That's English! - Module 5: Preparing the Exam

The exam is quite close and we should revise all the grammar, the vocabulary and anything included in this module 5. The writing part (a composition) and the oral part, which has two exercises. You have to solve a situation in pairs and then an individual question for each student. That's what I usually do, but other teachers may do something completely different.

To practise with the oral part, remember to revise all the questions or the speaking exercise we've done in each lesson. Remember to use correct forms, a variety of structures and as much vocabulary as possible. But you also have to speak calmly, with certain entonation and to give details.

If you want to practise with listening, here you are a couple of examples:

• filling the gaps: exercise 1    exercise 2   exercise 3
• multiple choice: exercise 1   exercise 2   exercise  3

For writing skills, remember to get stuck to the topic and think of an organised composition:

• introduction: a couple of lines for intoducing the topic
• first paragraph: develop the principal idea
• second paragraph: secondary ideas and/or examples
• third paragraph: your point of view, if required
• ending or conclusion: two or three lines to sum up your composition or to end it

To improve your writing, try to use a large variety of vocabulary, structures and tenses and avoid repetitions. Be clear and remember I can't guess what is not written. Pay attention to your writing and once you've finished with your composition, read it and focus on the typical mistakes: -s for the 3rd person in singular, every verb with a subject, modals with or without to, tenses and so on.

Good luck, anyaway!

NI1 - Lesson 5: Comparative and Superlative Forms

In this lesson we are working with comparative and superlative adjectival forms. Here you are some links that may be useful for you:

• grammar rules and explanations like this one or this. If you want further explanations with modifiers, click here
• exercises

We saw the difference between AS and LIKE:

• AS goes with a sentence and it means that is really that
• LIKE goes with no sentences and it menas similar to

Here you are a list of exercises to practise: click here

Connected to comparison there are 2 similar contructions which are difficult to understand:

• What is your father like? ----- a description, something in general: He is tall, with brow hair and brown eyes, very talkative...
• How is your father? ---- the answer only needs a comment as it is something puntual, something that is happening now: He is fine, thanks.

To finish with, remember the rules for spelling:

• ending in -y -----   -ier : happy - happier dry - drier (dryer means secadora); but shy - shyer
• ending in Consonat+Stressed Vowel+ Consonant ---- you doubble the last consonant: thin - thinner, hot - hotter but open - opener (although it means abridor, pay attention how you avoid double the consonant; the same happens with other suffixes like -ED or -ING)

About the comparatives/superlatives like clever or simple  the rule says you should say cleverer or simpler but most of the native speakers say more clever and more simple.

If you need any further explanation, let me know it to have a post about that.

See you in class!

That's English! - Module 5 - unit 10: Dating

This unit deals with dating and meeting people. The vocabulary is connected to personality so here you are a complete list of exercises to work with this topic; click here

About grammar we're working with BE GOING TO + INFINITIVE in two ways:

• future of intention or plans, so these exercises will help you: click here and here you have a video. To see the difference with WILL, you can use these exercises: this one or this and a list of exercises here
• predictions with clues (this one is also possible with TO BE ABOUT TO + INFINITIVE)

Let's work with speacking activities in class; discuss with your partner about these questions and give as much information as possible:

• Have you ever been to a blind date? What was it like?
• Do you think dating agencies are good or bad? Think of the pros and cons (use the information you had in the textbook)
• What do you think about using internet for personal relationships? Do you know any similar situation? What happened?
• Speak about an anecdote in which you felt weird or embarrassed or on the contrary you felt really happy about such experience.
• Althouhg this topic is about dating, it deals with character so what features do you appreciate in a person to be your friend?
• Talk about the first time you met your best friend or your partner. Give details abotu the place you met, what you did on the first date, why you went on going out with that person and so on.

Here you are a listening comprenhension about a class reunion: click here

This is another exercise but this time is about clothing: click here

A tool to improve your writing

I've just found this page to improve your writing. You can write a piece of writing and you send it to be corrected. Besides, it gives you the level of your writing. I think it's quite useful so you can have a try here; then, I'll leave the link in the "Interesting links" which is on one side of this blog.
Go to this link to try it: click here

That's English! - Module 5 - lesson 9: Invitations

Introduction

There are different ways to make suggestions and for inviting. And also for accepting or refusing these offers. Remember how to sound formal and informal and what subjets/topics are taboo.

FORMAL   STYLE
MAKING INVITATIONS	ACCEPTING	REFUSING
I wonder if you could.../if you’d like to... I would like to invite you to ... I was wondering if you’d like to...	I’d love to I’d be delighted Thank you. It's very kind of you for inviting me.	I’d love to but I have a commitment. I’m terribly sorry but I’m busy Thank you very much but I'm afraid I can't. I have another appointmen.
INFORMAL  STYLE
MAKING INVITATIONS	ACCEPTING	REFUSING
What are you doing on (day/date)? Would you like/care to …? How about …-ing? / What about ...-ing? Do you want to ...with me? I'd like to invite you to.. Do you fancy .....-ing Let’s ... Shall we ...? Why don’t we ...?	Thanks! That sounds like fun. Sure. Thank you for the invitation. When is it? Let's meet at … Sounds great Great idea! No problem. Let’s go! Why not?	No, thank you. I’m busy. Sorry, but I have to. . . Thanks, but I have another appointment at that time. I can't. I'm sorry. Perhaps another time. I’m afraid I can’t. Sorry.

Exercises

This is a page with useful information about inviting; click here

Here you are another list but this includes hesitation; click here

This is a BBC page with examples; click here

Here you are a video with an explanation; click here
As an example you have this video

Activity 1

Imagine you are in a party. Go around the class and invite people to do things with you. Arrange things such as time, where to meet, what to do after that, who is coming and so on. Some suggestions are:

• Going to the cinema next Friday
• Going away to Segovia next weekend
• A concert of classical music in March
• Coming to your place for a birthday party
• Eating out at a new restaurant
• Going for a drink after work

You’ll invite people but you’ll also be invited. Accept or refuse the invitations. Practice with formal and informal style.

Activity 2

You are going to show some photos to your mate and that person has to use expressions with the structures:

What + PLURAL NOUN! : What beautiful shoes you are wearing!
What (a)... + NOUN!   What a nice person she is!  What nice wine you've brought  
How...+ ADJECTIVE!  How hot it is in here!     
It’s / He's / She's such a ...+ NOUN!   It's such a nice place!  He's such a hard-working person!
It’s so...+ ADJECTIVE! It's so expensive!  or The watch is so expensive!

Activity 3
Imagine your partner is from another country. Try to explain typical things we usually do and they are very peculiar for other cultures: Touching people or kissing people, Talking about health, Serving food at the table, Speaking in public places or speaking loudly, Sharing a salad at the table, etc.

Activity 4
Here you are some videos about taboos and different ways of behavour all around the world. Let's see them and then compare it with our own culture.

• 10 things which are offensive in other cultures: click here
• Good etiquette in the world but not in America: click here
• This is a video aobut British behaviour: click here
• Good and bad manners click here
• A bit difficult but funny video about differences between British and American: click here

Typical Christmas carols

Here can you find some carols and the video we saw in class:

• video about Christmas in Great Christmas: clik here
• the typical song for New Year: Auld Lang Syne
• God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman: click here
• One of the main difference between Spain and Great Britain is this: the Three Wise Men
• Boxing Day (December, 26): click here

Christmas Time - Holidays!

I guess you're preparing your next holidays but as you'll have plenty of time I thought you may want to practise your English for a while. The best way is using the useful links you have on this blog but I've chosen some readings for you. Remember you should write or speak about a short story or a book for the next exam in February. This is my choice of reading but if you want to read anything else, you can do it:

• NA1: 
• a funny story by Mark Twain - A Dog's Tale 
• Vladimir Nobokov : Symbols and Signs
• Toni Morrison : Sweetness
• An article about culture and identity: Danish and Skandinavian people
• If you want to choose something different, go to this link
• This is a "present" for Christmas; common language mistakes that children have while writing: click here. If you fancy, go to the last exercise offered to NI1

• NI1:
• this is a web page with different topics but they are too short: click here
• this has many short stories adapted and many have mp3 as well: click here
• this is a page for English children about language in general with typical mistakes or error. Have a look but don't worry too much if you aren't able to do it: click here

See you after Christmas! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2017 to all of you.