Mediation

I guess this is the skill you feel the least confident and so do I. Let's try to work with it as much as possible but I'm afraid there's not much on the internet.
First of all I'd like you to visit this link in which it's explained what mediation is. Although it's in Spanish I think it's really helpful and pedagogical.
This other document is a sort of an article in Spanish to show a possible way to face mediation: click here
Besides, you can see examples of mediation exams from other EEOOII in Spain as Comunidad de Madrid hasn't provided any sampels yet:

• Comunidad de Asturias
• B1:
• Written mediation: click here
• Oral mediation: click here
• B2
• Written mediation: click here
• Oral mediation: click here
• C1
• Written mediation: click here
• Oral mediation: click here

• Comunidad de Castilla-La Mancha

• B1:
• Written mediation: click here
• Oral mediation: click here
• B2
• Written mediation: click here for the task and there is a link there for the video
• Oral mediation: click here
• C1
• Written mediation: click here for the task but you need an audio
• Oral mediation: click here

• Comunidad Foral de Navarra:
• B1:
• Written mediation: click here
• Oral mediation: click here
• B2
• Written mediation: click here
• Oral mediation: click here
• C1
• Written mediation: click here (mediation for Spanish as a Foreign Language)
• Oral mediation: click here

• Comunidad de Madrid: (not official exams but examples provided by teachers)
• B1:
• Written mediation: click here
• Oral mediation: click here
• B2
• Oral mediation: click here
• C1
• Oral mediation: click here

But if you want to see good exemples you can go to this blog of Cristina Cabal, although most of them are for B2, but they could be adapted for other levels, especially the oral mediations.

I hope tis entry will be of any help. If you want to practise with a written mediation, you can choose one from the blog or from the oficial exams (based on a text, please; and included into the mediation you sent to me to see the task you have to do).

Take care!

Material for That's English!

Let me remind you there is a platform to get access to resources given by the Ministry of Education but you should log in in this site; the link is here. Nevertheless, there are plenty of links which can help you to improve your level of English but I've tried to find some material more oriented to Tha's English!  and this is what I've found. I hope it'll be helpful:

• Junta de Andalucía: this is the link for general resources

I can't see any other pages about That's English! but you can use any page to prepare B1 exams; if possible, go to B2 as well. It'll be more challenging but also it's useful to feel more confident with your own level.

• Cambridge: 
• B1: click here
• B2: click here
• Test English: levels B 1, B1+ and B2
• listening: B1,  B1+  and  B2
• Use of English: B1,  B1+  and  B2
• Reading: B1,  B1+  and  B2

In this last webpage you also have grammar and writing, but I think you've got plenty of material in your own textbook. However, if you like to have a look you should go to the general link here, click on the tabs you need and then go to the level you want to work with.

Keep on working to be prepared when this plague is over and we come back to school.

That's English! Module 8 - Unit 11: Revision for the exam

As you already know, and due to the current situation, it's not clear when we are going to come back to school and when we'll have the final exams, but if the dates were kept we should reset for them. That's the reasons why I really recommend you to see this last unit of your text book in detail as there are plenty of good tips for the exams. Nevertheless, let me remind you we'll use the "general questions" we already saw in each unit for the oral exam, especially for the task of a monologue. Have a look to the previous lessons in the blog to check the vocabulary and the main structures learnt in them.

Pay attention to the most difficult skills, the "productive" ones as these are the most remarkable when it comes to write a composition or speak about the topics given. It is there where you show clearly your own level of English.

Try to bear in mind you're in intermediate level (not elementary) so revise your writing for spelling or grammar mistakes as you are supposed to be able to correct them by yourself. Include vocabulary and variety because accuracy in vocabulary, structures and connectors is expected.

Regarding speaking skills, take into account the same tips and pay attention to what your partner is saying. Remember this is not a contest to see who is better but a simulated conversation so be collaborative, friendly and help your partner during your performance.

Try to keep calm. I know it's difficult but this is important in order to have a good exam. Anyway, good luck to everybody! Hope you'll pass the exam.

To finish with these tips, remember you should keep on working with año the material provided, including this blog. Use All the post that they could be of any help and if you want me to correct your compositions you could do it via email.

Music, please

Everybody likes music, don't we? The only thing is that we don't agree with the kind of music we enjoy. This is a matter of horses for courses: what suits you might be not goog for me.
I say this because now we could try to find some time to go through the list of songs we made at school  the last days se had class and vote the ones you prefer. To do so, go to this link song list and follow the instructions given there.
We're eager to know your opinion and you'll help us to make the top song list.
Take part in the selection and enjoy good music in English.
One day less to finish this seclusion. Thank you for your contribution to erradicate  the bug.

Working with listening skills

This is a skill which is really useful and essential for your final exam, but we've already seen this skill applied to other skills like speaking or reading. Let's put together some links that might help you to practise, although most of them are included in Interesting links on this blog:

• One of the classic ones, but not enough for C1 unless you use it for other purposes like models, pronunciation, reviewing vocabulary, etc.: www.elllo.org

• BBC Learning English: Watch and Listen many topics and it has tapescript 6 Minutes English

• Agendaweb has also plenty of exercises with levels: Listening exercises

• Randall's ESL Cyber Café is another classic one: if you go to esl-lab you'll find the three levels available. Be careful because the quality of the audio sometimes is not really good.

• ESL lounge: this link has listening exercises divided into 4 levels plus Business section.

• The British Council: it also has a page working on listening and their levels are from A1 to C1

• Newsy: go here if you want to be updated but it doesn´t have exercises. You´ll find short videos about current news so work with the tools of the video (speed and subtitles).

• TED is also one of my favourite ones although you don't have comprehension exercises. Remember to use the shortest ones to practise listening and use the longer ones for fun.

• Cambridge: one of the most experienced institutions in the assessment of English has this site

Apart from these general pages, go to the samples you could find on the internet for listening exams, those from EEOOII and from Cambridge exams will be the most useful.

Take care and be patient!

B2.1 - Using Past Perfect

PAST PERFECT TENSE

This is a summary of this tense and its uses:

Form	SUBJECT	HAD	PAST PARTICIPLE	REST OF THE SENTENCE
Affirmative	My friend	had	finished	her homework when I arrived
Negative	She	hadn’t	got	dressed yet
Interrogative (inversion)	Hadn’t	she	had	enough time before my arrival?

Uses

It's the tense used when an action happened BEFORE another past action, so both are usually related, that is, past simple and past perfect normally go together:

• Before I arrived home I realised I hadn’t  bought some fruit for dinner

It's very common in TIME complex sentences with before / after / when:

• After she had left the room, Peter started talking about her

It's a perfect tense so it’s frequently used with these adverbs: ALREADY / YET / JUST / EVER / NEVER

• It had just started raining when we took the car

You’ll find it in specific sentences when using:

1. Reported speech: He said he hadn’t seen her before
2. Impossible or 3rd conditional: If I had known you were coming I would have prepared something special for dinner
3. Regrets or complaints in the past: I wish/ If only I had spoken to her

To practise with this grammar point you can do these exercises: exercise 1 exercise 2 exercise 3
exercise 4    exercise 5    exercise 6 

Remember you have more information in Google Classroom. Take care and keep on working.

Speaking skills

This is a difficult skill to improve for many people and it seems imposible to do so, especially by yourself at home and/or alone. Let's see what we can do to practise by using different techniques or activities:

1. Imitating speech: this simple video will explain how to do it and why you should do it: click here.

2. Recording your speech: when you're speaking in English you usually focus on what your doing but almost word by word, not as a whole. If you record yourself with your mobile, your computer or tablet, you'll be able to check problems such as entonation, gaps, repetitions, wrong pauses, the time you spend and  things like that.

3. Using models: such as songs you like, movies, series or shows, the news and so on. This video shows you an example.  But you can also use listening exercises after finishing the task. They can be used as models, especially if they have the tapescript to check (remember what we saw above in the imitating speech). You may use listenings from many websites you already know like elllo, for example.

4. Learn useful expressions: these will help not only you when you're speaking but with other skills such as writing or reading. There are plenty of links on this topic but some examples are : International House in Bristol (it's also in the Interesting links of this blog) or this one to prepare oral exams for FCE (B2) but you can also use it in other levels. You can also make your own list of useful sentencia like I can't agree with you more, that's exactly what I was saying, let me tell you something about that, 

5. Finding conversational partners: starting with your classmates, but if you prefer meeting new people use social networks to talk about your hobbies or interests (video games, movies, music, etc.). There are some webpages for exchanging conversation, although I haven't used them myself like this one or this

6. Improve your pronunciation: this is a link with many lessons about how to pronounce sounds in English so go to the ones you find difficult to correct yourself: click here. Listen and repeat as many times as you need but also record yourself to check you're doing it right.

7. Reading aloud: it's a good way of practising pronunciation so you can use the texts with audios I provided on the Reading post I gave you a few days before.

8. Practise with presentations: this is something really useful because the slides help you with your speech but also because it's what you have to do many times at work, at university, at school... Choose the topic, prepare it and record the result. And share it with the rest of us in Google Classroom!

Planning for this week - All levels

As this situation goes on for longer, let's organised our week. This planning tries to help you but remember there is plenty of general material such as the one I gave you about writing and reading. Speaking, listening and mediation are coming soon.

This general advice related to skills is for all the students. Them you have to apply it to your level and your timetable.

About writing I insist  you can send me your compositions by email and I'll send back your work corrected but please use word, OpenOffice or Google docs. I'm still waiting for the work of many of you.

For speaking  you should practise with the exercises you have in your textbooks and use your mobile to record your performance. It helps you a lot because you are able to see and correct problems such as fluency, vocabulary, repetitions, entonation or accuracy as well as you check time and topic.

Listening is quite easy to practise because there are plenty of exercises on the Internet. When you search, use the words in English: listening exercises+B1/B2/C1 or take the samples of exams for EEOOII or Cambridge tests.

As I posted before, for reading you can practise for your exams or you can read short stories and the news. It'll help you with the technics for the exam but also to enjoy for a while. Use stories with audio, if possible.

I'm afraid for mediation there's not much on the Internet but I keep on searching. You should practise by trying to explain topics similar to the ones we saw in class: how to be healthy, the best place to live in Spain, how to get your transport pass, domestic violence, etc.

B1.2 That's English!- module 8
You already have Unit 10 I posted for you so there you have what to do, apart from your own material (this is an advantage for you as it's designed as self-studying material).

B2.1
Revise the last grammar points we saw in class, especially passive voice, reported speech and verbs followed by -ing and/or infinitive. We're going to see past perfect, which is on the last lessons of your textbook. Try to practise for the exam as well.

C1
Apart from practising with exams, we should check subordination and connectors, but also we'll try to improve accuracy so your textbook has a large variety of words and expressions you should get familiar with. Nevertheless, you can work on your own pretty well so use all the tools you already have.

To finish with, this is just an outline of the work for this week. I'll post some more material but if you need something in particular, let me know and we'll share it on the blog. Use the email of this blog to contact me.

Take care and remember we'll be able to best this virus. For sure.

That's English! - Module 8 - Unit 10: Media

This lesson deals with mass media. It's something which is very familiar for us, especially if we think of TV, radio, magazines, and the Internet. Maybe what has changed is the way we use them. Let's see the questions, as usual:

• Do you watch TV a lot? How long for? What programmes do you prefer?
• What's your favourite programme? Why? Have you seen it this week? Is it very popular? Are there any programme you don't like? Why?
• Some people think the radio is dead. Do you agree? Is it the same for young pople? and for elderly people? Do you ever listen to the radio? When and/or why do you do it?
• People have many options nowadays. Compare mass media 20 years ago and in these days. What are the main differences?  Does the Internet have something to do with this change? Give reasons for your answer.
• How would you improve our television? Would you release more channels? Would you change any programmes? Which ones and why?

Vocabulary

Here are there some pages to see the typical words connected to this topic:

• TV programs: click here and here
• mass media in general: click here or here

Activity 1

Go to page 107 and do the questionaire to your mate(s) and then tell them what kind of viewer is that person. Swap roles and when you finish, discuss if you agree or not. Give reasons.

Activity 2

Do activity 9 in the same page. Try to agree what programme to watch on TV. You can use the programme schedule on the book or you may choose another one.

Activity 3

Globalization is present on TV. Most programmes are copies or imitations from the ones on American, British or other European televisions. Discuss this point with your partner and give examples.

Activity 4

Let's practise some listening comprenhension for the exam:

• mass media: click here
• fake news: click here (very difficult!)
• social mmedi: click here
• how important is media in our daily life: click here

It's time to have some fun

I've thought you might like to enjoy some laughter to reduce tension at this difficult time. I've found some videos video are funny or at least they are for me. Here are they:.

• Cartoons of Captain: click here
• This is a link with funny talks from TED: click here
• A classic one: click here
• If you have a higher level you can use funny series or shows to improve your English like The Ellen Show: click here.

I think we need some time to relax and have fun. Try to enjoy while learning English; at least it's much more enjoyable and entertaining in this way.

Take care!

Reading skills

Now we have longer time to read so we'll see what to read, how to do it and why we should do it. Let's start from the last one to the other points.

Reasons for reading

Most people read for pleasure, so you usually read things which seems to be interesting or meaningful for you. Try to find your favoutite autor or the sort of books you enjoy in graded readers if your level is intermediate but original versions if you are in avances levels. To yo from graded to original I really recommend using short stories rather than thick novels. These are links which help you:

• General pages: you can see this link or this one
• Graded readers: this link or this articule where some links are described (click here)
• Original versions: one of the most popular one is VOA but you also have this one; if you don't have time, you should try this short-short story link

But some people read for getting information, that is, the news, manuals, articles, abstracts, etc. You can go to the the webpages of news. These are some examples:

• News in levels: click here
• Articles for learning English: this link
• International editions of the most remarkable newspapers like Le Monde Diplomatique (English edition), The Guardian, or even El Pais

Reading also helps you to improve your other language skills by increasing your vocabulary, fixing structures, giving you accuracy and implementing your own general knowledge. 

How to improve your English with reading

• Read aloud to have better pronunciation; if you use a reading with audio you may compare your performance afterwards.
•  Reading gives you samples to follow in your writing and even in your formal speech
• Nowadays there's plenty to read on the internet, for pleasure, work, information, travelling, hobbies... You just need to look for what you want to read. 

How to improve writing skills

This is the same as many other activities: the more you do it, the better your results are. It's a matter of practice but there are also some tips to help you with your production.

The first thing is to be logical and coherent. This means that you have to bear in mind that the person who is reading your composition is not in your head, so explain your thoughts clearly and you may give examples as well.

Don't try to be funny or really original unless you're really sure about what you're doing. It's better to be efficient and resolute (but not dull) so take care you'r doing what you've been asked to do.

You should get variety and accuracy so when you're writing, or even better when you've finished your work,  revise what you've done and use synonyms or different structures to avoid repetition.

Pay attention to your spelling and if you have recurrent mistakes, go through your composition to check you've done it right.

These are some free webpages you can use to practise your writing:

• Grammarly
• Cambridge Write & Improve
• ProWritingAid
• Hemingway Editor 

Work with them and see if they are useful for you. I really think the one from Cambridge is the best for learners as the other ones are for native speakers.

Father's Day

Todas it's Father's Day in Spain but it's not the sale un other parts of the world. I'll show you two videos about this festivity in these countries:

• America
• UK

For  my groups of B2.1 you could write a short composition to explain the main differences of both countries with Spain.  The composition should have between 150-175 words.

For C1 I'd rather you sent me an opinión essay on the topic explaining if you are in favor of keeping this date to remind us how importante fathers are or if you think this is just a comercial evento designed to make us buy presents and Easter money. 

You may send your homework by email to be corrected, but do it in either Word (or OpenOffice) or a document from Google Drive but NOT a photo or a PDF.

To finish with have a look at these songs about fathers. There are many so these are just a red::

• Father and Song by Cat Stevens: click here
• My Father's House by Bruce Springsteen: click here
• A Song for Dad by Keith Urban: click here
• Father by Demi Lovato: click here
• Daddy Lessons by Beyoncé: click here

Preparing exams

As this situation seems to last for long, let me give you some links to prepare your final exams. Depending the exam you want to sit, go to the samples which are already given in the official websites of the different "comunidades autónomas". These are two of them I've chosen for you:
Comunidad de Asturias 2019  (There's no mediation)

B1 (modules 7-8 That's English!) 

• Reading: click here
• Listening: click here
• Writing: click here

B2 (for students of B2.1) 

• Reading: click here
• Listening: not shown but you could do these exercises from previous years so click here
• Writing: click here

C1 

• Reading: click here
• Listening: click here
• Writing: click here

Comunidad de Cantabria

As these samples are in PDF, go to this link and choose your level: click here

If you want to see assessed oral and written exercises  (ejercicios evaluados) from Cantabria you can go to this link and them look for your level.

Hope it'll be useful. 

Fighting against boredom

As we have to spend so long at home, let"s think of ways of entretainment with English. These are some suggestions to have fun and to avoid getting down.

• Playing games with your children or with the others is a wonderful way of spending your time. Simple games such as "I spy with my little eye something beginning with..." or "Simon says 'Touch your ...(parts of the body)" are just some of them. 

• More difficult ones are likely to make older children or grown-ups  get involved with games such as "If I were an animal/a colour/an instrument/a tool.... I'd be ... because ...." or making up stories with 2 or 3 words/things provided; e. g., words  like bed and window: "Yesterday I felt bored and I decided to redecorate my room so I moved my bed under the window in orden to have enough light to read; but I didn't realise the heater was under the window and when I started reading it was too hot for me so I moved the bed back" .

• Doing exercise is crucial when you are indoor for so long but you could do it in English to practise. Find videos to work out with your family or partners; theses are just some examples: click here or this one. 

• This is a perfect time for you to do things together, especially hobbies but this time in English, such as cooking  (go to this link, for instance) or drawing (this video shows you how to draw a puppy).  

• Listening to music is also something that we really enjoy doing so why not do it together? Ask your children to look for the video with the lyrics of their English favoutite song con YouTube and learn it together. If you want to do some exercises with song, go to this link with different levels.

• Talking on the phone is something usual at this time: although you could do this exercise with people you know, you might also chat with some other students from your class by using Hangouts or even just the speaker of WhatsApp. To do it more challenging, you may introduce someone in your family to your mates: your children, your brother or sister, or even your pet, why not? If you need an example, this video might help you.

These are just some suggestions to enjoy this time of "reclusion" at home. I'm sure you'll be able to find some other ways to have fun. If you send me an email with your own suggestions we could share it with others on this blog.

Take care!

That's English! - Module 8 - Unit 9: Celebrities

Fame and success are in fashion nowadays; more and more people, especially youngsters, try to become a celebrity. Social networks facilitate to reach this dream. Let's talk about "Celebrities".

General questions

• Why do you think there is a trend to become a celebrity? Would you like to become a celebrity? Why/why not?
• Have you ever met an important person? If so, explain your experience. If not, would you like to meet one? Who would you like to meet?
• Are you interested in celebrities' lives? Have you ever been interested in them? Have you ever tried to copy a famous person's look? 
• What are the main features of a celebrity nowadays?
• Who are the celebrities you like or/and hate most? Give reasons for your answer.
• Choose a celebrity you like and another that you hate and compare them.

Activity 1

This lesson works on REPORTED SPEECH. Although it seemes to be just a grammar point, pay attention to the fact that it's repeatedly used in our daily life conversations, either in English or in Spanish. Let me give you an example:

"Yesteday I talked to my sister about holidays. She said she'd like to go to the beach but she didn't know where to. I suggested spending some days in Andalucía but she refused the idea because she wanted to relax so she hesitated to be able to do it there. I told her to come to the north of Spain with us and she accepted so now we're planning our holiday together.

Do the same with your partner and start your speech with these sentences: Yesterday...

• A friend of mine phoned to talk about her new boyfriend. She said... 
• My boss asked me to go to her office because she had to speak about something important. She explained to me that the company...
• My mother called me because she wanted to chat for a while. She asked me about ...
• My son's teacher called me because he needed to talk to me about my son's marks...

Activity 2

This acitivy has two parts. First, work with your partner on a role-play reproducing an interview with a famous person. Once you finish the conversation (like the one you have in your textbook p.92, exercise 7 and 8) explaine to another mate what your partner  has told you using reported speech. Then swap the roles and repeat the exercise.

Activity 3

To work on listening comprenhension exercises, here you have some examples to practice:

• An example of a new "celebrity": click here
• This one is about leisure: click here
• About celebrities: click here
• Here you are a simple of EOI exam from the Canary Islands: click here

Activity 4

If you want to work a bit with this grammar point, here are some exercises to practise:

• exercise 1    exercise 2 (thee are 2 more exercises withinn this one)    exercise 3 (a list of exercises on reported speech)

C1- next week planning

Before starting with what we should do next week, let me remind you to update with the previous work. Few people gave me the blurb of a book to practise with short writing so it's time to do it!. You should send me the composition by email and I'll send it back corrected. I'll do it soon with the ones I already have.

Another importante fact is that we must be pariente with this extraordinary situation, which needs extraordinary solutions as well so we should keep on working on our course so as not to spoil what we've already done. You ought to spend, at least, the same time as if you were in class plus some more for doing homework.

To finish with this introduction, remember you can use the material I give you for next week freely but you've got plenty of this stuff on the internet, so you can use samples of exams from different CCAA (you can find them in Interesting links of this blog) or those related to CAE. You should do one example a week, apart from the exercises given below.

PROGRAMME

• Reading: let's practise with the most difficult parts of this skill in the exam.
• This link is to practise matching in CAE paper. Do the exercise but also pay attention to the tip given at the end about how to face this kind of exercise: click here
• This other exercise is about filling the text with the right paragraph. Click here.
• Listening:
• The more you practise, the better. Try to do the whole paper of listenings (there are four in total): click here
• Writing: 
• Remember I gave you a tool to practise on your own which is already in the Interesting links, on the right bar of this blog: click here. You have diferent models and this tool corrects your writing immediately and tells you your level.
• Another way of improving variety of structures is to work with rephrasing exercises. It's a usual exercise of Use oh English tests. This is just a hint of what you can find on the Internet: click here. You could find more examples here.
• Speaking:
• To improve your spoken English you should imitate native speakers. Use podcast as models and try to reproduce it afterwards. If you use your movile to record your performanc,e you'll be able to see the difference. To find podcasts and how to use them go  to this link.
• Mediation:
• I've found this blog with good tips for exams; it's from EOI on Avilés. Go to the icon of mediation for C1, but you can use the rest if you fancy. Click here

Hope you and yours are OK. Keep in touch through the blog and remember to send me by email your work to be corrected.

B2.1 - next week planning

Before beginning with next week homework, let me remind you to send me your compositions on describing a place (p.119 in your textbook). I'll correct and send them back as soon as possible.

I also remind you that those who have student's workbook can use it to review what we've already seen. If you don't have it, there's plenty of material on the blog to work with. For everybody, this is a really good time to have a look on grammar and vocabulary reference in your book.

To finish with, remember this is not a holiday but an extraordinary circunstance. You should work steadly as if you were in class to avoid missing the course. You must work, at least, the same time you are in class, that is, 5 hours a week plus the time for homework.

I'm sure you understand how difficult it's this moment for everybody and we all should do our best to go on with our daily life. Work at home to go on with your learning. I wish the best for you.

PROGRAMME

• Listening comprehension:
• This listening about shopping on line is B2 but it can help you with oral exam as well because it gives you pros and cons of buying on the internet: click here
• This listening is about why English spelling is so difficult: click here
• This is exercise is with 5 different speakers talking about videogames: click here
• Reading exercises: 
• To start with, a filling the gaps exercise to practise with prepositions: click here
• This exercise is quite easy: click here. However, I think it's a good example of a composition as an opinion article.
• this is a multiple choice test to practise for the exam. click here
• Writing skills:
• you should write a composition about a memory or an anecdote. Choose one of the suggestions given on p.87 in your textbook. If you need some help, go to p.120 where it is explained how to write a story. It's impotant to know that you "guide" the person who is reading your story; be logical and give details about the circunstances and the event itself. Remember to end with a conclusion or why you chose that story/anecdote.
• This link is to improve your writing by correcting typical mistakes for B2: click here
• Speaking:
• Practise a monologue with one of the topics given on p.87. Use your movile to record your speech (2-3 minutes). If you don't like it (not fluent, short vocabulary, pronunciation...) tell the same story again. Choose another topic and do the same.

Hope this is helpful for all of you. Remember you can send me your work by email.

All against the coronavirus!

That's English! - Module 8 - Unit 8: Politics

First of all remember that politics means the sciences connected to government and everything related to politicians; that is the word for the professionals dedicated to politics: politicians.

As usual, let's start with general questions about this topic:

• What qualities do you think a politician should have?
• Are you interested in politics? Why/why not? Give reasons for your answer
• Are you interested in what happens in the Parliament? And in your municipal government?
• Do you think politicians are accountable for what they do? Why/why not?
• Are you an active citizen? Have you ever been on a demostration? What for? What happened?

Activity 1

Go to p. 81 in your textbook and ask the questions of exercise 5 to your partner. Share your points of view trying to be as polite as possible.

Activity 2

Imagine you have to explain the British democracy to your mate (think about the 3 main parties in the UK and the Houses of Parliament using the text you've got at the textbook or click here). If you haven't read it before you can do it with the Spanish system: explain to a foreigner the Spanish political system.

Activity 3

This is a listening exercise about Switzerland and Swiss politics. Click here to do the exercise. Compare it with your country and find similarities and differences between them.

You can do the same with these other examples: click here and then here

Activity 4
One of the most important political issues discussed in the UK is about Brexit; here there is a link which shows you the history of this problem: click here (a bit long). This video is shorter: click here.

Grammar: reporting verbs

Although you've already seen that there are verbs followed by gerund and/or infinitive, when you work with reporting verbs you'll find many examples of this kind, as you could see on your textbook.

If you want to practise a bit more, go to these exercises but remember that a that-clause is possible as well:

• exercise 1     exercise 2     exercise 3    exercise 4  

For further practice of the grammar point of this lesson, here are there some exercises to practise with reporting verbs:   

• a bit more difficult: exercise 5  exercise 6   exercise 7

Classes suspended by coronavirus crisis

As you already know, classes have been suspended but we should go on with our course. Try to work with this blog and be constant to avoid spoiling what you've been learning. Visit the blog as often as you can and work on it as if you were in class or at least 1 hour a day.

You will have some posts about the most remarkable grammar points but I'll also give you some homework to work with, especially some writing to practise for the exams.
Hope this situation won't last too long and let's work all together against this virus.

Keep in touch and hope to see you soon. I'll miss you.

B2.1 - Reported Speech (Unit 9A)

This grammar point is really useful as it's a way of reviewing tenses, verbs followed by -ing or infinitive or the use o pronouns. Let's work on this topic.

General grammar
Reported speech is when we retell what other speaker(s) said. The tendency is to do it in past as you start saying Peter said he had a problem - My mother asked me where I was - Susan told  ...the teacher she was ill, or even sentences such as My doctor warned me not to go to work.

If you search on the internet you'll find plenty of links or web pages about this topic. I've chosen some for you:

• Perfect English Grammar: a long explanation but pretty clear and with exercises at the end
• LearnEnglishTeen (British Council): for teenagers but it's really useful
• This video is a good summary: click here

As a general rule remember to change in this way:

• Any kind of PRESENT turns into that kind of PAST: present simple into past simple; present continuous into past continuous; present perfect into past perfect

Just remember the difference of using TELL and SAY: 

• to tell SOMEBODY something (it's important who you said that) Paul told ME you were ill
• to say SOMETHING (to somebody, but it's not necessary to say who said that)  Paul said you were ill

There are more reporting verbs like to ask, to answer, to suggest, to advice, to warn, etc.  To work with them, have a look at the following point.

Reporting verbs

Although you've already seen that there are verbs followed by gerund and/or infinitive, when you work with reporting verbs you'll find many examples of this kind, as you could see on your textbook.

If you want to practise a bit more, go to these exercises but remember that a that-clause He suggested that...) is possible as well:

• exercise 1     exercise 2     exercise 3    exercise 4  

For further practice of the grammar point of this lesson, here are there some exercises to practise with reporting verbs:   

• a bit more difficult: exercise 5  exercise 6   exercise 7

Difference between REMEMBER and REMIND

These 2 verbs are very similar but "remember" is related to memories or not to forget something while "remind" is referred to making someone remember something. Go to this link with a clear expalantion and some exercises at the end.

Difference between adjectives and adverbs

I recommend this video explaining this difference and the most common mistakes: click here
Nevertheless you have several  levels to master the use of adjectives/adverbs. These are some exercises according to your level:

• C1: in this link you'll find the most typical adverbs with two forms (Unit 9A, p.83) click here. If you need a list, go to this link. Then you can do this exercise and this one. This is another one. Some more practise: this exercise or this one

• B2.1: there are many exercises to practise and see the difference between adjectives and adverbs. Generally speaking, the adjective is related to a noun (it's a characteristic) while the adverb is refered to a verb, to the action (it says how/when to do something, for example). Do the following exercises: exercise 1, but there are more like exercise 2, exercise 3 or exercise 4.

• B1.2 (That's English!): this is a very easy but clear exercise; this one is a bit more difficult or this one.

B2.1 Describing places

In lesson 8B you need to describe a building or a place. Let's have a look at these slides which can help you> click here

This is a sample describing Oxford University> click here but if you want to know how to describve a place step by step go to this link

And this list is to increase your vocabulary> click on this link.

As a model but working with listening skills go to this exercise

That's English! - Module 8 - Unit 7: The Internet

The Internet is one of the great revolutions of the end of the 20th century and a necessary tool for the 21st century. Nowadays most people can't manage without the Internet: they use it for work, for pleasure, for communication, for social contacts, for business...
Let's start with the general questions. Think about these questions and discuss with your mate:

• Do you often use the Internet? What for? What did you use to do when you didn't have it?
• What are the main uses of the Internet? Give reasons or examples for your answer
• What are your favourite websites? Why do you like them? Have you used them for long?
• Do you use social networks?Why/why not?  Do you think it does more harm tan good or the other way round? What about your personal experience?

Activity 1

Go to page 72 , exercise 11 on your textbook and do the activity in pairs. When you finish, do it again but swap roles with your partner.

Activity 2

This listening exercise is about new inventions and technology. Do the exercise and use what you've heard to apply it to this topic.  This is another listening about the internet; click here

Activity 3 

On page 75 there is an activity (exercise 5) with this question: What would happen if the Internet ever collapse?  What could you do? Have you ever had such experience? What did you do?

Activity 4

This lesson works with reporting commands and requests. The structure is:

• reported verb (tell/ask/advise/want...) + object + infinitive with TO

Think about posible situations or sentences in which you can use this structure; e.g. I asked her to be quiet because the baby was sleeping; I want you to tell me the truth; she advised me not to do it again. Here there is an exercise to practise: click here. This is another one.
If you want to practice with more grammar, this exercise gives you the reason why your answer is right or wrong: click here.