Merry Christmas and happy 2010

If you want to finish the movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc8N8zq77oc

See you next year

Hope three wise men bring you loads of good things

Christmas carols

This is one of the carols we'll be signing on Monday's school party. I upload the video for you to practise at home:

It is a wonderful life

We will be watching the movie on Thursday and it is 2 hours long, so, please, try to be punctual.

For the group from 19.10 to 21.00, please try to arrive to class 10 minutes earlier than usual

Christmas music and more

To learn something more about Xmas music: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_music

American Xmas traditions: http://holidays.kaboose.com/christmas/traditions/united-states/xmas-around-unitedstates.html

Christmas carols karaoke. Practice at home with your kids and relatives: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=466B_ByU8yE
(Skip jingle bells cause it has no lyrics to follow and start from minute 2 on)

Recommended books to read

Here you have some of my favourite books. I hope you enjoy it. Tell me if you decide to read any of them.

“The curious incident of the dog in the night-time” by Mark Haddon
“Matilda” by Roald Dahl
“The Collected Short Stories” by Roald Dahl
“The Collector” by John Fowles
“The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” by John Boyle
“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain
“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain

Outside the list, but inside the White House

You may have heard it already. Anyway, if you still want to read the whole story, here you are.

Degree adverbs-fairly, pretty, extremely

For those of you needing further explanation and practise, here you are:

http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/ADVERBS7.cfm
http://www.testyourenglish.net/english-online/subjects/advofdeg.html
http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/361.html

Christmas Cards competition

Are you creative? Do you like Christmas? If so, don't hesitate and create you own Christmas Card. It has to be 10x15cm and you have to write your good wishes inside

If you feel like participating, the deadline is on December the 10th. There will be six prizes. One of them could be for you!!!

Stative and dymanic verbs

Here you'll find a little explanation on today's grammar:

http://esl.about.com/od/grammarstructures/a/g_stative.htm

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/stative-verbs.html

And here you have some extensive exercises to practise:

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/stative-verbs-exercise.html

I'll be back on Thursday

Sorry for the inconveniences my absence may have caused you, but it was impossible to me to be with you on Tuesday.
Fortunately, I'm feeling much better right now, so see you on Thursday!!!

Thriller's lyrics

Here you have the lyrics of the song we were working with today in class. Be careful, because they are the song version, not the clip ones, so they may be a little desorganized if you compare them to the ones in the copy I gave you.

http://www.lyricsondemand.com/m/michaeljacksonlyrics/thrillerlyrics.html

Halloween's recipe

Here you have one of the easiest ways of cooking a delicious Pumpkin Pie. Though traditionally served in Thanksgiving, Halloween can also be a good excuse to taste it. If you feel like cooking and you have beginner's luck, don't hesitate and try!

David vs Goliath- Congratulations Alcorcon!!!

No comments. Just enjoy:

http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_23669.shtml

Bibliography

SUGGESTED GRAMMAR BOOKS:
-Foley, Mark and Hall, Diane (2003). Advanced Learner’s Grammar. A self-study Reference and Practice book with answers. England: Longman.

-Hewings, Martin. (2005) Advanced Grammar in Use. Second Edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

-Vince, Michael with Sunderland, Peter. (2003) Advanced Language Practice with key. English Grammar and Vocabulary. Oxford: McMillan.

-Richard Side and Guy Wellman. Grammar and Vocabulary for Cambridge Advanced and Proficiency: With Key (Grammar & Vocabulary). Longman.

VOCABULARY BUILDING:
-English collocations in Use. Advanced. Felicity O’Dell and Michael McCarthy. Cambridge University Press. 2008

-English Vocabulary in Use. Advanced. Cambridge University Press. Michael McCarthy and Filicity O’Dell. 2002

-English Idioms in Use. Michael McCarthy and Felicity O’Dell. Cambridge University Press. 2002

ORAL PRACTICE WORKSHOPS FROM NOVEMBRE ON

If you wish to reinforce your speaking, you are free to attend to the following hours:

• WEDNESDAYS from 11.30 am to 12.30 am in room 1.2

OR

• WEDNESDAYS from 4.00 pm to 5 pm in room 2.10

Michelle Obama on Jay Leno's Show

Yesterday, the famous showman Jay Leno teleinterviewed the First Lady alive on his famous "Ten at ten" .

Mrs Obama appeared relaxed , close to people and self-confident, using an informal way of speaking, but she also used her intervention for a particular goal . This fact together with Leno's particular sense of humour have made the video to be spread all around the world and visited more than 300 times, till now.

Here you have the link in case you want to watch the complete interview and understand a little more American sense of humour:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6aF9nFaJao&hl=es

Change in the student's attention hour

It will be finally fixed on Tuesdays from 4.30 pm to 5 pm

Palladio's exhibition-Caixaforum

On Friday 30th October, at 11.30 am, the school is preparing a visit to Palladio's exhibition in Caixaforum- Paseo del Padro-which will be entirely commented in English. It will last one hour approximately and entrance is free. Tell me before October the 27th if you want to go.

Mobile phones in the news

Last Tuesday, we analysed the pros and cons of mobile phones in modern society.Here you have two interesting links on that, in case you want to read a bit:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/314363.stm

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1198940,00.html

Dracula- Drockula- Theatre in English

On October the 24th, 5.30 p.m. Theater Alcazar.
Tell me if you'd like to come.
Don't miss this funny piece in English!!!

Useful information

-Tutories: Tuesdays from 4.30 pm to 5.00 pm. You'll find me either in the English department or in the library.

-Coursebook: PREMIUM B2 level. Ed. Pearson Longman. Workbook is not compulsory, but highly recommendable.

- You can also get in touch with me by email: martuk.81@gmail.com

- For other stuff related to the school (school calendar, vacancies...): http://www.eoialcorcon.com/

Welcome you all!

Hi everyone,

I wish you all a good academic year's start. I hope you enjoy lessons and have the "Decalogue of an EOI good student" in mind. Don't forget you've been given a great chance to improve your English. Don't miss it!!!