B2 ( Grammar)--The order of adjectives

Descriptive writing is characterized as containing sentences with more than one adjective. When this occurs in English, adjectives are placed before the noun they qualify and follow a specific order which is determined by the adjective and its use. We might use an adjective to talk about shapes, colours, origin, etc.
To learn more read the power point below or click here.

File 2a from Elena Gómez

ADVANCED POINTS: ORDER OF ADJECTIVES.
Explanation and examples
Adjective order exercise.
COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES EXERCISES.

ADVANCED POINTS- SPOKEN LANGUAGE AND THE USE OF ADJECTIVES
When speaking we try not to put too many adjectives in front of the noun. How do we avoid doing this?
By adding phrases beginning with and, with or in or adding a relative clause. 
Have a look at these examples:
1. rather stupid-looking, clumsy birds with blue feet and long necks.
2. Charming, rustic cottages in stone. In = de 
3. delicious Thai curries, ( which were)made of fish and coconut. 

Exercises (British Council)

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL PARTY

Hi everybody, if you click on the following links below you'll find the posters which are on the notice boards at the school entrance with the information you need for our Halloween party:

HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES INFORMATION AND TIMES.
POSTER OF THE ENGLISH CEMETERY IN LINARES.( no se permitirá la entrada al cementerio disfrazados)
CORPSE BRIDE SESSION TIMES


I hope you join us on Thursday and look forward to seeing you all in your costumes. (YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE CEMETERY IF YOU'RE WEARING YOUR HALLOWEEN COSTUME), bring your costume at school and we'll disguise here.
Best,
Elena

CINECLUB: TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE

Hi!  This year the school will run, on a regular basis, cinema sessions throughout the year so that you can take part in this enjoyable activity and improve your listening skills.
Starting next week, we'd like to celebrate Halloween with Tim Burton's excellent masterpiece " Corpse Bride" at the performance hall.Check the school's notice boards for further information about session dates and times.Don't miss this opportunity!

If you're interested in knowing more about Burton's biography click here and read his bio.

Have fun!

keys to listening about education- posted 30th September

Hi, here are the keys to the 4 videos I posted in September.




See you in class,
Elena

Reading: book for advanced2

Hi!
This is the title,  ISBN and cover of the book we're going to work with this year. Please buy it asap so that we can start exploiting it in class. Thanks.Elena

 Tales of the Unexpected. Roald Dahl. Penguin. 9780140051315

Listening: Education in the UK

Here's a listening about the topic we're dealing with in class.


Matt Morton, British Council International Student of the Year2009, talks about getting a PhD in the UK from an American perspective.

Click on each video and answer the following comprehension questions:

VIDEO 1

1. Write 3 reasons why Matt chose to study in the UK. 

VIDEO 2

2. He mentions the differences between US and UK PhD programs. Write 2 differences.

VIDEO 3

3. How is he funding his studies?

VIDEO 4

4. How is community life as a UK student?


I'll post the keys on Monday, next week.

Regards,

ELena

Convocatoria orales septiembre- 2ºAvanzado B /C

Hola, aquí está la convocatoria de orales.

Qué tengáis un buen verano.
Nos vemos en Septiembre.
Saludos,
ELena

FYI: Listening links for extra practice

This is just to remind you that on the right section of my blog, if you scroll down, you'll find these 2 links:
more listenings and advanced podcasts with the scripts and audio to download.

Another useful web for listening is:

http://www1.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/ - Click on the stories and you'll find the track and the tapescript.

Enjoy!

FYI: MODULES SUMMARIES AND LIST OF CONNECTORS

Hi, Fernando Lara, one of your classmates has sent me this summary and a huge list of connectors in English.
It's an excellent material compilation which can help you now and in the future.
Summary
Connectors
Thanks a lot Fernando, and see you later,
Elena

Keys to module 8

I inform you that these will be the last keys I send you. I'll give you one extra handout in class with the keys I haven't included in this entry. 


To download the keys click here.


I'd like to remind you that we have almost finished the last module we had to study and that from now on we'll focus on some relevant activities, listening and speaking. As to listening, I do reccomend you listen to the radio news, go to the section listening on the blog to practice more. In relation to speaking, do not forget to study the useful language section in your books.


If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
See you on Tuesday!
Elena

Optional activity: THE EUROPEAN CV

As you may be aware of, the crisis situation in Europe is making people realise about the difficulties they may have in finding a job. In order for you to be successful, it is really convenient that you know how to present your candidature to prospective employers, in other words, use the relevant documents and online search engines which can help you to get the job you want.

The following exercise is not compulsory, however, if you have time, are interested in it or really need it, please follow the link from the BBC to know how to apply for a job.

If you follow this link you will be able to:

1. Write your cover letter

2. Look for a job

4. Succeed in your interview

Optional task: Writing the European CV ( Deadline ..........)

One of the tasks you are welcome to do is create your Europass ( European CV) online in case you may need it in the future.

At the beginning of this academic year, I explained how to complete the  European Language Portfolio and the Passport. Once you have drafted both your Passport and CV , you may complete your Biography. Then you'll be more than ready to prepare your Dossier ( the third component of the European Language Portfolio) which can be personalised and will include all the tasks you have prepared throughout this year such as, your best writings, power points, projects, CV, anything you have to prove your level of English. This in turn, will help you to present your application for future job interviews and compile your proffesional information in an orderly manner.

To know more about the Dossier, visit this link.

I hope this has helped you to understand more of the selection processes now or in the future.

Good luck with your job search!

Listening exercise

Listen to these 2 videos and answer the questions. Try to listen twice.You'll find the keys below.

VIDEO 1


Explain what these words have to do with the news story.

grounded
stuck stranded
13 kms
tests
40,000,000dollars
12 hour basis
safest time

VIDEO 2
How does ash affect the airplanes?
Do you know of any people that were stranded?

To download the keys click here.
To read more about this story click here.

TASK: To "rant" about something you hate

Watch these videos about the British TV programme, Room 101 and answer the following questions:
video 1
video 2
video 3
video 4
video 5
1. What kind of programme is this?
2. What are they ranting about? Do you agree with them?
3. Do you think audiences in Spain would like to have a programme like this on TV? 
4. Now use the blog to post your rants about the things, people, habits you really hate ( 100 words max). ( Remember to use the vocabulary and phrases learnt in module 7 on bad habits and the ones you have on page 82)
I'm looking forward to reading your rants.
Regards,
Elena

FYI: Excellent link for listenings

Hi! Esperanza has given me this link which I really think is interesting for those who'd like to practise listening skills. On the right side, next to the video you'll find the tapescript.
Thanks a lot Esperanza and see you all in class.
Elena

FYI: SPEAKING STRATEGIES- HANDOUT

Hi everyone!

I am happy to inform you that Alfonso Romero, one of your classmates from group 2º avanzado C, has just sent me a handout  he, himself, has elaborated with all the expressions from the previous entry on speaking expressions.

Not only has he gathered all the expressions on a single handout, but he has also designed a great handout,   it's (wow! ) just perfect, I am speechless, really. :-)

Alfonso, thank you very much for your great job, and for wanting to share this with your classmates. I appreciate it.

Well, now you can surely download it and print it. Remember to bring it with you to class next week.
Have a nice weekend,
Elena

FYI: SPEAKING STRATEGIES: useful phrases for conversation

When we are debating a topic in class it is important first, that you all take part in it, and second, that you are able to use spontaneously some phrases which will help the interlocutor follow the thread of conversation. There's no use in just saying sentences and opinions if we don't exchange them with the other speakers/listeners.Therefore, below please find some structures commonly used in English conversation. If you click on the headphone symbol you can listen to their pronunciation. What I intend with this entry is that you use them in class in that it may help you considerably to improve your speaking interaction. Note that most of these expressions are used in formal contexts.
I suggest that you have these phrases printed with you in class as a reference everytime we speak.

level upper-intermediate - advanced
- supporting opinions
- disagreeing ( from the BBC, to listen to the programme click here, to read the handout click here.
-contrasting
-clarifying
- interrupting
- checking for understanding
- analysing problems

level advanced
-commenting
-paraphrasing someone else's ideas


See you tomorrow, Elena

Task: who will go on Shipwrecked?( presenting the best candidates of a TV programme)

          

As you may already know Shipwrecked is a UK reality TV programme from channel 4.

Your task will consist in reading the participants' profiles and making a selection of the 3 best candidates/ winners. Then  justify your opinion to your classmates ( by using the vocabulary on your textbooks, page 70, 71). Post your comments on the blog ( 100 words max). Deadline 3rd May.

KEYS: pages 74 and 75 ( students' book)

Below are the keys for the following exercises:

Keys page 74, ex. 4: Writing a report

a) While and whereas are possible; nevertheless usually goes at the beginning of a sentence.
b) also and generally are possible; in addition and as well cannot go between the auxiliary and the past particile
c) even though and although are possible; even if is used to express a hypothetical idea: " He'll never get there in time, even if he runs all the way
d) However and Even so are teh best choices here, to show that the contrast in the second sentence is rather unexpected; On the other hand is used to link two different ideas.
e) This means that and This explains why are both possible; This is because is used to give a reason.
f) Other than that and Apart from that are both possible; As well as that is used to add another example/reason.


Keys page 75, ex 1 and 2: Wordspot


1. b-1, c ( 3 or 4), d- 3, e- 5, f- 1, g- 2, h- 3, i- 3, j-4


2. a- I'll just take your coat for you. ( polite phrase)
b- I was so annoyed, I just tore up the letter and  (just) walked out. ( emphasis)
c- I'm just looking, thank you.( only)
d- The weather was just perfect ( just) for my birthday party. (emphasis)
e- These shoes are just what I need. ( exactly)
f- I'll ( just) be just a few minutes and then we can go. ( only)
g- Nick arrived just after you left. ( a short time)
h- Look! I've just found that receipt you were ( just) looking for . ( a short time before)
i- Lunch is just a sandwich, I hope that's OK. ( only)
j- Would you just mind ( just) holding this for me please? ( polite phrase)
k- I've got just enough money to pay. ( exactly)

Have a nice weekend!

Gender issues: THE WASP PROGRAM

Here's the link to the listening about The WASP program we did in class. You can find the tapescrip on the same webpage if you need it.

on the report

Hi,
I'd like to thank those who have already sent me the report and point out one or two things.
If you go to slide no. 5 you'll read that a report is divided into paragraphs which are introduced by subheadings, that is, before each paragraph you should create a subtitle related to the topic you're going to deal with in it.
We'll come back to this point tomorrow, though.
Keep on sending me your writings to my email and don't forget to watch the videos posted.
See you tomorrow,
Elena