miércoles, 16 de diciembre de 2015

Christmas traditions around the world



Go to http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/ and select a country.

Read more on the topic and write a composition about how people celebrate Christmas.

Add pictures or useful links and videos.

You can make a ppt/word presentation, too.

Select the most important information. Don't copy and paste the information on the website!!





Deadline: 11th of January 2016









lunes, 16 de noviembre de 2015

EVEREST

Adventure
Challenge
Courage
Extreme situations
Risks
Danger
Ambition

All these words can define EVEREST CHALLENGE.



This is the true story of some climbers that reached EVEREST.




You can also watch the trailers of the movie EVEREST.



Or the movie here!


Once you watched the movie, please answer the following questions:


  1. What type of movie is it?
  2. Who are the main characters? Who are they?
  3. Do you have a favourite protagonist? Why do you like him/her?
  4. Why are they climbing Everest?
  5. How do you describe the expedition? Use extreme adjectives.

Past Simple vs Present Simple vs Past Perfect


Past Simple or Past Perfect?




Certain time in the past or just / already / yet?

Simple PastPresent Perfect Simple
certain time in the past
Example:
I phoned Mary 2 minutes ago.
just / already / not yet
Example:
I have just phoned Mary.

Emphasis on action or result?

Simple PastPresent Perfect Simple
Emphasis on action
Example:
I bought a new bike.(just telling what I did in the past.)
Emphasis on result
Example:
I have bought a new bike. (With this sentence I actually want to express that I have a new bike now.)

Signal Words

Simple PastPresent Perfect Simple
  • yesterday
  • ... ago
  • in 1990
  • the other day
  • last ...
  • just
  • already
  • up to now
  • until now / till now
  • ever
  • (not) yet
  • so far
  • lately / recently

PAST PERFECT

USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Past

The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.
Examples:
  • had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Florida.

USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Past Perfect to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past.
Examples:
  • We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.


IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect

Unlike with the Present Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the Past Perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not necessary.
Example:
  • She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

HOWEVER

If the Past Perfect is not referring to an action at a specific time, Past Perfect is not optional. Compare the examples below. Here Past Perfect is referring to a lack of experience rather than an action at a specific time. For this reason, Simple Past cannot be used.
Examples:
  • She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct
  • She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct
Practise more doing this activity.

https://www.ego4u.com
http://www.ecenglish.com/
http://www.englishpage.com/

Irregular verbs

Remember:

* HANG - Hang has two different meanings. The first is "to attach (or hang) something in a high position" (e.g. on the wall or on a hook). In this case we use the above verbs Hang-Hung-Hung.
BUT when Hang means "to kill someone by putting a rope around someone's neck and leaving them in a high position without any support", we use different verbs: Hang-Hanged-hanged. This verb is typical of public executions in the past. (e.g. They hanged him in the main square.)
** LIE - Lie has two meanings. When it means "to put your body in a horizontal position" (normally on a bed) it uses the Lie-Lay-Lain verbs.
BUT it is regular Lie-Lied-Lied when it has the other meaning of "not to say the truth".
*** READ - Even though they are written the same, the pronunciation is different in the Past Tense and Past Participle form.
The second form (burnt, dreamt etc.) is more common in British English.

This list is easy to remember:

Verbs that have the same form in Present, Past and Past Participle form:
VerbPast SimplePast Participle
betbetbet
broadcastbroadcastbroadcast
cutcutcut
hithithit
hurthurthurt
letletlet
putputput
quitquitquit
readreadread
setsetset
shutshutshut
spreadspreadspread
All of the verbs above are written and pronounced the same in the three forms EXCEPT for Read which is written the same but pronounced differently.
For further information click here.

miércoles, 11 de noviembre de 2015

SURVIVAL FILES

This is an interesting blog about WINTER SURVIVAL TIPS.

Read these tips here and comment on this post with the class.

This is a good observation:

Winter Survival Means STOP. Stop, Think, Observe, and Plan.




This channel offers you loads of news and videos on topics that you might be interested in, too: history, human, animals, adventure, space, tech, Earth.

This is the survival story of a cute koala


ps:
These are the tips that 4th B students wrote after they did the group-work activity: TIPS TO SURVIVE IN WINTER AND IN THE WILDE

  1. Try to hunt animals if you are hungry.
  2. Find a river if you are thirsty or you need water.
  3. To keep warm, light a  fire.
  4. Protect yourself from insects and wilde animals.
  5. Be positive.
  6. Don’t worry.
  7. Stay calm.
  8. Search for wood to set a fire and make smoke signals.
  9. Divide carefully the food in order to have enough supplies left till you leave the forest.
  10. Find food in the trees or under the snow.
  11. Make a tent to sleep in.
  12. Use a blanket to keep warm.
  13. Stay together.
  14. Use a walkie-talkie.
  15. If you need shelter, look for a cave.
  16. Go to the top of the mountain.
  17. Have a survival knife.
  18. Kill animals to protect yourself by using a sharp stick.

lunes, 2 de noviembre de 2015

Create your Timeline!!

If you want to create a timeline, I recommend you this free tool: dipity.



Read more about other online resources here.

Which one do you prefer?



present perfect vs past simple

This image can help you understand better present perfect vs past simple.



Try this one, too!







Remember these markers!!!




miércoles, 28 de octubre de 2015

How to Handle an Informal Interview

Tips for Making the Most Out of a Casual Interview


In Unit 1 you could practise some answers in an informal interview.

But if this experience turns real, you must keep in mind that there are many aspects to consider before and you should pay more attention to it.

If you need some help to prepare an informal interview, I recommend you to read this post.

What you wear or what you say are relevant aspects. 

Discover more tips here!

Select the most important ideas and share them with the class.


miércoles, 14 de octubre de 2015

Exploring different expedition websites

These are the two websites recommended in your Student's book:



Visit them and find out about the different phases of the trips!


Once you have more information, please use the Comment section of the blog to publish your project work.
Don't forget to write the names of the group members.

miércoles, 7 de octubre de 2015

Which English word best describes you?





Look at this word cloud. Can you find a word that really describes you?






If it is difficult to choose, this quiz will help you to discover

which English word best describes you.




While you read the questions, pay attention to these words and if you don't know what they mean, look for their meaning in the dictionary.





I highly recommend 2 dictionaries:








wallflower

kooky

to go hiking

puppy mill

first aid kit

perch

frail branch

yell

backpack

new releases

wonder

animal shelter




Take the quiz and share your result in the Comments section of the blog.

jueves, 1 de octubre de 2015

How To Write a Composition. Use These Tips to Improve Your Writing Skills

If you want to write a very good composition, please use this technique: POWER

PLAN
ORGANISE
WRITE
EDIT
REVISE








For further information, read this document.
Just click here.

martes, 29 de septiembre de 2015

MY PERFECT HOLIDAYS!!

Holidays seem to be "history" now, but was there something special about your  holidays?

Talk about your last/the best holidays to your classmates!




If you still look for your perfect holidays, why don't you try to imagine them??

Write a composition about your dream holidays and make the best of your English!



FREE TIME ACTIVITIES


Is there something else you can add to this large list?

Sometimes free time is not about being free but being multi-tasking!!


miércoles, 23 de septiembre de 2015

Grammar

This is a very interesting website where you can find further information on English GRAMMAR.


Check this link and learn more about GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES IN ENGLISH.



Use http://www.englishpage.com/ to do more activities related to PRESENT SIMPLE AND PRESENT CONTINUOUS.



martes, 22 de septiembre de 2015

Favourite places

What's your favourite city?

Can you recommend a place to visit?

Choose one city and describe it. Don't forget to use the Adjectives list we used in the class.


INTRODUCE YOUR... CLASSMATE!

The 1st activity: INTRODUCE YOUR... CLASSMATE!

Do you need some useful questions?

Check this list or visit this website:


  • Do you have any pets?
  • What was the last book you read?
  • Do you like to cook?
  • What's your favorite food?
  • Are you good at cooking/swimming/etc?
  • What country are you from?
  • What do you do on Sundays?
  • What do you like to do in your free time?
  • What hobbies do you have?



If you want to read more about how to introduce yourself in different contexts, please click here.


WELCOME!

This is our blog! We will share here our project work and ideas.

Feel free to comment and add new topics to the blog.

Enjoy this new experience!