WHAT IS THE IELTS EXAM?

 Thinking about certifying your English level?

The IELTS may be an interesting option. So, what the video to see if it's really what you need.

What does the text look like? 

Check the sample test questions.

Tutorial 1.CÓMO USAR MI BLOG GEMENGLISH2!!!!

¡Mil gracias a l@s alumn@s que me han animado a abrir un canal para empezar a grabar tutoriales! Soy novata, pero estoy segura de que podré seguir contando con vuestras sugerencias para ir mejorando en esta aventura, sabéis que podéis hacerlo a través de la opción "Contact me", a la izquierda del blog. Aquí tenéis el primer tutorial con consejos para sacar el máximo redimiento a esta herramienta. ¡A disfrutar aprendiendo inglés!

FOCUS ON YOUR GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY

If you need Grammar or Vocabulary practice, here's a web that might help you with lots of great exercises: FOCUS
Highly recommended!!!!

HOW TO WRITE A SUMMARY

What is and more importantly, what isn't,  a good summary?

Here are some insteresting tips 

This video will help you a lot:

And last, but not least! remember a summary is not about copying from the original text but using your OWN words! 

WHAT IS THE IPA-International Phonetic Alphabet?

If you want to improve your listening comprehension in English and your pronunciation, the International Phonetic Alphabet can help you a lot.
Here's a simple explanation of what the IPA is with examples of how to use the information in the dictionaries:

TEST YOUR ENGLISH!

Are you preparing to sit an English exam soon?  Here's a web with lots of material, and different levels. I'm sure it will help you improve all your skills and be ready when the moment comes!

Test English

HERMAN MELVILLE?: YES, MOBY DICK AND......

HERMAN Melville was the super famous writer of the super famous novel "Moby Dick":
 who doesn't now the adventures of the white whale, Ismael and Captain Ahab?
However, few people know he was a great traveller, and a poet too.
 Therefore, today we are going to pay a little homage to this interesting character, going to the web: the Melville society and reading this composition:

SELF-STUDY: DO IT YOURSELF!

When you are studying a new language, some things will require a teacher to orientate you and follow your  progress, but  there's a lot you can do on your own!
Don't be lazy!
Set aside some time every day for practice or revision.
Draw your own plan
When you are ready: GO!
 Even from the beginning, you'll need a lot of practice, here is a web that might help you with lots of activities, from BEGINNER to ADVANCED.

OM PERSONAL

Choose your level or activities, on the left.
Lots of luck!

IMPROVE YOUR READING SKILLS!

If you want to improve your reading skills, the British Council has an excellent website, choose your level from A! to C1 for lots of interesting texts with varied exercises and go up, the sky's your limit!
And please don't forget to write a list of the new words you meet to improve your vocabulary at the same time and record their meaning and pronunciation.
 

IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH EVERY DAY WITH GEM ENGLISH!

If you are lucky (like me) to be on holiday, English can become a daily pastime. Here are a few ideas from Gem English that you will enjoy and will improve your skills, you just have to follow them every single day, just choose your level and one of the activities every day. One hour will be enough.
MONDAY: LISTENING AND REVISION ACTIVITIES
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
 TUESDAY: GRAMMAR DAY
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
WEDNESDAY: PRONUNCIATION AND VOCABULARY
Levels 1, 2 and 3
THURSDAY: READING
Levels 1, 2 and 3
FRIDAY: LEARNING ENGLISH IS FUN!
SATURDAY: KARAOKE
This activity can be done alone or with friends!
Choose your favourite song  with lyrics on youtube, and after singing it a few times, feel like a music star and try singing the karaoke version!

SUNDAY: MOVIE DAY! Choose your favourite films and watch them in English, subscribe to a website, I recommend "Ororo tv, and be brave, watch at least five minutes without subtitles!! 

                                                    

WHY IS ENGLISH SPELLING SO STRANGE?

When you begin to study English and you  compare its spelling to your own language it often seems weird. If you keep on studying English  for a few more years, then things become ever worse and you begin to wonder: why the hell is this word spelled like that? Here is the answer:

WORLD POETRY DAY!

😊Poetry well deserves a worldwide huge celebration, that's the reason why the UNESCO holds a World Poetry Day every year!

So, to celebrate this event with me, I invite you to choose just one poem, you can use the web poemhunter.com and read it, or you can read and listen at the same time if you search, you'll find lots of famous poems read with their texts on YouTube!

DEFINITE OR INDEFINITE ARTICLES?

The use and omission of articles in English and Spanish follow different patterns, so practice and frequent revision will be required in order to master their use.

1.Read the explanation

2.And do lots of exercises

3.And revision of course!

PARTICIPLE CLAUSES

Participle clauses can be used after a noun in the same way as relative clauses. 
Thanks to the web "Perfect English Grammar" remember the grammar of participles clauses and then practice!

Exercise 1: Present participle (-ing clauses)

Exercise 2: Past participle clauses

ENGLISH IDIOMS: ARE YOU PULLING MY LEG?

While it is obviously impossible to know all the idioms in English, the following webs might help you if your are an English student who wants to translate idioms or simply if you are curious about them,

1.usingenglish, offers idioms organized in topics.

2.idioMeaning, has a good online idiom dictionary, did you know what "a 10" is?

and finally, 3.the Spanishlearningcorner might be really useful if you are a student who is practicing translation from English to Spanish!

ANOTHER GOOD WEBSITE FOR REVISION!

"Ejerciciosinglésonline" is a website which will help you learn and revise the basic GRAMMAR, with

1.Explanations and exercises according to your level

2.Lots of exercises for

GRAMMAR

LISTENING (dictations)

READING

TRANSLATION

LEARN ENGLISH WITH SONGS! (FROM LEVEL 1)

This great website shows different easy songs for beginners and, at the same time, has useful exercises, just click on your favourite song, enjoy the music and.....learn English and have fun!

ENGLISH VERB TENSES

This website is incredibly useful when you want to know details about the different English tenses, with lots of grammar explanations and exercises. Highly recommended for intermediate and advanced students for revision and practice!

DESCRIBING AND COMPARING PICTURES AND SITUATIONS

A good way of improving your English is by describing pictures or/and situations, you can use lots of interesting expressions, structures and have fun using your imagination too!.
Here is some helpful information from the web SlideShare including an example from the Cambridge First Certificate Examination, level B2.

HOW TO AVOID MISUNDERSTANDINGS

Le Petit Prince (1943) is a novel by Antoine de Saint Exupéry, translated into English as The Little Prince. This is a quote taken from chapter XVII: "Le langage est source de malentendus", Language is the source of misunderstandings. Do you agree? I do!

As a student of English, I'm sure you have experienced misunderstandings, sometimes they are reaaaaally funny but they can cause serious problems too, so to avoid them watch this video and notice that there are a lot of strategies to minimize their impact and if you want practice them: in English or even in your own language!