Weekly Links 1º ESO —4

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Reviewing  for 2nd term tests:
Repaso para la segunda evaluación

These are games you can play to review.
Son juegos que podéis jugar para repasar. 

• There is / There are:  1  2   3   4
  Hay

• How to form Present simple tense 
  Cómo se forma el presente simple
• Exercises:   1   2   3

• How to say the time and the date  
  Cómo decir la hora y la fecha
• exercises

• Short answers:  1   2
  Respuestas cortas, sí/no

•  Adverbs of frequency:   1   2
  Adverbios

Review and best of luck.

Weekly Links 2º ESO —4

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Reviewing for 2nd term tests:
Repaso para la segunda evaluación 

• Adverbs:  1   2

• Comparison:       explanation          exercises:   1   2   

• Past simple versus past continuous: explanation
• exercises past simple- continuous:   1   2
• Mustn't – don't have to:  1   2
• Giving directions: The first part of the video has no subtitles and the second part is the same video but with subtitles in English.

Best of Luck.

Weekly Links 4º ESO —4

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This week some tips for your term exam:Writing an essay

Best of luck.

Weekly Links 2º BACH —4

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The video related to the topic of the week: Mobile App in Delhi Aims to Protect Women

Bristish English versus American English

In  The Canterville Ghost (1887) —which I highly recommend you to read— Oscar Wilde wrote: "We have really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language."
He was somewhat right as you can see.

En El fantasma de Canterville (19887) —que os recomiendo leer— Oscar Wilde escribió: "Hoy día lo tenemos verdaderamente todo en común con los americanos excepto, por supuesto, el idioma."
De alguna manera tenía razón por lo que veis.

For more examples, you can visit English Club site.

Si queréis más ejemplos en English Club tienen los ejemplos más corrientes.

Did You Know? How a lock works

Appleton Fox River lock (WI)

Here is how a lock works. I've transcribed and translated it into English and Spanish. Enjoy.
Aquí tenéis cómo funciona una esclusa. Lo he transcrito y traducido en inglés y español. Pasadlo bien.

Animal Voices

Three years ago -already!- I made a video with animal sounds and how to name them (in English and Spanish). Enjoy it and ...perhaps you'll learn a little vocabulary. I did.

Hace tres años -¡ya!- hice un vídeo con los sonidos de los animales y cómo nombrarlos (en inglés y en español). Disfrutadlo y ...quizá aprendáis un poco más vocabulario. A mí me pasó.

Weekly Links 1º ESO —3

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This week topic: Adverbs of frequency
El tema de esta semana: los adverbios de frecuencia

always	siempre
usually	normalmente, habitualmente
frequently	con frecuencia, frecuentemente
often	a menudo
sometimes	a veces
occasionally	ocasionalmente, de vez en cuando
rarely	raramente, raras veces
seldom	rara vez
hardly ever	casi nunca
never	nunca, jamás (+ verbo en afirmativa)

Position of adverbs of frequency 
Posición de los adverbios de frecuencia:

AFTER the verb 'to be'

She is always late. (Ella siempre llega tarde.)

She is not [isn't] always late. (Ella no llega siempre tarde.)

The scissors are sometimes in this drawer. (Las tijeras están a veces en este cajón.)

The scissors are not [aren't] sometimes in this drawer. (Las tijeras no están a veces en este cajón.)

AFTER  the subject in interrogative sentences with 'to be'

Is she always late? (¿Ella siempre llega tarde?)

Are the scissors sometimes in this drawer? (¿Las tijeras están a veces en este cajón?)

BEFORE any other verb

My sister often helps me. (Mi hermana me ayuda a menudo.)

The boys seldom play this game. (Los chicos juegan rara vez a ese juego.)

Does my sister often help me? (¿Mi hermana me ayuda a menudo?)

Do the boys seldom play this game. (¿Los chicos juegan rara vez a ese juego?)

My sister does not [doesn't] often help me. (Mi hermana no me ayuda a menudo.)

The boys do not [don't] seldom play this game.  (Los chicos no juegan rara vez a ese juego.)

Nota: The adverbs 'sometimes','usually' and 'occasionally' can also go at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
Los adverbios 'a veces', 'habitualmente' y 'de vez en cuando' pueden ir también al principio o al final de una oración.
Now, if you want to practise a little, go to my site where you will find 7 exercises on Adverbs of Frequency.
Ahora, si queréis practicar un poco, en mi sitio tenéis 7 ejercicios.
Enjoy! ¡Pasadlo bien!

Weekly Links 2º ESO —3

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This week topic: Expressing obligation (Must - have to)
El tema de esta semana: expresar obligación (tengo que / debo - tener que / deber)

And here is a Flash clip I made with an explanation: must
Y aquí tenéis un pequeño clip hecho por mí en Flash con una explicación: tengo que / debo. 

Enjoy!
Pasadlo bien.

Weekly Links 4º ESO —3

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This week topic: Must - Have to
El tema de esta semana: tengo que/debo - tener que/deber

• You can find an explanation of mine: Must
• You can also read another one at BBC Learning English

Dos enlaces con explicaciones, uno mío y otro de la BBC.

And this video lesson by Bob Wilson, clear and thorough as usual.
Y este vídeo de Bob Wilson, con una explicación clara y precisa como siempre.

Enjoy!
¡Pasadlo bien!

Weekly Links 2º BACH —3

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Weekly topic: Reporting verbs

• an explanation
• some exercises

And this is a video related to the topic of this week test: Websites Cut Service to Protest US Antipiracy Bills

Enjoy!

¿Quién quiere ser millonario?

Haz clic aquí para ir al juego
Click here to play the game

Ya tenemos juego. Gracias a Stewart JJ Davies, coordinator de  TIC de Sandfields Comprehensive School, que ha trabajado lo suyo para hacer la versión flash del famoso juego "¿Quién quiere ser millonario?" -entre otros muchos, y sobre todo tiene la generosidad de permitirnos descargar los archivos para editarlos y cambiar las preguntas y así hacer nuestro propio juego didáctico.
Para probar, les pedí a mis estudiantes de 2º ESO B que prepararan una serie de preguntas y diferentes respuestas, y este fin de semana estuve trabajando y, este es el resultado. Que lo paséis bien.

Here it is: your game. All thanks to Stewart JJ Davies, ICT Co-ordinator of Sandfields Comprehensive School, who has worked hard to make a flash version of the popular game "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" and is so kind to share it -among other games- allowing us to edit the XML files to change the questions and build up our own educational games.
For a first try, I asked my students of 2º ESO -Year 9 in British education- to prepare a set of multiple-choice questions and this weekend I set up the game. This is the result. Enjoy!

Did you Know? Australia

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Did you know that a great part of Europe could fit into Australia?
¿Sabíais que gran parte de Europa cabía en Australia?

fit:  English — Spanish
 

Proverb: Birds of a feather...

Pasa el ratón por la imagen para ver la traducción.
(Hover over the image to see Spanish translation.)

Flock: Definition in English — Traducción al español

Weekly Links 1º ESO —2

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Vamos con nuestros enlaces para repasar lo que hemos visto:
Let's star with some links to review what we have learnt this week:

• Exercises present simple tense:    1  -  2

Short answers: Grammar explanation

Short answer exercises:     1   -   2   -   3    -   4

Una canción con la letra para repasar estas preguntas cortas:
A song to review these short answers

Enjoy.
Pasadlo bien.

Weekly Links 2º ESO —2

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A song to review Past Simple tense: This Old Guitar by John Denver
If you want to read John Denver's biography in English
Si queréis leer la biografía de John Denver en español

Better if you read both.
Mejor si leís las dos.

For your listening test on Friday, You'd better listen to last week video.
Para el ejercicio de 'listening' del viernes, no vendría mal volver a ver el vídeo de la semana pasada. Enjoy.

Weekly Links 4º ESO —2

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Reviewing Expressing ability: CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO. Clear and simple explanation.
Expresar habilidad: puedo, podía/pude, poder. Una explicación clara y sencilla.

Listening to Whitney Houston you  will understand why her death is so terribly saddening.
Escuchando a Whitney Huston comprenderéis por qué su muerte es tan terriblemente entristecedora.

If I should stay, I would only be in your way. So I'll go, but I know I'll think of you every step of the way. And I will always love you. I will always love you. You, my darling you. Hmm. Bittersweet memories that is all I'm taking with me. So, goodbye. Please, don't cry. We both know I'm not what you, need. And I will always love you. I will always love you. (Instrumental solo) I hope life treats you kind And I hope you have all you've dreamed of. And I wish to you, joy and happiness. But above all this, I wish you love. And I will always love you. I will always love you. I will always love you.

Weekly Links 2º BACH —2

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This video is related to the topic of this week's test on beauty and mass-media. I think that it raises an interesting question. What do you think? enjoy.



Here is the transcript of the video:

— Should we put a warning or should we put notification under a photo that this is been retouch? Definitely.

— Time out! we ask the free touching should be banned. We do not think it is realistic to ban the editing a photographs but what is a more reasonable approach to warn people about the excessive use of photo shop in the media? The effects of photo shopping images vary a cross age and gender. But may lower the self esteem of young girls, it can also raise the expectations of man. Now, with the so many unhealthy messages going around I has anyone done me thing to combat the effects.

— But what are we really talking about? Fortunately, making money.

— If clients pay you to do you a thing and if that is what they pay you to do then give them what they want.

— According to the body project the ability of girls to distinguish the air brush image diminish her likelihood to develop and dessert a perception of perfection and as a result also lowered her odd to developing in inning disorder.

— I think that all the advertisement that we see every single day, everywhere we go has a directs, a direct impact like a time bomb.

— You might think that as looking at people who are maybe little too close to perfect would be a disconnect, but I think that quite often is not a disconnect because people are willing to suspend belief and they are willing to sort of widen their view of what kind of people are like them.

— I have heard arguments of students say to me you know I have heard them, I have been a demonstrations in people stood up and said that is wrong. It is not appropriate and person on the penal said if you don’t believe in this then do not do it.

— After the team was finished retouching my photo I really like the way that the final picture looked. Now, the real question is if I ready to go and put it up on and I want to show my social profiles to people actually perceive the image as that what I actually look in person because it is not real. So, it is not really me. Now, do people look at the images in the magazines and try achieved the body that they see. Were is the retouching of photos causing the disordered eating among our society?

— I have never seen more dramatically sick rolls, when I say sick between their ears more than below their neck. Once upon a time eating disorder show more physical than psychological in terms of the absent danger. Now, yes eventually we going to deal with somebody who is 80 or 90 pounds, you do see that. But what is going on between a girls ears now or woman’s ears to the point where they believe the whole idea of each day is do not eat, to exercise as much as possible and to make sure that you are size zero. That is to how we start the day.

— I personally do not believe that photoshops should be banned. I do not think it is realistic and it is definitely not going to happen. What we can do than I think is realistic and we will help combat some idea on healthy images is to add this slimmer to the images that happen we touch in magazines such as glamour so people do know that they have been retouched.

— If we can make it much more obvious to all of us that these photos have been retouched. You know I think there is some possibility of improving but just as on secret packages what’s the warning say according to surgeon general. Does that stop someone who does intend on smoking? I do not know but it is some awareness.

— If you look at products that are designed to make us look and feel better what they are not really selling a product. They are not really selling a shirt you not really selling cosmetics. You’re selling hope.

Valentine's Day

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Aprovechando que hoy es el día de San Valentín, a ver cuánto sabemos de esta celebración. He subtitulado este vídeo en inglés y en español para que practiquéis un poco. Según vuestro nivel podéis verlo sin subtítulos (los de bachillerato), o podéis verlo subtitulado en inglés (los de 4º) y los de 1º, vedlo una vez con los subtítulos en español y otra con los subtítulos en inglés.

As we are on Valentine's Day, let's see how much we know about this celebration. I have transcribed and translated into Spanish this video about The History of Valentine's Day. According to your level of English you can either watch the video through, without stopping (Advanced level) or watch it with English subtitles (Intermediate level) or, for Beginners, watch it first with Spanish subtitles, then with English subtitles.

Si queréis, también podéis contestar las preguntas de un juego que hice hace un tiempo sobre el tema: ¿Cuánto sabes sobre el día de San Valentín?" ¡Que lo paséis bien!

 If you feel like, you can also play a trivia game I made a while ago on the subject: "How much do you know about Valentine's Day?" Enjoy!

Un artista peculiar

Gregory Blackstock

Gregory Blackstock is an autistic savant, and has overcome many of the limitations of autism (impaired social interaction and communication, repetitive behaviour). Gregory exhibits many of the remarkable traits of the autistic savant; he speaks many languages, is an incredible mimic, and is able to recall events with uncanny precision. Retiring in 2001 after "25 1/3" years of work as a pot washer, he has captivated the art world with the obsessive, meticulous drawings he’d been making after-hours since 1986. (source)

Gregory Blackstock es un sabio autista que ha superado muchas de las limitaciones del autismo (problemas de comunicación, en la interacción social y conductas repetitivas). Gregory muestra los rasgos característicos de un sabio autista: habla varios idiomas, es un increíble imitador y es capaz de recordar situaciones con una precisión asombrosa. Tras retirarse en 2001 después de trabajar "25 años y 1/3" de friegaplatos, ha cautivado el mundo del arte con los dibujos meticulosos y obsesivos que lleva haciendo después de su jornada de trabajo desde 1986.

Y a nosotros nos sirve para ampliar nuestro vocabulario.
And he helps us improve our vocabulary.

Gregory Blackstock
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Thursday Idiom —1

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Every Thursday I intend to bring an English idiom and its equivalent in Spanish in order to help improve your vocabulary in a fun way. At the same time we will find out how our cultural background makes us express the same idea in a different way.
* Idiom: a construction or expression of one language whose parts correspond to elements in another language but whose total structure or meaning is not matched in the same way in the second language.

(Todos los jueves quiero compartir un modismo inglés y su equivalente en español para ayudaros a enriquecer vuestro vocabulario de forma divertida. De paso, descubriremos cómo nuestro bagaje cultural nos lleva a expresar la misma idea de forma distinta.
* Modismo: expresión fija, privativa de una lengua, cuyo significado no se deduce de las palabras que la forman. )

'by rule of thumb'

'A means of estimation made according to a rough and ready practical rule, not based on science or exact measurement.' The origin of the phrase remains unknown. It probably refers to one of the numerous ways that thumbs have been used to estimate things - judging the alignment or distance of an object by holding the thumb in one's eye-line, the temperature of brews of beer, etc. (Reference)

(Literalmente significa "por regla del pulgar". 'Es una forma de estimación según una regla práctica, que no tiene base científica o medidas exactas.' El origen de la expresión sigue siendo desconocido. Es probable que se refiera a una de las muchas formas en que el pulgar ha sido utilizado para calcular cosas: comprobar la alineación o la distancia de un objeto poniendo el dedo pulgar en la línea de visión, la temperatura de la elaboración de la cerveza, etc.)

'a ojo de buen cubero'

Lo utilizamos cuando hacemos una estimación sin medir realmente. La frase hace referencia a las medidas de capacidad de las cubas destinadas a contener agua, vino u otro líquido. Las cubas eran fabricadas una a una por el cubero, y su capacidad venía determinada por el reino en el que tuviera montado el negocio e incluso por las diferentes normativas de medidas dictadas por los señores feudales  (Referencia)

(The expression refers to the measures of capacity of the barrels designed to hold water, wine or other liquid. These barrels were made ​individually by a cooper, and their capacity was determined by the kingdom where his business was set up and even by the various legislations of measures ordered by the feudal lords.)

Así que,  a ojo de buen cubero, deberíais saber más ahora que hace un momento.
(So, by rule of thumb, you must be now wiser than a few minutes ago.)

Weekly Links 2º BACH —1

To help you practise for this week exercise, I recommend this video clip: "Why Students Don't Read What is Assigned in Class?"
(Para ayudaros a practicar para el control de esta semana, recomiendo este vídeo:"¿Por qué los alumnos no leen lo que se les manda en clase?")

Some high school students explain why they don't read what is assigned and how they still pass English and literacy classes by using CliffNotes and the Internet.
(CliffNotes are a series of student study guides which present and explain literary and other works in pamphlet form or online.)
(Unos cuantos alumnos de secundaria explican por qué no leen lo que les piden y sin embargo aprueban la asignatura de lengua y literatura utilizando CliffNotes e internet.
CliffNotes es una serie de guías de estudio para estudiantes que presentan y explican literatura y otros temas en forma de folleto o en línea.)

If you watch this video several times the next days, that will help you improve your vocabulary and your listening skills. Even if you don't understand everything you hear, keep on listening and you will find out that, in the end, you understand the essential of the ideas exposed.
(Si miráis varias veces este vídeo estos próximos días, os ayudará a mejorar vuestro vocabulario y vuestra habilidad para escuchar. Aunque no entendáis todo lo que oís, seguid escuchando y descubriréis que, al final, entendéis lo más importante de lo que se dice.)
Enjoy!

Weekly Links 4º ESO —1

Here you are a lesson video about the modal verb: CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO. As usual, Bob Wilson does a great job.
(Un vídeo sobre el verbo modal: puedo, pude/podía, poder. Como de costumbre Bob Wilson ha hecho un gran trabajo).

Watch this clip several times over the next days (before our weekly test): it will help you improve not only your knowledge about this modal verb, but your pronounciation and listening skills as well.
(Mirad el video varias veces estos próximos días (antes de nuestro control semanal): os ayudará no sólo a mejor vuestros conocimientos sobre este verbo modal, sino vuestra pronunciación y comprensión del idioma hablado también.)
Enjoy!

Weekly Links 2º ESO —1

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Reviewing Past Simple versus Past continuous or Progressive.
(Repaso del pasado simple y pasado continuo.)

This is the video clip of the song in your book on page 49 (where you can get the transcript of the lyrics). Listen to it several times.
(Este es el video de la canción que tenéis en el libro en la página 49 -donde tenéis la transcripción de la letra.)

This one is to review directions.
(Este repasa las direcciones.)

Enjoy!

Weekly Links 1º ESO —1

This week more links to practise Present simple:
(Esta semana más enlaces para practicar el presente simple:)

• Present Simple Afirmative

• Present Simple Interrogative:  1  -  2

• Present Simple Mix

And a video. Although intended for children and very easy, it is very useful to practise:
(Y un vídeo que aunque sea para niños y muy sencillo sirve para practicar:)

Enjoy!

Let's start!

¡Empecemos!

Después de probar con la plataforma digital durante el primer trimestre, he llegado a la conclusión de que, puesto que sólo la utilizo para poner enlaces que puedan ayudar a practicar lo que vamos haciendo en clase, no hacía falta tanta privacidad ni tanta contraseña que os dificultaba el acceso. Por el contrario creo que a través de este blog nos resultará más ágil la comunicación. O eso espero.

(After working with the digital platform during the first term, I have concluded that, since I only use it to put links that may help to practice what we are doing in class, we did not need so much privacy or any password that make your access difficult. On the contrary, I think that with this blog we will be able to interact  more easily. Or so I hope.)

Si todo va bien seguiremos como antes: los miércoles seguiré subiendo enlaces para todos nuestros cursos (1º - 2º - 4º de ESO y 2º de Bachillerato) para repasar la gramática y practicar el 'listening' para nuestros ejercicios semanales. También iré poniendo material para descargar (mirad la barra lateral).

(If everything goes as I hope, on Wednesday I will put some links for all our courses (1 º - 2 º - 4 º ESO and 2nd Bachillerato) to review grammar and practice 'listening' for our scheduled weekly exercises. I will also put some material to download —look for it in the sidebar.)

Y, por supuesto, siempre que surja algo que me parezca de interés no dejaré de compartirlo.

(Of course, any time I come across something interesting I wont' hesitate to share it with you. Now let's start!

Y qué mejor forma de empezar que hacerlo con lo último de Bruce Springsteen, Cuidamos de los nuestros, subtitulado en español por un Carlos Maluenda que lo hace muy bien. ¡Disfrutadlo!

(I think that the best way to start is with the latest Bruce Springsteen's song, We Take Care of Our Own, subtitled in Spanish by Carlos Maluenda who does a very good job.Enjoy!)