VISUAL THINKING:¿ QUÉ ES SKETCHNOTING?

Visit this blog to learn more.

Formal Letter Writing : tips

How to Write Formal Letters

Help with formal and business letter writing. A summary of writing rules including outlines for cover letters and letters of enquiry, and abbreviations used in letters.

Jump to:

• Layout of a formal letter
• Formal letter writing rules
• Content of a formal letter
• Abbreviations used in letter writing
• Outline for a covering letter
• Outline for a letter of enquiry

Mind mapping to start writing/speaking

What is mind mapping?

Mind mapping examples
1. Shakespeare
2. Suffixing rules

3.HOW ICT CAN ACCOMMODATE LEARNING STYLES

To learn more click here.
mind-map tools

B1- Intermediate speaking

Paste your Vocaroo embed codes or links as a comment at the bottom of this entry.

What is Vocaroo?
Vocaroo is an online voice recorder you can easily use. For more info click here.

Instructions
1. Go to www.vocaroo.com
2. Hit the record button and speak. After recording your message the application will show the following option:
Happy with this recording? Click here to save >>
3. Click and choose embed.
4. Copy the embed code and paste it on this entry ( click on comment). To know how to paste the Vocaroo link, read the FAQ's below:

Where is the "Post on the internet" option?

It's no longer called "post on the internet". Instead, you have to copy and paste the Vocaroo link under where it says "Sharing options". (See this screenshot here.)

More FAQ's: 

(FYI) A1 -B1: CULTURAL ACTIVITY

Have you ever been to Galicia?
What does the shell symbol represent in Galicia?

Have you ever done El camino? If so, what were your reasons for walking El camino? ( Please, submit your testimonies on the blog or your opinion on this topic if you haven't done it yet)
Read this testimony from Marie Lambe
Marie Lambe -- Tuesday, September 26 2006, 10:59 pm -- Email: lambe4@comcast.net

In December 2004, our local newspaper had an article about the Camino in the Sunday travel section. I read the article and was intrigued. I called my daughter, who had spent the prior school year studying abroad in Granada, and asked her about the Camino. She told me that she had heard of it while in Spain and knew a couple of people who had walked it. Then she said to me "You can do it, Mom". That's all I had to hear. I went online and bought books on the Camino and began to read. I cut out the article and put it up on my pantry door (it is still there). That Christmas, my daughter was home from college and told me she wanted to walk the Camino with me the next spring. We made plans, got our supplies and off we went. I had never left my husband alone for so long but he was fine with it. I did not know what to expect. I don't know why I went but I knew that I had to. I couldn't explain to my friends or family, I just knew that it was something that I had to do. We had lots of support and encouragement but I was 52 years old and in good shape but never had I attempted something so physically, and little did I know, spiritually and psychologically, demanding. I just had to do it. I just had to. We started on April 19, 2005 in SJPP and finished in Santiago on May 24th. It took us 34 days. There were days where I cried, days I was frustrated, days that I was overjoyed. The gamut of emotions was unexpected and unexplicable. Returning home was so very difficult. My daughter and I cried, and I mean sobbed, when we left Santiago. We didn't want to return. 34 days on the Camino taught us so much. I wish that I had the time to go into this but those of you who have walked know what I mean. I heard someone say that there is the Camino you walk and the Camino you live. Living the Camino is more difficult than walking it. I think that is why I want to go back. There are so many lessons that are learned on the Camino but the routine of everyday life dulls the memory of those lessons. I want to return but alone next time. It was nice being with my daughter because we have a memory that bonds us forever. But I think that walking the Camino alone will give me a different perspective, one that I really want to experience. What called me to the Camino? I don't know. Did it make any significant changes in my life? In some ways yes and other ways, no. I read once that the changes brought about by the Camino can take years to make themselves known. I don't know about that. I think that if people want to change, it must be a conscious decision and the experience of the Camino helps those changes to come about. I think about the Camino every day. It is always with me. The memory of my experiences on the Camino, the people I met, the emotions I felt will never leave. Maybe that is what is meant by the Camino we live.


CULTURAL ACTIVITY:
This year we'll start the 3rd term with an activity about " The Way" ( El camino de Santiago).

CINEMA
" In November 2010 a Martin Sheen starring film about the Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of Saint James, was released. The film, simply called "The Way", was filmed in Galicia and is a great advert for the beauty of this scenic and little visited area".  Read more here.

BOOKS (recommended reading): Shirley McLaine's The Camino ( a journey of the spirit).

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY: Create a glogster about the way. Download instructions.
Who can participate? All my students from 1st year and 3rd year.
Deadline: 4th April

B1: (FYI) BBC Learning and Exam Skills tips

Here are some tips on how to improve your skills for exams.

• choosing a dictionary
• extending your vocabulary
• improving your skills by reading
• vocabulary and reading skills
• how can listening skills be improved?
• learning styles and preferences
• how can I improve my accent?

A1- FILE 1D- Plurals

Below are some links to practise plural formation in English with games.
Follow this lesson online and then play the games.

• Lesson: Regular Plural Nouns explanation + practice
• Irregular plurals 1
• irregular plurals 2

•   GRAMMAR GAMES- PLURALS
• Plural game :Drag the word to the ending to make the plural.
• plurals- fishtank game
  
  

Have fun!

FYI: learning with native speakers for free

For more information visit: http://www.myhappyplanet.com/

A GUIDE TO LEARNING STYLES

"Your learning style may be the single most important key to improving your grades.
Students learn in many ways, like seeing, hearing, and experiencing things first hand. But for most students, one of these methods stands out.
Why is this important? Research has shown that students can perform better on tests if they change study habits to fit their own personal learning styles." ( to learn more click here and read the whole article)


FIND OUT WHAT YOUR LEARNING STYLE IS:

Do this questionnaire to find out more about your learning style.

The European levels of language competence for teaching and learning

Orientative levels of language learning in Europe and at Official Schools of Languages

Common reference levels

The Common European Framework divides learners into three broad divisions which can be divided into six levels:

A Basic User

A1 Breakthrough or beginner ( 1st year EOI). KET

A2 Waystage or elementary ( 2nd year EOI). PET

B Independent User

B1 Threshold or intermediate  ( 3rd year EOI)

B2 Vantage or upper intermediate ( 4th +5th year EOI). FCE

C Proficient User

C1 Effective Operational Proficiency or advanced. CAE

C2 Mastery or proficiency. CPE

The CEFR describes what a learner is supposed to be able to do in reading, listening, speaking and writing at each level.
Cambridge Exams are related to these levels above as KET, PET, FCE, CAE, and CPE.

NOTA: Los niveles son orientativos ya que algunas EEOOIIs ofertan hasta el nivel B2, otras ya están introduciendo el C1 y la EOI de Málaga llega hasta el C2.

EOI levels:

1.    Basic level divided into two courses ( 260 hours): Basic 1 and Basic 2, equivalent to A2 level
2.    Intermediate level (one course 390 hours), corresponding to CEFR Level A2- B1.
3.    Advanced level divided into two courses: Advanced 1 ( B1- B2) and Advanced 2 ( 650 hours) corresponding to CEFR Level ( B2-C1).

Steps to evaluate our level of language proficiency.

•  What's the Common European Framework of References for Languages ( Marco Común Europeo de Referencia de Lenguas) ?

• What's the European Language Portfolio? Guía del Portfolio adultos
• Self- evaluate your language skills online.

Para aprender sobre el MCERL y el Pasaporte Europeo de lenguas ( PEL)de las lenguas visita esta página:

You can create your own passport of language. 

Go to sections: self-assessment grid, language learning and intercultural experiences, certificates and diplomas.

1. Download the European Language Passport, print it and complete its sections to self-assess your language skills and experiences. ( You can use the self-assessment grid).

2. Think about your language learning and intercultural experiences. 
3. Record your certificates and diplomas.

Online dictionaries

Online dictionaries.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/

http://www.merriam-webster.com/

http://thesaurus.com/

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

FCE tips: word-formation exercises

First Certificate in English tests usually include a word-formation exercise. The aim of the exercise is to create different words. These exercises usually consist of a text in which some key words have been removed. You're given the root of the word but not the correct word form ( create- creat-ive, creat-ion, etc) and category ( noun, verb, adverb,etc) that goes in the gaps.

 Example question: 

Many of the women suffered from a feeling of ___________ (Help) when confronted with the powers-that-be.

Answer: helplessness

Follow these tips on how to work with these exercises and do the exercises below.

Tip 1- First, read the whole text.
Tip 2- The words are always next to the line with the gap.
Tip 3- After reading through the text you can start the task. Follow your instinct. If a word pops into your head it is probably right.
Tip 4- If no ideas pop into your heads,think about what kind of word goes into each gap. This can be done using clues such as word order. For example, if there's an article preceding the gap, you will need to place a noun after it, after the noun an adjective, and so on.
Tip 5- Now that you've guessed the word that goes in the gap, you have to come up with the actual word! If you're completely unfamiliar with it guess it by adding various prefixes and suffixes until they get something that sounds right and obeys the rules of word-formation.
Tip 6- Always read through the whole text again with your answers completed to make sure it makes sense and sounds correct.

Now, have a go! Do the exercise below and check your answers.


Exercise 1- Travelling alone 
keys

What's your learning style?

Read this post and do this questionnaire to find out.

How to make presentations BBC

Visit this link to improve your oral presentations

Video: giving a presentation 

Read this PowerPoint to learn how to organize your presentations and what language to use.