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2º NB - The wonderful world of the past simple tense

Dear students and readers of this blog,

Welcome to the wonderful world of the past simple. You will have no time to get bored; there are lots of things to learn. Here you have some links and videos I'm sure you will find useful. Enjoy!

Grammar of the past simple

Uses of the past simple

Exercises 1

Exercises 2

Exercises 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

Forming the past simple:



Forming the negative:



Some irregular verbs:



If you want to pronounce the regular -ed forms of the past correctly, watch the video below:

2º NB - The story behind Mount Rushmore

Dear students & readers of this blog,

In unit 5 of the New English File elementary student's book we come across a photo of Mt. Rushmore. So we have the perfect excuse to learn something more about it, and above all, about the men whose merit granted them such an impressive tribute. If you want to learn something about the history of the monument or its exact location, click here. Take some time to watch the video below:

Ok, Mt. Rushmore is in South Dakota. But...where is South Dakota? Yes, yes, in the US, you know that already, but WHERE exactly? RIGHT THERE!!



Nickname(s): The Mount Rushmore State (official),The Sunshine State Motto(s): Under God the people rule Entered the union on Nov 2, 1889. State Capital: Pierre Largest city: Sioux Falls




This monument is a tribute to four key men in the history of the US: Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. If you want to know more about them, click on their corresponding picture:

In class, we leant that Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence when he was 33. Do you know what it looks like? And most importantly, do you want read it? Click on the Declaration to find out!

I hope to have given you good reasons to visit this corner of the world someday!!

Happy New Year 2012!!!

Happy New Year everyone!

A new year has started. And there 's a thing that we all do at the beginning of a new year: there are things we want to start doing, things we want to stop doing, or quit doing, things we want to cut down on, things we want to keep doing...that is, we all make a list of NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS.

"A New Year's resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain until fulfilled or abandoned."(Source: Wikipedia)

Here you have a video where the clinical psychologist Jeff Gardere (AmE) gives us some tips to make a good list of New Year's Resolutions. Take some time to watch it and then answer the questions below:

And now let's practice our listening skills: please answer the following questions on the video(Thanks a lot to Pablo Rodríguez, who found the video and prepared the questions):

1) What three personality traits help you make good New Year’s Resolutions?
2) According to the expert, is it OK to change or adapt your plans?
3) When you resolve to quit smoking, is it a good idea to cross out the days in a calendar? Why/ Why not?
4) Does the TV presenter like involving his family in his New Year’s Resolutions?
5) Using your own words, can you explain what the “buddy system” is about? Why is it important/what is the advantage?
7) Do you think the psychologist is too strict in his theory?
6) In the end, what is the most important thing about New Year’s Resolutions?

Now click on the picture above if you want to learn something more about the history and origins of this tradition.

Do you want to know how to make your own New Year's Resolutions? Find some useful tips here.

Maybe if you watch this video you'll find some useful suggestions:



New Year's Resolution List - Click here for more blooper videos


New Year's Resolutions, 'bad for your health'? Check here.


LISTENING: Listen to Episode 23 of The Flatmates (BBC Learning English) on New Year's resolutions.


And finally, why don't we listen to a nice song on the topic. New Year Baby, by Jamie Cullum:



Click here for the lyrics.

Please, click on COMMENT and share your New Year's Resolutions!!!