This is a blog for my students of ESO and Bachillerato. The idea is to include follow-up on-line materials related to the contents studied in class, to exchange opinions, to carry out projects in common and to receive feedback from students and colleagues, so your suggestions are welcome!
Wednesday, 19 February 2020
Grammar Review (B1A/B)
This entry is for my students of Bachillerato (Programa) B1A/B
Click on the links, you´ll find useful online exercises and explanations on part of the contents for next Grammmar exam (for vocabulary and the rest of the contents please use your handbook and the exercises in hard copy). Remember the exam is cumulative (units 1-6).
-Tenses practice:
-Past Simple/Past Continuous.
-Simple Past vs Present Perfect
-Simple Past vs Present Perfect(2)
-Past Simple vs Past Perfect
-Present Perfect Continuous
-Present Perfect Simple vs Present Perfect Continuous
-Future tenses: Will vs going to
-Another drill on the future tenses
-Irregular verbs forms
-More irregular verbs
-A crossword now.
-Comparative forms:
-Check this link
-Superlative forms:
-Have a look here.
-Modal verbs (obligation, necessity, advice, ability, permission)
#1
#2
#3
-Conditionals:
-Type 1
-Type 2
-Another link to Type 2
-Type 3
-Type 3 again.
-Conditionals mix
-Another Conditionals mix drill.
Don forget to study the vocabulary too (units 1 to 6)
Monday, 17 February 2020
Grammar review (3ºESO)
Online practice. Click on the links:
Future Perfect and Continuous:
-The Future Perfect. Click on these links: #1, #2
-The Future Continuous (or "Progressive"): #3 , #4
-Mixed Future tenses: #5 , #6
Expressing Ability (can, could, be able to)
#1
#2
#3
Reported Speech (Statements)
#1
#2
#3
Reported Speech (Questions)
-Yes/No questions: #1, #2
-Information questions: #1, #2
-Mix: #1
Reporting verbs (you must know only the ones -and their patterns- in unit 5D)
#1
#2
#3
#4 (Scroll down for the exercises)
Remember the contents are cumulative (from Intro unit up to 5D), revise also the ones for the first term here.
Sunday, 16 February 2020
Presentations (3ºA/B, C)
Remember you have to deliver your pair presentations (5 min. long in full) about a favourite holiday destination the last week of February (Mon. 24 3ºC, Tue. 25 3ºA/B). You are supposed to convince your audience your destination is the best ever, so you are supposed to use persuasive language and strategies. Here you are some tips you can follow (you know them already, but just in case):
-To convince someone about something you defend there are three appeals you should use:
1. Credibility ("Ethos"): Build it with testimonials of important or famous people who support your claim (in this case the place you have chosen). It can also be obtained with an appropriate personal appearance, an effective delivery of your speech and showing confidence. Your audience will trust you if they see you have worked hard in your project!
2. Emotions ("Pathos") Spice up your presentation with personal anecdotes or moving stories about your destination that will hook your audience. Aim at their hearts here.
3. Logic ("Logos"): Your argument must be based on facts (why is the destination you chose so awesome? provide facts that prove how fantastic the place is).
Here you are a 3 min. video with commercials that show examples of the above.
-The structure should be very similar to the for/against essays and Global Classrooms opening speeches, remember the "hamburger":
1.Introduction: must explain the topic clearly and hook the audience with a powerful fact, quote or a provocative statement. The most important target here is to get the attention of the audience.
2.Body: 2/3 ideas to develop with facts, statistics, anecdotes... It´s obvious that the better info the more exciting your presentation will be. At this point many advertisers (basically what you have to do is to "sell" a product) stress the importance of creating a need that will be satisfied with your product.
3.Conclusion: recap of your main idea. It´s essential to leave the audience with an idea they will think of ("food for thought"). A call for action (in your case visit the place you have "sold") is the point here.
-Persuasive language. Here you are some tips to make your language more convincing:
1. Repetition (of the same word or phrase): "The lights were unforgettable, the sights were unforgettable, the people were unforgettable".
2. Alliteration (repetition of the some sound): "The shops were bustling, bright and buzzy"
3. Rhetorical questions (a question asked for effect that is not supposed to be answered): "After all we have explained, who can doubt Lisbon is the most exciting city in Europe?".
4. Rule of three (people usually remember things in threes): "Monsaraz is cool, colourful and cosy"(notice also the alliteration).
5.Emotive language: Use words that appeal your emotions: "Your kids will think you are the most wonderful parent for taking them to Disneyland".
Have a look at this video with examples and more ideas about persuasive language.
-And don´t forget your body language! Check these final reminders.
Now go for it!
Saturday, 1 February 2020
How I Live Now questions (ch. 29-ending)
Choose two:
-Who phoned Daisy at the end of ch.29? What for?
-What do you think the black spot on p.165 means?
-What did Daisy do, back in New York, to fight her depression? Have you ever tried that to cope with a difficult situation?
-"I gasped as if I´d been punched hard in the stomach. The things that break your heart when you think there´s nothing left to break". Explain the quote (p.188)
-"He has locked it inside and this is how it comes out". Explain (p.191)
Wednesday, 29 January 2020
Speaking (B1A/B)
-Remember next February 14 you have to give an individual presentation for 2/3 minutes about a free topic. You can use notes and have a look at them but you
can´t read your presentation.
-Next Monday you can bring your essay (opinion or for/against format) for me to check.
-No idea what you would want to speak about? Try this website with lots of possible topics (if you click on the topic you´ll find suggestions on how to approach it). Remember it must be something you are really interested in.
-Still clueless? Check these other ones:
-The best thing that has ever happened to me
-The worst thing that has ever happened to me
-Something funny that has happened to me
-What I really hate!
-What I really like!
-A surprise I had
-An exciting place you have visited
-A memory from childhood I´ll always remember
-My best friend
-What is friendship?
-A problem I have
-My favorite TV show
-Bilingual education: pros and cons
-Strange experiences you´ve had
-Your most embarrassing moment.
-What have you always wanted to do?
-What would you like to change and why?
-Things I can't understand.
-Your most curious dream.
-Great places to go in the world.
-High school is the best time in your life. Or not…
-Things you would change in our high-school
-Your favourite book.
-What is your favourite musical band or singer? Why?
-Your dream job
-Tell me about a film you have really liked
-Will robots replace humans? Will robots take our jobs?
-Would you want to live on another planet?
-What will future houses look like?These are the basic guidelines you have to follow for your presentation:
1.CONTENT AND ORGANIZATION: The topic must be clear and follow a logical order. You must use examples to prove your points.
2.COMPREHENSION: Speak slowly and loudly enough. Your audience must understand what you say!
3.PREPARATION: The more you prepare the more confident you´ll feel.
4.INTERACTION WITH THE AUDIENCE. Remember you must sell your topic! Use your body language, try to capture the attention of the audience (ask them if they understand, try to make them participate with questions).
5. BE ENTHUSIASTIC! The more excited you are about your topic the better your presentation will be. You must convince us!
Check also this 2 min. video with do´s and don´ts.
(Assessment: 15% of your total term mark)
Saturday, 25 January 2020
How I Live Now questions (ch. 25-28)
Choose two:
-In Gateshead Farm, lots of birds were "circling around for a reason" : what is the reason? (ch.26)
-"What heart I had left no longer felt like flesh and blood. Lead, maybe. Or stone": Daisy has had to do two extremely harsh things in Gateshead. Explain them. (ch.26)
-What new subject does Daisy think should be included in the curriculum of her school? (ch.28)
-"Every war has its silver lining": what does Daisy mean? (p.159)
Wednesday, 22 January 2020
CAE writing tips
Follow the links for tips on how to write the 2 parts of the Advanced writing exam (1 hour 30 min.):
Part 1: Essay (compulsory). 220-260 words.
Part 2: You have to choose one of these writings (220-260 words):
_Review
_Report
_Informal letter/email
_Formal letter/email
_Proposal
Sunday, 19 January 2020
TED talks: ideas worth sharing (What´s yours?) (4ºA)
Remember Chimamanda´s talk? It was a TED Talk. Now you have to prepare one on your own (free topic, the only condition is that you have to be controversial and speak for 4-5 minutes). Pick one topic you feel strongly about! Check unit 5H in the Solutions handbook, with tips on how to write an opinion essay and a sample (your presentation must be based on an opinion or for/against essay). Below there are links with more help:
-8 useful tips with a brief introduction about what TED talks are.
-Some TED talks with good advice on precisely how to make good presentations.
-No idea what you would want to speak about? Try this website with lots of possible topics (if you click on the topic you´ll find suggestions on how to approach it). Remember it must be something you are really interested in.
(Assessment: 10% of your total term mark. Presentation day: 17 February)
How I live Now (ch.21-24) LC questions
Choose two:
-Why did Daisy feel like a "grave robber" when se took the Major´s compass? What does she need it for? (Ch.21)
-Explain what Baz feels for Piper. (Ch.22)
-Explain this quote: "I couldn´t help wondering why life in a windowless barn thousands of miles from America surrounded by soldiers felt more real than most of the real life I´d ever lived through".(p.117)
-"Then we did a little dance and whooped and laughed and hugged each other...", why are Piper and Daisy so happy? (Ch.24)
Wednesday, 8 January 2020
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie´s TED talk (4ºA)
Here you are Adichie´s talk, remember it´s exactly the same as the text ("We should all be feminists") in the literacy booklet. Remember you have to prepare the 2 first sets of questions about the speech for this Friday.
Sunday, 5 January 2020
How I live now (ch. 12-16) LC questions
Happy New Year first of all! My questions for next Literary Circle (on Wednesday):
-What do you think the outing to the river represents?
-Explain this quote: “Every war has turning points and every person too” (ch.15). What is the turning point Daisy means? How is it going to change her situation and her attitude towards life?
Tuesday, 17 December 2019
Food waste is the world's dumbest problem (B1A/B)
1.What´s the food cam?
2. When was it invented?
3. How much of the food produced in the US is never eaten?
4. How do food production and food waste affect the
environment?
5. Is reducing food waste a difficult goal to achieve?
6. Where is food specially wasted in the US?
7. Why are fridges responsible for food waste?
8. And why are plates also responsable for that?
9. What is Copia?
10. How many people were the Copia organizers able to
feed in 2 days with food that wasn´t going to be consumed?
Thursday, 12 December 2019
Tuesday, 10 December 2019
My questions on How I Live Now for the next LC (ch. 7-11)
Choose 3 questions to answer. Some questions refer to chapters 1-6 as well:
-Explain this quote (p. 19) :"Starting your first day as a murderer". Who says it? Why?
-Would you have left your four children alone to go to Oslo to work like Aunt Penn did? Would we be asking this question if the one who went away was their father?
-What is The Calm before the Storm? Why do you think it is mentioned? (ch.6)
-What problem did Melissa Banner and Lyle Hershberg have as a couple? (ch.7)
-What are Edmond´s and Isaac´s weird gifts? (ch. 8)
-Why doesn´t Daisy care about the alarming news about war (actually, she´s enjoying the situation)? (ch.9, 10, 11)
Don´t forget to include your own question and quote in your worksheet.
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