Murcia Today (news from here)

Santa Lucía hospital had polyurethane cladding in its walls like in fatal Valencia tower fire

HELP Murcia Mar Menor delivers essential supplies to mothers and children in need

Don't let deals turn dirty: Police issue fresh Black Friday scam alert

Occupational Safety & Health

Occupational Safety & Health

A thorough presentation on this topic (by Nilantha Hulugalla)

Adverb / Adjective Collocations

First have a look at the difficult list: Collocations with intensifying adverbs.
And then at the easy one: just absolutely and completely. More from BBC here.
Check gradable adjectives (and this) as well... and finally a test, if you want to take it.

C1 Four WORK Issues to talk about for next Tuesday/Thursday: How to properly evaluate a Job offer / Surviving Toxic Workplaces / Work to live vs Live to Work / Work - Life Balance

Surviving Toxic Workplaces: 

Your Guide to Thriving Amidst Chaos

Regala tus palabras

To mark Human Rights Day (December 10), we want to send postcards of support and solidarity to victims unjustly imprisoned, written in the language of study.

We encourage everyone to participate!

Gerunds

Verbs followed by Gerunds or Infinitives

Fire somebody

Fire somebody (pdf document)

Health & Safety

6 Types of Workplace Hazard

[For more thorough info about this topic see next Saturday's post]

C2 Social / Emotional Learning

11 MindBrained Think Tank Social Emotional Learning Nov 2025

In previous issues, we've highlighted the importance of non-academic factors in learning, including relationships and emotions. In this issue, we're taking another look at the social and emotional aspects of learning. Our Main video provides an overview of a framework that identifies five social and emotional competencies we develop our whole lives. In our More podcast episode, educator Wendy Turner stresses the importance of modeling SEL behaviors for students and offers practical advice on incorporating SEL into teaching practices.

Education Stages in the UK and American Schools

US Education Levels

British Education System

Decisions, Plans, Predictions (Revision)

Work Collocations

C2 30 English Words you never Thought Existed 📖

1. Petrichor — The smell of rain on dry earth.
2. Defenestration — The act of throwing someone out of a window.
3. Limerence — The intense, obsessive feeling of romantic attraction.
4. Quockerwodger — A wooden puppet controlled by strings.
5. Zarf — A holder for a hot coffee cup, usually made of metal or cardboard.
6. Snollygoster — A shrewd, unprincipled person, especially a politician.
7. Cacophony — A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
8. Floccinaucinihilipilification — The act of estimating something as worthless.
9. Gobemouche — A gullible or naive listener.
10. Kerfuffle — A commotion or fuss.
11. Nudiustertian — Pertaining to the day before yesterday.
12. Pogonotrophy — The act of growing or cultivating a beard.
13. Blatherskite — A person who talks at great length without making much sense.
14. Agelast — Someone who never laughs.
15. Collywobbles — Stomach pain or queasiness.
16. Gardyloo — A warning cry before throwing water from a window (Scottish origin).
17. Hiraeth — A homesickness for a home you can’t return to.
18. Jentacular — Pertaining to breakfast.
19. Lugubrious — Looking or sounding sad and dismal.
20. Mumpsimus — Holding on to a mistaken belief despite being shown it’s wrong.
21. Oxter — The armpit.
22. Psithurism — The sound of rustling leaves or whispering.
23. Raconteur — A skilled storyteller.
24. Sesquipedalian — A person who uses long words.
25. Taradiddle — A petty lie or pretentious nonsense.
26. Umbra — The fully shaded inner region of a shadow.
27. Widdershins — Moving counterclockwise or in the opposite direction.
28. Yclept — An old word meaning “named” or “called.”
29. Zugzwang — A situation in chess where every move you make worsens your position.
30. Bumfuzzle — To confuse or perplex.

What if one or more of these words 

comes up in the final exam???

Thanks Antonio!

EL PAÍS (Spanish News in English)

Mexico, the next US target?

Dear readers,

The protests against Claudia Sheinbaum’s government have been used by some digital media outlets and commentators from the MAGA movement to denounce Mexico’s supposed transformation into a “narco-terrorist state.” In a context where the US has declared war on “narco-terrorism” in Latin America, the implication is clear: they are calling for Mexico to be the next target.

November 20 marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Francisco Franco. We interviewed British historian Paul Preston, author of the canonical biography of the Spanish dictator, at a time when Spain's youth seems to be increasingly embracing Franco's figure.

Our other interviewees this week include the Baroness de Rothschild, the veteran singer-songwriter Patti Smith, and Ben Collins, head of the satirical website The Onion. And finally, we bring you the story of the floating hotel that started out in Australia and ended up in North Korea after a series of unfortunate events.

We hope you enjoy this selection of stories from EL PAÍS USA Edition.

You can also read:

• Bosnians who alerted about ‘human safaris’ in Sarajevo: ‘The most shocking thing was each victim had a price’
• Hong Kong: How the Mecca of Chinese capitalism is attracting top Western scientists
• Generation Z longs for the 1990s: Idealizing a time when technology didn’t have a grip on young people
• Why AI cannot create new scientific knowledge
• Roblox: The video game where millions of children interact with strangers
• Madrid’s growing popularity as a filming location: More benefits for the city, more grief for the residents

Murcia Today (news from here)

Richard Gere is coming to Murcia to light the giantChristmas tree

Listeria alert in more sliced meats: Are these products in your fridge?

Renfe launches high-speed train tickets from Murcia for €19

Cutting off utilities to squatters in Spain will no longer be a crime

8 Common Pronunciation Rules in English Every Learner Should Know (By Emma Walker)

Pronunciation rules

Shadowing Challenge (By Lucy)

Dramatización del poema "Sola"

Thanksgiving Talk (By Tim)

Pronounce British Towns & Cities correctly (By Lucy)

At Work

Anxiety & Depression in Children

Anxiety & Depression in Children

Phrasal Verbs FAMILY

Co Workers

Job vs Work COLLOCATIONS

Job

• [found, landed] a new job [as, in]
• was fired from my job
• [quit, left] her job to [open, start, go]
• [change, move] jobs
• I'm only doing my job
• learn on the job
• [fell asleep, got hurt] on the job
• an advertisement for a job
• a job for [life, one year, a season]
• a job in [advertising, sales, show business]
• is a [thankless, rewarding] job
• it's a tough job (but someone's got to do it)
• did [a good, a great, an amazing] job (on)
• [nice, great] job!
• UK: it's a good job you (didn't)
• has the job of [mowing, cleaning, emptying]
• I was called out on a job
• [gave, assigned] me the job of [telling, informing]
• had quite a job [convincing, persuading, finding] her
• you had one job (to do)!
• that's not my job!
• it is not your job to
• do odd jobs for [friends, neighbors, cash, money]
• do odd jobs around the [house, yard, neighborhood]
• [planned, pulled off] a bank job
• sexually explicit, slang: gave me a [blow, hand] job
• slang: has had a nose jobn as adjgo to a job interview
• how is the job search going?
• [new, good] job opportunities
• a job advertisement
• is part of the job [title, description]
• a [good, bad] job market
• have job training (tomorrow)
• look at job postings
• is a job creator
• job [skills, creation]
• on-the-job training

Work

• [hard, tough, challenging, easy, simple, nice, dirty] work
• a [lot, great deal, load] of work
• [snowed under by, overwhelmed with] work
• very [busy, bored, snowed under] with work
• [he, my sister, her son] is looking for work
• I start work at [07:00, noon]
• the students finished their work [in class, at home]
• she [often, always] takes work home (with her)
• why am I always doing the dirty work?
• cleaning the [house, garage, office] is a lot of work
• [insulted, harassed, abused] at work
• answer [private, personal] [calls, emails] at work
• don't phone me at work!
• his work in the [field, sector, area, sphere] of
• my life's work has been [ruined, destroyed, stolen]!
• what work [can you do, have you done]?
• the [collected, selected, complete] works of
• I'll have the works!
• she [asked, invited, consulted] her work colleagues
• made light work of the [cleaning, task, project]

Write a Gratitude Message in a Jar!

EL PAÍS (Spanish News in English)

Historic US government shutdown ends

Dear readers,

‌As the US government starts to slowly reopen following nearly 43 days of shutdown, we analyzed the ways in which President Donald Trump is preparing for the midterm elections to avoid losing control of Congress.

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the worst terrorist atrocity in French history, resulting in 130 dead and 350 wounded. We spoke with one of the survivors of the attack on the Bataclan theater about his desire to move on.

This week we also look at how affordable housing has become a key issue to win elections — a fact that progressive political forces seem to be using to their advantage, as seen in recent votes in Europe and America.

And in lighter news, we interviewed Rosalía about her new album 'Lux,' and explored how Colombia is working to turn the humble aguardiente into a luxury drinking experience.

We hope you enjoy this selection of stories from EL PAÍS USA Edition.

You can also read:

• First map of the developing brain provides insight into origin of mental disorders
• Rosalía vs. Bad Bunny: The choice between identity and globalization via lyrics in Spanish
• Progressives should use COP30 to show democracies can deliver prosperity and save the planet
• Oldest RNA recovered from a mammoth that lived 40,000 years ago
• The era of scarcity: Climate change threatens the future of food
• Gay man and heterosexual woman, happily married: Is this becoming normalized in 2025?

Position of English Vowel & Consonant Sounds

Key for Character & Personality Activity

Check your answers here. 

Have a look at it even though you didn't do the activity  --it's a useful vocab sheet!

Paragraphs

Link Words

Talk about your relationships ...

 ... using this vocabulary:

Use them to define how you get on (or not) with family, friends and acquaintances.

Because

Describing Concerts

Adjectives and phreses for concerts and more tools to describe concerts.

Example Sentences for Concert Adjectives
 

• The captivating singer held the crowd’s attention.
• The dynamic performance energized the audience.
• The concert’s finale was electrifying and intense.
• Enchanting melodies filled the air, mesmerizing everyone.
• The band’s energetic stage presence fueled excitement.
• The engaging performer interacted with the fans.
• The show was entertaining, keeping everyone enthralled.
• The roller coaster ride was exhilarating and thrilling.
• The expressive guitarist conveyed emotions through music.
• The frenetic drumming added wild energy.
• The hypnotic lights created a mesmerizing ambiance.
• The virtual reality experience was immersive and captivating.
• The intense guitar solo left the audience awestruck.
• The melodic tunes brought a sense of tranquility.
• The dancers’ performance was mesmerizing and graceful.
• Her talent was truly phenomenal, impressing everyone.
• The raw vocals conveyed raw emotions powerfully.
• The suspenseful movie had thrilling moments throughout.
• The magical evening was truly unforgettable for all.
• The vibrant decorations added a festive atmosphere.

Spoken English Phrases

See pdf document here.

Not the real thing

Not Real, 

Faking and pretending

Cheating & Tricking

Describing Entertainment

Think of films, serials, novels, gigs, museums, exhibitions, podcasts, blogs, websites, applications ... that match the following adjectives:

Stop Making these Mistakes in English (by Lucy)

Check 35 Common Mistakes here.

How many of them did you use to make? Answer in the comment section.

C2 Collocations with adjectives for reviews

Check these collocations with some adjectives.

Can you Identify Literature's Famous Opening Lines?

Opening Lines Quiz [I almost 6/13 get a pass! :-( ]

Try this: Famous Books First Lines perhaps you might want to keep on reading...

The 100 greatest novels of all time Would you agree with the first 5?

EL PAÍS (News from Spain in English)

Democrats regain hope

Dear readers,

With resounding victories in New York, New Jersey, Virginia and California, Democrats woke up Wednesday with the feeling that their inability to connect with voters and win elections like the one they lost exactly a year ago to Donald Trump may be coming to an end.

In light of that anniversary, we interviewed Latinos in Florida who voted for Trump a year ago but are now feeling betrayed. Across the state, the disillusionment of residents, business owners, and community activists is palpable.

Elsewhere in the world, we looked at the growing cocaine flows from Latin America to Europe via Spain, even as Trump continues to raise the pressure against Colombia's president for his alleged drug ties. And following the assassination of a Mexican mayor at a public event, our reporters explored how parts of Mexico are caught between mafias.

In the midst of all this turmoil, we turned to Alberto Casas, a theoretical physicist and writer whose latest book explores time, free will, and whether all our decisions are merely an illusion created by our brains.

We hope you enjoy this selection of stories from EL PAÍS USA Edition

You cqn also read:

• Miami consolidates its position as the US capital of the Brazilian butt lift
• From the white Iberian lynx in Spain to the howler monkeys of Costa Rica: Why do animals change color?
• Gay man and heterosexual woman, happily married: Is this becoming normalized in 2025?
• Election results give new hope to US Democrats: they regain votes among Latinos and in swing states
• BYD, the Chinese car manufacturer that Musk mocked (and now fears)
• ‘Nunmania’ is here: Rosalía revives controversial convent craze

Murcia Today (News from Here)

Spain orders poultry lockdown as bird flu cases surge

Obesity costs Spain a €130 billion a year but losing just 5-10% of weight could save billions

Healthy food off the menu for more than a third of shoppers in Murcia

Life is good for those over 60 in San Javier, a new study finds

REVIEW Activity for Character & Personality vocabulary

Character & Personality Activity

KEY next week

C1 Comma Revision

Commas Matter Worksheet

(with key)

C1 This is how to Correctly Use Commas in your Writing

Please, read the article, especially the examples, to improve the use of commas in your writing. (From Grammarly Blog)

Do this quiz to revise! [only 10 sentences] and check your score!

Stunning Collocations

The following words collocate with STUNNING:  

stunning achievement
In seven unforgettable days, the gloom of the recession has been swept away by a golden tide of stunning achievement and national pride.
stunning design
Stunning design and performances in two hours that simply burst with human life.
stunning development
The combination of personal insight and stunning developments triggered by this alliance will change everything.
stunning dress
She'll look gorgeous - they've made her the most stunning dress in the world.
stunning effect
This time it worked to stunning effect, braking the car suddenly from 9mph and stopping it with inches to spare.
stunning fashion
She fell behind to a wazaari but came back in stunning fashion with two of her own to seal a well-deserved gong.
stunning image
You have surprised us with stunning images of your travels across the globe.
stunning look

C1 -ED pronunciation (regular past forms) and examples KEY

 Check last week ED pronunciation activity here.

Formal Letter Layout

Ways to Look