Human speeches

 

Last week I came across with these HUMAN stories and I think they are worthwhile listening to them.

 

Francine's interview - FRANCE - #HUMAN

 

I was so captivated by these human speeches that I decided to use them in my blog with the intention of making my students conscious of what is really important in life and how people can be really influenced by real human stories apart from Tiktokers or Youtubers or whatever we have in social media.

 

Listening to these ordinary people you will discover how differently many people surrounding us behave. People who are supposedly our leaders and who have the power in their hands, with thousands of supporters or followers. It is up to us to decide who deserves our attention and interest.

 

Road towards success in the new PAU (Selectivity exam)

 

Some revision exercises:

8. Fill in the blanks with SO, SUCH or SUCH A,and then put the verb in brackets in the correct tense :

1. The apples were ________ good ones that we (EAT) ________ them all.

2. I had ________ many things to do that I (SLEEP) ________ in my office.

3. It was ________ rainy day that I (NOT GO OUT) __________ .

4. George was ________ liar that we (PAY) ________ no attention to his words.

How would you rephrase these sentences?

 

9. RELATIVE CLAUSES . Insert the second clauses into the first ones :

1. The milkman comes at ten o'clock every day.He got married last week.

2. I went to that supermarket.Your sister works there.

3. Mr Smith works with that man.I saw that man at your house.

4. She works with John.His sister is my neighbour.

5. I've just bought a horse.It won theGrand National eight months ago.

 

10. Put the following sentences into Indirect Speech :

1. "I'm going out now, but I'll be here by nine", he said.

2. "Who has been using my typewriter", my mother asked me.

3. "Do you want me to study this lesson?", the student asked the teacher.

4. "Don't come next Tuesday, please!", we told her.

5. "I'm leaving tomorrow, because my parents and yours will arrive this evening", she told you.

 

11. Put the following sentences into the ACTIVE VOICE :

1. His name was called out. ______________________________

2. The message had not been delivered. ____________________

3. Some songs will be sung. _____________________________

 

 

As you know, I'm very keen on music, but honestly I don't like the Eurovision contest at all. Actually, I haven't seen it for years and, apart from the music style,  I believe it is a fake musical contest. Again this year the event is said to have been a complete masquerade. Here are some articles for you to read about the issue:

Eurovision 2025: Austria wins with last-minute vote, as the UK comes 19th (BBC News)

Eurovision winner did not take cocaine (DW)

Fraud at Eurovision? 'Irregular' jury points from six countries had to be recalculated (The Brussels Times)

Eurovision song contest: Fears over text voting system (The Guardian)

 

 

And remember the case of Spain some years ago with Chikilicuatre, who we had one of the best results in the latest years with:

Your thoughts on Chikilicuatre - Baila El Chiki Chiki (Spain 2008)

 

Here are some more activities to make my students stronger:

• Prepositions with Georgie:   Prepositions of MOVEMENT  (BBC Learning English)  
  

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  English in a MINUTE: Verbs to use with TRIP  (BBC Learning English)  

• Listening exercise for you to do: Which cooking oil is the best?  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English) 
  

• Learn English from the News:   Weight-loss drugs reduce cancer risk, study finds  (BBC Learning English) 

 

 

English with Lucy sets a grammar test for us!!!

 

 

Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer - Roland Garros 2011 - Full match , Men's Final.             

 

 

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

Learn English with Troy  - Epic movie with Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom   

 

 

 

 

 Rome 2025 -  Semi-finals  and final between Álcaraz vs Sinner   

 

 

 

 

Still time..., but with the right attitude

 

 

As I have already told you, and due to certain circumstances, our final (and definitive) term already started last week. Anyhow, there is still time to achieve our goals but if we work with the right attitude (the can-do attitude).

 

The English We Speak: Can-do attitude (BBC Learning English)

 

You may say this is just a dream or a fairy tale, but I can give you the example of one of my students in 1º ESO, who had done nothing during the school year so far. We decided to move it to another group and here's a new student full of energy and willing to learn and to achieve goals. In German they say: "Können ist Wollen" (you can if you wish it).

 

Can you learn English without studying?  >>>  English learning tips    

 

    

Quizz: Grammar challenge (BBC Learning English)

 

 

 

 Here's my musical hint for today:  Yes we can (remastered version) by the Pointer Sisters. And now here are 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:

 

131.I’m sure she’s telling lies.   - She

132.The teenager in red has broken the window.   - The window

133.In my opinion, taking some exercise would be good for you.   - You

134.The teacher didn’t tell us the answer.   - We

135.I last visited London fifteen years ago.   - I haven’t

136.She asked me: “What time does your party start?”     - She asked

137.Will you close the door when you leave, please?    - Do you mind

138.We bought our tickets on the Web because it was much cheaper.   - Since

139.Albert is coming back from hospital tomorrow. He has just broken his ankle.   - Albert

140.“How much is this T-shirt?”, she asked.   - She asked

 

 

Solution to the exercises in the previous post

 

Rephrasing

 

121. (Reported Speech)   - The man ordered us to keep off the grass.

122. (Passive)    - I wasn’t told the secret.

123. (Modals)    - They must be at home because the lights are on.

124. (Conditionals)    - If I hadn’t forgotten Beth’s telephone number, I would have invited her.

125. (Relative Clauses)    - Shakespeare, who was a famous writer, wrote beautiful sonnets.

126. (Connector)    - The dog woke up because/ when someone knocked at the door.

127. (Wish)    - I wish you could come along.

128. (Comparatives)   - Apples are cheaper than bananas. / Apples aren’t as expensive as bananas.

129. (Contrast connector)     - Although she is (very) beautiful, she doesn’t have a boyfriend.

130. (Verbal tenses)    - I haven’t had flu for five years.

 

 

Here are some activities for you to do:

• Learning English from the News:   50% adults overweight or obese by 2050: Global study  (BBC Learning English)
  

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  The Pronounciation Lounge: seat vs sit – /i:/ vs /ɪ/  (BBC Learning English)  

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

• A listening exercise for you to do:   The country that measures happiness  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)
  

 

Here are some articles to read about the issue of  OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY in adults:

• Over 50% of adults worldwide predicted to be obese or overweight by 2050 (BBC News)

• More than half of adults worldwide will be overweight or obese by 2050 – report (The Guardian)

• By 2050, One in Two Adults Will Be Overweight or Obese (EMJ, European Medical Journal)

 

Lucy will teach you PERFECT English with unlimited speaking practice!

 

 

 

TED TALK  >>>  How to Achieve Your Most Ambitious Goals | Stephen Duneier | TEDxTucson 

 

 

 

 

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

Learn English with  Mind Your Language 3/3       

Roger Federer vs Rafael  Nadal: The Story of Fedal / Tribute  

 

 

Who in the hell do you think you are?

Here's a rough expression you should not really use unless you get so furious that you are about to explode. Anyway, this is a colloquial expression to be used in the context of a bar or among friends.

 

 

Sometimes you've got to take the rough way to make your students do what you think it is the best for them and the way you say it not because you are smarter than anyone, but because you have gone through these situations a thousand times. 

 

Don't worry! A time to chill out (let loose) will come soon but after achieving our goals. Here's a nice expression to learn regarding this. Tell me people, animals or other things you can let loose.

    

The English We Speak: Let loose (BBC Learning English)

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some activities for my students:

in 1º ESO on Comparatives and superlatives:   3  ,    4    ,   5  (as....as)

in 3º ESO on   FOR vs SINCE:   1  2   3 

 

 

 

 Here's my musical hint for today:  Ain't no mountain high enough by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrel. And now a version with the lyrics for you to sing along. 

 

 

And here's a movie clip from a famous film...

Stepmom (1998) - Ain't No Mountain High Enough Scene (6/10) | Movieclips

Road towards success in the new PAU (Selectivity exam)

 

Rephrase/Rewrite these sentences by using another suitable structure:

 

111.The meat was better than the fish.  - The fish

112.You can make green paint by mixing blue and yellow.   - Green paint

113.I have been playing the piano for twenty years.   - I started

114.I have English classes three times a week .   - ?

115.Sharon is going to marry a man. He is Eric’s brother.   - The man

116.“Why don’t we have dinner out tonight?” said Martin.   - Martin suggested

117.I didn’t open the door because I didn’t know it was you.   - If I

118.If you want my advice, go to the dentist!    - You

119.I forgot to post the letter.   - I didn’t remember

120.They say this tree is over 400 years old.   - This tree

 

Solution to the exercises in the previous post

 

Rephrasing

 

101. (Reported Speech) - The trainer told her to come back to the team.

102. (Question)  - Who drives 200 miles every day?

103. (Reported Speech)  - He asked where the robbery took place.

104. (Passive)  - Penicillin was discovered in 1928 by Fleming.

105. (Modal Verbs)  - You are not allowed to have a bicycle.

106. (Conditionals)  - If I knew her address, I would be able to write to her / I could write to her.

107.  There is a new magazine on the hall table.

108. (Question)  - Who lives next door?

109. (Reported Speech)  - She asked Sheila where her brothers were.

110. (Modal Verb)  - They may only open the museum in the morning.

 

Here are some activities for you to do:

• The pronunciation lounge:   The most common sound in English  /ə/  (BBC Learning English)
  

• 
  

  Learning English from the News: Is vaping as bad as smoking cigarettes?  (BBC Learning English)  

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

• A listening exercise for you to do:   A vaccine for cancer  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

   

   

   

  

 

 

 

 Some articles for you to read about the issue of vaping: 

• UK health expert raises alarm at vaping ‘epidemic’ among teenagers (The Guardian)

• Youth vaping: The impact of e-cigarette use in schools (BBC News)

• 

  WHO vaping report: Tobacco companies target kids (DW)
  

• Young people think vapes aren’t harmful because they are so easy to buy, study finds (The Guardian)

 

 

 

 

 

English with Lucy teaching us...

100 Small Talk Questions and Answers - Real English Conversation

 

 

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

Learn English with Disnwy movie UP   1   2    

Rafael Nadal: John McEnroe looks back at the story of Rafael Nadal / Groundbreakers / Eurosport Tennis (Epic)

Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal | Wimbledon 2008 | The Final in full

 

Leo Gómez (3º ESO B) presents his project on Ireland    

Tourist broucher de Leogomez