Singing Aloud

Select the song and enjoy these "people" singing.



Santa's Presents

 

Santa and Amy have a bag full of presents, but who are they for? Help Santa and Amy deliver the children's presents in time for Christmas.

Enter British Council Page, click on a child then read or listen to what Santa has to say. Click on the best presents for each child.



XMAS Vocabulary

 

Houses in England

 

Call Me Maybe

The English Speaking Countries Quizz

 

 

The Adventures of Pinocchio: Chapter Book

Centuries ago there lived--

"A king!" my little readers will say immediately.

No, children, you are mistaken. Once upon a time there was a piece of wood. It was not an expensive piece of wood. Far from it. Just a common block of firewood, one of those thick, solid logs that are put on the fire in winter to make cold rooms cozy and warm.

I do not know how this really happened, yet the fact remains that one fine day this piece of wood found itself in the shop of an old carpenter. His real name was Mastro Antonio, but everyone called him Mastro Cherry, for the tip of his nose was so round and red and shiny that it looked like a ripe cherry.

As soon as he saw that piece of wood, Mastro Cherry was filled with joy. Rubbing his hands together happily, he mumbled half to himself:

"This has come in the nick of time. I shall use it to make the leg of a table.".... Continue reading

2012 Advent Calendar

Thanks to Pearson ELT from now on and right Christmas,there’s a special box to open up every day with a little Christmas-based surprise for everybody, including things like:

• Christmas songs for teen and adult students.
• Christmas crafts for the younger ones.
• Reading texts for this special time of the year.
• The origin of Christmas.
• Activities, recipes, jokes, tongue-twisters and much more...

The First Thanksgiving

Enter the Scholastic web page and learn about the First Thanksgiving; you can learn a lot of things about this period!

Voyage on the Mayflower has two parts for students to explore. The first part is an interactive map of the journey across the Atlantic Ocean. You can click on placemarks on the map to read and hear about the journey. The second part of the Voyage on the Mayflower takes you "inside" the Mayflower to see and hear about the parts of the ship.

Daily Life is a comparison of the lifestyles of the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag. You can click through each aspect of daily life to see a comparison of housing, clothing, food, chores, school, and games.

 

Finally, Scholastic has partnered with Plimoth Plantation to produce three video tours of Plimoth Plantation, a Wampanoag homesite, and a Pilgrim homesite.

Irregular Verb Wheel

What's your best score in the Irregular Verb Wheel Game?

Spin this Macmillan wheel to test your knowledge of irregular verb forms. It’s addictive!


Big City Small World



Let's try now an audio soap from British Council listening podcast service. In this audio soap set in London a group of young people from around the world share their lives over a cup of coffee.
You can meet the characters.
Download the chapters and even try some practice to improve your listening. Do the Preparation task first. Then listen to the audio. Next go to each Task and do the activity. If you need help, you can read the Transcript at any time.

Chapter 1: Meeting Friends.



It is a Book!

Charles Dickens

What is your name?

Complete the test and in the end send me your results, my code is begonals1

The Scary Skeleton's Song

Is a skeleton scary? Or is a skeleton just like you? Sing with him!
Learn more about the skeleton.

Scary Haunted House

Bob the dog has run off into a big, old, scary house. Can the children find Bob?
Imagine you're walking in the forest on a dark, dark night. You find a spooky house and go inside... Tell us all about it.

• What does the house look like?
• What rooms do you go in?
• What do you see?
• Are there any strange creatures in the house?
• What happens when you leave the house?

The Amazing Spain

With English Central you can practice pronunciation and enjoy new resources,

try this and have a good time!

Madagascar

A Sandwich with Mr Bean



I hope you don't prepare your sandwiches like him... but now we are going to revise food vocabulary and instructions to do so thanks to esl-galaxy.com.

First have a look to these useful words and think if you need them to describe the story:
hot water bottle, sneeze, spices, spin, surface, take out, overcoat
Then remember to use time expressions to link the story:

first, second, third, next,then finally

Countries and Nationalities



The word 'Nationality' is not often used in spoken English. It is a formal and official word and it appears more frequently in written English. You will find the word 'Nationality' is used a lot in the travel industry and for immigration.

We almost never say: What is your nationality?
We usually say: Where are you from? OR Where do you come from?
To tell someone your nationality you DON'T say: My nationality is Spanish.
You say: I'm Spanish

As we are revising the names of counries and nationalities, here you can find a complete list of them.
But now let's play some games:

Game 1: Match the cards
Game 2: Complete the blanks

And if you want to print a poster with some popular nationalities and flags here you are, thanks to islcollective.

Pink Panther Pinknic

Are you a Harry Potter Expert?

How many things do you know about Harry Potter? Prove your knowledge of these series and try the wizar challenge!

New World, New Reading Experience



J.K.Rowling presents a new reading experiece: The PotterMore. Great expectation for those who love Harry Potter's stories and new technology.

Urban Dictionary

(more photos of urban tribes)



Last week, talking about urban tribes we found this espression 'indie scenester', we didn't know how to translate it, but now we can solve our doubts in this web page. Have a look on it and find out other tribes.

Indie Scenester is someone who is a mix between the following:
Typical Indie Kid:
-likes V necks
-shops at american apparel and thrift stores
-wide vocabulary
-skinny jeans
-thick glasses
-artsy
-long bangs that are side swept
-try to be original

Scene Kid;
-teased hair in bright colours
-likes to be CRAZY!
-says things like "niggah" "thnxkaibai" and "Rawr!"
-likes kiddy things like hello kitty,dinosaurs robots
-Dark makeup and false lashes
-bright and fun

Indie Sceneter (can be any mix but here's an example)
-artsy
-crazy
-wears v-necks
-likes screamo but NOT indie music
-loves hello kitty
-HATES teasing there hair.

you may find indie scenesters that love some scene things and hate others and that love some indie things and hate others...it depends

Comparison with Garfield

 

 



Doubts with comparison?

Try these funny exercises about comparison of adjectives 

 thanks to Victoria-Ladybug and other exercises in English Exercises .org

 

 

The Cure's Friday I'm in Love

 

Lyrics | Friday I'm In Love lyrics

What time do you...?



(click on the image to enlarge)

Doubts about telling the time?

Try this quiz  about Kevin, Peter, Susan, Cindy, David and Celine 

Try this mixture of exercises 

Visit the North Pole games about the time and

have fun.

Back to School



(Click on the image to enlarge)

Have a look on this test about school subjects and some other school exercises thanks to English Exercises .org

Listening Master

 

Try this game about listening and

know how good you are at listening.

Choose your level and follow instructions.

How to Spell

Here again after such a long time on holidays.

Lets start with something easy for you, isn't it?

How many words can you spell in two minutes?

Try this British Council Game and guess it.

Take the sushi from the moving belt to spell as many words as you can.

You only have to press the START BUTTON



Cinderella's Daily Routines

Finding Nemo Beyond the Sea



Thanks After so Long

Hi, again!!

 



Olympic Games in London

Last year when we visited London, things were being prepared to celebrate 2112's Olympic Games. If you want to follow this event enter the official page and learn about what is happening just now.

You should visit these web links for activities about the games:

Activity Village

Project Britain

GetSet.London2012

Treasure Island

Surely you know this well-known story but thanks to BBC you'd like to listen and read it again during summer, if so entre this page to follow the rest of the chapters... and enjoy holidays!!! (Subtitles are available)

Jim Hawkins lives and works at the Admiral Benbow inn near Bristol. His life is dull and Jim dreams of adventure. Then one day his life changes... An old sailor called Billy Bones arrives at the Admiral Benbow asking for lodgings. He asks Jim to keep his eyes open for another sailor with one leg. Over the next few weeks Billy Bones has two visitors - one of whom hands him 'the black spot'. The effect of this pirate curse is almost immediate and Billy Bones falls to the ground, dead. Jim and his mother search through Billy Bones' possessions. They find an old map in a chest...but before they have time to examine it closely the pirates attack...

Fix You by Coldplay



What's Cooking?

Thanks to Kieran Donaghy and his web Film English for his lesson about food in which students practise food and restaurant vocabulary and speaking.

But before trying his lesson answer these questions:
 

1.What’s your favourite food?

2.What vegetables do you eat?

3.What fruit do you eat?

4.What fast food do you like?

5.What kind of food do you like to eat at restaurants?

6.Who prepares the food in your family?

7.Where do you buy food?

8.What did you have to eat this morning?

9.What did you have to eat last night?

10. Are you a good cook?

Shiver by Coldplay

R.I.P. Robin Gibb

CSI: Web Adventures

Rice University has partnered with CBS, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History to produce educational web adventures based on the CSI television series. The web adventures are designed to teach students the process of forensic investigation and problem solving. There are four cases or levels to the CSI web adventures. A fifth web adventure is in development. The web adventures are available in English, Spanish, and German, but of course I know you will use the English version!

Big Wave World Record

A 44-year-old Hawaiian surfer has been recognised by Guinness World Records for riding the biggest wave ever thought to have been ridden.

Last November Garrett McNamara caught a 78ft wave at Nazare, off the coast of Portugal, beating the previous 2008 record by more than a foot.
McNamara began surfing at age 11 and became professional six years later.
He has described his achievement as a stroke of luck and has used his feat to urge people to follow their passions.

"I knew it was big, but I didn't know how big” said Garrett McNamara

The giant wave was located above an underwater canyon famous for being the world's biggest wave generator.

McNamara has said that on the day he broke the record, he at first had not wanted to take a ride but his friends urged him to catch a few waves.

"Everything came together. Everything felt right," he said.

Continue reading the main story

 

Select is Coming...

As you know there are some mistakes you shouldn't make. All year round we have written essays on a very varied range of topics and you surely remember tips and pieces of advice we have talked about.
To sum up, have a look on CIUGA suggestions about mistakes from last year and previous exams and listening papers. You could find the key apart from correction clues.

Be confident but revise your work before the end of the test!

Do You Believe in Aliens?

Ridley Scott, director of ‘Alien’ and ‘Blade Runner,’ returns to the genre he helped define. With PROMETHEUS, he creates a groundbreaking mythology, in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race. (See the trailer of the film before its release on 8th June)

In the distant future, two superpowers control Earth and fight each other for all the solar system’s natural resources. When one side dispatches a team to a distant planet to terraform it for human colonization, the team discovers an indigenous race of bio-mechanoid killers.

With dotSUB we can see videos with accurated captions, sometimes in youtube they are not so good. Here you can meet one of the characters of Ridley Scott film starred by Michael Fassbender: he explains what an android is and what their function could be.

Enjoy this video and its captions, of course in English!

English Wizz

Are you brave enough to compete in a funny and demanding game?

Try English Wizz

select your level

and good luck!

Meaning of Mayday

Some words have an appearance that we identify with a certain meaning because of its similarity with some in our own language, these words are called false friends but today we are going to learn the origin of mayday. It has no relation with the 1st of May but with a French expression to ask for help, remember the films....
Listen to the VOA programme and learn some others.
Can you identify these other French expressions? If so, add a comment on this post.
If you need to read the tapescript after all, here you are but try it first!

Reading Inspires Children

'A noun is a person, place or thing. A verb is an action word...Max, something to share the class? Come on! Thanks.'
"How tired I am of this unbearable distance between us. How I long for the toll of the recess bell. Have you forgotten me? Grown mindless of me? Tell me I am not riding into an abyss. Or that is what will become all my heart."
Every year I cannot avoid showing you this video, only a good reader could write this. Inspiring, isn't it?
Only a good reader could write something like this,
don't give up reading!

"Do you love me?"

 

Find more videos like this on EFL CLASSROOM 2.0

More Passive?

Active to passive 1,  active to passive 2 ,active or passive 1, Incident in the sky,

Passive Voice

As we have seen in class we use the active form to say what the subject does. For example:

•I speak English every day at work.

•I repaired the flat tire on the car.

We use the passive form to say what happens to people and things, to say what is done to them. For example:

•English is spoken here.

•The car is being repaired.

We use the passive form when we don't know who did the action. For example:

•The car was damaged while it was parked on the street.

•The shirts were made in Turkey.

We use the passive form when what was done is more important than who did it. For example:

•It was approved by Gerry last week.

•I was informed by the Human Resources Manager only two days ago.

Thanks to English Grammar Secrets we can have some practice:

Exercises 1 / exercises 2 / exercises 3 / exercises 4 / exercises 5

How to Give Directions

“Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction.”
(Alice in Wonderland)

You know how to ASK for directions, but what happens when an English speaker asks YOU for directions. This is not a time for small talk. Give only basic directions with short phrases. Do the best you can.

Questions you may hear
How do I get to Main Street?
Where is the closest gas station?
Can you tell me where the community centre is?
I’m looking for Jane Street.
Are you from around here?

If you know the way…Use basic English to offer directions. Short phrases are best. Speak slowly and use very careful pronunciation. Spell out a word if necessary.

The easiest way is to…
The quickest way is to…
The best way is to…

go + direction (right, left, down, up, through)
take + road name
turn + right/left
stay on + road name for + distance or time


Go on reading: English Club Page
Word List: Asking for and Giving Directions

Pi Day

Today is Pi day so learn about its importance and enjoy learning its song!

Essential



As the embbeded code doesn't work, try this link.

Yearbook Photos

Could you identify these celebrities from their Yearbook photo?

Imagine if you had to describe them from their appearance at that time... too hard task, isn't it?
Descriptions depend on the purpose we have.When we describe someone we can describe his or her appearance or personality.

When we ask 'What is she like'? This question asks about personality and can be answered with: ?

'She is outgoing and talkative.'

When we ask 'What does she look like?' This questions asks about appearance and can be answered:

'She is short, slim and she has big brown eyes.'

When we ask 'What does she like? This question asks about her tastes, likes and interests. It can be answered:

'She likes talking, reading and eating cheese.'

So if we want to describe someone's personality we can use adjectives from the list:

A- Active: she likes to play sport or do physical things.

B- Bright: she is intelligent.

C- Cunning: she uses her intelligence secretly/mysteriously to get what she wants.

D- Diligent: she is hardworking.

E- Extroverted: she is very outgoing. She likes to be the centre of attention.

F- Funny: she makes people laugh.

G- Generous: she likes to ‘give’ to help others.

H- Honest: she tells the truth.

I- Imaginative: she has a good imagination.

J- Jealous: (negative) she wants what other people have. She doesn’t like others to succeed

K- Kind: nice, gentle and helpful

L- Lazy: (negative) she doesn’t like to work or exercise. She’s happy doing nothing.

M- Moody: (negative) she often becomes angry and unfriendly because she is unhappy.

N- Naughty: (negative): usually for children) her behaviour is bad.

O- Optimistic: she is a positive person and positive about the future.

P- Pessimistic: she is a negative person. She thinks things will end badly. The opposite of optimistic.

Q- Quiet: she doesn’t say much. She prefers to listen.

R- Rude: (negative) she is not polite and she offends people.

S- Sensible: she has good common sense and judgment.

T- Thoughtful: she carefully thinks about other people and how to help them.

U- Upbeat: she is positive and in a good mood.

V- Violent: (negative) she will hurt you. She is aggressive…so be careful!

W- Wonderful: she is great!

X- Xenophobic: she dislikes people from foreign countries. She is racist.

Y- Youthful: she is young at heart.

Z- Zany: she is a little crazy, but in a fun way.

If you need to think about the way you feel, try this ing / ed test to practice and learn adjectives about feelings.

Now describe yourself filling this form:

International Women's Day

International Women's Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday. Learn about this celebration's history and where you can find ong and charities in relation with this International Day.

No Regrets

 

Doubts about wishes and regrets? Have a look to this guide and  have some practice with:

I wish / If Only (1)

I wish / If Only (2)

I wish / If Only (3)

I wish / If Only (4)

 I wish / If Only (5)

IF Only Game

Tools for Teachers

If you want to have a little view of what I'm working on enter this popplet.

Shakespeare Master Class

(Click on the audio transcripcion to get the tapescript)

Doubts with Present perfect?

Complete the gaps with the present perfect:

1.    Tim have boughthas boughthas buy a big hamburger.   2.  The kids have celebratehas celebratedhave celebrated   their birtday.   3.  Tim has losthave losthas loosed his wallet.            4. Kate has puthas putttedhave put  on make up.    5. Jack have finishedhas finishedhas finish the work.               6. Paul have givenhas givenhas gave Ann flowers. 7.John and Pat  has just lefthave just leavehave just left the church.    8. Peter has drunkhas drankhave drunk two glasses of wine. 9.  Susan   has makehas madehave made dinner fo her kids.  10. They has sunghave sunghave sing a beautiful song. 11.  Jill  has gohas gonehave gone to the playground.            12. The boys have givenhave givehas given a concert.    13.  Peter  has paintedhas painthave painted a new picture.        14.Tim has playedhas playhave played the saxophone.    15. Andrew has receivehave receivedhas received a birthday present.         16. Peter has meethave methas met a new girl.  17. Tina has takehas takenhave taken lot`s of pills.                       18.  Ann have boughthas buyhas bought a new car.  19.  Mother Goose  have readhas readedhas read the book.    20.  The cat have seenhas seehas seen a small mouse.

Thanks to Rosario Pacheco in English Exercises