VIKINGS, A GOOD TV SERIES FOR LEVEL 1/2 STUDENTS OF ENGLISH

If you like action an history, you can watch this series: its dialogues are easy and it has subtitles!

Don't forget that you can watch many movies and series on Ororo tv for free or with a suscription!

DEFINING AND NON- DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

STEP ONE, REVISION

Exercise 1

STEP TWO: WHO OR WHOM......?

Exercise 2

MODAL VERBS: CAN

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECTION!

Exercise 1 Can for present ability

Exercise 2

VERY INTERESTING WHEN YOU HAVE TO WRITE ESSAYS! (LEVELS 2-3)

If you are preparing for tests that require good writing skills, the following websites have really interesting tips and exercises for you:

Academic writing

Linking words

Linking expressions with exercises

STILL, YET, ALREADY...........

These three words are confusing because you must take into account their meaning and their position in the sentence, that's why you need a lot of practice....try this game, and remember the rules!

JOKES IN ENGLISH! (LEVEL 2)

Life is soooooooo  boooooooring without humour. Now you are ready to understand some jokes in English:

Jokes 1


Jokes 2, these are really good because you can listen to them at the same time!

IS THERE ANYTHING SWEETER THAN SLEEPING ANIMALS?

Watch the photos of these cute animals and learn their names thanks to The Weather Channel
Sweet dreams everybody!

THE SPELLING OF THE VOWELS:A E I O U- (EI I AI O IU)

Many Spanish students tell me that they find the spelling of the vowels in English really hard, for some, they're the most difficult of the alphabet. Yesterday one of them asked me how I learnt them, and then I remembered there was a song which was incredibly famous in the 80s and repeated A-E-I-O-U in the chorus.
Listen and you'll see how easy spelling the vowels can be!

MAKE, LET AND BE ALLOWED TO......

This ia a good exercise to practise the differences in use of these expressions

HOMAGE TO BOB MARLEY

After talking about the literature of slavery and freedom in the XVIIIth century in the USA, it's really beautiful to listen (read the lyrics with attention, please) to "Redemption song", a fantastic work of art composed and sung by Bob Marley, enjoy it!

PHILLIS WHEATLEY: THE MOTHER OF AFRICAN AMERICAN POETRY!

In our American Literature class today, we're going to talk about the literature of slavery and freedom, in the XVIII century, in particular we're going to focus on Olaudah Equiano with his slave narrative and Phillis Wheatley, the first black poet in America to publish a book (1767) so, if you'd like to listen to her poetry here is an homage to the evening in her poem "Hymn to the Evening"

One of her most famous poems is "On being brought from Africa to America"

'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,

Taught my benighted soul to understand

That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:

Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.

Some view our sable race with scornful eye,

"Their colour is a diabolic die."

Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain,

May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.

In the really good website Poetry foundation, you'll find much more information about her and many many more other interesting poets!

INTERNATIONAL MEN'S DAY

A few weeks ago I wrote "Men and Women: we are one" in a post about a United Nations campaign for women's equality and today, it's men's turn!
If you are a man and are reading this: Congratulations!!!!! Today is your day.
If you want to read more information, read this interesting article from the wikipedia, or visit this website.

In my opinion, without men, life would be teeeeerrrribly boring!

THE PRESENT SIMPLE AND FREQUENCY

*THE PRESENT SIMPLE AND FREQUENCY* 

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

MORE MUSIC TO OUR EARS! (LEVEL 1)

Today we're going to listen to a romantic song with this video with subtitles in Spanish,

I know I stand in line 
Until you think you have the time 
To spend an evening with me 
And if we go someplace to dance 
I know that there's a chance 
You won't be leaving with me 

Then afterwards we drop into a quiet little place 
And have a drink or two 
And then I go and spoil it all 
By saying something stupid 
Like I love you 

I can see it in your eyes 
That you despise the same old lines 
You heard the night before 
And though it's just a line to you 
For me it's true 
And never seemed so right before 

I practice every day to find some clever 
lines to say 
To make the meaning come through 
But then I think I'll wait until the evening 
gets late 
And I'm alone with you 

The time is right 
Your perfume fills my head 
The stars get red 
And oh the night's so blue 
And then I go and spoil it all 
By saying something stupid 
Like I love you 
I love you... 

NUMBERS, ORDINAL NUMBERS AND DATES........

Knowing the numbers is basic, here you have different exercises from agendaweb, you can start from page one and continue with the rest of the pages.......

ORDINAL NUMBERS: EXPLANATION

ORDINAL NUMBERS, EXERCISES

DATES

LOOK AT HOW CELEBRITIES CAN SPEAK ENGLISH: TODAY MONICA BELLUCCI....

This post is dedicated to a good friend of mine who is studying English and is Monica Bellucci's most faithful fan,
 Honey, this is my gift for you today: enjoy this funny interview, this is going to be a great start for a great day!

RECIPROCAL AND REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS, EACH OTHER/MYSELF, YOURSELF, HIMSELF.....

When shall we use reciprocal or reflexive pronouns?
Do the following exercises....

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

PRACTICE OF PAST SIMPLE AND PRESENT PERFECT

As an intemediate student you need a lot of practice to master the basic grammar structures.
This practice from "grammar4u" will help  you to learn the differences between the past simple and the present perfect and their specific forms and uses...

READ SPANISH NEWS ONLINE WITH EL PAÍS IN ENGLISH

Reading news from a place in another language is always interesting.....
Read El País in English

VOCABULARY REVISION FOR EVERYBODY

This is an excellent site for learning new vocabulary if you are doing level 1 or simply for revision if you are intermediate or advanced.....

HAVE GOT

Here's a lot of practice from agendaweb

More practice of this verb
And, finally, a great video to practice

THERE IS, THERE ARE...............

Here's an activity for revision of there is/are

READY TO TAKE OFF WITH PHRASAL VERBS?

Learning phrasal verbs is a question of practice, some are very common, for example TAKE, which has many common combinations, if you are interested read the following information and do the interesting  exercise at the end of the page.....

DEATH IS NOT THE OPPOSITE OF LIFE, LIFE HAS NO OPPOSITE....

THE OPPOSITE OF DEATH IS BIRTH, LIFE IS ETERNAL......

This is  a beaaauuuutiful video, thank you very much Mr. Eckhart Tolle for your words and for sharing your wisdom!

from: Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle: Ch. 9 "Death & The Eternal"

CARPE DIEM-SEIZE THE DAY!

It's Saturday! A wonderful opportunity for those who don't work, like me, to rest and have more energy to be with themselves and see what comes up from inside.......
I was quietly and patiently cooking  lunch at home when I realized I've spent the whole week talking about life and death with my friends, students............. Was it because last week on the Day of the Dead, we all missed our loved ones who passed away?  Was it because it's Autumn, the days are shorter and we feel more introspective and less physically active?..... I don't know why but I wanted to share a few things with you, in English from Latin.......
The aphorism "Carpe Diem" was written more than 2,000 years ago by Horace, in his Odes.
It's been translated by "Seize the day": the verb seize, in English means in this case: to quickly and eagerly do something when you have the chance to (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English).
This is the actual translation of Horace's lines......

"Don't ask (it's forbidden to know) what end
the gods have given me or you, Leuconoe. Don't play with Babylonian
numerology either. How much better it is to endure whatever will be!
Whether Jupiter has allotted you many more winters or this one,
which even now wears out the Tyrrhenian sea on the opposing rocks, is the final one
be wise, be truthful, strain the wine, and scale back your long hopes
to a short period. While we speak, envious time will have {already} fled:
seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the next day"

And then I looked on youtube and found this beautiful piece of the film "Deads Poets Society",
Seize it!

HAVE SOMETHING DONE: I'VE HAD MY HAIR CUT......

This passive structure can be difficult for Spanish students, so some more practice will always prove useful....

You can start with this exercise

Exercise 2

Different Exercises

PAST PARTICIPLES FOR LEVEL 2

Irregular pasts and  participles are sometimes difficult to remember. But don't forget their essential role in the formation of different tenses like present perfect, past perfect or passive.......
I suggest the following activities:

1)Test your memory with the following exercise from "Perfect English Grammar"

2)If you feel playful, you can play this game

and if you have doubts, check the following excellent dictionary of irregular verbs....

READING: FAIRY TALES, CRIME, FICTION, ROMANCE.....! (LEVEL 2)

A lot of students like reading but while they are on an intermediate level it's sometimes difficult to find appropriate reading material, short stories are an ideal way of learning and having fun at the same time.
Try these fairy tales, they're easy and entertaining!
If you like thrillers, you should choose one of those
If you are a fiction fan....
or a lover of romantic stories