American English vs British English

At last, we decided to write something about a very common topic in the English classroom:

American English vs British English

However, personally I don't think there's  confrontation between the two Englishes. Nowadays it's more like Globish English, don't you think?

Well, for those who really need to make the difference between both languages, here's your American English vs British English presentation.

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

Today's question is very simple: "Are you an early bird or a night owl?

Well, please tell us about you. Here's a good example:




Elena and Diego, thank you very much for your answers.


If you find this question too difficult, please  have a look at this presentation about telling the time first, and then you'll find out that speaking in English is just a question of time and dedication.

Enjoy  your English time!

Please, again, let us know: Are you an early bird or a night owl? Do you need some inspiration first? Here's an article about the same topic. Leave us a message and stay tuned!

English Contractions

English contractions aren't too difficult, but we may have some problems when we pronounce them. So, here's a good presentation about English language contractions for you. 

Helpful enough?

10 Top places to visit

What are the 10 top places to visit for you?

Ok, come on! Think about them. Before you die, they say that anyone should write a book, plant a tree, have a baby and there's more...

What would you like to do before you die?

Learn English?

Well, you may like languages a lot and that book could be written in English. Don't you think?

No matter your preferences, please let us know and leave us a comment with your 10 Top things to do before you die. Thanks for your comments.

Below you'll find some vocabulary and pictures about places and houses for you to write about those amazing places you've been to.
Please use your imagination and try to be as creative as possible.


YouTube waterfalls            Describing one's house and                                                   household items

Galicia    

Describing places.             Giving directions               

Lugo   

Presentation

Bits of grammar: Comparatives and superlatives.

Speaking practice on Comparatives and Superlatives:
Classroom survey (Basic 2)


Writing practice on Comparatives and Superlatives:
Comparatives and Superlatives (spelling and adjectives) (Basic 2)

English Punctuation

Are you familiar with Punctuation in English? 

Well, maybe you are not. 

If that's your case, here's something you could have a look at. Please, click on here for more information. Some good explanations about those little punctuation marks, which sometimes may differ a little bit from the Spanish ones. I hope you find it useful. By the way, remember that in case of doubt, you can always contact me or, simply leave a message below. 

For some humour about Punctuation, click on here.

Stress and Intonation in English

Why do we take so long to understand stress and intonation in English?

Children learn stress and intonation very quickly, but what happens with ESL?

Today's post will try to answer these two questions above.

Let's practise English through listening, phonics, stress and intonation.

Here're some useful Stress and Intonation activities about Greetings. (handout, audio)

Numbers are  for Basic 1, aren't they? But, are they so simple in terms of stress? Definitely they are not. So, let's study some different ways of stressing numbers depending on the context. (handout, audio)

YouTube videos on Stress and Intonation.

I hope you find Intonation interesting. Please, feel free to leave any comments about Stress and Intonation below.

Countries and Nationalities

 Where are you from?

Where do you come from?

What's your nationality?


These questions above are commonly used in English when we meet someone for the first time. However, what else do you say and ask when you get to know someone new?


Here're some ideas about Countries and Nationalities.

Videos about Countries and Nationalities.


Ways of saying hello and good-bye.

Any good news today?

Have you read the newspaper today?

Any good news today? 

Come on! Please think about it. I'm sure you've got something to tell us. And what about you? Any good chit-chat?

 No ideas at all?

Fighting against English

Passion for languages and food: Rebecca Mintz (01/06/2014)
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Here're some good web pages on news for you: http://www.newsinlevels.com

(4 different levels)

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

_________________________________________________


News for A1
Costa Concordia ship goes up (24-09-2013)
The fastest Bicycle (25-09-2013)


News for A2

Italy has a new Prime Minister (April 29, 2013)

EU plans to stop cars speeding (5th September, 2013)
A Child and a piano (30/09/2013)
Plane with no pilot (01/10/2013)

News for  B1

News for B2

A journalist who reports news in 6 different languages.





News for C1
News for C2

_______________________________________________

So, let's read the latest news and please feel free and leave a comment with your good news.

Socializing in English

Have you ever met anybody from a foreign country? I'm sure you have.

Do you like socializing in English?

Let's go to a party tonight. Yes! why not? 

So, I guess you need some useful expressions all around the wide topic of Social English.  

So, then, are you coming to the party tonight?

eTwinning: English is Fun

What a great job!

Below you'll find the e-Twinning label that we've just received from the educational authorities. Now we're taking part in an international project, which is called English is Fun. Basically, we're trying to learn English through music, lyrics, songs, e-mails, photos, presentations, language games, Treasure Hunts, musicals and even,  little theatre sketches. Everything is for fun and we're totally convinced that your English will become even funnier and very entertaining through this e-Twinning project.

Adverbs

When you are writing or speaking in English, you often need to express frequency and the way you usually do things.

So, basically we've got several ways to say that in English.

We can add -ly to adjectives, in order to get adverbs like: general -- generally, or quick -- quickly.

On the other hand, we could use a whole sentence like: I usually celebrate my birthday (by) making a cake. The sentence in red, therefore, answers the question: 'How do you celebrate your birthday?'. So, there are various ways of expressing how we do things in English.






For more information, please feel free to watch the following presentation on adverbs, or you can even ask any questions about them, leaving a comment for this post.

Click on here to see the presentation

Order of adverbs in a sentence.

Adverbs through YouTube

Finally, let's close our grammar books and enjoy English with a bit of love, 'cos love is actually all around.

Find more videos like this on EFL CLASSROOM 2.0

Sorry, but I think I'm lost

Have you ever got lost? I'm sure you have, at least once in your lifetime.

So, here's your section to share those amusing situations, when you got lost in anywhere you went to. Please, feel free to write about your anecdotes travelling, enjoying your holidays or even finding the way back home.

In order to get some inspiration for your entertaining stories abroad, here you'll find some common and useful expressions about Directions. With them, you'll learn how to give and ask for directions, and hopefully, you'll find your way back soon.

Patricia Guerrero's power point presentation about Directions

 Still talking about our hilarious travelling anecdotes in the classroom, however, we've just realized that we do need a more elaborated task or project to practise with in class. So, we've been thinking about making up a Treasure Hunt or a Scavenger Hunt among our Basic 1&2 groups. What do you think about it?

Treasure Hunt and Directions for Basic



A Treasure Hunt for Basic (In the countryside)
_______________________________________________________________________
Giving Directions Practice for Basic 1
Giving Directions Vocabulary for Basic 1

Giving Directions Practice for Basic 1

A Street map for Basic 1


_______________________________________________________________________

YouTube playlist on Directions

Describing Places Power Point Presentation

Treasure Hunts through YouTube

Expressing your Opinion

Yes, your opinion is really important, but can you express your opinion in English?

During this course, I've been asking my students about their impressions and opinions and sometimes, they don't have enough words or expressions to talk about their own stuff and issues. 


So, here's your special document, for you all, special and unique people, who are learning the English language. That's all for you, just because of you, the most selective and extraordinary learners of English.

On the phone

Today we've just started a new English section: On the phone. So, we're studying all the telephone language, expressions and everyday situations, when you're on the phone.

Some telephone YouTube videos.

Some more on-the-phone vocabulary and expressions.

I hope you find this information and language practice useful. For any question, please do not hesitate to contact me.