INGLÉS

Don't slap her - 25th November

HERE "Kids react to slap her"

Too much grammar?

Here we have a funny advertisement for a company that teaches English grammar online. It is about the importance of using proper grammar when speaking English. This is a good video to show students the next time they complain about having to do  another grammar test in class, as I’m sure none of them want to trip themselves up as this young man did. 

Now YOU are the police interrogator correcting this young man... What should he have said instead of.....

- I didn’t do nothing!

- Maybe less (people) than you’d expect for a Friday...

- There were four very suspicious men there, two of who I seen go off....

- It must have been them what did it.

- Me and John were at an hotel, not doing nothing when we see four men, two of them whom done it.

- If I done it, how many year would I get?

 

KEY:

- I didn’t do ANYthing!

- Maybe FEWER (people) than you’d expect for a Friday...

- There were four very suspicious men there, two of whoM I SAW go off....

- It must have been THEY WHO did it.

- John AND I were at an hotel, not doing ANYthing// DOING NOTHING, when we SAW four men, two of them who dID it.

- If I DID it, how many yearS would I get?

British accents and dialects

Click here to do a quiz

Listening comprehension about British and American English

Click HERE, as well.

Watch the video above. What do these British and American slang words mean?

Flossing (American slang)=

Chin Wag (British slang) = 

Ba-Donka-Donk (American slang)=

Chuffed to bits (British slang)=

Shawty (American slang)=

Differences in pronunciation: Click HERE and HERE

NOW….. YOUR TURN!!!!!!

Pronounce  the  following  words, first with a British accent and then with an American accent:

ADULT – GARAGE – HOSPITABLE – MOBILE – CAN’T – CLASS – AFTER – EAR – CHAIR - MORE – CIVILIZATION – ORGANIZATION – GLOBALIZATION – BETTER – WATER – BOTTOM- NOTICE

Now read the following sentences with British and American accent:

1- Adults should drink more than a glass of water a day.

2- You can’t use your mobile now. Only after the class has finished.

3- I’ve noticed she isn’t a hospitable host.

4- Is globalization better for our civilization?

5- Where’s your old chair? It’s in the garage.

The sounds of American English

How to pronounce a monophthong ( front, central, back)? a consonant (fricative, affricate, nasal.... manner of articulation //bilabial, labiodental....place of articulation // voiced, voiceless?)

The pictures and videos in this very useful page will surely help you!!!!

BBC Learning English - Tim's pronunciation workshop

An excellent webpage if you want to improve your pronunciation in English!!!!!

Click HERE.

Say "NO" to bullying

The first video above was recorded by bullying victim Jonah Mowry. Mowry uses nothing but flash-cards throughout the video, titled “What’s Goin’ On,” to express his unbearable pain and self-mutilation, not to mention the fact that he’s contemplated suicide more than once.

Nearly 3 million people have watched it , with messages of support pouring in from strangers and major celebrities(Lady Gaga tweeted  “Thank you Jonah for being brave enough to share your story + showing us strength. You matter to millions.”)

The video begins with Mowry holding up a hand-written card, “I look happy, right?” followed by, “Well, I’M NOT. What you all see is the fake me.” He uses cards throughout the video to tell his story, which includes a lifetime of bullying, of being called “Gay. Fag. Dick. Douche. Homo. Asshole.” (Mowry doesn’t specify his sexuality in the video but on Twitter he says he’s gay.)

“A lot of people hate me,” he writes, wiping away tears. “I don’t know why… But I guess I do. Cuz I kinda hate me too.”

And while he admits that suicide was something he considered “many times,” Mowry states in one of his final cards, “I’m not going anywhere. Because I’m STRONGER than that and…I have a million reasons to be here.”

RED, the second video: A bunch of bullies meet a red-haired boy on a playground. Would you have the courage to stand by one in need despite dangerous odds?

Third video: If you help (for example someone who is being bullied), you will probably be rewarded, even if your only reward is self-satisfaction

Why Finland has the best education (by Michael Moore)

Here’s a puzzle. Finnish children spend comparatively little time at school, don’t get homework and yet receive one of the best educations in the world. Curious? Watch how the Finns did it in this clip from Michael Moore’s compelling documentary film ’Where To Invade Next?’

 Click HERE, HERE and HERE.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VIDEO HERE

 

Now listen to I JUST SUED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ( By Prince Ea):

Video in English: HERE

Video in English with subtitles in Spanish: HERE

Exercise about the opening statement (alegato inicial) in the rap (1:05 min) HERE

Click HERE to go to a post about the book The Element, by Sir Ken Robinson.

GENKI ENGLISH

British Council press release:

"The Genki approach to learning English works by engaging all of the learners’ senses and appealing to a wide range of learning styles. Children are engaged visually through the simple but striking graphics, aurally/orally through the simple chants and songs and limited amounts of graded vocabulary input and kinaesthetically through the actions and games. Because all of the learning tasks are organised as game-like activities, children are immediately motivated to take part.”

Click HERE to go to GENKI ENGLISH, an excellent webpage.

Subject/Object Personal Pronouns - Possessives

My 2nd Bac students have asked me to revise with them the following gammar points:

- Subject / Object Personal Pronouns: Click HERE

- Possessive adjectives and pronouns: Click HERE

Exercises HERE

You can also go to the following webpage:

http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar-vocabulary/grammar-videos/personal-pronouns-and-possessives

ESL GAMES PLUS

ESL Games Plus offers interactive online games for learning and teaching English as a Second Language. Their learning games are mostly suitable for teaching ESL Kids and Teenagers. There are activities for teaching and practising English grammar, vocabulary, sentences, listening and pronunciation skills. 

Click HERE to go to their webpage.

"Where's the Love?" - The Black Eyed Peas

• You will hear a song by the famous group “The Black Eyed Peas”. Read the title. What do you think it’s going to be about?

• Now, you’re going to have to complete the song in different ways. Take a minute to see if you understand what you are asked to do in each part of the song.

Where’s the Love?

Complete with the missing words

What's................ with the world, mama
People livin' like they .........................
I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that'll bring you ......................... 
Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got........................here livin'
In the USA, the big CIA
The............................. and The Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to ....................................
And to discriminate only generates ...........................
And when you hate then you're bound to get .............................yeah
......................................is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how ...................................works and operates
Nigga, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and ........................................
Let your soul...................................  to the love, y'all, y'all

Rearrange the lines and put them in the correct order
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
People killin', people dyin'
Father, Father, Father help us
And would you turn the other cheek
Can you practice what you preach
Send us some guidance from above
Where is the love (Love)
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (The love)

Put these words in the blank spaces

unchanged sufferin’ insane lovin’ strong dividends bombs undercover chemical gasses

It just ain't the same, always .............................
New days are strange, is the world .............................
If love and peace is so .............................
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong
Nations droppin' .................................
..................................fillin' lungs of little ones
With the ongoin'...............................  as the youth die young
So ask yourself is the .....................................really gone
So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong
In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin' in
Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them.................................
Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin' on but the reason's .........................................
The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug
If you never know truth then you never know love
Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the love, y'all

Put the lines in order
killin' people dyin' people
hurt and children hear you cryin’ them
preach you can what practice you
cheek would and you turn other the
Father help Father us Father

above send from guidance us some
questionin’ 'cause got people me got me q
love (love) is the where

Choose the right option
I feel the weight of the world / work on my shoulder
As I'm gettin' older, y'all, people gets colder / cooler
Most of us only care about money breakin’ / makin'
Selfishness got us followin' our own direction / director
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images / imagine is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster / quicker than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema
Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness in equality / equanimity
Instead in spreading love we spreading animosity
Lack of understanding / comprehending , leading lives away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down
There's no wonder / wander why sometimes I'm feelin' under
Gotta keep my faith / fate alive till love is found

Now sing along!
People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek
Father, Father, Father help us
Send us some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)
Where is the love (The love)

FIFTY ENGLISH-SPANISH FALSE FRIEND WORDS

Learning English for Spanish speakers can seem quite simple at first because as much as 40% of English words have cognates in Spanish. Cognates are words that sound similar, have similar spelling and have the same meaning in the two languages. Examples of cognates are: teléfono-telephone; persona- person; invitar-invite.  However, there are many words called FALSE COGNATES or FALSE FRIENDS. In the case of False Friends, the English word sounds like a word in Spanish but the two words do NOT have the same meaning

English word	Spanish Translation	Spanish word	English Translation
Actually	En realidad	Actualmente	Currently
to Advertise	Anunciar	Advertir	Warn/Caution
Advice	Consejo	Aviso	Warning
Argument	Discusión	Argumento (film)	Plot
to Assist	Ayudar	Asistir	Go to, Attend
Billion	Mil millones	Billón	Trillion
Cap	Gorra	Capa	Layer
Career	Carrera professional	Carrera (universitaria)	Degree
Carpet	Alfombra	Carpeta	Folder
Cartoon	Dibujos animados	Cartón	Cardboard
Casualty	Víctima o herido	Casualidad	Coincidence
Collar	Cuello (prendas de vestir)	Collar	Necklace
College	Universidad, facultad	Colegio	School
Complexion	Tono de piel	Complejo	Complex
Conductor	Director de orquesta	Conductor	Driver
to be Constipated	estar Estreñido	estar Constipado	to have a Cold
Contest	Concurso	Contestar	Answer
Deception	Engaño	Decepción	Disappointment
Dessert	Postre	Desierto	Desert
Embarrassed	Avergonzado	Embarazada	Pregnant
Exit	Salida	Éxito	Success
Fabric	Tela	Fábrica	Factory
Idiom	Modismo	Idioma	Language
Intoxicated	Ebrio	Intoxicado	Food poisoning
Jam	Mermelada	Jamón	Ham
Large	Grande	Largo	Long
Lentil	Lenteja	Lentilla	Contact lens
Letter	Carta, letra de abecedario	Letra	Lyrics
Library	Biblioteca	Librería	Book shop
Mayor	Alcalde	Mayor	Older
Notice	Notar, aununcio	Noticia	piece of News
Office	Oficina	Oficio	Job or trade
Pan	Cazuela	Pan	Bread
Pie	Tarta	Pie	Foot
Place	Lugar	Plaza	Square
Prize	Premio	Precio	Price
to Quit	Abandonar	Quitar	Remove, take away
Quote	Cita/presupuesto	Cuota	Fee
to Realize	Darse cuenta	Realizar	to Do/Make
to Record	Grabar	Recordar	Remember
Relative	Pariente	Relativo (adj)	Relative
Remove	Quitar	Remover	Stir
Rope	Cuerda	Ropa	Clothes
Sane	Cuerdo	Sano	Healthy
Sensible	Sensato	Sensible	Sensitive
Soap	Jabón	Sopa	Soup
Spade	Pala	Espada	Sword
Stranger	Desconocido	Extranjero	Foreigner
to Stretch	Estirar	Estrechar	to become narrow
Suburb	Barrio rico periférico ciudad	Suburbio de casas pobres	Slum
to Support	Apoyar	Soportar	to Handle/ Put up with
Sympathetic	Comprensivo	Simpático	Nice
Target	Objetivo	Tarjeta	Card
Terrific	Fenomenal	Terrorífico	Terrifying
to Translate	Traducir	Trasladarse	to Move (house)
Vacuum	Vacío	Vacuna	Vaccine

 

From: http://www.curso-ingles.com/blog/false-friends/

THAT'S ENGLISH!

Click HERE.

What makes something Kafkaesque? (TED Lesson)

Click HERE.

Other TED Lessons HERE.

GREASE!!!!!

The next musical to be performed at IES Xesús Taboada Chivite will be Grease (in Galician language).

We are going to listen to two famous songs from the film and do some exercises:

- SUMMER NIGHTS

- YOU ARE THE ONE THAT I WANT

Translation of those songs (and other songs from the musical) into Galician HERE.

Other musicals performed at IES Taboada Chivite:

Los Miserables ( 2012-2013)

Moulin Rouge (2013-2014)

Mamma Mia (2014-2015)

Hoy no me puedo levantar (2015-2016)

B1 - B2 (Tests that certify you have that level)

Click HERE.

PET (B1) sample test.

FIRST CERTIFICATE (B2) sample test.

EEOOII (B1 and B2) sample tests HERE, HERE, HERE or HERE.

Revision activities for 1 ESO and 2 ESO

Revision activities for our 1 ESO and 2 ESO students to do during the summer. From the web of IES P. Sarasate:

HERE - 1 ESO

HERE - 2 ESO

SHORT STORIES IN ENGLISH

An excellent reading comprehension web with short stories by masterful writers. It includes reading comprehension activities, glossaries, and  you can listen to the text while reading it.

"FARENHEIT 451" , BY RAY BRADBURY

Click HERE, HERE (Ray Bradbury), HERE (Farenheit 451), HERE (McCartyism)

LISTENING COMPREHENSION EXERCISE

Fahrenheit 451 is set in a homogenous, ……………………, war-obsessed America, where books are…………………, intellectualism scorned and the entire population exists in a state of dull …………………and sensory overload. Ring any bells?

Guy Montag, the……………………………., is an impressionable fireman. His job is to burn books, which have been denounced as emotionally upsetting and…………………………………………...

Montag starts to question his actions after meeting an …………………………young woman, even going so far as to steal a book from a house as he burns it down. Montag becomes steadily more ……………………….of his miserable life, and resolves to take action against the ……………………….ruling society. With the help of a former English professor, Montag learns that books allow for self-examination and …………………thought.

Montag is then caught with the stolen books and must become a………………….. After a harrowing chase, Montag escapes and joins up with a group of roving ………………………..in the countryside. They watch as enemy planes bomb the city, and the group resolves to construct a new, better…………………………..

 Major Characters

“Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal.”

 Montag: Guy Montag is a firefighter, and the book plots his movement from mindless drone to ……………………….. book-lover. He struggles with independent thought, and is often swayed by people’s rhetoric, making him something of an archetypal citizen in Bradbury’s ……………..future.

 Beatty: The fire chief, Beatty is brilliant, and very…………………………….. He is well-read, and can …………………..famous literary works at will, but he finds the written word dangerous and upsetting. He represents the more …………………..side of censorship.

 Faber: Faber is a former English professor who is Montag’s intellectual mentor. Faber teaches Montag that ………………….and reason are the true paths to a more …………………..life.

 Themes, Motifs and Symbols

“If you hide your ignorance, no one will hit you and you’ll never learn.”

 Fire: Fire destroys contraband, but it also entertains and delights people—Montag notices that almost all fires are at night, when they will look……………. Eventually, Montag comes to view fire as a ……………..not just for destruction or entertainment, but for sustenance as well.

 Mirrors: Clarisse, the young woman, is described as a mirror, and one of Montag’s eventual friends in the countryside claims the new world needs a mirror………………….. Mirrors represent inquiry and………………...

Censorship: Bradbury argues that the population censors itself by ignoring ……………..or positions that make it………………………….. Reading books, he says, encourages beneficial…………………………….., while ……………………..only deludes people into being superficially happy.

 Analysis

“Everyone must leave something in the room or left behind when he dies.”

 Farenheit 451 is a bleak ……………….of a world that’s too ……………….being…………………. By wiping out the written word, the world is supposedly free from …………………and upsetting information, but the only thing this brings is more…………………. The suppression of books is the suppression of……………………………………, which will slowly destroy any society.