Avanzado 2 - Review Unit 3

Here are the answers:

1 1 imaginary 2 unforgettable 3 harmful 4 powerless 5 receptive 6 unexpected 7 infectious 8 introductory 9 facial 10 rising

2 1e 2c 3a 4g 5d 6d 7f

4 1 dust 2 rubbish 3 litter 4 binge 5 money 6 debts

5 1 overdrawn 2 overslept 3 overrated 4 overpaid 5 overpriced

6 1 what 2 a bore 3 all 4 do 5 that 6 broke 7 how 8 do 9 would 10 spend

Básico 1 - daily routines

Here's somebody talking about his daily routine. Listen to him and answer the questions.

And here is a very interesting site where you can do interactive exercises. Scroll down the page and click on routine introduction 1 and 2 and routines 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Avanzado 2 - Recycling

We've been working on the topic of recycling. If you want some more practice, click here and listen to the programme.

What about you? Where do you put your rubbish?
Do you sort or recycle your rubbish? In what ways? I'd like you to write the answers to this questions in the comments section:

Avanzado 2 - Review Unit 2

Here are the answers:

1a lot 2 the same 3 as 4 far/a lot 5 such 6 quite
B 7 by far 8 like 9 near 10 every 11 so 12 more

2 1 goes 2 around 3 get; give 4 worked 5 wrong 6 long

3 a of up down
b for by back
c about to to

4 1 no use worrying about it 2 seemed not to believe me 3 looking forward to seeing Sally next week 4 on to become a succesful coach 5 your ability to keep (so) calm 6 has difficulty pronouncing my name 9 had better get ready

Avanzado 2 - Alison Lapper

Here's a short video where Alison Lapper talks about herself and her art.

Feel free to write a comment about it.

Básico 1 - family relationships

This time you have to listen to a conversation and answer the questions. You can read the script after doing the exercise, if you need to.

Básico 1 - Families

If you want to practise the vocabulary we saw in our last class, this quiz is a good idea. Find the word family on the left and click on relationships.

Avanzado 2 - Review Unit 1

Here are the answers:

1 1 achievement 2 survival 3 pleasure/ satisfaction 4 awareness 5 offence 6 urgency 7 dissatisfaction 8 reponsibilities 9 adaptation 10 inaccuracies

2 1A 2C 3B 4C 5A 6C 7B 8B

3 1 is being 2 comes 3 's coming 4 've been doing 5've made 6 be having 7 had

4 My youngest boy, David, starts school next week. He's a bit nervous about it all, and to tell you the truth, so am I. The other two never seem to worry about anything, and neither/ nor does their father. David obviously takes after me in that respect. We know, though, that he's got the same class teacher as the one Paul had two years ago, so that's good. Her name is Miss Appleby. She's a caring person and a very good teacher - at least I think so and I know most of the other parents think so/ do too. There's a two-week period of adaptation at the beginning, and it may be that David will come home at midday during this/that time. If so, I've arranged for my mum to pick him up and look after him until I finish work.

Básico 1 - Let's review!

Hi!

To help you revise, you can do these two activities:

Listen to this conversation. Write your answers and then check they're right.

Watch this video on introductions.

See you tomorrow!

All - What's on in Madrid in English?

A couple of events that may interest you:

If you want to enjoy theatre in English, you've got the chance to see two plays by Harold Pinter, Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005. You can find more information here.

A Christmas bazaar will be held at the end of November. It is run by the British Ladies association and the proceeds go to the charities they support. On sale will be gifts, crafts, secondhand books, clothing and toys. Click here if you're interested.

Avanzado 2 - The quarterlife crisis

Dear students:

As a follow-up to what we've been talking about in class, here's part of a TV show in India where this topic is discussed. Do you find the accent difficult to understand? Post a comment with your views.

Básico 1 - PHONETIC SYMBOLS

Little by little, we'll become familiar with phonetic symbols.

To start with, you can download this chart and save it to your computer. It will help you hear the sounds of English by clicking on each symbol.

New academic year - Básico 1 and Avanzado 2

Dear students,

Welcome to the blog! I hope this resource will help you improve your learning and practise your writing skills by writing in the 'comments' sections. As a starter, you can have a look at the useful links and the archive section on the right-hand side of this page.

I just wanted to share a piece of fantastic news with all of you:

Fortunately, I've passed my competitive exam and I've got a permanent job from now on at the Escuela Oficial de Idiomas (vamos, que he sacado la plaza).

Thanks to all of you because you've helped me become the teacher I am now.

ALL - See you!

Dear students,

This is just to wish you all a good summer.

Congratulations to those of you who've passed and good luck for September to those who haven't. I hope you've enjoyed the year and have learnt a lot. Thank you for your effort and enthusiasm.

All the best for next year!

Intermedio 1 Mini-check Module 11

Here are the answers:
1 we didn't have to 2 are allowed to 3 you should 4 do I have 5 you aren't allowed 6 you're allowed 7 as a result 8 although 9 even though 10 besides 11 also 12 a mess 13 a mistake 14 a suggestion 15 a profit 16 to make 17 make 18 be made 19 making 20 to make

Read the post below before your exam. Good luck!

ALL- IMPORTANT!

Dear all,

As classes come to an end, let me remind you of a few things:

• The marks of your 'evaluación continua' are posted on the classroom noticeboard. Make sure you know if you have to sit the June exam and, if so, which parts.


• Check the date and times of the exam.


• After the written exam in June, the marks will be posted along with the times of the speaking test and revision. Remember that you can only do the speaking test if you've passed the other three parts.


• After the speaking test, all the marks will be posted. If you're not APTO, in September you will have to resit the parts that you failed in June.


• You can find the information above on the noticeboards outside Building B, not in the classroom.


• You will be able to download your final marks on (by filling in your ID number and date of birth on the school webpage).

• Check this page to find online resources to prepare for the exam.

Intermedio 1 Mini-check Module 10

Here are the answers:

1 arrived 2 had been 3 hadn't had 4 ate 5 were 6 hadn't flown 7 found 8 when/ if/ whether 9 him 10 In 11 him where he lived 12 (that) she was leaving the next day 13 the waitress (that) I'd never eaten snake before 14 (me) if I had enjoyed the film 15 her friends (that) she'd just got engaged 16 cry 17 tell 18 By 19 off 20 plead

Avanzado 1 - The use of technology at school

Dear students,

I've found this article in The Guardian and thought it might interest you, as we were talking about this in class last week.

Studying English abroad

In case you or someone you know might be interested, here is some information on grants to spend the summer in the UK and Ireland studying English.

Intermedio 1 Mini-check Module 9

Sorry for the delay!

Here are the answers:

1 will almost certainly 2 is likely to 3 There definitely won't 4 may not get 5 You may well 6 doesn't start 7 'll definitely fail 8 gave 9 would you do 10 were 11 wouldn't tend 12 economical 13 educated/educational 14 predict 15 unemployment 16 make 17 million 18 rising 19 taking 20 had

Yes, We Want or The shoemaker's son always goes barefoot

Hi,

Have a look at this article on the new campaign for bilingual schools in Madrid and leave your comments.

Avanzado 1 Review and Practice Unit 7

Here are the answers:

11 some 2 luggage 3 much 4 is 5 some 6 a few 7 a 8 some

2 1 is included 2 was sent 3 will be delivered/are going to be delivered 4 is being repaired 5 has been opened 6 will be caught 7 were charged 8 had been employed

3 1 She had new tyres fited to her car yesterday.
2 She had a new cooker delivered yesterday.
3 She had her hair cut and had highlights done this morning.
4 She's having a carpet fitted in the living room at the moment.
5 She's going to have her watch repaired this afternoon.
6 She's going to have her eyes rtested tomorrow.
7 She's going to have her windows cleaned tomorrow.
8 She's going to have her coat dry-cleaned tomorrow.

4 1 raw 2 for 3 worth 4 horse's 5 paw 6 refund 7 boil 8 bear

5 1 overtired 2 underestimated 3 monotonous 4 retrain 5 biannual 6 multi 7 reheat 8 unusual

All - Enjoy the break!

Dear all,

Have a well-deserved rest and enjoy the holidays!

See you on 6th/7th April.

Intermedio 1 - Tears of the Giraffe - progress test key

Dear Intermedio 1 students,

Here's the answer key to the exercises on Tears of the Giraffe:

1 commune, game tracker 2 detective agency, client

2 a work b pump c yellowing

3 a1 b1 c2 d1 e2 f2

4 a clients b weaker c private d photographer

5 a a prison b stealing c worse d gun e house f police g lazy h dishonest

6 a bored b slightly c surprised d interested e annoying

7 aT bF cF d T eF

Let me remind you that you have to hand in your book review after the Easter break and that the next book we're going to read is Windows of the Mind by Frank Brennan (Cambridge English Readers) Cambridge University Press. Make sure you've read it by 3rd May.

Intermedio 1 Mini-check Module 7

Here are the answers:

1 of 2 mind 3 not 4 to 5 if 6 Could 7 I'll lend 8 Will you 9 Would 10 I'll have 11 closing 12 to close 13 to close 14 close 15 closing 16 the 17 become 18 to 19 having 20 for

Avanzado 1 Review and practice Unit 6

Here are the answers:

1 1 I've been writing 2 saw 3 for 4 been 5 ever 6 I've lived 7 's been working 8 just

2 1 He's already phoned me three times today.
2 We went to India for three weeks last summer.
3 I've just seen a really fantastic musical.
4 Have you heard the news yet?
5 I've been decorating the living room all day.
6 I've known my best friend since primary school.
7 Have you ever read the Lord of the Rings books?
8 How long have you been studying English?

3 1 How long have you had your motorbike?
2 What's she going to study at university?
3 How tall are you?
4 Can you reach that box on the top shelf for me?

4 1 Can you tell me/ Can I ask you what time this shop closes?
2 I'd like to know if I can buy theatre tickets here.
3 Would you tell me what time you'll finish your homework?
4 Can you tell me what the most interesting country you've ever visited is?

5 1 much 2 worst 3 as 4 most 5 quite 6 friendly 7 a 8 best

6 1 putting -> setting 2 scratchy -> itchy 3 make -> have 4 of -> with 5 speaking -> saying 6 country -> culture 7 to -> on 8 away -> off

Intermedio 1 Mini-check Module 6

Here are the answers:

1 surprising 2 disappointed 3 confused 4 exciting 5 depressed 6 are injured 7 have been found 8 is being built 9 cost 10 was stolen 11 will / are going to complete 12 in 13 about 14 to 15 by 16 about 17 happy 18 angry 19 hot 20 surprised

Avanzado 1 Review and Practice Unit 5

Here are the answers:

1 2 used to be 3 get used to not understanding 4 used to finish 5 get used to having

2 1 The party in the flat upstairs was very noisy. However, I managed to get a few hours' sleep.
2 I would say that Charlotte is my best friend although I've only known her for a few months.
3 I wanted to have a party this weekend but my parents weren't happy about the idea.
4 He's very unreliable. Nevertheless, she seems to be in love with him.
5 Sandra is a very good student. However, she will ned to work a bit harder if she wants to pass her exams.
6 Although I had all the necessary qualifications, I didn't get the job.
7 I enjoyed the film but some of the acting was awful.

3 1Do you think you will be able to finish the presentation by Friday?
2 They finally manged to get the car out of the mud.
3 I could draw quite well as a child.
4 He wasn't able to persuade the other employees to go on strike.
5 She didn't know how to make his camera work.
6 Did you manage to speak to Brian before he went home?

4 1 relieved 2 clean-shaven 3 a bit of a loner 4 muscular 5 pain in the neck 6 confused

All - Learning with films

Hi everyone,

As you know, films are a very useful resource in your learning process. I've found this website where you can watch a movie trailer of your choice and answer some comprehension questions about it.

I hope you enjoy it.

Intermedio 1 Mini-check Module 5

Here are the answers:

1 'm going 2 to go 3 going 4 go 5 to go 6'll go 7 imaginative 8 jealousy 9 succesful 10 ambition 11 skills 12 run 13 call you back 14 due 15 to travel 16 for 17 on 18 for 19 in 20 for

Avanzado 1 Review and Practice Unit 4

Here are the answers:
1 1g 2d 3b 4e 5a 6f 7h 8c

2 1 What will we do if the taxi doesn't come on time?
2 If I had been born a year earlier, I would have done the military service.
3 What would you do if you were offered a better job?
4 If I'm not home by 11 pm, my dad will be really angry.
5 I wouldn't have hired a car if I had known how expensive it was going to be.
6 If she works really hard between now and the exams, she will probably pass.
7 We would have gone to the cinema if we had been able to find a babysitter.
8 If I were you, I would go on along holiday.

3 1 You didn't have to wait for me.
2 I'm supposed to take some ID.
3 I didn't need to get up early theis morning.
4 We've got to be in our seats at the teatre by 7.30pm.
5 You shouldn't have forgotten Janine's birthday.
6 Did you have to do miltary service when you were eighteen?

4 1 it 2 so 3 just 4 vital 7 does 8 such

5 1 work 2 elbow 3 dream 4 stretch 5 intense 6 heightened 7 shoulders 8 achievement

Avanzado 1 - Free Running - answer key

Here are the answers to the reading comprehension questions on page 52.

Ex. 6: 1 True 2 True 3 False (a group which later split) 4 False (Foucan is surprised) 5 True 6 False 7 False (and couldn't walk for nine weeks) 8 True 9 False

Ex.7: 1 vault 2 opt 3 setback 4 momentum 5 cliche 6 rigid

Is free running a good thing for young people to be involved in? Write your answers in the comments section of this post.

international meeting point

One of my students - Alexia, thank you - has told me about a non-smoking international exchange group that gets together twice a week and organises all sorts of activities. If you're interested in meeting people and practising your English while having fun , you can find more information here.