May 19, 2013

What's in the news?

Have you read the news these days?  

Choose a headline (or any other that might interest you) and do some research about it. Prepare a short presentation and tell your classmates about it. Remember to include a brief summary, your opinion and the words and expressions you learnt or think are useful.

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio is elected Pope

Soccer player apologizes for Nazi salute

Jedi could perform marriages

Miniskirts to be 'banned' in South Korea

Boys suffer poor body image

Teenager suddenly rich, famous after Yahoo buys his app

Louvre is most visited museum of 2012

Daily Newspapers Return to Burma

Bieber to be prosecuted after spitting on neighbor

Judge targets Princess Cristina

Speaking Ideas: Historical films and Technology

Answer these questions or use them for inspiration to prepare your speaking test:

HISTORY AND WARFARE
1. If you could have lived in another historical period, which one would you choose?
2. Which historical figure do you particularly admire?
3. Which historical films have you seen and enjoyed?
4. Which recent historical films have been very popular?

HELP AND PERSUASION
1. Whay are self-help books so popular?
2. What have you recently tried to persuade someone to do?
3. How easy is it for people to persuade you to do something?
4. If you bought a self-help book what would it be about?
5. What kind of problems cause people to buy self-help books?

TECHNOLOGY and ADDICTIONS
1. What kind of addictions are caused by modern gadgets?
2. Which gadgets do you always have with you when you go out?
3. What kind of things are people in your society obsessed with?


You can also comment on these statements, saying if you agree or disagree. Give reasons:

1. Historical films are a good way for people to learn about history.
2. It does not matter if a historical film is factually inaccurate.
3. There is no point in anyone reading a self-help book.
4. Self-help books can do more harm than good
5. The success of a company depends on the happiness of its employees
6. Advertising is harmful to a lot of people
7. Gadgets make life easier - or do they?
8. Addictions are one of the greatest problems in society today.
9. An obsession is not necessarily a bad thing.

May 8, 2013

June Exam

Dear students,

Just a reminder of the dates of the June exam:

THURSDAY 13th JUNE

16:30 READING 90'

18:00 LISTENING 30'

18:30 BREAK 15'

18:45 WRITING 75'

SPEAKING EXAMS WILL BE MONDAY 17th JUNE and WEDNESDAY 19th from 16h onwards. Schedule to be published soon.

May 7, 2013

Connectors and Linkers


This is a good way to learn vocabulary according to word functions...


May 5, 2013

Pronunciation dictionary


I have added an Online Pronunciation Dictionary to Websites of Interest on the right margin.

Also, some interesting news about how to learn English pronunciation "made in Asturias".

Finally, some pronunciation tips from the BBC Learning English website.



The Iron Lady RIP

Read some articles and watch some videos about the reactions to Margaret Thatcher's death and the impact of her legacy.

"Iron Lady" Thatcher mourned, but critics speak out

Baroness Thatcher dies: Tributes paid at home and abroad

Are you cutting back?

Tell us how you're coping with the difficult economy

Have a look at this section at The Guardian "Comment is free", where you can post your stories or opinions on a subject. 

A similar exercise to this appeared in last year's exam.