HAPPY NEW YEAR GUYS!!

Can you listen to the song and then re-sing just by interpreting  the PICTURES AND LYRICS ?

Enjoy your time, (study and practise a bit) and see you all on January, 9th !!

Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year 2014 !!
by Charlie and his angels ;-)

Tuesday, December 17th

Hi people!

Today we just finished unit 2C by doing the second part of the video section on technology (page 34). We did the three exercises and then our last session with our conversation assitant, who told you about CHRISTMAS IN THE UK and then did this MEMORY GAME ON CHRISTMAS. New words came up such as Christingle, Boxing day, Bamk holidays...

THURSDAY, 19th. SWEET ENGLISH EVENING BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

Please download or read the following easy-to-make British recipes and share your dish in class with your classmates! Here´s a short selection:

•  SWEET CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS CHEESECAKE
• SWEET CHRISTMAS MINI MUFFINS
• SWEET PHILADELPHIA CLASSIC CHEESECAKE
• SWEET TRADITIONAL APPLE CRUMBLE
• SWEET SUPER EASY LEMON CHEESECAKE

But if you feel like cooking something different, or don´t even have time for cooking, just get something to share with your class! Let´s get together at least once a year... it is Christmas time!


See you all on Thursday!

Emiliano

Friday, December 13th

• Hi guys! (Sorry I´m sooo late with this entry)

On Friday, we just tried to finish unit 2C. We first corrected the grammar exercises on page 141, got back to  the get questionnaire ( I was even asked a question!) and then skipped the next section in the textbook ( writing: an article ), which we will do when we get back from Christmas holidays. So what else did we do??

We did the first part of the video activities on page 34 (The interview) and finally spent some ten minutes with the reading and answering questions on the week´s main TV issue: The death of NELSON MANDELA (click on his name). That was all for then!

Please, remember to do the revise and check section on page 35 ( ANSWER KEY HERE ) and also do photocopy 11. See you all on Tuesday!

THURSDAY, 19th. SWEET ENGLISH EVENING BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

Please download or read the following easy-to-make British recipes and share your dish in class with your classmates! Here´s a short selection:

•  SWEET CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS CHEESECAKE
• SWEET CHRISTMAS MINI MUFFINS
• SWEET PHILADELPHIA CLASSIC CHEESECAKE
• SWEET TRADITIONAL APPLE CRUMBLE
• SWEET SUPER EASY LEMON CHEESECAKE

But if you feel like cooking something different, or don´t even have time for cooking, just get something to share with your class! Let´s get together at least once a year... it feels like Christmas time!

Emiliano

Thursday, December 12th

Hi guys!

Today we first discussed the hidden meaning of the song´s expressions and corrected homework. We also tested ourselves by helping today´s class representative choose the best option on the Get exercise on the interactive board.

After that, speaking and listening on page 30. Do you want to find out more about LOVE BY NUMBERS ? Click on the link! We also did the  lexis in context section, where we saw interesting new vocabulary: go off sb, a big turn off, etc.

We finished by working on grammar : ALMIGHTY GET . And... time was up!

Please, do the two exercises present on  page 141.

See you in a few hours!

Emiliano

Tuesday, December 10th

Hi guys!

Today we worked with lightning speed! Good job people! (I am sorry...)

What did we do? We first kept on reading Getting your own back (texts 2 and 3) and discussed the different options available for each of the blanks present. Then we moved on to page 160 (Expressions with get, idioms and phrasal verbs). We just had time for the first two activities, please remember to do the third at home for our next class (page 160 in your textbooks).

Toby´s time was for Reconciliation?, a role play in which you were either Steve or Nicole and were trying to get back together. It was fun!

Please, remember to reflect on the song´s lyrics for Thursday. Lyrics available HERE.

See you then!

Emiliano

Thursday, December 5th

Hi there!

We have just completed unit 2B by checking more idioms (To do time, behind the times and others) and answering your selection fo questions from the questionnaire on page 27. Some topics were controversial but the activity was worth it!

We have also started unit 2C: Fifty ways to leave your lover, where we focused on the quote first, then did exercise 1a and read text number 1 in the Getting your own back section. We also used the options present in lexis in context for the first five blanks.

Finally, we listened to Paul Simon´s song fifty ways to leave your lover and answered some questions about it... we´ll do more on Tuesday! 

No homework!

Enjoy your weekend!

Emiliano

Tuesday, December 3rd

Hi guys!
Yesterday we first corrected the Thanksgiving Trivia ( 1.b -2.a -3.a -4.b -5.c -6.c- 7.a -8.b- 9.b -10.d), and then worked on page 27 (exercises 4a, 4b and the TIME-RELATED vocabulary  on page 159). Then, Toby´s time with hisTIME PROVERBS AND SAYINGS activities in groups. You all gave your most approximate definitions (good job!) but in order to clarify ideas, please check meanings below:

1The early bird catches the worm

You will get an advantage if you do something immediately or before anyone else.

2 A stitcht in time saves nine

Acting quickly when something goes wrong  will save you time later, because the problem will get worse if you leave it.

3 Make hay while the sun shines

Make good use of an opportunity while it lasts.

4 When the cat´s away the mice will play

People will naturally take advantage of the absence of someone in authority to do what they like.

5 It´s no use crying over spilt milk

 It isn’t worth making a fuss about a misfortune that has happened and can’t be changed or reversed.

6You can´t teach an old dog new tricks

 You can’t make people change their ways when they are past a certain age.

7 Don´t count your chickens before they´re hatched

 Don’t treat something that hasn’t happened yet as a certainty.

8. A watched pot never boils

 When you are impatient for sth to happen, it seems to take longer.

9. We´ll cross that bridge when we come to it

 We’ll deal with the problem when and if it arises, rather than worry about it beforehand.

10.Strike when the iron is hot

 Make use of an opportunity immediately as soon as it occurs (in case it later disappears).

We also had time for more DIVERSE IDIOMS

For Thursday, please don´ forget to prepare the answers for TWO questions of your choice from the two sections on the Time questionnaire on page 27. Do also reflect on our next Thursday´s 7 EXTRA idioms (on the back of your Time proverbs and sayings): 

1. TO WORK AGAINST THE CLOCK     5. ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT
2. TO LIVE FROM DAY TO DAY        6. BEHIND THE TIMES
3. A NINE DAY WONDER                     7. TO DO TIME
4.  THE ELEVENTH HOUR

See you all tomorrow!

Emiliano

Thursday, November 28th

Hi people!

Today we carried on with unit 2B. We first checked the activity on lexis in context (page 25) and then focused on the highlighted sentences in the multitasking texts: they are way for distancing ( CLICK TO SEE ) and then did exercises a and b on 140...

Then, it was time for the listening activities on time bandits: on page 26 we did exericses a, b, d and e. And there we had to stop (time up)....

For Tuesday next week, please do photocopy 8 (exercises and the mini-composition in the Activation section). Remember the little piece of writing (some 125 words) is for Thursday next week! Please, do also work on all of the activities present on page 17 in your workbooks 

(you´ll like the stories!!)
THANKSGIVING TIME!!  How much do you know about it?  Please watch the video and do this quick TRIVIA(1) and (2)

See you on Tuesday! Enjoy your time!
Emiliano

Tuesday, November 26th

Hi everybody!

Today we started unit 2B. Are there really 31 hours in a day?, where we got to debate on the use of technology in order to cope with multitasking (see the video)  and then did a pairwork activity (1b). Then, Toby´s Happy Families and he got you play the card game to make up "unusual" word families: civil, civilize, civilization, etc... Click HERE to see the word list!  

And that was all for then!

Please, don´t forget to to the lexin in context activity on page 25 for Thursday´s class.

Got your composition back and you have to fix words? Help yourself to the WRITING CODE for the task.

See you all in two days!

Emiliano

Friday, November 22nd

Hi there!

Yesterday we were soooo many people in the class that there wasn´t enough room to swing a cat !!; - ) Anyway, we just kept going on with unit 2A -which we finished!- and did exercises c and d on page 22. We had an extra listening activity so as to avoid doing exercise e - since this one  is somewhat dreary  -. Copies and scripts of this extra activity still available in the classroom....

We then moved on to vocabulary on page 23: Wordbuilding, where we did the three execirses and added some more abstract nouns to the chart in 5a. Click HERE to see the answers for 5c. We shall begin unit 2B next time!

Please, do exercises 3, 4 and 5 on pages 15-16 in your workbooks for our next class.

Enjoy the weekend ( in spite of the weather)!See you on Tuesday!

Emiliano

Thursday, November 21st

Hi guys!

Today we first checked the activities that were due today, and then moved on to the listening activities present on people´s earliest memories. We got to do exercises 4a, 4b and 4c and explained the meaning of  unusual words from the script. And that was all then ! Today was also our polling day and we elected our representatives...

Still unsure about the use of used to / would?  Watch the video!(I hope it helps).

See you all tomorrow ( yeah, there´s class... )

Emiliano

Tuesday, November 19th

Hi guys!

Today we began a new unit. Unit 2A. Once upon a time, where we first did exercises 1a ( listening and matching instead of reading) and 1b. We also focused on exercises 2a and 2b, and then as usual , grammar bank on page 139 ( click HERE ) and exercise a. Then, Toby´s time and the childhood questionnaire: QUESTIONS FOR HIM TO ANSWER and also some questions for you to answer (see below). Fun class!

1. When you were a child, did you use to wear a costume for Halloween, parties, etc? If so, which costume?
2. Did you use to have a favourite toy when you were little? Did you use to share it with siblings /schoolmates, etc?
3. Did your parents ever break a promise that made you unhappy? If so, what was it and how did you react?
4. Did you use to have a favourite relative? Why was this person so special?
5. Did you get pocket money when you were a child ? When? Were you happy or did you use to whine about it.
6. What chore(s) did you use to fancy doing the most?
7. What about your childhood love (if any)? Do you still keep in touch?
8. What was your favourite food when you were a child ?
9. Did you have relatives living in other cities/countries? How often would they travel to see you?
10. Did you use to misbehave? What made your parents / siblings specially angry?

For Thursday, please do exercise b on page 139  and exercises 1C on page 21 (both in your textbooks).

See you on Thursday!

Emiliano

November, Thursday 14th

Hi everybody!

Last night we had to finish unit 1, and to do so we first worked on pronunciation (exercise 6a on page 15) and learned a few rules about SOUND-SPELLING RELATIONS. We then moved to colloquial English (In the street, page 18) where we did the videos activities b and c. And then we finished with the letter of application (pages 16-17), where we first worked on Kurt´s application email and then corrected the text. We also made use of "beautiful" language in exercise e (page 17). That was all!

Please, it goes without saying that you will have to hand in your application letter following the instructions given on page 17 (check Planning to write  first) . Dealine for this, Thursday next week! Do also do all the activities on page 13 in your workbooks. 
Have a good weekend!

See you on Tuesday!

Emiliano

November, Tuesday 12th

Hi there!

What a big ( noisy ) group   we were tonight!! That´s the way to go!

The A- team

Today we just had time to go over some exercises we did at home ( exercises 3a and 3b, both in our textbooks). Then we skipped a couple of pages and started the video activities "Family secrets - colloquial English" on page 18. We got to do exercises a, b and d. We´ll keep on working on some of the other video activities on Thursday...

And then, at sevenish, it was Tobi´s time. He brought the Family-definitions activity and had you play in groups of 6-7. Check out the names of the groups: The A Team, Toni´s team and the Pirates   :-)

Toni´s team

The Pirates

The activity ended with you all voting for the best and most convincing definitions! Congrats for our winners, the Pirates .

And that was all! Please remember to revise and check unit 1 by doing the whole of page 19 ( in your textbooks). Click here to see the ANSWER KEY.

See you all on Thursday!

Emiliano

November, Thursday 7th

Hi everybody!

Today we began by working first on grammar: after working on the ebook´s skin on pronouns, we corrected the exercises on page 138. We then moved on to the speaking activity on language so that we could emphasize our opinions: I´D say that... / If you ask ME ... / PERSONALLLY I think..., etc. That was great! After the break, we worked on exercises 4a , b, c and e, where we had to both listen to people talking about RP English and  OTHER ENGLISH ACCENTS ( click on the title to see map) and speak about our personal experiences. 

And there we stopped! 

Please, remember to do exercises 5a and 5b on pages14-15 in your workbooks. Do also work on exercises 1a, 1b, 2, 3a, 3b, and 3c on pages 10-11 (workbooks). Don´t forget 3c , which is on the next page.

Please click here to download the WRITING CODES  ( if you still don´t have them, of course). We´ll be using them this year.

Enjoy your loong weekend! See you on Tuesday!

Emiliano

November, Tuesday 5th

Hi guys!

Sorry to be (a bit) late with this entry.

Yesterday we began by reflecting on foreign languages and making errors. To do so, we spoke our minds with the help of the questionnaire present in exercise 1f (page 13) and right after that, we moved on to exercise 2. It was time for GENERIC, REFLEXIVE AND RECIPROCAL PRONOUNS, but unfortunately we didn´t have any time for practice. Pity...

After our break, Toby brought in the story of Guy Fawkes´s night. Please click HERE for the power point presentation and here for the activity done in the classroom.

For Thursday, please don´t forget to to exercises a,b and c on page 138 (in your textbooks) and prepare your answers for exercise 3b (also in your textbooks, but back on page 13). For this last one, please use the phrases present in 3a.

See you tomorrow!

Emiliano