Learning English with Mª Jesús

I found this on the BBC site. I don't like football myself, but some of my students might, and this is a good source of football-related vocab. So, enjoy!

Traditional Xmas Carols

2011-12-14T18:14:00.003+01:00

Here is a selection.

But my most favourite Xmas Carol is:

Although I like this version better!

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Some Xmas jokes!

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What did Adam say on the day before Christmas?
Answer: It's Christmas, Eve!

What did the big angel say to the little angel on Christmas Eve?
Answer: Halo there!

If Santa Claus is crossed with a detective then you would get what?
Answer: Santa Clues!

How do you know that Santa is a man?
Answer: No woman wears the same attire every year.

What do monkeys sing on Christmas Eve?
Answer: Jungle Bells, Jungle bells!

Crime never pays.

2011-12-13T19:44:00.001+01:00

Click below to read the BBC article

Spain duke Inaki Urdangarin suspended in fraud scandal

What do you think about it? Please write your comments!

Some grammar from files 2A&B

2011-12-12T19:04:00.004+01:00

Click here to do an exercise about adjectives.
Click here to do an exercise about narrative tenses.
Click here to do an exercise about The structure " the more...the more"
Click here to do an exercise about "so/such...that"

Last Christmas

2011-12-12T14:28:00.001+01:00

Click below to sing along and do the exercise. Special thanks to Juanma, fellow teacher who sent it!

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=2249

Stereotypes

2011-11-18T10:16:00.004+01:00

Watch the video and complete the notes:

A lot of people ask her weird things about Australia, here are some of the things she says:

" I got asked if I...............

Being on the bottom side, why......

Why....?

A lot of people from other countries think we....

The next one is we.....

We're all like........because we're all...

We're all..................

It's......................"

Now concentrate on the answers she gives.

And now, just for a laugh, watch this:

And another one, from Express English, suggested by dear fellow teacher Nieves

More on relationships with the BBC

2011-11-05T17:39:00.002+01:00

Campaigning starts in Spain

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Click here to read the BBC article.

Read about Halloween

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Click here to read the article on Wikipedia.

Auxiliary verbs

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Click here to practise auxiliary verbs.

Here, for emphatic "do"

Question tags:

At last, the end to ETA violence!

2011-10-21T12:25:00.003+02:00

Click:

here to read the BBC article
here to read the The Channel 4 News article (pretty short).
here to read the CNN one (pretty long!)

To watch the BBC report - and see if you understand what they say- click here.

After working with the article Spanish PM Zapatero hails end to Basque Eta violence
Read the following opinions and write a letter to the editor (250 words) with your opinion about it. Follow the instructions you'll find on the link below, and make sure you use the vocabulary and structures we've seen to talk about this issue.

http://www.wiziq.com/tutorial/37971-How-to-write-a-letter-of-opinion

Please copy and paste the text you write on the body of the email.

Deadline: 13 November

See you in class!

World unites for 15-M-inspired protests

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Click here to read the El País In English article. And here to read about the global protests on The Sydney Morning Herald.

Speed dating listening comprehension exercise

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Click here to do the exercise.

Cayetana remarries

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Here's the link to the BBC's article. In case you didn't get the document.

Welcome to a new academic year.

2011-09-26T16:28:00.011+02:00

And to celebrate it, how about some news? Did you hear about the last bullfight in Catalonia? Click here to read the article that informed about the ban. Click below to see how it was reported by the BBC and complete the notes:

To fans........................................................................................
To critics......................................................................................
Last year Catalonia's parliament.............................................
The campaign was......................................................................
For fans, this is .............................................................................
Tickets for the last bullfight........................................................
For trainee toreros......................................................................

Click on Comments below to read the script.

Ok, guys. After all the work we've done with Catalonia's bullfight ban, you are more than ready to write an opinion essay about it. Follow the instructions of the presentation you'll find below. Don't forget to include specific vocabulary on the issue. You have until 9 October to send your essays.

http://mariajesusq.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-to-write-for-and-against-essay.html

Tariq Jahan. A pacifist in the Birmingham riots

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Tariq Jahan

Sir Ken Robinson: Collaboration in the 21st Century

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Will the 'Spanish Revolution' achieve anything?

2011-05-31T19:36:00.002+02:00

I found this BBC blog which explains a bit more and has opinions about the so called "Spanish Revolution". Very interesting indeed. Only for those who, like me, love this movement.

E. coli cucumber scare: Spain angry at German claims

2011-05-31T19:26:00.000+02:00

Click here to read the news on the BBC

Wael Ghonim: Inside the Egyptian revolution | Video on TED.com

2011-05-29T12:38:00.000+02:00

Wael Ghonim: Inside the Egyptian revolution | Video on TED.com

Riot police charge in against 15 M protesters in Barcelona.

2011-05-28T13:58:00.001+02:00

Riot police charge in against 15 M protesters in Barcelona.

El Pais article.

The Washington Post article

Spanish PM Zapatero faces rebellion as Socialists digest election defeat

2011-05-27T13:55:00.000+02:00

Click here to read the article on The Guardian.

Mouseland subtítulos en español

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Revising Conditional Sentences

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Click here and do the exercises.

More on 15 M and the electoral results.

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Sorry to be such a bore, but this is soooooo interesting! Click here to read an article by one of the outraged, published in The Guardian.

Regional and local elections. The results.

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Reuters' article

The Washngton Post's article

El Pais' article

Spanish youth rally in Madrid echoes Egypt protests

2011-05-19T08:56:00.002+02:00

Click here to read the news story on BBC News, and here to read the same story on The Washington Post.

How to write a "for and against" essay

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A For and Against Essay

View more presentations from Sònia Turmo

Earthquake in Lorca

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Clcik here to read about it.

Structures after wish

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Theory and practice.
Exercise 1.

Barça-Madrid semi-final. What do you think?

2011-05-04T19:10:00.001+02:00

Click here to read about it in English. Get the vocabulary you need to express your opinions about Real's defeat to Barça.

The Royal Wedding. THAT dress and another wedding.

2011-05-03T13:32:00.002+02:00

Click here to read about the dress, and here to see the video highlights.
If, however, you want to compare it with another classic, much funnier wedding, click here.

Obama: Osama bin Laden Dead - Full Video and transcript

2011-05-02T13:09:00.003+02:00

Click here to see the video and read the full transcript of Obama's speach on Osama Bin Laden's death.

Reporting verbs

2011-04-26T18:28:00.002+02:00

Click on the following links to get some more practice on reporting verbs.

How to write letters of complaint

2011-04-26T17:37:00.001+02:00

Click here to learn more about it. Make sure you do the exercises before you send your won letter of complaint.

past modal verbs of deduction

2011-03-26T16:13:00.000+01:00

Click here to practise past modal verbs of deduction

Thousands unaccounted for in Japan

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Japan. Health effects of radiation exposure

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Click here to read this article on the BBC.

Japan earthquake and subsequent tsunami

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Click here to watch the BBC report on the causes.

For further explanation, click here.

How I trained my husband

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From a very interesting blog. click here to listen to Amy Sutherland talking about the article you read "How I trained my husband"

Four great talks for International Women's Day

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Here they are, with thanks to Monica and Our Blog.

EQUALS

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JAMES BOND SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2011
www.weareequals.org / www.weareequals.org/blog
The two-minute short, specially commissioned for International Women's Day, sees 007 star Daniel Craig undergo a dramatic makeover as he puts himself, quite literally, in a woman's shoes.

Directed by acclaimed 'Nowhere Boy' director/conceptual artist Sam Taylor-Wood, scripted by Jane Goldman ('Kick Ass') and featuring the voice of Dame Judi Dench reprising her role as 'M', the film will be screened in cinemas and streamed online in a bid to highlight the levels of inequality that persist between men and women in the UK and worldwide. It is the first film featuring Bond to be directed by a woman.

Darwin and gender. The Blog

2011-03-09T11:05:00.002+01:00

Don't miss this blog to find out more about women and their role in history.

Debate on speed limits

2011-03-02T18:26:00.002+01:00

Click here to read El Pais article about the reduction of highway speed limits.

Read one last article about the 30th anniversary of the failed military coup.

2011-02-25T13:26:00.002+01:00

To read the article, click here.

Vocabulary Explosion - Describing Feelings in English

2011-02-24T09:58:00.000+01:00

23 F in El País In English

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Click on the title to read the article:

Secret document provides detailed account of 1981 attempted coup

23 F in the Wikipedia

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Click here to read it.

St Valentine's Week: English Vocabulary - Love & Relationships - expressions and vocabulary

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St. Valentine's week. The Worst Valentine's Gift Ever.

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With thanks to Mónica

How to Fold A Fitted Sheet

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Excellent tip for singles! And a nice St Valentine present. Happy Valentine, you guys!

BAFTA Awards

2011-02-14T09:09:00.002+01:00

Did you see the Goya Awards? Here's the British counterpart, The BAFTA Awards. Click here for the pleasure of listening to Christopher Lee speaking his delightful native tongue.

More on Crime: Prosecutors want Valencia chief to stand trial for apparel payoffs

2011-02-13T21:32:00.003+01:00

Read about Camps' sentence by clicking here. It comes from El País In English.

The Difference between the United Kingdom, Great Britain and England Exp...

2011-02-10T16:36:00.002+01:00

With thanks to Concha Lana, friend and fellow teacher, for sending it. Guys, don't miss this, it's really fast speech, but well worth watching it! For the full script, click here.

Riz Khan - Tariq Ramadan and Slavoj Zizek on the future of Egyptian poli...

2011-02-10T12:33:00.001+01:00

My friend and fellow teacher, Miguel, sends this. If you're interested in what's going on in Egypt, don't miss it.

2011-02-08T13:20:00.002+01:00

What are they afraid of? Click here and then click on the pictures to find out what these people are afraid of? Do you share their fears?

Gever Tulley 5 dangerous things you should let your kids do | Video on TED.com

2011-02-08T13:17:00.002+01:00

Click here to access the script with gaps for you to fill. All of this brought to you thanks to dear friend and fellow teacher, Sara Pro.

Gever Tulley 5 dangerous things you should let your kids do | Video on TED.com

An interview with Javier Bardem, in English, of course

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Click here to listen to it. Thank you, sweet María, for your contributions.

Check out Nieves's post on the weather.

2011-02-01T13:38:00.001+01:00

It's so cool! Don't miss it! Click here to watch it.

Law & Order: UK

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Law & Order: UK is a British police procedural and legal television programme, adapted from the American series Law & Order.Have you ever seen it? The opening statement of the series goes as follows: "In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups. The police who investigate crime, and the Crown Prosecutors who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories."

Click here to watch this hilarious advert to promote the British adaptation.

Nothing Personal - Exclusive Official Trailer [HD]

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Wanna go to the movies? Nothing Personal.

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This Thursday 20th, at 20.30 at the Alcazaba Centre.

Watch the trailer here.

The new anti-smoking legislation in Spain in detail.

2011-01-17T17:42:00.002+01:00

Click here to read about it. Good for learning specific vocabulary. Plus we are going to work with it in class.

2011-01-13T13:48:00.002+01:00

Dear friend and fellow teacher, María, sends this. Obama's speech at the memorial event for the victims of the tragic shootings in Arizona. It's easy to understand. See what you think.

2010 reviewed by CNN

2011-01-12T14:28:00.003+01:00

We already did our own 2010 top 10 headlines. Do you want to compare them to the CNN's? Click here to watch it. I took it from Our blog!. Thank you, Mónica.

And if you want to compare further, click here to see the BBC's Panorama:2010 in review.

Revision and extension of vocabulary: Crime and punishment

2011-01-11T16:50:00.003+01:00

Click here to revise and extend vocabulary for crime and punishment.

Click here to revise vocabulary and do exercises.

Click here to see vocabulary with Spanish translation.

Breaking news: ETA's truce

2011-01-10T15:37:00.002+01:00

Read about it here.

If you want to listen to it, click here to watch BBC's One-minute world news.

The latest update of January 11th here.

A nice little book about how to use the internet

2011-01-10T12:12:00.002+01:00

Welcome back, you people. For no reason at all, but simply because my dear friend María sent it, and I thought it was a lovely gift to welcome you back to school, I bring you this lovely little book about the Internet and how to use it. Click on the title to read "20 THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT BROWSERS & THE WEB", and enjoy!

Let it snow

2010-12-17T12:00:00.001+01:00

This is this year's official Xmas carol. Thank you, Juanma for sending it!

Merry Xmas, you people!

2010-12-16T10:00:00.000+01:00

More on how the air controllers's strike affected passengers. In their own words.

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Here is the link to the BBC's article "Spain disruption: Your stories". You have video and written accounts of what some people had to go through during the strike, and their opinions about it. What do YOU think?

From Nieves's blog

2010-12-07T22:44:00.004+01:00

Don't miss her latest post, Ellen DeGeneres and Hugh Laurie on the differences between British and American English. Thank you, Nieves.

Airports re-open in Spain

2010-12-07T22:27:00.004+01:00

I've taken this from Our blog! by a fellow teacher. Thank you, Mónica.

Click here if you want to read the story, as told by the BBC.

Fashion. A Makeover Story

2010-11-24T17:07:00.005+01:00

A Makeover Story is a reality show I used to watch -not that I liked it particularly, but I thought it was a good way to learn and revise vocabulary about fashion. Click here to watch an extract and tell me how well you understand it.

Wikipedia says: A Makeover Story is a reality show on TLC Network in the United States. Each episode runs for 30 minutes and features two people who get makeovers including clothes, hairstyling, and makeup.

And these are the questions Na1B made. See if you can answer them:

Why does the girl want to buy the clothes?
Which of the dresses has a double strap?
Why doesn't she like the first dress?
How does she feel in the second dress that she tries on?
Which of the dresses is described as timeless?
What is said about the colour of the third dress?
Why doesn't she choose the third dress?
How does she feel in the fourth outfit she tries on?
What detail is mentioned about the fouth outfit?

To work with the vocabulary from the extract, click here

Short answers, a doctor's surgery and British classic humour in Nieves's blog

2010-11-17T12:38:00.004+01:00

Hey. And this is for the oldies like myself, who enjoy a bit of good old English humour. The first sketch will help you revise short answers and the second one will give you an insight into private medicine (?), all of it according to Monty Python. Don't miss it. Click here to watch it all.

Health and medicine from Nieves's blog

2010-11-17T12:23:00.002+01:00

Hey, guys. Click here to learn about the American sitcom Becker and watch an episode. Who knows, you might even get hooked on it. Nothing better to improve your English than getting hooked on a series (in the original version, of course) Oh, by the way, what's with misanthropic doctors and series? Becker, House, Dr Mateo...

National Stereotypes

2010-11-17T12:11:00.002+01:00

Check out the Popular post section on the right and click on National Stereotypes. The English, to do the listening comprehension exercise. To check your answers you just have to scroll down to the Comentarios section.

Revising Health and medicine

2010-11-17T12:06:00.001+01:00

Here's a link to an earlier post from last year to revise Health and medicine.

Revise vocabulary from the reading on File 1C.

2010-11-03T17:45:00.001+01:00

Do this cloze test to revise vocabulary from the reading "Get stressed, stay young". Tell me how many words you got right!

Don't miss Nieves's new post on The National Health Service

2010-10-28T13:08:00.001+02:00

Click here to watch the videos, and do the exercises. It's very complete and excellent practice for you.