Celebrate languages

A very interesting link to surf through!:

CELEBRATE LANGUAGES

"resources a la carte"

A good link to find other useful pages:

SPEECHY PROJECT

Check the following links

+++++ For children and adults learning English as a second language:

***** Tongue twisters

***** Learn how to read

***** Listen and read some short stories

***** Learn vocabulary: nouns, verbs,etc.

***** Learn lots of vocabulary here

***** Learn vocabulary about sports here

++++ For adults learning English as a second language:

***** Lots of sheets to learn lots of things

***** Thanksgiving Day game

***** Learn vocabulary (mostly Advanced level)

***** free audiobooks here

Check these useful links

******* First, if you want to practise your vocabulary, you'll find the following link very interesting. Most items are for Basic level, but there are also some interesting exercises for Intermediate or Advanced students (describing feelings and character, for example), also for Medicine and Nursing students (parts of tooth, for example)... You can check it by yourself.
NOTE: When you have access to the link, you must write down "English" inside both squares, the one where it is written "Use", and the one where it is written "Learn". Do this, or you might learn another language different from English!

CLICK HERE

******* Do you need help with your pronunciation? Check the BBC page:
CLICK HERE

******* Do you need more phonetics practice? Check the following link:
CLICK HERE

******* Do you want to play and learn how to spell correctly?
CLICK HERE

******* Also, if you want to watch short extracts of films and do the related activities, check this other site:

CLICK HERE

******* Why not checking the following link to practise your vocabulary about sports:
CLICK HERE

******* Last, but not least, this great page to practise lots of different things related to grammar, punctuation, spelling, reading,etc.!
CLICK HERE

NASA helps you with your English

The following task is based on the material N.A.S.A has published on the net, related to the audio clips in which Clara Ma,the girl who received a prize recently in a N.A.S.A. contest, speaks about the event.

**** You can do the Listening and Reading activities I have included on the next link, based on those text extracts and audio clips, thanks to N.A.S.A. Transcript and key included (underlined words).

First, do the Reading task, then, click on the second link so as to listen to the audio and be able to do the Listening task.

Reading and Listening

**** You can listen to her here:

audioclips and transcript

**** You can also read her essay here:
essay

Summer revision

SOURCE of the image: http://skhimsara.wordpress.com/ (Thanks a lot, it is just perfect for the season and the task!)

**** (All levels) Click on the following link, choose from the list that video which is related to your level and that topic which you want to revise. Then, do the quiz:

http://www.engvid.com/english-lessons/

For example (Basic level): Saying large numbers: http://www.engvid.com/speaking-english-saying-numbers/

(Note: More about "how to say numbers" here: http://www.spokenenglish.org/talkbr32.html
And more about numbers here: http://www.english-at-home.com/pronunciation/saying-dates-and-numbers-in-english/)

Another engvid example (Basic level): Countable and uncountable names: http://www.engvid.com/countable-uncountable-nouns-english-grammar/

**** (Up to Intermediate)Do these BBC quizzes about the house and its contents:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/youmeus/quiznet/newquiz69.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/worldservice/quiznet/quizengine?ContentType=text/html;quiz=1214_at_home

http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/worldservice/quiznet/quizengine?ContentType=text/html;quiz=829_house_home

*** Phonetics. Revise your pronunciation on the following links:

- minimal pairs:
http://www.shiporsheep.com/

(Basic level)Then, click on the pair you want and you will hear the sounds.
For example:
http://www.shiporsheep.com/page1.html

Have a look at this page and then to the section "More pronunciation practice" . Then, click on the activities you want to do: http://www.fonetiks.org/

For example, do you want to know how to pronounce something? Type it and you will hear it: http://www.howjsay.com/

(Basic level) Another example: Do you know how to spell words? Revise the alphabet:
http://www.spokenenglish.org/talkbr12.html

*** (All levels) DICTATIONS:Why not doing aa DICTATION?
Choose your level, exercise, first listen to the complete extract and then, write it down when the speaker dictates it to you. Finally, check it:
http://www.dictationsonline.com/


++++ Clues to help you with dictations:

"Oh" = zero = 0 double = x 2 triple = x 3 plus = + minus = - multiplied by = x divided by = over = ÷



And remember punctuation:

Full stop = . Comma = , Semi-colon = ; Colon = : Inverted commas = "___"
Exclamation mark = ! Question mark = ? Brackets = ( __ ) Hyphen = __-__ Dash = —

Saying email addresses and understanding messages on the answering machine:

#: hash * : the star button

@ is pronounced 'at'. For instance, caimin@clara.net is "caimin, at, clara, dot, net".

/ is "forward slash".

- is called a "hyphen" or a "dash".

_ is an "underscore".


*** (All levels) Check these interesting pages, full of hints and exercises:
http://www.english-at-home.com/

http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/

http://www.mansioningles.com/

(Basic level):http://www.aulafacil.com/CursoIngles/CursoIngles.htm

Dentro ir a :
- Indice (gramática):http://www.aulafacil.com/CursoIngles/IndexClases.htm

- Indice curso con videos, listening, Reading, etc (more levels, even Advanced):http://www.aulafacil.com/cursosgratis/curso/ingles.html

- (Basic Level):http://www.aulafacil.com/Inglesvideo/Lecciones/Temario.htm

- (Intermediate level): http://www.aulafacil.com/ingles-video-2/Curso/Temario.htm

- (Advanced level):http://www.aulafacil.com/Proficiency/Lecciones/Temario.htm

Watch, listen and read!

**** For Intermediate and advanced level students:

Do you want to have some extra listening practice for your exam? You can watch or listen to a video related to news and try to understand it, or you can listen to it while you are reading the transcript.

You will find lots of videos with transcripts if you click on the next link:

CNN Student News archive

Note:Don't forget to look up any words you may not understand!
(English definition and/or English into Spanish: http://www.wordreference.com/)

Driving in Europe

Watch this short and easy video and complete the sentences with the words you hear, according to the information you are given in the video:



SOURCE:http://mediateca.educa.madrid.org/reproducir.php?id_video=oc1cwb75lf689hvr

A. When we say that Europe has one of the most complex systems of roads in the world, we mean that it has one of the 1)__________ road 2)_____________ in the world.

B. If you have a Spanish driving 3)________________, you can use it in the rest of the European Union, because it is also 4)__________ in the other countries.

C. Your insurance 5)__________ will at least provide you with the minimum 6)_________ required in the other countries.

D. You must always wear your safety 7)_________ fastened.

E. Drive 8)__________

F. Be sure you 9)___________ an eye on the speed 10)____________. The may be different from those in your country.

Transcript of the video and key:

You’ve got it at last! Your driving licence!
Europe has one of the 1) densest road 2) networks in the world, a real invitation to take to the road. Your driving 3) licence is 4) valid wherever you choose to travel in the European Union and your car insurance 5) policy will automatically provide the minimum 6) cover required by law. Anyway, fasten your seat 7) belt, drive 8) safely and 9) keep an eye on the speed 10) limits. These may differ from one country to another.

If you want to print this exercise, CLICK HERE

Plan your trip!

As you surely remember, our student from University, Elia, gave us a very good presentation about Sicily, her Italian region. Then, you had to discuss the different options and give reasons for your choice, together with your classmates, among the varied and appealing packaged tours she offered.

Here is the photocopy you used in class:
Plan your trip!

A game with infinitives and gerunds

For those students who missed the lesson and for those who want to practise it again, here you are the game we played in class (with key).

A game with infinitives and gerunds

Several interesting resources

You can browse through next pages, either if you are a student or a teacher, to look for interesting links with good resources for Education:

-------> IN ENGLISH:Pages to practise English (several levels):

*** Educastur

*** Groovetoenglish

*** Carmenlu

-------> More web pages:

• Podcasts in English:
http://www.podcastsinenglish.com/index.shtml

• English club:

http://www.englishclub.com

• Speaking:

http://www.voxopop.com/

http://www.talkenglish.com/

http://www.splendid-speaking.com/

http://www.worldenglishclub.com/

http://www.english-at-home.com/speaking/

• Listening:

http://www.elllo.org

... And many more on the right side of this blog, browsing downwards.

-------> IN SPANISH:Resources for teachers (several subjects)

*** Recursos educativos para docentes

*** Profesores innovadores

Pronunciation

If you want to practise your pronunciation, try doing the exercises and quizzes the BBC has.

CLICK HERE

Listening practice

Do these listenings to practise that skill:
CLICK HERE

I have done this one and I think it is suitable for Intermediate level students:

Holidays with a difference

You can also surf and browse through next page links for further online practice. There are grammar and vocabulary exercises, games and lots of activities. For some of them, you need to create an account.

CLICK HERE

Thanks to Oxford University Press

Modelos de examen de Pruebas de Certificación

De cara al examen de junio, os recuerdo que hay dos blogs, que hacen
profesoras de la Escuela de Idiomas "El Fuero de Logroño", en los que encontrareis modelos de examen de Reading y Listening. Os recomiendo hacer esos exámenes para mayor práctica de ambas destrezas:

NIVEL BÁSICO

NIVEL INTERMEDIO

También teneis modelos de examen en internet de varias escuelas, que os pueden ser útiles para practicar las cuatro destrezas:

Aragón

Madrid

Valencia

More help from the internet!

**** Just by chance, I came across another blog for That's English! students (EOI Zaragoza1). I am sure you will also find it very useful! I have included a link to it on the right side, inside "Useful blogs and sites", so that you can find it easily any time!

http://mythatsenglish.blogspot.com/

**** Además, si quereis saber más sobre la ayuda y actividades que internet puede proporcionar para aprender inglés, Cristina Sanjuán (EOI Zaragoza2) nos proporciona una buena lista de enlaces, entre los que seguro que hay alguno que aún no habíais localizado:

MEJORA TU INGLÉS CON INTERNET

**** Have a look at her web site for Basic and Intermediate level students: http://mimosa.pntic.mec.es/~csanjuan/

A great hit ever

I have found two different videos I think you will enjoy watching. The first one is on Vaughan tv, but you can watch it thanks to youtube. By the way, it is a pity we cannot watch that channel for free in La Rioja yet. Maybe in the near future!

First video: You will listen to a man talking about the time when Grease, the film, became so famous (... and still is!). Do this TRUE/FALSE task while you are watching the video:

**** Exercise:
TRUE or FALSE?

1. June 1978: The song spent two weeks at the top of the charts in the United States.
2. At that time, the World Cup began and Argentina beat Holland 3-1.
3. In 1978, Charles Chaplin's coffin disappeared for ever.
4. Olivia Newton John was very nervous about Grease.
5. John Travolta was in New York at the same time as Olivia, so they met there.
6. While he was recording for his film "Saturday Night Fever", she was working at the Metropolitan.
7. Olivia was an actress who sang and Travolta, a singer who also became an actor.
8. Olivia was the name of Travolta's girlfriend in the movie.




Web URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz7oDBPT4Gs


KEY:
1. F (one week)
2. T
3. F (Then, it was found)
4. T
5. T
6. T
7. F (viceversa)
8. F (No, the female character's name was Sandy. Danny was in love with Sandy. Olivia was the actress who played that role. Travolta was the actor and Danny, the male character))

Then, in the second video, you can sing along the main characters, while watching the scene in which they were dancing and singing one of the most famous songs of this film: "You are the one I want" (with lyrics).

English can certainly be fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Web URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyUWkQj0Q_U

Discussion topics: And the winner is ...

In class. Time for discussion:

You are going to watch a Pantene commercial in which they tell us about two girls who compete in a contest. One of them plays the piano and the other one plays the violin. The violinist cannot either talk or hear. Talk to your partner and tell each other about what you can see in the video, what is happening, etc. Look up any word or phrase you need for your description.

Then, answer the following questions:

1) Which of these two contestants do you think deserves the prize? Why?
2) Which of the two characters does just anything to get what she wants?
3) What do you think about the saying:"the end justifies the means"?
4) Do you think artists take out the best of themselves when they go through harsh times in their lives?
5) Do you think this story ends happily or, in other words, that all pays off in the end?
6) Have you ever been, or someone you know, in a situation similar to the violinist's?
7) Do you know how to communicate by using sign language in English?
8) Can you read braille?
9) Can you play any musical instrument? Which one? How long for?
10) Can you draw, paint, write or do any other artistic activity? If so, have you ever taken part in a contest? Have you ever been awarded a scholarship or any other prize for it?

Click here to watch the video (youtube)
Or watch it here below:

Questions about cinema

Last Friday we watched V for Vendetta, a very interesting film which you can borrow from the school library, in case you want to watch it more in detail, you were not able to come to class or you belong to another group.

Now, why not doing this activity so as to practise how to ask and answer questions about films?:

CLICK HERE




Traditional rhyme for the 5th of November:

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up the King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd (or by God's mercy*)
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holla boys, Holla boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the Queen!

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night

**** Watch this interview to the main actor, Hugo Weaving. Then, fill in the gaps in the given sentences and answer the last three questions in your own words:



From youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovk4H3_-DUs

1. I think you did a __________ job, you really moved me.
2. I read the _________ and I loved it.
3. Okay, they want me to go over, they must think it's going to ________ out.
4. I wanna know how much your theatrical ______________ helped you with this role.
5. But essentially, as an actor, you are working on the same _________
6. The _____________ really doesn't unmask himself
7. The ideas are more __________ than the man, more important than the individual.
8. She's very, very _____________ I found, I think everyone.
9. She's ___________, really. She´s very intelligent, and I found her very warm.
10. She's extremely ___________ to work with.
11. I hate __________ personally. I'm not interested in them because they're impossible.
12. We need to understand why people do things _________ than just saying, "They are terrorists"
13. ... that government should be ______________ to the people they represent.

Now answer these questions:
14. Did he play the action scenes or were they played by a stunt?
15. Do the actor and the character have the same opinion about buildings and architecture? Give your reasons.
16. According to the actor, what is the main idea in this film?

Key: 1. magnificent 2.script 3.work 4.background 5.base 6.character 7.important 8. easygoing 9.delightful 10.easy 11.heroes 12.rather 13. responsive 14. A stunt does. 15. The actor respects buildings and architecture. The character in the film sees that concrete building as a symbol of the tirany that has destroyed democracy. 16. The central idea of this film is that people shouldn't live in fear, that we shouldn't live in fear. There's a lot of fear in the world today. This is why probably people respond to that element in the film.

**** You can watch the trailer in case you missed the movie:

Reading and Listening skills

Have a look at these blogs to practise both your Reading and your Listening skills, thanks to the teachers who take part in the programme of Collaboration between Oficial Schools of Languages in La Rioja (EEOOII from La Rioja) and Secondary Schools in La Rioja (IIEESS from La Rioja).

Every month, they add a new listening and a new reading activity on the blog, with key. They will help you to prepare for your Certificate exam:

Programa de Colaboración con IIEESS: Nivel Básico

Programa de Colaboración con IIEESS: Nivel Intermedio

The Pillars of the Earth

Very good news!
Have you ever read "The Pillars of the Earth", by Ken Follet?
If you have not read it yet, I am pretty sure you will enjoy it. Why not starting now? ... And not only in Spanish but also in English, to improve your level of the language!
If you already know about the plot and its characters, you will surely enjoy the eight-chapter series which will be seen in Spain next September.
To wet your appetite, have a look at the trailer, in English:



SOURCE: Watch it in youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSa6AhEWebA&feature=channel

*** Why not trying this crossword now?

The words in this crossword are mentioned in the trailer you have just seen about "The Pillars of the Earth". Find them out as you read about their meaning.

Problems to see the crossword in its complete size? CLICK HERE



*** Now, you can watch this:
Behind the camera




You can also watch it in youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L86quRXY6zI&feature=fvw

*** Vocabulary task: Find six words which have been mentioned in the video above. All of them are words related to the world of cinema:

Any problems to see the worgrid properly? CLICK HERE



*** Do you want to read more news about it: plot, characters, reviews and so on?

Then, visit this page:http://www.the-pillars-of-the-earth.tv/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89&Itemid=122