Hello,

If you need more practice on the past continuous, you can find some more exercises on the webs below.

https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint3/grammar/file02/?cc=global&selLanguage=en
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/past-simple-past-continuous-exercise-1.html
https://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/pastcontinuous.html
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=734
https://www.test-english.com/grammar-points/a2/past-continuous-past-simple/3/

Enjoy your holiday and Happy New Year!!

Hello,

Click on the link bellow and you'll find the PDF file of the book "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", the first reading assignment for Básico 1. After Christmas we'll talk about it in class.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hy3yvd1me6jl8ah/READING.pdf?dl=0

Hello,

This is the link to the Dropbox folder where you can find the PDF and audio files of the book you're going to read as first reading assignment in Básico 2.  Once you've read it, you can do the book review worksheet and hand it in after Christmas.


https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k1drbytaph1wvr2/AAA1acPNCKeSsJAYR_s5QxO0a?dl=0

PRESENT SIMPLE VS. PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Hello,

Remember that after each unit it's advisable to complete the exercises  in the workbook and/or the online ones on the Oxford website.

For those who still need more practice on the present simple and present continuous use, there are more exercises on the websites below.

https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint3/grammar/file01/?cc=global&selLanguage=en

https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro

https://agendaweb.org/verbs/present-continuous-tense.html

THE WRITING PROCESS

Hello,

I'm posting a copy of the presentation we saw in class last week. Please take another look at it and keep it in mind during the year and in the future!!

INFORMAL E-MAILS

INFORMAL E-MAILS

https://prezi.com/view/A4DrLovaa7JsbKMG7QrK/

Informal e-mails and letters are sent to people you know well (e.g. friends, relatives, etc.) about your recent news, personal problems, information you need, etc.

They are written in an informal style using: 

-          Contractions

-          Colloquial expressions and informal structures/vocabulary

-          Shortenings and abbreviations

-          Phrasal verbs

-          Exclamations and questions

Useful sentences and expressions:

1.    GREETING:

Hi/Hello (+ name),

Hello there,

2.    INTRODUCTION: 

-Questions/ Wishes about the person’s health:

How are you? I’m fine.

I hope you’re well / I hope you’re feeling better

-A thank you to the person for their last e-mail/ letter:

 It was great/nice/lovely to hear from you again.

Thank you so much for your (lovely) letter/e-mail of … November 30th

-Comments about their news:

 I was really sorry to hear that you…  are ill.

It was really great to … get all your news. 

It was a nice surprise to … hear from you after all this time.

I’m glad that … you’re enjoying your new job.  

-An apology for a delay in writing: 

Sorry for/about not writing earlier but … I’ve been very busy preparing for my exams.

-The reason why you are writing:

 I’ve got some good news! I’ve got a new house.

 The reason why I’m writing is to … ask you if you would like to come to Tenerife next Christmas.

 I’m writing (to you) to see how you’re getting on … in your new flat/ with your new boy/girlfriend.

3.     BODY: main subject(s) of the e-mail/letter in detail, starting a new paragraph for each topic.

-Congratulating:

Congratulations!/ Well done!

Congratulations on sth / congratulate sb on sth / congratulate sb for doing sth: I’ve just heard that you passed all your exams. Congratulations! Congratulations on your new job

-Apologizing:

 I’m (really) sorry for (sth/sb/ + verb-ing): Sorry for arriving late at your party.

 I’m sorry about (sth/sb/ + verb-ing): I was sorry about your father.

I’m sorry + (that) …: I’m sorry (that) I got so angry.

I’m sorry + to infinitive: I was sorry to miss your concert.

-Inviting:

I’m writing to invite you to … my birthday party on 26th July.

 Would you come and spend next Easter with us at our apartment in the south of Tenerife? 

After the invitation you can add the following sentences:

 Think about it … and tell me soon.

 Let me know… if you can come.

I hope you can. / I really hope you can come.

-Thanking:

Thank you for + sth/-ing : Thank you for your invitation to stay with you for a week in August.

After thanking, to describe how you felt you can say: I had a fantastic/great/wonderful time. I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. I would love to do it again.

-Making suggestions/ Giving advice:

 I think we/you should …, We/You should …, We/You shouldn’t …, We/You could …, We/You can…

 I think you should do some exercises and eat lots of fruit and green vegetables. You shouldn’t drink tea or coffee, but you could try chamomile tea, because it helps you relax. You can get a train to Brighton from the airport.

 Why don’t you/we …?:

 Why don’t you come in July? It would be great if we/you could…: It would be great if we could meet.

I think the best thing would be to … leave your job. It would be a good idea to… go on holiday together.

Imperative: Go to a specialist so s/he can tell you what to eat.

 Second conditional: If I were you, I would (+ inf)…: If I were you, I would travel by bus. After the advice you can say: I hope that this advice helps. 

-Asking for advice/opinion: 

I’ve got a problem and I’d like your advice.

I’m writing to ask for your advice.

 I’m writing to ask you if you could advise me on/about/of …  how to lose weight.

What do you think is … the right thing to do?/ the best month for me to go?

4. CONCLUSION:  

 - The reason why you must end the e-mail/letter:

 I have to finish now.

(Well) that’s all for now.

(Well) that’s all my news. 

 Greetings to the person’s family / friends:

Give my regards/ love to your family/ to Sarah.

My mother sends her love.

A request to the person to reply soon:

 (I’m) Looking forward to hearing from you.

 (I’m) Hoping to hear from you soon.

(I) Hope to hear from you soon.

(I’m) Looking forward to seeing you soon

 (Please) Write soon and tell me all your news. 

 A promise to write again soon:

 I’ll write as soon as I can.

Promises, wishes, thanks, invitations/suggestions…:

I promise I’ll come back and visit all of you as soon as I can.

Hope to see you soon/ at Christmas.

I hope that my advice helps.

Thanks again for … everything / … remembering my birthday / … the invitation.

Don’t forget my invitation to Tenerife.

5. CLOSING FORMULAS:

For close friends and relatives:

All my love/ Lots of love/ Love/Lots of kisses,    

Your name

More neutral:

Best wishes/ Regards/ Kind regards/Bye for now/Take care/See you soon,      

Your name

6. POSTSCRIPT:

PS I attach … a photo of the three of us

SPELLING TEST

More practice on the alphabet and spelling. Test yourself by trying to write down these people's names. If it's too long you can do it little by little on different days.   

Check your answers here!!!

THE SOUNDS OF ENGLISH

Hello there!

https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint3/c_pronunciation/pronunciation?cc=global&selLanguage=en

https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint3/?cc=global&selLanguage=en

Our first post this year has to do with sounds because they're the core of the language. When we speak we combine sounds in a meaningful way. If they aren't correct the communication breaks down! The first step must be knowing and practising the raw material of the language: the vowels and consonants that you'll use to "cook" your words and sentences! 

Remember, just by practising and repeating you'll acquire the language.  Click on every sound once and again and repeat it!!

TALKING ABOUT FEARS

RELATIVE AND PARTICIPLE CLAUSES

Do you need more practice on relative and participle clauses?  Try having a look at the exercises on these websites!

http://www.ejerciciodeingles.com/ejercicios-conectores-relativos-ingles-rellenar-huecos/

http://www.ejerciciodeingles.com/ejercicios-participio-cohesion-discursiva-quiz/

SONGS 24th March CONCERT

Hello,

Only two days for Friday!!!   As you know, we're celebrating our 10th anniversary and the closing activity will be a concert.  You can enjoy and learn singing the songs in English that will be played. Here are some of them for you to practice!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jull2iUVnqY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wsYM1GgQLU

AVANZADO 1 A GUIDE TO SPANISH URBAN TRIBES

Check it out again to review vocab and have a laugh!


https://www.thelocal.es/galleries/culture/gude-to-spains-urban-tribes

ADVANZADO 1 USED TO, BE USED TO, GET USED TO

Here you can find some links to practice these three useful structures.

http://speakspeak.com/english-grammar-exercises/intermediate/used-to-be-used-to-get-used-to

https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/upperint/a_grammar/file05/nef_upperint_grammar05_a02?cc=us&selLanguage=en

http://esldivlabs.vcc.ca/ELSA/Instructor_Web_Exercises/Grammar/Used_to_Cloze.htm

AVANZADO 1 PAST HABITS

Review how to talk about past habits!  Remember that "used to" is ok but there are more alternatives to make your language more varied and increase your competence😉

OPINION ESSAY WRITING

GIVING OPINIONS - AGREEING/DISAGREEING

OPINIONS I’m convinced/sure/positive that… I strongly believe that… I have absolutely no doubt that …… I definitely/certainly think that…..  I really do think that…. I really feel that …..
A.     AGREEING STRONGLY              That’s absolutely true              That’s a good point              I completely/fully/totally agree              I’m in total agreement with you there             That’s exactly what I think	B.      HALF AGREEING Yes, perhaps, however Yes, I agree up to a point, however, Well, you have a point there, but I guess you could be right, but
C.      DISAGREEING POLITELY           I’m inclined to disagree with that           I’m not sure you’re right           I’m not so certain/sur          Well, it depends	D.     DISAGREEING STRONGLY I’m afraid I don’t agree I can’t agree with you there It’s possible you’re mistaken about that I wouldn’t go along with you there.

New Year's Resolutions!!!

Stick to your New Year's resolutions, however painful it seems right now!! You're not alone!  (Don't forget  the ones you made regarding  English learning, your exams  results will show how well you did at keeping them). Watch the video again and check out the vocab. (remember there's a spelling mistake!).