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

Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta 2025. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta 2025. Mostrar todas las entradas

domingo, 8 de junio de 2025

Moments of truth



 

There are moments in life when you have to give your best and that was the case of Álcaraz and our 2º bachillerato students in their Selectivity exams. There is no longer place for cheating, tricks or fake impressions. These are the moments of truth when you have to accept the challenge and go for it.

 

 

Carlos Alcaraz saves three match points to beat Sinner in epic French Open final (The Guardian)

La finale dont on reparlera dans 100 ans   (L'Équipe) 

Alcaraz stuns Sinner in extraordinary French Open final (BBC News)

 

Real Easy English: Talking about the seasons  (BBC Learning English)






Here's the other English exam (Admission) they have done:  
June 2025 - Admisión - Beyond the Stars   

Solutions to the exam...

A1- c  (line 9)  A2- b  (line 10)   

A3: False (lines 10-11). “After earning his degree from the nearest college offering physics to Afro-American students, Ron got a brochure in the mail from NASA one day.”

A4: True. (lines 13-15): “(The mission’s goal was to put a satellite into orbit, but) Ron had another, secret objective: playing the saxophone in space. // By blowing a solo performance of “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” Ron McNair became the first person to play a saxophone in space.”

A5: True. (lines 16-17): “He lost his life along with six other crew members when the shuttle broke apart during launch on January 28th.”

A6: False. (line 19): “In 2011, Lake City Library was turned into Ronald E. McNair Life History Center.”

A7.1: barrier (line 2)   A7.2: persuading (line 9)    A8.1: crew (line 17)   A8.2: brochure (line 11) 

USE OF ENGLISH

B1: This is the least comfortable car I've ever driven.
B2: Unless you drive slowly, he won't go with you.
B3: Despite being a good lawyer, she doesn't always win her cases.// Despite the fact that she is a good lawyer, she doesn’t always win her cases. // Despite not always winning her cases, she is a good lawyer.
B4: Claudia is likely to know the right answer   //  It is likely that Claudia knows the right answer. 
B5: I'd rather you didn't touch my laptop.
B6: You will be taken to the train station in a fancy car.


B7: It was such a cold evening that we decided to stay indoors.
B8: I would like to know what time the next bus to York is.
B9: I gave her a watch, which stopped working two days later.  //  The watch which I gave her stopped working two days later.
B10: His mother warned Peter not to leave the door unlocked. //  Peter’s mother warned him not to leave the door unlocked. // Peter was warned not to leave the door unlocked by his mother. // Peter was warned by his mother not to leave the door unlocked.
B11: By the time we get to the theatre, the play will have (already) begun.
B12: My sister used to eat a lot of sweets when she was a child.// When she was a child / As a child, my sister used to eat a lot of sweets. // When my sister was a child, she used to eat a lot of sweets.
 

Road towards success in the new PAU (Selectivity exam)

Rewrite the following sentences without changing the original meaning and using the words in brackets: 

a) I should have started working on the project last month. (if only)
b) When I play football, I feel very happy. (makes)
c) “I won’t go to that boring party,” said Nick. (refused)
d) First, David wrote his mother an email, and then he apologised for his behaviour. (after)
 

Complete the following sentences to report what was said.
 

e) “What is he going to do to relax?” Sue asked me.


Rephrase the sentence beginning with the words given.
 

f) They are building a new high-technology hospital in my town.    A new high-technology ... .
 

 

 Here's my musical hint for today:  Moment of Glory by Scorpions (classic). And now here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along.

 



 

 Solution to the exercises in the previous post:

 

1.   Jane may/might visit Switzerland next year. 2. I may/might take Spanish lessons. 

3.   They must be home by now.   4. James can't be eighteen yet!  

5. The weather may/might be sunny tomorrow.   6. She must be at home. 

7. It can't be Janet - She's in America.   8. She must think I'm stupid. 

9.  I must look silly in this coat.   

10. They're always buying new cars. They must have a lot of money.  

 

 

 

 


 

Here are some more activities for my students:



Alejandro Toledo's interview - Peru - #HUMAN

 


 






 

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



Learn English with Disney's Luca    

 

Let's watch Wallace and Gromit in    A Close Shave    

  


 

 


 


 
 
 Roland Garros 2025 
 - Doubles winners   /   Women's final     
Djokovic vs Zverev  >>>    Semi-finals  (Álcaraz vs Musetti/ Sinner-Djokovic) >>> FINAL Sinner vs Álcaraz  (Full match)


 


 

 

Here are some activities for my students in 3º ESO... 

Activity on the Reader Close Shave

You have read the book. Now you are going to watch the film. Take notes during the film of words and expressions that may be useful for you later.

You will have to write an email to Albert, your teacher, telling him:

End the email wishing nice summer holidays.


You will be able to use your textbook and all the dictionaries and books available in the Language Department. Don't try to cheat by talking to your classmates or using any digital appliance.

 

A good example:


Hello, Albert!

I hope you're doing well. I wanted to tell you what I think about the book "A Close Shave". For me the book was not difficult to read. The vocabulary was easy to understand, and the story was fun. Sometimes I had to check some words, but in general it was alright.

   The story is about Wallace and his dog Gromit. They have a machine that washes windows. Wallace meets a sheep named Shaun and a woman called Wendolene. There is a nasty robot that wants to steal sheep. Gromit is in danger, but in the end they stop the robot and save the sheep.

I liked the story because it was funny and exciting. I really liked the characters, especially Gromit, because he is smart and brave. I didn't like the robot dog because it was scary. Also, I prefer happy endings, and this one was perfect!

See you soon and I hope you'll enjoy your summer holidays,

Andrea 


               written by Andrea Romera Noguera (3º ESO B)

 

Here's a nice video to watch: 

YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE by the Toledo Bros (Fran & Martín Toledo 2º Bach / 3º ESO B)

 


 

 

 

martes, 3 de junio de 2025

Oh, no! The heat is on... again!



 

We've got two-season years!!! There is no longer a transition between the winter and the summer, or between the summer and winter. Where are our springs and winters? So here we go again with the first heat wave. 

 

And our 2º Bachillerato students have been studying, working, preparing... for the Selectivity exams that start to day around the clock!!!  I wish them all the best of lucks!!


 

The English We Speak: Around the clock  (BBC Learning English)



Here's the English exam they have done:  
June2025_Dollar princesses  

These are my proposed answers, although I haven't double-checked them....

A1- d  (lines 9-10)  A2- b  (line 14- who led....)   A3: True. Lines 6-7: "However,... mansions"   

A4: False. Lines 10-11: "Since the American ... nobility."   

A5: False. Lines 13-14: "Very often... heiresses,"

A6: True. Lines 21-22: "her great-granddaughter ... the British throne. "

A7.1: roots (line 17)   A7.2: mocked (line 16)    A8.1: remodeled (line 16)   A8.2: gambling (line 19) 

USE OF ENGLISH

B1: If I had been sure, I would have told you.
B2: The laundry isn’t dry enough to be taken off the clothesline.
B3: I’d/ I would rather not go on the field trip.
B4: They aren’t allowed to leave the class without the teacher ́s permission.
B5: I think it’s time they went home/ I think it ́s time for them to go home
B6: Manuel is considered to be an expert on manga.


B7: `Why is Lisa so curious about stick insects?’ he wondered.
B8: How about going to Scotland next summer for a vacation?
B9: Alice gave up smoking three months ago.
B10: Anna sometimes gets gardenia bouquets delivered by Urban Flora.
B11: Dimitri speaks/ can speak English better than Alina
B12: Unless Masha gets top marks in the exam, she will be disappointed.
 

 

 

 

 Here's my musical hint for today:  The heat is on by Glenn Frey. And now here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along.

 

 

 


Here are some activities for my students:

 

1º ESO       Simple Past IRREGULAR VERBS  


3º ESO    Exercises on Reported Speech    


 


 

 Solution to the exercises in the previous post:

 

1.   Jane may/might visit Switzerland next year. 2. I may/might take Spanish lessons. 

3.   They must be home by now.   4. James can't be eighteen yet!  

5. The weather may/might be sunny tomorrow.   6. She must be at home. 

7. It can't be Janet - She's in America.   8. She must think I'm stupid. 

9.  I must look silly in this coat.   

10. They're always buying new cars. They must have a lot of money.  

 

 

 


 

Here are some more activities for my students:


Cameron's interview - CANADA - #HUMAN

 




 

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



Learn English with Spongebob    -   Best Scenes


 

 

 


 
 
 Roland Garros 2025 -  Jannik Sinner vs Andrey Rublev / vs Bublik and Carlos Álcaraz vs Tommy Paul / Ben Shelton       

 

 


viernes, 4 de octubre de 2024

What if you start working now instead of just biding your time?


 

We are all eager to learn about the new Selectivity exam. Meanwhile, you should start working before it is too late.

 

Here's a quizz for my students in 1º ESO!! >>> How to say the time in English   

 

My students in 3º ESO can tell me about what they can do to have the best mark in English this year using the MODAL VERBS we are studying at the moment.


Solutions to the exercises in the previous post.....

 

17. WORD ORDER

Put the following words in the correct order to make a meaningful sentence.

Use the words in the box to make a meaningful sentence.

 

1.

SAY IS DISAGREES PEOPLE THAT UNROMANTIC SOME DATE CHARLES  DETECTOR BUT THE

 

Charles disagrees the date detector is unromantic, but some people say that.

2.

THEY TEN AFTER DIFFICULT BEEN A EXPERIENCE CHALLENGING HAD WEEKS FELT IT AND

 

 After weeks they felt it had been a difficult and challenging experience.

3.

AND WERE MASKS CARRYING MEN THE GUNS HALLOWEEN WEARING BOTH

 

 The men were wearing Halloween masks and carrying guns.

4.

WHO TEENAGERS MISS CRIME BRITISH LESSONS COMMIT TO LIKELY SERIOUS A ARE

 

 British teenagers who miss lessons are likely to commit a serious crime.

5.

HER BE REALLY WANTS DAUGHTER SHE TO

 

 She really wants to be her daughter.

6.

GLAD TO ARE MARRIED TO  BE YOU WE HEAR SOON ARE GOING

 

 We are glad to hear you are going to get married soon.

7.

? MEET TO SHE HAVE MAN WHY DID WRONG THE

 

 Why did she have to meet the wrong man?

8.

WAS OWN SHE IN HER  EXPRESSING LOVED WORDS HIM WAS SHE THAT

 

 She was expressing in her own words that she loved him.

9.

AND LISTEN NOT AT ME STARE THE DO YOURSELF TEACHER TO

 

 Do not stare at me and listen to the teacher yourself.

10.

SO TERRIFIED I HEIGHTS OF MOUNTAIN AM CLIMBING NEVER HAVE TRIED I  A

 

 I am so terrified of heights I have never tried climbing a mountain

11.

A AGO A YEARS HARLEM PLACE GO WOULD TAXIS WHERE FEW WAS NOT

 

 Harlem was not a place where taxis would go a few years ago.

12.

TO TRY YOU MAY FROM DANGERS NOT THEY TO PROTECT THAT EXIST

 

 They try to protect you from dangers that may not exist.

13.

DRUG IS SHE NOT DEALERS ABOUT COMPLAINING

 

 She is not complaining about drug dealers.

14.

HE KNOWLEDGE OF USE AGE AT TWELVE IN DECIDED MAKE THE COMPUTERS TO HIS OF

 

At the age of twelve he decided to make use of his knowledge in computers.

15.

CAN OWN EXCITING BEING BOSS BE YOUR

 

 Being your own boss can be exciting.

16.

OF BECAME HE FAMOUS BECAUSE FILM THIS

 

 He became famous because of the film.

17.

HE STUDYING EXAM LOT DESPITE A FAILED IMPORTANT THAT

 

 Despite studying a lot he failed that important exam.

18.

A TOP AS BECKHAM RESULT PLAYERS EARNED LIKE HAVE MONEY MUCH

 

 As a result top players like Beckham have earned much money.

19.

BUY CODE HAS BAR TODAY A EVERYTHING IT ON WE

 

 Everything we buy today has a code bar on it.

20.

SURVIVED WORKERS SHE WARMED SLOWLY RESCUE HER VERY BECAUSE

 

 She survived because rescue workers warmed her very slowly.

21.

RIDE MEASURES COWBOYS SAFETY TO THESE USED HORSES WITHOUT

 

 Cowboys used to ride horses without these safety measures.

22.

AT THE MELISSA DOES STARTING BOTTOM MIND NOT

 

 Melissa does not mind starting at the bottom.

23.

THEM TO WORLD THE IMPOSSIBLE IS IMAGINE IT WITHOUT

 

 It is impossible to imagine the world without them.

24.

THE MIGHT IN KNIGHT HAVE A BEEN AGES MIDDLE YOU

 

 In the middle ages you might have been a knight.

25.

BOAT TO ONLY SWIM COULD IF I THE

 

 If only I could swim to the boat.

 

Rewrite these sentences using a different structure buy saying the same (sometimes the beginnings of your sentences are given):

1. My brother used to play handball when he was at school.

2. Melissa is going to go to Malaysia next summer.

3. She is flying on 2nd June.

4. Horoscopes are not written by astronomers.

5. Cervantes is said to have been buried in a monastery in Madrid.

6. I did my best in the exam, but I didn't pass.

7. Who normally does the shopping in your family?

8. I don’t know your choice.

9. If he had got up earlier, he wouldn't have been late for work.

10. Ricky said that he wanted to buy new plants for his garden.


 

Road towards success in the Selectivity exam.....

Talking about the Conditionals  (I wish - Ojalá / If only... - Si al menos)

 

Complete each of the sentences in such a way that it means the same as the sentence before it.

1. I didn't do the homework.  If only I ............ the homework.
2. They have committed a crime and now they have to face justice.
They wish they ………………… a crime.
3. This kid is so stubborn.   I wish this kid …………………… so stubborn.
4. He never does any household chores. I'm sick and tired of it.
I wish he …………………… some household chores.
5. Jason doesn't pay much attention in class.
If only Jason …………………… more attention in class.
6. Why doesn't he stop smoking? There are other people in the room who don't smoke.    If only he …………………… smoking.
7. I've got a splitting headache.   I wish I …………………… a splitting headache.
8. He signed the contract without reading the small print.
He wishes he …………………… the small print before signing the contract.
9. Steve didn't propose to Isabel when he should have. Now Isabel is in Australia.
Steve wishes he …………………… to Isabel earlier.
10. She was told off because she didn't do what her mother had asked her.
She wishes she …………………… what her mother had asked her.
11. He always belches loudly after eating. It's such a disgusting habit.
I wish he …………………… loudly after eating.
12. She didn't heed my warnings. That's why she lost everything.
If only she …………………… my warnings.

  



 

The London to Edinburgh challenge: Episode 4: Shopping (BBC Learning English)


 






Here are some activities for you to do:

 

Here are some articles for you to read about water problems:



 

 Here's my musical hint for today:  The Fighter by Keith Urban ft. Carrie Underwood. Here's a version with the lyrics for you to check!


 

 

 

 

 

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



Learn English with Toy Story 3  - Meet Lotso the Bear

 

 

 



 

Álcaraz bided for his time in Beijing while playing against Sinner and he succeeded!!!

 

Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz For The Title! 🏆 | Beijing 2024 Final Highlights