ hot today.

5. Those trousers are _________ long for you, I need some shorter ones.    


43. Complete the sentences with the comparative form or the superlative of the adjectives in brackets.

 

1. My mother is usually the _______________ person of my family when I don't make my bed, but I am often _________________ than her when she tidies my bedroom. (angry)

2. Asensio was not the ______________ player in the Olympics, but I’m sure I am not _______________ than him. (fast)

3. My holidays this summer are _______________ than when we went to Honolulu, but I think next year our holidays will not be the _______________ holidays in our lives.(boring)

4. Bob is ___________ than Corvax, but who is the __________________ student in your class? (brave)

5. The Queen is _______________ than the Princess, but Muzzy is ___________________ creature in this cartoon. (fat)

 

52. Write sentences with the words below using the COMPARATIVE OF EQUALITY and INFERIORITY.

1. Pete is 1m60 tall. Frank is 1m60 tall  _____________________________

Joe is 1m55 tall   _________________________________________

2. Ann got a 9 in the exam and Jane a 7.

(lazy) __________________________________________________

(hardworking)   _________________________________________          


53. Complete the sentences with the adverbs that come from the adjectives in brackets.

1. Did you sing (bad) _________________ ?

2. I rode my bike (careful)   ___________________ because it was raining (heavy) ________________ .

3. We are doing quite (good) _______________ in the test because we studied (hard)   _______________________ at the weekend.                               

 

 


 

English with Lucy: If you can understand this FAST English,   your English is ADVANCED (C1-C2 Listening Test)  

   


 




 

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



Learn English with    Zootopia   

 


 



John McEnroe vs Jim Courier  Iconic Full Match | 1992 US Open Round 4  

 

 

 

Project on A Christmas Carol by Martín Toledo (4º ESO A)

 



 

The Australian Open has just started!!! 

And here's Álcaraz winning his first match.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Adam Walton | Round One | Australian Open 2026 Extended Highlights 🇦🇺