As promised!

I know you're all very nervous about the exam, but remember, they aren't just looking for perfect grammar and vocabulary!  They also look at how many risks you take, and if you're willing to try, even if it's difficult to express what you want to say.  All of you are good at that, so, make me proud!

Here, I will post a few links that I think will help you.
Firstly, here is the official vocabulary list for the PET book.  CLICK ME TO DOWNLOAD.

And HERE is a way to practice some of that vocabulary!

Now that you have your vocabulary, let's talk about reading and reading comprehension! :)

Here is a website where you can practice each part of the exam.  Click on a number, as there are 19 different sets to practice with, and each set has an exercise for each part of the exam.  CLICK ME.

Here are two other practice websites for reading, though, I think the first is the best because it has realistic exam prep.

Link 1
Link 2

So, now that we've done some vocabulary and reading.. The worst part.. LISTENING!!!
:) I know you hate the listening part, but the more you practice, the better.  Remember the tricks we did where you practiced...  Such as deciding first what information you're looking for, and listening once before writing.  You know often they try to trick you by saying four different days, and then only one is the correct one.  Remember, you must understand the entire context in order to understand the answer!!

This website (CLICK) has some listening practice, but also lots of reading, and writing practice too! :)

This website also has the transcript and the key to download (CLICK) so if you have any questions afterwards, you can easily check them.

I really do believe all of you will do well on the exam, and if you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask me.  I am totally available to answer vocabulary questions, or correct writing.  I would love to sit down for a coffee (or beer) with any of you and go through your writing and talk to you about it.  Don't hesitate! (Don't hesitate means no dudas en hacerlo).  See you all soon.

I am sending KISSES and GOOD LUCK your way. <3<3
Maxime

B1 practice.  You can practice every part here.  :)

B1 PRACTICE!!!

Vacation is over :(

Do you know what that means?  That means I can torture you again with more homework! :)
Don't worry -- I know that you really are excited for all of the writing and listening I am going to make you do!

I am going to put up your homework assignments for the next month here.  This way, there is no confusion, and we can continue to work in class without discussing the homework.

We only have 3 weeks of class before another long weekend!  So let's divide it up by weeks.

Week 1

Reading:  Prisoner of Zenda - Read to page 41 (start of chapter 8) for Thursday.  I think everyone is on different pages from before Easter, so let's just make it easy.
We will discuss everything from the book on Thursday.

Writing:  Your family has just won a luxury car in a competition. Write an email to your
English friend to tell her the good news. Say what you had to do to win the car
and explain where you will drive next month.  Due Thursday

Listening:  Like/Would like/Be like  AND Either/Neither

Week 2

Reading:  Prisoner of Zenda -- Chp 8 and 9 for Tuesday, and 10 for Thursday

Writing: You have just done well at an important sports event. Write a letter to a relative
saying what you had to do at the event. Say what you plan to do in the future in
this sport and what you will have to do if you want to be very successful.  Due Thursday.

Listening: Imperatives AND Relative Clauses

Week 3


Reading:  Prisoner of Zenda -- Chp 11 and 12 for Tuesday, and 13 for Thursday -- FINISH THE BOOK!


Writing: Write an article for a family magazine giving some ideas about how young
people can save money. Say what you have done personally in the past and
what you are planning to buy in the future.  Due Tuesday.

Listening: Adverb Placement


And that's it until MAY!!! :)

If you have any questions about this list of assignments, let me know in class.  I hope to see all of you tonight, I have missed you all! :)

I miss all of you!!

Hello class!

As promised, I am updating my blog from Norway!  I am having a fantastic time!  I can’t believe I am on HOLIDAY!

Well, let me start from the beginning.  I left Seville on Saturday morning at 9:30am.  So early!  I was travelling all day!  I had to take a train from Utrera to Seville, and then at 11:10, I had a train to Malaga.  After, I had to wait 3 hours just to check in and get to my flight.  It felt like forever!  I had been travelling to Malaga from 9:30am-2:45pm.  I was already exhausted, and I had to take a 4.5 hour flight at 6pm.

The flight was fantastic though!!  I was sitting next to a Norwegian man who had a B2 Spanish book with him!  I got so curious to see what B2 level Spanish was, and maybe if I was B2.  I finally got the guts to ask him if I could take a look.  (To get the guts to do something means to have courage)  We started talking, and didn’t stop.  We became friends through the flight.  He was very funny, and we started watching movies on my laptop and making jokes about living in Spain.  Luckily, we found out that we’re both taking the plane back on the 7^th!  We’re going to ask the front desk to put us together on the plane so we can watch movies.  Maybe I’ve made a friend for life!

When I got into Trondheim, I was supposed to take the bus to some student center, I don’t remember what it’s called, and Tor, my Norwegian friend from the plane, told me he would help me find the bus stop.  When he asked the bus driver though, he said that that stop doesn’t run so late at night!  I thought I was in trouble, but Tor said ‘no problem, I’ll bring you.  We have to take the bus to where my mum is coming to get me, and she’ll drive you there.’.  How friendly is that!!!!  He really bent over backwards to help me, and I really appreciated it!  (To bend over backwards to help somebody means to do everything you can do to help them.)

I got in to my friend’s house, and I am having such a lovely time.  I fell asleep pretty fast on Saturday night, but I have been busy since.  I am staying with four guys, two of them were my friends before, but I just met the other two when I got here.  We really have a lot of fun, they’re super nice and they’ve really made me feel at home.  I have been relaxing, and enjoying myself with my new friends.

I even made a snowman (I’ll put the picture below), and took a walk around the city up to an old fort (an old war building used for protecting an area) where you could see the entire city surrounded by mountains.  I also have learned a lot about Norwegian.  I still can’t speak any, but my friend was telling me about how in Norway the dialects are so different between towns and areas because everything is separated by mountains, so languages developed differently.  Can you imagine?  It’s like Spain and Mexico… The language changed so much through just being divided, but this happens just in towns.  He said meeting people from other areas in Norway makes communication really difficult because they use words he’s never even heard of.  Being an English teacher, this type of thing really peaks my interest.  (To peak smb’s interest means it really interests them)

Tomorrow he’s taking me shopping in town.  You all know how much I love Shopping!  I will try to find some good Norwegian sweets to bring to class.  I will say though, Norway is FREEZING!  My boots are already soaked (very very wet) with snow, and I am wearing two pairs of leggings because I don’t own any pants!!

I really hope all of you are having a fantastic holiday.  Is the weather nice?  I hope all of you have been drinking a lot of beer for me.  If any of you have photos of your lovely holiday, send them to me and I will put them on the blog.

Is it strange?  I miss our English Class!  I can’t wait to hear from all of you about your holiday, and hopefully how wonderful it was.

He's super diva, isn't he?  Look at those arms stretched out.  'Oh hey girl hey!'

I’ll try to write again soon.

I know you’re on holiday….. but I am an English teacher, aren’t I?  I have to post at least something English educational!!!

You have two assignments this week!

Don't worry!  I won't make you write anything down! :)

Your two assignments this week are only listening.

First, a song.  This song is called Somewhere Only We Know - Keane.  It's a romantic song, but what song isn't these days?

Some important vocabulary to read before you watch:
To know something like the back of your hand - is an idiom we use to say that you know something very well.  For example: I don't need a map for Boston, I know the city like the back of my hand.
Beneath - below
To Rely - to be able to trust in something or someone to do something.  The adjective is Reliable.  For example: My boss is very reliable, he always pays me on time, and I can rely on him to answer questions. This means I trust him to do it.
To come across - A phrasal verb meaning to find something by chance.

The other assignment is to try to watch a video clip.  This is from a British comedy called Miranda.  The woman, Miranda, is very socially awkward, (Awkward is another way to say socially strange), and always has funny situations!  Here, she goes to the Doctor about a problem with her breast (tit), and thought it was a woman doctor because of the name Gail!  Gail in English is a very common first name for a Woman, but in this case, it's his surname!  However, he's incredibly attractive.  Watch Miranda make a fool of herself!

See you Thursday! :)

Recap

Ok, for everyone who missed class (conso), here is a recap of what we did today.
Today we corrected all of the writing exercises from the last few weeks.  We did Chapter 23, relative clauses and the listening activity.  Your homework is to finish the reading book for Tuesday, and also to do grammar 1 and 2 for chapter 23 in the activity book.
Remember, the B1 practice exam that you took home is due on Thursday.  Do not forget to write your time at the top of the reading and writing section.  Please do not look at the listening section, because it will give you different results.  It's important that this exam is as real as possible.  No dictionaries!

I know you're all very tired of listening, especially 6 minute English.  Don't worry, this week we're not doing 6 minute English.  We're going to do something a bit more fun.

Recently, I have been in a bit of a lovey mood.  I have been feeling mushy.  (Mushy is an adjective we use to describe love when it's too sweet and too exaggerated).
So, accordingly, I have given you some assignments to do with love!

1.  Due Tuesday:

What does 'Unforgettable' mean?
What does the verb 'To cling' mean?  What do you think it means when someone is 'clingy' (adj.)?
Why is clingy a bad thing in a relationship?

Due Thursday:

Write down the expressions, and write 1 example with each expression.

And WRITING!!

Write your diary for a day when something very exciting happened to you.
Explain what happened, what you were doing at the time and why it was so
exciting.

See you Monday!

Hello again!

Hey class!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CONSO, AND CONGRATS TO MARIA JOSE ON NOT SMOKING 2 MONTHS!!!

Also, less fun I know, but here are some of your homework assignments!!!

Listening from your book:  B1 Listening

Also, due on Tuesday next week:
Writing: Write an article for a teenage magazine saying what items of clothing will be
fashionable for young people this year. Give your opinion on the new styles and
say which ones you will buy if you can.
Listening is here:  B1 Listening practice, 4 parts.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Due on Thursday:
Listening:  6 Dictations.  Listening to A first, then B, then write.  After, listening to D, and then check your answers.  HERE

CARNIVAL

I was so happy to see some of you out at Carnival!  Conso and Eva looked absolutely stunning! (Stunning is an adjective for very beautiful)

As requested by Eva, these photos are going up on our blog!!!

Happy Studying!!!!

Assignments

All of you know what your homework is for Monday.  For those of you who didn't write it down, both grammar work sheets, and listening for Michael Buble.

What does 'last' mean as a verb?
What does it mean to talk yourself into something, or talk yourself out of something?  This is a very good phrasal verb to know.
What does 'work smth out' mean as a phrasal verb?
Do you remember when we talked about Mr. Right, and Mr. Right Now?  Do you think it's true that there is a Mr. Right, but maybe you haven't met him yet? (Or in some of your cases, you have.)

For Tuesday, I would like you to do only 2 listenings and 1 writing.

1) Please listen to this youtube video about Make vs Do.
I know that Make and Do are difficult, because in Spanish they are one word.  This should help you.  If you have difficulty understanding his accent, please listen twice.

2) Another grammar video, but on Much, Many and A lot of.

3) Writing:

You have decided to live in America for a year. Write a letter to your penfriend
giving your reasons for going there and telling him how you think the
experience will help you. Ask your penfriend what he thinks about your plans.



For Thursday, you'll have 4 listening activities!  I know, you love listening.  Remember, it is difficult now, but it won't be later!

1) Youtube for more IDIOMS!

2) 6 minute English, please remember to answer the question for me!  If you can't understand the English easily after two times, please download the tape script on the side of the page.

3) Phrasal verbs with "Put".  Remember to write these down!

4) Pronouns!  These are often confusing.  I know you already know these, but please listen to review some basic pronoun rules.  A good foundation is really important!

And last, but not least!  Due Monday will be chapters 1, and 2 of Ripley's Game, and also, another writing:


It is your cousin’s 18th birthday soon. Her friend Jane has asked you what
present she might like. Write an email to Jane saying what you think is a
suitable gift and why. Say how your cousin is planning to celebrate her
birthday.


If you have any questions on your homework, please let me know on Monday.

Listening for Thursday!

Ok, another set of listening activities!  I know that you find a lot of this difficult, but everything is difficult when you first start!

1) Something more interesting!  A song!  This song is very popular in both the UK and the USA at the moment.  The singer is actually Belgian-Australian.  I think all of you will enjoy this song:

Key Vocabulary:
Lonely - the feeling of being alone
Ache - a pain, such as a headache
Admit - to say something true you don't wan't to say
Cut somebody out - to remove them from your life
To make out - in this case means to make it appear that...
Rough - difficult/bad
To stoop low - to behave immaturely
To screw smb over - to hurt them by doing something to benefit you.
To read into something - to analyse it.
To be hung up on smb - you can't let them go, you can't stop thinking of them.

It's an interesting song.  Listen to it twice and try to imagine what they're talking about.

2)  Youtube expressions!!!  These expressions are about money, and super good to know.  CLICK ME

Please write all of these expressions with a sentence using it.

3)  6 Minute English about LOVE LETTERS!  I thought this would be cute for Valentines Day.

Remember to look at the vocabulary under the listening activity.  Listen three times if you need to.  On the side of the page, you can download the text.  There is an audio download and text button.  The text is in PDF.  If you need to listen while you read, you can do that.  But try without the text at least two times first.

*It talks about the word sweetheart, and how in the past it meant 'boyfriend/girlfriend', and even how today we use it for someone we care about.  We use it very liberally.  I will use words like sweetheart and honey for friends, or my students if they're little children.  It's a lot like calling somebody cielo, or alma in Spanish.

4) WRITING!  I know, your favourite part!!

You have two tickets to see your favourite band in concert. Write an email to a

friend inviting her to go to the concert with you. Say where and when the

concert will take place and explain why you think your friend will enjoy it.

Remember how we write letters!  I am so excited to read your letters from today! :)

See you Tomorrow for VALENTINES DAY!!!

To my B1 group,

We have our own blog!  I know, you're thrilled! (Thrilled is an adjective that means excited.)
Here is where I will post things you must do for English class, usually listening, or writing activities.  This will make it easier for me to give you links, and also for me to write down writing assignments.

It has come to my attention that we need to work more on writing and listening.  Reading is already super easy for you as a group.  Let's start doing work with some interesting TV programmes and writing assignments!

Your first assignment is this:
Due Monday, 13 February.

1) Please watch the link HERE.  Write down all of the expressions you hear, and try to think of a sentence where you might use the sentence.

2) We're going to start listening to 6 minute radio.  We're going to listen 3 - 4 times a week.
We're going to do it with the British accent so you get used to hearing it.  CLICK ME.

Please look at all of the information below the listening.  There are words that you will need to know for the listening.  Look at them first so that when you hear them, you understand.

Also, you'll have to give me the answer to the question in class, so be prepared!!!

The South China Mall in China is the world's largest shopping centre. But how many shops does it have? Is it:

a) 800

b) 1,200

c) 1,500

3) WRITING!! :) 

Your grandparents want to buy you a birthday present and have asked what

you want. Write a letter to your grandparents telling them about a camera

you have seen and giving reasons why you want it. Ask what they think about

your idea.

Remember, in the letter you must write about the camera, give them reasons you want it, and ask what they think!

See you all on Monday!  Have fun with the listening and writing!