MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

SEE YOU ALL AT THE PARTY, IF NOT, HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TIME!!! AND A FANTASTIC NEW 2013 YEAR!!!!

18th December

During this session we talked about mobiles. We started a new unit by checking the makes of our mobiles and learning how to say mobile phone in different languages.
Then, we listened to different situations and we had to guess what was happening (3.1). After that, we did a questionnaire about mobiles and we discussed different situations related to mobiles that annoyed us.

To finish, we listened to different speakers talking about annoying situations(3.2) and studied the grammar related to modal verbs (obligation): must, have to, should

Homework: Grammar bank exercises p.134 (3A)
                   Audio exam 2

SHOPPING LIST

BUSCA TU RECETA Y COMPRA LOS INGREDIENTES. NO TE OLVIDES DE TRAER UTENSILIOS DE COCINA BÁSICOS: BOL, RODILLO ESTIRAR LA MASA, CUCHARA MADERA, VARILLA...

13th December

We worked at the lab today. First, we studied the meaning and structure of a request in English, and the pssible answers to those requests. We listened to a video from the book, and completed the gaps in a gapped dialog.(t.2.16,2.17)

Then, we role-played an activity in which the ss had to pretend they were customers and shop assistants.

Finally, we did an exam practice. We listened to an exercise extracted from frebuary exam, last year.

11th December

During this session we corrected the pending exercises from the Grammar bank on p.133 and the Vocabulary bank on p.148.

Then we continued talking about travel and transport, in this case, asking questions to our classmates about the things we could find in our towns/cities. All these questions included a compound noun related to the main topic of the unit.

Then we discussed about the most dangerous things we normally do while driving a car, and compared our conclusions with those made by the expert (t.2.15).

Finally, we read some statements about drving and decided if they should become law or not.

Homework: WB unit 2, pp.20-23
File test 2
Quick test 2

Xmas 2012

4th December

We started the class revising and correcting a text about a race between 3 different means of transport. The ss needed to reorder the article and deduce the type of transport the paragraphs referred to.

After that, we listened to a third contestant who had raced by car (T.2.12). First we numbered some pictures and then we told if the statements in the exercise were true or false (p.29, ex.2a,b). we also completed  a chart with the information about the journey by car (t.2.13).

To finish the class, we studied the grammar related to the comparatives and superlatives. To start with, we identified the mistakes in several phrases and then, we practised orally with two different activities. One from the coursebook (ex. 3c) and another from a handout. They both needed to be carried out using the comparative structures. 

The ss were asked to work at home the grammar exercises on p.132 (2C) and the vocabulary bank (p.148) about transport and travel.

Read and do the quiz
Basic spelling rules

29th November

Andrea came to visit us and we learnt a lot about Indiana and Thanks giving day.

Here you have the key to those exercises about the present perfect:

2A- Present perfect and past simple

a. 
2.Ive been  3. did you go   4. finished   5I've already been   6. did you go   7. went
b.
2. taught   3.'ve just come back   4. have you been   5. was   6. started   7. haven't finished   8. have you been married   9.had   10 diid you meet   11.went   12 've known   13.got   14. got   15. were you   16. 've just met

2B.- Present perfect continuous
a.
2. A. How long has it been rainig?
    B. It's been raining since yesterday morning
3. A How long have you had your jacket?
    B. I've had it for ten years.
4. A. How long has she been working/has she owrked here?
    B. He's been working/he's worked since he left school.
5. A. How long have they been married?
    B. They''ve been married for 60 years.
6. A. How long have you been learning Russian?
    B. I've been learning Russian for 3 years.

b. 
2. Have you been waiting   3.have you been doing   4. I've been shopping   5. 've been playing   6. 've been watching a sad film.

Clases hoy jueves

Hola a todos,
En principio hoy sí tenemos clase, voy a intentar llegar, si veo que se pone fea la cosa, doy media vuelta y os aviso por el blog. Estad pendientes.
Un saludo,
Olga

27th November

We started the class correcting the pending exercises from the grammar bank on p.132 (2b). To consolidate the grammar point, we did some oral practice exercises, in all of them they needed to use the present perfect continuous.

Then, we reviewed the pending reading texts. First, we re-read the article about Heidemarie, who decided to live without money and then, the text about two women who changed their lives after being on holiday.

We did the comprehension exercises and finally we learnt how to ask how much time is needed to complete a journey or another kind of activity, by the new structure:

How long does it take...?

If you ask somebody about his journey or activity, you have to add the pronoun (you,him,her...) to the question:

How long does it take you...?

Homework: Read the text you¡ll fing on p.28.

Check the key to "revise and check unit 1" on the same page of this blog.

22nd November

During this session ,we mainly worked the following grammatical structures: present perfect continuous and the strond adjectives.
We started with an oral activity in which the ss were asked to complete some circles with the information required on p.25(ex.4). They needed to use the continuous tense to answer their classmates' questions.
Then .we moved to p. 27 and studied a way of intensifying adjectives instead of using the adverb "very" all the time. To consolidate the new grammar point, we did the grammar exercises and played a snap game.

After that, we continued studying another use or meaning of the present perfecto continuous: for recent continuous actions. We practised by listening to three different conversations (T2.11) and completing some gapped sentences.

Viaje a Bournemouth

20th November

During this session we worked on numbers and figures. We corrected the pending exercises about quantities. We could listen and check the asnwers (T.2.3/T.2.4). After that, we listened to a news bulletin and the students had to identified the items of news and answer some questions using numbers (T.2.5)

To consolidate numbers, they did a general knowledge questionnaire in which they needed to use numbers to answer the questions.

We continued the class presenting Karen, a woman who moved to a foreign country to change her lifestyle. The ss were asked to listen (t.2.6) and answer some comprehension questions.

To finish, we studied the use of the present perfect continuous with for/since and at home they need to complete the grammar 2B a) on p.132.

Here you can find more practice on this topic. Read the grammar point first and do the exercises then.
Present perfect simple and continuous
More grammar explanation
Listen, read the grammar point and do the quiz

Homework: Please read the tx. you'll find on p.26 "It was just a holiday, but..."

WB unit 2, pp.14-16

15th November

We spent the whole class revising the grammar point about the present perfect and the adverbs of time: for, since, ever, never, already, yet and just. To do so, we watched some slides and did the comments on them using these new structures. Here you have the slides, you can download and print them.

13th November

We started the class correcting the pending cloze text about "Gangnam Style success" and which you can download from the documents page in the class blog.

Then we continued dealing with a new unit and topic on the coursebook: Unit 2 and Money.
First, we listened to a song of Shania Twain and completed the gaps in the lyrics and did a definition exercise(t.2.1).

Then, we studied the vocabulary related to the topic and learnt more about the present perfect and the simple past. To identify them, we listened to a couple arguing about money. The ss had to complete the dialogue and underline the verb forms(t.2.2).

Homework: Grammar exercises unit 2A, p.133
                   Vocabulary bank- Money, ex.3
                 

8th November

During this lesson we mainly worked the correct pronunciation of the English sounds.

We did the pending exercises from unit 1 which dealth with this topic and so, we distinguish between /u/ and /u:/, or /o:/ and /3:/, and studied about the stress on prefixes and suffixes.

Go to PRONUNCIATION section and you can download the audios.

We tried to finished the class with an oral activity in which the ss could consolidate the structures studied in class and talk about family problems.

Homework: WB unit 1, pp.7-13.

Composition: Deadline 20th November.
              TOPIC: Describing a person. Coursebook, p.17. Minimum 80words.


Here you have the key to those pending grammar exercises:

MY EXAM NIGHTMARE

2.hadnt studied   3.was raining   4.arrived   5.had already started   6.couldn't answer   7.had ever given   8.was sitting   9.was writing   10.looked   11.was standing   12.wasn't looking   13.threw   14.had already finished   15.called   16.was holding   17.had/'d both failed   18.had/'d written

FUTURE FORMS
2.c   3.b and c    4.b and c    5.a    6.a    7.c    8.a and c   9.a and c    10.a    11.c    12 b and c

5th November

During this session we continued with the topic about the family.

We studied the differences between reciprocal pronouns (each other) and reflexives (myself, yourselves...).

Then we studied about some special quantifiers like "both, neither, either". We did some grammar exercises and consolidated these structures with an oral activity.

To keep on working on these new structures try this site:
both, neither, either

Then, we worked on the personality adjectives, completed some practical exercises and listened to a psychologist talking about the influence of our position in the family on our personality. (t.1.11)

Homework: complete the vocabulary bank, p.146, ex.2-3

30th October

During this session we studied the different structures used in English to express the future time:

be going to, will, present continuous

Then, we listened to 3 different conversations and the ss first identified the speakers and later, the meaning of different future sentences.

Finally, we read a text about two sisters and did the comprehension and vocabulary exercises.

30th October

Grammar present simple /continuous key- photocopy

a) 2.I'm doing  3.do you come  4.do you have  5.it depends  6.are you going  7.do you mean  8.I need  9.I'm moving  10.are you living  11.I'm staying  12.are you doing  13.want  14.I'm meeting

b)2.'m visiting  3.don't mind  4.are you staying  5.'m going  6.do you like  7.do you know  8.comes  9.are you doing  10.are waiting  11.do you live  12 aren't doing  13.are you carrying  14.have  15.do you want  16.says

25th October

We started the class revising the text they had to read at home (p.11) about the right time to retire from sporting life. First, We corrected the comprehension exercises and then we discussed in class about a famous sportsperson in Spain. They did this oral activity in pairs and then we elicited some examples as a whole group.

Then we started a new topic:the family. to review the vocabulary about relatives, we answered some questions in group: what do you call...your mother's brother? and so on.

After that, we went to the book and looked at two different family pictures. The ss had to decide which picture represented the typical family of the future and then, they read the 1st paragraph to find it out.

We continued reading the article and answered some vocabulary questions and finally we dicussed in pairs about what's happening in Spain at the moment. The ss had to use the useful language from the book and also, some extra expressions.

Homework: My nightmare exam (photocopy), read Grammar Bank 1C and also read the text you'll find on p.14 (We are family...)

23rd October

We started the session listening to a Spanish referee talking about his job as a professional. The ss had to choose the correct answer a,b or c.

Then, we did a quick quiz about sports in pairs and went to the vocabulay bank and completed the exercises (p.145).
To consolidate the new structures, we continued talking in pairs about a sports team in our town/country and interviewed our classmate using a questionnaire from the student's book and finally discussed as a whole group about the things some sports had in common and whether they should be used with go, play or do.

Homework: Reading comprehension, p.11, ex.7 b,c,d.

18th October

We've started to talk about a new topic: sports (unit 1B).
To introduce it, the ss had to think about different ways of cheating: in an exam, in a card game, etc...).
Then they discussed in which sports there were more cases of cheating and finally they read the texts in pairs to find out how those people had cheated.

After that, we analysed the tenses in the text and went to the grammar bank 1B to read about the past tenses.

To consolidate the grammatical structures the ss did 2 oral activities. In the first one, they had to retell the stories offrom the text to their classmates, and in the second, they had to tell an anecdote of their own, choosing one of the topics suggested on p.9, ex.2a.

For next day, the ss have to watch the video podcast and do ex.3; read grammar bank and complete exercises from 1B

In our next class we'll study the vocabulary related to sports.

16th October

We continued the class talking about food and restaurants. To start with, we did a quiz in pairs to elicit the vocabulary we knew about this topic and then we moved to the back of the book, p.144, and completed the vocabulary bank exercises.
To consolidate the new words we did a survey to our partner to find out more about his/her eating habits.

Then, we listened to an English chef who opened a resaurant in Chile. For the comprehension exercises 5b/c, the ss listened the CD (track 1.5) twice.

Finally, we did an oral activity in groups which consisted of reading some statement and expressing our agrement/disagreement with them.
Just below you can read more expressions of this type to be used in your future oral expressions.


Note: I have uploaded the document we're going to work next Thursday. It's a video comprehension exercise, I've already given you a copy but I could check that its quality is really bad. You can print it at home if you like (Video Podcast). We only need the first two pages.

Homework: Workbook pp.4-6

11th October

We started the session talking about the tenses to be worked in this unit: present simple and continuous. 

We elicited some information about them and wrote it on the board. Then, we continued talking about food and the ss had had to interview each other using the questions from Alice and Jaqueline's interview.

After that, we listened to Rumiko (p.5, T1.1) and did the comprehension exercises. Then, we analysed some sentences and chose the best option (ex.2c) and finally, we read the grammar explanation on p.130 and did the grammar exercises in class.

To finish the class, we used the prompts from (ex.2e) to make questions to our classmates in the present simple or continuous.

The ss were asked to work at home a photocopy about the grammar point and it'll be corrected in our next session.

9th October

We started the session correcting the pending gramatical exercises, in which the ss had to decide if some phrases written in bold letters were right or not.
For homework, the ss were asked to write a similar composition to be handed in to the teacher or sent by email (olgapelaezster@gmail.com).

Then, we started the students coursebook. In this unit 1A we'll review the present tenses and study the vocabulary about food and restaurants.

In the first exercise, we made a list of food and dishes from different countries and chose our favourite ones.


After that, we read two interviews with 2 different women and first, they decided whether their relationship with food was for fuel or pleasure. Then, they matched the interview questions with their answers and finally anwered some comprehension questions.

To finish the class we found the words and phrases from the text and matched them with their definitions.

In our next class we'll watch a video about other people's tastes and study the grammar point related to present tenses.

4th October

During the first session we had a revision class.

To start with, the students were asked to work in pairs to learn more about each other. They did an activity which consisted of filling up some shapes (stars, squares and circles) with some kind of personal information, and their partners had to read such information and then ask them about it to find out why they had written it.

We continued the class with grammar review exercises. The students had to complete some gapped sentences with the correct information. And finally, they had to read a text and guessed if the words/phrases in bold letters were correct or not.

In our next class we'll correct the last exercise and we'll start working with the course book.