Friday, December 29, 2023
SOME INFO
Hi there,
I have uploaded new materials to the virtual classroom (for A2, B2.1 and C2.2) including some assignments. Just in case you haven't seen it, even though I have sent you all a message.
Sending Christmas hugs,
MJ
Thursday, December 28, 2023
Wednesday, December 27, 2023
A2: The Monster that stole Christmas: The Grinch
"The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! Now, please don’t ask why. No one quite knows the reason.” These are two lines from the 1957 book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! which introduced millions of children to one of Dr. Seuss’ most famous characters, the Grinch.
A VILE PLAN
In the story the Grinch lives in isolation, in a home overlooking the town of Whoville. Unlike the Whos who live in Whoville, the Grinch hates Christmas, and so he formulates a plan to destroy it. On Christmas Eve, he disguises himself as Santa Claus, and that night while the Whos are sleeping, he breaks into their homes and steals all their Christmas presents and decorations.
On Christmas morning, however, the Grinch is shocked to hear the Whos of Whoville rejoicing, and he realises that there’s more to Christmas than material goods and decorative details. He returns everything to the Whos, and celebrates Christmas with them that year —and presumably every year after that.
AN ICONIC CHARACTER
Despite his transformation in the story, the Grinch is typically represented as a character who hates Christmas, similar to the character of Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge was created over a hundred years earlier by the British author Charles Dickens, who introduced him to the world through his 1843 novella A Christmas Carol.
The Grinch has been the subject of TV series, films and musical theatre. Notable among them are the 2000 live-action film starring Jim Carrey and the 2018 computer-animated film featuring the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch. The Grinch is often depicted on Christmas memorabilia, he has even inspired a range of ugly green sweaters, which make for funny Christmas presents.
DR. SEUSS
As famous as the Grinch is his American creator, Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904-1991), who wrote under the pseudonym Dr. Seuss. Although Dr. Seuss worked as an illustrator, a political cartoonist and a filmmaker, he is best known as a children’s author. He illustrated and wrote more than sixty children’s books, all in rhymed verse, and introduced the world to many other iconic characters, including the Cat in the Hat, and Horton the Elephant. By the time Dr. Seuss died, over six hundred million copies of his books had been sold, and they had been translated into more than twenty different languages. Dr. Seuss has become as iconic as his most famous characters and continues to inspire and delight children all around the world.
GLOSSARY
quite: del todolines: linesoverlooking: con vistas aUnlike: al contrario queEve: víspera (Christmas Eve: Nochebuena)disguises: disfrazarsehowever: sin embargorejoicing: legrarse, regocijarseto realise: darse cuentanovella: novela cortaCarol: villancicoto feature: incluirto depict: representarugly: feoscartoonist: dibujante, humorista gráficoCat in the Hat: gato con sombrerodelight: deleitar
Source: Speak UpI'm not sure if you'll be able to listen as well, but the link is below and you can try:The Monster that stole Christmas: The Grinch (speakup.es)
PRONUNCIATION: The /iː/ Sound (beach, peach, sheet)
How Britain's taste for tea may have been a life saver. C2.2
Source: BBC
You can read the article by clicking on the link below.
How Britain's taste for tea may have been a life saver - BBC Future
Symphony in Slang (B2.1 & C2.2)
A2: Super simple Listening Comprehension.
Click on the link below to do the exercise:
This Week in History | EnglishClub
They speak very, very slowly. The difficult vocabulary is explained and there are some multiple questions to answer at the end.
Sunday, December 24, 2023
Three very different Christmas songs.
Art
What do you know about Margaret Keanes?
Do you like her paintings?
Have you seen the biopic about her life? If you haven't, you can check the trailer below. It's a truly fascinating story.
What does this idiom mean?
I tried adding coconut milk to the curry as you suggested, and it worked like a charm. It was really delicious.
10 Life-changing SELF CARE HABITS for the Highly Sensitive Person. B2.1 and C2.2
Friday, December 22, 2023
Blog contribution by Samu M. (A2)
After twenty years, yesterday I watched Mr Bean on TV and I was happy.
Mr Bean went to university to take a test. He couldn't do the exam because he couldn't see the questions well.
While another student was doing the test, he tried to copy his answers. In the end, he didn't have time to finish the exam.
Another day, Mr Bean went to the beach. He wasn't wearing swimming trunks, and he wanted to change his clothes. When he was getting changed, he didn't realise the only person who was near him was blind.
In the next sketch, Mr Bean wanted go to the fair, he looked for the right road and ended up with a baby in his car. He's very funny. At the fair he forgot the baby on different rides.
In my house Mr Bean always paints a smile on our faces.
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Surnames, Telephone Numbers, Street Names a...
Controversial topic
What is your opinion? For me it's difficult to decide because in this woman's culture it's very difficult to lead a happy life if other people think you can't have children.
Note: I'm sorry, I know the picture is a bit blurry.
Source: Woman's Own
What can you tell me about this man?
I read a very interesting article about Darren McGarvey in Speak Up yesterday. Can you look for information about him and share it here? Thanks.
New Idiom
What is the meaning of the highlighted expression?
Things are looking up now that the tourist season is here.
And one more question: can you tell me where the three pictures below were taken?
Sunday, December 17, 2023
Thursday 21st December. Christmas Party.
Dear all,
You also have this info in the virtual classroom. I hope to see you there. There will be music, sweets, a competition, food and prizes.
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
Cheers,
Maria
Article shared by Esther G. (C2.2). Please DO read it and write your opinions in the comment section.
Romantic novels: Let’s welcome the new Prince Charming.
A romantic novel generally refers to a type of a fiction genre where two people meet, fall in love at first sight, separate because their love is impossible and finally live happily ever after.
There are many sub-genres, from historical to contemporary romance and more specifically, paranormal, time-travel and science fiction romance. All of them have one main characteristic: love always wins no matter the difficulties.
Women are the main readers of this genre. Because of that, romantic plots are written from a woman’s perspective and have been adapted through history. Contemporary novels written in the early 70s showed a woman focused on childcare, house-chores and little else. On the contrary, novels written nowadays, show an empowered woman who still believes in love, but can also survive by herself without a strong and handsome Prince Charming next to her.
According to a recent online survey carried out among 1,234,563 readers, the most important values in a contemporary Prince Charming are intelligence, weakness, and sensibility. Of course, beauty and strength are also part of the equation. The tendency is a sensitive alpha-male hero.
Love is in the air, love is everywhere….. or not. Whether you prefer romance or another genre, you are free to choose. Go to the library, take your time, enjoy your reading and please, do not stop reading. There are thousands of books waiting to be read.
Laughter is the best medicine
|
Your Reality. Award-winning short film on Gaslighting
At the optician/eye doctor
Very often, when we study a new language, we learn a lot of big words and can talk about complicated topics, but we lack the vocabulary and skills to face an everyday situation. Below you can see three videos with information about your eyesight and how to speak about it. All of them can be useful for A2, B2.1 and C2.2 (the last one is a bit difficult though), but I have organised them by levels.
Can you think of other situations you'd like to practise?
A2
C2
Blue
A friend of mine shared this with me and I find it both interesting and intriguing. What do you think it means?
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Mr Bean. A2.2 class exercise.
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
B2.1. English Grammar - Easy Introduction to Passive
The happiest man on earth: 99 year old Holocaust survivor shares his sto...
Sunday, December 10, 2023
"Curious George" A2.2
Curious George is a fictional monkey who is the title character of a series of popular children's picture books written by Margret and H. A. Rey and illustrated by Alan Shalleck. Various media, including films and TV shows, have been based upon the original book series.
George is described as "a good little monkey, and always very curious". Despite being referred to as a monkey throughout the series, he is depicted without a tail. In the first book, George is caught by "The Man in the Yellow Hat" and taken from Africa to America where the two live together. George and the Man in the Yellow Hat become friends and are shown going on adventures together. (Source: Wikipedia)
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Can you solve the secret assassin society riddle?
English proverbs
Can you think of proverbs in Spanish that mean the same as the ones below?
- Out of sight, out of mind.
- Birds of a feather, flock together.
- People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
- The early bird gets the worm.
- The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
- Every cloud has a silver lining.
- A friend in need is a friend indeed.
- A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
Saturday, December 2, 2023
I Am Martin Luther King Jr by Brad Meltzer
I Need A New Butt/Bum. A story for children.
I am Emma Woodhouse - Emma Approved: Ep 1
Idioms.
What is the meaning of the highlighted expression? Can you explain and choose the right answer? And do you know all the idioms in the picture?
Sharon always ums and ahs when she
b. feels really good
c. can't make up her mind
Monday, November 27, 2023
Another A2 Blog Contribution
I am Dorys. I'm going to tell you about my hobby, teacher.
I have loved dancing since I was a little girl. I danced in the town festival, I participated in contests with my cousins and friends. I had a lot of fun dancing and winning prizes.
I love music and dancing, it is my favourite hobby. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music and during the week I go to the gym to practise zumba.
Although I like to read a new book when I have some free time, most weekends I love to relax at home and spend time with family and friends, many of those weekends I do jazz dance with my daughters. My favourite kinds of music are bachata, salsa, merengue and ballads. I love dancing: I relax and have a lot of fun, and it is also a way to exercise and improve my health.
A2 Blog Contribution
Hello,
My name is María José and I am going to tell you about my hobbies.
I like dancing very much, but I don't usually go dancing because my husband doesn't like it. Sometimes my daughters and I turn on the radio and we dance a lot.
I like reading, but I don't have much time to read, so I try to read when I'm on holiday. I enjoy reading a book on the beach very much.
I like going to our family's country house in Cenicientos and take care of the flowers. I like collecting fruit and cooking jam with it. This weekend I have gone to the country and we have collected quinces. Now I have to cook quince sweet and quince jam.
Do you like quince?
Bye, I'll see you tomorrow.
Idiom
What is the meaning of the highlighted words in the sentence below?
My uncle says that success in the rat race can make you rich, but it can also turn you into a self-centred and shallow person.
Vocabulary. All levels.
Vocabulary is easy! How many days in a year are there? 365, normally (on Earth).
If you learn only 5 new words a day, you will learn 5 x 365 = 1,825 new words in a year. ONE THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE WORDS. That is a lot of new words. And we are not counting all the other words you will learn in other ways - reading, conversation etc. Buy a notebook and write in 5 new words EACH day, EVERY day. Learn them! You will soon have an excellent vocabulary.
Click on the link below for more information:
Vocabulary | Learn English | EnglishClub
Thursday, November 23, 2023
Coping with loneliness. This video is appropriate for all levels.
Kenny Rogers. Coward Of The County. C2.2. Class Activity.
I Am From Palestine. Award-Winning Short Animation film
Reading Comprehension Exercise. A2
Below you have a very simple short story that you can read in a moment. Reading regularly is one of the best ways to improve your English.
Emily is 8 years old. She lives in a big house. She has a huge room. She has many toys and she has a lot of friends. But Emily is not happy. She has a secret.
She doesn't want to tell anyone about her secret. She feels embarrassed. The problem is that if nobody knows about it, there is no one that can help her.
Emily doesn't write her homework. When there is an exam – she gets sick. She doesn't tell anyone, but the truth is she can't read and write. Emily doesn't remember the letters of the alphabet.
One day, Emily's teacher finds out. She sees that Emily can't write on the board. She calls her after class and asks her to tell the truth. Emily says, "It is true. I don't know how to read and write". The teacher listens to her. She wants to help Emily. She tells her, "That's ok. You can read and write if we practice together".
So Emily and her teacher meet every day after class. They practice together. Emily works hard. Now she knows how to read and write!
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Cecilia SIMON & GARFUNKEL
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
More about reported speech. B21.
If you click on the link below, it will take you to a page that explains reported speech and also includes lot of exercises.
You can obviously ask me any questions you might have.
https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/reported-speech.html
Reported speech. B21.
Another secret that will help you when learning English (Source: English Club)
Sentence Stress
Sentence stress is the music of spoken English. Like word stress, sentence stress can help you to understand spoken English, even rapid spoken English.
Sentence stress is what gives English its rhythm or "beat". You remember that word stress is accent on one syllable within a word. Sentence stress is accent on certain words within a sentence.
Most sentences have two basic types of word:
- content words
Content words are the keywords of a sentence. They are the important words that carry the meaning or sense—the real content. - structure words
Structure words are not very important words. They are small, simple words that make the sentence correct grammatically. They give the sentence its correct form—its structure.
If you remove the structure words from a sentence, you will probably still understand the sentence.
If you remove the content words from a sentence, you will not understand the sentence. The sentence has no sense or meaning.
To continue reading go to:https://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/sentence-stress.php
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" Speech
Monday, November 20, 2023
Idiom
James will have to face the music when he
b. goes to hospital
c. goes to court
See you around
Dear all, I wish I could have said bye in person, but unfortunately I'll be on sick leave till 27th May at least. I'm sorry I wasn...
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Dear all, I wish I could have said bye in person, but unfortunately I'll be on sick leave till 27th May at least. I'm sorry I wasn...