EVALUACIÓN DOCENTE

Llegado el final de trimestre solo puedo decir ¡buen trabajo!. Ahora me gustaría que completarais esta encuesta para poder mejorar de cara al siguiente trimestre. Elige tu curso y pincha en el link.

ESTA ENCUESTA ES COMPLETAMENTE ANÓNIMA, así que sé sincero/a.

3º ESO

1º BACHILLERATO

2º BACHILLERATO

Muchas gracias a todos y ¡Felices fiestas!

Natalia

Mannequin Challenge

Dear students,

Here I leave the video of our beautiful Mannequin Challenge. I hope you like it and thank you for being such wonderful students 😊

Natalia

FUTURE TENSES

Dear students,

In this unit we are studying all the future tenses in English. As we have seen in class, we have 5 types of future:

WILL	Predictions	It will rain tomorrow.🌂 There won’t be a war in Spain. Do you think aliens will colonise the Earth?👽
	Spontaneous decisions	-          I’m going to the cinema.🎬 -          Oh! I will go with you!
	Promises and offers	I promise I will study harder.👀 I’ll be there for you. I will help you carry those books!
	“I’m sure”	I’m sure you will find a good boyfriend.💕
TO BE GOING TO	Plans	I am going to sleep all weekend long. I am so tired!😴 My parents are going to pay for my university studies. What are you going to do tomorrow?
	Predictions based on evidence	Look at those black clouds! It is going to rain!🌂🌂 Be careful! You are going to fall down the cliff!
PRESENT CONTINUOUS	Fixed plans or arrangements (when you are really sure about your plan)	I have already bought the tickets. I am travelling to USA next summer! Yayyyyy🗽 Are you coming to my party on Saturday? I sent you the invitations a month ago!
FUTURE CONTINUOUS WILL+BE+-ing WILL+ not+BE +-ing WILL+Subj+BE+-ing?	For something that will be happening at a specific time in the future.	This time next year, I will be studying 2º Bachillerato. (Dentro de un año estaré estudiando 2º Bach) In two weeks’ time, we will be having Christmas dinner with our family.🎅🎄 (En dos semanas estaremos cenando por navidad con nuestra familia) What will you be doing at this time tomorrow? (¿Qué estarás haciendo mañana a estas horas?)
FUTURE PERFECT WILL+HAVE+ participle WILL+not+HAVE+ part. WILL+Subj+HAVE+ part.?	For actions that will have finished at a specific moment in the future.	By Dec 22nd, we will have finished the first term.🎅🎄 (El 22 de dic habremos acabado el 1er trimestre) I will have graduated from high school by 2018.🏆🎶 (Me habré graduado del instituto para 2018)

·         We also use the present simple with a sense of future with TIMETABLES or SCHEDULES:

The train leaves at seven o’clock (el tren sale a las siete en punto)

I finish work at 3.30 on Friday (El viernes termino de trabajar a las 3.30)

What time does the flight arrive tomorrow? (¿A qué hora llega el vuelo mañana?)

You can download this worksheet with the theory here: FUTURE THEORY.

Here you have some exercises to review the use of future:

Future 1 (worksheet + answers)

Future 2 (worksheet + answers)

Future 3 (worksheet + answers)
Future 4 (online)
Future 5 (webpage + answers)
Future 6  (online)
Future 7 (online)

Here you have examples of the future tense in songs:

Future continuous

Hope you liked the post and learnt a lot 😊

Natalia

LISTENING PRACTICE

Dear students,

Here you have the link to an audio to practise for the listening: link

And here you have the multiple choice questions. I have highlighted the key words (palabras clave):

You are going to listen to a conversation between two friends, Karen and Matt, about an unusual wedding. Read the questions below, then listen to the conversation and choose the correct answers.

1   Where does Karen learn about the unusual wedding?

A   on Facebook

B   on TV

C   in a newspaper

2   Which part of the wedding  happened outside the plane?

A   When the couple exchanged rings.

B   When the couple signed the register.

C   When the couple kissed.

3   Who is Lester Oakes?

A   the groom

B   the photographer

C   the person who conducted the wedding

4   How many times had Lester Oakes skydived before?

A   many times

B   once

C   never

5   How did the couple do the jump?

A   They both jumped alone.

B   They jumped with instructors.

C   They jumped with the photographer

6   Why did the couple choose to get married in New Zealand?

A   They lived in New Zealand.

B   They are from New Zealand.

C   Skydiving weddings aren’t allowed in Germany.

7   What were the bride and groom most nervous about?

A   Forgetting their vows.

B   Jumping out of the plane.

C   Landing on the ground.

8   For how much longer will the couple be in New Zealand?

A   two weeks

B   six weeks

C   a few months

9   Who was on the ground after the flight?

A   their family

B   the people from the plane and lots of photographers

C   some TV crews

10 What does Karen think about the skydiving wedding?

A   She’d love to do it.

B   She doesn’t want to do it.

C   She’d like to get married in New Zealand, but not in a plane.

ANSWERS

AUDIOS PICTURE DESCRIPTION

Dear students,

I want to congratulate you all for the great effort you made describing pictures. I know speaking exams can be frightening and stressful, but I am really happy with the results. This was the first speaking test and I am more than sure that you will improve incredibly by the end of the year.

Here you have two examples of your classmates' exams. They did really well. Congratulations again.

You can download the document with the pictures here.

And you can listen to the examples in the following links:

Example 1

Example 2

Good job, you are such amazing students!

Natalia

Answers for the Review worksheet

Dear students of 1º A Bachillerato,

As we agreed today in class, here you have the answers for 3, 6 and 5 (the exercises we didn't have time to correct).

Ex 3:

1. I didn't catch the train because I had woken up late.
2. After he had visited Berlin, James decided to learn German.
3. The students went out to celebrate after they had finished their exams.
4. He left the house after he had closed all the windows.

Ex 6:

1. After I had eaten my breakfast, I went ot college.
2. The students have just arrived at school.
3. Kim has already seen this film.
4. While I was working in Cyprus, I met Christo.

Ex 5:

1. I am waiting for my girlfriend to call now; she phones everyday at 8pm
2. She has never gone snowboarding, but she goes skiing every year.
3. When I was a child, I used to sleep with my teddy bear.
4. While he was waiting for me to arrive, he fell asleep.

You can get the worksheet here.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Natalia

USED TO AND WOULD

Dear students,

We have studied that to talk about actions that happened in the past but that do not happen any more in the present, we use the expression USED TO or WOULD.

Image from Google

AFFIRMATIVE: You used to watch Friends on TV. (used to+ infinitive)
NEGATIVE: You didn't use to watch Friends on TV.
INTERROGATIVE: Did you use to watch Friends on TV?

AFFIRMATIVE: You would watch Friends on TV. (used to+ infinitive)
NEGATIVE: You wouldn't watch Friends on TV.
INTERROGATIVE: Would you watch Friends on TV?




Altough they mean the same (solía), there are some differences in use:

• We use USED TO with past habits or states:


• I used to visit my grandmother every Saturday (solía visitar a mi abuela todos los sábados). This is a habit.
• I used to live in Valladolid when I was a teenager (Solía vivir en Valladolid cuando era adolescente). This is a state.

• We use WOULD only for habits, never for states:
• I would visit my grandmother every Saturday.
• I would  used to live in Valladolid when I was a teenager.

Image from Google

If you want to see some examples in songs:

Here you have some exercises to review the use of this structures:

Used to 1

used to and would

used to and would 2

I hope you found this post useful.

Natalia

PICTURE DESCRIPTION

Dear students,

As you know, you will have the first speaking exam next week. It will consist of describing, comparing and saying your opinion about two pictures. DON'T PANIC, we have practised in class, so I am sure you will do well at the exam.

TIPS:

1. Say what the two pictures have in common (the common topic).
2. Describe what you see in the first picture.
3. Describe what you see in the second picture.
4. Say your opinion.
5. Use connectors of contrast: however (sin embargo), although (aunque), whereas (mientras que...).
6. Use all the vocabulary you know (clothes, adjectives, places...)
7. Use sentences and expressions to state your opinion: In my opinion/ I prefer/ I like/ I don't like...
8. Give reasons for what you are saying. If you say that the people look happy, say why (maybe they are smiling/laughing/having a good time...)
9. Relax, you are doing fine and Kristen and me are there to help you.

Here I give you two pictures and a possible description:

Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

Image courtesy of dreamstime.com

Both pictures show people having a meal together. The two pictures look similar in that way. However, there are some differences too. In the first picture I can see a family with two parents and two children. They are probably having luch because the father is wearing formal clothes, so maybe he has just taken a break to have lunch with his family. . They seem happy because they are smiling. It is probably spring or summer, with nice and warm weather because they are wearing short-sleeved T-shirts. They are inside a restaurant which doesn't seem too expensive. 

However, in the second picture the people are not a family. They are colleagues (or co workers). They are having a business meeting and they are eating at the office. They are wearing more formal clothes, they are not casual at all. They are having a pizza. Maybe, they didn't have time to go to a restaurant so they ordered something to eat. 

In my opinion, I prefer the first picture, because I love spending time with my family. In addition, they look much more more relaxed in the first picture than in the second one.

So, as you see, it is not difficult. Practise at home and don't be scared! You'll do well!

Natalia

LINKING WORDS

As we have seen in class, there are a huge variety of connectors (or linking words) that will improve your compositions. Here you have some documents to review their use.

Linking words

Linking words 2

PAST SIMPLE, PAST CONTINUOUS, PRESENT PERFECT, PAST PERFECT

Dear students, 

In unit 1 we are studying different past tenses: past simple, past continuous, present perfect and past perfect.

1. Past simple: for finished actions in the past.

• I talked to my family yesterday. (Hablé con mi familia ayer)
• We went to London 3 years ago. (Fui a Londres hace tres años).

2. Past continuous: actions in progress in the past, they can be interrupted by another action or they may continue in time.

• I was watching Big Brother when my friend phoned. (Estaba viendo GH cuando me llamó mi amigo).
• While I was cooking, my brother was watching TV. It's so unfair! (Mientras yo estaba cocinando, mi hermano estaba viendo la tele. ¡No es justo!)
• What were you doing yesterday at 10 pm? (¿Qué estabas haciendo ayer a las 10 pm?)

3. Present perfect: Actions that started in the past or continue to the present or actions that happened at an unspecified moment in the past.

• I haven't gone to Ireland yet. (Todavía no he ido a Irlanda)
• I have broken my arm and now I can't do my homework! (¡Me he roto el brazo y ahora no puedo hacer mis deberes!)

4. Past perfect: an action that happened before another action.

• I had already been in Paris before I went there last year. (Ya había estado en París antes de ir el año pasado).

DIFFERENCES: Past simple/Present perfect

• I have studied French (Sabemos que has estudiado francés en algún momento pero no sabemos cuando).
• I studied French yesterday evening for the exam (Fue ayer, es una acción acabada y sabemos cuándo sucede).
• I have lived in Valladolid for 25 years. (Aún vivo en Valladolid).
• I lived in Valladolid for 25 years. (ya no vivo en Valladolid)

Here you have some beautiful exercises to review. Hope you find them useful. 

Past simple/continuous/perfect  (Burlington Books)

past simple/present perfect  (Burlington Books)

past simple vs. present perfect

past simple, continuous, perfect

text past tenses

FOR AND AGAINST ESSAY and OPINION ESSAY

Dear students, 

here you have two documents that I think are quite useful for your writings. Read carefully to learn the structure of both types of essays. It is very important that you know them, and it is really easy too, if you follow step by step.

for and against essay

opinion essay

 I hope you find them useful.

 Natalia

HORROR MOVIE PRESENTATION

Dear students,

You will have to present a poster of a horror movie you have made up to the rest of the class.

Miriam and me will mark your speaking, so please don't be lazy, we want to hear really good and scary stories. Remember you have to introduce the characters (los personajes) and the plot (el argumento). You will also have to explain your poster. 

For the characters, you can talk about:

- Physical appearance (tall/short, hair, fat=plump=chubby=overweight/ thin=skinny/slim, clothes...)

- Personality (friendly/unfriendly, evil/good, generous/selfish, adventurous/calm, brave/coward...)

For the plot:

- Make sure you answer these questions: Where? When? Why? with whom? (con quién)

Remember to speak loud enough for us to hear you, clearly and slowly (but not too much!). Use appropriate grammar (past simple) and vocabulary.

Your presentations should last for about 4-6 min.

We'll spend two sessions last week of October, one with Eric and another one with me (and Miriam!). 

We are looking forward to hearing those scary stories of yours!! (¡Estamos deseando escuchar vuestras historias de miedo!).

Natalia

ADJECTIVES ENDING IN -ED OR -ING

Dear students,

As we have seen in class, there are some adjectives that can end in -ed or in -ing. Depending on their meaning, we should choose one or the other:

- I have nothing to do. I am so bored. 

- I never want to do anyting. I am so boring!

Nobody wants to be boring but we are sometimes bored (not in the English class, of course!).

We translate the verb to be as ESTAR with adjectives ending in -ED; and we translate the verb to be as SER with adjectives ending in -ING.

Here you have a very useful explanation of this and some online exercises.

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/es/quick-grammar/adjectives-ending-ed-and-ing

http://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/ed-and-ing-adjectives-describing-feelings-and-things/

http://esl.fis.edu/grammar/multi/eding.htm

Present perfect continuous vs Past perfect continuous

We use the present perfect continuous 

• For actions that started in the past and continue to the present:

He has been waiting for you all day (= todavía está esperando).

I've been working on this essay since eight o'clock this morning (= todavía no lo he terminado).

They have been travelling since last July(= todavía no han vuelto).

• For actions that have just finished and the important thing is the result:

She has been cooking since last night (= y la comida preparada tiene un aspecto delicioso).

It's been raining (= y las calles aún están mojadas).

Someone's been eating my chips (= quedan la mitad).

REMEMBER that we usually translate this tense with the Spanish expression "llevar haciendo" (She has been waiting for you for hours! =¡Lleva esperándote horas!)

If you want to practise some present perfect in songs here you have Mr Postman by The Beatles and Counting Stars by One Republic.

Mr Postman

Counting Stars

We use the past perfect continuous 

• for actions in progress in the past before another action happened:

I had been working for hours before I fell asleep (había estado trabajando desde hacía horas, cuando me quedé dormida).

• To express cause and effect:

I was really tired because I had been working for hours. (Estaba muy cansada porque había estado trabajando desde hacía horas).

REMEMBER that we usually translate this tense with the Spanish expression "llevaba haciendo" :

I was really tired because I had been working for hours. (Estaba muy cansada porque llevaba trabajando desde hacía horas)

And if you want to practise here you have some exercises with answers:

https://www.burlingtonbooks.com/Spain/Page.aspx?PageID=411  (look for Present Perfect Continuous / Past Perfect Continuous)

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

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

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs14.htm

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs15.htm

* Images from Google Images