September's resolutions

One of my dearest friends from college, Alex Iglesias, has created together with other former classmate, Estel Planas, a page called Up2Learn, where they offer English courses as well as some wonderful resources and tips to learn English. His last post in their blog is called (in the original) "Nada que no hay manera con el inglés ¿no? quizá sea hora de cambiar el chip". September resolutions last the same as New Year's, but why don't try English once more? 

Read some of his tips here: Up2Learn

50 YEARS HAVING A DREAM

50 years ago, Martin Luther King gave one of the best known speeches on Earth, "I have a dream" speech. Actually, this sentence was not originally in his written speech, he improvised it becoming one of the most important quotes in our century. The Washington March, on 28 August 1963 is a landmark in the Civil Right Movement. In order to commemorate this day, the MLK Foundation shares a link where you can read and listen to Dr. King and his famous speech with information added so you can gather more ideas about it. Enjoy it!!

Freedom's Ring

Martin Luther King waving marchers from the Lincoln Memorial during the Washington March

SUNRISE by Norah Jones

A new beginning is about to start in my life. A fake beginning actually, because I had to leave the high school I was working in till June and I'm going back to a school where I worked the course 2008-09. It was there when I opened this blog, when it all started here. So I decided to give the blog a new try and try to update more often. I'm not sure if I will succeed with all these Facebook and Twitter in my life! Anyway, I'll do my best. To start this new year, I'm going to do it with something I love, music. And Norah Jones is always suitable for that. The best of all is you can sing-a-long watching the video.

Listening Activities

Some links to practice your listening skills:

http://www.esl-lab.com

http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/listening.php

http://esl.about.com/od/englishlistening/English_Listening_Skills_and_ActivitiesEffective_Listening_Practice.htm

http://listenaminute.com

http://www.5minuteenglish.com/listening.htm

http://iteslj.org/links/ESL/Listening/

http://www.agendaweb.org/listening/intermediate.html

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com

http://eslcafe.com/search/Listening/

http://www.xtec.cat/centres/b7006733/calaix0809/pauangles/provespauanglesanysanteriors.htm

http://blocs.xtec.cat/bloglearn/2011/06/04/listening-pau-exams/

http://aitorninerola.es/blog/examens-pau/

Reading Comprehension Activities

If you want to improve your reading skills and practice your comprehension, check the links below:


http://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/intermediate.html

http://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/first+certificate+in+english.html

http://issuu.com/joeprofile/docs/paau_logse_tests_oxford

http://www.edict.com.hk/vlc/comp/readcomp.htm

http://www.english-area.com/paginas/selectividad.htm

http://www.isabelperez.com/tests.htm

http://takethepen.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/examenes-de-ingles-para-selectividad/

http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/averroes/iesjosecaballero/ingles/RC/exer.htm

http://english.marylo.net/selectivity.php

Informal Letter

Here you have a presentation on Informal Letter.

Informal letter from Anabel Ponce

PRESENT TENSES

The first unit of Distinction covers present tenses. Here you can check a presentation about them

Present tenses from Anabel Ponce

49 YEARS AGO

Martin Luther King delivered one of the most famous speech in history, "I have a dream", in Washington, D.C. Every time I listen to it, I get a bit emotional since it is still valid for every one of us. Hope you enjoy it!

Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

FUTURE TENSES

1st btx gr_future

View more presentations from Anabel Ponce.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. DICKENS!

Today we are celebrating the 200th anniversary of one of the most important Victorian writers, Mr. Charles Dickens. The English department is preparing some activities to approach Dickens' world to our students. You can join us in the celebration commenting on this entry or on Twitter by using the hashtags #Dickens2012 and #englishtdp.

Today's doodle by Google

“My meaning simply is, that whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do well; that whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself to completely; that in great aims and in small, I have always been thoroughly in earnest.”

David Copperfield

BERLIN

AS WRITTEN BY MY COLLEAGUE VICKY

For those lucky guys who are travelling to Berlin just in a few days, as well as for those of us who are staying here, here's a little bit of information about Berlin.

Remember that Berlin is a city full of HISTORY, where you'll be able to see and touch the great wall that divided Europe for so many years.

Have a nice trip!!!

Open publication - Free publishing - More berlin

WORLD CANCER DAY

Reading other blogs, I've found this wonderful entry of my workmate Abel. We heard the story from a book one of us was reading, and it is indeed an amazing one. Read his post and discover more about a person we all should admire even if we have never heard her name before: Henrietta Lacks.

MODAL VERBS

A presentation on Modal verbs you could find on this blog time ago. Hopefully, it would be very useful for you.

Modal Verbs

View more presentations from Anabel Ponce

THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS

During the following two weeks you're going to discover a lot of things about New York. You're going to do a powerpoint presentation following the instructions given to you BY YOUR TEACHER, based in the webquest called "A Trip to New York". To start the webquest click here

DESCRIPTION OF A PLACE - WRITING 1st BATXILLERAT

Writing describing places

View more presentations from Anabel Ponce.

THIS IS HALLOWEEN...at Torre del Palau

Soon some videos of our trick and treating will come to this site! Don't miss it!

THIS IS HALLOWEEN!

Come and celebrate Halloween with the English department! You only have to follow the instructions on Thursday, 27th and get your treats!!!

On Friday, our Halloween wall appeared!

On Monday, the instructions were revealed

Come and check the riddles in our wall, learn one of them and tell it to your English teacher! Sweets are wating for you in the English department!

NOTTING HILL

The first week of November, we have the exam on Notting Hill, a wonderful book about love and other issues. Make sure you read it before the exam. We are sure you will read better by listening to the soundtrack of the film with the same title starred by Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. Enjoy the songs!

AFTER WATCHING `THE KING'S SPEECH´

After watching the movie, why don't your write a moving speech and record it? Think about an interesting situation and some audience to address to:

...a Prime Minister addressing his/her country in times of crisis.

...an actor/actress making and Oscar acceptance speech.

... a civil rights leader asking people to react against injustice.

...a charity manager asking people to donate money for the Third world children.

... a doctor warning about the dangers of smoking cigarrettes.

... a best man on his friend's wedding day.

FOLLOW THE IDEAS ON THIS SPEECHWRITING PAGE

Agree on a deadline with your teacher and send it to him or to her

THAT'S LIFE!

We have to assume it. Our worst enemy when we want our students to study nowadays is Facebook. I found this pic in a group from facebook -yeah, I felt into disgrace as well!!