EXAMS - SEPTEMBER

NI2 - EXAMEN ESCRITO: 6 SEPTIEMBRE - 16:30

ORDEN DE LAS PRUEBAS:

1. Comprensión escrita (CE)  = Reading (75 minutos)
   
2. Comprensión oral (CO)     = Listening (30 minutos)
   
3. Expresión Escrita (EE)       = Writing   (75 minutos)  

NORMAS A SEGUIR:

• Los móviles deben permanecer apagados en todo momento (ni en silencio, ni con vibración, APAGADOS)
• Traed el DNI
  
• Sobre la mesa sólo se permitirá: la hoja de examen, bolígrafo, agua y reloj (TRADICIONAL: ni teléfono, ni PDA, etc.) En el aula habrá un reloj de todos modos.
  
• El examen debe hacerse con tinta azul o negra (NO se puede utilizar lapiz)
  
• NO se permite el uso de Tipex ( Las correcciones o enmiendas se realizan tachando con una línea simple) 

NI2 - EXAMEN ORAL: 10 SEPTIEMBRE

NI2- B (Grupo M–J 16.00-18.00)

LUNES, 10 DE SEPTIEMBRE HORA: 16.30 AULA 1

NI2- A (Grupo M–J 19.00-21.00)

LUNES, 10 DE SEPTIEMBRE HORA: 18.30 AULA 1

The Dark Night Rises (BATMAN)

Hello!
I'm not a comic fan, but I really like Christopher Nolan's BATMAN trilogy. I don't know if you have seen it, but I absolutely recommend it.

First one: BATMAN BEGINS

Second part: THE DARK NIGHT

The last one: THE DARK NIGHT RISES

My favourite is the second part. Which one is yours?

How to improve your LISTENING skills (2)

Together with the tips and the webpages suggested on the previous post, there are a couple of things I would like to add: 

- It's really important to listen to English ON A REGULAR BASIS. I know you're really busy people, but just try it. You don't have to be two or three hours but just half an hour or an hour each day. 

• Listen to English podcasts or radio programmes when you're driving, cooking or just doing something at home.. 
• Watch movies and TV series or programmes in English. 
• Listen to English music. Choose a song each day, download the lyrics and SING IT!!!!! Doing this, you'll improve your listening, your vocabulary and your pronunciation. Besides, you'll have a really nice time! 
• Of course, use the different webpages devoted to English learners which have specific exercises. 

INTERESTING WEBPAGES

 

These sites represent a very small collection of multimedia resources on the Internet.

[ media format | online use and/or downloadable | level ]

ESL Oriented

Breaking English - (news and commentaries)

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com

[ MP3 | download | intermediate to advanced ]

Daily ESL – (everyday conversation topics)

http://www.dailyesl.com

[ Win | online | high beginning to intermediate ]

English Language Listening Lab Online -

http://www.elllo.org

[ Flash, MP3 | online-download |

beginning to advanced ]

English Listening Lounge – (unscripted interviews)

http://www.englishlistening.com

[ Flash | online | beginning to advanced ]

ESL Podcast –

http://www.eslpod.com

[ MP3 | download | intermediate to advanced ]

Fonetiks – (pronunciation)

http://www.fonetiks.org

Learning Resources –(news stories) http://literacynet.org/cnnsf/home.html

[ Real | online | intermediate to advanced ]

Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab –

http://www.esl-lab.com

[ Flash / Real / Win | online | all levels ]

English Trailers – (movie previews)

http://www.english-trailers.com

[ QuickTime | online | intermediate to advanced ]

Train Your Accent – (accent reduction training)

http://www.trainyouraccent.com

[ Win | online | intermediate to advanced ]

General Audience

ABC – (TV shows)

http://www.abc.go.com/

[ Flash | online | Intermediate to Advanced ]

BBC World Service - http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/

[ Flash / MP3 / Real | online | beginning to advanced ]

Hulu - http://www.hulu.com

[ Flash / | online | beginning to advanced ]

Living on Earth – (environmental issues)

http://www.loe.org/

[ MP3 | download | advanced ]

National Geographic - http://pulseplanet.nationalgeographic.com

[ Real / Win | online | beginning to advanced ]

National Public Radio – http://npr.com

[ Flash / MP3 | online | beginning to advanced ]

Online NewsHour - http://www.pbs.org/newshour/newshour_index.html

[ MP3 | online | beginning to advanced ]

Pulse of the Planet – (nature and science)

http://www.pulseplanet.com

[ MP3 | download | advanced ]

Radio Diaries - http://www.radiodiaries.org

Do you know any interesting webpages? Let me know :)

I can't remember which workmate gave me this list but I just wanted to say THANK YOU :)

How to improve your LISTENING skills

Does this situation seem familiar to you? Your English is progressing well, the grammar is now familiar, the reading comprehension is no problem, you are communicating quite fluently, but: Listening is STILL a problem!
First of all, remember that you are not alone. Listening comprehension is probably the most difficult task (noun=exercise, job) for almost all learners of English as a foreign language. So, now you know you are not alone....! OK. The most important thing is to listen, and that means as often as possible. The next step is to find listening resources. This is where the Internet really comes in handy (idiom = to be useful) as a tool for English students.

Here are some suggestions for interesting listening selections:

• CBC Podcasts
• Listen to All Things Considered news stories on NPR
• Listen to the BBC.
  

Strategies

Once you have begun to listen on a regular basis, you might still be frustrated (adjective=upset) by limited understanding. What should you do?
Here is some pieces of advice:

• Accept the fact that you are NOT going to understand everything.
• Keep cool (idiom=stay relaxed) when you do not understand - even if you continue to not understand for a long time.
• Do not translate into your native language (synonym=mother tongue)
• Listen for the gist (noun=general idea) of the conversation. Don't concentrate on detail until you have understood the main ideas.
  

SOURCE:

http://esl.about.com/od/englishlistening/a/listen_tips.htm

Another interesting website

Check this website: Aprenda inglés BBC Mundo

How to improve your READING skills

Hello everybody!
Summer time! Although it might get quite difficult for you to study during this time of the year, remember it's really important for you to revise and work on all the skills we've been working on during the year.

Today I'm going to focus on your Reading skills, ok?

First of all, let me give you some tips that might help you:

• Try to read a bit each day. There are different options: graded books (You can purchase them in specialized shops such as Fnac or Diego Marín), magazines (I've already told you about Hot English Magazine) or newspapers. Remember you have lots of resources online. 
• Read the text 3 times: 
• If there are questions to answer, go through them, and make sure you understand them. 
• Once you have read them, start reading the text. But take a quick look- skim it -, just to know what the text is about. 
• Read the questions again and go back to the text. This time, pay attention and read carefully. Underline the important information.
• Now you have a better idea, answer the questions. Then, read the text a third time andcheck your answers.
• It's really important to read WITHOUT checking the dictionary each time you come across a new word. Try to guess the meaning of those words you don't know. Remember you won't have a dictionary with you all the time, specially if it's a reading test. Later, when you have check your answer, go to those words and check their meaning. After doing this, learn them, since reading is one of the best ways to improve your vocabulary.

How to be a better reader
Reading levels 

INTERESTING PAGES
- Hot English magazine: if you want to receive a free weekly lesson, click here
- Magazine (Learning English) - here you can listen or read the text.
- Reading - Intermediate

Well, and that's all for now.

Next post: how to improve your listening

Enjoy!

EUROCOPA 2012: Fábregas and Piqué speaking in English

Do you want to hear Piqué and Fábregas talking about the match in English?

Click here

SPAIN 4 - ITALY 0

 

Spain made history in magical fashion as they outclassed Italy and claimed a successive European crown to add to their 2010 World Cup triumph.

Vicente del Bosque's side staged a compelling claim to be the greatest international side of all time as the Euro 2012 final was transformed into an exhibition with Italy - who performed creditably for long periods - passed brutally into submission.
David Silva's header was reward for Spain's early supremacy and new Barcelona recruit Jordi Alba doubled the lead just before half-time with a blistering run and finish.

The scoreline was emphatic at the conclusion but Italy performed with great resolve. Once they were reduced to 10 men after losing third substitute Thiago Motta to injury, however, they were ruthlessly exposed by masters of the passing art.

Fernando Torres emerged as a late substitute to make a powerful impact; steering home Spain's third then setting up Chelsea team-mate Juan Mata to inflict the final wound on a bedraggled Italy.
Spain's virtuoso performance was a decisive answer to a growing band of critics who had forced coach Del Bosque and his players to defend themselves against allegations that they had been "boring" throughout Euro 2012 at the pre-match media conference.
And even Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, in an ill-timed contribution, wrote that Spain "have betrayed their philosophy and turned it into something more negative".
Not on this night.
Every quality that has led to them dominating world football since they won Euro 2008 and the World Cup in South Africa two years later was brought to bear.
It was a heartbreaking night for Italy and coach Cesare Prandelli but there was no shame in being beaten by a team of such quality. They can reflect with satisfaction on their work before this chastening evening.
Spain, perhaps stung by the words of criticism aimed in their direction, started with a pace and tempo of passing that the Italians found impossible to live with.
The warning signs were posted for Italy when a long spell of possession ended with Xavi shooting just over - but it was not long before they were ahead.
Cesc Fabregas was employed in the so-called "False Nine" role as Del Bosque played without a conventional striker. The former Arsenal star proved the tactic is a positive force rather than a negative one.
He collected the masterly Andres Iniesta's pass and outflanked Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini before delivering perfectly for Silva to head beyond keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
It was Chiellini's final contribution as he swiftly succumbed to the thigh injury that has been troubling him in the later stages of the tournament and was replaced by Federico Balzaretti.
Italy's response to Silva's goal and the early Spanish onslaught was commendable as Antonio Cassano twice had shots saved by keeper Iker Casillas but a goal of brilliance in creation and execution made their task mountainous.
Alba demonstrated exactly why Barcelona were so keen to bring the graduate of their famous La Masia youth academy back to the Nou Camp from Valencia when he finished a blurring run on to Xavi's perfect pass with a composed finish past Buffon.
Prandelli acted during the interval, sending on Antonio Di Natale for Cassano. Twice he almost got the goal that could have halted Spain, heading just over before bringing a fine save out of Casillas.
Italy's third and final change came when Motta replaced Riccardo Montolivo but Italy's luck was summed up when he suffered a hamstring injury within minutes and the Azzurri were reduced to 10 men.
Spain were now winning with something to spare and Del Bosque took the opportunity to remove the outstanding Fabregas and introduce Chelsea striker Torres for the closing stages.
It was an opportunity he took, adding the final flourishes by steering home Spain's third and unselfishly setting up Mata's finish to round off a spectacular performance.

SOURCE:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18355496

Gran Torino

One of my favourite movies!

If you haven't seen it... this is a MUST!

I watched it for the first time when I was living in Scotland; I saw it again when I went to Birmingham to see one of my best friends, and here in Spain, I've watched it like two or three times so far... Last time... yesterday!
Have you seen it? Did you like it??

And, if you like Jamie Cullum, here you have the main theme.

Realign all the stars above my head
Warning signs travel far
Drink instead on my own, oh how I've known
The battle scars and worn out beds

Gentle now a tender breeze blows
Whispers through Gran Torino
Whistling another tired song
Engines hum and bitter dreams grow
Heart locked in a Gran Torino
It beats a lonely rhythm all night long

These streets are old, they shine
With the things I've known
And breaks through the trees, they're sparkling
Your world is nothing more than
All the tiny things you've left behind

So tenderly your story is
Nothing more than what you see
What you've done or will become standing strong
Do you belong in your skin? Just wondering
Gentle now a tender breeze blows
Whispers through Gran Torino
Whistling another tired song
Engines hum and bitter dreams grow
A Heart locked in a Gran Torino
It beats a lonely rhythm all night long

May I be so bold and still need someone to hold
That shudders my skin, they're sparkling
Your world is nothing more than
All the tiny things you've left behind

So realign all the stars above my head
Warning signs travel far
Drink instead on my own, oh how I've known
The battle scars and worn out beds

Gentle now a tender breeze blows
Whispers through Gran Torino
Whistling another tired song
Engines hum and bitter dreams grow
Heart locked in a Gran Torino
It beats a lonely rhythm all night long

It beats a lonely rhythm all night long
It beats a lonely rhythm all night long

Matrícula curso 2012 - 2013

Para los alumnos APTOS en junio

• La matrícula será del 28 de junio al 4 de julio. 

  Estos alumnos tendrán que matricularse telemáticamente 

  (el enlace se colgará en la página de la EOI) 

  See you on Thursday :)

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

ENJOY!

IMPORTANT DATES

JUNIO 

• Revisión de examen: 21 JUNIO - 18:00 - 20:00
• Publicación resultados OFICIAL: 26 Junio
• Reclamaciones: 26 y 27 Junio

SEPTIEMBRE 

NI2 - EXAMEN SEPTIEMBRE: 6 SEPTIEMBRE - 16:30

INFORMACIÓN GENERAL - NI2 EXAM

DÍA: 6 JUNIO 2012
HORA: 16:30

• Recordad que debéis estar en el aula antes, ya que el examen dará comienzo a las 16:30 y previamente se os darán las instrucciones. 

AULA: La nuestra

ORDEN DE LAS PRUEBAS:

1. Comprensión escrita (CE)  = Reading (75 minutos)
   
2. Comprensión oral (CO)     = Listening (30 minutos)
   
3. Expresión Escrita (EE)       = Writing   (75 minutos)  

NORMAS A SEGUIR:

• Los móviles deben permanecer apagados en todo momento (ni en silencio, ni con vibración, APAGADOS)
• Traed el DNI
  
• Sobre la mesa sólo se permitirá: la hoja de examen, bolígrafo, agua y reloj (TRADICIONAL: ni teléfono, ni PDA, etc.) En el aula habrá un reloj de todos modos.
  
• El examen debe hacerse con tinta azul o negra (NO se puede utilizar lapiz)
  
• NO se permite el uso de Tipex ( Las correcciones o enmiendas se realizan tachando con una línea simple)

 

The third conditional and Benjamin Button

Grammar

The third conditional – If + Subject + Past perfect + Subject + Would +
If only one thing had happened differently, Daisy and her friend would’ve crossed the street, and the taxi would’ve driven by.

Vocabulary

To rehearse
To practice for a performance
To drop off
The opposite of “To pick up” when related to transporting something or someone
Fare
The money a customer pays in taxi
Cab
Old English word for taxi
To set an alarm
What you do before going to bed when you have to get up at a certain time

You Should Know

“If only”
Used with past simple or past perfect to express regret.
“If only I were rich, I would buy the big bottle of Coke.”
“If only I hadn’t fallen asleep in the garden, I wouldn’t have been bitten by so many insects.”

Real English

Pitt’s character in this film is from New Orleans, and the character has a strong southern accent. It’s especially noticeable in the long vowels in “sometimes”, “shopping”, “answer”, “rehearsin”, “cup o´ coffee”, “crossin´the Street”

Listening Challenge

Listen to the first part again (until “If only one thing had happened differently) and try to answer these questions.

• Why did Daisy have to wait for her friend?
• Why didn’t the lady going shopping catch the first cab (taxi)?
• Why didn’t the shop girl wrap the package earlier?
• Why couldn’t the taxi move earlier?
• Why was the man late for work?
• Why did the taxi driver stop?

SOURCE:  ENGLISH BUBBLE

Lesson summary 31st May

This is what we did in our last lesson of the year:

• We revised the third conditional with a spoken activity and exercise nº7 on page 125
• Then we read the text 'Dublin's first cyber criminal' and did exercises 3b, 5a/b. We also took a look at other types of crimes. 
• The last activity was an interaction. 
• Oh! And we had two nice presentations on health (Thank you Mª José and Ángela)  and a great surprise: Susana came to the school to say goodbye. She's been allowed to leave the hospital for two days to sort out some things. GOOD LUCK SUSANA! We hope you get better really soon and we look forward to seeing you back.  

Well, and that's all my dear students. I hope you've learnt a lot and had a nice time this year. For me it's been a real pleasure.

GOOD LUCK

See you on Wednesday (and Monday of course for the speaking)

Reading: Dublin's first cyber criminal

3b Read the etxt and choose the correct answer

1. a (distressed) 
2. b (dumbfounded)
3. a (remorseful)

5a Underline all the words and phrases in the report connected with the topics in the table. Write them in the correct column
 

CRIME / LAW	TECHNOLOGY	MONEY / BUSINESS
Criminal (noun) Case (noun) Legal (adjective) Police (noun) Fraud squad (noun) Investigating (verb) Fraud (noun) Witnessed ( verb) Evidence (noun) Juvenile (noun) Charged (verb) False pretences (adjective / noun) Offender (noun)	Surf (verb) Cyber (adjective) Internet (noun) Computer ( noun) Net (noun)	Credit card (noun) Ordering (verb) Home deliveries (noun) Order form (noun) Placed an order (verb) Goods (noun) Suppliers (noun)

5b Find words in the crime column of the table that mean the following. 

1. case
2. legal
3. fraud
4. investigate
5. witness
6. evidence
7. juvenile
8. charge (with)
9. offender

ORAL EXAM - FINAL LIST - MONDAY 4TH JUNE

MONDAY – 4th JUNE
16:00	Maite Barceló	Juan Sánchez
16:20	José Miguel Martínez	Marcos Palena
16:40	Mª Carmen Martínez	Miguel López
17:15	Vicente Martínez	Mª José Navarro
17:35	Mª Carmen Cánovas Mellado	Ana Mª Gallego
17:55	José Carlos Macanás Pallarés	Mª José Sánchez Serna
18:30	Antonio Perellón	José Hernández
18:50	Gema Cano	Alba Rubio
19:10	Carolina Costa	Santi Hurtado
19:45	Mª Tomasa López	María J. Martínez
20:05	Eva Montserrat Muñiz	Clementa Pividal
20:25	Antonio Cánovas García	Lisbeth Miranda Almaras

ORAL EXAM - FINAL LIST - FRIDAY 8th JUNE

FRIDAY – 8th JUNE
16:00	Mario Andreo	Victoria Pérez
16:20	Raquel Tudela	Cristina Tudela
16:40	Ángela Mula	Francisco Mula
17:15	María Cánovas Crespo Pedro Andrés García Pagán	Manuela Costa Rojo
17:35	Ana B. Aznar	Mercedes Hernández
17:55	Teresa Martínez	Águeda Muñoz
18:30	Mónica Romera	Carol Sánchez
18:50	Mª Elvira Cánovas Martínez	Mª del Mar Martínez del Vas
19:10	Alfonso Cifuentes	Nicolás López
19:45	Juan Fco. Coll	Esperanza Boluda
20:05	José Manuel Zamora Sánchez	Herminia García Puertas
20:25	Juan David Cánovas López	Juan Francisco Hernández Sánchez