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

domingo, 20 de julio de 2025

And what about digital decluttering?

 


 

Two weeks ago we were talking about decluttering, but what about digital decluttering? Documents, bills, school notes, passwords, photos, videos... It is somehow a kind of tidying up your mind. 

 


Now read this article about the issue and tell me the key words related to this semantic field.

The 13-step digital declutter (The Guardian)

 

 

Some other articles for you to read about the issue:

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

The English We Speak:  Feel seen  (BBC Learning English)

 

 




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

Solutions to the exam...

1- d  (line 13)  2- b  (line 12)   

3: False (line 6) “(After that, we began to play competitively;) we would shout our scores at each other from our bedrooms.”

4: True (line 9) “I had an old-school TV in my room and played from an office chair (; my brother sat in an old rocking chair).”

5: False (lines 10-11) “Andy walked across the hall into my room and gave me a high five.”

6: False  (lines 13-14) “I usually play Tetris once a day, when school and homework are done.”

7.1: success (line 14)   7.2: hooked (line 3)    8.1: dethrone (line 5)   8.2: score (line 6)

9- d (line 1)   10- b (line 10)

11: False (line 6-7). “(For this reason, and with the primary objective of increasing inbound tourism to the island,) Hotel Rangá is searching for its first-ever official “lights catcher” (, a photographer who will spend a month capturing photos and videos of the night sky’s colours in exchange for room and food).” 

12: True (line 9) “The chosen photographer will receive airfare to and from Iceland (and must be available for three weeks from mid-September to mid-October).”

13: True (line 10) “The candidate must also have the ability to provide high-quality content (, of which the hotel will retain the license).”

14: True (lines 14-15) “Applicants also need to answer why they should become the hotel’s lights catcher.”

15.1: local (line 12)   15.2: additional (line 15)   16.1: roof (line 12)  16.2: speed (line 2) 

USE OF ENGLISH

17.1  were killed      17.2. lending      18.1  for     18.2 Whose

19. The CEO herself is evaluating the candidates.  

20. Something has to be done about it.

21. How far is the new urban farm from here?

22. The company (which / that) Lucy works for exports classic wine and Spanish ham.

23. I may have taken your résumé by mistake.

24. if I had a good job offer.

25. Even though the new app was really intuitive and user-friendly, I couldn’t get it installed.

26. Being rich does not necessarily make people spend more.

27. "I’ll call when I get home,’ John told me.

28. Tomorrow she is having her belly button pierced.

 
 
 

 


HIGHWAY TO B2.....


A. VOCABULARY. Here are some words connected with 'crime'. Match them with their appropriate definition. Two of them are synomyms, so they have the same definition.

cunning  ,   to cheat   ,    a trick   ,    to take someone in  ,  to betray   ,  

to deceive   ,    to pass yourself off as   ,   a crook


1. to make someone believe something that is not true   ____________________
2. a thief or dishonest person   __________________
3. to act like someone or something you are not   ___________________
4. to act dishonestly in order to gain an unfair advantage (especially in games, sports or exams) __________
5. clever in a dishonest way   _________________
6. an act done to confuse someone or sometimes to amuse   _______________
7. to be disloyal to a friend or to your country ________________

B. VOCABULARY. Complete these sentences with one of the words presented above.


1. Redford and Newman play the parts of two  ____________________ in the film.
2. He hasn't really been ill. He has __________________  you.
3. I read a story in the paper about a man who put on a white coat and managed to _____________  himself ____________ a doctor.
4. Animals such as foxes are famous for their ________________
5. Don't play cards with him. He always _________________
6. Don't let that woman   _______________  you  _____________ with all her lies.
7. The man who _______________ his country by giving away secrets was later hanged.
8. Magicians know all sorts of ________________, which they use to entertain people.

C. VOCABULARY. Complete these sentences with suitable prepositions.

1. Newman and Redford wanted to play a trick..........the gangster.
2. Redford wanted revenge ..........the murder of his friend.
3. They succeeded ...............their plan to cheat him.............with a great deal of money.
4. They did this...........passing themselves off as gamblers.
5. The gangster bet the money..............a horse race.
6. It's almost impossible.............times to understand exactly what is happening.
7. But............the end of the film, everything has become clear.
8. This film is probably one of the best...........its kind.
9. It's..............television again next week.
 

Solutions in the next post!!!!  

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

 

SUMMER REVISION  >>  Activities for my students in 3º ESO:
 

Revising the future tenses & the expression of quantity 

 

 

 

 Here's my musical hint to make your decluttering more enjoyable:  Something beautiful remains by Tina Turner. And now here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along.

 




 

Here are some more activities for my students:





Stephen's interview - AUSTRALIA - #HUMAN

 






 

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



Learn English with The MUMMY     

 

 

...and also with MIND YOUR LANGUAGE Season 1 Episode 8 Better To Have Loved And Lost  

  

sábado, 11 de junio de 2022

Valhalla awaits Rachnar!!

Like everything in life, all comes to an end. We are not inmortal. Rachnar went to Valhalla, Nadal will soon stop playing tennis and this year has been the last one your damned English teacher has taught in Bachillerato. Younger and stronger generations are to come and take the lead, as the normal process we find in any generational replacement. This is the so-called Circle of Life, which they referred to in The Lion King.

 

Years have been tough and I'm proud of the students I have had. I know everybody, students and me, could have done much better, but at least me, I tried my best. It is time just to fight smaller battles at ESO level, which are not so demanding, but perhaps more rewarding.  

 

 

Some activities for you to do: 

   

 


Ragnar Lothbrok: Odin awaits me in the halls of Valhalla!


Next week our students are facing the Selectivity exams and I would like to present you some articles, among many others, about the current situation, what is said and what is likely to come... 

 

 

I do hope our students do their best, but we all know we haven't been fair and the marks some have do not really reflect the reality. I guess it happens everywhere, but it is a situation I cannot cope with any longer. That is why I quit the bachillerato level for ever.





 

I MUST KEEP GOING - Powerful Motivational Speech on PERSPECTIVE (Featuring Marcus Elevation Taylor)

 


 

 


   

Like Christina Perri in her song I Believe (the film version), I do believe that one day we will all discover this great fake. Don't worry about me because, as it is said in the song, "this is not the end for me, this is the beginning". This is also how Nadal has overcome all the difficulties in life and his injuries!!! Here's a version with the lyrics for you to sing along!!

 


 

As well, this is not the end for you, either. It is just the beginning of new stage in your life and I wish you all the best. It's been a pleasure to work with you these long 6 years!!!

 

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

Episode 220511 / 11 May 2022    >>>   Pigs on patrol   -    Language related to 'farming'.  

Need-to-know language: scarecrow, harvest, crop, soil  & fertile.

 


WHY WE LOVE Rafael Nadal - The G.O.A.T Tribute (21 Grand Slams Special | Thank you, Rafa!)

 


John McEnroe tells us the true story behind the legend of Rafa Nadal!!


14 Roland Garros - How Rafael Nadal BROKE a Grand Slam (all French Open winners of the Open Era)

 

Our students at work...

Project about The Hound of the Baskervilles  by Sergio García (1º Bach A)


Project about  Cervantes Meets Shakespeare  by Raquel Peinado (1º Bach A)




jueves, 9 de julio de 2020

Time to bite the bullet!!


We are living very hard times with the Covid-19 pandemic, so it is time to bite the bullet (The English We Speak, BBC Learning English) and try to do something useful.

 


With regard to health, face masks are said to be essential to keep healthy (listening exercise: Should we wear a face mask? (6 Minute English, BBC learning English)






This summer we will be revising first the FUTURE TENSES with our 1º ESO students by having a look at this unit:

 

 
                               WE 💗 HOLIDAYS !!! 

(Click here to have access to the digital book: Cambridge University Press)


You will do exercises on page 94 and then try to translate this sentence into English: "¿Qué tiempo suele hacer en tu pueblo?" and answer it.

Let me know if you have any problems.

 

 

As for my 1º Bachillerato students, some of whom may be addicted to Netflix, it is time to bite the bullet and stop being a couch potato. Here are some articles for them to read: 

 


And here are 3 Selectivity exams for them to do (June 2019)  >>   THE SPANISH LEGIÓN PUT ON DIET OVER OBESITY FEARS & NETFLIX ADDICTION IS REAL +   Binge-watching (interesting posts to have a look before doing them:      label    obesity   &  Is Television helpful or harmful for our society?  )

 

Three people treated for 'binge watching' addiction to TV in first cases of their kind in Britain (Daily Telegraph)

 

 



What about my 4º ESO students? The first task for this summer is to revise the REPORTED SPEECH. First of all, let's revise the theoretical part here: 4º ESO

Then you can do vocabulary exercises 1-4 on page 74 on the semantic field 'CRIME' and finally we can start doing some exercises on REPORTED SPEECH:

 

A. Transform these sentences into Reported Speech.

1. "I can't stop laughing", the student to the teacher.

2. "They're laughing at me now", said Mary.

3. "I can't afford to buy your car", Albert to Fernando Alonso.

4. "FC Barcelona will win the King's Cup tomorrow", said Messi in the press conference.

5. "We don't like this exercise", said the students.

6. "I'm afraid of spiders", said my mum.


English in a Minute:  'when' vs 'if' (BBC Learning English)




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

Lucky Luke - EP01 - Ma dalton








LINGOHACK  >>>

  • Episode 200708 / 08 July 2020    >>>  Has wildlife benefited from lockdown?  (Wildlife in lockdown) -    Language related to 'research'.  Need-to-know language: profound, migrations, unprecedented, insights & inform.




miércoles, 1 de mayo de 2019

Is the POTATO still the solution to save the world?


A long time ago, potatoes changed the world when they were once discovered in America (as you can see in the Selectivity exam below), but potatoes can be the solution to many of the problems that affect us nowadays.

 

 

Selectivity exam (2018)   >>         Spanish scientists try to find the "cure" for old age & The plant that changed the world  

 

 

Can you tell me another colloquial word for 'potato'? 

 



Let's have a look at some articles about the issue:

   

         

And what about the POTATO POWER?

Potato power: the spuds that could light the world (BBC News)

 

Let's listen now to the POTATO SONG!!! Pay attention to the lyrics

Finally, what about Mr Potato Head (Toy Story)?

 

English in a minute (BBC Learning English) >>>>  THE FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS  


Interesting information about grants both for English and French in my SITE.





BASKETBALL  >>>  Vintage NBA

LEGEND IN GREEN  






LINGOHACK  >>>

  • Episode 190410 / 10 April 2019    >>>  The popularity of raw milk -  Language related to 'dairy products'.  Need-to-know language: dairy farmer, raw milk, pasteurised  & teat.

domingo, 24 de febrero de 2019

What really matters in life


In the previous post we talked about the expression 'it doesn't matter'. Now it is time to talk about what really matters in life. We are not plants, so we always try to find a goal in life to achieve and even sometimes if you can't find it, you may break down and have problems to keep on living. That would be the case of lonely elderly people.


Selectivity exam to do: Our love for pets 

 

Some articles to read about the issue:

 

A grandchild, a pet, a search for new experiences... may be the key! Do you remember this post: Bucket lists and time capsules ? So try to make a bucket list yourself!

In my bucket list the success of my students is of paramount importance, for example.




What matters most to people around the world? (The Guardian)


Finding Purpose for a Good Life. But Also a Healthy One. (The New York Times)




 

TED talk - What really matters at the end of life by BJ Miller  >>>>


 

News Review: Small South African beachside restaurant wins World Restaurant Awards (BBC Learning English)

 

How to Use WITH & BY ⚡️English Prepositions | Common Grammar Mistakes by mmmEnglish



Do you remember this previous post: Cleaning up space junk ? Well, we are still concerned with space junk >>>

LINGOHACK  >>>

  • Episode 190220 / 20 February 2019    >>>  The harpoon that clears space junk -  Language related to 'space'.  Need-to-know language: mission, space station, satellite, orbit & celestial.

And still talking about what really matters, we have to give our congratulations to our Arts teacher Elisa and his students for their wonderful results in the International Women's Day poster contest. We have won the first and third prizes!!!! Check it here >>>>

Premios Cartel 8 de Marzo


martes, 29 de enero de 2019

He is happy, she is happy, I am happy, we are all happy...


How happy are you? There are different ways to be happy. A certain thing makes someone happy and just the opposite thing makes someone else happy too. But something is for sure, being happy is far better than feeling miserable and sad!!!

 

I want YOU to be happier!!!!


Selectivity exam to do:  Albert Einstein's theory of happiness sold for $1.5 M

 

 Here are some articles to read and a listening exercise about the different concepts of happiness:


Here's a listening exercise to do: Concepts of happiness (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

 

How School Makes Kids Less Intelligent by Eddy Zhong (TED talk)




What is the difference between: 'Journey' & 'Trip' ?(English in a Minute)




John McEnroe, The Commissioner of Tennis, still talking about the Australian Open >>>

McEnroe: Stop Complaining About Your Balls!

 


LINGOHACK  >>>

  • Episode 190123 / 23 January 2019    >>>  Bollywood Bridal Wear -  Language related to 'High-end fashion'.  Need-to-know language: luxury, in demand, swanky, couture, off-the-rack & glamour.

 

Revision for ESO students:


LANGUAGE IN USE

F. Make the questions to the following answers.

1. _______ ? He is from Venezuela.
2. _______ ? No, but I can speak a little French.
3. _______ ? One metre seventy-eight.
4. _______ ? About twice a week.
5. _______ ? I'm an English teacher.
6. _______ ? I go out with friends or watch TV.               

G. Translate these sentences into English:

1. ****¿Cuánto tiempo hace que has tenido ese reloj? Unos 14 años.
2. La película más emocionante que jamás he visto es 'Forrest Gump'.
3. Ni él ni ella saben hablar inglés.
4. Espero que no os importe venir el próximo miércoles. Tengo tanto que deciros.
5. No puedo costear un coche, así que siempre se lo pido prestado a un amigo.
6. "Yo no he leído el libro"  "Nosotros tampoco"

Solutions to the exercises in the previous post.

A. Put the word in the right place. 1. The radioactivity was so great that ....  2. The cinema is cheap enough....    3. I am too short to ....    4. Peter is such a lazy fellow that .... 5. ... got up yet.                                                                             
B.  1.  for  2.  for   3.    since    4.  ago   5.    since           
C.  1. is cutting , cuts   2. has just written   3. see   4. has been playing   5. had already started  6. got , was coming   7. working  8. is raining                                                                 
D.   1. The job must be done   2. Your application for the job is being considered    3. You were asked to come   4. The name of the new managing director won't be announced until next month.   5. This kind of lock hasn't been manufactured for years.
E.  1. The music we listened to last night was good.  2. Mao Tse-Tung was a famous politician from China, whose history goes back thousands of years.   3. This is the hotel I stayed at when I last came to London.  4. I grew up in Salobreña, which is a little town in the south of Spain.  5. I'll never forget the day I met you.