Possible Questions to be used in Interaction

Choose the ones you might choose to use in your interaction part of the oral exam:

Order and Time of Written Tests

Binomials

Binomial expressions are common English phrases that include a pair of words usually joined by “and” or “or” (e.g. black and white, plain and simple, more or less). The order of the words is usually fixed, and they are a single chunk of English vocabulary. 

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Spanish News in English

Dear readers,

The Spanish government of Pedro Sánchez faced its biggest diplomatic crisis to date this week when up to 9,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish exclave city of Ceuta. Moroccan authorities reportedly did nothing to stop the flow to punish Spain for its decision to allow a Sahrawi liberation leader to receive medical treatment in Logroño.

The crisis has since been brought under control – 5,600 people have returned home, either voluntarily or after being deported, and the Moroccan gendarmerie has secured the border. The main challenge now is accommodating the more than 780 unaccompanied minors who reached Ceuta and are now under state care.

In other big news, travelers from the UK will no longer face coronavirus restrictions when entering Spain. The order, which comes into effect on Monday, means Britons will not have to present a negative PCR test.

Meanwhile, Sánchez has announced that the mass vaccination of the 40-49 age group will begin in June. The incidence rate in Spain has now fallen below the 250-threshold considered to indicate a situation of extreme risk, but contagions are still high in regions such as Madrid and the Basque Country.

And finally, after a one-year hiatus the ¿Qué? podcast is back! This week, we talk about the epidemiological situation in Spain and the Ceuta migrant crisis.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from the EL PAÍS English Edition, and that you are staying safe.

Thanks for reading.
MELISSA KITSON

The causes and impacts of the melting Himalayan glaciers

Find out why the Himalayan mountain range is so important and why the melting Himalayan glaciers are a cause for concern. (From Future Learn Blog)

Spanish News in English: El País

Dear readers,

Spain's Covid-19 vaccination drive continues to speed ahead. More than six million people have received the two doses needed for full protection, and regions have announced plans to start vaccinating the under-50s.

As the campaign progresses, the number of Covid-19 deaths has started to fall. Eight Spanish regions recorded fewer than 10 fatalities between April 19 and 25, while weekly victims have fallen by 90% since the drive began in late December.

The good news comes after authorities called for prudence in response to the scenes of disorderly street parties that were seen last weekend following the state of alarm.

In other news, Spain is planning changes to Social Security contributions, which could lead to a multi-tiered system based on real income, rather than a fixed monthly rate.

And finally, to mark the anniversary of the 15-M political movement, EL PAÍS spoke with several historians about the importance of the social protests and their legacy today.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from the EL PAÍS English Edition, and that you are staying safe.

Thanks for reading.
MELISSA KITSON

Inversions

C2 Latin & Greek Plural Nouns

Latin & Greek Plural Nouns and see this post as well.

International Nurses Day

International Year of the Health & Care Workers 2021 

WHO Fact Sheets

Nurses Day is celebrated on 12 May every year.

How to Write a quick Essay Outline

Read last week news: El País

Dear readers,

After a tense campaign, the conservative Popular Party won a resounding victory at the Madrid regional election on Tuesday. Premier Isabel Díaz Ayuso secured more seats than the three leftist parties combined, and will be able to form a government with the abstention of the far-right Vox.

The defeat prompted Unidas Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias – who had resigned as one of Spain‘s deputy prime ministers to contest the race – to announce his departure from his roles in Spanish politics.

In the meantime, with the state of alarm set to end on Sunday, many regions are increasingly concerned about what impact this will have on efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The central government has published a decree that would give the Supreme Court the final word on restrictions that limit fundamental rights, such as the curfew, but there are complaints that more action is needed.

And finally, we spoke to Elvira Clara Bonet, a Barcelona resident who befriended ‘Gone with the Wind’ star Vivien Leigh after sending her a fan letter in 1957. Bonet, now 80, is auctioning off some 70 personal items belonging to the Hollywood legend, including unpublished photos of her honeymoon with Laurence Olivier.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from the EL PAÍS English Edition, and that you are staying safe.

Thanks for reading.
MELISSA KITSON

C1 & C2 Oral Mediation Activity

CONTEXT: Wesley is staying in Cartagena next weekend, when La Noche de los Museos takes place. He asked you for advice on which activities to visit and routes to go to. Wesley loves Cartagena's sea and history above all. You were given this extract from the programme to help him choose the activities.

TASK: Read the extract (2 mins.) and choose several activities to go to according to his likes (3 mins.). Be ready to tell him what to do on this special day (in 3 mins.).

TO BE ASSESSED: 

Task completion: Identification and selection of the information
Clarity and efficiency of the message
Adaptation of the message: intelligibility and register

C1 Advertising and Marketing Vocabulary

Of course you shouldn't learn all the words and phrases in the cloud, but just check some and include them in your active vocabulary!!!

220 Phrasal Verbs used in everyday language

 

El País Weekly News

Dear readers,

Tensions have been rising in Madrid ahead of the regional election on May 4. As the date approached, the political debate gave way to a series of ever-more concerning criminal incidents. In the past week, Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto was sent a bloody knife, Madrid premier Isabel Díaz Ayuso received a death threat letter and former PM José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was targeted with a package containing bullets.

In the meantime, the far-right Vox party has stepped up its campaign, promising to block access to euthanasia and abortion.

In coronavirus news, the incidence rate is holding steady and the Covid-19 vaccination drive is speeding ahead. Doubts, however, remain over what course of action should be taken for the essential workers under 60 who received a AstraZeneca dose before the vaccine was restricted to the 60-69 age group.

And finally, we looked at the discovery of the remains of a 700-year-old child in the Real Alcázar of Seville.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from the EL PAÍS English Edition, and that you are staying safe.

Thanks for reading.

MELISSA KITSON