WE ARE MILLENIALS!!!

 

 

Yes, would you believe it? We are MILLENIALS!!!         

Nobody could have believed that when our digital trek set off 12 years ago, when this blog was born on 11^th March, 2011. Our students have worked along with me writing almost 25,000 comments!!!  and we are getting closer to 1 million visits!!! 

 

 

 

 

In this heart of darkness, which our world of education has become, we are going through with the only light of Our great master  Dr Neil McLaren in the distance, a summit we will never reach, but with our belief that Victory belongs to the most tenacious here we are still fighting!!!      

 

 

So now it is the turn of our students and followers (and even haters) to rate the usefulness of this virtual diary, where we have dealt with so many semantic fields. Many things have happened: study trips to the British-Irish Isles, highs and lows, a pandemic, wars, victories, defeats, moments of absolute joy, moments of deep sadness, catastrophes, victories and defeats... Nevertheless, all the posts had a point in common:  the relevance they all may have had in our teaching-learning process of the English language.

 

Along with my site, this digital tool was so relevant during the pandemic. I feel really proud of our tenacity and resilience to keep this DIGITAL DREAM alive and I do hope that it was the seed for your own blogs and sites!!! But remember you have to water the seed and then the plant so as to be succesful, always being as flexible as water so as to overcome all difficulties you come across and to adapt to the most diverse situations.

 

 

Generation Comparison (1901-2024)

 

 

As well, with the word 'millenial' we make reference to those people who were born between the early 1980s and the late 1990s, that is, a member of the Generation Y. Actually, I, the author of this blog, am a babyboomer, who is someone born between the late 1940s and the 1960s, the years after the Second World War, when there was a high increase in the birthrate, whilst most of my students and readers of this blog belong to the Gen Z. ( Gen Z to take over )

 

With regard to 'baby boomers' (actually, I'm one of them myself) not long ago I read this: "America's healthcare costs are expected to soar as baby boomers become senior citizens". Here are a couple of newspaper articles to read about the issue: 

 

Aging baby boomers raise the risk of a long-term-care crisis in the U.S. (CNBC)

Baby boomers 'should work for longer to stay healthy' (The Guardian)

 

Fast Facts About Baby Boomers | History

 

 

 

Homework for my students  (Your comments will be sort of pieces of advice for future students with Albert):

• 1º ESO.- Using MODAL VERBS write a comment telling people what to do if they are in 1º ESO with Albert and want to pass English.

Example: You must do your homework everyday and you should write genuine comments.

• 4º ESO.- Write a comment using the REPORTED SPEECH saying what Albert told you at the beginning of the school year and now that the school year is coming to an end what has happened using the 3 types of CONDITIONAL SENTENCES.

Example: Albert told us to study everyday and we didn't. If we had studied every day, we would have had better marks in English.

 

 

Some other activities for you to do: 

• News Review: Can diet improve memory?  (BBC Learning English)
  

• A listening exercise for you to do: Is ecotourism good or bad?  (BBC Learning English) 

• English in a Minute: How to use 'POTENTIAL'  (BBC Learning English)

• The English We Speak:  Level up  (BBC Learning English)

 

 

🏆 Kings of Europa League! Sevilla's post-match scenes & trophy lift | UEL 22/23 Moments

 

 

 

   

Here's my musical hint for today: Father & Son by Yusuf / Cat Stevens. Here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along!! And this is a playlist you may like: Great Baby Boomer Songs.

 

 

And this is one of the most beautiful presents I have ever received from one of my students:

Thanks, Amin!

And if you are a new student with Albert, here's a form to fill in with all your personal data:

Fill in the form, please. Send me a photograph to my e-mail if you don't like the one taken in class.  

My e-mail:  albertomeditutor@gmail.com

Thank you very much.

Albert.

Unstoppable!!

 

 Yes, this is how we saw Álcaraz last week in Barcelona and how some of my students may feel now that we are coming to the end of the school year. "Unstoppable, invincible, powerful, confident...", as the singer Sia says in her song. However, we should always be humble when facing important challenges in life.

 

 

Never stop learning: How to learn English with ChatGPT  & ChatGPT for language teachers     

Master English with ChatGPT - A Step-by-Step Guide to Language Learning    

   

Here's my musical hint for today: Unstoppable by Sia. Here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along!! 

 

 

 

 

Some activities for you to do: 

• The English We Speak: under your breath  (BBC Learning English)
  

• A listening exercise for you to do: Why is life so hard for women in politics?  (BBC Learning English) 

• English in a Minute: How to use 'ADDRESS'  (BBC Learning English)

• Learn how to speak naturally:  How to borrow something  (BBC Learning English)

 

 

Some more activities for my students:

• 1º ESO - What do you need to feel 'unstoppable' when learning English and having a good mark? Using the modal verbs learned in unit 5 write a comment in the affirmative and the negative to tell us how you do it and if you have any doubts, you can also ask some questions for advice.

Example: You must write your comments as soon as possible. You can read the voluntary book for the third term. You should not leave everything to the last minute. Can you record a video sketch to improve your mark? Must you hand in all the writing exercises? Should I study every day?

• 1º ESO - What is your favourite sport? Explain the rules.

Example: My favourite sport is tennis. I can play tennis in Salobreña sports facilities. I can't play tennis with my left hand. You must train very hard to become a good player. You mustn't bring your pet to the tennis court, but it can stay outside. You should bring enough tennis ball to play and you shouldn't forget to call a friend to play with you.

My doubts: Can you play alone? Yes, if there is a wall. Must your tennis racket be very expensive to play well? No, it is not necessary. You can start with a cheap one. Should I wear a cap? Yes, if it is summer and it is very warm.

Tennis: Carlos Álcaraz defeating Tsitsipas at 🏆 | Godó 2023 Final Highlights, but the best match was against fellow Spaniard Davidovich Fokina!!!   

and here's young Carlos Alcaraz and Holge Rune playing together doubles   

 

Learning to fly

 Every time I start with a group in the level of 1º ESO, it is a sort of a challenge for me. They come to me and they know barely anything about English and about how to learn a language, so I have to go back to square one and start from the very beginning.

 

 

This is what happened again this year in September and it is now in February when I have the feeling that things are beginning to go better and better. I believe this learning process must be similar to the one birds follow when they want to learn how to fly. Later it will come the time when they leave the nest to carry on with their lives.

   

So, my musical hint for today will be the song by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Learning to Fly . Here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along!!

 

 

 

Some activities for you to do: 

• Learn how to speak English naturally: How to show you've taken offence  (BBC Learning English)
  

• English in a Minute: 5 common uses of 'while'  (BBC Learning English) 

• The English We Speak: Steal someone's thunder  (BBC Learning English)

• News Review:  'Burnout': Jacinda Andern resigns  (BBC Learning English) 

• A listening exercise for you to do:  Doomscrolling: Why do we do it? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

 

 

Papa English teaches us how to express when you feel "Annoyed" at different levels...

 

 

And our students at school at work... 

Project on A Christmas Carol by José Carlos Escribano (4º ESO A)

 

 

 

"Order!!!"

Times are really rough at the Houses of Parliament in the UK (What will happen after the vote on May's Brexit deal?  - The Independent) and there are angry discussions every now and then. So, the Speaker Mr Bercow has to intervene in order to calm down the MPs in the House of Commons.

Some questions about vocabulary and other matters:

- Which famous building are the Houses of Parliament next to?

- Which river passes by?

- What is the PM and what's his name? And an MP?  and why do we use the indeterminate article 'an' in front of MP if it begins with a consonant?

- What does the expression 'every now and then' mean?

- What does the Speaker do?

- You have the House of Commons. Have you got anything else? (the Two-House system)

And now here are some videos for you to watch:

Funny moments in the House of Commons   

This Man Keeps Parliament In 'Order' Amidst Brexit Chaos | All In | MSNBC

Bercow goes beast mode  

 

 

Amid Brexit Chaos, E.U. Sees a 'Catastropphic Success' (The New York Times) 

 

Talking seriously every time I come across matters such as Brexit, Catalonia..., they all remind me of the great poet John Donne and his words: "No Man is an Island". Do you know what he really meant?

Watch this too:  1    And the novel For Whom The Bells Toll written by Ernest Hemingway about our Spanish Civil War. He's trailer to film made based on this novel starred by Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman >>>   

 

 

Here's another video about the problem of unemployment in Spain:

Family struggles as Spain unemployment hits new high   

  

And now two interesting things for you to bear in mind if you are learning English:

• Watch TV series according to your level: LINK   

• EL PAÍS and its first podcast in English:  https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/01/17/podcast_las_noticias_de_el_pais/1547711182_622822.html

HIGHWAY TO B1.....

Part four. Look at the picture and read the questions. The picture will help you to answer the questions. Choose the correct option: 

31. Most evenings he helps ....  some fish.    (A  to himself   B  him to    C  himself to   D  to him)

32. He can take one  ........ he likes.    (A  all the time    B  whichever  C  whenever    D   the times )

33. After all, it is ........ shop.     ( A  himself his      B   his own     C  he owns   D  owning his )

34. But Mr Talbot .......... eels home for his supper.    (A  takes not    B   never takes no   C  not takes  D  never takes) 

35. People think that eels look ....... water snakes.    (A  as   B  being   C  like   D  same as) 
36. ........ they don't fancy them, they stare at them in fish shops.    (A  Although    B  Since   C  If    D  Therefore) 
37. They seem .........  by them.   (A  fascinating    B   to fascinate   C  to be fascinated   D   to be fascinating) 
38. Eels are sold .............      (A  lives    B  live   C  living   D  lived) 
39. If the rain keeps up, Mr Talbot .... to buy himself half an umbrella.      (A   has      B  will have     C   will be having      D  will have had) 
40. Perhaps he ........  wiser to take one step to his left.      (A  can be     B   has been    C  had been   D  would be)

Solutions to PART THREE in the previous post.

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


What will happen to trade between the world and the UK after the Brexit???

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 190116 / 16 January 2019    >>>  Frozen in time: Inside London's ice well  (Discovering London's history) -  Language related to 'Trade'.  Need-to-know language: supplying, sourced locally, imported, distributed & commercial.

Top 10 Greatest Championship Points in Tennis History

VI Study trip to the British-Irish Isles: EDINBURGH (Easter 2017)

We will be having our ZERO meeting next Monday, 11th April, in the Language Department during the break just to give you a rough idea of our proposal. Those students who have never participated in any of our experiences are welcomed!!!

   

EDINBURGH (FIRST PROPOSAL)

 

 

 

Have a look at the photos taken during our I Study trip to British-Irisn Isles in 2012  >>>

 

 

 

 

  And this is the video J. Luis Fernández (our Philosophy teacher) made for the occasion:

And here is the one made by ACTIVE GLOBAL ENGLISH HOUSE:

 

 

GRANTS for 1º & 2º ESO students >>> the opportunity of your life!!!

It could be the opportunity of your life!!!

BECAS PARA 1º y 2º ESO

  Desde el 30 de marzo, y hasta el 15 de abril, se encuentra abierto el plazo para solicitar participar en un Programa de Inmersión Lingüística en colonias de vacaciones, organizado por el Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte.

            Se trata de una convocatoria dirigida a alumnado matriculado en Primero y Segundo de E.S.O. durante el presente curso 2015/2016 en centros sostenidos con fondos públicos, que haya obtenido, como mínimo, notable como nota media del curso 2014-2015, así como notable como nota final en la asignatura de inglés en el mismo curso, y que no haya sido beneficiario de la ayuda en convocatorias anteriores.

            Se puede acceder a toda la información en el Texto de la Convocatoria, así como en la Corrección de errores a la misma.

            Asimismo en los siguientes enlaces de la sede electrónica del Ministerio se puede acceder a más información, así como a la Inscripción online:

Programa de Inmersión lingüística en colonias de vacaciones. 1º ESO
Programa de Inmersión lingüística en colonias de vacaciones. 2º ESO

​            Por tratarse de una Convocatoria del Ministerio, las consultas sobre el procedimiento pueden realizarse por cualquiera de los medios que se encuentran en la página de Información administrativa​

​ de éste.​

STUDY TRIP 2017: Cambridge or Edinburgh????

After our success with our V Study trip to the British Isles: Dublin, we are already thinking about next year.

Click on FEEDBACK FORM about our study trip to fill it in and on  REPORT to read the report your teachers Mª Ángeles and Alberto have written about our experience: STUDY TRIP TO UK : DUBLIN 2016. Then have a look at this post to see our proposal for our VI Study trip to the British Isles (2017)

We've got two options in mind: London and Edinburgh, but remember that if we go to one place this year, next year we will go the other one.

Once we decide our destination, I will ask for updated prices of the two options.

Let's see the advantages and disadvantages (and remember you can watch all the photos and videos we made):

>>> CAMBRIDGE (you've got loads of information about our previous experience in 2013 in my site and in this blog in STUDY TRIP TO UK & VIAJE DE ESTUDIOS)

INFORME de los profesores  sobre la experiencia

The cost of the trip the last time we were there: 600€ course + 200€ flight tickets (more or less) + 20€ (bus) = 820€ (it includes trip to London = train to London and day ticket in London)

+ We know the school and the place
+ Many things to see and visit

- Some of our students were there last year and three years ago.
- Five years ago we weren't very lucky with the weather, but the photos we took there and in London with the snow were incredible.

>>> EDINBURGH (you've got loads of information in my site and in this blog in STUDY TRIP TO UK & VIAJE DE ESTUDIOS) 

INFORME  de los profesores J. Luis y Alberto sobre la experiencia: VIAJE DE ESTUDIOS A EDIMBURGO 2012

+ Quite useful for those students  who have read Braveheart.
+ We know the school and we've got a lot of information about everything we can do (visit to Stirling and its castle).
+ There are plenty of things to do in the city. It is full of history, literature and excitment.
+ You can read our diary and the school offers the possibility of different activities to do in the evening (disco, games room...)
+ We were 5 years ago, so none of our students have been there.

- We had some problems with accomodation, but I believe it was due to external causes, so the Spanish agency working for us has promised us that we wouldn't have this problem this time.
- A much bigger city than Cambridge so the students would perhaps be more scattered around, with regard to the host families.
- Five years ago we were extremely lucky with the weather, but it is usually colder and worse than in Cambridge.

So you can make your comments, adding advantages and disadvantages and telling me which destination you would choose. 

IT IS UP TO YOU!!!

New That's English has just been completed!!!!

GOOD NEWS for those who are preparing for the B2!!!!

They have just uploaded all the brand New That's English episodes (Module 12) onto YOUTUBE. You've got all the links on my site, as well as some other most useful information (such as video tutorials of how to work on the e-platform, links to the That's English official site...)

 

albertomeditutor - NEW THAT'S ENGLISH 

 

 

Complete Module 11 of New That's English course & notes

 

On the way for the B2!!!

I have already uploaded a complete chart with all the links to every episode onto my site 

And remember that you can look up the contents in the NEW THAT'S ENGLISH NOTES page.

At the moment they are already broadcasting episodes of Module 12 on TVE2. You can also watch them here: RTVE/alacarta/videos/thats-english

What to eat or not to eat? that is the question!!!

Nowadays there are many food allergies and sometimes we don't feel well just because we have an allergy to certain kind of food.

Listening exercise to do: Are we afraid of food? (BBC 6 Minute English)







 

Have you ever seen the sitcom THE BIG BANG THEORY? Well, what is Leonard allergic to? Watch this and you'll discover it.

And what about Wolowitz?

And if you want to learn more English, here's: THE BIG BANG THEORY (English subtitled)

A couple of articles to read about the issue:

• Food allergy and intolerance self-diagnosis (BBC, health)

• Leave it out: are food intolerances fact or fad? (The Guardian)

FAST FOOD crossword to do!!!

BRAND NEW EPISODES OF NEW THAT'S ENGLISH UPLOADED

I have just uploaded two new modules of the New That's English course onto my site:  MODULE 7   &  MODULE 8.

You can't miss it!!!  It is a great opportunity, specially for our advanced students preparing for the B2.

And some other material found (check here: site):

• ANGLO-SAXON: The history of English   (History of Language 1943)   subtitled version  
• BBC History of English Language: 1    2     3    4     5    6    7   8  
• The true history of English food       ,    A People's History Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 1 - Documentary  ,    A People's History Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 2 - Documentary  ,    Food Paradise Spain: Full Documentary [1]  
• History of Britisth literature