Shadowing for a Better World

Shadowing is a learning technique where you listen to a text in your target language, and then repeat it aloud right after the speaker, so that you become his/her shadow.

You play the video, and after one sentence or two pause it to repeat the words that you just heard with a minimum delay. Then you write down the words on a piece of paper. Finally, play the video and read the words confidently at the same time as the speaker. You can do this as you walk around the house... the point is that you repeat the exacts words in the exact same manner as the speaker.

So, here's my proposal to get started in this new technique: Become the shadow of Patch Adams. Patch Adams is an American physician, social activist, clown, and author who has some really interesting ideas to share with us about living in a healthy world.

NOTE: Please, don't do this for more than 2 minutes at a time, we should start doing this little by little to avoid frustration.

"I want a world where no one alive can remember what the word war means..."

Possible tricky words to note down

Making Progress in your Speaking

The English Teachers at EOI Fuenlabrada have created a series of documents with great tips and fantastic models of B1 speaking exam, both for the monologue (task 1) and the interaction (task 2). Please read the vitally important tips first, and then read the models proposed below very carefully. This should be a great help when preparing your perfomance for this coming May!

Vitally Important Tips for Your Monologue

Vitally Important Tips for Your Interaction

Some excellent models to follow:

Model of your Monologue number 1

Model of Your Monologue number 2

Model of Your Interaction

Latest News About NI1 Exam!

Aquí tenéis la información defnitiva con respecto a las condiciones en las que un/a alumno/a de NI1 puede promocionar al siguiente curso, esto es, a B2. Tal y como leeréis en la circular informativa en el vínculo de abajo, estaréis en disposición de pasar a B2 si aprobáis las cuatro destrezas en la misma convocatoria con 15 puntos mínimo en cada una de las destrezas. Esto es, para poder pasar a B2 no se aplicará la compensación de destrezas con 13 puntos, ni se guardarán destrezas de mayo a junio. De no ser así, pasaréis al nuevo curso de B1.

Circular informativa. Promoción al curso 2018-19

Today, Thursday April 26th

Dear all, I can´t go to the school today, but I'd like to suggest that you go to class and work together on the following tasks:

1- Listening. Here follows a listening test that you could do as a class, using the computer on the teacher's desk:

Listening Test Part 1 & 2

Test 1 Audio Track

Test 2 Audio Track

Listening Test Part 1 & 2 Key

2- Cloze. Here is a cloze for you to do in 20 minutes in class.

Cloze Text

Cloze Text Key

3- You could use the time left to practice the interaction cards posted below in pairs, after taking a look at the post "getting ready to the speaking exam".

Finally, as part of your homework for next week, you have to do a writing: there are two options:

a) an article following the instructions on page 115, with a free topic of your choice; or
b) a film review, following the instructions on page 117, and choosing the film you want.

Torn, by Natalie Imbruglia

And the verb goes: tear-tore-torn 

This song is dedicated to Bianca and Cristina.

Guided Meditation For a Better Learning

Here follows the five-minute guided meditation session we did these last days. Remember staying focused is a great tool to help ourselves when producing an oral or written text in English.

NB: And do not forget to revise your writing before turning it in!

Monologues to rehearse at home

3-minute monologues to rehearse at home

The Importance of Feminism

A great Emma Watson explains the concept of Feminism before the United Nations assembly. Don't miss this opportunity to listen to her beautiful Oxford accent. 

Useful expressions to connect your discourse

Connecting your discourse as you speak or write is an essential tool when engaging in a conversation, writing others, or presenting your monologue. Here follows a nice compilation of them: go through the list, make sure that you understand the context in which they are used, and then choose those you like best or feel more comfortable with. Do not learn them all, it's better that you start taking your pick and feel comfortable using them.

Linkers and useful expressions