Future Perfect and Future Continuous

The Future Perfect. Click on the links:
#1
#2

The Future Continuous.
#3 
#4 

Mixed.
#5
#6
#7
#8

Linkers

Do these online drills, click on the links:

Contrast linkers:
#1
#2
#3

Purpose linkers
#4
#5  (scroll down to find the exercises)

So vs Such
#6
#7

Mixed:
#8

3ºA/B Second Term exams

Hi all, as agreed today in class, here follows the exam calendar for 3ºA and 3ºB:


-Friday FEB.24: Literature (20% of the total mark of the term). Contents:
        -The Wife of Bath, The Pardoner´s Tale (from the Canterbury Tales): characters, plot.
        -The Renaissance. "The Impacts of Renaissance"+ 3-page worksheet.
        -Shakespeare. Contents covered until that moment (so far video and PPT about The Globe and the first worksheet about his life and work, there will be a couple more things).
         -Important: 30% min. correct to pass the term!

-Friday MARCH, 3: Grammar and Vocabulary (cummulative, from unit 1 to the one we reach). 20% of the total mark.

-Thursday MARCH, 9: Singing for Mrs Pettigrew (3ºA) / Skellig (3ºB) exam. Again 30% min. correct to pass the term! 10% of the total mark of the term

Don´t forget that the Speaking mark (10% of the total mark) will be obtained from your participation in the Literary Circles. 

There will be a reading and writing exam (20% of the total mark) and a listening test (10%), but you don´t have to study for those. We´ll set the dates later.

And remember: If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail...

The Renaissance test: some tips

1. Links to the videos we watched in class:
-The Impacts of Renaissance.
-The Globe Theatre

Watch them with the worksheets I prepared for them (completed in class), and      don´t forget the other double worksheet (summary with important facts at the end).

2. The test will have the format of a PechaKucha presentation: that is, 20 slides, 20 seconds each. Twenty students picked at random will have to give a presentation in turns about a slide each related to the topic. Here is one of the slides I have chosen for the test, could you speak 20 seconds about it?

Good luck (you won´t need much, it´s very easy... as long as you have studied. Have you?)

Global day!

The A-Team

Today we have spent a fantastic day with eleven of our 3ºA, B and C students. They have played a great role in the Preliminary Global Classrooms conference held by the Comunidad de Madrid. They have had the chance to debate with students from other schools in Madrid about gender violence following the UN model. They have delivered well prepared speeches, exchanged views with other delegations and come up with imaginative resolutions to try and eradicate terrible issues such as acid throwing, female genital mutilation, early marriages or dowry murders among others.
Thank you for your amazing hard work and committment to this project, and don´t forget that without the support of your parents, the rest of your classmates and your teachers (especially Carlos), you wouldn´t have been able to make it!

Thanks to Elena Muñoz for some of the pictures (actually the best ones).

What is that women most desire?

The hag was dreadful but wise...

That´s the million-dollar question. And it´s also the question Queen Guinevere told the lecherous knight to find the right answer for if he wanted to save his life in The Wife of Bath Tale from The Canterbury Tales. An ugly old woman was ready to tell him the difficult answer on condition that he promised to do whatever she asked him to. The knight, caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, accepted the deal. You know her answer (that saved his life): what women desire most is to have the upper hand over their husbands... Do you agree? Let´s see what you came up with in your compositions...

"In the Wife of Bath story this question is answered as being superior to men. This must have been the most important thing for women in Chaucer´s time, but this does not apply now. Nowadays this question is answered in many different ways, the answer varies depending on the woman you ask, some of them would answer that what a woman most desires is having a family, others would answer that what a woman most desires is having a steady job. In my opinion, taking into account I am not a woman, what a woman most desires is not being judged, like a book, by its cover". (Sergio P.)

"Saying that what women most desire is power over their husbands is nonsense and sexist. (...) As a woman I would probably say that personal success is one of the few things that we desire most. Being conscious that that you have been capable of reaching that goal that you have always wanted to get is quite satisfactory not just for girls, but for boys too. We are all people and, as humans, we usually have the same feelings and thoughts.(...) Women want the ability to make decisions for themselves instead of being ordered around like servants. They want to be respected as equal companions of men rather than their subordinates". (Carolina M.)

"From my point of view, what women most desire is to have a good family, a family that loves and protects each other. Also they want to the respect of their husbands, their entire love and loyalty (...). The thoughts of women haven´t changed so much from the 14th century (...). The desires of women have always been in relation to their families. What has changed now, in the 21st century, is that their main goal is not to have power but to have love. What is a relationship without love? (Eva  M.)

"Women desire power, money and love, love from their children, from their husbands, but above all that, what women most desire is gender equality. (...) Maybe we don´t say anything because of the fear of ignored or not to be accepted, but we have to join together, because together we can, together we are strong and together we can stop gender violence". (Paula O.)

"Of course that what the hag told the knight is true. Women like to have power over man, but from my point of view, that answer is a little old-fashioned, because what we are trying to create is a society of gender equality where men aren´t superior to women or the other way round. So, in conclusion I think that what women (and in general everybody) most desire is to feel understood". (Irene L.)

"Above all what women desire most is gender equality: going out to the street without being scared, having the idea that at any moment we could be sexually abused. We desire to have the same rights as men, and be treated as equals". (Paula F.)

"I think that what women want is love, (...), or better than that, true love. (...) They want a boy, man or girl that makes them laugh, have a good time, cry or even get angry. And you would say why cry and get angry? It is as simple as this: because true love isn´t perfect, true love is the one in which you are constantly fighting to be with the person you love". (Lorena C.)

"I think women have very different ideas and personalities, so they are never going to agree on anything. But I think that most of them would agree when we talk about inequality. I think women would like to have equal power and equality in general. Although it looks as if it is getting better, in fact it is not, men earn more money for the same job in some places, and people still get surprised by a policewoman or a female soldier". (Eva A.)

"I think one thing women most desire is to destroy the ideal of beauty because all are beautiful in one way or another, but no one has to feel ugly because the society has one ideal of beauty that maybe that woman doesn´t have". (David Q.)

"I personally think that each woman is different and this idea may vary a lot. But in my opinion what women desire most is being independent and being with the person they really love". (Natalia P.)

"If I only had to say one thing, it´d be that what women want is stereotypes to disappear. They don´t want stereotypes because in this society all girls want to be perfect, but  what is perfection? (Ariadna M.)

"In conclusion, women want to be free and not to suffer violence by men". (Jorge C.)

"My conclusion is that women most desire to be respected by everyone, because you can have all the money in the entire world, being sexy as hell and being married to a rich person, but if people don´t respect you, you have all that stuff for nothing". (Delia U.) 

"In the story, what women most desired was to have control over their husbands and over men. From my point of view, they are just looking for feeling comfortable with themselves. They want to learn how to love themselves before loving anyone else. (...) For me, what we most want is to learn how to feel good without the need of having someone next to us, because with ourselves, it should be enough". (Lucía R.)

"(...) women also want protection, someone that protects them physically and mentally, they will always be attracted by the strongest men, but they have to be strong for them, they must be men that understand them and they can trust." (Javier S.)

"I have been thinking for five minutes about a general desire all women could have and I have reached the conclusion that what not only women, but all living things need is love, who doesn´t want to have someone near that loves them?" (Iván F.)

"In many couples, women are supposed to be all day at home doing everything, and the man is supposed to be working all day. Well, that woman cooks for you, cleans the house, gives an education for your children, buys clother for you, and many other  things. I think that a woman works more than a man and she is not paid at all. She only wants to hear a "thank you" and she will be happy". (Stefania E.)

Great work!

Skellig (3ºB)

Watch the video and learn about the book we are going to read.

Grammar review (3ºA,B)

Here you are some extra online practice on grammar contents of the first term. Click on the links:

Tenses Practice. 

-Past simple in the negative (oh yes, you make many mistakes there)
-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
-Past Perfect Simple 
-A bit of everything (don´t do the drills on the Future)
-Irregular verbs forms 
-More irregular verbs 
-A crossword now.


Used to/be used to/get used to:

Try this link to practise these tricky structures.


Comparative and Superlative forms and structures:

-Comparative and Superlative mix (easy warm-up).
-More like the previous one (multiple choice)
-Still another dead easy one.
-Comparative gap-filling exercise 
-Comparative matching exercise  
-A crossword  now
-Let´s focus now on Comparatives  of Equality (as...as) 
-Only Superlatives here. 
-A Superlative quiz
-A Comparative/Superlative mix 
-Correlative comparatives
-A bit more difficult mix now (including Correlative Comparatives).
 -Irregular comparative and superlative forms.


Merry Xmas!!

2nd Term Literary Circles planning (3ºB). Updated

 Literary circles dates (on Fridays).  On Tuesdays you have to hand in the Literary Circle worksheet of the chapters whose LC is scheduled for the following Friday. 

JANUARY 13: CHAPTERS 1 TO 9
JAN. 20: CH. 10 TO 15
JAN. 27: CH. 16 TO 20
FEBRUARY 3: CH. 21 TO 28
FEB. 10: CH. 29 TO 34
FEB.17: CH.35 TO 40
FEB. 24: CH. 41 TO 46 MOVED TO FEB 23 (THURSDAY). CH. 35-46
MARCH 8: SKELLIG RECAP (EXAM ON MARCH 9)

Remember  this book will be included in an exam at the end of the term where you must get at least a 30% correct to pass the subject, just like in the first term. Happy reading!

2nd term Literary Circles planning (3ºA) NEW DATES

Literary circles dates (on Tuesdays).  On Thursdays you have to hand in the Literary Circle worksheet of the story/stories whose LC is scheduled for the following Tuesday. (Obviously except for the first LC worksheet, that must be turned in the day before, January 9). I highly recommend reading the introduction by the author to each story, but the LC (and the LC worksheet) will only deal with the story itself. 

JANUARY 10: MEETING CEZANNE + I BELIEVE IN UNICORNS

JAN. 17:  I BELIEVE IN UNICORNS THE GIANT´S NECKLACE

JAN. 24: THE GIANT´S NECKLACE MY ONE AND ONLY GREAT ESCAPE

JAN. 31: MY ONE AND ONLY GREAT ESCAPE
MY FATHER IS A POLAR BEAR + THE SILVER SWAN

FEBRUARY 7: MY FATHER IS A POLAR BEAR + THE SILVER SWAN
THE MOZART QUESTION

FEB. 14: THE MOZART QUESTION WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?

FEB. 21: WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE? HALF A MAN + FOR CARLOS, A LETTER FROM YOUR FATHER

FEB. 28: HALF A MAN + FOR CARLOS, A LETTER FROM YOUR FATHER SINGING FOR MRS PETTIGREW

MARCH 7: SINGING FOR MRS PETTIGREW. RECAP DAY (EXAM ON MARCH 9: LAST STORY NOT INCLUDED)
MARCH 14: SINGING FOR MRS PETTIGREW.

Remember  all these stories will be included in an exam at the end of the term where you must get at least a 30% correct to pass the subject, just like in the first term (again, only the stories, not the author´s comments, will appear in the exam). Happy reading!

The Franklin´s Tale (from The Canterbury Tales)

Still another tale from The Canterbury Tales. Watch the story of Arviragus, Doringen and Aurelius and do the quiz.

The Pardoner´s Tale (from The Canterbury Tales)

The Wife of Bath tale (The Canterbury Tales)

What are the differences between this version of the tale and the one you read?

Literary circle worksheet (3ºESO)

Just a reminder of the outline your literary circle worksheets in 3º ESO must have:

1.Vocabulary: write five words you didn´t know the meaning of. Write the page where the word is to be found and a definition (if several, choose the definition that applies in the context).

2.Summary: no more than 70 words. 

3.Quotation: don´t forget to write the page where it is and explain the reason why you chose it (the quotation should be meaningful and significant).

4.Question about the story and the answer (again, come up with interesting questions that can trigger a discussion, not simple understanding questions such as -in The Gift of the Magi story, for example-:  What did Della sell? or What did Jim buy? but questions like Do you think this is a sad or a happy story? or  Would you be ready to sell your most valuable possession to buy a present for your girl-/boyfriend? ).

5.A piece of writing (70 word min.):

In Singing for Mrs Pettigrew (a compilation of short stories) you can choose ONE of these topics:
-New ending: either develop the story further or think of a new ending.
-Moral of the story.
-Blurb for the story
-Your opinion about it.

In Skellig (one long story):
-Write a prediction: how do you think the story will continue?

Beowulf: your essays (3ºA,B)

Let´s have a look at some excerpts from your compositions:

What is a hero for you? Are heroes still necessary nowadays? Name someone you consider a hero and explain why s/he is a hero for you. 
"Nowadays I think that heroes are the normal people because you can be a hero and you don´t know it, for example you can be walking normally in the street and then something happens and you can help to resolve the problem quickly, people can say that you are a hero. (...) So the conclusion is that you don´t know who heroes are because you can be one of them". (Ángeles E.)

"I think that a hero is someone that steps out of their comfort zone to help someone else. (...) For me my heroes are all those parents that work half a day and the other half are cleaning, cooking, studying with their sons, going with them to their after-school activities, etc." (Inés M.)

"For me a good hero is being the bravest one, so brave that people think he´s stupid, with an imposible dream, but when the action takes place, he convinces you that he can do it. (...) I think everyone needs a hero and a motivation with a dream, so that if we fell down, we would quickly stand up and continue, we must have the idea that it doesn´t matter how many times we fall, if we stand up". (Javier S.)

Is Beowulf a good warrior? And a good King?
"In my opinion, Beowulf has shown the image of a real hero. Without any special powers, he has killed a monster, only with his brave mind of great warrior, and also his strength. The heroes I know have powers and even so it´s difficult for them to kill their enemies but it has more merit to fight monsters without any special powers". (Jose R.)

"Now 50 years have passed and Beowulf is the king. Is he a good king? No he isn´t. He went to fight the dragon alone, without thinking that he wasn´t as strong as he was 50 years ago and could die letting his kingdom without a king and making it very vulnerable, and that is what happened because he died. A very bad decision, don´t you think?" (Alexandru R.)

In your opinion, if Grendel reappeared now, what action should be taken against him? Why?
"(..) I know he is half-human but the other half is an ugly and horrible monster that kills people just because he is jealous. I sometimes feel jealous too, but I don´t go to the street and start killing people. Only monsters do that, and for that reason monsters need to be killed. If one of the persons Grendel has killed is your mother or your father, or a friend, what would you do in that situation? Obviously you will kill him immediately". (María O.)

"We shouldn´t kill Grendel because it´s a unique species that can have the cure for some illnesses and help science. Also by studying Grendel´s brain, we can know lots of things that he knows and we don´t". (Julia J.)

In what way(s) can Grendel and Grendel´s mother be considered human?
"Grendel´s mother showed a great protection instinct when she went to kill Beowulf after he had killed her son.  I think she had a really human feeling, which is revenge, every mother loves their children, so she did too. (...) She knew she may die, but she did it to take revenge on her son". (Eva A.)

"What he does is to destroy and kill everything he sees, and this leads me to think: don´t we, humans, destroy everything? Of course we do, we cut down tres, kill animals, and also people just for our own benefit. To sum up, I think that the only difference between Grendel and his mother and us is our appearance". (Julia del Carmen J.)

Write the story from Grendel´s point of view.
"Today it was a sad day for me, as always. I felt lonely and I could hear Hrothgar and all his people in Heorot. They were having a good time. They were laughing and enjoying life, while I was here, all alone, wondering what to do with mine. I hated all these people for their sefishness, for not accepting me in their society. I was a monster, that´s true, but I was also partly human and I could feel. I was fed up and I couldn´t take it any more. My fury blinded me, and I decided to go to Heorot. I was so angry, that I couldn´t think properly, and I started killing people. When I realised it was enough, I left." (Paula F.)


"I´m Grendel, the antagonist of the story. My life wasn´t easy. All the people judge me for my appearance and not for my personality. I had never got any friends. I was lonely all my life. The time passed and I became more and more evil because no one accepted me. I decided to start eating people although I´m half human. One day a man called Beowulf decided to find me and kill me. I was very jealous of him because he was so popular and so loved by people... I wanted to be like him. So handsome, so clever, so popular... At last he killed me. Later, my mother decided to kill him because he had killed me, but he killed my mother too. I reunited with her in hell, the place I´m writting now. (...) Now in hell, the place I wanted to be, I have made new friends that understand me. I don´t see Beowulf here. He probably is in heaven. Better...". (Simina D.)

"Hello, I´m Grendel. I´m writting this letter to the Danes to explain the reasons of my attacks. But first of all I want to say I´m sorry for all the pain I´ve caused. (...) I am a strange creature born by a mixture of sea monster and human. And now you will be wondering: where is his human part? It is a very normal question. As a little "kid" I asked my mom that question every day. And the answer was always the same one: 'My sweet Grendel, don´t think that being human means being nice and perfect. of course humans can be good but every single human has a dark side. Do you think being human means being perfect? You are wrong, Grendel. Humans are cruel, jealous, avaricious, but they have pretty envelopes. Just like candy. But you and I, Grendel, don´t have that pretty wrapping. We are ugly and consequently considered monsters. No matter if we have the human capacity to love, laugh or just being happy. Our wrapping is a monster and we are treated as such, my darling'". (Irene L.)

"I´m Grendel, well, I was Grendel. Now, as you may know, I´m dead. Finally I reached heaven. I was considered a monster for lots of years but that was never my intention, I wanted to be accepted, to be one more, but oh, I was so different and you know, humans do not like difference, they punish difference just because they don´t understand it, and they don´t give it a try either. (...) I couldn´t stop my instinct, it controlled me. I reached a point in which I wanted them to kill me but their weapons didn´t hurt me at all, I wanted to escape from all the destruction I had caused, I wanted to give back the lives I took off, but it was too late. After all, I want to thank Beowulf, because of him I´m free now. Humans call me monster for killing and they want to solve this by killing me, and not only me but my mother. Isn´t it ironic?" (Lucía R.)

More about Beowulf comic by Santiago García and David Rubin  here.