Inversion

Inversion is one of the many ways we can use to add emphasis. It's a nice way to give more strength to an idea as long as we don't overuse it. Check the slides I've prepared for you and have some practice here.

Inversion from Míriam

Annoying habits

Every one of us have their personal dislikes, these little things (although sometimes not so little) that really piss us off. They can be some sounds, people's attitudes, gestures and habits. And here in the picture above you can find some expressions to rant about them.

As this is way too common in our daily lives, TV has covered this issue in many occasions. Series like Friends (you can watch the video here) and How I met your Mother explored the topic in some of their episodes.

You can find a full episode on YouTube, "Spoiler Alert", in which the group realize their friends' most annoying flaws.

Speculation and deduction

This should be useful to you. It might help you revise how to make speculations by using some expressions other than maybe, perhaps or it's possible. The more varied your lexis is, the better. So make sure you give it a try.

Speculation and deduction from Míriam

Dialogues and schedules for the speaking exam (UPDATED)

As you've been informed, in December we'll take some days to take a mock exam and, as part of that,
we'll do the dialogues this time. So, as a treat and for you to have the chance to prepare them better, here you've got the speaking task models. They're the same that you will have the day of the exam, four different tasks in total. Download and print them if you want to, and cheer up! I'm sure you'll do your best!

Dialogue tasks

Remember that on a different post you can find the Speaking tips and useful language, as well as the rest of the topics and the exam sample provided by Conselleria.

You can check your appointment in this same post. I'll keep updating it if any changes are made.

• Speaking schedule for Group 27 (Tuesday-Thursday)
• Speaking schedule for Group 29 (Monday-Wednesday): here and here.

Remember that we won't stop classes. You all have to be punctual at school when the speaking tasks are finished to take the other parts of the exam and carry on with the lessons. Please, if you're coming for the speaking part, try to be there on time so as not to delay the exams.

And talking of exams, these days we'll also take the rest of the tasks as follows:

For the Group 29 on Monday and Wednesday:

• Monday 12th: Reading.
• Wednesday 14th: Listening.
• Monday 19th: Writing.

For the Group 27 on Tuesday and Thursday:

• Tuesday 13th: Reading
• Thursday 15th: Listening
• Tuesday 20th: Writing

Finally, remember to relax, do great and enjoy. Good luck to everyone!

Inaccuracies in movies

So historical movies aren't always accurate. Mistakes can easily slip, either deliberately for the sake of drama, or by accident. Who isn't familiar with the famous plane that can be spotted in Troy? Want to know which others we can find? Check the article 15 of the most historically inaccurate movies and watch the YouTube video Top 10 Historically Inaccurate Movies.

When you're done, you can also have a look at the counterpart: the most accurate movies. What's your favourite? Do you know any other examples?

Speaking topics and preparing for the monologue

So the monologue preparation is on. If you don't know the topics which concern our B2 level, you can check the Candidate's guide available on the GVA website, or also check the summarised list here:

• Personal identification
• Home, residence and surroundings
• Daily activities
• Leisure and free time
• The media
• Family and social relationships
• Health and sports
• Education
• Shopping
• Food and diets
• Public services
• Language and communication
• Environment
• Politics and society

This is just a list with the titles of the topics, checking the Candidate's guide, you'll be able to see the details from each topic.

Moreover, you can download the exam sample of all levels on the same website and have a look at these Speaking tips and useful language that can help you create and perform your task. Good luck!

Arguing, apologizing and forgiving

Today's post is a compillation of the lesson's videos and an extra just for fun. Enjoy the Beethoven's 5th symphony, rewatch the short film Table 7 and laugh with Monty Python's sketch.

Books to enjoy

Hi! What I present to you here is a list of original books that I have read and actually enjoyed a lot. Also, most of them are of no great difficulty and should be easy to follow. What I would recommend to you is check what they are about before actually choosing one (I like almost every kind of book, from fantasy to drama, so you'll find different styles on the list), and then start enjoying! However if you didn't like what you're reading, don't be afraid to leave it and pick a different option. You must have a good time when reading, and it mustn't be a sacrifice!


Kiss, Kiss, Roald Dahl
Tales of the Unexpected, Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
Shutter Island, Danis Lehane
High Fidelity, Nick Hornby
Enduring Love, Ian McEwan
Wonder, R. J. Palacio
Ready Player One, Ernest Cline (only if you're into videogames)
The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
The Forgotten Garden, Kate Morton (or any other title by this author)
The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins
The Help, Kathryn Stockett
And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie
The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair, Joël Dicker
Peony in Love, Lisa See
Stardust, Neil Gaiman
These Foolish Things, Deborah Moggach
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Tokio Blues, Haruki Murakami
After Dark, Haruki Murakami
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon

So don't start too late and let me know which book you've chosen and if you like it!
Enjoy this book-based short film. You'll feel like reading!

Take care of yourself

If you got an email (as happened to Sophie Calle) from your ex-boyfriend to-be, telling you you're wonderful but, sadly, too wonderful for him or her, what would you do?

Sophie's decision was to take the chance to transform pain into art, like some sort of recovery treatment, icluding several artists who kindly participated in her project. One of them, Victoria Abril, recorded herself reading aloud the email and, although in Spanish, yay for us, this includes English subtitles.

Good opportunity to compare, contrast and learn, as we can always find new things from almost everything.

Narrative tenses

The narrative tenses are used to describe actions and events that happened in the past, whether they were repeated, progressive or finished actions. This diagram on the picture should help you to get a better image on their use.

The BBC Learning English website has some interesting contents, which we can use as it's the case now.

On the other hand, a common mistake can be made as long as the structure used to is concerned, as it can be sometimes confused with the similar-sounding be used to and get used to. Make sure you revise it with the following slides.

Be used to; get used to from Míriam

Get your learning started

Maybe if we had to decide on the most used verb in English this would be "get". There are a bunch of expressions and phrasal verbs including this one. And also many verbs that can be replaced by this, which is very commonly done when speaking.

Rewatch the animated comic video Procrastination and spot all the expressions with "get".

Grammar get from Míriam

Remember that you can have further practice on the Oxford website doing the online activities,

Finally, as a treat, it's always interesting to find out about new stuff and as we were dealing with procrastination maybe you feel curious enough to check this TED Talk "Inside the mind of a master procrastinator".

Where did English come from?

Are you ever curious about the origins of your mother tongue? Or English for that matter? This lesson comes a little late, but as they say, better late than never!

Remember I showed you the TEDEd website? Make sure you go through it some time, I'm sure you'll find topics of your interest. Anyhow, this one's related to the evolution of English, "Where did English come from?". You can take the comprehension questions after watching on the "THINK" section.

Advanced use of pronouns

Hi there!

Here I bring you the slides concerning the advanced uses of pronouns. Revise them carefully and remember to do the activities on the Grammar Bank section from your books.

Pronouns from Míriam

Also, take some time to relax with the Céline Dion's song All by myself. Enjoy yourselves at the weekend and see you next week!

Discourse markers: linkers

Hi again!

It's time to post the slides related to linkers. Remember why they're so important in discourse: it
makes it more enjoyable, easy to read/hear and more natural. Have a further look, and practice with your Student's and Workbook in order to take them in.

 

Discourse markers from Míriam

Family idioms

Idioms are a fun thing to learn, and way better if you can relate them to images. That will help you remember them. In this post, you can find the idioms we worked with this week.

Be the black sheep of the family: the worst member of the family because they have bad reputation

Be the apple of you father's eye: also the apple of one's eye (Diana was the apple of John's eye, he adored her). If you're the apple of someone's eye, this person is extremely fond and proud of you.

Be as different as chalk and cheese: to be completely different. Americans use an idiom more similar to ours: "as different as night and day".

Follow in your father's /somebody's footsteps: to do the same jobs or the same things in your life as your father or someone else, especially a member of your family.

Be as alike as two peas in a pod: when people are very similar, especially in appearance.

Be tied to your mother's apron strings: it describes someone who is so used to his/her mother's care that cannot do anything on his/her own. It also means being very influenced by your mother.

While the cat's away, the mice will play: when there is no one in authority present (as parents, boss, teachers, etc.), peple will do whatever they want, especially breaking rules.

Be your mother's daughter: this means that you are very close to your mother, and you both are very similar.

Twist someone round your little finger: to manipulate and control someone.

Blood is thicker than water: family relationships are stronger and more important than any other kind of relationships.

Lastly, if you want to have some reading, listening, and vocabulary practice around a story based on an idiom, use this lesson by the British Council called Two Peas in a Pod. Click on "instructions" and "preparation" to know how to do the task, and a pre-reading activity.

Enjoy!

Personality adjectives

I think I'm sensible because I usually make good choices.

Some adjectives that might come in handy when describing ourselves and other people. We had time to have a look at them, but if I were you, I'd have another look checking the pronunciation in one of the dictionaries I recommend on this same blog, because maybe next week I'll be testing you ;)

So here you have the material used in class, and also these two interactive exercises to revise.

Affectionate: Showing caring feelings and love for somebody.

Assertive: Expressing opinions or desires strongly and with confidence, so that people take notice.

Bossy: always telling people what to do

Bright: intelligent; quick to learn

Conscientious: taking care to do things carefully and correctly

Curious: having a strong desire to know about something

easy-going: relaxed and happy to accept things without worrying or getting angry

determined:  if you are determined, you have firm decisions and you will not let anyone prevent you

gentle: calm and kind; doing things in a quiet and careful way

loyal: remaining faithful to somebody/something and supporting them or it

moody: having moods that change quickly and often; bad-tempered or upset, often for no particular reason

outgoing: liking to meet other people, enjoying their company and being friendly towards them

rebellious: unwilling to obey rules or accept normal standards of behaviour, dress, etc.

reliable: that can be trusted to do something well; that you can rely on

resourceful: good at finding ways of doing things and solving problems, etc. 

sarcastic: showing or expressing sarcasm

sensible:  able to make good judgements based on reason and experience rather than emotion; practical

sensitive: aware of and able to understand other people and their feelings 

spontaneous: often doing things without planning to, because you suddenly want to do them

steady: (of a person) sensible; who can be relied on

straightforward: honest and open; not trying to trick somebody or hide something

stubborn: determined not to change your opinion or attitude         

sympathetic:  kind to somebody who is hurt or sad; showing that you understand and care about their problems   

thorough: doing things very carefully and with great attention to detail

to be a cold fish: a person who seems unfriendly and without strong emotions

to be a pain in the neck: a person or thing that is very annoying

to be a soft touch: a person that you can easily persuade to do something, especially to give you money.

to be down to earth: sensible and practical, in a way that is helpful and friendly

to have a heart of gold: to be a very kind person

to have a quick temper: to become angry easily

"Have": main verb or auxiliary verb

Hello and welcome to our blog!

This first post will deal with grammar, in which you'll find the slides seen in class, and which I totally recommend to have a look at again before doing the activities at home. You can download them by pressing the button at the down-right corner, which will open a new tab to the original Slideshare site, and there look for the "Download" button.

Have: main verb or auxiliary verb from Míriam

Remember to use to workbook for further practice, and you can also check the book's website for extra online activities.

See ya!