I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.... and new decade!
Friday, 20 December 2019
Merry Christmas!
Singing is an excellent way to learn English, so click on full screen, put up the volume, and sing along with John Lennon, Wham!, The Cadillacs, U2, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen and Aretha Franklin
I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.... and new decade!
I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.... and new decade!
Thursday, 28 November 2019
Little Red Hood
We are doing narratives with L3
Where are you going? (not **where d you go?)
Exclamations: What a big nose!
Sunday, 24 November 2019
Black Friday
This Friday is Black Friday. What is Black Friday? Black Fridayis the day that signals the start of the shopping season in the USA,
and that can be as dangerous as this:
and that can be as dangerous as this:
- WATCH THE VIDEO
- The truth: Facts you didn't know about Black Friday
- To counterbalance black Friday, we also have BUY NOTHING DAY
Thursday, 14 November 2019
Anne and Dorian
Thursday, 31 October 2019
Happy All Saints Day
Some Halloween jokes ....
- ...and a classic for Halloween, Michael Jackson's THRILLER, the complete story, with Vincent Price the master of horror stories and movies, in the rap. You'll recognise his laugh HERE
- All Saints day and Halloween explained by National Geographic (you can use auto-generated subtitles)
Tuesday, 29 October 2019
-ed endings
We've talked about how to pronounce verbs ending in -ed. Singing is the best way to learn pronunciation.
Friday, 18 October 2019
Don't Panic!
Today some Level 2 students panicked because they said they could not understand anything in a video. OK. Don't panic. It's ab-so-lu-te-ly normal. However, we said how important pronunciation is, not only because you sound better, but also because if you try to pronounce the English sounds well you will understand them better when you hear them.
Now, here you have some pronunciation and intonation exercises for you to practice. READ-LISTEN AND REPEAT.
and HERE you have some more
Give it a try!
Now, here you have some pronunciation and intonation exercises for you to practice. READ-LISTEN AND REPEAT.
and HERE you have some more
Give it a try!
Thursday, 10 October 2019
When I'm 64
There is a song called "when I'm sixty-four", and talks about what your life will be like when you are retired. But should we change it to "When I'm 101?"
Tuesday, 24 September 2019
Wednesday, 19 June 2019
So what now?
Exams are over, so just to remind you that on June 21st your marks will be posted:
- Online: www.eoigarraf.cat Be patient with technology since the system tends to crash when everybody tries to log in at the same time.
- EOI's notice board: you'll see your scores for the five skills and your final mark.
So what now?
FAQs (Frequently asked questions):
- "I got 65 (or more) and I'm very happy." Congratulations! I knew you would!" Try to read a little in summer or watch movies, or listen to podcasts, speak, cook, sing ...do whatever you can in English so that you don't forget it all!
- "I got 65 but I didn't really mean it! I don't think I'm prepared for the next level!" Oh, well, too bad, too late, so sorry. Good luck next year!
- "Oh, no ! I didn't get the f*#`* 65! It would be suicidal to get to the next level. Language learning is a difficult equation, certainly more complex than divisions into levels/years. Take it easy, take your time, try once more and you'll end up with a much better chance of passing and, most important, improving your English.
Please remember that the 'matricula online' is on specific days in July. Please check the EOI webpage or ask Secretaria if you have any doubts or questions on this.
And finally, I'd like to wish you a well deserved summer break!
OOOps, and a final recommendation: Speaking is essential, technology is wonderful and there are lots of apps where you can meet English speaking people who want to learn Catalan or Spanish so you can chat with them.
Here you can find a selection
So, speak... and sing along as much as you can!
and a classic revisited by Norah Jones
- Online: www.eoigarraf.cat Be patient with technology since the system tends to crash when everybody tries to log in at the same time.
- EOI's notice board: you'll see your scores for the five skills and your final mark.
So what now?
FAQs (Frequently asked questions):
- "I got 65 (or more) and I'm very happy." Congratulations! I knew you would!" Try to read a little in summer or watch movies, or listen to podcasts, speak, cook, sing ...do whatever you can in English so that you don't forget it all!
- "I got 65 but I didn't really mean it! I don't think I'm prepared for the next level!" Oh, well, too bad, too late, so sorry. Good luck next year!
- "Oh, no ! I didn't get the f*#`* 65! It would be suicidal to get to the next level. Language learning is a difficult equation, certainly more complex than divisions into levels/years. Take it easy, take your time, try once more and you'll end up with a much better chance of passing and, most important, improving your English.
Please remember that the 'matricula online' is on specific days in July. Please check the EOI webpage or ask Secretaria if you have any doubts or questions on this.
And finally, I'd like to wish you a well deserved summer break!
OOOps, and a final recommendation: Speaking is essential, technology is wonderful and there are lots of apps where you can meet English speaking people who want to learn Catalan or Spanish so you can chat with them.
Here you can find a selection
So, speak... and sing along as much as you can!
and a classic revisited by Norah Jones
Sunday, 19 May 2019
That's all folks!
Time flies and classes are over! Exam time is always stressful (both for students AND for teachers) but fortunately there are remedies/techniques to help you cope with exam stress:
Music...
original clip HERE
- Exercise...
- Meditation...
...and chocolate!
- And the usual advice:
Music...
original clip HERE
- Exercise...
- Meditation...
...and chocolate!
- And the usual advice:
- Get plenty of sleep the night before, and don't eat too much on the exam day.
- Make sure you arrive with time to spare so that you can chat with your friends and go in calmly rather than in a frantic rush.
- It may sound stupid, but don't forget to read the instructions of every exercise, and make sure you know what you have to do.
- It may sound even more stupid but, as we've said so many times, in the oral/written exam, use what you know, NOT what you don't know. SHOW what you know, not what you don't know!
- Write slowly, don't translate, KISS (Keep It Short and Simple - but rich and well connected :-)) connect your ideas, use words/structures that you've learnt.
- In the oral exam, relax and be ready to have a nice conversation with your partner (L3 remember to play tennis, keep the ball rolling!). L2-L3: Don't worry about the words you don't know and focus on the things that you know.
- Leave your mobile phone at home, don't forget to bring your favourite pens and your ID, relax, concentrate, keep the right dose of adrenaline ready for action and ...
...enjoy it!
Thanks for your attention and your patience all through the year and...
I wish you all the best!
Thanks for your attention and your patience all through the year and...
I wish you all the best!
Thursday, 16 May 2019
Sunday, 5 May 2019
World Laughter Day
May 5th is ALSO World Laughter Day.
Why is Laugher the best medicine? Watch the video
And READ these quotations by famous comedians
And READ these quotations by famous comedians
Tuesday, 23 April 2019
St. Jordi
A rose for you...
...and a poem by Olivia McMahon: Learning a Language
And a video HERE
and another video HERE
...and a poem by Olivia McMahon: Learning a Language
And a video HERE
and another video HERE
Happy Sant Jordi's day!
I hope you get lots of books and roses!
Wednesday, 17 April 2019
On fire
KEY WORDS: FIRE, BLAZE, FLAMES, TO BURN, TO SAVE, WORKS OF ART, TO COLLAPSE, TO DAMAGE, TO RESTORE, TO RENOVATE, CENTRAL SPIRE, ROOF, ASH, DONATIONS
Wednesday, 20 March 2019
Be happy!
Today March 20th is international day of Happiness!
You can get more information at the United Nations
and a song for you DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY
You can get more information at the United Nations
and a song for you DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY
Monday, 11 March 2019
Minimal pairs
Chess? Cheese? Beach? .....? Pronunciation IS important. This story, already a classic by now, is particularly funny and illustrative of how a sound can completely change the meaning of a word (By the way, sorry about the dirty words -I hope nobody takes offence ...:-)
These words (Sheep/ship) are called “minimal pairs” (pairs of words which differ in only one 'sound' (phoneme) and have different meanings. Here (and in your book CD) you have many other good examples:
http://www.shiporsheep.com/page1.html (just put the cursor on the words, don't click on them)
These words (Sheep/ship) are called “minimal pairs” (pairs of words which differ in only one 'sound' (phoneme) and have different meanings. Here (and in your book CD) you have many other good examples:
http://www.shiporsheep.com/page1.html (just put the cursor on the words, don't click on them)
Friday, 1 March 2019
Tuesday, 19 February 2019
SuperMooon
If you look up at the sky today you'll see the full moon is bigger and brighter.
What's a Super moon?
And here you can learn about other types of Supermoons:
When there are two full moons in one month, the second is called 'a blue moon'. This does not usually happen (once every two or three years), that's why we have the expression 'once in a blue moon'
Happy Super Moon!
What's a Super moon?
And here you can learn about other types of Supermoons:
When there are two full moons in one month, the second is called 'a blue moon'. This does not usually happen (once every two or three years), that's why we have the expression 'once in a blue moon'
Happy Super Moon!
Sunday, 10 February 2019
Blah, blah, blah...
Arrrgh!! The exam was very difficult! Frustrating! I'll never be able to understand those horrible videos! How can I improve my spoken English? I hate writing!
OK, calm down and take it easy. Language learning has to do with patience, regularity and love (yes, love) rather than trying to learn it all in a couple of days/weeks/months.
You know that class time is NOT enough, so you'll have to use English at home, in the street, driving to work... you have to live it, you have to love it, you have to make it yours.
Below you'll find some tips that you'll have to adapt to your own habits (like talk to yourself!). Language skills are obviously connected and part of a whole - the time invested in reading, listening, writing, and working on 'use of English' will sure contribute to your speaking skills-and vice versa.
So don't translate. Forget about your mother tongue, forget about yourself. Be another person, be an actor, be an actress, be a comedian, and speak ENGLISH.
There is a saying in Czech that goes : " Learn a new language, get a new soul"
Sorry there's no pill. Or rather, the only pill is regular practice and patience. But you know all that jazz, don't you? After the mock exam, put things in order, revise aspects we've done in class, revise things that are not clear, catch up with things you missed, organize your work, organize your life, ask for help if you need it, and promise you'll be in contact with English at least 10? 20? minutes a day.
Of course, frustration may be part of the process, but it's transitory AND normal. So don't worry too much. As they say, keep calm and carry on:
...and you can always scream and shout in this blog if you need it. If you have any other useful tip, please let eveybody know!
OK, calm down and take it easy. Language learning has to do with patience, regularity and love (yes, love) rather than trying to learn it all in a couple of days/weeks/months.
You know that class time is NOT enough, so you'll have to use English at home, in the street, driving to work... you have to live it, you have to love it, you have to make it yours.
Below you'll find some tips that you'll have to adapt to your own habits (like talk to yourself!). Language skills are obviously connected and part of a whole - the time invested in reading, listening, writing, and working on 'use of English' will sure contribute to your speaking skills-and vice versa.
- Learning tips ( tips n.2,3,5,6,13 particularly interesting)
So don't translate. Forget about your mother tongue, forget about yourself. Be another person, be an actor, be an actress, be a comedian, and speak ENGLISH.
There is a saying in Czech that goes : " Learn a new language, get a new soul"
Sorry there's no pill. Or rather, the only pill is regular practice and patience. But you know all that jazz, don't you? After the mock exam, put things in order, revise aspects we've done in class, revise things that are not clear, catch up with things you missed, organize your work, organize your life, ask for help if you need it, and promise you'll be in contact with English at least 10? 20? minutes a day.
Of course, frustration may be part of the process, but it's transitory AND normal. So don't worry too much. As they say, keep calm and carry on:
...and you can always scream and shout in this blog if you need it. If you have any other useful tip, please let eveybody know!
Tuesday, 5 February 2019
Monday, 14 January 2019
Mock Exam time
Hi everyone,
We've already started the oral mock exams so I've uploaded a calendar with the oral/written exam days in blue (level 2) and green (level 3) so that you don't get confused ( You can find it in the 'Coming Soon section)
Remember that there is no class on oral exam days, so it's a perfect moment for you to :
- Revise things done, so that you are aware of the things you (should) know and can use
- Pay special attention to vocabulary done in class, because it gives you a very good 'bag of words' that you can use in your writings/speaking, instead of trying to use complicated words you don't know.
...and of course, if you have any questions, just ask!
We've already started the oral mock exams so I've uploaded a calendar with the oral/written exam days in blue (level 2) and green (level 3) so that you don't get confused ( You can find it in the 'Coming Soon section)
Remember that there is no class on oral exam days, so it's a perfect moment for you to :
- Revise things done, so that you are aware of the things you (should) know and can use
- Pay special attention to vocabulary done in class, because it gives you a very good 'bag of words' that you can use in your writings/speaking, instead of trying to use complicated words you don't know.
...and of course, if you have any questions, just ask!