Monthly Archives: November 2023
PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS (B1.1)
CLICK ON ANY OF THESE PICTURES TO GO TO THE BBC WEBSITE AND REVIEW WHAT WE DID TODAY IN CLASS.
AND YOU? WHAT ARE YOU DOING AT CHRISTMAS? LET US KNOW ABOUT YOUR PLANS OR ARRANGEMENTS
PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS (B1.1)
WATCH THIS VIDEO AND SEE HOW PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS
https://www.topuplearning.com/present-continuous-for-future-arrangements-one-minute-english-video/
“GOING TO” or “GONNA”? (B1.1)
LISTEN TO THIS SONG
HOW DO THEY PRONOUNCE “GOING TO”?
Many English learners pronounce each word clearly, to get the pronunciation perfect – but native English speakers don’t do this.
Natural spoken English contains reductions – sounds that change and disappear when spoken at normal speed. This sometimes makes spoken English hard for students to understand.
Doing English pronunciation practice with reductions will help you speak more naturally AND understand spoken English more easily.
Most native English speakers don’t pronounce “to” like the number “2.” Instead, we say it like this:
GOING TO –> “GONNA”
Remember that gonna is only used in speaking. We should never write gonna (with the possible exception of texting between friends).
LET´S PRACTISE!!
- I’m gonna practice English every day. (Remind students that they will see it written as “I’m going to practice…” because gonna is only used in spoken English.)
- Are you gonna go out tonight?
- He’s gonna do his homework.
- She’s gonna buy a new dress.
- We’re gonna play our new video game.
- Are they gonna go to Disneyland next year?
What are you “gonna” do at Christmas ? on New Year’s Eve?
“GOING TO”: PLANS & PREDICTIONS(B1.1)
PLANS
SPIN THE WHEEL & TRY TO GIVE FULL ANSWERS
PREDICTIONS
NOW YOU CAN PRACTISE WITH THESE INTERACTIVE EXERCISES
https://en.islcollective.com/video-lessons/future-tense-predictions-with-going-to
https://en.islcollective.com/video-lessons/predictions-be-going-to
THE SAFEST MEANS OF TRANSPORT? (2B1)
ALTHOUGH VALENCIA IS COMMITTED TO AN ALTERNATIVE MODEL OF GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION , LEADING TO LESS TRAFFIC JAMS, FRESHER AIR AND LOWER TRANSPORT COSTS , E-SCOOTERS APPEAR IN THE NEWS NOW AND AGAIN….
WHY ARE ELECTRIC SCOOTERS IN THE NEWS ?
“Spain sees first case of a pedestrian killed by an electric scooter” READ MORE
“Valencia is set to adopt new more restrictive rules banning scooters from sidewalks” READ MORE
So, are electric scooters one of the safest means of transport or one of the most dangerous? the greenest kind of transport? or the most polluting?
LET´S GO OVER THE GRAMMAR OF COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES…
NOW YOU ARE READY TO REVIEW THE GRAMMAR ON PAGE 136.
SURVIVE THE RIDE!! (2B1)
Electric mobility is rapidly expanding in Valencia and a new sector has entered the market: ELECTRIC SCOOTERS.
A modern way to travel through Valencia is an electric scooter (also called e-scooter). The scooter was introduced in the beginning of 2018. With the e-scooter you can travel quick, easy and green through the beautiful city of Valencia. As you walk through Valencia you will undoubtedly see someone racing around on this modern step. No movement with your leg is needed to move forward, the electric step will do it for you!
“The scooter could be an answer to urban mobility problems in Valencia and traffic jams. The use of electric scooters has become very popular from the very beginning – considered smarter and funnier especially by young people – in contrast to the bike rental systems, which is showing lower levels of use.” READ MORE…
Source: Story first published in August by El Mundo
However, this method of transport “pose risks to their users as well as pedestrians and other vehicles…Valencia, Málaga, Granada, Zaragoza, Cáceres (Extremadura) and Vitoria (Basque Country) among other provincial capitals are planning restrictions.…”
“Valencia’s transport councillor Giuseppe Grezzi said dedicated spaces would be set up in the city for these vehicles, and they would be treated in a similar way to bicycles, with some restricted access allowed on pedestrianised streets.”
But Valencia does not want to be too harsh on them – Joan Ribó said they help reduce traffic in the city and do not pollute the atmosphere.
“If you look at traffic data for cars in Valencia, you’ll see that it’s reducing, despite the growing economic activity here. That’s a good thing,” Ribó admitted.
“And if you look at air-pollution data for the city, the reduction in motor traffic is also good…..” “So, on that basis, they are very welcome.” READ MORE…
NEW RULES FOR ELECTRIC SCOOTERS FROM JANUARY 2024
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE USE OF THIS CLEAN AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT MEANS OF TRANSPORT. DO YOU THINK IT´S THE BEST WAY TO GET AROUND IN VALENCIA? ARE ELECTRIC SCOOTERS MORE DANGEROUS THAN BIKES? DO YOU THINK BIKES ARE SAFER?
REMEMBER TO DO THE VOCABULARY BANK ON TRANSPORT (page 227)
HOW MUCH DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT COMPARATIVES & SUPERLATIVES?
COMING HOME FOR XMAS?? (B1.1)
Inflation has reached unthinkable records in 2023 .The rising cost of living means we can spend less at Christmas. However, ‘Christmas is going to be back to normal this year’ OR so people say.. Seven years ago Heathrow airport joined the battle of the Christmas adverts with a clip featuring two teddy bears returning home. A REAL TEARJERKER!!!!
- CAN YOU THINK OF COMMON ACTIONS PEOPLE DO AT THE AIRPORT? i.e. “CATCH A PLANE”……..etc…etc…
- HOW IS CHRISTMAS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR FROM LAST YEAR?
- WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NEXT CHRISTMAS? HAVE YOU GOT ANY PLANS?
THANKSGIVING 2023 (ALL LEVELS)
THIS YEAR THANKSGIVING IS CELEBRATED TODAY ( on Thursday, November 23rd , 2023) IN THE USA & CANADA. AND LIKE MOST HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS IN 2022, IT’S GOING TO LOOK STILL A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS NOVEMBER: THANKSGIVING DINNER WILL COST 20% MORE THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF INFLATION AND THE RISING FOOD COSTS. SO AMERICANS WILL TRAVEL LESS AND SPEND LESS TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
TO CUT BACK ON COSTS, SOME EXPERTS RECOMMEND SKIPPING THE FULL TURKEY AND SAVING MONEY BY SIMPLY SERVING TURKEY BREASTS, WINGS OR LEGS INSTEAD. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU COULD SERVE ANOTHER MORE AFFORDABLE PROTEIN LIKE A CHICKEN OR CORNISH HEN TO ENJOY WITH MANY DELICIOUS SIDES.
BUT HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THANKSGIVING? WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?
ENGLISH TODAY MAGAZINE
LISTEN TO THE STORY
MAYBE THIS COULD BE FUNNIER… OR ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS…..
https://app.fluentize.com/lesson/friends-tv-series-thanksgiving
GRADABLE AND STRONG ADJECTIVES (2B1)
“FREEZING AIR MASS COMING OVER SPAIN THIS WEEKEND”
“WINTER IS COMING” AND SPAIN´S SPRING-LIKE AUTUMN IS PREDICTED TO END WITH HEAVY RAIN AND THE FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON. SATURDAY IS EXPECTED TO BE THE COLDEST DAY OF THE WEEK…..
“FREEZING “ is a strong (non-gradable = strong= extreme) adjective which means very, very COLD
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT GRADABLE & NON-GRADABLE =STRONG ADJECTIVES?
Gradable/ Strong Adjectives
Tom is very cold.
Sarah is absolutely freezing.
Cold is a “weak” or “gradable” adjective. It could be 5°, 10°, or more or less than this. We use it with words like:
slightly cold, a bit cold, very cold, extremely cold
Freezing is a “strong” or “ungradable” adjective – it is very, very cold! It can’t be a bit freezing, so we use it with words which mean “the most”.
absolutely freezing, completely freezing, utterly freezing
If you aren’t sure whether an adjective is strong or weak, you can use “really” – it works with all adjectives.
HAVE A LOOK AT THIS PRESENTATION and LEARN ABOUT THE RULES
MULTIPLE CHOICE EXERCISES
LINKING WORDS : TIME SEQUENCERS & CONNECTORS ( B1.1)
LOOK AT THESE PICTURES:
I FELT ILL
I WENT TO THE DOCTOR´S
I DIDN´T GO TO THE DOCTOR´S
HOW CAN YOU LINK THESE TWO IDEAS?
MCARGOBE´S BLOG-ROOM 