animal stories

have you ever seen any unusual animals, or seen an animal doing something strange?
perhaps something you saw in another country, or the weird behaviour of a pet.
write your comments below

pronunciation

here is a link to an online tool to help with your pronunciation and learning of the phonetic symbols

can you find any other useful online resources, apps etc? post them in the comments below

invitations and directions

is there anything good on at the moment?
how do you get there?

describing change, suggesting solutions

here you can describe one of the changes that we discussed in class using 
the present perfect + adverb + time phrase, 
suggest some solutions with
modals
and talk about the outcome with
will etc

obesity

the problem of OBESITY in Spain is getting bigger
you can read about it here:
http://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2010/10/16/obesity-public-enemy-number-one/

what do you think about this issue, and what solutions can you come up with?
phrase some of your ideas with the 2nd conditional
eg. if children cooked with their parents, then both would take more interest in their diet

course update

I hope you are all enjoying the course and noting your progress.
Here are a few points I'd like you to bear in mind which I hope will help, and some words on work to come.

Why we check the homework together and use peer correction

•  learner autonomy - “Tell us, we forget; Show us, we remember; Involve us, we learn.”
•  more students get the chance to correct common errors and use the language in class.
•  it makes the classroom atmosphere more active, supportive and friendlier.
• students develop beyond being just a passive receiver of information.
• it gives the opportunity to use essential process language; agreeing, checking, asking etc.

[ref  Confucious / Franklin, Harmer 2007, Gower et al 1995, Scharle & Szabo 2000, Rollinson 2005]
If you have any questions or require clarification on any point while correcting, just ask me in the class.

Projects

As mentioned at the start of the course, you will have written and oral projects beginning after the Easter break. We do these later in the course to give you an opportunity to use newly acquired language and not simply test what you already know. You should of by now thought of the topics you want to address and have a basic idea of the contents of your presentation. I will remind you of the requirements closer to the time.

Writing

During the second and third terms you will have more writing homework assignments to help you consolidate your classroom learning. This will be either peer corrected for shorter pieces or marked by myself.

Class tests
Through experience, I believe that tests during the course should be kept to a minimum as they take up valuable learning and practice time. I prefer to regard each exercise as a test - if you can't adequately answer the questions, you know at that time you need to look again at the material, and not when it's too late. We do need however to do some small tests in class as the grading system in use requires.

Blog

Your class blog offers the opportunity to use what you have learned in an informal way. It also gives the teacher a chance to measure your participation and interest in the topics we cover in class, and see you interact, share ideas and opinions and learn from each other. Use it!

Questions and problems

If you have any questions or problems related to your course then you should speak to me directly before or after the class or, if you prefer, you can email me and I will do what I can to help you.


See you in class,
Ian

education

what element would you add to our education system?
what element would you take out?

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!
I hope you've had a great holiday and the Magic Kings brought you everything you wished for.
What films did you watch in English over the holidays, and what books did you read?
Write a short review below, saying why (or why not) you would recommend it to your classmates.

favourite songs

here's a song that I really like:

the flaming lips - do you realize??
you can read the lyrics here:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/flaminglips/doyourealize.html

This group play alternative rock which is sometimes rather psychedelic.

I find this song moving and uplifting, both the music and especially the lyrics. It's also a reminder of a very happy day in my life, and I still enjoy listening to the entire album. I can listen to this song at any time.

What about you? Choose a song and post links to the music and lyrics below, saying why you've chosen it.

STRIKE

November 14 is a general strike in Spain
Do you think it's neccesary, or not?
Do you think strikes really help strikers achieve their aims?
Feel free to write your comments below.

come back soon!

Here's a hotel that prides itself on being terrible:
http://www.hans-brinker.com/
What's your worst experince staying somewhere on holiday?

writing practice

writing practice is essential and can help you to remember and clarify grammar and vocabulary

I'll ask you to write to each other on topics we discuss in class

what opportunites can you find to write in English?

post your comments below

reading practice

reading in English lets you see the language in use

here's one of the newspapers I read:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/

what about you?

post some ideas in the comments below

listening practice

listening to people speaking English will help improve your understanding and your own pronunciation

remember, you don't need to understand everything, so relax!

here's what I listen to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/

find something interesting to listen to and share it with us below

speaking practice

you need to SPEAK English

here's a website to help you find someone to talk to:

http://www.lingobongo.com/madrid/exchanges-ads.php

what are you doing to practice speaking English?

tell us in the comments below

English in Use - practice

here's a website I made with lots of links to material that will help you practice grammar and vocabulary:

http://csimextra.blogspot.com.es/p/b12_29.html

the references are for a different book to the one you have, so ignore those.

what other resources do you know for practicing grammar and vocabulary?

post your ideas in the comments below

Gibraltar

What do you know about Gibraltar?
Why is there constant dispute over this area?
Is there similar dispute over Cueta and Melilla?

Read this article about Gibraltar today (and also a potted history) and comment on how you would like to see the future of this little Rock.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/19/gibraltar-diamond-jubilee-party

cinema

answer questions from at least 2 parts of the cinema questionaire in your student book on page 90

a visit to Madrid

I would like my Aunty Thelma to visit Madrid.
Can you help with some suggestions of things to do and see and places to go?
Use the language of suggestion; why not...?   you could / should / might etc

Eurovegas in Spain

read this article and add your thoughts in the comments here below
 Spain's dilemmas over 'Eurovegas' mega casino plans

more resources

Are you reading, listening to, speaking and writing in English?
What new resources have you found to help you study and practice? make a note of them here and post a link where possible,explaining what it is, and also try out other students resources for yourself.

slow city

what are the problems of turning Madrid into a 'slow city'?
and what solutions can you suggest?

work / life balance

Share your tip for improving your work / life balance. Give your reasons, using a quantifier in the explanation

racism in sport

here's a note from Arturo Delgado Ruiz on the situation with Liverpool footballer Suarez, who was banned for racist remarks. Please leave your own comments on this affair or on racism in sport or racism in general below.

"I think Suarez´s situation deserves a correct explication. Well, first I would say that I don´t believe the Evra´s accusation, because in the Premier and France all people know how is his conduct on the grass and off. Even, he has had some problems with her coaches in the recent past. Here, the really important is the ethnic problem. Evra has been playing in England during years and he knows the multicultural issues that appear from all sides. And for this, he knows the damages that the word "negro" can do in Public Opinion.

But, is necessary the persecution that Suarez has recived? I think not. Suarez is a great footballer and better person, but the press and journalists have attacked him. Why didn´t they see how Rio Ferninand removed his hand? or Why did evra celebrate the victory too near Suárez? Ummm, these questions haven´t interest for anybody, I don´t know.

I don´t support the racism, but I think that respect and honor must be same for all. Here, this have not happened."

 

 

What Can You Do?

Please leave your tips in the comments. Remember to use the modals of ability and possibility, and some _ed/ing adjectives.

Public Transport

How could we improve transport in Madrid? Please leave a comment.

some resources for you to try

some resources for practise our English:

-Listen to music in English and read the letters of this songs

-See films with the subtitles in English

-Doing meetings with Erasmus people

-Use the social networks in English

-Simulate situations of the daily life           Silvia Acero Álvarez

Hello! my name is Ana Herrero

I have visited any of the websites like "bbc.co.uk" and "guadian.co.uk". The best for me is "guardian" because it speaks about many social topics such as news, spots, culture, business, money, travel, blogs... I think it´s a newspaper very complete and also it gives you the oppotunity to choose the topic more interests for you.

A website that I like is "National geographic" because for me is very interting, it shows impresive photographs of beatifuk places. I like also because has interting videos and corious stories about people, animals and places.

bye!

Hi,

I want to tell you which are the best resources for me to improve my english:

-I use to listen american and english music. At the moment I can´t understand all the song´s phrases, but I am slowly getting perception thanks to translate the song by one hand, and listen it repeatedly on the other hand.

-Films in english are other resource. I start to see a film in english with subtitles in spanish. After, I see the film with subtitles in english and finally, I don´t read the subtitles. I recognize the pronunciation so different between british and american english.

-I have a friend in my class who speaks english very well since he was a child. I will try to persuade him to converse in english.

- The best way to realize where is our problem is this course. I think we know many english grammar but we are not accustomed to say it. A weak point in our learning is not to conversate. So I guess that´s the best medicine to the big problem.            Jorge González Solano

 

 

Hello, this are my resources for learn English:

-          Sometimes I do exercises in Bussu. You can practice grammar, listening and speaking with other persons. http://www.busuu.com/es

-          Usually I see series and films in English with subtitles in Spanish, like The Office or The Wire.

-          Not very often I study grammar with the book "Essential Grammar in Use"

-          Maybe I could practice my English in a public library with the course of conversation. Some courses are free but I don’t have many time.

https://sede.madrid.es/portal/site/tramites/menuitem.d3089948cb18b1bb68d8a521ecd08a0c/?vgnextoid=68d9dd9d6baed010VgnVCM2000000c205a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=23a99c5ffb020310VgnVCM100000171f5a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=relContenidos&tipoRel=-7&relationType=relContenidosTramites

-          I know people “change” his Spanish by English with others persons in Madrid for improve his English.

http://madridteacher.com/grupos-de-conversacion.htm

Have a good day.

Raúl

Hi!!

Here, I have found some interesting links about the phonetic and pronunciation. It is important because of the reading the english text. When I read a book, newspaper... I don´t know the meaning of one word, I look for it in the diccionary but it is only useful in order to know the meaning, but... if I want to pronounce the word I don´t know to do it because I don´t know the symbols that appear next to the word in the diccionary. Also, it is necessary to practice everyday and repeat  a lot of times.

First: http://www.oupchina.com.hk/dict/phonetic/home.html

This link shows the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbols.In this page, you can press the symbols and you can hear the pronunciation with examples.Also, it has a intoduction and explanation about the matter.

This second link: http://www.oupchina.com.hk/dict/phonetic/home.html it is a page where you can find other links about the phonetic and pronunciation with exercises more specifics: vowel sounds, consonants, phonetic transcription, listen to the words, some activities: listening, games...

It is important to have a variety of exercises and some ways in order to become to learn , in this way it isn´t bored.       

 Oh! I have forgotten to send a link about pronunciation advices, the worse it is the page is written in spanish.

http://www.englishcom.com.mx/tips/pronunciacion-en-ingles.html

 I prefer to speak slow, right with clear pronunciation than I speak so fast and the person, who I am speaking, doesn´t understand me.                                Jessica Jimenez

         

 

Welcome!

Welcome to your class blog for English level B1+

List the resources you find useful here, and check out other people's ideas.

Have fun,

Ian