NB2 - QUESTIONS WITH 'LIKE'

Dear NB2 students,

As you very well know, we're working on how to describe people's appearance and personality. This is connected to the different uses of like which we saw in the last unit. We will revise it in class but if you want extra practice, this page will help you with a listening exercise, an explanation and a quiz.

By the way, I'm still waiting for more descriptions of the three ladies in the photo. Everybody can answer: What do they look like? and those of you who go to class with them can also answer: What are they like?

King Lear - comments

Dear students,

I hope you enjoyed the play last Friday. I think all of you told me that you did. (I hope you were being as sincere as Cordelia). The text adaptation, the performance of most of the actors and the stage design were very good, I thought.

One of my favourite aspects was the idea of 'reason in madness': Both Gloucester and Lear need a long time to recognise the truth. When Lear is mad he is able to understand the world around him and when Gloucester is blind he is able to see better than when he had eyes. Here are a few aspects you can comment on: parent-child relationship, pride, ingratitude, reality/appearance, old age and death...

For your information, there's an interesting film based on King Lear but set in a typical rural American community. The title is A thousand acres (Heredarás la tierra) (1997) and it stars Jessica Lange, Michelle Pfeiffer and the gorgeous-looking Colin Firth, among others.

Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again.

NB1 & NB2 - DESCRIBING PEOPLE

Dear students,

We're working on physical appearance now. Here is a photo of three students: Isabel, Argentina and Begoña. Why don't you write a description of one/all of them in a comment?

King Lear

For those of you who'are going to see this play on Friday, don't forget to collect your ticket at Secretaría this week.

Those of you in NB1 who come to class on Mondays and Wednesdays, remember we have a class on Friday.

HAPPY EASTER!

Dear all,

I know the word Easter puzzles you a bit, so here you can read something about the origins of the word and the history of this religious celebration. I wish you all a lovely holiday!

See you on Tuesday 25th March (Tuesday and Thursday groups) and on Wednesday 26th March ( Monday and Wednesday groups)!

LEARNING A SECOND LANGUAGE AT THE EOI

Dear all,

I've already told you about the uncertain future of Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas. The new study plans seem designed to lower the level of our teaching (and consequently, of your learning). I've included two new links: EOI students and EOIndignados (on the right hand side of this blog) which will help you understand the current situation and form your own opinion. I am convinced that if we all work together, we can make our voices heard ... YES, WE CAN!

NB1- REVIEW & PRACTICE

Here are the answers to the 'Review and Practice' section of unit 6.

1. + -ed: looked, owned, started, wanted
+ -d: closed, decided, lived, moved
+ -ied: married, worried
+ consonant + ed: planned, stopped

2. They were lovely people; worked in a car factory; he owned a car; she was a girl; She married; she stayed at home; My great-grandfather stopped work; always carried a little bag; died too.

3. 1. Was Pablo Picasso Spanish? Yes, he was.
2. Did Mozart play the guitar? No, he played the piano.
3. Was President Kennedy Russian? No, he was American.
4. Did the USA launch GPS satellites in 1983?No, they launched them in 1973.
5. Was the Hoover Building a factory 80 years ago? Yes, it was.
6. Did Alexander Graham Bell invent the computer? No, he invented the telephone.
7. Did the ancient Romans speak Latin? Yes, they did.
8. Did Neil Armstrong walk on a star? No, he walked on the moon.

4. 1. In front of
2. on
3. under
4. next to
5. in
6. between
7. behind

5. These are some possible answers:
1. café, Internet café, bar, restaurant
2. supermarket, bookshop, newsagent's, pharmacy, department store
3. art gallery, museum, church
4. bus station, train station, tram station
5. library, park, church
6. pharmacy, police station, post office, bank, bus station, train station, church

If you have any questions, please ask them tomorrow in class (NB1D) or on this blog (NB1D).