Happy holidays!

Enjoy your summer holidays!

Don't forget to practise your English a bit during the summer.

Best wishes,

María.

The reader_ Int 1 Listening

I've chosen this video for my last post before the holidays because, apart from being beautiful, it shows how important effort and determination are at all levels and stages of life.

I hope you enjoy it.

Best wishes,

María

Exam results June 2015 _ Int 1

Hello everybody!

As I told you after your exams, your marks will be published next Monday evening. Be patient because the website takes its time!

http://gem.extrasoft.es/wCalificaciones.aspx?CODIGO_ESCUELA=M24&CODIGO=60&CCA=017

And you will be able to see your exam (Revisión de examen) on Tuesday 9th at 20:00h. Of course, this is not compulsory!

If you are not coming on Tuesday, ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!

36 Life Lessons I Learned Before the Age of 30_ The Observer 4th May 2015

Here's a simplified version of this recent interview that I have really enjoyed reading. I hope that you enjoy it too! It's so true!

36 Life Lessons I Learned Before the Age of 30

Sam Altman is the president of Y Combinator, which has incubated companies such as Airbnb, Dropbox and Scribd.

I turned 30 last week and a friend asked me if I had figured out any life advice in the past decade worth passing on. I’m somewhat hesitant to publish this but here is a cleaned-up version of my answer:

1.    Never put your family, friends, or significant other low on your priority list. Prefer a handful of truly close friends to a hundred acquaintances. Don’t lose touch with old friends.

2.    Time is extremely limited and goes by fast. Do what makes you happy and fulfilled. Don’t do stuff that doesn’t make you happy and cut negative people out of your life. Don’t waste time. Be a doer, not a talker.

3.    Work very hard but not so hard that the rest of your life passes you by. Aim to be the best in the world at whatever you do professionally. Don’t waste time and don’t be afraid to take some career risks, especially early on.

4.    On money: Whether or not money can buy happiness, it can buy freedom, and that’s a big deal. Also, lack of money is very stressful. Making money is often more fun than spending it, though I personally have never regretted money I’ve spent on friends, new experiences and travel.

5.    Talk to people more. Read more long content and fewer tweets. Watch less TV. Spend less time on the Internet. Learn voraciously.

6.    Don’t let yourself get pushed around. There is a big difference between confident and arrogant. Aim for the former, obviously.

7.    If you think you’re going to regret not doing something, you should probably do it. Regret is the worst, and most people regret far more things they didn’t do than things they did do.

8.    Exercise. Eat well. Sleep. Get out into nature with some regularity.

9.    Go out of your way to help people. Few things in life are as satisfying. Be nice to strangers. Be nice even when it doesn’t matter.

10. Be grateful and keep problems in perspective. Don’t complain too much. Don’t hate other people’s success.  Don’t judge other people too quickly. You never know their whole story and why they did or didn’t do something. Be empathetic.

Adapted from: http://observer.com/2015/05/the-days-are-long-but-the-decades-are-short/#ixzz3ahxqReE1 

Exam dates _ Academic Year 2014/15

Here you have the exam dates in case you want to check again:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2nhj0KV2NVWbEtINXg5T2VtazQ/edit

Inspiring Steve Jobs _Int 1 Listening

Watch the extract of Steve Job's Commencement Speech again  (12:30') and practise your listening. You can activate the subtitles by clicking on the fourth option on the left.

I hope you have found these ideas motivating. It's a relly inspiring speech from a real modern icon.

Practise your American English a bit!

Count on me by Bruno Mars

Remember to pay attention to 1st Conditional. I hope you enjoyed the song and the lyrics.

Isn't it catchy?

Oxford University _ Listening Int 1

Hello everybody!

This week we have been talking about education. As I have told you in class I am a huge fan of Oxford and Cambridge and that's why I have chosen this extra listening activity for you.

Watch this BBC video and answer the following questions:

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/britain-great/knowledge-great-part-1

1. How many of the world's top ten universities can be found in the UK?
2. How many colleges constitute Oxford University?
3. According to Sally Mapstone, which three characteristics does Oxford University have?
4. How old is Oxford University?
5. Can you name a famous writer and a famous actor that have studied there?
6. British universities like Oxford have always had a great interest in ...

Would you like to study there in the future? Why/not?

See you in class!

María.

Bridget Jones's Diary _ Listening Int 1

Hello everybody!

Last week we were talking about judging people by their appearance in class. 

I hope you enjoyed the extract of the film Bridget Jones's Diary that we watched in class and that focusses on this topic.

You can read the script as it is the first comment that you will find.

See you later!

María.

My favourite film - Int 1 Listening practice

 Listen to the speakers talking about their favourite films and do the exercises to practise and improve your listening skills.

1. Check your understanding: matching
Do this exercise while you listen. Match the speaker to the genre of film. Write a–e next to the numbers 1–5.

1…….. Speaker 1              a. A science fiction film
2…….. Speaker 2              b. A modern vampire film
3…….. Speaker 3              c. An action film
4…….. Speaker 4              d. A romance
5…….. Speaker 5              e. A romance based on a book

2. Check your understanding: gap fill
Do this exercise while you listen. Complete the gaps with the correct speaker.
1. Speaker _______________ thinks the film shows you not to judge people too quickly.
2. Speaker _______________ says the film is not too sentimental, thanks to the actor.
3. Speaker _______________ likes a film in which everything we think is real is fiction.
4. Speaker _______________ has seen their favourite film more than once.
5. Speaker _______________ prefers the first version of the film.
6. Speaker _______________ likes a film with murder, violence and blood-drinking.
7. Speaker _______________ likes a film which tells a love story over several years.
8. Speaker _______________ likes a film which shows bullying at school.
9. Speaker _______________ likes the scenes filmed in different countries.

by British Council.

Now check your answers. The answer key is one of the comments.

Have a nice weekend!

Describing people _ Listening Int 1

Hello everybody!

I hope you've really enjoyed your holidays!

We have been talking about relationships in class. I'd like you to continue practising your listening by watching this video by Real English. 

These people are describing their partners. Try to note down the adjectives that they mention: 

Now watch this video with subtitles and correct yourself:

Disastrous journeys writing activity

Hello everybody!

Here you have the answer key to exercise 4b on page 116:

1. then
2. when
3. instead of
4. but
5. so
6. because
7. as soon as
8. although

I hope this model hepls you to do your own writing! Remember that the due date is 9th of April.

Happy holidays!!!!

Grammar activites: Past Tenses & Present Perfect

Hello everyone!

I would like you to do some extra practice on Past Simple and Past Perfect since you had many doubts in class. here you can find some exercises that you can do:

Present Perfect or Past Simple?

http://www.examenglish.com/grammar/b1_presentperfect_pastsimple.htm

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/past-simple-present-perfect-1.html

Past Tenses

https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/intermediate3/grammar/file05/?cc=global&selLanguage=en

You can also test your progress: 

https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/intermediate3/testmaker/files1-10?cc=global&selLanguage=en

Facebook _ Extra listening activity

1. What has created the phenomenon known as "Facebook depression?___________________________ (3)
2. The American Academy of Pediatrics has informed parents about the possible dangers of networking websites on their children’s ______________ (2)
3. Ms. O'Keeffe says that a big part of this generation's social and emotional development is occurring on the _______________ and _______________ (3)
4. Parents need to understand these technologies so they can relate to their children's ______________(2)
5. The report says that the Internet is not always a _________________________ (2) for kids.
6. Parents must be active and discuss things like ______________ (1).
7.  A recent survey indicated that ______________(3) of teenagers log on to a social media site more than 10 times a day.
8.  However, Facebook helps youngsters, by ______________ (1) them to express themselves.

Please, post your answers!

Enjoy your holidays!!!

María.

Happy Father's Day to all of you who are dads!

Let's celebrate it with some jokes!

Offside (fuera de juego) _ Listening Int 1

Listen to the second part of the programme (2:28'- 4:42') and complete the statements:

1. Mark Kermode, the critic, has never understood the kind of _________________________(2) for football.

2. The director of the film shows that sense of wanting to be part of this type of _______________________ ______(2)

Now listen to people’s opinions:

3. The first man thinks that it was one of the best films he had seen _______________________ (2)

4. The second woman thinks that it was funny, endearing and it made a really _______________________________ (2).

5. The last woman found it interesting because, although it was a heavy subject, there were ___________________________ (2). 

Now click on this link to read the transcript and correct your answers:

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/entertainment/scripts/entertainment_060622_offside.pdf

Enjoy the long weekend!

Offside - trailer

Here you have the trailer of the film in case you want to watch it again!

Superstitions in the UK

Hello everybody!

How are you today?

As I told you in class, I'd like you to know a bit more about superstitions in the UK. Click on this link to read the article:

http://www.educationuk.org/global/articles/uk-superstitions/

Then, watch this video and try to understant it as it's not very difficult.

If you compare them to the ones in Spain. Which ones are the same? Which ones are different?

Have a nice weekend!

February exams are over!

And, I am an African by Jane Oma

On Tuesday we had the pleasure to count on Jane's visit at the EOI. I hope you found her talk as thought-provoking as I did!

Here you have part of her speech. You can read the rest by clicking on the link below. I highly encourage you to read her blog!

http://jane-myrubyheels.blogspot.com.es/2014/08/and-i-am-african.html

"Over the years, I have taken up a new identity. I have embraced a wide and broad title. A title which sometimes feels bigger than I am, but one which nonetheless I am carrying with the utmost pride and dignity. Now, I am African.

At first, I was amused when people referred to me as an African. It was both exasperating and infuriating when I saw how some struggle to pronounce correctly, the name of my country of birth or sometimes even question its existence. Then, I’d get mildly irritated when non-Africans assumed that there is actually a country called Africa, when they talk about Africa and Africans as if they have no individual presence.  

As a matter of fact, there are people who don’t know where my country is, and even though it is sometimes still extremely annoying, instead of wasting time explaining where I am from, it has become convenient to simply say that I am African. So, now, I am simply, "African"."

Catching up on news _ Listening Int 1

http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/listening/pdf-content/mp3-content/real2/catching-up-on-news-recording/147167.article

Listen to the following conversation. Read the statements and decide if they are: True, False or if you Don’t know.

 1. Dennis can’t play golf very well. 
 2. Kate has a boyfriend. 
 3. Kate is fifteen years old. 
 4. Becky is older than Kate. 
 5. Kevin often phones Anne. 
 6. Kevin is married. 
 7. Anne is married. 
 8. Anne is surprised at Kevin’s news.

Post your answers as a comment, please!

You can find the answer key and the transcript as a comment.

Good job, girls!

Look up - listening activity Int 1

Hello everybody!

We have watched an extract from this beautiful video in class.

Try to watch it completely and read the lyrics.

You can find the lyrics in the author's webpage:
http://garyturk.com/portfolio-item/lookup/

I hope you enjoy it!

"Stay with me" by Sam Smith _ song

Hi everyone!

Here's the videoclip of the beautiful and popular song  Stay with me by Sam Smith that we were listening to on Friday. You can listen to it again if you want to!

See you later,

Knowing what we know by Simon Armitage

Knowing what we know by Simon Armitage

The Elf Story (Part one)

The Elf said to Kevin:

You're probably wondering why I'm sitting here at your breakfast table this morning, helping myself to your toast and cereal. I'm here to make you a very special offer. You could call this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Today, is the 11th December and this is a very special day for you. You are exactly forty-four years and thirty-six days old and that is exactly how long you've got left. Let me do the maths for you Kevin. You are going to live until you're eighty-eight years and

seventy-two days. And you have just crossed the halfway line.

Now Kevin. You have two possibilities: You can carry on - continue your life and pretend that we never met. Or you can accept my offer and let me flip the hourglass of life.

Do you see what I'm saying Kevin? Instead of getting older, you'll be getting younger. I've got all

the forms. All you have to do is sign here. And it's goodbye incontinence, hello Ibiza.

What do you say Kevin?

The Elf Story (Part two)

The arthritis in Kevin's shoulder had been painful recently. He was starting to go bald and his

beer belly was getting bigger every year. The elf was right - this was a very special offer.

Kevin imagined how fantastic it would be to go back to his youth, knowing all the things that he

knows now.

But what about Annie - the woman he loved? The woman he loved more than anything in the

world? The only woman he had ever loved? What would happen to her? Would it be fair if, while

Kevin was wearing fashionable T-shirts, she was losing her teeth?

No! I made a promise to Annie and I'm going to keep it. I won't do it. I won't sign.

The elf said:

Well Kevin, there aren't many gentleman left in the world. But you are one of them. And your

Annie - well, she is one in a million. She is a fantastic woman: beautiful, attractive, gorgeous,

outgoing.

Yes - a great woman Annie. I had breakfast with her just the other day. And I'll tell you something:

she's looking younger every day.

And then the elf clicked his heels together and he was gone.

Thanks so much to Mr. Keddie!

María.

Dependent prepositions - Intermediate 1

I have noticed that you need to keep working on prepositions. 

Here you are different activities to do so! You can choose different study modes. I recommend the "flashcards" and the "learn" mode.

A show of solidarity throughout the world

Great cartoon published by the New Yorker:

Do you like it?

Are New Year's Resolutions easy to keep? _ Listening NInt1

Listen to the following extract and answer the questions! 

1. Who is Jayashri Kulkarni?
2. When are most New Year's resolutions broken by?
3. What did the website usa.gov say people have a hard time doing?
4. How many of us make a New Year's resolution?
5. How long do 71% of us stick to our resolutions?
6. What kind of clause do people use to stop their resolution?

Post your answers as a comment! 

You can find the answer as a comment. 

Happy New Year to all of you!

I hope this new year 2015 brings you health, happiness and everything you wish for.

Welcome back!