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

lunes, 31 de octubre de 2016

Presenting a piece of news






We have just seen the PERFECT TENSES and one of its uses is when presenting a piece of news (for further information have a look at my site) and watch these two New That's English episodes (module 6):   Unit 1A   &   Unit 1B  


Heathrow Airport expansion approved by government - and a top Tory MP is resigning in protest (Daily mirror)

"The government has chosen to expand Heathrow Airport over its rival Gatwick in a move that will affect Britain's future for decades.
The long-awaited decision was taken by a nine-strong Cabinet committee at Downing Street today in 75 minutes - after 40 years of debate and delay." (...)


LINGOHACK  >>>

Episode 261012 / 26 October 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: given the green light, severity & charity.  (Heathrow Airport expansion approved)

 

Exercises on the difference between the PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND THE PAST SIMPLE:

 

Match the sentences 1-10 with suitable contexts a-j.

1. My parents have lived in London for three years.      a. There's a good film on this week.
2. My parents lived in London three years.                   b. The students are still waiting for the teacher.
3. Have you eaten breakfast?                                       c. It is eight o'clock in the morning.
4. Did you eat breakfast?                                             d. It is eight o'clock at night.
5. I hope you have enjoyed the party.                           e. The party has just finished or is just about to finish.
6. I hope you enjoyed the party.                                   f. There was a good film on last night.
7. The teacher hasn't come.                       g. They live in London now.
8. The teacher didn't come.                       h. The party was last week.
9. Have you seen that film?                        i. The students waited for the teacher and the lesson is now over. 
10. Did you see that film?                          j. They lived there from 1980 to 1983.

Use the correct form of the verbs in brackets + FOR, SINCE, AGO (...) in the following sentences.

1. I (not speak) ___________________ to her .............. she (go) ___________ to London.
2. He (leave) ______________ school three years ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, , then he (work) _____________ in France .............. a few months before coming back to England.
3. She (have) ______________ a headache .................. she (get) _____________ up this morning.
4. How long (you know) _________________ him? ................... I (be) ____________ ten years old.
5. I (be) _____________ here ..................... an hour! Where (you be) ________________?
6. He (just get) _________________ a new job, and he's going to work in the States ............... two years.
7. I (have) _____________ this car ................. six years, and it (never break down) ______________.
8. It's two weeks ............... I last (see) ______________ him.


Listening exercise to do: How do you read your news? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)


News Review : Study into women's drinking habits


English at university: Registration (episode 5)


martes, 25 de octubre de 2016

Fears, phobias...number 13!!!



Do you know what 'triskaidekaphobia' is?   Here's some information about the issue.


What is the difference between a phobia and a fear if there is any?  Read this article about it:

Fear or Phobia? (The Washington Post)

and here are

America’s top fears: Public speaking, heights and bugs (The Washington Post)

Another interesting article about the topic:

Phobias: The rationale behind irrational fears (The Guardian)


All these articles would be an excellent preparation for this Selectivity exam (Andalucia)  >>>   Triskaidekaphobia  (option A)

Listening exercise to do: 'Do opposites attract?' (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)


English at university: Freshers' Week (episode 4)


miércoles, 19 de octubre de 2016

Bob Dylan, the minstrel of the 21st Century


In the Middle Ages there were minstrels who would go from village to village singing the news, entertaining the people, dancing... Actually, that was the way people learned about El Cid Campeador and the battles in which he participated. There are still a few of them left nowadays. Here are a couple of examples.



Some articles to read:

 


And here's an amazing story  >>> 

The real story of HURRICANE CARTER



Another poet singer, Canadian Leonard Cohen.


Some other hits by Leonard Cohen: Suzanne , First we take Manhattan , 

Some phrases to learn and use in your compositions: 'keen on', 'fond of' and 'fan of' in English with Lucy. And some linking words of CAUSE & EFFECT (English grammar).


LINGOHACK  >>>

Episode 191012 / 19 October 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: classified, deficiency & vessel. By the way, what is the Spanish for 'sweet potato'?

English at university: Room mate (episode 3)




martes, 18 de octubre de 2016

FINDMEWORDS: Interesting tool to have a look at.




findmewords.com is not an average dictionary, but a most interesting tool for our students in Bachillerato.


Here are some words from its creator:

"There are many English dictionaries on the Internet, Findmewords is the first one to collect more than 450,000 words in English and classify them to offer users all kinds of dictionaries and search tools to find the word they are looking for. Among the tools findmewords.com offers we can highlight:

>> Lettered word search, which allows to search for all words that can be formed with a set of letters, it is ideal for solving crossword games.


>> It also has a word finder beginning or ending with a set of letters, in all cases the words that are obtained as search results are presented sorted by length and you can find the meaning of either of them by simply clicking on the word in question.

>> A comprehensive dictionary of synonyms and antonyms with more than 68,000 entries for each one of them presents a wide range of synonyms and antonyms according to different meanings of each entry.

>> Dictionary definitions, containing the etymology, origin, grammatical category and definition for over 450,000 words

>> Rhyming dictionary, where it's possible to find rhymes for more than 40,000 words sorted by number of syllables.

>>  Scrabble word search with the official dictionaries for English. The SOWPOD dictionary with 267,751 words is the official for UK and the TWL06 dictionary with 178,691 words is the official dictionary for USA, Canada and Thailand. 

>> findmewords.com also has a blog that contains interesting articles that address issues related to grammar and spelling."

I hope you find it useful!!!

domingo, 16 de octubre de 2016

Alone or with company???


There are certain moments in life when one really enjoys solitude (especially, teachers, who are always in crowded and noisy places), but there are also great moments we love sharing with people (like our study trips to the British-Irish Isles).


Here's an incredible video about the Scottish mountain-biker Danny Macaskill in the Isle of Skye. Enjoy the gorgeous Scottish landscapes that this year I would like to share with my students:



And here's another one: Danny MacAskill’s Wee Day Out  (Enjoy Scottish landscape!!)

Two listening exercises to do: "Is loneliness in our genes?" (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English). However, to begin with, you have to know yourself: "Who do you think you are?" (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)


Article to read:

All by myself: is loneliness bad for you? (The Guardian)

And here's another one:

What's the difference between being lonely and a loner? (BBC News)



LINGOHACK  >>>

Episode 161012 / 12 October 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: destabalise, appetite, limiting the damage & nudge.
English with Lucy >>>>

New Series >>>> English at university: Just landed (episode 2)


A final question before ending: How do you know you're real? Interesting video about it to think about it:



jueves, 13 de octubre de 2016

Next mission: VI Study trip to the British-Irish Isles (Edinburgh 2017)



 

NEXT MISSION: EDINBURGH 17

SO FAR WE ARE 15!!!   >>  Ángela Mancilla, Valeria Aguilera, Lucía López,  Lucía Pérez, Lucía Torres, Helena, Mª Carmen, Sofía, Sara, Laura Natividad, Julia, Alba Venegas, Rosana Prados, Alberto & Guille.

Stay alert for the clues and keep tracking...


VI STUDY TRIP TO THE BRITISH-IRISH ISLES: Edinburgh 2017 (IES Mediterráneo, Salobreña)


If you are still interested in participating in the experience here's the link to the form you have to fill in  >>>

Hey, I'm going to Edinburgh next year!!

 

 COME ON! DON'T MISS THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY!!!!

And remember: Keep tracking!!! Albert and J. Luis will always be there.

 

Clue number 4 >>> next meeting on 

Tuesday, 18h October in the Language

 Department. 






CURRENCY CONVERTER 






miércoles, 5 de octubre de 2016

LAST CHANCE FOR EDINBURGH 2017!!!!


We'll be having our third meeting (clue number 3) next Thursday, 13th October, during the break in the Language Department. We will be handing out the lottery tickets for our ham raffle. So don't miss the meeting!!!

Today a group of students came to the Language Department thinking that we had our second meeting (CLUE NUMBER 2). I happened to be there and I told them that I hadn't planned any further meetings as there was only one girl who had fill in the form for the study trip, so we have decided to have our second meeting tomorrow during the break in the Language Department.

 

Therefore, if you are interested in participating in the experience here's the link to the form you have to fill in  >>>

Hey, I'm going to Edinburgh next year!!!!

 

Here are some activities to do for those preparing for the B1 or B2 exams:

LINGOHACK  >>>

English with Lucy >>>
  

martes, 20 de septiembre de 2016

Coming to Edinburgh at Easter with the old rockers?


We will be having our first meeting next Wednesday, 28th April, in the Language Department during the break. We will see if there are enough people interested to form a group.

Everybody is welcomed even if they decide not to come in the end!!!

 

POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES TO DO IN EDINBURGH

 

First clue >>>> Have a look at the information about EDINBURGH 2017 below and in my blog. Then, if you are interested, fill in this form as soon as you can because we need to do everything very quickly to buy our flights cheaper. You must also bear in mind that if you fill in the form and you don't want to participate later, it is no problem as we will really know if we are going when you make the first payment and that will be in October.

Our sixth experience?????


Stay alert for the clues and keep tracking...

And remember our meetings will be called 'clues' from now on!! 


 

Some exercises for you to do:

Listening exercise to do: Old tech (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English) 

Related articles to read:

'Get somebody's goat'  >>  a phrase to talk about something annoying (The English we speak, BBC Learning English)

 

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

  By the way, listen to our new blog's soundtrack song and tell me what 'give up' means.

 

martes, 13 de septiembre de 2016

Paralympics 2016 to begin in Rio

Just amazing!!!  These are not athletes, they are SUPER-ATHLETES!!!  Watch this  >>>





Here are some news about the issue:

 

If you've ever been with us on our study trips to the British-Irish Isles or if you've ever been to an English-speaking country, you will surely have noticed that the English you come across is slightly different to the English you learn at school. Here's an interesting listening exercise to do about the issue: Slang (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)


8 uses of 'break' (BBC Learning English)

Stay alert for the clues and keep tracking...



POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES TO DO IN EDINBURGH

 

First clue >>>> Have a look at the information about EDINBURGH 2017 below and here in my blog about our experience in 2012. Then, if you are interested, fill in this form as soon as you can because we need to do everything very quickly to buy our flights cheaper. You must also bear in mind that if you fill in the form and you don't want to participate later, it is no problem as we will really know if we are going when you make the first payment and that will be in October.

Our sixth experience?????

VI STUDY TRIP TO THE BRITISH-IRISH ISLES: Edinburgh 2017 (IES Mediterráneo, Salobreña)






LINGOHACK  >>>

miércoles, 7 de septiembre de 2016

Historical achievement by our non-bilingual IES Mediterraneo students!!!!




Our students making history!!!!

Apart from Mª José García and Andrea Gutiérrez (4º ESO), who got their B1 in English in the Official Language School last June, another 5 students have passed their exams this September: María Béjar, Alex España, Joaquín García, Alberto Pineda & Mª Irene Ramón!!! And Guillermo Romero, who also came on our study trips, has passed his B2 in English and his B1 in French!!!  Et félicitations à tous ceux qui ont réussi aussi dans leurs examens de français à l'École Officielle des Langues. 

 


miércoles, 31 de agosto de 2016

Our golden boy Calderón quits ÑBA



Our golden boy José Manuel Calderón (his biography so far) says goodbye to the basketball national team as he wants to concentrates on his NBA team (LA Lakers) and his family. We all wish you the best of lucks!!! Thanks for such great moments!!

Jose Calderon retires from Spanish national team (NBC Sports)




Changing topic, what does 'domestic chores' mean? Well, both my wife and I have been doing the cleaning and painting of our flat and I would like you to do this exercise and give me your opinion >>>>>


Listening exercise to do: Do women clean the house more often than men? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)


New section in BBC Learning English: English at work, which focuses on English communication in the office. Here's the first episode: 00 Introduction



viernes, 26 de agosto de 2016

A lot to solve and to discover :-(((((


Our world is full of paradoxes. A lot of efforts and investments are made to travel in the universe and find planets elsewhere, building glass bridges... while we still have areas in our world where a natural disaster can cause hundreds of victims. It is fantastic to make discoveries, but shouldn't we invest more money to solve ordinary problems on Eath such as: famine, droughts... or earthquakes?


Natural disaster:

Italy earthquake: Death toll rises to at least 159 (BBC)  >>> The latest: Italy earthquake: Death toll reaches 247 amid rescue efforts  


Astronomy:

Discovery of potentially Earth-like planet Proxima b raises hopes for life (The Guardian)


Advances:

'I'm not afraid – it seems safe!': China opens longest glass-bottomed bridge (The Guardian) Watch this video.



Make a glossary with the most prominent words you find in both articles. Remember other articles related to these two issues in this blog:

 

LINGOHACK  >>>



miércoles, 24 de agosto de 2016

Olympic legends in Rio 2016



The Olympic Games in Rio finished last Sunday (Olympics Closing ceremony, News Review, BBC Learning English) and it's time to make a balance of the achievements obtained. 

 

First of all, what and who will these Olympic Games be remembered for? For instance, the Summer Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936 will always be remembered for all the victories Jesse Owens obtained in front of Hitler.



Articles to read:


VOCABULARY: 8 uses of 'round'  (BBC Learning English)

The English we speak (BBC Learning English)  >>  'to pull something out of the hat'

Two listening exercises to do: