Catch up!

My next holidays

2011-09-15T10:46:00.001-03:00

See what Clara is going to do! (CLEC)

Next summer, I'm going to the sea with my friends. I will spend my birthday there, i'm very happy. We're going to the beach everyday. Some nights we're going to go out. We have decided to cook ourselves. We're going to take a lot photos!

Film

2011-09-10T11:32:00.000-03:00

Susana! Great work ! (1st year 2nd term)

ROMANTIC FILM "LOVE STORY" (1970)
Director: Arthur Hiller Actors: Ali Mac Graw- Ryan O´Neal
Music: Francis Lai

Oliver is a great athlete from a rich family. He has problems with his father. His life changes when he meets Jennifer. She is a student of music. They decide to get married and live in Cambrige without his father´s permission. When they decide to have a baby, they discover Jennifer has a fatal disease that leads to death. Oliver and his father are reunited, but to prepare for his wife´s funeral.
"Love means never having to say you're sorry"

2011-09-09T13:24:00.002-03:00

Read this great essay by Virginia D, from FCE B!

HOW MUCH DAMAGE HAVE WE CAUSED TO OUR WORLD?

We live in a really rich world.We have different kinds of soils, climates, animals and natural resources.But we are not aware of how much damage we cause to the environment every day,because of our daily activities
If we want to take care of our world we have to change our habits.You do not need to do complicated things, start with simple measures.For example, try buying reusable bags, they were made to reduce the consumption of single plastic and paper shopping bags, they are called “eco bags”.You buy one and you can use it every time you go shopping.These bags are 100% recyclable.We must not use plastic bags because it’s harmful to animals because they confuse them with food.The same happens with plastic bottles.
We should also separate our rubbish.In a wide range of cities there are different coloured containers to separate plastic, glass and paper.Then rubbish could be used to make new things.
Overall, it is not a big challenge to start changing the world.But we need every one’s help, so be responsible and take care of our home.

A film!

2011-09-07T19:11:00.000-03:00

Thanks Virgi...
NOTEBOOK ("Diario de una Pasión")

She is a rich girl and he is a poor man. They fall in love. Her family hates him because he is poor. Her parents take her away.But she never forgets him, and he never forgets her.

In the end, she comes back and they get married.

Tea

2011-09-04T23:52:00.002-03:00

Thanks, Gloria!
Have tea!

The properties of tea are well known in ancient cultures such as China and India.
Tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant known since ancient times. Tea was already used in Chinese medicine for its many properties:

• It promotes alertness and reduces sleep
• It fights cholesterol• It trims fat
• It prevents tooth decay
• It extends life
• It heals fistulas
• It has cancer prevention effects
• It mitigates the effects of alcohol
• It promotes perspiration
• It has a laxative effect
Chinese medicine claims tea has all these properties. Now, studies in modern medicine verify that drinking tea regularly is a good preventive medicine. Green tea for example is shown in many studies to be effective in preventing such cancers.
There are four main types of tea :• White Tea: This tea is unique due to its low production. It is grown in Sri Lanka and China.• non-fermented tea: The most famous is the Green Tea. Dry weight of a sheet, 30% are polyphenols (diuretic, beneficial effects for cancer prevention)• Tea and Oolong tea semifermetado With 20% Polyphenols• Tea complete fermentation as black tea polyphenols with 10%

1st year compositions

2011-08-19T18:41:00.003-03:00

I´m so proud of my 1st year students! Only three units dealt with!

By Susan
1. I AM LOOKING FOR ARGENTINEAN PENFRIEND- ADVERTISEMENT

I am Susana. I am 58.I am a music teacher.
I am from Rosario , Argentina.
I have a big family.
I like doing gym and listening to clasical music.
Please write to Susana M

2. WRITE ABOUT SOMEONE IMPORTANT IN YOUR LIFE
My mother is from Spain but she lives in Rosario. She is one the five siblings.
Her name is Maria de los Angeles. Her nickname is Lita.
She is 84.
She like knitting.She is beautiful. She is a great person.(I love my mother!..)

By Rosalía
1. My best friend
Her name is Susana. She is 58. She is from Argentina. She works as a teacher of music
She has a son and a grandchild. She visits them on Saturday night or she goes to the cinema
She loves walking in her free time.

2. Dear Mr Parker,My name is Rosalia. I wake up at six o'clock. I get up at half past six. I have breakfast at quarter to seven. Then, I go to the gymI work as a secretary in an office from eight to seven o'clockI feel stressed!
Please write to me soon
Love
Rosalía

Review

2011-08-19T18:29:00.003-03:00

See how good this review is...! I would like to think Cortazar inspired you Dani! We share the same admiration!

RAYUELA
Rayuela is an amazing novel written by Julio Cortazar, a famous Argentinian writer, who died in Paris in 1984. Cortazar created this masterpiece in 1963. Soon, it became his most popular book and made him win several literature prizes due to its unusual and intelligent style.
The story takes place in Paris, city in which Cortazar lived most of his life. It is about two young people, a boy and a girl who arrive in Paris from Argentina and Uruguay to try their luck and who fall in love in a very strange way. Horacio Oliveira is addicted to literature and jazz. La Maga is a very kind and innocent woman who doesn’t know much about those issues, but who shares with Horacio his love for freedom and simplicity. They participate with other friends in a literature group called “La Serpiente”, in which they discuss different topics, usually about philosophy. Their love story gets complicated when they realize it has become part of their routine.
Although it is a novel with a high level of complexity and, therefore, it sometimes gets difficult to understand, I find it the most perfect piece of writing that has ever been written. Since I first read it, I have reread it many times because every time I go through it, I discover new ways of interpreting the story. Personally, I admire such breathtaking talent from a writer. I definitely recommend it!

If I could choose....

2011-08-19T18:26:00.002-03:00

Thanks Daniela! (FCE Adults)
ABSOLUTELY, A PRINCESS

If I could spend 24 hours with a famous person, I would definitely choose the Princess of Monaco.
First of all, it is one of my dreams to live at least one day as a royal authority and to know the protocol they have to follow. I would like to ask the Princess whether it is true that they cannot cry in public, as we hear on TV shows, for example.
Moreover, I have heard that she is a fan of horses and that GUCCI is in charge of designing her clothes for special competitions. Therefore, I believe that accompanying her to a training class, could be the right occasion to meet other famous people!
Last but not least, it would be a pleasure for me to end up the day having a delicious cup of tea in the palace, organizing, with the Princess, all the activities which will have to be done the next day.

Wear Sunscreen Thanks Julián!

2011-06-15T22:30:00.000-03:00

Dos bebés gemelos manteniendo una conversación

2011-04-03T12:52:00.002-03:00

People from CLEC CR41 here it is...remember... you can invent the dialogue they're having!

phrasals!

2011-03-22T23:42:00.001-03:00

Thanks, Maru for the new phrasal verbs list!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U-vWyXof_Wr2dXElgzRe8EySuZV4S5VBQ6Kf8OAeMag/edit?hl=en&authkey=CIOOhaUK

FCE DATES

2011-03-06T23:11:00.000-03:00

December (paper–based exams)Tuesday 06 December (0100)
Morning Paper 1 (Reading)
Morning Paper 2 (Writing)
Must start before 13.00 hrs Paper 3 (Use of English)
Start any time after Paper 3 Paper 4 (Listening)
Papers must be administered in this sequence 1, 2, 3 and 4
Window for Paper 5 (Speaking)
18 November–11 December
This paper is held by separate arrangement within a specified period. Contact your centre for more details.

December (paper–based exams)Saturday 10 December (0102)
Morning Paper 1 (Reading)
Morning Paper 2 (Writing)
Must start before 13.00 hrs Paper 3 (Use of English)
Start any time after Paper 3 Paper 4 (Listening)
Papers must be administered in this sequence 1, 2, 3 and 4
Window for Paper 5 (Speaking)
18 November–11 December
This paper is held by separate arrangement within a specified period. Contact your centre for more details.

FCE Consolidation ....DATES!

2011-03-06T23:09:00.000-03:00

June (paper–based exams)Saturday 11 June (0102)
Morning Paper 1 (Reading)
Morning Paper 2 (Writing)
Must start before 13.00 hrs Paper 3 (Use of English)
Start any time after Paper 3 Paper 4 (Listening)
Papers must be administered in this sequence 1, 2, 3 and 4
Window for Paper 5 (Speaking)
27 May–19 June
This paper is held by separate arrangement within a specified period. Contact your centre for more details.

June (paper–based exams)Tuesday 14 June (0100)
Morning Paper 1 (Reading)
Morning Paper 2 (Writing)
Must start before 13.00 hrs Paper 3 (Use of English)
Start any time after Paper 3 Paper 4 (Listening)
Papers must be administered in this sequence 1, 2, 3 and 4
Window for Paper 5 (Speaking)
27 May–19 June
This paper is held by separate arrangement within a specified period. Contact your centre for more details.

new links for FCE, CAE, CPE

2010-10-03T19:10:00.002-03:00

I wish I had more time for posting the incredible material I come across!
To start with.... lots of exercises!
http://www.agendaweb.org/

cae; writing articles
http://www.onestopenglish.com/section.asp?docid=147736

fce: writing
http://firstcertificate.wordpress.com/tag/articles/ writing fce
http://www.englishforums.com/open/Tests.htm cpe

great email to an e-friend!

2010-09-01T12:35:00.001-03:00

Thanks, Vale! (ER22 CLEC)

Dear María:
My teacher gave me your e-mail address. I´m Valeria, but I´m called Vale. I´m twenty one years old and I´m from San Genaro, but I´m living in Rosario because I´m studying Chemical Engineering at University. I want to learn English because I think it is an important language and I like meeting people.
I have a sister. She´s called Cele, but her name is María Celeste. She´s a student, because she is seventeen years old. My father is a farmer and my mother is a housewife.
I love returning to San Genaro because I love staying in my house with my family. My house is big. There are three bedrooms, three dinning rooms, two bathrooms, and most important´s there is a big garden. My mother likes gardening so there are a lot of flowers and fruit plants. I like my flat in Rosario but it´s smaller than my house.
I love walking with my friends or my sister. I like cooking, too, but I hardly ever cook because I don´t have time. However, last weekend I cooked pizza for my family. I love Italian food… I prefer pasta to asado!
Every Sunday I go to church with my family and I always meet my friends on Saturday evenings.
Next month I´m going to travel to Armstrong, where my two friends Jime y Dai live. I meet them three years ago, when I started University. I´m going to stay at Jimena´s house because it´s bigger than Dai´s house. I´m going to know the city and my friends’ families. I´ve never been to Armstrong, but I´m sure that we´re going to have a great time!
Oh! I almost forgot! I want to tell you I´ve worked in Rotary Club San Genaro for five years, but I left it because I moved to Rosario. I was very happy because I travelled a lot. I knew a lot of towns of Santa Fe and I travelled to Chile in 2006. There, I met Brazilian, American, Canadian and Mexican people.
In Rotary we worked a lot for the community.
What about you? Write soon!
Love,

Valeria

verb tenses timeline

2010-07-01T01:41:00.000-03:00

https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZ8P_1tdKyUVZGY5Mmg3cGdfOTRjYnh2OGJkOA&hl=en

adverbs and adjectives

2010-06-22T00:27:00.001-03:00

To practice!

https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZ8P_1tdKyUVZGY5Mmg3cGdfOTNqZDZ6NnNmeg&hl=en

life or death situations

2010-06-07T00:42:00.001-03:00

Hi, people.
See what I found about Life and Death situations and the brain reaction.

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/sciencentral/2886-life-or-death-situations-video.htm

2010-06-07T00:13:00.003-03:00

PARIS, THE MOST EXPENSIVE CITY
http://www.vuelaviajes.com/paris-la-ciudad-mas-cara-del-mundo/

What’s the most expensive city in the world?
Thanks again, Ana Lucia. Great research!

The most expensive city in the world is in France. It’s Paris
Paris is more expensive than Tokyo.

1- Paris, France
2- Tokyo, Japan
3- Oslo, Norway
4- Frankfurt, Germany
5- Milan, Italy
6- Sidney, Australia
7- London, England
8- Dublin, Ireland
9- Chicago, U.S.A.
10- Shanghai, China

NEW longest river!

2010-06-07T00:11:00.002-03:00

Thanks, Ana Lucia! (CLEC) Interesting information.

Saturday, 16 June 2007, 04:15 GMT 05:15 UK

Amazon river 'longer than Nile'

By Gary Duffy
BBC News, Sao Paulo

The new study puts the Amazon at 6,800km
Researchers in Brazil are claiming to have established as a scientific fact that the Amazon is the longest river in the world.
The Amazon is recognised as the world's largest river by volume, but has generally been regarded as second in length to the River Nile.
The claim follows an expedition to Peru that is said to have established a new starting point further south.
It puts the Amazon at 6,800km (4,250 miles) compared to the Nile's 6,695km.
Mountain source
The precise length of a river is not easy to calculate and depends on correctly identifying the source and the mouth.
The new claim in Brazil follows an expedition by scientists which is said to have discovered a new source for the Amazon in the south of Peru and not the north of the country as had been thought for many years.
While the exact location has yet to be confirmed from two choices, scientists say either would make the river the longest in the world.
Guido Gelli, director of science at the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, told the Brazilian network TV Globo that today it could already be considered as a fact that the Amazon was the longest river in the world.
The Amazon is now said to begin in an ice-covered mountain in southern Peru called Mismi.
Researchers travelled for 14 days, sometimes in freezing temperatures, to establish the location at an altitude of 5,000m.
The research was co-ordinated by the National Geographical Institute of Peru, with the help of their colleagues in Brazil.
There has been a healthy academic debate over the world's longest river for some years and the claim from Brazil may not go unchallenged.

possessive pronouns table

2010-05-29T20:29:00.000-03:00

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZ8P_1tdKyUVZGY5Mmg3cGdfODlnNTRqNjZjNw&hl=en

Possessive pronouns

2010-05-29T20:28:00.000-03:00

An exercise

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZ8P_1tdKyUVZGY5Mmg3cGdfODdjenRxYmd4aw&hl=en

possessive case

2010-05-29T20:27:00.000-03:00

A great exercise.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZ8P_1tdKyUVZGY5Mmg3cGdfNzNkZDZqempmZw&hl=en

present and past simple

2010-05-29T20:26:00.000-03:00

Some practice.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZ8P_1tdKyUVZGY5Mmg3cGdfOTBmMnNtNjdqMw&hl=en

At a restaurant

2010-05-29T20:23:00.001-03:00

Practice!

http://docs.google.com/View?docID=0AZ8P_1tdKyUVZGY5Mmg3cGdfNjlndHJxdHdjOQ&revision=_latest&hgd=1

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZ8P_1tdKyUVZGY5Mmg3cGdfNzJncGQyN3o0cA&hl=en

some jokes

2010-05-28T01:18:00.001-03:00

Thanks Marce M.
Kids Are Quick

___________________________________

TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America .
MARIA: Here it is.
TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America ?
CLASS: Maria.
____________________________________

TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.
__________________________________________

TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell 'crocodile?'
GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L'
TEACHER: No, that's wrong
GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.

(I Love this kid)
____________________________________________

TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
DONALD: H I J K L M N O.
TEACHER: What are you talking about?
DONALD: Yesterday you said it's H to O.
__________________________________

TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago.
WINNIE: Me!
__________________________________________

TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLEN: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.
_______________________________________

TEACHER: Millie, give me a sentence starting with ' I. '
MILLIE: I is...
TEACHER: No, Millie..... Always say, 'I am.'
MILLIE: All right... 'I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.'
________________________________

TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him?
LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand...
______________________________________

TEACHER: Now, Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?
SIMON: No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.
______________________________

TEACHER: Clyde , your composition on 'My Dog' is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his?
CLYDE : No, sir. It's the same dog.
___________________________________

TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?
HAROLD: A teacher

great compostion

2010-05-02T20:06:00.001-03:00

Thanks , Sofi! (CLEC 1st year 2nd term)

Hello teacher! I give you the composition for your blog.

My name's Sofía and I'm 24. I study "Social Communication" at University and I work in the "Hospital Provincial Rosario".
I have a small family. My sister's name's Josefina. She's 18 and she's a student.
She enjoys watching movies with me at the weekend and I like trying on clothes with her.
Our mother's name's Adriana. She's 50 and she's a teacher. She likes cooking cakes at the weekends. I enjoy listening to cds by "Sabina" with her. We love her because she's a good mother.
I have a boyfriend. His name's Facundo and he's 24. He studies law at University and he works in a call centre. I like making plans with him, for example, going to the cinema, to the bar.. and we love walking in the park with our dog "Latika".
I have a cat too, her name' s Loli. She doesn't like Latika but Lati is in love with her.
They' re very good pets and they' re so funny!

have a nice weekend
see you on monday
Sofía

last / latest lie/lay

2010-04-27T11:01:00.000-03:00

Confused words

http://esl.about.com/cs/vocabulary/a/a_confused_2.htm

Chocolate and its benefits

2010-04-21T01:20:00.002-03:00

Good research, Roxi! (CLEC)

CHOCOLATE
Comprises a number of raw and processed foods from the seeds of tropical THEOBROMA CACAO. It has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico Central and South America, with its earliest documented use around 1100 BC.
The seeds of the cacao tree have an intense bitter taste and must be fermented to develop the flavour. After fermentation the beans are dried, cleaned and roasted and shell is removed to produce cacao nibs.

Chocolate is made from plants. It contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. FLAVONOIDS act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from illnesses caused by free radicals.
Some research found that chocolate, eaten in moderation, can lower blood pressure
Dark chocolate is good for your heart. A small bar every day helps keep your heart an cardiovascular system well. The benefits are :
• It lowers blood pressure
• It lowers cholesterol
• it tastes good
• it stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure
• it contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants
• it contains serotonin which acts an anti-depressant
• the flavonoids can inhibit the development of of diarrhea
• cocoa based prescription drugs could potentially help treat diabetes, dementia and other diseases

CHOCOLATE DOESN´T HAVE A LOT OF FAT
Here is some more good news. Some of the fats in chocolate don’t impact your cholesterol.
The fats in chocolate are:
• 1/3 oleic acid
• 1/3 stearic acid (has a neutral effect on cholesterol)
• 1/3 palmitic acid. It is a saturate fat,which raises cholesterol.
That means only 1/3 of the fat in dark chocolate is bad for you.

2010-04-21T00:46:00.002-03:00

Thanks, Marila! (CLEC) Great work!
HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF AGAINST MUGGERS?
________________________________________
HERE ARE SOME TIPS WHICH CAN HELP YOU:
 CRIMINALS CHOOSE THEIR VICTIMS NOT ONLY BY WHAT THEY ARE WEARING OR WHO THEY ARE, BUT ALSO HOW THEY BEHAVE.
 BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS. AT NIGHT TRY TO AVOID WALKING ALONE, CHOSEE A MAIN STREETS WITH ALL ITS TRAFFIC AS POSIBLE. AVOID PUBLIC PARK, AREAS WITH TOO MANY TREES AND DARK STREETS.
 IF YOU THINK A SUSPICIOUS PERSON IS APPROACHING YOU, CROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET AND GO TO THE NEAREST PUBLIC PLACE.
 WHEN YOU ARE WAITING FOR A BUS AND THE STREET IS DESERTED, KEEP YOUR BACK AGAINST A WALL IN A WELL LIT SECION. DON´T CARRY YOUR BAG LOOSELY AROUND YOUR SHOULDER, CLUTCH IT TIGHTLY UNDER YOUR ARM.
 KEEP SOME PEPPER SPRAY WITH YOU. NEVER KEEP A POTENTIALLY LETHAL WEAPON WITH YOU AS YOU MANY CAUSE A DEATH.
 IF YOU ARE ROBBED, OBEY THE ROBBER´S INSTRUCTIONS. NORMALLY, THEY WILL SIMPLY TAKE WHAT THEY WANT AND GO AWAY.
 YOU CAN END THE SITUATION IMMEDIATELY BY GIVING THE ATTACKER YOUR WALLET. YOU CAN KEEP YOUR CASH IN A SEPARATE MONEY POUCH THIS WILL ENABLE YOU TO HAND IT OVER WITHOUT SACRIFING YOUR CREDIT CARDS AND IDENTIFICATION CARD.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THESE TIPS BEFOREHAND, YOU WILL NOT BE EASILY SHOCKED DURING AN ASSAULT.

Two new links

2010-04-18T22:15:00.002-03:00

sent by Manuel C. Thanks for building up this blog!

Here they go:

College humor:
http://www.collegehumor.com/

And soemthing else. This might be even more useful:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/

How girls turn down boys

2010-04-18T21:01:00.001-03:00

Thanks, Maca!

HE: I'm a photographer I've been looking for a face like yours!
SHE: I'm a plastic surgeon. I've been looking for a face like yours

HE: May I have the pleasure of this dance?
SHE: No, I'd like to have some pleasure too !

HE: How did you get to be so beautiful?
SHE: I must have been given your share !

HE: Will you come out with me this Saturday?
SHE: Sorry! I'm having a headache this weekend !

HE: Go on, don't be shy. Ask me out!
SHE: Okay, get out!

HE: I think I could make you very happy
SHE: Why? Are you leaving?

HE: What would you say if I asked u to marry me?
SHE: Nothing. I can't talk and laugh at the same time!

HE: Can I have your name?
SHE: Why, don't you already have one?

HE: Shall we go and see a film?
SHE: I've already seen it!

HE: Do you think it was fate that brought us together?
SHE: Nah, it was plain bad luck !

HE: Where have you been all my life?
SHE: Hiding from you.

HE: Haven't I seen you someplace before?
SHE: Yes, that's why I don't go there anymore.

HE: Is this seat empty?
SHE: Yes, and this one will be if you sit down .

HE: So, what do you do for a living?
SHE: I'm a female impersonator.

HE: Hey baby, what's your sign?
SHE: Do not enter.

The benefits of yerba mate

2010-04-17T01:48:00.002-03:00

Great class the other day! Thanks for the information about different beverages!

Here we have what Iván C. prepared.

Yerba Mate

Yerba mate is a native plant from subtropical South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil).
The infusion called Mate is prepared by dry leaves and twigs of Yerba Mate in hot water.
Some research tells us about many of the properties of Yerba Mate.
Yerba Mate is diuretic and is very rich in vitamins, like B vitamin.
Yerba Mate is a very powerful antioxidant and it helps you to have a very healthy hair and skin.
Yerba Mate is a natural source of energy for our bodies. It is a stimulant for our minds and bodies.
Yerba Mate helps you lower the level of cholesterol in your body.
Drinking “mate” with friends is a common social practice in the South of South America.
I like drinking bitter “mate” (no sugar!).
I love drinking “mate” everywhere at anytime!

Written at twelve!

2010-04-16T20:16:00.006-03:00

I attach what Guille C. sent to me. So so so sweet! Thanks Guille!

teacher:
you won't believe me but today I came across an old notebook where I kept a lot of things. And guess what? I found some kind of poem or a song. It had a lot of mistakes but it reminded me of you because you told me today that I haven't sent you compositions for a long time .

It's always my fault
I'm never right
while you shout at me
you don't think
all the things you say
because sometimes it hurts
under my skin
there is something strange
and a part of me
just wants to cry
although I know
I have to be strong sometimes it is hard to shut up

remember I wrote it when I was 12! It seems as if I have always liked writing
kissesssssss

FCE free exams

2010-04-11T06:17:00.002-03:00

free FCE exams!

http://www.examenglish.com/FCE

have have got

2010-04-11T03:51:00.001-03:00

Have and Have Got for Beginners

Beginner's English: Have, Have got

The differences between 'have' and 'have got' can be confusing for beginners. Here is a guide the two forms. When you finish reviewing try the 'Have / Have got' Quiz to check your understanding.

Remember these important points:

· 'Have' and 'Have got' are used for possession.

Example: Jack has got a beautiful house. OR Jack has a beautiful house.

· Only 'have' is used when talking about actions.

Example: I usually have breakfast at 8 o'clock. NOT I usually have got breakfast at 8 o'clock.

· The question form for 'have' follows regular present simple:

Example: Do you have a fast car? NOT Have you a fast car?

· 'Have' and 'Have got' are only used in the present simple. Use 'have' for the past simple or future forms.

Example: She had a copy of that book.

· There is no contracted form for 'Have' in the positive form. The contracted form is used for 'have got'

Example: I have a red bicycle. OR I've got a red bicycle. NOT I've a red bicycle.

Here is a grammar chart showing the construction of the two forms:

Positive I, You, We, They HAVE GOT
Subject + have + got + objects
They have got a new car. Contracted: They've got a new car.

Positive He, She, It HAVE GOT
Subject + has + got + objects
He has got a new car. Contracted: He's got a new car.

Positive I, You, We, They HAVE
Subject + have + objects
They have a new car. There is no contracted form

Positive He, She, It HAVE
Subject + have + objects
She has a new car. There is no contracted form

Question I, You, We, They HAVE GOT
(?) + have + subject + got?
How many children have you got? There is no contracted form

Question He, She, It HAVE GOT
(?) + has + subject + got?
How many children has he got? There is no contracted form

Question I, You, We, They HAVE
(?) + do + subject + have?
How many children do you have? There is no contracted form

Question He, She, It HAVE
(?) + does + subject + have?
How many children does he have? There is no contracted form

Negative I, You, We, They HAVE GOT
Subject + have + not + got + objects
We have not got a dog. Contraction: We haven't got a dog.

Negative He, She, It HAVE GOT
Subject + has + not + got + objects
She has not got a dog. Contraction: She hasn't got a dog.

Negative I, You, We, They HAVE
Subject + do + not + have + objects
They do not have a dog. Contraction: They don't have a dog.

Negative He, She, It HAVE GOT
Subject + does + not + have + objects
She does not have a dog. Contraction: She doesn't have a dog.

Possession

There are two forms to express possession in English. Have or Have got

Do you have a car?
Have you got a car?
He hasn't got any friends.
He doesn't have any friends.
She has a beautiful new home.
She's got a beautiful new home.

While both forms are correct (and accepted in both British and American English), have got (have you got, he hasn't got, etc.) is generally the preferred form in British English while most speakers of American English employ the have (do you have, he doesn't have etc.)

Have and Have Got - Quiz

Complete the following sentences using either 'have' or 'have got'. In some cases both forms are possible. Click on the arrow to see the answer.

Top of Form

· Peter a beautiful new house in the countryside.

· (she) any children?

· I a fantastic apartment in New York when I lived there.

· Tom a shower at the moment. Can you call back later?

· I'm afraid we enough space in the garage.

· My son breakfast before he goes to school.

· I think she a new job soon.

· (you) dinner early or late?

· (you) time to see me tomorrow afternoon?

· They usually a lot of free time during the summer.

Bottom of Form

KEY

· Peter a beautiful new house in the countryside.

· (she) any children?

· I a fantastic apartment in New York when I lived there.

· Tom a shower at the moment. Can you call back later?

· I'm afraid we enough space in the garage.

· My son breakfast before he goes to school.

· I think she a new job soon.

· (you) dinner early or late?

· (you) time to see me tomorrow afternoon?

· They usually a lot of free time during the summer.

FCE December 2010

2010-03-05T01:58:00.001-03:00

December Session (paper-based exam)
Tuesday 07 December (0100)
Paper 1 (Reading) (morning)
Paper 2 (Writing)(morning)
Must start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 3 (Use of English)
May start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 4 (Listening)
Papers must be administered in this sequence 1, 2, 3 and 4

Window for Paper 5 (Speaking)
19 November–12 December
This paper is held by separate arrangement within a specified period. Contact your centre for more details.

or

Saturday 11 December (0102)

Paper 1 (Reading)(morning)
Paper 2 (Writing)(morning)
Must start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 3 (Use of English)
May start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 4 (Listening)
Papers must be administered in this sequence 1, 2, 3 and 4

Window for Paper 5 (Speaking)
19 November–12 December
This paper is held by separate arrangement within a specified period. Contact your centre for more details.

FCE JUNE SCHEDULE

2010-03-05T01:55:00.002-03:00

June Session (paper-based exam)
Saturday 12 June (0102) (morning)
Paper 1 (Reading) (morning)
Paper 2 (Writing) Must start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 3 (Use of English) May start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 4 (Listening) Papers must be administered in this sequence 1, 2, 3 and 4

Window for Paper 5 (Speaking)
24 May–20 June
This paper is held by separate arrangement within a specified period. Contact your centre for more details.

FCE 2009 congrats

2010-03-05T01:34:00.005-03:00

I´m so proud of you! Everyone passed! Hope you have a great great life!

Paula B.
Sebastián B
Denise B
Mauro B
Martina Ch
Agustina F
Marco G
Martín K
Fidel L
YaninaM
Mariano M
M Virginia P
Fernando R
Sofía T
Valeria V

raindrops by Guille C.

2010-02-19T01:37:00.000-03:00

sent in Dec. Sorry I didn't post it before! xxxx

Raindrops. Thousands. Falling from the top down. Taking place for a second in the space. Wondering “where do we go next?” Only Mother Nature knows that. If they’ll be snow, water or just more rain. There is when I ask myself “What’s the difference between raindrops and people?” We have the ability to choose our destiny. If we continue, stop, jump or talk. We make decisions about our lives and from there accept the consequences. We decide what to wear, what to eat and what to do. But beyond this, we are no more than different people. Thousands. Going from side to side. Taking place for a lifetime in this world. Asking ourselves “where do we go next?”

short story FCE

2009-12-11T00:38:00.002-03:00

Some people are still working hard. Good!!! Thanks Vale V and Sofi T for sharing! You make me feel good,

By the way, good luck on Saturday! I´ll be thinking of you!

It was a perfectly normal day until I got to the train station. I got up early in the morning as usual, I put on my uniform and prepared my rucksack for school.When I was heading to the train station, Stacey texted me saying she wasn’t going to school so I had to travel alone. Suddenly I realized that two big men were following me from the other side of the street. I thought I was being paranoid so I tried to persuade myself that they were ordinary people.I got to the train station and bought my ticket. As I got to the platform I saw the two men out of the blue. I got distracted for just a second and one of them grabbed my arm while the other took my stuff.I burst crying, to my surprise the thieves came back and returned my belongings. I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard them saying they felt sorry for taking my First Certificate book and all my extra material for the exam.
By Valery and Sophie.

Time!

2009-12-02T01:36:00.001-03:00

Thanks, Guillermina (pre first- iatel) for sending your opinion!

Do we waste time?

The other day we were thinking: “where the hell does our time go?” Why does time go by so fast?” Nobody really seemed to care but I decided to look for some information about it. Some people may say we are getting older and so we feel time flies away. The fact is I am only 16, if time flies at my age I’m lost! I believe there is “over education”. Young people spend most of their time studying because if you want to have a good job having a degree will not be enough. You must speak not only English but another one; you must have computer skills , and do other courses to complement your education.

Another reason I found is that people waste a lot of time in front of computers, and TV or using their phones. Three hours in front of the computer are like five minutes. Gadgets were invented to make communication with other people easier or to be updated. These gadgets improve all the time, but they are time-consuming. Nowadays mobile phones, for example, have as many functions as a camera or a computer. So how come we spend so much time on them?

I found a theory on the Internet called The Schumann resonances which talks about a global electromagnetic resonance phenomenon that occur because the space between the surface of the Earth and the conductive ionosphere acts as a closed waveguide. The Schumann Resonance (SR) is rising, and is approaching 13 Hz, from it's "normal" frequency of just 8 Hz. This is a complex theory so if you want to know more about it there is a lot of information on the web. It also has relation with global warming and the “end of the world at 2012”.

try this out before exams!

2009-11-28T01:54:00.000-03:00

http://www.bahta.org/therapy/braingym/pace.html

Some brain gym! good luck!

Mrs Bixby's coat- an alternative ending!

2009-11-21T21:02:00.002-03:00

Thanks a lot , Yayi for your creativity! Great work!

To those who haven't read the short story, you can go to:
http://www.cuentoseningles.com.ar/shortstories/english/mrsbixby.html

Mrs. Bixby couldn´t believe what she was seeing. She hid her anger the best she could and said good bye to Miss Pulteney. She went home and there she cried and cried until she decided to get the coat back. So she returned to her husband ´s surgery to talk to him. Crying, she said: "You're having an affair. I saw your assistant wearing my aunt Maude´s coat!”
Before Cyril could open his mouth to say a word, Mrs. Bixby started to tell him the story that she had made up at home: “When Aunt Maude was married she had had a love affair with a wealthy single Colonel. After eight years she finished the relationship. Six months ago someone sent her a big box with the mink coat and a letter telling her that the Colonel had died and his last wish was to give her that coat in memory of the love he had always felt for her. Although she was a widow now she didn´t want anyone to know the story. So she gave me the coat and asked me to go to a pawnbroker and invent the story of the lost ticket in the taxi.”
After finishing telling her lie to her husband, Mrs. Bixby asked him for the divorce. She left the surgery wearing the mink coat and thinking of her new life without Cyril: “Maybe I could live with Aunt Maude in Baltimore… Maybe the Colonel will know I´m divorced… who knows…“, she thought.
By Yayi C- CLEC 2009

Let's get serious for a while

2009-11-16T12:04:00.003-03:00

Excellent lecture given by Harvard Professor Homi Bhabha who is the author of The Location of Culture and the forthcoming A Measure of Dwelling on transition.
It's long but worth it! Just enjoy great ideas and clear English.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yER4QwiSl14

Women's and Men's brains

2009-11-16T11:56:00.002-03:00

Yes! They have a nothing box!
But mind you... some male students told me sometimes they can't tell women what they're thinking!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuMZ73mT5zM (English version)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhTzdhsfWz4&feature=related ( with subtitles)

Essays

2009-11-11T09:16:00.001-03:00

Follow this link and clarify your ideas! (Will this work??)
http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/dalilah82-183066-first-certificate-types-essays-entertainment-ppt-powerpoint/

indirect questions

2009-11-03T12:08:00.002-03:00

Theory:
http://esl.about.com/od/gramma1/a/indirectques.htm

Practice:
http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bl_indirect.htm

Enjoy it!
And remember...practice makes perfect!

don't miss the opportunity

2009-11-03T02:26:00.002-03:00

to understand them better!
Yes... I've heard you say "My wife doesn't understand I don't need to be doing something all the time. I can do NOTHING"
And you , women, say: "When he's in front of the TV , he's aloof!"
Funny organs our brains!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuMZ73mT5zM

The Way up to heaven

2009-10-28T03:03:00.000-03:00

:=)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwU9RRp_jSY

Take some minutes to watch this. Just for the soul!

2009-10-28T01:27:00.000-03:00

Kseniya Simonova es la ganadora de la edición Ucraniana de Tienes talento. En la final, pintó en directo una animación de la invasión alemana de Ucrania durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, usando sus dedos y una superficie con arena.

http://pelapapas.com.mx/htmls/animacion-arena-2.html

Writing a Biography

2009-10-28T01:14:00.002-03:00

Osamu Tezuka

By

Soledad Suárez

Osamu Tezuka, the Japanese manga artist, who is best known as the creator of Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion, started to draw comics at the age of seven. He was born in 1928 in Osaka. After surviving World War II, he created his first piece of work at age 17, Diary of Ma-chan (1946) and then New Treasure Island (1947), which began the golden age of manga. Osamu created his first professional work while he was studying medicine at Osaka University, where he obtained his degree, and would use it later to enrich his sci-fi mangas, such as Black Jack. The distinctive "large eyes" style of Japanese animation was invented by Tezuka, drawing inspirations on cartoons of the time such as Betty Boop and Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse. Tezuka died of stomach cancer at the age of 60 in 1989, and he is considered all around the world as “the father of manga”.

FCE writing

2009-10-26T12:54:00.001-03:00

Summary about writing
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZ8P_1tdKyUVZGY5Mmg3cGdfNjNxNTc3M2hjNQ&hl=en

FCE videos!

2009-10-26T12:19:00.000-03:00

Please, have a look at the following videos. FCE is B2.

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/what-we-do/research/speaking-performances.html

FCE DATES!!!

2009-10-26T12:18:00.000-03:00

December Session
Tuesday 08 Dec (0100)
(morning)
Paper 1 (Reading)
(morning)
Paper 2 (Writing)
Must start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 3 (Use of English)
May start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 4 (Listening)
Papers must be administered in this sequence 1, 2, 3 and 4
or
Saturday 12 Dec (0102)
(morning)
Paper 1 (Reading)
(morning)
Paper 2 (Writing)
Must start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 3 (Use of English)
May start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 4 (Listening)
Papers must be administered in this sequence 1, 2, 3 and 4
Window for Paper 5 (Speaking)
Fri 20 Nov – Sun 20 Dec
This paper is held by separate arrangement within a specified period. Contact your centre for more details.

CLEC FR22

2009-10-24T19:22:00.004-03:00

Photos of Claudia´s birthday!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27300449@N04/

I love you!

you always ask me about verb tenses

2009-10-24T19:13:00.003-03:00

well, here you are: theory and practice.
It's really useful but too grammatical so... a cup of coffee, a bar of chocolate, music on a rainy day if possible.
no. no beer! How do you expect to learn??!

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbtenseintro.html

FCE - Oral practice and Facebook !!!! no excuses

2009-10-24T19:02:00.002-03:00

Are you preparing for an English exam such as CAE, CPE, BEC or
IELTS? Our Splendid Speaking Group on Facebook has had several
people posting this week looking for speaking partners. Find out
more here:
http://www.splendid-speaking.com/extras/facebook.html

present perfect practice

2009-10-24T18:40:00.002-03:00

2nd year people! As promised!
Download the practice:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZ8P_1tdKyUVZGY5Mmg3cGdfNjJnNGprMnNmaA&hl=en

and there's some theory and mooooreee practice:
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-simple
http://www.saberingles.com.ar/curso/lesson21/06.html

A new story

2009-08-28T23:04:00.002-03:00

Another composition by Paula B, one of my dearest students from FCE 2009! Thanks for sharing!

Was it a dream?
It was one of those days that you never forget. I had been woken up by a very loud noise at 3 am and a few minutes later I realized I was in a place I had never been before. However I wasn’t afraid of it because somewhere in my heart I knew I was safe. So I started to explore it thoroughly.
Everywhere you looked at there was a tree and flowers. I luckily could see part of the sky, which was full of stars.
Suddenly, I saw a very short person hiding behind a big tree. Actually it isn’t necessary to mention his size, he could have hidden behind a little rock. When he realized I was watching him; he got nearer me and threw some powder at me.
I heard a loud noise and I woke up in my room.

The promise. by Paula B

2009-08-28T23:03:00.000-03:00

Once upon a time there was a boy called Malek. He had blue eyes and he wasn’t very tall. He was just ten years old. He lived in a city with his parents.
Every weekend Malek went to his grandparents’ house which was an old one, one of those with a lot of rooms and windows. His grandparents were also the owners of an ancient forest.
One day, he was walking through the forest when he realized he was in another place. When he looked at the trees he could see faces of magic creatures and he was such a curious boy, he continued walking and exploring the magic place. He usually visited this place and made wonderful friends. A few years later he became a wise wizard with incredible powers.
One night the creatures promised they would always be beside him, but, when he turned 16, he became an adult and he couldn’t find that place anymore. Despite that he still believes in magic and says he can feel his friends beside him all the time, as they had promised.

Conrado

2009-08-23T23:22:00.002-03:00

Te vamos a extrañar, Conrad , como te decía Gise.

Te fuiste un poco apurado...vaya uno a saber que tenías que hacer en el más allá.

LLoramos todos , estaba Anasol también ! Es que fuiste un ser lleno de luz.... y ojo! con mis 46 años puedo decirte que no hay muchos.

Me queda saber que nuestras almas se reunirán en otra vida.

See you again

there in heaven

and you´ll give me a bar of chocolate

with a big smile

un favor

2009-08-15T20:10:00.003-03:00

A todos!

les pido un pensamiento de amor para mi amigo exalumno Conrado, quien fue operado de urgencia del corazón. Recen , piensen , mediten y pasen este mensaje a los que puedan. Gracias

NO WORDS! UNO DE MIS MAYORES AMORES

2009-07-11T21:49:00.003-03:00

Influenza A

2009-07-01T10:04:00.003-03:00

Hi, everybody.

I was a bit alarmed - you know I usually laugh at everything- when I read how many cases have been reported and that people who were not at serious risk died. So I felt like posting the link to the World Health Organization as the information there is clear and practical,

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/guidance/individuals/en/index.html

We have no classes and we should keep distance. And this reminds me of some literature read. I couldn't imagine at those times how sad it is to avoid contact with others so as to keep healthy! Yes, I miss kisses and hugs. I understand... but I hope I can soon give my noisy kisses again.
Take care! Be responsible

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish!!

IATEL STUDENTS

2009-06-29T22:10:00.002-03:00

On Wednesday 1st you can pick up from IATEL Oroño a set of exercises to do during this week and hand in on Wednesday 8th. On that date a new set will be available for you to work with during the holidays. We will hopefully resume classes on July 27th.
Kisses to all! Yes, I´ll miss you!

More quotes from Geo

2009-06-25T00:51:00.002-03:00

Hi teacher! Here are the quotes, I don't remember which exactly I gave to you, but there are ones of my favourite, thanks for publishing them :) xoxo, GC.

"If there's just one piece of advice I can give you, it's this - when there's something you really want, fight for it, don't give up no matter how hopeless it seems. And when you've lost hope, ask yourself if 10 years from now, you're gonna wish you gave it just one more shot. Because the best things in life, they don't come free."

"Change; we don’t like it, we fear it, but we can't stop it from coming. We either adapt to change or we get left behind. And it hurts to grow, anybody who tells you it doesn’t is lying. But here's the truth... The more things change, the more they stay the same. And sometimes change is good. Sometimes, change is everything."

"Everyone thinks it’s so romantic, Romeo and Juliet, true love, how sad. If Juliet was stupid enough to fall for the enemy, drink the bottle of poison, and go to sleep in a mausoleum, she deserved whatever she got."

To be read!

2009-06-22T22:09:00.004-03:00

Thanks Georgina C. from pre-first- Iatel- for sharing your favourite quotes with me!

I couldn't agree more with this one!!The photo is mine- Venice February 2009!

We don't get unlimited chances to have the things that we want, and this you know. Nothing is worse than missing an opportunity that could have changed your life.

So LOVE the people who treat you right.

FORGET about the ones who don't , and BELIEVE that everything happens for a reason (YES!!!) .

If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it . Nobody said that it'd be easy; they just promised it would be worth it. Eventually feels a lot better than actually.

Thanks Gaby for the quote! Women!

2009-06-20T19:49:00.000-03:00

Blondes have more fun...but brunettes remember it

Favourite room

2009-06-19T01:45:00.001-03:00

Thanks Marila (CLEC) for sharing such a nice composition. Keep on writing!

MY FAVOURITE ROOM

My favourite room in my house, of course, is my bedroom. I don’t know why but it’s the place which I like best. Perhaps because it’s very light and cosy and I have all my things there: my books, my notebook, my TV, it’s not only where I sleep but it’s also the place where I love to stay.
When I was young I lived in a house and my favourite room was the kitchen where all the family came together, but now my children have grown up and most of the time I’m alone with my puppy I love lying in my bed with the notebook on my lap chatting with friends or looking for a page on the Internet.
So what’s this room look like? It’s small but not too much, it has a double bed, which is the local point of the room. When my best friend comes we love lazing and putting the world to rights! There’s a French window leading into a balcony which overlooks the corner of the street 3 de Febrero and Balcarse. Almost always that window is open.
There’s a chest of drawers where are a lot of photographs of my family and memories of every place I have travelled to, of course, the most important object is a present given to me by my boyfriend last year. It’s a small box which he had bought in Bs As and I love it.
I don’t spend a lot of time in my apartment but when I’m in it and if my children stay at home they come to my bedroom and we share our time in my bedroom talking and relaxing.

word formation exercises

2009-06-16T11:19:00.002-03:00

for those who want more practice!

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df92h7pg_61f7knbqcn&hl=en

Listening Google

2009-06-10T11:00:00.001-03:00

As promised to CLEC students

Enjoy this listening!
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/0905/090501-brands.html

Good life!

“A Journey of a Lifetime” - FCE consolidation

2009-06-09T23:30:00.003-03:00

Thanks Eduardo P. for sharing this composition. Lovely! And good luck on Saturday!

When I started on the Journey, I had no idea what was going to happen.
What began as a short trip ended up as a lifetime story.

It was June 2nd when I first arrived at Edinburgh Airport.
I checked in at a cheap hostel called “backpackers” and then I began to wander with the idea of seeing the city. I came across an old red-bearded man. We started to talk and soon it was almost midnight. We said goodbye and split in opposite directions.

As days went by, I visited each recommended place worthseeing in the city. I was dazzled by its history, battles and by the whisky culture. Although I enjoyed every moment, I knew that something was missing.

On my last day in the city, I was walking to the Airport and there he was. Still as a Greek Monument, staring at me. He approached me and said: “Stay, you won’t regret it”. And he faded away.
So I listened to him. And here I am. 30 years later, married to my beautiful Scottish wife, with 3 children and retired.

Some will call it “chance”. I prefer to call it “Fate”

New link for FCE! speaking- pictures

2009-06-08T22:02:00.003-03:00

Good luck for tomorrow Maca, Belu, Flo V, Flo G, Gaby, Marian, Este, Santi, Fabri and Edu!!
http://www.englishlearner.com/tests/test.html Grammar and vocabulary http://www.freerice.com/subjects.php?t=302351166402 Play with Grammar and Vocabulary and donate rice to poor countries.For Speaking practice, click here.

http://practiseenglish.blogspot.com/search/label/FCE%20speaking

On unemployment

2009-05-24T00:00:00.004-03:00

I thought it'd be good to remember this song.
Don't Give Up- Peter Gabriel

Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiCRZLr9oRw&feature=PlayList&p=F8E02D4DDDFC116C&index=0

Lyrics
In this proud land we grew up strong
We were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail
No fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I've changed my face, I've changed my name
But no one wants you when you lose
Don't give up
cos you have friends
Don't give up
You're not beaten yet
Don't give up
I know you can make it good
Though I saw it all around
Never thought I could be affected
Thought that wed be the last to go
It is so strange the way things turn
Drove the night toward my home
The place that I was born, on the lakeside
As daylight broke, I saw the earth
The trees had burned down to the ground
Don't give up
You still have us
Don't give up
We don't need much of anything
Don't give up
cause somewhere there's a place
Where we belong
Rest your head
You worry too much
It's going to be alright
When times get rough
You can fall back on us
Don't give up
Please don't give up
got to walk out of here
I can't take anymore
Going to stand on that bridge
Keep my eyes down below
Whatever may come
And whatever may go
That river's flowing
That river's flowing
Moved on to another town
Tried hard to settle down
For every job, so many men
So many men no-one needs
Don't give up
cause you have friends
Don't give up
You're not the only one
Don't give up
No reason to be ashamed
Don't give up
You still have us
Don't give up now
We're proud of who you are
Don't give up
You know it's never been easy
Don't give up
cause I believe there's a place
There's a place where we belong

Comparatives and superlatives

2009-05-23T23:27:00.002-03:00

Hi, people ! As someone asked for extra practice ...here it goes.

On line practice
http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/compsup.html
http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/gr.comp.i.htm
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/regcom2.htm
http://www.isabelperez.com/super-sign.htm
http://www.english-zone.com/teach/cmp-sup.html

O download:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df92h7pg_59dkt3d8fp&hl=en

Theory:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df92h7pg_57fwxfgqts&hl=en

My Favourite Room

2009-05-20T22:42:00.000-03:00

Another great composition! Thanks Sole from CLEC!

My favourite room
The room in our house I like best is our living room. And not just because of the TV and the playstation, but because it's a place where we can all sit together as a family and have a good time.
There are a lot of good memories that come to my mind when I think of this room: watching movies with my family until midnight, having friends over and talking for hours, or lighting up the Christmas tree for the first time.
So what does this special room look like? It's (kind of) small but big enough to have three comfortable sofas and a small table in the middle. It also has a fireplace in one corner and a lot of shelves where we put our books.
My friends rarely stay in my bedroom, we always go straight to the living room. Whenever someone comes in to my house the first thing they do is to sit and enjoy the warm and cosy glow of the T.V. Some of the best times of my life have been spent in my living room.
Soledad Suarez.

New Links for FCE extra practice

2009-05-18T12:05:00.001-03:00

For Maca... so sweet and hardworking!
http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/?gclid=CKaT55_yxJoCFQFHFQodEVzCtQ http://pdfcast.org/pdf/fce-practice-tests-plus-2-test-1/view http://www.wordskills.com/webstore/fcet3sam.pdf http://ebooksbaba.com/?p=44420 http://firstcertificate.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/paper1reading.pdf

Thanks for letting me know

2009-05-10T21:33:00.003-03:00

you still remember me!

Mariel and Claudia have sent or shown me the compositions you wrote. And also thanks to the "pets" I have in my class now who have written such beautiful things!

And Conrado... I shared the chocolate! Thanks for spoiling your former teacher.

Bye for the time being while listening to Coldplay - 42- great! Love you all!

2009-05-03T20:36:00.004-03:00

We discussed in class the importance of drinking water and Marcelo C contributed with the following article which is summarised, Very interesting!!

WATER
Can You Really Drink Too Much Water?
In a word, yes. Drinking too much water can lead to a condition known as water intoxication and to a related problem resulting from the dilution of sodium in the body, hyponatremia. Water intoxication is most commonly seen in infants under six months of age and sometimes in athletes.
What Happens During Water Intoxication?
When too much water enters the body's cells, the tissues swell with the excess fluid. Your cells maintain a specific concentration gradient, so excess water outside the cells (the serum) draws sodium from within the cells out into the serum in an attempt to re-establish the necessary concentration. Swelling puts pressure on the brain and nerves, which can cause behaviors resembling alcohol intoxication. Swelling of brain tissues can cause seizures, coma and ultimately death unless water intake is restricted and a hypertonic saline (salt) solution is administered. If treatment is given before tissue swelling causes too much cellular damage, then a complete recovery can be expected within a few days.
It's Not How Much You Drink, It's How Fast You Drink It!
The kidneys of a healthy adult can process fifteen liters of water a day! You are unlikely to suffer from water intoxication, even if you drink a lot of water, as long as you drink over time as opposed to intaking an enormous volume at one time. As a general guideline, most adults need about three quarts of fluid each day. Much of that water comes from food, so 8-12 eight ounce glasses a day is a common recommended intake. You may need more water if the weather is very warm or very dry, if you are exercising, or if you are taking certain medications. The bottom line is this: it's possible to drink too much water, but unless you are running a marathon or an infant, water intoxication is a very uncommon condition.
Resource:
http://www.about.com/

Speaking class

2009-04-29T23:24:00.002-03:00

They were given some words they had to use in a short paragraph. See how creative Silvina was ;)

Words given : van, banana, reddish, legging, stressful.
I tried to find someone who painted my van like my hair, reddish brown. I put my leggings to feel more comfortable and also to look younger. The real thing is that I was trying to start a new job : selling banana's icecreams and shakes at the front door of my neighborhood school. Someone told me that this could be a stressful job with so many children, but I would really try

2009-04-28T10:56:00.002-03:00

People:
Here's some practice. Hand in the exercises if there are no answers available. xxxx
http://www.easyenglish.com/lesson.asp?much.txt
http://esl.about.com/library/beginner/blmuchmany.htm
http://www.1-language.com/englishcourse/unit9_dialogues_exs.htm
http://www.geocities.com/ericsquire/grammar/countbl3.htm
http://iesitaza.educa.aragon.es/DAPARTAM/ingles/cursos/3_eso/Exerc_3_eso/Grammar/countable.pdf

Theory
http://www.learn-english-online.org/Lesson37/Lesson37.htm

On trip, travel, jouney,etc

2009-04-28T10:55:00.001-03:00

See this link!
http://esl.about.com/od/vocabularyintermediate/a/v_travel.htm

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER-

2009-04-24T21:38:00.002-03:00

Micaela, Marina, Belén :
Congratulations teachers and translators -to be!!!!! You make me so happy and proud of you!
And whatever happens, keep on! Don't give up!
xxxx

A New Student in my Class

2009-04-16T18:10:00.001-03:00

A New Student in my Class by Julia S. (2009)
A week ago, a new student joined my class. Her name is Camila and she is fifteen years old.
At the beginning, she dindn't know anybody in the class, so she didn't talk to anybody. But a few days later, I decided to talk to her. She told me she was very shy and she didn't know how to make friends in the group, so I decided that I would help her.
I talked to my friends and told them that Camila was a nice girl. I told them about her interests and her hobbies, so they started to talk to her, too. Camila suddenly became a confident person.
Now she has a lot of friends in the group, and she gets on really well with all of us. This experience has changed her. Now she's a sociable and outgoing person.

FCE Consolidation- June

2009-03-05T13:27:00.000-02:00

Now, study!
FCE June 2009 Dates

June Session
Saturday 13 June (0102)
(morning)
Paper 1 (Reading)
(morning)
Paper 2 (Writing)
Must start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 3 (Use of English)
May start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 4 (Listening)
Papers must be administered in this sequence 1, 2, 3 and 4
or
Tuesday 16 June (0100)
(morning)
Paper 1 (Reading)
(morning)
Paper 2 (Writing)
Must start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 3 (Use of English)
May start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 4 (Listening)
Papers must be administered in this sequence 1, 2, 3 and 4

Window for Paper 5 (Speaking)
Mon 25 May – Sun 28 June
This paper is held by separate arrangement within a specified period. Contact your centre for more details.

FCE dates 2009

2009-03-05T13:26:00.000-02:00

People! Start planning your end of year! xxxx
December Session
Tuesday 08 Dec (0100)
(morning)
Paper 1 (Reading)
(morning)
Paper 2 (Writing)
Must start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 3 (Use of English)
May start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 4 (Listening)
Papers must be administered in this sequence 1, 2, 3 and 4
or
Saturday 12 Dec (0102)
(morning)
Paper 1 (Reading)
(morning)
Paper 2 (Writing)
Must start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 3 (Use of English)
May start before 13.00 hrs
Paper 4 (Listening)
Papers must be administered in this sequence 1, 2, 3 and 4

Window for Paper 5 (Speaking)
Fri 20 Nov – Sun 20 Dec
This paper is held by separate arrangement within a specified period. Contact your centre for more details.
Centres may offer the Tuesday or the Saturday session, or both.

Inversion

2009-02-28T00:44:00.002-02:00

For Mica and Marina. You'll find theory and an exercise.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df92h7pg_54dqv3msdn&hl=en
Keep fingers crossed! xxxx

2009-02-20T00:25:00.002-02:00

Yes! you all passed the FCE! what an achievement! I'll miss you..sniff...sniff. But I'm so glad I've met you! Thanks for your eagerness to learn and to work hard. Thanks for making me laugh (Pau, Mica, etc), learn more, find different ways of keeping you interested! You're in my heart.
TO:
Catalina
Agustina
Paula
Cecilia
Marina
Micaela
Carla
Ma Laura
Iván
Ma Cecilia
Bárbara
Victoria
Martina
Irene
Lucía
Mauro
Brenda

And ...
Magui
Belén
Virginia
Ale
Nacho

birthday!

2009-01-23T04:35:00.001-02:00

Thanks everyone for texting, phoning and coming over. Great day , full of colours and hugs. Keep on walking by my side. xxxx

2009-01-08T23:07:00.002-02:00

Happy Holidays! Yes, I took my holidays seriously and didn´t publish anything. But I hope everyone received my mail for new year!! In case, you didn't LOVE PEACE and HAPPINESS for this year. You know, I love you all!
Now... someone may be bored so remember to check the links for short stories and listening. And if you haven't seen HOUSE MD or some good films...Do it! There are many sites to download series and films for free. Recommended: CAOTICA ANA ( careful! It's by Medem...you know how much I love him!)
And be prepared for the big bands coming to BA: Yes! Peter Gabriel and Radiohead ( I've just started listening to them- Try "Creep" - "All I Need" and my favourite "Nude"! Tickets bought).
And HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS- nothing compares to that.
Last but not least : Here you'll find ten of the best games and websites to improve your mental fitness.
http://longevity.about.com/od/mentalfitness/tp/braintrain.htm

xxxx and xoxo

5th L1

2008-11-24T01:03:00.003-02:00

Hola!
También uds fueron muy especiales para mí! Gracias por la carta, Martu y Agus, donde no quedo afuera nadie. Y escrita en Inglés! Qué más puedo pedir? Mucho amor e Inglés!
Sé que nos volveremos a ver y a mantener en contacto...Como diría Sofi... las coincidencias!
Y Martu, gracias por tus mails e historias.
Adios, solcitos! Nos estamos viendo

5th year J1 - in Spanish!

2008-11-20T00:26:00.004-02:00

Chicos :

Alguien me dijo una vez que los sentimientos sólo se expresan bien en la lengua nativa... por eso esta entrada en castellano.

Gracias por la carta. La leí en la tranquilidad del hogar y me surgió una lágrima y sonrisa al mismo tiempo. Y aunque crean que aprendieron sólo uds , yo aprendí más! Sí, me enseñaron a ver las cosas desde vuestra perspectiva y entendieron la mía. Creo que nos unió la música, la curiosidad por aprender , las "coincidencias"!, y una empatía que no siempre se dan. Y sé que de ahora en más seguiremos unidos! besos a todos y a cada uno de uds

George Carlin

2008-11-19T00:02:00.001-02:00

Thanks Juan José for sharing this witty comedian with me!
It's been a pleasure to meet and work with you!

A blonde comment

2008-11-09T04:30:00.001-02:00

Dear all!
Enjoy the new pics. Have you seen how happy these people are??
Could it be possible learning English is FUN?
Do I need to answer?
Thanks for so much joy.

reported speech intermediate exercises

2008-11-03T11:37:00.002-02:00

You ask , you have!
Reported commands:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df92h7pg_50c687tkff&hl=en

Reported statements:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df92h7pg_51hjn3gfgm

Reported questions:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df92h7pg_53dgntkcd2

make let

2008-11-03T11:26:00.003-02:00

My great 5th year students! Always asking for practice. Here you are!
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df92h7pg_49cwkrrvfv&hl=en

Some practice on line:
http://www.autoenglish.org/gr.allow.p.htm

too/ enough

2008-11-03T11:01:00.002-02:00

Some practice and links.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df92h7pg_48mfmgz5d9&hl=en

Theory:
http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-grammar-adverb-enough-and-too.htm

Links:
http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/239.html

http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/grammar/Interactive/tooenough1.html

Modals

2008-11-03T10:48:00.002-02:00

Just some practice! Good luck.
Modals:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df92h7pg_41gpzd2bcv&hl=en

Modals of deduction in the past:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df92h7pg_42jfz9hmxw&hl=en

There's something else available but I can't upload it. If interested, email me!

Meet my former students

2008-09-24T01:35:00.003-03:00

Thanks Conrado for the pics and for organizing such nice gatherings! And people...I miss your jokes, Fede's endless questions, Vale's anecdotes , Gise´s smile and so on . http://www.flickr.com/photos/27300449@N04/sets/72157607463164753/show/with/2883541353/