As I promised, here you have the answer key to the Entry Checker leaflet. I suggested in class that you should really try to make the effort and complete it, because it's great review of basic grammar contents that should be mastered by now, and the beginning of the year is definitely the best time to tackle this.
Remember: if you come across major doubts or problems, you're more than welcome to bring them up in class. And, hey, the weather forecast says RAIN all over this weekend, so some catching up with the grammar of English doesn't sound like such a terrible plan, does it? Have a nice and cozy weekend anyway!
Dear all,
As part of your listening practice, I´d like you to hear a brief news story about the students' and teachers' strike today in Spain, broadcasted by euronews channel. Here follows the video, and you may read the story below. I'll be happy to hold a brief discussion on these matters next day in class; I'll leave this initiative to you, guys.
Click on this link to read the audiotranscript of the news
Remember the mood-food debate in class last week? We all had the chance to reflect on how food actually affects our mood, right? Now I would like to show you a piece of research which deals with another very important nutrient for our brains: Music. You're going to listen to a news story about the relationship between music and the human brain. Click on the link below to hear and read all about it. And thanks, musicians, for being around!!
NOTE: To listen to the news, click on the slower listening speed.
Here follows a short video where they give us some tips about how to approach our problems, focusing mainly on their solutions (future), and leaving behind their causes (past). I'd like you to watch it, and make sure you understand all the new expressions and vocabulary with the help of the vocabulary sheet that you find below. After you have watched it at least a couple of times, please write up a brief review by answering the discussion questions posted at the end of this post. We will read your writings in class next week.
1.- Could you explain with your own words the solutions focus?
2.- Can you think of one person in your environment who follows this approach to solve his/her problems?
3.- Do you believe that the solution to our problems mainly depends on how we look at them? Why? Why not?
What follows is a cloze that you guys should work on as part of your home assignment this week.
Here is what you have to do: the first link below (step one) opens up the cloze text, once you're really done trying to get all the right answers you can open the second link (step two) where you will find the key to the exercise. Please, try to concentrate on getting the right answers by yourself before opening the key! :)
So, which do you think is the hardest language to learn? Well, I guess it depends on your mother tongue too, don't you think? Maybe we can share our opinions in class next time. I believe we have Italian, Arabic, and Polish speakers in our groups who might have a take on this issue which may differ from Spanish speakers.
Ok guys, now that we're at the beginning of the year, we probably want to know the best ways to actually make some progress and pass the final exam, right? Well, let me tell you that humor is one of the best strategies to feel ok with ourselves, with our pronunciation in English, and with the teacher having us repeat the same expression several times... So, for starters, just have a laugh with Steve Martin and his hamburger...
