Have a Good Summer!

Dear students,

The school year is almost finished. Although sometimes it was a bit difficult, now I can say it's been a pleasure having you as my students. I hope you have learned new things and I wish you keep on learning. In the future you'll see how important it is to speak foreign languages. You know how to contact me for whatever you want or need. Good luck!

Enjoy your summer holidays!

Relative Sentences

One of the last things we have seen this school year is how we form relative sentences and what we use them for. Here is an interesting activity in which you have to join sentences through relative pronouns. Moreover, you can write relative sentences putting the words in the appropriate order in this website.

I'm sure it will help for your coming test!

Reported Speech

These days we will be dealing with reported speech. Here you will have access to a simple grammatical explanation of the topic, in case yopu need further clarification. Moreover, in this website you can do some more activities and check whether you master the issue or not.

Would you like to visit Mark Twain's house?

We have already read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. To finish up with the activity, you handed in a reader's report and you took a test. As you know, the author of the book is Mark Twain. This is a very interesting website through which you can learn about the writer, as well as visit his museum and enjoy a virtual tour around his house.

Comparatives and Superlatives

As you know, the last grammar point we have studied so far is comparative and superlative adjectives. In this site you will find an easy explanation about how they are formed and also lots of online activities to practise.

By the way, you can send a comments describing Al, Joe and Ed (the three men in the picture) using comparatives and superlatives.

Book Day

On 23 April we celebrate Book Day and Copyright Day. But do you know why? This day is the anniversary of the death of three important authors around the world: William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. All of them died on 23 April 1616 (although there are some days of difference because some countries followed the Julian calendar and others the Gregorian one). That is the reason why UNESCO chose this day to encourage people to enjoy reading.

Modal Verbs

These days we have been working with modal auxiliary verbs in class. Here is a tutorial that can be quite clarifying for you. Moreover, you have further practice in this site, where you can do some activities and correct yourself. I hope it helps!

Easter Egg Hunt

Have you ever gone Easter egg hunting? Before holidays we learnt it was a typical game for kids in both the USA and the UK.

Here are two videos where you can see how much fun kids have these days. The first one is somewhere in Texas. The second one is in New Haven.

Easter

Before the holidays we learnt what Easter is and how it is celebrated in different parts of the world. We also learnt about its religious and pagan origins.

This is the worksheet we used in class. I hope you learnt many things.

Enjoy the holidays!

Easter

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April Fool's Day

April Fool's Day, or All Fools' Day, is the first day of April. It is a traditional day for playing pranks on unsuspecting people. In many countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, people play tricks on others. A favourite joke is to send someone on a fool's errand (a search for something that does not exist), or to get people to believe ridiculous things. The victim is called an April Fool.

No one knows where the April Fools' custom began. The origin is uncertain but may be related to the arrival of spring in late March, when nature "fools" humanity with changes in weather. Another explanation has to do with the change to the Gregorian calendar in 1582, which moved New Year's Day to January 1.

The tradition originated in France and Great Britain and it was introduced into America in colonial times.

The French call April 1 "Poisson d'Avril" or "April Fish". French children sometimes stick a picture of a fish on the back of their schoolmates, crying "Poisson d'Avril" when the prank is discovered.

Let's review Conditional Sentences!

We shouldn't have any problem using conditional sentences (types 1 and 2). In case you need further practice or clarification, you can visit this website and read the explanations and do some activities. I hope it helps!

If I Were a Boy by Beyoncé

These days we are learning how to form and use conditional sentences and this song includes a lot of them in its lyrics.Listen as you see the video by clicking here. I hope you like it!

Here are the lyrics for you to check:



Would you like to sing this song by yourself? Here is the karaoke version!

Forms for the Future

In the last unit we have learnt about the different forms English has to refer to future time: will, be going to and Present Continuous.

If you want to review future with will and do some more activities, click here.

For an explanation and activities on be going to, click here.

Remember that we use Present Continuous to talk about totally planned activities. You can review it here.

St. Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated each year on March 17th. In Ireland, Saint Patrick’s Day is both a holy day and a national holiday. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland because he brought Christianity to the Irish.

According to legend, Saint Patrick used a shamrock (a type of clover) to explain about God. The shamrock has three leaves on each stem. Saint Patrick told the people that the shamrock was like the idea of the Trinity – that in the one God there are three divine beings: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Although it began in Ireland, Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated in countries around the world. People with Irish heritage remind themselves of the beautiful green countryside of Ireland by wearing green and taking part in the festivities.

Saint Patrick’s Day is usually celebrated with a parade. The one in Dublin, the capital of Ireland, is very famous. But the one in New York City is one of the biggest. It lasts for hours.

One tale about Patrick is that he drove the snakes from Ireland. This is a metaphor for his bringing Christianity to Ireland and driving out the pagan religions. It’s true that Ireland has no snakes, but this has to do with the fact that Ireland is an island and being separated from the rest of the continent the snakes couldn’t get there.

Play a game here and have good luck! You can also read poems and listen to songs for this special day here.

International Women's Day

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women in the past, present and future. In some countries like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, this day is a national holiday. If you want to learn more about this day, you can click here.

This is a short tribute to some of the many important women throughtout history. Do you know them?

And here are some greetings for this day!

Computers and the History of the English Language

There is a computer programme that can be used to know which the oldest English words are and which ones will probably disappear in the future. If you click here you can read the whole article (in Spanish).

Thanks for the information, Tomás!

International Mother Language Day (21 February)

Did you know that there are between 6,000 and 7,000 languages in the world? Actually, there used to be more, but unfortunately, they have disappeared. We celebrated their day on February 21. The aim of this day is to promote linguistic diversity and multicultural education. In fact, many of the languages that are spoken today are in danger of extinction.

Here you can read about UNESCO's concern in either English, French, or Spanish. Pay attention to the last part, where you can see how the following sentence is said in the languages of the world:

IN THE GALAXY OF LANGUAGES, EVERY WORD IS A STAR

What can you do to take care of this galaxy? How many stars are there in your own sky?

Reasons why People Choose Andalusia

On February 28 we celebrate the Day of Andalusia. Have you ever thought about the reasons why so many tourists come to Andalusia? There are also many foreigners that choose the south of Spain as their ideal residence. Have a look at this video and pay attention. Which are the reasons why foreigners enjoy Andalusia?

Happy Valentine's Day!

As you all know, today is St. Valentine's Day (February 14). In the UK and USA it is a very popular day. People exchange gifts, cards (called valentines and chocolate with the loved ones). It is not only a day for couples! People also celebrate friendship.

In class we read about the history and origins of this day and we did some activities on a love song. Here you will find lots of interesting things about this day (games, texts, printables, crafts, etc.)

Here is a video of the song we listened to in class.

Have a happy Valentine's Day!

Present Perfect Simple

As you know, in the last unit we have learnt how to form and use the Present Perfect Simple tense.

Here you can read a funny introduction to the topic and you can also review its form and use, apart from doing some interesting activities.

We Are the World

Last Friday we celebrated Peace Day at school. Here is an interesting song dealing with peace and a better future. Enjoy both the song and video!

Someday from Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Have you ever listened to Someday, a song from Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame? Watch the video and listen to it. It has a beautiful message.



Now you can read the lyrics here. Think about them . . . and of course, think about the things you can do to improve the world!

Imagine by John Lennon

On 30 January we celebrate the School Day of Peace and Non-Violence. One of the most representative songs is Imagine by John Lennon. Enjoy the video here as you listen to the song and think about the lyrics. Then, you can sing using the karaoke version.

Obama's Oath of Office

Everybody knows that last Tuesday, 20 January 2009, Barack Obama became the President of the United States of America. Did you see him take the Presidential Oath of Office? Here you can see the video and read the original oath (as it is written in the Constitution).



Well, everybody gets messed up when speaking in front of an audience . . . but that's not a reason to keep silent when you have important things to say! Bear it in mind!

I Have a Dream

Last 19 January American people celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Do you know who he is? He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. You can learn more things about his life and work here. You can also enjoy this subtitled video of his famous speech I Have a Dream.

I'm sure you also have a dream about how people's lives could improve. Send a comment telling us!

Jobs and Professions

These days we are dealing with jobs and professions. What would you like to be in the future? Can you say it in English? If you click here you can do an online activity to review vocabulary. You just have to draw the elements on the right and check your answers. Here is a trilingual list of vocabulary so that you can practise your French too!

Happy New Year!

How did you say goodbye to 2008? How did you receive the new year? Did you eat the twelve grapes? As you know, not everybody has the same customs and traditions. Would you like to know how people in New York welcomed 2009 in Times Square? Have a look at this video and enjoy the atmosphere.

Would you like to see the Christmas lights in London?

If you want to see the Christmas lights in London, don't miss this opportunity. Get in my car and I'll give you a lift from Piccadilly Circus to Marble Arc. I'll turn on the radio if you want. By the way, don't panic! Remember people drive on the left here!

Jingle Bell Rock

If you feel like singing today, here goes this Jingle Bell Rock. Pay attention to the lyrics and then sing the karaoke version!

My Best Wishes for Christmas!

I Wish You a Merry Christmas!

We have already begun our Christmas holidays. I hope you enjoy yourselves and have lots of fun. Here are some interesting online activities for you to review English and have a good time:

If you want to learn some Christmas vocabulary by joining words and pictures, click here.

If you prefer to review what British people do at Christmas, click here.

Would you prefer something more challenging? Well, do this quiz on how people celebrate Christmas all over the world.

Here you can read and listen to a story about Christmas Day and here you can listen to a song about Santa. Go here if you prefer a story about his helper.

And now that you are an expert on Christmas, why don't you help Santa choose the best presents for some kids here?

Do They Know it's Christmas?

Band Aid is a British charity that calls artists to record a Christmas single. Do They Know It's Christmas Time at All? is a song written in 1984 to raise money for the relief of famine in Ethiopia in 1984 and 1985. Many famous singers contributed with their voices. Although the song is almost 25 years old, I think the message is still valid. What do you think?



Here are the lyrics for you to think about the content:

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Hi, students! Remember that our obligatory reader for this course is the adapted version of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, published by Burlington Books.

This is a quick post to remind you that you should have it by January 7, 2009. So don't forget to include it in your letter to the Three Kings!

Thanksgiving Quiz

What did you learn about Thanksgiving Day? How good are you at verb tenses (Past and Participle). Do this quiz and check what you can do!

Past Continuous

Here you can go to another explanation of the form and use of Past Continuous. In that site there are also activities to put into practice what you have learned.

You can also do this activity on Past Continuous. Do you think you need something more challenging? Click here for an activity to choose between Past Simple and Past Continuous.

Good luck!

-ed Pronunciation (Past Simple)

Do you find it difficult to pronounce regular verbs in past form? If you didn't have enough with the activities we did in class, click here and get further practice.

Happy Turkey Day!

As you know, on the fourth Thursday of November people in the USA celebrate Thanksgiving Day. Members of the family meet around a huge dinner where stuffed turkey with gravy, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes play an important role. Americans also enjoy American football on TV and there is a famous parade along the streets of New York.

People give thanks for all the things they have and they say "Happy Thanksgiving!". I wish you a happy day with this funny video I came across.



Here is the original song and a link to the karaoke version for you to sing alone.

Thanksgiving Day

The fourth Thursday in November is Thanksgiving Day in the USA. These days we will learn about both its origin and the way people celebrate it nowadays.

If you click here you'll visit a wonderful website where you'll be able to experience the first Thanksgiving feast.

If you prefer to read about their food (both in English and Spanish), click here.

And here is the worksheet we will work on in class. I hope you learn interesting things about how Americans spend this special day with their friends and family. And of course, I hope you have no doubt when and how to use Present and Past Simple!

Thanksgiving

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Past Simple

As you know, these days we have been learning the form and use of the past simple tense in English. In this site you'll find an interesting explanation of it, with links to activities. If you think you need to review the past form of verb 'to be', click here or here.

Still difficult? Well, you can always have a look at this website and read the explanation in Spanish!

A song with all the meanings you want . . .

In the last comment Luis posted he included a website to see one of his favourite videos in YouTube. Now we will listen to a song he also likes: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds by The Beatles.

Apparently there are several explanations for the inspiration of this song. Some people say John Lennon got the inspiration from a picture drawn by his son. Other people say it has to do with drugs.

Anyway, I agree with Luis it is a good song, easy to understand and follow. It includes a lot of vocabulary dealing with nature, doesn't it? How many of these words can you find? Any other explanation for it?

Enjoy the video!

What do we know about the American elections?

Everybody knows that Obama is the new president of the United States of America. Last Monday Boone, our language assistant, showed interesting pictures of Obama, his family, and people celebrating the election results. We have also voted for the ex-president with the coolest facial hair, haven't we?

If you click here you will see a video explaining the electoral system in the USA. The subtitles are in Spanish, but pay full attention and listen carefully. Do you find it complex?

English subject pronouns

Here are some easy activities for you to review subject pronouns in English. Do your best!

If you want to start by translating thge pronouns, click here.

Click here to identify subject pronouns.

In this site you can identify the plural forms of the singular pronouns.

Imagine!

Here is one of Ángela's favourite songs in English: Imagine by John Lennon. You can see a live version of it with subtitles. Would you dare to translate it into Spanish?


Here is a karaoke version for you to sing in English.

Adjectives of personality

As you know, we began unit 1 with a review of personal descriptions. In this video by Des'ree you'll listen to her song You Gotta Be. In the chorus there are 8 different personality adjectives. Can you tell me which they are? Send a comment with the 8 adjectives and their translation into Spanish.

Enjoy the song!

Let's review verb tenses!

I think it's time to review Present Simple and Present Continuous. From here you will have access to explanations regarding their forms and uses, together with activities to check your knowledge.

Present Simple Present Continuous

Moreover, if you click here you can do an activity to distinguish one from the other.

Would you like to do something more challenging? Click here and complete the text!

Why not review the numbers in English?

You told me the other day you would like to review the numbers in English. If you click here you will visit an interesting website with a list of both cardinal and ordinal numbers (small and big numbers). It also includes different activities. Help yourselves!

Nice to meet you!

Hi, students! I think we should begin our blog by introducing ourselves, shouldn't we?

As you know my name is Elena. I was born in Córdoba, but I live in Seville. I am an English teacher and I enjoy my job. I think I am hardworking and loyal. I am also quiet. In my free time, I like reading and going out with my friends. My favourite sport is swimming. I like going to the swimming pool in summer and I love going to the beach.

Now it's your turn. Write a short comment introducing yourselves. Include: name, origin, residence, family, sports, likes, personality adjectives . . .

Good luck!