We have finally started our clases. And of course, as first things come first, we have to start with the situation of introducing and giving personal information about ourselves, like our telephone number! For that, we need to know a lot of things: numbers, the days of the week, some vocabulary about ways of saying hello and goodbye...Here you sill find them all. Take a few minutes to have a look!
NUMBERS: We have studied from "0" (zero or "oh") to 1,000,000 (a million). I know that it sounds like a lot, but it really is not. Counting in English is very very easy.
Numbers from 0-20
Numbers from 21-32
20, 30, 40...
From one hundred
From one thousand
Now a little bit of nostalgia. Sesame Street's pinball. Remember? ;)
Now take a look at this video with a summary of the most usual GREETINGS, INTRODUCTIONS AND LEAVE TAKINGS.
As every year, classes have started. This time I am writing you from my new home, the EOI Aranjuez. But remember, wherever you are, and whether you are a student or not, you are welcome to this blog. Here you will find lots of resources to help you with your English.
If you are a student of mine at the EOI Aranjuez, remember, these are the books we will use this year:
Basic 1 - English File elementary 3rd edition. Oxford
Basic 2 - English File Pre-Intermediate, 3rd edition. Oxford
These will be the books we will use in class. Remember!!! You also have an i-tutor CD-Rom and a workbook that you will use to work at home.
Also, there are online resources. Please find then on the SIDEBAR of this blog.
This course has finally come to an end. The exams are done, the results are published, the revisions have been made...and now, it is time for a well-deserved rest.
As you know, it is also time for me to move on again. As Tom Hanks said in Forrest Gump, "Mama always said 'Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get'". And life now takes me to another school in another region, a beautiful historical town called Aranjuez, in Madrid.
It seems yesterday when I arrived in Plasencia, and it's been no less than four years that I've been living in the "Pearl of the Jerte Valley". Four years that are full of wonderful memories, of great colleagues, of lots of hard work and, why not mention it, lots of stress. But especially, I would like to mention my students, people that have shown me the value of motivation, and that have encouraged me to keep on improving as a teacher. People who, in spite of their busy lives, have found time to come to the school twice a week, and to dedicate some of their free time at home to study. People who have given me priceless moments of pure and simple fun.
To all of you, students, colleagues and friends, who have contributed to my feeling at home here, A BIG THANK YOU. I will miss you all, and I hope that you don't forget me too soon.
This blog will continue to work, with the old resources and some new. So of course, this will always be your home. Same as Extremadura will always be mine, no matter where I am.
I wish you all the best for the future, especially in September. This blog...will be our meeting point!
Recently we have been dealing in class with the topic of work and all related to it: job hunting, things we should ask ourselves when choosing a career to follow, how to dress for work, what makes you happy at work...Take some time to have a look at the contents of this post. It will be worth your while!!
Thanks to my colleague, Federico, for sharing all this with me!!
First of all, you have to think carefully about your future career, and what you want to do. Maybe you have to ask yourself a few questions: (source: Psychologies Magazine. September 2012) If you are job-hunting, you need to have a good CV. Click here if you want to read about the DOs and DON'Ts of CV writing. Now, click here to take a test on CVs.
First of all, what do we need to know to face a job interview and succeed in getting a job? Watch the following video:
It’s understandable to feel a little nervous before an interview. Maggie Mistal offers some practical advice to help ensure that you put your best foot forward.
Show up on time.
Dress appropriately.
Smile and try to relax! Remember, an interview is a conversation and your interviewer is a person, too.
Be prepared to answer key questions like, “Why are you looking to leave your current position?” It is key that you always stay positive, even if you are currently in a difficult situation.
A way to turn tough questions into positive talking points is to bring the focus to things you are looking for in your next job. Instead of bashing your current company for their lack of leadership or your lack of mangement experience, emphasize that you are seeking a job where you can work closely with a mentor or take on greater responsibility.
Don't get defensive if the interviewer makes a comment like, “you’re over-qualified” or “you’re under-qualified.” Turn the comment into a positive note, addressing the interviewer’s concerns behind the question: "I understand why you might feel I’m overqualified, but at this stage in my career I’m really looking to downshift and am looking for an opportunity where I can contribute but don’t necessarily have to run the show."
Get as much experience as you can (especially if you are still in school). Highlight your past accomplishments. Show how you have learned, grown and succeeded in the past. Offer references of people who can attest to your ability to learn quickly and perform well.
Do not be the one to bring up salary. Sell them on why you’re the ideal candidate first.
Be prepared to answer salary-related questions if asked by the interviewer. Checkout online salary calculators to find out what your role is worth in your geographic area.
Do not bring up benefits in the first interview; wait until you are invited back for another interview to ask about other benefits like vacation, 401K, etc.
Remember, an interview is the chance to find out if you are right for the company and if the company is right for you. Your odds of getting the job (and perhaps negotiating a higher salary) will improve if you first prove to them why you are the ideal candidate for the job.
(Thanks to our colleague Elena Rebollo for her contribution to this post!) ---
One of the most difficult issues to deal with when thinking about work and its importance in our lives, the subject of WORK-LIFE BALANCEcomes up. Please watch Nigel Marsh's TED talk and note any interesting ideas and vocabulary related to this topic.
Please note: If you wished to check the transcript or see it with (English) subtitles, click here.
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Once you get the job, you have to worry about what you wear for work. Have a look at the following article:
(Source: Psychologies. September 2012)
And to finish, some tips on HOW TO LOOK BUSY AT WORK.
1. Never walk without a document in your hands
People with documents in their hands look like hard working employees going to important meetings. People with nothing in their hands look like they are going to the canteen. People with a newspaper in their hands look like they are going to the toilet. Most importantly, make sure you carry a lot of paper home with you at night, this will give the false impression that you work longer hours than you actually do.
2. Use computers to look busy
Any time you use a computer, it looks like 'work' to the casual observer. You can send and receive personal e-mails, chat, read this story, and generally have fun without doing anything remotely related to work. These aren't exactly the social benefits that the fans of the computer revolution would like to talk about but they're not bad either. When you get caught by your boss – and you WILL get caught – your best defence is to claim you're teaching yourself to use new software or English, and so saving the company the cost of expensive training.
3. Untidy desk
Top management can get away with a clean desk. For the rest of us, it looks like we're not working hard enough. Build huge piles of documents around your work area. To the casual observer, last year's work looks the same as today's work. It is the amount of documents you have that is important. Pile them high and wide. If you know somebody is coming to your desk, bury the document you know they will want halfway down an existing pile and rummage for it when they arrive.
4. Voice mail
Never answer your phone if you have voice mail. People don't call you just because they want a chat – they call because they want YOU to do work for THEM. Screen all calls through voice mail. If somebody leaves a voice message for you and it sounds like impending work, reply during their lunch hour when you know they will be in the canteen – it looks like you're hardworking and conscientious. 5. Looking impatient and annoyed Always try to look impatient and annoyed to give your boss the impression that you are always busy. 6. Leave the office late
Always leave the office late, especially when the boss is still working. You could read the magazines and books that you have always wanted to read but have had no time. Make sure you walk past the boss' office as you are leaving. Send important e-mails at unearthly hours (e.g. 7.05 am, 9.35 pm) and during public holidays.
7. Sighing for effect
Sigh loudly when there are many people around, giving the impression that you are under extreme pressure.
8. Piling strategy
It is not enough to pile lots of documents on the table. Put lots of books on the floor, etc. (thick computer books are best).
9. Build vocabulary
Read some computer magazines and pick out all the jargon and new products. Use the phrases when in conversation with the bosses. Remember: They don't have to understand what you say, but you will sound impressive.
10. Have two jackets
If you work in a big open plan office, always leave an extra jacket on the back of your chair. This gives the impression that you are still in the office. The second jacket should be worn while you are away from your desk doing something more interesting than work.
Has anyone got any additional suggestions?
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Dear students & readers of this blog,
What would we do without books? Who would we be?
As every year, we celebrate the World Book Day on April 23. Plasencia is going to have its customary Book Fair in the Main Square, to which, of course, you are all invited.
There will be some specific events addressed to language students. You will find the information below:
Please take a few minutes to watch the video below. Why can't we like with books? Please watch and read the answers of some secondary school students, and then, write a COMMENT giving your reason. WHY CAN'T YOU LIVE WITHOUT BOOKS?
How will we celebrate it at the school? We'll read!! So next Thursday bring to class a book, a magazine, a poem... we'll read it together.
Next Thursday, 5 March, at 20:30, we'll have the chance to watch a very interesting film, offered to us by the FILMOTECA DE EXTREMADURA in Plasencia.
The film is called MR TURNER, directed by the prestigious British director Mike Leigh, and starred by Timothy Spall. For a taste of it, here you have the trailer:
But who was this "Mr Turner" that deserves a place in history?
Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775- 1851) was a British landscape painter, watercolorist and printmaker, quite controversial in his day, but who is considered today as "the painter of light" and inspirer of the 20th century abstract art.
As it has already been mentioned, Turner was renowned for his landscapes. If you don't have the chance to travel to London to see his paintings, don't miss the following slideshow. Which one is your favourite?
Now, talking about the film, who is who in Mr Turner? Have a look below:
Joseph Mallord William Turner, a painter, played by Timothy Spall.
Hannah Danby, Turner's devoted housekeeper and lover, played by Dorothy Atkinson.
Sophia Booth, Turner's landlady and second lover, played by Marion Bailey.
William Turner, Joseph's father, who lived with him until he died. Played by Paul Jesson.
So we survived Christmas! That's something to be proud of. All those family get-togethers, all that food and drink, the carol singing...That, and the fact that a whole year of our lives is coming to an end, are probably the reasons why the passage from the old year to the new is always a moment for reflection, when we make the resolution to change something in our lives. It is the moment, therefore, for NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS!!!
As first things come first, the question now is: What is a New Year's Resolution? This could be a good definition:
"A New Year's resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. People committing themselves to a New Year's resolution generally plan to do so for the whole following year. This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous."
Okay, wait a minute, you must be thinking. What are New Year's Resolutions for? How long do we keep them for? Are they any use at all? Actually, most people don't keep them for long. These are the TOP TEN MOST COMMONLY BROKEN NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS (click on each link to learn the reason why we don't keep them)
Maybe we break our resolutions because we don't make them the right way. Here are some suggestions for successful New Year's Resolutions:
Be realistic by setting achievable goals. Winning the lottery, for example, is out of your grasp.
Describe your resolutions in specific terms. Instead of "I don't want to be lazy," opt for "I want to exercise regularly" or "I will cut down on my television watching."
Break down large goals into smaller ones. For instance, commit to losing weight by resolving to join a gym and improve your eating habits.
Find alternatives to a behavior that you want to change, and make this part of your resolution plan. So you want to quit smoking but you smoked to relax yourself? What other forms of relaxation are available to you?
Above all, aim for things that are truly important to you, not what you think you ought to do or what others expect of you.
(Many thanks to Rosa Benavides, from the EOI Al Xaraf, in Mairena del Aljarafe (Seville), for her help)
If you prefer to read it, here are 6 ways to make your resolutions stick, according to USA Today:
In our Basic level class, we have been talking about routines and, to be able to speak about our daily routine properly, we need to use the time and time expressions. Let's make a summary of what we saw.
How can we ask for the time to someone? We have different ways: - Excuse me, what time is it, please? - Excuse me, what is the time, please?
There are two ways of giving the time:
- Analogue
- Digital
To learn to say the time from an analogue clock, click on the words ANALOGUE TIME
For the Digital time, you just have to read the numbers on the watch, saying the hour first, and then the minutes.
Want to practise? Click on Bang on Time and start playing!!
We have talked about the time in connection to the PRESENT SIMPLE. Remember that we use the present simple to talk about THINGS THAT ARE ALWAYS TRUE, & about OUR DAILY ROUTINE. Here you have a video that might help you:
But when you want to explain what your daily routine is like, you don't need only to know the present simple. You also need some vocabulary on DAILY ROUTINE ACTIVITIES:
Now some music:
"Time Is Running Out" by Muse
I think I'm drowning
Asphyxiated
I wanna break this spell
That you've created
You're something beautiful
A contradiction
I wanna play the game
I want the friction
You will be the death of me
You will be the death of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
Our time is running out
Our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
I wanted freedom
Bound and restricted
I tried to give you up
But I'm addicted
Now that you know I'm trapped
Sense of elation
You'd never dream of
Breaking this fixation
You will squeeze the life out of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
Our time is running out
Our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
How did it come to this?
Oh
You will suck the life out of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
Our time is running out
Our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
Dear students & readers of this blog,
