SOME HOMEWORK NI2

This set of activities are for my NI2 students. I´ve taken them from the Oxford supplementary activities CD.
- Test 1. Answers. Audio
- Test 2. Answers. Audio
- Test 3. Answers. Audio
- Test 4. Answers. Audio

- Grammar: If you haven´t done the following units yet , please do them now.
- Unit 48. Questions 1
- Unit 49. Questions 2
- Unit 50. Auxiliary verbs
- Unit 72. The 1

WRITING
- Connectors
- Writing letters: expressions
- Punctuation

SPEAKING
- Speaking guide
- Topics for interaction and speech
- Debates: agreeing and disagreeing
- Go back to the 16/12/09 post where you´ll see activties of both interaction and speech.

LISTENINGS
- Listening 1: Djs. Exercises. Answers. Audio
- Listening 2: Gadgets. Exercises. Answers. Audio
- Listening 3: Mobiles. Exercises. Answers. Audio
- Listening 4: Sports. Exercises. Answers. Audio

SOME HOMEWORK NB2

These activities are for my NB2 students. This first set is easier than the others I´ll post next week.
All these exercises have been taken from the book Instant Pet. Cambridge.
READINGS:
- Reading 1: Reading the signs . Answers
- Reading 2: Didn´t you notice the notice?. Answers
- Reading 3: Mixed messages. Answers
- Reading 4: Exam style task

WRITINGS
- Writing 1: After the show. Answers . Audio.
- Writing 2: In other words. Answers
- Writing 3: Exam task.
- Writing 4: Message in a bottle. Answers.

LISTENINGS
- Listening 1: Distinguishing features. Answers. Audio
- Listening 2: How do you know?. Answers. Audio
- Listening 3: Look at the time! .And now for the weather. Answers. Audio
- Listening 4: Exam task. Answers. Audio
I must apologize because the quality of the recordings is not very good. I still have to learn more about it.

SPEAKINGS
This is the speaking guide you should know by heart.
Wednesday, 16,December,2009. In this post you have plenty to practice you speaking skills

GRAMMAR
Grammar ,units:
- 64 : A an.
- 65: Flower(s), buse(s) . Singular and plural
- 66: A car/some money 1 (countable and uncountable)
- 67: A car/some money 2 (countable and uncountable)

BAD NEWS FOR ME AND YOU

I´m afraid what I´m going to tell you isn´t good news: I had had an operation at the beginning of the month, nothing really serious but rather uncomfortable . I was told to rest and not to lift any weight at all, which I did ;however and to my disappointmet, the doctor has told me that the scar isn´t any better . So I´ll be on a sick leave until the beginning of the third term.
In the meantime I´ll post exercises of the four abilities: reading, writing, listening and speaking with their answers , so that at least you won´t feel as frustrated as I am. Feel free to send me the compositions, exercises or doubts you have . Give me some time because I have to work for both basic and intermediate level.
ALBERTO PINTOS has sent us this song. You know my taste in music is more than old fashioned, so I welcome all the songs you like and can be easily heard.

EOI NEWS

I won´t be able to go to class until 15th ,Monday,March, 2010. I´m awfully sorry but I have a few leaks that have to be repaired and their require a little time since the plumber in my case is a doctor. In the meantime here below you have some activities to do .

Hampton House

“Hampton House” was written by Jenny Dooley in 1996. I´ve chosen this book because I like thrillers. This is an intrigue story of a young girl ,Kathy, who starts to work in Helping Hand. In her job she discovers an old woman and an old house, Hampton House which keeps secrets from her past.
The story is divided into two parts. In the first part Kathy knows William, her boss and they become very good friends. She starts to work in Helping Hand and in her first job she goes to The Old People Home and she knows Miss Emily. She´s an old woman who tells Kathy about Hampton House and his owner Lord Hampton. She workedin the house when she was young. Miss Emily tells Kathy her story because remembers it.
The second part is few days after when Kathy has an accident with her bike. Helping Hand needs to find a place for its office because The Council is going to pull this place. Kathy thinks in Hampton House because it is in the town and is uninhabited.
In the final part of the history Kathy, William and other workers visit the house. Only Kathy hears voices and noises and she hears Lord Hampton’s voice who tell she a story about her grandmother and her past. The other workers and William don´t believe Kathy.
Finally Hampton House is pulled down and instead the new Helping Handare office is built, William who loves Kathy is reconciled with her.
The most exciting part if the story is Lord Hampton´s Story that he tells Kathy. He met his grandmother years ago when he was poor. She helped him but he stole her a diamond. Years later Hampton gave him work when he was rich but he never told her what had happened. Lord Hampton gave Kathy the diamond .
The main character is Kathy, other important characters are William, her boss, who loves Kathy. Miss Emily, an old woman who speaks to Kathy about Hampton House and Lord Hampton.
I like the book because the story is interesting, although it´s something predictable. I thought it would be more intriguing. Nevertheless it was not bad.
NATALIA ANDRÉS RODRIGUEZ NB2

JASON CAUSES CHAOS

Introduction

• Jason Causes Chaos is a novel by Jeremy Taylor.

• I ´ve chosen the book because the story seemed very funny and entertaining, but the story is a little short.

• It´s an adventure story.

Theme:

The main idea of the story is to have fun because there are several jokes and things that make us laugh, like throwing a pot on someone's head.

Setting:

The history takes place on a Saturday in a house at The Lodge on Waterbridge Road. The place is invented, because the author doesn’t tell us the town where the story takes place.

Plot:

A girl called Eva is a babysitter. She is 15 years old. She is going out with her friend on a Saturday and she is very happy, but Mrs Day calls her house and she tells her mother that she has to baby-sit that night. Eva goes to the house, and she meets Mr and Mrs Day and Jason Day, a child who is 10 years old. When his parents go out , he begins to behave very badly. He eats chocolate and ice-cream without his parents permission, blackmails Eva to let him do things, throws a rat to Eva’s hair, and many more things. Mrs Day realises that there is a murderer loose. Jason goes to the bathroom while Eva is preparing his bed. But Jason doesn’t go to sleep, he wants to watch TV. When he is watching TV, he hears a noise in the garden. They go upstairs and Eva picks up a flower pot next to the bed, and she throws it to a man, because they think that he is the murderer. But when Eva calls the police, Jason tells her that the man is a policeman. Eva cures him and he tells them that he is warning the people. When he leaves, the doorbell rings. A person that looks like the other policeman says that he wants to call the police station, but Eva and Jason think that he is the murderer, and Eva hits him. They hide him in the cellar of the kitchen. However, the other policeman returns to the home, and he tells them that the police have caught the murderer, and the man in the cellar is his twin brother.

When Jason’s parents come back home, the mother runs into her house and she kisses Jason. Finally Jason tells his parents a lie: Eva’s boyfriend came to our house. They sent me upstairs, but I watched them. First of all, they kissed…

Characters:

The main character: Jason. He is Mr and Mrs Day´s son

Eva: Jason´s babysitter.

Eva´s mother

Mr and Mrs Day: Jason´s parents.

The twins: they are policemen.

I liked the story, because it was very funny and quite entertaining.

The best part is when Jason throws a rat to the Eva’s hair, because it is very funny.

It has made me feel funny, because when the story seemed complicated, Jason and Eva were doing something to encourage it.

I really enjoyed reading it.

I have learnt many jokes and how we should act against a thief or a murderer.

I think that this book is the best that I have read in English, because the others were very boring and this is very entertaining. I like the story and the topic, and I will read it again.

ALBERTO GONZALEZ TORRE. NB2

NI2
-Speaking: Get your opinion ready , some of you in favour , the others against . This photocopy will be useful to state your point of view .
- Listening 1: Radio Ads , exercises and script, audio.
- Listening 2: Bibi Kahnim and the Muslim veil , exercises and script , audio.
- Song: "You´re so vain " ,exercise and video by Carly Simon.

-Grammar: Adjectives in -ed/-ing. eg: interested and interesting.
- Reading: Two reading activities and their answers
ROMINA ALONSO ALONSO has sent this song.Good girl. I wish everybody did the same.

NOTICE TO MY STUDENTS

I´m afraid I can´t go to class today. I´m very sorry for the trouble I´ve caused you but both yesterday and today have been hectic and I have had hardly time to inform the head of studies. As I´m not totally sure if on Monday I´ll be ok , please browse the EOI web page : www.eoilangreo.net where you´ll have accurate information about teachers´attendance to class.
In the meantime you should carry on working.
NB2
- Here you have the same listening about directions we did last time in class and the audios : activity 1, 2 and 3
- Another listening about directions with its exercises and audio
- Some exercises about the first conditional
- Grammar, units 59 about possessive adjectives, unit 70 about "go home, go to work"... and unit 71 about " like/hate exams, music" (without the definite article)
- Speaking: Practise asking for and giving directions with the plans you have. You can also go back to a post in Christmas with many photos .

OCTOPUS AND BIRD

NB2
Homework: wk. p. 39. grammar, unit 93 (word order)
Speaking: Directions with a map and the structures at sight on the blackboard. Pair work and a lot of practice.
Listening: More directions you had to follow to reach a final point on the plan. More oral practice.
Reading: St.B.p 64. "If sth bad can happen, it will" about the first conditional. The beginning of the reading titled"Murder on the orient Express?" and complete the story bu adding a condition to the sequence
Grammar: St.B.p. 136. Grammar Bank. rules and exercises.
Reading and speaking: St.B.p. 65 "Murphy´s Law". an activity about Murphy´s Laws you had to complete , a sort of matching exercise.eg. If you wash your car...it´ll rain .
Vocabulary: St.B.p. 64. confusing verbs. such as lend-borrow, meet-know...
Homework: St.B.p. 50,51, Wk.p 49,40.
* Don´t think this level is far too easy for you, your speaking and writing skills have to improve a lot and , besides they show your command of the language as they´re the most active and creative skills , try and speak and write more and better.

CLOWN FISH & ANEMONE

Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all.

Sam Ewing

We stand for freedom. That is our conviction for ourselves; that is our only commitment to others.

John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963)

Passion is the quickest to develop, and the quickest to fade. Intimacy develops more slowly, and commitment more gradually still.

Robert Sternberg

Fidelity to commitment in the face of doubts and fears is a very spiritual thing.

Real Live Preacher,

One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man.

Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915)

It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do.

Jerome K. Jerome (1859 - 1927)

What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.

Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784)

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.

Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)

-

NB2
homework: Wk. p. 37,38.
Reading: St.B.p. 46. About cities , we had done it the week before but as it was the starting point of the activity we did it again.
Listening: St.B.p. 47 tim Moore talking about the test he had done in London. there were 9 questions to answer.
Writing: St.B.p. 49 "Describe where you live" An activity to name the paragraphs , complete the missing words and correct mistakes.
Video: St.B.p. 48 "Giving Directions" Order the directions, complete the dialogue, repeat and practise the dialogue and social English
Speaking: I gave you a map and you followed the directions , besides I wrote on the blackboard those expressions I thought to be useful.
NI2
Homework: St.B.p.67. Some photocopies about "Have sth done"
Vocabulary: St.B.p. 154. A review of animals.
Grammar: Present perfect simple and continuous. As a warm up we did some activities to state the basic differences between these two tenses , infer the rules and do some exercises. Grammar ,units 9,10 with more exercises.
Listening: st.B.p. 71 . A very interesting listening about a journalist and an ecologist talking about animals and people.
Speaking: St.B.p. 71. We started working in a debate , the sort of "For and Against" activity, in this case we focussed on animals.
Homework: Grammar, units 20,21 (future tenses). Wk. p. 44,45,46.

BOOK REVIEW

INTRODUCTION

This novel was written by Armando Palacio Valdés. It was written in 1908. The novel tells the story of Laviana in the period of the industrialization.

This story is historical and it is true because the characters weren’t false.

I´ve chosen this book because it was the most important book written by Palacio Valdés and it was necessary for me. I work in the house where Palacio Valdés was born and “La Aldea Perdida” is the book I explain to the groups.

THE THEME

The theme of this novel is the change that Laviana had in the XX century. The author tells us how Laviana changes with the arrival of the mine.

THE SETTING

“La Aldea Perdida” takes place in a year. It begins in July and finishes in August with the Carmen Festivity . The places where the story is written are different towns of Laviana for example Carrio, Lorio, Entralgo, Canzana, etc.

THE PLOT

As the story begins with the “rural world”. It means that in the first part of the story the author writes about the people’s lifestyle that live in rural towns. He describes the jobs, because people work in the countryside. They have animals and they plough their lands. He thinks people have the best lifestyle. For him this lifestyle is “La Arcadia Feliz”. During this period the love story between Nolo and Demetria develops. Nobody has problems and they are happy. Only there is a problem when a man has is in trouble with another man because they both love the same woman, they fight but they don’t use guns.

The second part of the story the author writes “the industrial world”. A mine named Coto Musel is opened in Laviana and foreign people come to live in these rural towns. Soon problems begin. The lifestyle is different. They work in the mines and the drink and smoke a lot. The have bad humour and shout. If the have problems the will use their guns. Pluton and Joyana were the miners who came to Coto Musel to work.

Finally Nolo and Demetria married and some time later in the Carmen Festivity the miners killed Demetria with a gun and she died.

THE CHARACTERS

There are a lot of characters but the protagonists are Nolo, Demetria, Plutón and Joyana. Nolo and Demetria are the characters who live a love story. Plutón and Joyana are the miners who kill Demetria because they are jealous of Nolo.

CONCLUSION

In my opinion I recommend this book because it is a book which tells a part of the history about our Mining Valley. Personally, I think People who live in Laviana must read this book. The best part of it is when Nolo and Demetria married and the worst when Demetria died.

PAZ GARCIA ORVIZ NI2

The prisoner of Zenda

This book was written by Anthony Hope , its title is The Prisoner of Zenda.
I like reading adventure books and this book is a good example.
The story tells about a man who is crowned king without being so, the novel happens in Ruritania which is not a real country.
The protagonist is a man who lives in London, he is rich and he likes travelling.
One day he sees an article which tells “A new king for Ruritania”, and he goes there.
In 1733 Rudolf Elphberg visits London, he is the king of Ruritania son, the great-grandmother of our protagonist falls in love with Rudolf Elphberg and he falls in love with her but he goes back to Ruritania because his father has died and he never meets her again. He becomes king Rudolf the third.
Again in 1893 the protagonist “Rudolf Rassendyl” alter he visits different countries inEurope, he travels by train from Dresden to Zenda, this is a beautiful city with a big castle in Ruritania.
Once there he understands everything.
The future king of Ruritania is kidnapped by his brother, Rudolf Rassendyl who has a strong physical resemblance with the future king who is his cousin.
Rassendyl goes from Zenda to Strelsau that is the capital of Ruritania and place where the king will be crowned, finally Rassendyl becomes king.
Everyone thinks he is the true king prince Rudolf.
Another dark and bad character is Rudolf´s brother, The Duke Of Strelsau.
I like the story because it is very interesting for its action.
The best part for me is when the protagonist knows that he is cousin of the future king.
It is a good book for people who are learning Basic English.
LEANDRO CURTO EXTREMERA NB2

25th February

NB2A
We had the recording of the video clips in class.
NI2
Homework: Grammar, unit 45, have sth done, wk.p 41,42
Reading: St.B.p. 64 .Understanding signs.
Reading: St.B.p.65 .Shopping in London with questions about the reading.
Listening: St.B.p. 65 Shopping . Questions and complete the gaps exercises . Prices.
Writing: St.B.p. 66. An informal letter with the layout , useful language, tips for writing and the plan.
Speaking: St.B.p.68."Animals and People" Their relation to animals , those they like most, the ones they´re most afraid of, the one that makes the best pet, insects...
Vocabulary: St.B.p. 154. Vocabulary Bank: parts of animals, their babies and more animals.
Homework: A composition for next Thursday, St.B.p.67 and a set of photocopies about "have sth done.

Thank you ALBERTO PINTOS for this song. you´re of a great help and I wish many of my students followed your example