Monday, 23 June 2025

Summer is here!

Dear students

As we left behind the exam period, I encourage you to indulge in topics that genuinely captivate your interest. It's an ideal opportunity to revive your interest for the English language by engaging with content that resonates with you.

You might consider allocating time to listen to thought-provoking TED Talks or BBC podcasts, which can provide a wealth of knowledge and stimulate engaging discussions. Alternatively, you could channel your creativity into writing reviews of books, TV series, restaurants, or concerts that have left a lasting impression on you.

Revisiting previous posts on pronunciation, grammar or practising shadowing exercises using texts from your textbooks can also be a valuable way to hone your linguistic skills. Moreover, organizing an English Hour with classmates or friends can be a delightful way to maintain momentum, whether you choose to debate current events, share personal anecdotes, or discuss future plans.

If you've been meaning to start reading a book that's been recommended to you, now is the perfect time to embark on that literary journey. Or you might read national, international or local news. The key takeaway is to ensure that your engagement with the language remains consistent, leveraging your interests and hobbies to fuel your reading, viewing, and listening habits.

In the event that you require some extra inspiration, I will resume to provide ideas and suggestions in the remaining days of June and throughout July.

Happy beginning of summer for you all!

News in English EL PAÍS

The voice of opposition to Trump


Dear readers,

In the wake of mass ICE raids in L.A. and the deployment of the military by the Trump administration, California governor Gavin Newsom is emerging as one of the strongest voices within the Democratic Party in his public opposition to the U.S. president.

On the global stage, Israel's decision to carry out direct attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure crosses a red line that threatens to exacerbate the upward spiral in prices, affecting Israel’s traditional partners in the West.

Amid all the turmoil, the public’s view of the elites is rapidly deteriorating due to their growing wealth and influence. And the rebellion against institutions linked to these elites isn’t unique to the United States.

This week we also interviewed cultural journalist Gilbert Cruz, head of The New York Times literary supplement; looked at scientific evidence for what is known as "terminal lucidity" and analyzed the (almost) spotless career of Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney.

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

You can also read:

Thursday, 19 June 2025

"R"-Controlled Vowels

Of course, when the vowel is stressed (person, perfect, observe, determine, jersey, concern, servant) this vowel sound can NEVER be schwa.
Remember schwa is NEVER stressed.

Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Tuesday, 17 June 2025

Mixed Conditionals



Five sentences using mixed conditionals: 

[Remember: if you can say it in Spanish, you can do it in English as well]

  1. If I were more confident, I would have performed better in the interview.
    (I am not confident, so I didn’t perform well in the interview.)

  2. If she had studied harder, she would be enjoying her success now.
    (She didn’t study hard, and now she isn’t enjoying success.)

  3. If they were more organized, they could have finished the project on time.
    (They are not organized, so they didn’t finish the project on time.)

  4. If I hadn’t missed the bus, I would be at work already.
    (I missed the bus, and now I am not at work yet.)

  5. If he were a better player, he would have scored the winning goal.
    (He is not a good player, so he didn’t score the winning goal.)

Find the infographic in pdf. format here.

News in English EL PAÍS

L.A. riots awaken dormant resistance


Dear readers,

Against the backdrop of spreading protests across the U.S. and threats by the Trump administration to roll out more military forces, we interviewed Nobel prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz in Madrid, where he said he does not believe a civil war is coming, but does see it as conceivable that "we could lose our democracy."

This week we also spoke with another Nobel winner, this time in the field of medicine: Ardem Patapoutian, who explained what proprioception is and why most of us are unaware that we have it.

We also examined exactly what's in a package of aid delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and followed the trail of accusations that have been hounding Pope Leo XIV since his days as a bishop in Peru.

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

You can also read:

Expressions to use in spoken production/interaction- C English (By Natalialzam)

C1


Choose the expressions you think you will be using, and try to include them in your speech.


C2

Synonyms...

 ... to be used in speech and writing:

Regular Past Forms EXAMPLES

Pronounce them! Aloud!

From left to right, noticing the difference of suffixes in sounds.

Friday, 6 June 2025

World Environment Day (yesterday)

Yes. World Environment Day was yesterday, but we can focus on some issues today.

Beat Plastic Pollution

Did you know?
  • Globally, an estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems each year.
  • More than 800 marine and coastal species are affected by this pollution through ingestion, entanglement, and other dangers.
  • Microplastics in the seas now outnumber stars in our galaxy.
  • The annual social and environmental cost of plastic pollution ranges between US$300 billion and US$600 billion.

News in English EL PAÍS

Panic and anger in Florida


Dear readers,

In Florida, where one in five residents is an immigrant, there is a growing sense of fear as ICE steps up its detention of people outside courthouses. (...)

This week we spoke with New York Times commentator Ezra Klein about his new book, Abundance, and about the Democrats' desperate search for ways to reconnect with voters.

We also visited the home of actor Richard Gere, who has moved to Madrid with his wife and kids, and who discussed his career, his life, his social activism and his views on Trump.

Some of our other stories this week focus on how to age well, why the convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein is "not that bad" to some, and how the set of the 1980 movie 'Popeye,' featuring Robin Williams, was awash in cocaine.

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

Wednesday, 28 May 2025

Matricula Alumnos Oficiales (25 - 26)

Alumnos APTOS, que PROMOCIONAN o REPITEN 

en las convocatorias Ordinaria y Extraordinaria

Del 30 de JUNIO 

al 14 de JULIO