The Weekly Review Newspaper

For a non-native speaker it could be complicated to practise a foreign language out of the classroom but daily and frequent contact with English is essential to learn and familiarize yourself with English. This is an online newspaper called The Weekly Review, which brings English to students in a more dynamic and fun way. The Weekly Review is divided into different zones.

Culture Vulture: A part on general knowledge which aims to expand our horizons on topics such as History, Art, Geography and Music.

Grammar Under the Hammer: A perfect section to practise and to clarify any doubts one may have concerning grammar.

Think Language: This last section is created to be a little bit critical with the language. Particularly when being in front of a language that has got many verbal forms for different language contexts.

Other sections, Smile for a While for example, bring some humour to English and its culture. Every week some jokes will be posted in order to make the users smile.

Last but not least, there is a section dedicated to words and foreign expressions, especially focused on Latin because many of the words in English have a Latin origin.

It's now your turn to visit The Weekly Review to improve and practice your English! Have fun!

Two Great Applications for your Smartphones!

As you already know, learning a new language is a difficult process but technology is a wonderful tool that can help you learn English more quickly and effectively. There are now more tools than ever available to help you learn English, especially with the development of applications for our smart phones. Here are some of the best ones out there. The apps listed are free - just download and get started!


LearnEnglish Elementary Podcasts

This  British Council's application is designed for elementary English learners, and helps increase spoken and written English proficiency. Each podcast is 20 minutes long and shows two speakers who ask the listener questions about English. The listener can answer the questions as the podcast progresses. A written transcript is also provided in real time at the same time as the audio.

Download LearnEnglish Elementary for iPhone and iPad
Download LearnEnglish Elementary for Android
Download LearnEnglish Elementary for Nokia
Download LearnEnglish Elementary for Blackberry


Vocopedia

For elementary, intermediate or advanced learners, the free Vocopedia Android app is a great vocabulary builder with many interactive features that will add an element of fun into your language learning: flashcards, synonyms, parts of speech and examples of usage in real sentences. It also includes a hangman game!

Download Vocopedia for Android
 
These days, your phone and computer are some of the most important tools you have to make your goal of learning English a reality.

B1 - Weekly Summary

Hiya guys!

Here you are the weekly summary! We finally finished unit 3 and all you have to know about modal verbs. We also studied -ed / -ing adjectives and revised them through a crossword. Then, we focused on the first writing task of this term: giving an opinion. We had a look to a couple sample emails with opinions for and against shopping on the Internet. We learnt some useful vocabulary to give opinions, as well as some linking words.

We also revised modals verbs and "be able to" with Jeanette. Finally, we started unit 4 which is about education. Therefore, we started studying some vocabulary about types of education, people and places.

CAL students also started their presentations about the subject and exercises they do with their students at school.

Finally, as homework, you have to read the text on page 53.

Have a nice weekend!!!

A2 - Weekly summary

Hi pals!

Here is your weekly summary on this rainy Friday! As you know, we skipped some lessons on the book and continue studying the Present Perfect with for and since and the difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple tenses.

We talked about phobias and fears and learnt some useful vocabulary about them. We also talked about three famous film directors' biographies which helped us to talk about the lives of some of our relatives. As for pronunciation, we learnt the difference between /ɪ/ and  /i:/ sounds.

Jeanette helped you to understand the last chapters of the book Seasons and Celebrations. 

As for homework, you have to do Grammar Bank 7B and the worksheet about Present Perfect (just, already, yet). That's all folks!

B1 - Weekly summary

Hi pals!!

During this week we kept on talking about appearances and we listened to a recording about a bilingual Flamenco guitarist and how he makes a living in Britain. We introduced a new unit as well about sucess and modal verbs of ability and possibility. We focused on the structure be able to to express the ability, opportunity, time, etc. to do something.

We also worked on the two uses of so to emphasize an adjective or adverb and to connect a cause and a result. This also helped us to distinguish between -ed and -ing adjectives such as interested - interesting, bored - boring, embarrased - embarrasing, etc.

We also revised modal verbs of deduction and modals verbs of advice with Jeanette, as well as your writing skills. Then, we listened to a psychoanalyst giving useful tips about how to succeed at learning to do something new.

As for homework, you have to do a worksheet about modal verbs of ability and I've uploaded extra exercises and answers on the modal verbs studied.

 Finally, this is a kind reminder for my CAL students. From next week on we are going to start doing presentations about your subjects at school. Be ready to show your classmates what you teach and an activity you do in class with your students.

I hope it helps! Have a nice weekend!!!

A2 - Weekly summary

Hi guys!!!

Nice job this week! We revise the vocabulary learnt last week about shopping and we listened to a conversation at a department store. Then, we role-played it in pairs. We also worked on the first 6 chapters of the book Seasons and Celebrations with Jeanette.

We also started a new unit about family conflicts and the right age for a young person to leave home. Quite different opinions in many respects. We learnt some verb phrases such as make your bed, pick something from the floor, take the dog for a walk, change the channel on the TV, etc. And we continued studying the Present Perfect tense + just, already and yet.

As for pronunciation we distinguished between /h/, /j/ and /dʒ/, i. e., house, you, join.


Finally, we listened to the song I still haven't found what I'm looking for by U2.


As for homework, you have some exercises about Present Perfect + just, already and yet and the rest of the chapters of the book Seasons and Celebrations. And to improve your vocabulary about shops and shopping, I've uploaded a worksheet about it on the A2 folder in Docs.

Have a nice weekend!!!

A2 - Weekly summary

Hiya and welcome back too!

I hope you are strong enough to cope with the coming new year!!! Remember we promised to speak English in class ALL THE TIME!!!!

First of all, I collected all your compositions and we started with the revision unit 3D. Therefore, we had a look at all the tenses we have studied so far through the interpretation of dreams. Then, we continued with unit 4 and we learnt and revised vocabulary related to clothes. Moreover, we introduced the Present Perfect tense which we are going to study in depth in this term.

Jeanette helped you to organize your flow of words when you are talking about dreams too.

Finally, as homework, you have to do the Grammar Bank 4A and the extra photocopy I've uploaded on the blog. It is in A2 - Basic folder in Docs section and it is called "Tense Review".

Remember you have to read chapters 1-5 from the book Seasons and Celebrations for next week! We're working them in class!


Have a nice weekend guys!!! See you!!!

B1 - Weekly Summary

Hi everyone and welcome back!!!!

This has been a long and busy week. We had some catching up to do after Christmas but the most important thing to talk about is that we made our New Year Resolution: we're going to do our best to improve our English. Therefore, let's get cracking!

We corrected your homework and talked about New Year's Resolutions in our first lesson. The document is available on the blog. It is filed on B1-Intermediate folder in Docs. If you couldn't come to class, feel free to listen to the recording on BBC Learning English. In our second lesson we focused on the topics "physical appearance" and "judging by appearances". We revised and learnt some vocabulary related to physical description, listened to a description of a bank robber and finally, read and discussed about how usually fake are external appearances.

Jeanette also helped you to cope with oral and written skills through the description of the community you live in - different strategies of discourse organization in oral and written speech.

As for homework, you have to do the Grammar Bank 3B and an extra worksheet I've uploaded about modal verbs of deduction . It is also filed on B1- Intermediate folder in Docs. The extra worksheet is also for CAL students, I forgot to tell you though I'm going to email you to let you know.

Have a nice weekend! See you next week!

School trip to Burgalimar Castle in Baños de la Encina

Hi everyone!

You know there's a trip to Burgalimar Castle in Baños de la Encina. It will be on the 24th February. Those of you who are interested in joining the school trip have to write your names on the list at the EOI reception.

Do not hesitate or you wo'nt be guaranteed a seat!

Join us!

B1 CAL - Answer Key for Xmas homework.

Hi guys!

Here you are the answers. I hope you did the homework first ;-)

Present Perfect Continuous
a.
2. A. How long has it been raining?
    B. It’s been raining since yesterday morning.

3. A. How long have you had that jacket?
    B. I’ve had it for ten years.

4. A. How long has he been working / has he worked here?
    B. He’s been working / ‘s worked here since he left school.

5. A. How long have they been married?
    B. They’ve been married for 60 years.

6. A. How long have you been learning Russian?
    B. I’ve been learning Russian for three years.

b.
2. Have you been waiting
3. have you been doing
4. I’ve been shopping
5. ‘ve been playing
6. ‘ve been watching a (sad) film

Must / have to / should
a.                                          b.
2. mustn’t                              2. don't have to
3. OK                                   3. must / have to
4. had to                               4. should
5. OK                                  5. mustn’t
6. don’t have to                    6. must / have to
                                            7. shouldn’t
                                            8. don’t have to

Happy 2012!!!!