What was the best and the worst of 2016???

What was the best and the worst song, film, athlete... thing of 2016?

 

For instance, at school for me the best thing was the fact that we came back safe and sound from Dublin and that 7 of my 4º ESO passed their B1 exams at the Official Language School and the worst thing is that not all the students I had in mind entered these exams. I hope they'll do it this year and that my B1 students have the best of lucks in their B2 exams.

However, the best thing of all is that I still have dreams and hopes and ready for new challenges. As well, with regard to this, the worst thing is that I can't convince as many people as I would like.

 

And here's one of my greatest discoveries in the web. Watch it and give me your opinion in this cycling journey from Edinburgh to Skye >>>>

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

Episode 161228 / 28 December 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: pioneering, safe haven & distracted.

SOLUTIONS to the B2 exercise in the previous post:  1. C   2. B    3. B    4. C     5. D    6. D    7. A  8. A   9. D   10. C   11. A  12. C   13. D   14. B   15. C   16. C  17. D   18. C   19. C   20. A   21. C   22. D   23. B   24. B   25. A  

Río de Janeiro 2016, Olympic Games in Brazil

Río is over and here are some activities to do:

>>>   News Review  >>  Brazil wins a gold medal in athletics  (BBC Learning English) 

>>>   LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 160817 / 17 August 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: medal tolly, feeds on & cheating.
• Episode 160810 / 10 August 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: wondering, to log, stylish & unveiled. (Michael Phelps swims into Olympic history)

 

 

BREAKING NEWS   >>>  three more medals for Spain (17 medals in total so far):

 

• Spain Men's basketball national team defeats Australia in an incredible match and get the bronze medal. Our golden generation will never disappoint us!!!!

• A bronze medal for Coloma in mountain bike event.

  

• Spanish rhythmic gymnasts get the silver medal among olé cries and guitar playing!!!

 

This is no country for men, IT BELONGS TO WOMEN, INDEED!!!

 

Ruth Beitia wins the seventh gold medal for Spain in women's high jump (read the report)   (watch the jump)

 

The latest from Río

 

 

 

Two more medals for Spain (13 medals in total): INCREDIBLE historical SILVER MEDAL for women's basketball national team (Congratulations for being so competitive!!!!) >> watch this and bronze medal for Saúl Craviotto in the k-1 200 metre event.

 

INCREDIBLE   >>>>>  Carolina Marin, the young lady from Huelva, wins the sixth gold medal in badminton!!!! (some images)

 

 

 

Another gold medal for Spain (the fifth one)  >>>  Saúl Craviotto and Cristian Toro in K-2 200 metre canoe sprint (watch the race)

 

Two more medals for Spain in Taekwondo: silver medal for Eva Calvo and bronze medal for Joel González (video)

Our men's basketball national team will fight for the bronze medal  (watch summary) and our Women's national team in basketball will be in the final fighting for the GOLD medal against the USA in the Olympic Games in Río after defeating Serbia in the semi-finals!!! GOOD LUCK!

The New Spain has brought us the fourth gold medal and the first silver medal, that is, the seventh medal in total for Spain >>> Marcus Cooper Walz, the canoeist born in Oxford whose father is English and whose mother is German, from Majorca wins the gold medal in K-1 1000 metres event (watch the event) & Orlando Ortega, Cuban-born, won the silver medal in 110 hurdles event (watch the event). 

 

 

And now the 110 hurdle race:

 

 

Fifth medal for Spain  >>  Marc López & Rafael Nadal wins the third gold medal for Spain in the men's doubles in tennis, the first one for our Spanish men!!!

 

  "A gold medal and with one of my best friends is just unforgettable", said Nadal after the match.

 

Fourth medal for Spain  >>>  Lydia Valentin wins the bronze medal in weightlifting!!!

 

Second gold medal for Spain (third overall) >>> Maialen Chourraut in canoe slalom!!! (Watch the race)

Our Golden Girl (Mireia Belmonte once again), the first gold medal for Spain!!!! in 200m butterfly

Watch the race and enjoy it!!!!

Mireia Belmonte wins first Spanish medal of Rio 2016 (Marca)

First medal for Spain: Mireia Belmonte wins the bronze medal in Women's 400m Individual Medley (estilo libre)

 

However, what does 'medley' originally mean? And what's the Spanish for 'heat'?

 

Tip: Make a glossary with all the words you learn in English related to the Olympic Games. (I'll do one myself for you in my site)

 

What time is it right now in Rio? Remember that they are five hours behind Spain.

 

RIO 2016 - official website   

Problems we may find during these Olympic Games:

• News report (BBC Learning English) >>>>  Could polluted water cause problems for Olympic athletes?   

• Rio 2016: Swimmers need to ingest only three teaspoons of water to be almost certain of contracting a virus (The Independent)

 

 Nadal, the stand bearer for Spain. How happy he looks after his big disappointment for not being able to it in the last Olympic Games in London.

Some articles to read:

• Rio 2016 opening ceremony a mix of pared patriotism and climate concern (The Guardian)

• Opening Ceremony: 'Rio is ready to make history' as Olympic Games begin (CNN)

• See, I CAN hold a flag! Andy Murray leads Team GB in the Rio Olympics triumphantly holding the standard ONE-HANDED (Daily Mail)

Murray (gold medal in London and Río), the stand bearer for the United Kingdom.

>>>>>>



Michael Phelps, the stand bearer for the United States
<<<<<<<<<

Michael Phelps selected as U.S. flag bearer for Rio Olympics (CNN)

The Shark from Baltimore is back and the American mermaid in Rio: Michael Phelps wins 19th Olympic gold, Katie Ledecky breaks record (CNN)

Michael Phelps extends his legacy with two more gold medals at Rio Olympics (The Washington Post)

 

 

Michael Phelps ties a 2,160 year-old Olympic record (Marca)

 

 

Here's a link to the coverage of the event in the newspaper The Guardian: Rio 2016    

STILL MORE TO COME!!!

 And don't forget Pau Gasol, our Spanish stand bearer in the previous Olympic Games in London!!!

Our students in Galicia (Viaje de Estudios)

 

We wish you a safe trip home and that you are having the best of times!!!!

Our students in Galicia

Pau Gasol in the All-Star 2016 game in Toronto

Latest news: Pau Gasol added to NBA All-Star Game (Marca)

He will be the only white-coloured player and the only foreigner in the game!!!

  

Pau Gasol and his Spanish supporters to play in the All-Star game (Chicago Tribune)

 

 CONGRATULATIONS!!! You deserve it.

 

Jimmy Butler with knee injury misses the All-Star game  (We all wish him a fast recovery << to recover from an injury) >>>  Guess who'll be there for the sixth time!!! 

 

By the way, some questions for you about the venue: Where is Toronto? Which NBA basketball team plays there? Which letter is silent (the way it is pronounced in North America)? 

British vs American | English Pronunciation Lesson

And this is how British pronounce 'Toronto'.

 

Can you tell me any famous player that played in that team? Has any Spanish player ever belonged to this team?

Notes on MODALS for my students in 4º ESO (Can you give me some examples related to our champion Pau Gasol? For instance: "Pau Gasol can play basketball really well. I cannot play basketball as well as him".)

>>  TO TALK ABILITY we use can/can't, could/couldn't, be able to/not be able to.

Examples: I can speak English (Sé hablar inglés)      I will be able to speak English after my five-month course in England.

General ability in the past: Mozart could play the piano when he was four.  (had the ability)

Specific ability in the past: The little boy couldn't swim, but he was able to (=managed to) get out of the water when he fell into the swimming-pool.

>>  TO EXPRESS CERTAINTY we use must.

Examples: Someone is ringing the bell. It must be the postman.

>>  TO EXPRESS IMPOSSIBILITY we use can't.

Examples: 'Someone is ringing the bell. It must be the postman.'    'It can't be the postman because today is Sunday and they don't deliver any letters on Sundays.'

>>  TO EXPRESS POSSIBILITY / PROBABILITY we use may/may not, could/couldn't, might/might not.

Examples: It may rain this afternoon, but I don't think so.

>>  TO EXPRESS OBLIGATION, LACK OF OBLIGATION or PROHIBITION we use must/mustn't, have to/don't have to,  need to/needn't/don't need to.

Moral obligation: You must obey your parents.

Prohibition: You mustn't park here.

External obligation you don't have to agree with: You have to wear a uniform at this school.

Weaker obligation: You need to wear gloves if you are going out. It is freezing.

Lack of obligation: You don't have to wear a uniform at Mediterranean Sea Secondary School. (You needn't wear / You don't need to wear...)

>>  TO GIVE ADVICE OR MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS with a pinch of OBLIGATION we use should/shouldn't, ought to/oughtn't to.

Examples: You should/ought to study more regularly.       You shouldn't/oughtn't go to bed so late.

UPDATED: What will the weather be like in 2016, Mr Marmot?

Groundhog Day 2016: Punxsutawney Phil sees no shadow, predicts early spring (Washington Post)

Groundhog Day 2015: Punxsutawney Phil sees shadow, predicts six more weeks of winter

Marmot Day and the way Americans forecast the weather.What is the other name they use to name this animal?

  Cute calendar 

 Famous groundhog dies after being dropped by a politician!!!!

What happens if the groundhog sees shadow? CNN

DUBLIN 2016: V Study trip to the British Isles

V Study Trip to the British Isles to Dublin (Easter 2016). 

SO FAR WE ARE 35!!!

Esperanza, Patricia, Mª José García, Irene, Alberto Pineda, Alba, Mª José Prados, Lucía López, Álvaro Ruíz, María, Lucía Pérez, Lucía Torres, Lara, Nicolás, Beatriz, Joaquín, Juan, Gonzalo, Helena, Mª Carmen, Estela, Natalie, Valeria, Miguel Ángel Glez., Sara, Alex, Andrea, Laura Natividad, Miguel Ángel Rguez., Francisco, Julia, J. Gonzalo Almendros, Javier Gallardo, Alberto & Guille.

 

 COME ON! DON'T MISS THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY!!!!

And remember: YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!!! because Albert and J. Luis will always be there.

 

Third meeting on Monday, 5th October in the Language Department. 

 

NEXT MISSION: DUBLIN 16

                      

Have a look at the information about DUBLIN 2016 below and in my blog. Then, if you are interested, fill in this form as soon as you can because we need to do everything very quickly to buy our flights cheaper. By the way, those of you who are interested to go on your own, let me know. I have been told that you will have to pay 30€ extra.

Why Ireland split into the Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland