EDUCATION - TED TALKS - AVANZADO 2

Dear students,

I'm posting links to the TED talks we have been dealing with in the class. Although they are not recent TED talks both are still well worth watching. I hope you find them interesting!

WRITING TASK: DISCURSIVE ESSAY (AVANZADO 2)

DISCURSIVE ESSAY:

The mobile phone has made a positive contribution to our lives today

Write a discursive essay where you take one side of an argument. You should include:

-      An introductory paragraph presenting the topic and stating your opinion.

-      Three (or more) paragraphs giving reasons

-      A paragraph stating a common counter argument.

-      A conclusion stating what your arguments have shown.

Length: 200 words

Deadline: 17^th May

EOI CERTIFICATE EXAMS: NEW SAMPLE TESTS

Dear students,

The official website for EOIs in the region of Madrid has recently been updated. It might be useful for you to explore it, as you will find useful information about the exam specifications (guías del alumno) as well as two past exams (with answer key) that you may use as practice for your exam in June.

I hope it helps! 

WRITING ASSIGNMENT - INTERMEDIO 1

Dear students,

Here's the last writing assignment of the year:

AN EMAIL OF COMPLAINT: BUYING A PRODUCT ONLINE

You bought something on Marks & Spencer online store. Write an email to the customer service complaining about the product/shipping service. Include the following information:

-      Details of your order

-      Reasons for complaining

-      What you would like them to do about it

Length: 150 words

(Have a look at a model on page 119 in the Student’s Book)

Deadline: 11^th May

THEATRE PLAY: HOW TO BE SHERLOCK HOLMES

HOW TO BE SHERLOCK HOLMES

Dear students,

Here's a taster of our next cultural activity.

When?     Thursday 27th April, @ 7 pm

Where?    The School Auditorium

We hope you will join us!

FILM REVIEW

Dear students,

Are you working on your book review? If so, check Cristina Cabal's blogpost for further tips on how to write one. If you have already written yours, it will still be a good idea to have a look at this excellent blog. You will find something useful in it for sure.

Enjoy your reading and your Easter Holiday! 

I WOULD WALK 500 MILES

Dear students,

I'm posting links to videos with the last song we listened to in the class (I Would Walk 500 Miles). Check out the Proclaimers' version as well as a segment from the musical film "Sunshine on Leith". if you are keen on musicals and enjoyed listening to the Proclaimers in the class don't miss this film!

WRITING ASSIGNMENT - INTERMEDIO 1

DESCRIPTION: DESCRIBE A HOUSE FOR A WEBSITE

Write a description of your home (real or imaginary) for a house rental website. Don’t forget to include the following information:

- Introduction (kind of house, location...).

- Detailed description of the house (rooms, special characteristics...).

- Description of the neighbourhood.

- Who the house/flat is suitable for.

Length: 150 words

(Have a look at a model on page 118 in the Student’s Book)

Deadline: April 25^th

WRITING ASSIGNMENT - AVANZADO 2

AN ARTICLE: CHANGES IN EATING HABITS IN FAMILIES 

Write an article about the how eating habits in families have changed. Include the following information:

-      What the situation used to be like.

-      How the situation has changed a lot in your country.

-      Whether you think the changes are positive or negative.

-       

Length: 200 words

Deadline: 6^th April

Join us for our next cultural activity

THE GENERAL IGNORANCE QUIZ

This fun and frustrating quiz is packed with questions and challenges to get you really thinking, The General Ignorance quiz will put your knowledge to test, push your observation skills and test how well you know your celebrities, all at the same time.

On Wednesday 15th at 7p.m at the school auditorium.

Hope to see you all there!

SECOND READING ASSIGNMENT 2017

Dear students,

The following are instructions for the second reading assignment this year:

Write a BOOK REVIEW of a book of your choice for a magazine for students of English.

Don’t forget to include the following points:

- Background information (title, author, type, setting…)

- Main points of the plot

- General comments on the plot, the main characters, the writing style…

- Your recommendation

* But do not reveal the end of the story!

- LENGTH:

INTERMEDIO 1: 175 words 

AVANZADO 2: 200-250 words

- DEADLINE: 25th APRIL

INTERMEDIO 1: The book should be FICTION and have at least LEVEL B1 

AVANZADO 2: The book should be FICTION and UNABRIDGED

Ask the teacher for a handout with someguidelines and useful vocabulary to write your essay if you haven't got one already.

WRITING ASSIGNMENT: INFORMAL E-MAIL (INTERM. 1)

One month ago you moved to London and you have decided to write to a friend of yours to tell him/her about your life there and your feelings about the change.

Length: 150 words

Deadline: February 23^rd

Join us for our next cultural activity at the school.

Our teacher Esperanza A. C. (Secretaria de la Asociación Española de Historiadores de Cine) will have loads of interesting things to tell us about Hitchcock and classic films.

IT'S ONLY A MOVIE

AUDITORIO EOI RIVAS 

WEDNESDAY 25TH JANUARY

7.00P.M.

LUKE'S ENGLISH PODCAST - NARRATIVE TENSES (INTERMEDIO 1)

Dear students,

Here's a fun way to revise what you learnt in the class: enjoy Luke's English podcast episode about narrative tenses. Listen to his clear explanations and examples about the verb forms you should use when telling a story.

In his podcast Luke explores countless topics adding his personal touch of humour. He will help you understand English better while having fun. It's not surprising Luke's podcast is a favourite amongst students of English all around the world.

Listening to podcasts is a fun and effective way of improving you listening skills. Check my older post about podcasts if  you still don't know what a podcast is.

WRITING ASSIGNMENT (AVANZADO 2)

A JOB APPLICATION COVERING EMAIL

DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR US? Are you the right person for the job? We are looking for fun, energetic, experienced people of any age to work as camp monitors at our day and residential summer camps in July and / or August. Children are aged between 7 and 15, and take part in a wide range of sports and activities from swimming and water sports to survival skills and cooking. Do you enjoy working with children? Are you good at working in a team? Do you have any relevant experience or qualifications? Do you speak English either as a first language or fluently? You can earn between £200 and £300 per week (food and accommodation provided). Minimum contract: one month. Interested? Send an email, brief CV, and photo to Richard Cunningham at summercamp@bt.com

You have decided to apply for the job advertised above. Write a job application covering email.

Remember to include:

- An introductory paragraph explaining why you are writing.

- Relevant personal information.

- Relevant experience and qualifications you have.

- Qualities you have which make you suitable for the job.

- A conclusion.

Length: 200 words

Deadline: February 9^th.

BOOK CLUB - FIRST READING ASSIGNMENT (2016-17)

Here’s a little reminder of the reading assignment for this month, just in case you forgot over the holidays. I know how absorbing Christmas celebrations are…

On January 23rd/24th we will be holding a class discussion of the books you all have read (Remember the book they should be fiction and have at least level B1 or Intermediate if you are an Intermedio 1 student or unabridged if you are an Avanzado 2 student).

You will present the book you chose to a small group of your classmates. You will need to complete a worksheet with notes about the book to help you in your presentation. If you still don’t have the worksheet, ask me for one. I will collect the worksheets you have completed after the discussion.

I hope you found the book you chose interesting and you are excited to share it with your classmates. If you didn’t enjoy it, though, don’t be afraid to be critical, we all would like to know your real opinion. Your classmates will find your recommendations very useful for the next reading assignment.

Keep posted!

THE TOUGHEST JOB IN THE WORLD (AVANZADO 2)

Dear students,

This week we'll be dealing with the topic of work and the skills necessary to do different jobs. Here's a video about the skills required to do the toughest job in the world. Watch it and let me know if you could guess what job is described before the video finished. Be prepared to bring out the tissues! :´(

TRANSACTIONAL EMAIL - AVANZADO 2

Here's a link to a useful website where you will be able to find the sample transactional letter we saw in class, as well as writing samples for FCE tasks with detailed guidelines. Some of the sample tasks might be similar to the ones in the EOI certificate exam so I think it's worth taking a look. I hope it really helps!

ENGLISH EXAM HELP

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 
I hope you are enjoying the holiday season, even if you are a bit of a Grinch ☺

Wishing you a joyful, prosperous and healthy New Year!

I'm posting links to the videos we watched in the last class before the holiday for those of you who couldn't come.