CLOTHES AND MUCH MORE

In file 4A we've seen how to describe clothes. If you want some further practice, you can gossip here to see who (according to the Mirror newspaper) were the best and wrost dressed actresses at the Oscars last Sunday. For difficult vocabulary, remember you now have a dictionary online in this page, just RIGHT-CLICK on it, so that you have it in a new tab and you don't leave the blog. For the actual list of winners, click here.

We've also practised passives, for further practice go here, or here. Theory and lots of practice here, here, here, and this link and this other one are on "to have something done".

Here's a song by Katy Perry which was sent to me by Sara for you to sing along and practise. Don't you love it?

In file 4B we'll discuss about men and women, but just to look at the fun side of it, you can watch this sketch explaining the differences between men's and women's brains. Hilarious!

part 2:

Did you like it? Any comments to make anybody? :-) 

HOW TO MAKE A GOOD COMPOSITION

I hope this presentation helps you in the future. Some of the ideas are also good for the speaking test.

HOW TO MAKE A GOOD COMPOSITION

GETTING BETTER AT ENGLISH

Hi!
This is the presentation we saw in class; it will hopefully help you solve some common mistakes (they all come from your compositions, so it's worth a look!).
mistakes NI2

FASHION and SHOPPING

In File 4A we're discussing fashion, shopping, etc. Then you may be interested in browsing the British version of Vogue magazine. For the latest trends, go here.

This post by Teacher Melanie talks of last year's Fashion Week in New York City. It includes some interesting vocabulary.
You can also watch this video from Learn English, a great and easy way to learn some new expressions:

Now you can listen to these activities from the BBC page:
- "Buying a pair of trainers" and "Buying some jeans" are easy conversations, and you can complete the conversations
- "Where to shop in London"  and "Oxford Street crime" are readings with comprehension questions for you to practise
Then you can listen to this podcast from ESL Pod, but don't read the transcript until you've heard it at least twice! After the dialogue they explainall the vocabulary, nice!

Do you know what is the in thing right now? What would you NEVER wear, no matter how trendy? Please leave a comment...

Speaking practice

Hello again!

Now that we're doing the orals some of you feel the need to practise more, but don't really know how to. Please have a look at this post from EOI Guía, where they suggest lots of pages offering  language exchanges.

Another alternative is to try and make a little conversation group yourselves. Why don't you meet for a drink once a week after class? Just for fun! Even if there isn't a teacher there to correct your mistakes, you can still help each other, like we do in class. In any case, you'll be working on your fluency and losing that "stage fright" you seem to have... besides, you'll be making friends! If you are up to it, I can create a conversation group in our Facebook and you can start from there... Give it a try!

A third suggestion, watch this video giving you some ideas on how to make conversation with a stranger. It might be of help, you never know! In any case, it's good listening practice!

Any suggestions anybody?

Silence, I kill you!

Hi
Noel sent me this hilarious video, I hope you enjoy it...

If you want to read something funny and really odd, here's a piece of news about a cat being summoned for jury service! Have a good week!

IMPROVING YOUR LISTENING

Would you like to improve your listening without too much effort? 

OK, here's something really awesome: if your browser is Mozilla Firefox, you can download a complement or extension called "Download helper" (absolutely free, as usual). Once installed, it will enable you to download any audio you hear, including podcasts!!!

Whenever there's something playing (or downloadable), these three little balls will start moving in your task bar. Just click on the icon and download the podcast. Try with this podcast from VOANEWS.COM (about learning with songs) or this other one from 6 Minute English  from the BBC: "Tea Drinking in the UK". Just play the "listen" button and watch the icon move, then just save it! If you want to read the script, it's on the right of the page.

A second option for you to practise your listening and your pronunciation, is to listen to songs. Where? You can either go to Youtube (and look for the songs with lyrics) or to goear.com , where some of the songs include the lyrics, like this one which I particularly like, Only Girl (In The World) by Rihanna. 

A third option is to install iTunes in your computer. It allows you to subscribe to your favourite podcasts and it downloads everything for you automatically every time you open it. There are losts of great podcasts you can subscribe to for free. You can download it from this page.

Now all you have to do is keep your podcasts in your iPod or MP3 player and listen to them while you're enjoying a walk along the beach, for example. Nice, isn't it? Enjoy! Please let me know if this helps you.

New Year's resolutions

HAPPY NEW YEAR and welcome back everyone!

Have you made any New Year's resolutions, or not yet? If you want to hear again the recording we listened to in class, visit the BBC page here.

Maybe one of your resolutions is to stop smoking, especially after the new anti-smoking law came into force on Jan 2nd.  This is what the BBC says about it. You can also read this article. This video from videojug proposes some techniques or tips to quit the habit.
What's YOUR OPINION? Please leave a comment (and sign it), speak your mind!

Finally, if you want to revise some narrative tenses, go here, here, here, here or here. This page and this one are also good practice. Good luck!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

For this year's last post, let's look into some interesting facts about Christmas which we read about in class:
- England: mummering. & crackers
- Scotland: Hogmanay  , First Footing & singing "Auld Lang Syne"
- Ireland: midnight mass, St Stephen's Day, Epiphany... and this is a wren

- Australia: the "Swag Man". He spends all winter under Uluru with his merry dingoes (wild dogs) and then at Christmas time, he gets in his huge four-wheel drive and sets off through the red dust to deliver his presents

- Canada: maple syrup            MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Do not forget to watch this video before you have your office Christmas party and have a look this one to survive a family Christmas.     .... ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY!!!!!

COLD OR FLU?

Watch this video from the NHS webpage to find out what the differences are. To do this listening exercise it is important you turn off the subtitles by clicking on the ‘T’ at the bottom of the video. Otherwise you will be practising reading; you can turn on the subtitles after doing the exercise to check what you heard.

Would you like to stay young forever? Then read this. Or would you like to live forever? Then listen to this song by Queen.