Can flowers make bees smile?

 

Surely, flowers can make people smile!! Of course, bees love flowers, but bees are in a real danger and so is humankind if we don't take care of them. I'm a bee friend myself, so are farmers as bees are so important for their crops, and you?

 

Here's a listening exercise connected with the issue: What's happening to our bees?  (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English) and this Lingohack episode:

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 200826 / 26 August 2020    >>>  Free flowers to bring happiness -    Language related to 'happiness'.  Need-to-know language: lift the spirits, spread a smile, joy, boost (someone's) morales & random act of kindness.

 

As well, many of our students in 1º & 2º Bachillerato (last year in 4º ESO: Lucía García, Rocío Valdés (B1- Cambridge), David Bacas, José Corzo, Daniel Del Pozo, Francisco González, Álvaro Martín, Cristián Ramón (B1- EOI)  and 1º Bachillerato: Lucía y Marina Guirado (B1- EOI)) have brought us happiness as they have succeeded in their B1 and B2 exams. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THEM!!! 

 

It is time now to TEST YOUR LEVEL OF ENGLISH with this tool. Try it out!!

Project about A Foreigner in New York by María Prados (2º Bach A)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our students are having some problems with the use of adjectives, so here are two proposals:

• Articles: The Grammar Gameshow Episode 28

• English in a Minute:  When to use THE to talk about places   (BBC Learning English)

 

 

And some other activities for you to do: 

• The English We Speak:  What does 'roast' mean?   (BBC Learning English)

• How to express OBLIGATION: HAVE TO vs MUST (6 Minute Grammar, BBC Learning English)

• English in a Minute:  How to use ADJECTIVES WITHOUT NOUNS   (BBC Learning English)
  

• Learners' questions:  FILL UP / FILL OUT / FILL IN (BBC Learning English)

 

 

 John Legend - Preach (official video)

BEATING COVID-19 (new page in our site)

What is this school year, which is about to start, going to be like? 

 

We will need to be more careful and, as we have already some experience, we will be using a kind of school diary where we will be informing of all the tasks we do in class just in case you cannot come to school. 

 

So this is our brand new page in our site: BEATING COVID-19

WEEK 0 (from 14^th to 19^th September, 2020)

   

2º ESO  >>>  Homework for this week:

• Getting Started Unit         

• Entry test
  

 

Smart Planet Digital books

4º ESO   >>>>  This week's homework:

• Starter Unit   
  

• Entry test 
  

 

  

  1º Bach  >>> HOMEWORK FOR THIS WEEK:

• Starter Unit

• Entry test
  

2º Bach  >>>  HOMEWORK FOR THIS WEEK:

• Starter Unit

• Entry test & Selectivity exam 0 + Start a Covid-19 glossary
  

Some activities for you to do: 

• News Review:  SpaceX splash down   (BBC Learning English)

• Listening exercise for you to do: Is this the era of distrust? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

• Learners' Questions: How to talk about past mistakes correctly (BBC Learning English)

• A quizz on The future from the past (BBC Learning English)

 

 

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 200909 / 09 September 2020    >>>  What is 'blue health'? (Surfing therapy) -    Language related to 'therapy'.  Need-to-know language: healing properties, rehabilitation, stimulate, the blues & ride out the storm.

COVID-19 glossary:

therapy, healing properties, rehabilitation, stimulate, ride out the storm, outbreak, lockdown, pandemic, infected, safety distance, face mask...

You can send me all the words you find connected with this issue.

Mysterious craters appeared in Siberia

 

Climate change and the melting of the permafrost are behind this strange phenomenon: the appearance of craters in Siberia. Do we still need to convince people that we have a serious problem on Planet Earth? So get down on it!! (What does this expression mean?)

And here's another interesting topic related to climate change:

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 200923 / 23 September 2020    >>>  Melting glacier -    Language related to 'speed'.  Need-to-know language: rate, accelerated, rapidly, exceptional & quickly.

 

And school is starting next week, so get down on it!!! 💪😉👍

 

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

• Siberian craters: Big releases of methane could pose broad problems (CNBC)
  

  

• There's a 'Doorway to The Underworld' in Siberia That's So Big It's Uncovered Ancient Forests (Science Alert)
  

  
  

• In Siberia there is a huge crater and it is getting bigger (BBC - Earth)

• Are Siberia's mysterious craters caused by climate change? Scientists find four new enormous holes in northern Russia (Daily Mail)
  

 

 

Today we'll be doing a writing exercise: 'A biography' & a review of the whole unit with our 1º ESO students:

                                                            SPORTS TIME

(Cambridge University Press)  You will do the exercises  on pages 91-92.

 

Some activities for you to do: 

• Take a free English class:  The Future: Continuous and Perfect   (BBC Learning English)

• Listening exercise for you to do: What does your blood type say about you? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

• News Review: Djokovic hits line judge (BBC Learning English)

• A quizz on Opinions (BBC Learning English)

 

 

 

 

 Kool & The Gang - Get Down on it (official video)

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 200902 / 02 September 2020    >>>  Could driverless cars save lives? -    Language related to 'driving'.  Need-to-know language: test track, control freak, swerving, liable & competent.

Influencers in our society

 

 

 

Who is an influencer? What is their role in our society? Not long ago it was a word I had never heard of before, but it's incredible how relevant they may be among our teenagers and, therefore, for the future generations.

 

 

 

First, let's do a Selectivity exam for you to do  related with the topic   >>  Are today's influencers living their best lives?  

And here are some articles for you to read about the issue:

• Influencers: How a 'new breed' of social media stars changed the game (BBC News)
  

• The Role of Social Media Influencers in the Lives of Children and Adolescents   (Frontiers)

• Instagram worst social media app for young people's mental health (CNN)
  

• Girls and social media: 'You are expected to live up to an impossible standard' (The Guardian)
  

 

 

Some activities for you to do: 

• The English We Speak:  Living in a bubble   (BBC Learning English)

  

• Take an English Class on the: COMPARATIVES (BBC Learning English)

• News Review: Kamala Harris makes history (BBC Learning English)

  
  

• A quizz on the Prefixes (BBC Learning English)

 

Today we'll be revising HOW TO EXPRESS INTEREST with our 1º ESO students:

                                                            SPORTS TIME

(Cambridge University Press)  You will do the exercises  on pages 89-90.

 

 

 

Project about A Foreigner in New York by Sofía Morea (2º Bach A)

;

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solutions to USE OF ENGLISH exercise in the previous post:

21.  c   22. a  23. c   24. c   25. b   26. a   27. d  28. b  29. c  30. d   31. d  32. c  33. c  34. c   35.  d   36.  d   37.  b   38.  a   39. c   40. c

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 200916 / 16 September 2020    >>>  Bon Jovi helps food bank -    Language related to 'helping people'.  Need-to-know language: hands-on, philanthropic, stepped in & godsend.

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

George and Mildred - The Bad Penny (Part 1) 

It is what it is

 

There are many situations in our everyday life where the only response we've got is "It is what it is" (BBC Learning English)  >>> To say that we must accept the reality of a difficult situation you can say this.

Examples:

You tried your best, but you still failed the exam. It is what it is.

Me and Tan just don't like each other. It's difficult, but it is what it is.

 

US President Donald Trump and Michelle Obama using the same idiom: "It is what it is"

 

Do you know who Michelle Obama is?....

From Michelle Obama's humble Chicago upbringing to the White House: Part 1 & Part 2  

Another critic situation nowadays is climate change. We have to accept it and face it as well as we can. Here are some interesting articles for you to read about the issue:

• Climate change: Arctic ice melt makes permafrost vulnerable (BBC News)

  

• The poisons released by melting Arctic ice (BBC News - Future)

• Sweaty tropical nights may soon be common in UK warn climate scientists - BBC News   

 

Today we'll be revising the modal verb MUST (obligations) & MUSTN'T (prohibitions) with our 1º ESO students:

                                                            SPORTS TIME

(Cambridge University Press)  You will do the exercises  on pages 87-88.

 

 

And now some exercises for my 4º ESO & 1º Bachillerato students for the preparation for the B1 & B2 exams >>>

HIGHWAY TO B2.....

USE OF ENGLISH. Multiple-choice exercise. Choose the appropriate option:

21. He will probably ................... for the newspapers.   (A  take his picture    B   having his picture taken   C  have his picture taken   D   had taken his picture)

22. He is certainly going to arrive home  ..................    (A  late    B   lately   C  more late   D   latest)

23. Larry's horse ........................ eat the grass.  (A  couldn't    B   wouldn't   C  shouldn't   D   mightn't)

24. Eric and Bill are having ............ trouble.     (A  many    B   few   C  a lot of   D   plenty)

25.  Eric says to Bill, "Let's try a bit harder, .................... ?".   (A  will we    B   shall we  C  do we   D  are we)

26. The horse was put ............... by the high fence.     (A  off    B   over   C  away   D   down)

27. Larry was very shocked when he found ............ on the ground.     (A  him    B   to himself   C  his self    D   himself)

28. I think he .................. up.     (A  needs cheer up     B   needs cheering up   C  needs to    D  is needing to)

29. It's time someone ................... to help him.   (A  is going    B  goes   C  went   D   has gone)

30. ................ up, someone will send for an ambulance.        (A  Until he gets      B   Whether he gets   C  If he does get   D   Unless he gets)

31. No doubt he will soon .......................... .        (A  get his accident over    B   get on with his accident   C  get out of his accident   D  get over his accident)

32. Eric and Bill are tired so they'll soon stop .................... a rest.  (A  for have   B  for having   C  to have   D  for to have)

33. Larry .............. better choose a bigger horse next time.   (A would   B  does  C  had    D  should)

34. Eric didn't want to miss his drink. ..................... did Bill.         (A  Either    B   Whether   C  Neither  D  No)

35. But they have to work,  ........ ? (A oughtn't they   B  mustn't they   C won't they  D  don't they)

36. The horse will not move even if three people ........... it.   (A  had pushed    B   pushing   C  will push   D  push)

37. It .............. every time the fence is too high.   (A  stop   B  will stop   C shall stop   D  stopping)

38. "We aren't going to move this horse,", said Eric.

"I'm afraid .................... ," replied Bill.   (A  not    B   yes   C  no   D   that)

39. The harder they tried ...................... they got.    (A  the more hotter    B  hotter   C  the hotter   D   hotly)

40. Larry still doesn't really know ................ has happened.    (A  whether    B   how  C  what   D   if)

Solutions to USE OF ENGLISH exercise in the previous post:

1.  B   2. C  3. C   4. D   5. D   6. D   7. B  8. A  9. D  10. C   11. A  12. C  13. C  14. D   15.  D   16.  B   17.  D   18.  C   19. C   20. B

 

 

 

 JP Cooper - September Song (with lyrics)

Coldplay - Everyday Life (Official Video)

 

 

Some activities for you to do: 

• English in a Minute:   NEXT / THE NEXT / NEAREST   (BBC Learning English)

  

• The English We Speak (Language to talk about Coronavirus): Flatten the curve (BBC Learning English) 

  
  

• A listening exercise for you to do: Do companies need bosses? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

• News Review : Belarus: protests spread (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)
  

MmmEnglish talking about Slang & Phrases for English Conversation 💰 Wealth & Money   >>>

 

 

 

 

 

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

Fawlty Towers - Top 10 moments 

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 200805 / 05 August 2020    >>>  Tourism trouble in Egypt -    Language related to 'economic problems'.  Need-to-know language: killed off, a blow, turmoil, on a mission & counting on.

 

We'll do it OUR WAY!!

Very shortly, we'll be coming back to school, or at least try to do it. Something is for sure, with effort and willingness you can succeed, as all those you have made such a great job making comments in this blog, writing compositions, preparing for your B1 & B2 exams, reading the compulsory books and doing the digital projects... during this summer, as you can see in our SUMMER SCOREBOARD. We'll do it our way!!

 

 Aloe Blacc - My Way (Official Lyrics Video)

 

 

And here's an older version by Frank Sinatra: the famous I did it MY WAY.

Revising the PAST TENSES with our 1º ESO students:

            SPORTS TIME

(Cambridge University Press)  You will do the exercises  on pages 85-86.

And now some exercises for my 4º ESO & 1º Bachillerato students for the preparation for the B1 & B2 exams >>>

HIGHWAY TO B2.....

USE OF ENGLISH. Multiple-choice exercise. Choose the appropriate option:

1. By the time the horse finishes eating, the race ...................    (A  will finish    B   will have finished   C  is finished   D   has been finished)

2. The rider on the ground wishes he  .................. at home.    (A  stayed    B   has to stay   C  had stayed   D   stays)

3. The crowd ........................ the races since one o'clock.  (A  will be watching    B   have watched   C  have been watching   D   are watching)

4. Larry ..................... off his horse a few seconds ago.     (A  has fallen    B   is falling   C  has been falling   D   fell)

5. The horse started eating the grass after it ........................ its rider.   (A  was losing    B   had been losing  C  having lost   D  had lost)

6. The crowd ............... very worried, do they?     (A  looking    B   do look   C  looks   D   don't look)

7. Some of them can't stop laughing, ............ ?     (A  cannot they?    B   can they?   C  can't they    D   do they)

8. Fortunately, Larry .................. .     (A  hasn't been injured     B   isn't injure   C  hasn't injure   D  had not injured)

9. If he hadn't fallen off, he ................... the race.   (A  won     B  won't win   C  might win   D   might have won)

10. The people ................ laugh at Harry.        (A  oughtn't      B   couldn't   C  shouldn't   D   wouldn't)

11. When Larry was a little boy, he .......................... like riding.        (A  used to    B   was used to   C  did use   D  used)

12. It's no use .................... him if he still likes it.  (A  to ask him   B  to have asked   C  asking   D  ask)

13. It's time Eric and Bill ................. the horse to move.   (A  persuade    B   have persuaded   C  persuaded    D  are persuading)

14. They would sooner ........................ for a drink.         (A  going    B   be go   C  to go  D  go)

15. By the time Larry fell off, three other riders .......... thrown off their horses.   (A  were being    B   have been   C  been   D   had been)

16. Eric and Bill are trying to make the horse ........... eating.   (A  stopped    B   stop   C  stopping   D   to stop)

17. They are counting .................. helped by Harry.   (A  to be   B  being   C that they are   D  on being)

18. Poor Larry can't help them. He doesn't even remember .................... off.   (A  to fall    B   have fallen   C  falling   D   fallen)

19. He ...................... feel very dizzy.       (A  must have    B   ought   C  must   D   must be)

20. Everyone was surprised when they saw him ................ through the air.     (A  to fly    B   fly  C  flown   D   who flying)

 

Some activities for you to do: 

• English in a Minute:   Ways to say 'SORRY' - Part 2 (Formal apologies)   (BBC Learning English)

• Take an English class: The causative form and talking about services (BBC Learning English)

• A quizz on the Passives (BBC Learning English)

• Here's a listening exercise for you to do : How do pandemics change cities? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)
  

Stories for Children >>> Best job in the world (BBC Learning English)

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 200819 / 19 August 2020    >>>  Famous London museum reopens -    Language related to 'museums'.  Need-to-know language: airy, galleries, exploring & extensive.