That's English! - Module 8 - Unit 3: Green Issues

This is a very typical topic not only for speaking but also for other exercises such as listening and reading. Let's start with the general questions, as usual:

• Do you recycle a lot or do you do just what it's necessary? What do you do to try to be greener or more ecofriendly?
• What do you do to reduce water wasting in your house? what other things can be made to shorten the amount of water used at home?
• Do you think  your town is an eco-friendly place to live? Give reasons for your answer.
• Do you believe there is a climate change? Is it the same as global warming? Can we do anything to avoid it? Do you think it's possible to do anything yet or is it too late?
• What species in danger of extinction do you remember? Why are they necessary, if so?
• What policies do you know about sources of energy: solar panels, windmills, nuclear power stations, biomass, oil, electricity (renewable and non-renewable sources)?

Activity 1

Do you remember what the 3 R's stand for?  Just in case, they are for the 3 principal actions to save our planet: Reduce, Re-use and Recycle. Work with your partner and try to see how important these actions are for protecting our environment. Give examples.

Activity 2

This is an activity of listening. The task might be too simple for your level, but it's a good example of vocabulary and expressions connected to the environment. Once you've done the exercise go to the script to check the words used. Click here

Activity 3

A talk from TED about environmental issues; let's have a look and we'll discuss about what we've understood. Click here

Activity 4

Try to explain with your own words these terms connected to environmental issues; then say if they are important issues and why they are so relevant:

• deforestation and rainforest
• endangered species
• global warming and greenhouse effect
• climate change and ice caps melting/droughts/floods/heat waves
• carbon footprint/to be eco-friendly
• renewable energy source or non-renewable ones
• some specific vocabulary: dumps, dam or reservoir, debris, trash, garbage or rubbish, etc.

Activity 5 

To work with the vocabulary learnt in this unit, try to do this fill-in-the-gaps exercise: click here

Other exercises of listening connected to environment to practise:

• a pre-intermediate about climate change: click here
• different activities on this topic for teenagers: click here
• a listening from ESL: click here
• climate change: clik here  (taken from a blog - Cristina's blog - with many listening exercises)
• a list of videos about environmental issues: click here

That's English! - Module 5 - unit 5: Leisure

This lesson deals with leisure time. Let's start with common expressions about hobbies and leisure activities, especially with these verbs: LIKE - LOVE - ENJOY - DON'T MIND - HATE + -----ING

Activity 1
Explain to your partner what you like doing in your free time. Give details and say when, where, how often and why you like doing that; e.g. I love watching films on TV because it's cheaper and you don't have to spend time or money at the cinema. I usually watch a film at night, when I finish my dinner. I don't mind going to the cinema with friends because I enjoy going out with my friends.

Activity 2
Do the same with past tenses; you can speak about what you did last weekend or last holiday. Remember to give some clues about the activity.

Activity 3 (listening in class)
This is an exercise for listening; it's difficult but it's about the topic so that's the reason why I've included here: click here


Activity 4 (homework)
Here you are a link to practise reading comprenhension, like the one you'll find in the exam or more difficult. But don't worry because the questions aren't so complicated. Go to this link

In this unit you have quite a lot of grammar as well. One of the most difficult things is the use of -ing form or infinitive after certain verbs. To practise with this you can go to these links:

• short explanation with exercises; click here
• a page with exercises; click here
• another explanation with exercises; click here

If you want to practise with listening, go to this link but watch the video in full screen; don't read the tapescript. Another example of spending your free time during holidays, click here

Listening News

If you want to develop your listening skills here you have a link with a lot of listenings and with exercises. You can practise with both accents, American and British English; click here

There is also another page for learning English through the news in BBC Learning English; it's quite good for increasing your vocabulary. You have the piece of news with the words and with the audio so you can also practise listening comprehension; click here

If you prefer American English here you have a similar page for learning English called Voice of America. To go to the general page click here but I recommend to go to the news so click here

To finish with and if you are interested in knowing what's going on in the world, here you have a page with many links to newspapers and news; click here

See you in class!