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:

• The Reading Room:   How can restaurants earn a Michelin star?  (BBC Learning English)  

• 
  

  Real Easy English: Talking about ANIMALS  (BBC Learning English)  

  
  

• The Pronounciation Lounge: How to use word stress  (BBC Learning English) 

• English in a Minute: Phrases with CARDS  (BBC Learning English) 

     

 

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.

 

 

 

English with Lucy: Never use THE with these common words  

 

 

 

"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.

Heading for the new school year

 In less than a month we will be starting our new school year. How do you feel? Eager or anxious?

First, let's check the different meanings of HEAD (English in a Minute, BBC Learning English). Can you tell me the exact meaning of 'head' in the title of this blog post?

Secondly, can you tell me the difference between 'eager' and 'anxious'? Watch this video and check!

A listening exercise for you to do: Do you have eco-anxiety?  (BBC Learning English)

Teacher wellbeing: how to mentally prepare for a new school year (The Guardian)

Back to school: Pupils head back to class (BBC News)

 

DAY ELEVEN

SUMMER REVISION  >>  Activities for my students in 1º ESO:

• MODAL VERBS (ToLearnEnglish) - Can, Must or Should?
  
• Adverbs of manner (Test-English)
  
• Who says these questions? A ticket seller at a bus station or a passenger? 

  a) How much does a ticket cost?    b) Can I help you?     c) Where's the bus stop?    d) When's the next bus?     e) How often does the bus run?    f) Woud you like a ticket?    g) Which bus do I take?

 Complete the dialogue with the previous questions?  

A: ____     B: Yes, please. I'd like to go to the beach.  _____    A: Bus 345 goes to the beach.   B: ____    A: Every twenty minutes.    B: I see.  ____     A: In ten minutes.    B: ___     A: It's £5 ____    B: Yes, please. _____   A. It's right over there. Have a good trip!

And remember that all the activities proposed will be compiled in my site: Summer Revision for 1º ESO

Here are some activities for you to do: 

• 

  News Review: Green flights? IMPOSSIBLE  (BBC Learning English)
  

• A listening exercise for you to do: Finding your way in space  (BBC Learning English)

• English in a Minute: Learn the different uses of the preposition FOR  (BBC Learning English)

• Learn how to speak naturally:  How to tell a story  (BBC Learning English)

The English We Speak Be in with a shout (BBC Learning English)

 

HIGHWAY TO B2.....

 

TEST YOUR ENGLISH

A. Choose the correct option.

21. Just as the violinist began to play, one of the ......  on his violin broke     a. cords   b. tapes   c. strings   d. wires    e. cords

22. The little girl woke up screaming because she had had a  .....     a. daydream    b. nightmare  c. fantasy    d. vision     e. reverie  

23. John is going to ......   his examination in December.     a. make   b. prepare   c. take   d. enter    e. present   

24. Have you any .....  where you left your car keys?     a. knowledge     b. information   c. notion    d. idea   e. thought 

25. If you want to change the colour of these walls, they will need at least two ...... of paint.    a. layers   b. coverings   c. coats   d. sheets     e. covers  

26. The magistrate .....  the parents for not exercising proper control over the delinquent boy.    a. blamed    b. faulted   c. judged     d. accused     e. exposed  

27. I'dlike to  ...... the holiday arrangement once more before we leave  tomorrow.  a. go for   b. go over   c. go round  d. go about    e. go by   

28. Mr Brown always ..... his letters to his secretary as soon as he has opened his post.       a. answers    b. writes   c. copies     d. dictates     e. replies   

29. He made a note of the appointment in his ......    a. journal    b. diary   c. ledger   d. register  e. directory   

30. How ..... is your house from the station?    a. long      b. distant   c. near    d. far    e. close    

Answers to part one in the previous post...

A.     21. c   22. b   23. c    24. d   25. c   26. a   27. b   28. d   29. b  30. d 

 

   

Here's my musical hint for today: Back to School Again in the film Grease 2. You can have a look at the lyrics in this version with lyrics.

 

 

 

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

 Learn English with Michael Jackson's Beat It!  

 

 

He told me he hadn't done it.

But why?? He felt so anxious that he couldn't do it!!! However, anxiety can also be good for humans to evolve. It is obvious that if you can overcome anxiety, you will be much stronger after that experience, so anxiety is not that bad in the end!!! 

 

English in a minute: "In the end" vs "At the end"  

 

Here are some articles for you to read about the issue:

• Why Anxiety Can Be Good (Success magazine)

• Does stress help us succeed? (The Independent)

 

 

And now let's do this listening exercise: Evolution and anxiety (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English).

Let's talk about the Reported Speech. Can you tell me how it is also called? What is the opposite? Where do you usually find many examples of Reported Speech? Police questioning / interrogation could also be another typical situation.

What is the BACK SHIFT process? What is the opposite of 'back'? what does 'shift' mean? In which technological device can you find this word?

Have a look at previous posts in this blog. Labels: reported speech , Reported speech exercise 

 

For those of you sitting B1, B2... exams at the Official Language School, here's a piece of advice for you to bear in mind.

EOI MÁLAGA   >>>   Interesting pages to look up   (B1, B2... exams)

• Pruebas terminales de certificación  

• Ejemplos de pruebas realizadas   

 

 

Episode 11 - The Red-Eyed Giants

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 190515 / 15 May 2019    >>>  Love symbol hidden in masterpiece:   Language related to 'painting'.  Need-to-know language: restoring, varnish, painstaking  & stroke.