Mashup

Many teachers of English are mad about The Beatles and my case is not a different one. Those of you who know my daily class-routines know that the fab-four are one of the favourite music groups when trying to use songs in order to learn. Do you want to listen to all Beatles songs in 8:22? Now it is possible by clicking on the play button and listening to this mashup; the clearest (or weirdest) example of what a mashup is:

All Together Now - Everything the Beatles ever did. by ramjac

My proposal for this month: Let's work on some music by sending your mashup proposals in video or audio format. These should be in English, of course, and should include some data on which the "mashupped" groups or singers are included.

Unit 3. Past Simple.

The formation of past simple is very easy. Take a look at this mind map the teacher prepared for you and post any doubts that may arise:

You must have noticed that there are two ways (examples) to produce past simple, with regular and irregular verbs. The previous ones are quite easy to understand as they only have to take the -ed ending; however the former ones can only be learnt by heart (to those foreign learners, of course), no matter what learning techniques you use. But you can practice them by clicking on the following links:

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=2030
http://www.english-online.org.uk/games/pasttense2.htm
http://www.esldesk.com/spelling/irregular-verbs
http://www.englishpage.com/irregularverbs/interactiveirregularverbs1.htm

Now, try the quiz in the video below:

Are you still lost about when to use each tense? Try to solve the problems you may still have by viewing the presentation Talking About the Past



My last word in this post, take a look at this irregular verbs list (don't worry about the pronunciation key) as learning it will be helpful in the rest of your learning process:

Video & Quiz. Present tenses contrast.

I hope that watching this video and taking the corresponding quiz will help you fully understand the "difficult" topic we are mainly dealing with this unit. Pay attention to the uses of both tenses in situations of real life.

Unit 2. Present Continuous / Simple

This document will help you to revise and to understand better what is the main grammatical topic in this unit. Download it or just go to the full-screen mode in order to check it:

Watch this presentation in order to distinguish with clearer examples between the different uses that this tenses have:

Now, you can practice what seen before by following the links below:

http://speakspeak.com/a/html/d3a001_grammar_beginners_present_simple_continuous.htm
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/simple_present_progressive2.htm
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/simcon1.htm
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro
http://www.inglestotal.com/present-simple-and-present-continuous-diferencias-y-ejercicios/
http://www.autoenglish.org/gr.prescon.i.htm
http://madridteacher.com/Grammar/activities/pres-cont-paul.htm
http://theenglishyouneedblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/present-continuous-listening-game.html

I Would Like to Buy a Hamburger...

Teaching English is never easy:

Many of you might feel identified with such situation, that's why I propose you search the net for videos in which comic situations connected with the hard task of teaching - learning of English take place.
This is your first chance in this course to gain a positive point for first term, and the ten funniest videos will be shown to all three 2nd ESO (groups A, D, E) and 4th ESO (D) in a special lesson the next 20th of October in the examination room.
Have fun and send as many videos as you like.
("Don't quit, we never quit, again, again!!")

Vocabulary Practice for English Alive 2 (OUP)

http://elt.oup.com/student/englishalive/englishalive2/?cc=global&selLanguage=en

Click on the link above to practice on the vocabulary we've been working on through this unit. Forthcoming units will also have their practice activities within the same link, and again, don't hesitate about asking in case you have problems or doubts arise. Have fun with the games you'll find at OUP online .

Unit 1. Present Simple

Here you have notes to download, a presentation and easy-to-do exercises in order to extend and consolidate everything about present simple tense seen in this first unit. I'm waiting for your comments to clarify any doubts that may arise.

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/use/exercises?05
http://www.saberingles.com.ar/curso/lesson02/06.html
http://www.saberingles.com.ar/curso/lesson02/07.html
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/simple-present-exercises.html
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/form/exercises
http://esl.about.com/library/beginner/bl_bgpressimple.htm

The Present Simple

View more presentations from Patricia

The First Monday...

                                   

The very first day in this new course is Monday; that's why I recommend you listen to this Wilco song, just to start it with new energy and to have the chance "to make as many mistakes as you want".

You also know that the starting of the course has always a common part in all subjects, which is the diagnostic test. From this blog we are always trying to work autonomously, so here you have a list of links from which you can test your English and have an idea about how your English is like in the beginning of the course. Don't get too high or too low by your results and bear in mind that there is always room for improvement or worsening, it's all up to you.

The best of the lucks in this new course!

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/test-your-english/index.php/index.php?page=survey&surveyID=4

http://www.stratfordschool.com/english/test.html

http://www.world-english.org/test.htm

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/tests

http://www.angelfire.com/on/topfen/tests.html

And Now I Disappear...

This is it; the current course is over; most of you have done a pretty good job, excellent I must say. But some of you haven't been so lucky at passing the subject. Anyway, keep on trying and work hard this summer to prepare for the September exam, I'm sure all of you will pass it.
I bet you've had enough of all this for now, that's why the title of this post says "Now I Disappear...". I'd dare to say that I escape, just as Houdini did.
Enjoy this song and dance all summer long, and whenever you feel bored you just have to click on the links I've been posting through the course to revise...

Work on Comparative Adjectives. ESO1

Some of you said that you needed some extra work on comparison. Here I provide some very useful links that will help you understand and reinforce those contents we have already worked in class.

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/adjectives-adverbs/adjectives/exercises
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/adjectives_adverbs/adjective_comparison.htm
http://www.inglestotal.com/comparative-form/
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=2070

Indefinite Pronouns. ESO 2

As you demanded in class, here you have some useful links that will help you acquire and understand how indefinite pronouns work in English.
The contents included in the rest of Unit 9 can be found by clicking the label "1st ESO".
Post a comment in case you are still doubtful about any aspect you don't fully understand.

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=1761
http://www.polseguera.com/freegrammar/indefinite.htm
http://www.eflnet.com/grammar/indefpronoun.php
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/410-indefinite-pronouns-agreement1.htm

30 years without Bob Marley

30 years today without Bob Marley. I hope this song helps you coping with the final part of the course and it keeps you apart from negative thoughts about your results. Be positive and try your best. Just as Marley did through all his life

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_marley

Present Perfect. ESO 2. Unit 8

Present Perfect

Download the following notes if you prefer it in a traditional format:

Now, you can practice the present perfect tense and its contrast with other verbal tenses (extension) by clicking on the links provided below:

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/tests/present-perfect-simple-1

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/tests/present-perfect-simple-2

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/tests/present-perfect-simple-3

http://www.saberingles.com.ar/curso/lesson21/06.html

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-perfect-exercise-4.html

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-perfect-exercise-5.html

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/pperf.htm

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-simple/exercises?03

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/presentperfect1.htm

http://www.really-learn-english.com/present-perfect-exercises.html

Banksy in the net -research project- ESO 2

Here we have the final result of the list the students proposed and rated as interesting as regards to Banksy and its graffitti universe:

       - Anna García (E2D) sent a link to Banksy's biography in Wikipedia:  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksy
       - Ramón (E2D) found an interesting gallery in Banksy's official site:
www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/horizontal_1.htm
       - Some more examples of Banksy's art found by Yaiza and Ainoa (E2D) and Nouri (E1A), who sent several examples of interesting galleries of images:
http://cinquecollective.com/artist/banksy/
http://www.artofthestate.co.uk/banksy/banksy.htm
http://www.flickr.com/groups/banksy/
http://www.artespain.com/18-12-2009/arte-contemporaneo/grafittis-de-banksy
http://totallycoolpix.com/2010/12/banksy/
       - And finally, Carlos (E2B) found a very intriguing article about Banksy's identity found in a British newspaper:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1034538/Graffiti-artist-Banksy-unmasked---public-schoolboy-middle-class-suburbia.html

All these websites can go together with the one the teacher proposed and has been posted all the time:

http://www.boredpanda.com/80-beautiful-street-crimes-done-by-banksy/

I hope you enjoyed during your successful search and it helps you not only in our subject, but also in life. I'm extremely proud of your job guys!!

 

A good song as a reward

Thanks to all the students who have collaborated in the blog with comments and taking the voluntary activities so far,  I really appreciate it, indeed I do!

That's why I want to share with you one of the best songs of the moment, a song which shows the best of one of the best "americana music" groups. I hope it serves as a break, I hope you enjoy it; and even more interesting: I hope it helps you get a positive point for this third term (yes, another one!) by sending an approximate interpretation of what the song talks about to the comments section.

- Let me just remind you that (perhaps) the hardest part of the course is ahead, so don't relax and keep on working even harder, that's how good results will come.

Extension notes on Units 7 and 8. ESO 1

Download these notes made by the teacher to make the concepts in this units clearer.

Extension notes on Unit 7. ESO2

Download these notes made by the teacher to make the concepts in this units clearer.

Comparatives - Superlatives explanation and practice. ESO2

Comparatives Superlatives

View more presentations from guest006e9a

Now,  get some practice by clicking on the links below:

 

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/adjectives-adverbs/adjectives/exercises

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/regcom1.htm

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/regcom2.htm

http://www.english4all.pro.br/L4ComparativeSuperlative.htm

http://ies1libertas.edu.gva.es/departamentos/ingles/PDFs/tercero/ecomsu3e1.pdf

http://www.learnenglish.de/Games/Adjectives/CompSup.htm

http://www.saberingles.com.ar/curso/lesson12/05.html

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=2070

http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/naturalenglish/pre/a_grammar/unit06/nepre_grammar06_1/

Past simple - Regular verbs practice and explanation. ESO 1

Check out this Presentation on regular verbs and then practice by clicking on the links below. Comment on any doubts you may have.

Past simple - Regular verbs

View more presentations from guest8a4f715.

In the following exercises you practice both, regular and irregular verbs, so they will also help you in your daily irregular verbs tests!!

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-past/exercises
http://www.saberingles.com.ar/exercises/203.html
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=5121
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/simple_past_mix.htm
http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/pastsimple/menu.php
http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/gr.pastsim.i.htm
http://www.learnenglish.de/Games/Tenses/SimplePast.htm
http://esp.lp-method.com/past-simple-exercises-lpmethod (tutorial on past simple and all its forms)
http://www.madridteacher.com/Activities/Files1/images/past-simple-verbs/worksheets/past-simple-verbs-matching.htm
http://madridteacher.com/Activities/Files1/images/past-simple-verbs/worksheets/past-simple-verbs-pictures-matching.htm

Tips to learn a language (for missions)

Here you have some tips to learn a language and why it is useful. Pay special attention to his body language and how assertive he is; that's one of the goals to reach! Don't get worried if your accent is not the same as the man's, as you still are a young learner of English.

- First positive point of third term!!!
If you follow the link below, you will go to a questionaire related to the same video. Submit the correct answers and get an extra point for the forthcoming third term!

http://www.eslvideo.com/view_quiz.php?id=7569

Unit to work on quantifiers. ESO 1

Here you have some links to practice on quantifiers which I think will be extremely useful for you to prepare next U6 test. If any problems arise you can also download the document I prepared for you in order to have a clearer explanation on how all these elements work.

I know second term is a hard one, that's why I really appreciate the efforts you are taking to improve your English learning. Thanks for your interest and collaboration!

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=3198

http://www.bradleys-english-school.com/online/multiplechoice/aansomeany.html

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=1657

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=5271

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-many-lot.php

http://www.1-language.com/englishcourse/unit14_grammar_exs.htm

http://www.eflnet.com/tutorials/muchmanyalotof.php

http://www.english-test.net/esl/learn/english/grammar/ei052/esl-test.php

http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/solutions/preint_unit_page/unit3/grammar/exercise1

Notes on quantifiers:

Extension unit to work on Future. ESO 2

By downloading this unit made by the teacher you will be able to work the usage and contrast of the two most common expressions for future simple; they are "will" and "be going to". You have a wide range of activities, as well as  grids to help you reaching the full scope of this tense.

Information on "Twinsburg" (and its festival). ESO 1

Congratulations to all the contributors to find information about Twinsburg and its famous Twins Festival. Now, we can learn more on this special festival by reading the info provided or clicking on the links provided by your classmates. Thanks for your collaboration.

- Twins Days is a festival for biological twins (and other multiples, e.g. triplets, quads) which has taken place every summer since 1976 in Twinsburg, Ohio. It is the largest annual gathering of twins in the world. The event has twin based contests, "talent" shows which is opened every year with the Star Spangled Banner sung by John and Jerry Starlet and signed in ASL by Jamie Maassen and Jodie Qualkinbush, and a parade along Ravenna Road (former SR-14) and routinely draws thousands of participants from all over the United States. It takes place on the first full weekend in August.

- http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/09/twins/twins-text

- The Twins Days Festival is open to all multiples -- identical, fraternal, young and old, twins, triplets, quads

http://www.twinsdays.org/images/IMGP4015.jpg

http://www.google.es/url?q=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DSO2kuLFaEeY&sa=X&ei=h6BJTc2hKIGdOuWouRE&ved=0CDgQuAIwAA&usg=AFQjCNFSGJlf_YtQNnSF9rWcpmOJGToN3A

- http://www.twinsdays.org/

First Conditional. ESO 2

Nice video from YouTube for a better understanding of First Conditional and its different uses. Don't hesitate to write a comment in case you don't get on it. I'll try to answer as quickly as possible.

Now practice a little by clicking on the links below:

- http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/1cond2.htm

- http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/if_clauses/type_1_statements.htm

- http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/gr.con1.p.htm

- http://www.better-english.com/grammar/firstconditional1.htm

- http://www.learn4good.com/languages/evrd_grammar/1stconditional.htm

- http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/firstconditional/menu.php

- http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/g-grammar-firstconditional1.html

- http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-sentences/type-1/exercises

- http://www.englishmedialab.com/Quizzes/preintermediate/first%20conditional.htm

Present Continuous and Present Simple. ESO 1

Check out this SlideShare Presentation to distinguish between these two present tenses:

Present Continuous and present simple

View more presentations from IES.

Now you can practice present tenses contrast by clicking on these links:
- http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/simcon1.htm
- http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentcontinuous.html (tutorial and exercises on several tenses)
- http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/simple_present_progressive2.htm
- http://speakspeak.com/a/html/d3a001_grammar_beginners_present_simple_continuous.htm
- http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro
- http://www.englishtenseswithcartoons.com/utest/present_simple_vs_present_continuous_gapfill_exercise
- http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/sp_or_pc.html

Future Tenses. ESO 2

Check out this SlideShare Presentation on Future Tenses. It will help you to distinguish and decide which one to use according to a specific situation:

Future Tenses

View more presentations from IES Rosario de Acuña.

In the following links you can practice the abovementioned tenses:
- http://www.clafoti.com/imagenes12/will_going.htm
- http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/339.html
- http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/gr.gowil.i.htm
- http://www.englishtenseswithcartoons.com/exercise/future_for_predictions_test
- http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/will_going_to_future.htm
- http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs19.htm
- http://www.better-english.com/grammar/willgo.htm
- http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs18.htm

ESO 1. Introducing Unit 5

In this song included in the Propellerheads album Decksandrumsandrockandroll there isa big quantity of examples of present continuous. Find them all and post a comment saying how many and which they are. There will be a reward; for sure!I can even accept you mention words with an -ing ending.

Note that the singer is Shirley Bassey, from Wales...

ESO 2. Introducing Units 5 & 6

Within this song by The Beatles, you can find the most relevant grammatical points to learn throughout units 5 and 6. Will / won't, be going to and first conditional repeat systematically, so it is a good way to see them in use. Enjoy it... and wait until the end of the video for a surprising ending...

Listening practice and activities for U4.1st ESO

http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~adelegc/listening/my_day/my_day_1.html

In the link above you can practice some of the vocabulary introduced in Unit 4 by means of a listening / reading / writing activity.

http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-5033.php

What about adverbs of frequency? Click above to scrumble the words and form correct sentences.

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/word_order/question_word1.htm

Check this link to work on word order in questions.
Check = comprovar
Tip= pista
Restart = torna a començar

Past Simple and Past Continuous extension

As many of my 2nd ESO students are facing problems when dealing with this two tenses comparison, I've found  a couple of videos which I hope will help you understanding better this point. If any of you finds more examples of these that help the rest make clearer the correct use of them, don't hesitate and post them.

Finally, practice a little bit more by clicking on this link. Let me insist on your taking part by asking for doubts in the comments section within this blog's post.

http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/inenglish/preint/a_grammar/ine_preintermediate_grammar07/