Quantifiers (NI2)

In lesson 5b we're dealing with quantifiers. You can go to these links to have a further explanation:

• http://www.learn4good.com/languages/evrd_grammar/quantifier.htm : you'll find the explanation and some exercises at the very end.
• http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-quantifiers.php : here you have a very easy exercise to start with
• http://www.grammarbank.com/quantifiers-grammar.html : a bit more difficult
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFxECbqhEjI : a very easy video explaining quantifiers
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23l0gFmVifQ : this is a continuation and explains the use of determiner/quantifier + OF . Quite interesting
• http://www.ihbristol.com/learn-online/exercise-general/advanced/vocabulary/containers-and-quantifiers/152/ : this exercise is related to containers better than quantifiers but it's practice
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv129.shtml  : the difference among a quantity, an amount and a number of
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv203.shtml : this is for another problem with similar forms such as a little/little, a few/few, etc.

Working at computer room

Today we'll work with the computers while I'm testing the oral skills. Here you have some exercises to do and some pages to visit:

• http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/intermediate/?cc=hu&selLanguage=hu : the official web page of your text book.
• http://www.eslgold.com/speaking/phrases.html : here you have different levels and topics for typical conversations. With audio for the sentences (a bit static but useful)
• http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/omaudio/contenidotematico.htm : in different levels you have some short conversations to practise situations. Many topics.
• http://esl.about.com/od/intermediatelistening/Intermediate_Level_English_Listening_Comprehension_Exercises.htm : a traditional page for listening. For other skills or grammar go to  http://esl.about.com/od/intermediateenglish/u/continue.htm 
• http://www.dailyesl.com/ : a basic list of listening. 
• http://www.english-4u.de/grammar_exercises.htm : if you want to practise traditional grammar exercises go to this link.

Apart from these web pages remember you have the usuful links such as BBC Learning English or you can practise with some other songs. Here you have some of my favorite ones recently:

• Adele: Someone like you  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AW9C3-qWug
• This version of Israel Kamakawiwo of a classic: Somewhere Over the Rainbow  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAzEhjooP3s
• Coldplay: The Scientist  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z2wTU8PONg

Grants for students

Last week I told you there was a link to get some grants to learn or to practise English in Europ. Here you are the information I have:
There has been published some news about seminars in English on the noticeboard of the class (you have a copy below). They are partly paid by the European Union and if you want to know more about it you should go to the links or ask at Vicedirección at school:
TALLERES Y SEMINARIOS EN EL EXTRANJERO SUBVENCIONADOS POR EL PROGRAMA EUROPEO DE ACCIÓN PERMANENTE GRUNDTVIG ( 2011-12) PARA PERSONAS ADULTAS.

PARA QUIÉN	NOMBRE DEL PROGRAMA	FECHA INSCRIPCIÓN	DURACIÓN	FINANCIACIÓN
Personas adultas ( * 18 años) *Consultad bases.	Seminarios Grundtvig sobre cualquier tema: arte, salud, lenguas, etc.	Fecha límite propuesta por el oragnizador.	Entre 5 y 10 días. Fechas según organizador, entre el 1/09/12 y el 31/08/13	La ayuda se ingresa a la institución organizadora, y cubre viajes, alojamiento, manutención y costes del seminario.

 No hay límite en cuanto a número de seminarios o talleres a solicitar.

 No hay que solicitar subvención. Los interesados presentan solicitudes directamente a la institución organizadora.

Prioridad a personas de grupos sociales desfavorecidos.

El Catálogo de talleres y seminarios está por publicar (Catálogo´12) no obstante se puede consultar el del año pasado porque todavía hay talleres que se pueden realizar en el 2012. En el enlace:http://ec.europa.eu/education/grundtvig/doc/catalogue11_en.pdf 

Consultar todas las bases en: http://www.oapee.es/dctm/weboapee/documentacion/2012/parte-iii.pdf?documentId=0901e72b81091ae7

Para más información dirigirse a Vicedirección en esta Escuela Oficial de Idiomas en horario de tarde Miércoles de 18.00 a 18.30 y de mañana Jueves de 11.30 a 12.00 h o al personal de Programas Europeos en la DAT ESTE (Calle Alalpardo s/n).

Another link I wanted to give you is about grants for students who are already becarios to learn foreign languages (English, French and German). If you are interested click HERE

Interested in feng shui? (NI2)

Here you can find something about feng shui and you can practise with the vocabulary of a house:

• http://www.feng-shui-products-decorating-tips.com/feng_shui_decorating.htm
• http://www.eflnet.com/vocab/furniture_vocabulary.php
• http://www.michellehenry.fr/meubles.htm#list

To have something done

This is a typical structure which means you need someone to do something for you so you use this structure:

TO HAVE/GET + SOMETHING + DONE

It's a bit different from Spanish so it's difficult to use. Go to these links to practise:

• http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-76121.php
• http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/havesomethingdone/menu.php
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIvjEKdLoVA : this is a short video with a couple of examples of this structure

If you think this point of grammar is very complicated, go to this link as it is in Spanish and it could be helpful if you saw the real translation. Click here.

I wish / If only!

In lesson 4b we're working with these two expressions to speak about regrets and complains. Here you Have some links to work with them:

• http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-5529.php : an explanation and an exercise at the end. This has been used in class.
• http://www.adrformacion.com/udsimg/ingles4/2/Ingles4L2-3a.htm : here you have another exercise to practise
• http://www.better-english.com/grammar/wish1c.htm another one; quite easy but it's just for practice

There is a possibility for I wish he would have done that. It's not very usual and it sounds a bit awkward. Nevertheless, here you have a video with the explanaition:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEOJ7Ys0eZE&feature=relmfu

Here you have a well-known song with this structure:

• Free by Lighthouse Family:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN4osi44hFc

See you in class

Carnival

Carnival is wonderful celebration, full of musicand fun. Here you have some activities to enjoy this festival.

Dictionary Activity – CARNIVAL - working with words

(taken from OUP: http://promo.oupe.es/carnival/activities/eoi/CARNIVAL_EOI_DICTIONARY_basic.pdf )

1. What are the main ingredients of a pancake?

2. When is Shrove Tuesday?

3. What is another name for Pancake Day?

4. What do people use to throw their pancakes, in a pancake race?

5. A float is a special carnival vehicle. It has other meanings. Which of these people does not use a float:

a. a swimmer                    b. a fisherman                   c. a farmer

6. How do people move in a procession? (an adverb)

7. People wear masks in a carnival. Which of these collocations does not exist?

a. party mask                    b. death mask                   c. oxygen mask                d. face mask

8. How many days does Lent last?

9. What is Ash Wednesday?

10. Is the word carnival pronounced the same in both US English and British English?

A LISTENING ACTIVITY

Go to this video which talks about British Pancake race and fill in the gaps of the activity (intermediate):

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlnAx05v1zo&feature=related

Activity:

1. Lent is a time for _________________ things.

2. Shrove Tuesdays is the day for cleaning out the _________________________.

3. Pancake races appeal to people’s ___________________ nature!

4. Everyone’s got ‘a ___________________ tooth’!

5. People in Britain have been celebrating Pancake Day for __________________ years.

6. The tradition started in ____________________ when a woman ran to church holding a  _________________!

7. Donald O’Kelly is planning to give up __________________________ for Lent.

8. Pancake Day is a time to _________________________.

The answers for these exercises are below these other exercises of listening

Yoiu can parctise listening with these audios about Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago: http://www.elllo.org/english/0300/347CleAnnCarnival01.htm http://www.elllo.org/english/0300/Q348CleAnnCarnival.htm

Here you have a listening about Venice; there are a couple of exercises to do with it: http://www.elllo.org/yeartwo/Jan10th/venice.htm

ANSWER KEY

Dictionary Activity – CARNIVAL

1. Flour, eggs and milk. Go to this video to make a pancake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayIuoNCaD7I (easy)

Pancakes are thin cakes made from a batter of milk (or milk and water), eggs and flour which is then cooked in a frying pan or on a griddle until golden brown on both sides. You can buy special pancake pans which are shallow and non-stick with curved sides. French pancakes are made slightly thinner and are called crêpes. Scotch pancakes are small and thick, usually cooked on a griddle and sometimes flavoured with sultanas or raisins. American pancakes are normally served at breakfast. They tend to be light and fluffy, served in generous stacks with bacon and maple syrup. There is also the Russian blini, Chinese pancakes served with Peking duck, Italian crespelle and so on. Pancakes are traditionally eaten in the UK on Shrove Tuesday.  ( taken from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/pancake )

2. The day before the beginning of Lent.

3. Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras.

What is Mardi Gras?   :   Mardi Gras, also known as Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, and even Pancake Day in the UK, is an annual festival which will be celebrated on 21st February in 2012. Falling just before Lent, it traditionally marks the last opportunity for fun and feasting before 40 days of "self-denial". Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" in French (Remember that meat is forbidden during Lent, at least on Friday).
Festivities begin at the beginning of February, leading up to Mardi Gras day, and consist of parades, dancing in the street, costumes and masked balls. The modern Carnival tradition developed in Europe in the Middle ages, and is celebrated mainly in Roman Catholic communities in Europe and the Americas today. Some of the most famous celebrations are held in Nice (France), Cologne (Germany), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and New Orleans (USA)

4. A frying pan. Here you have a Pancake race : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlo3yuhOSlI

5. (c) a farmer

6. slowly; instead of “procession” it is more usual the word “parade” (desfile)

7. party mask

8. 40 days; Lent means “Cuaresma”

9. The first day of Lent

10. No   /ˈkɑːrnəvəl / (American English);   /ˈkɑːnɪvəl/ (British English) But none of them is in plural.

A LISTENING ACTIVITY

1. giving up           2. fridge                 3. quirky                4. sweet                5. five hundred          6. 1445 / frying pan              

7. pancakes          8. Indulge   (Loolk up the words in a dictionary if necessary)