Children’s vocabulary shrinking as reading loses out to screen time KEY

Find the answers to the activities HERE.

Article on May 4th

Useful English Proverbs

EL PAÍS (News in English)

“It feels like a mockery”

Dear readers,

Justo Betancourt and his family became symbols of the resistance to Trump's immigration crackdown during the more than six months he spent in ICE detention centers, where he suffered serious health problems and was twice nearly deported to Mexico. Released after his daughter Arianne led a campaign in his favor, he says that Trump's post on Truth Social apparently celebrating his newfound freedom sounds "like a mockery."

Trump this week also endorsed the winner of the first round of Colombia's presidential election, Abelardo de la Espriella. The far-right candidate has made the most of growing polarization, has used misogynistic and homophobic language, admires Milei and Bukele, and wants to reopen debates over abortion and child adoption rights.

This week we also bring you an interview with U.S. gymnast Simone Biles, who is torn between another comeback or definitive retirement from the elite: "I hate exercise, after doing it for so long, I deserve a break."

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

You can also read:

• The microbes of Ötzi the Iceman awaken thousands of years after his death
• Ndaba Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s grandson: ‘As a child I wanted to live in a prison, like my grandfather’
• Trump, mayor (and emperor) of Washington
• AI will consume as much water in 2030 as 1.3 billion people
• Faustino Oro: The second-youngest chess grandmaster in history

How Happy are you?

Idioms Teachers Use Naturally

Formal vs Informal English

🎉 2,000,000 Visits — Thank You All! 🎉

I’m absolutely thrilled to share some wonderful news with all of you: our C1 & C2 English learning blog has reached an incredible milestone—2,000,000 visits!

This achievement isn’t just a number; it’s a reflection of a passionate community of learners who are dedicated to improving their English, expanding their horizons, and striving for excellence. Every visit, every comment, every shared post has helped build something truly special.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to each and every one of you who has taken the time to read, learn, and grow with this blog. Your enthusiasm and commitment are what make this project so meaningful and rewarding.

Let’s not stop here! 🚀

Keep challenging yourselves, keep exploring new ideas, and most importantly—keep on learning. The journey to mastering English at an advanced level is exciting, and I’m so glad we’re on it together.

Here’s to many more milestones ahead! 🥂

2,000,000 Visits!!!

I can hardly believe it!!!

In only one year and three months the number of visits to the blog has doubled!

We've reached 2,000,000 visits

Lucy's 15-question idioms quiz

Fair warning: it starts out quite easy but it gets harder as you go. Some of the later questions are genuinely tricky. If you get all 15, I'll be seriously impressed.

Take the TEST

[I got 14/15]

Work & Childhood Regrets (3rd Conditional Practice)

Expressing Opinion

Expressing Opinion

Earth Idioms

Earth Idioms EXPLAINED and with Examples

C1 & C2 June Exams REMINDER

Written Exam days in June:

C1: Wed. 10th classroom 7 at 16.30
C2: Mon. 22nd classroom 1 at 16.30

Administración de la parte oral

Orals:

Write your name (with your classmate pair if you have it) and the day & time you choose for your final oral exam. I'll be writing your names and days & times on this post as I receive your answers in the Comment Section. (Just like we did in May)

C1

Tuesday 16th, classroom 2

16.00-16.45: Antonio P. &

16.45-17.30:

17.30-18-15: Víctor & 

18.30-19.15: Gonzalo & Fran

C2

Thursday 18th, classroom 2

17.30-18.15: Daniel & Manuel

Tools & Equipment 2

C2 Modern English Slang

Talk about Travel

Advanced Comparatives 2

Technology & the Future of Jobs

Check your answer to the activity Technology & the Future of Jobs HERE.

Native Speakers Never Use These 16 Phrases

Find it in pdf. format HERE.

Natural Disasters

EL PAÍS (News in English)

Million-dollar fines for migrants

Dear readers,

As part of Donald Trump's immigration policy, more than 65,000 migrants have received letters imposing unaffordable penalties that together total $36 billion. Organizations and experts have called the measure unconstitutional, extraordinarily cruel, and a form of psychological torture.

Meanwhile, in Colombia, it is the super-wealthy who are emigrating as an election looms in which some members of the financial elite fear that the left will be reinforced in power: "My life plans can’t depend on an election."

This week we also spoke with renowned longevity expert Juan Carlos Izpisua, who was one of the co-founders of the secretive research center Altos Labs. The scientist told us about the latest insights into the aging process: "It is a loss of identity at the cellular level."

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

You can also read:

• Spain’s unique Mar Menor, 10 years after infamous pollution episode: From the ‘green soup’ to ‘a tiny Mediterranean’
• Plus Ultra conversations place Delcy Rodríguez at the center of the operation: ‘Have her call Ábalos, or someone with Zapatero’
• The contradiction of AI in cinema: Creators fear it, but the market and the industry embrace it

How Old Are You?

Shall & Will

Measure Words

Advanced Speaking Tips

Subject-Verb Agreement

Revise Idioms

cold shoulder: an unfriendly attitude shown to someone or something, especially by intentionally ignoring or showing no interest in them:

give someone / something the cold shoulder His wife was angry and giving him the cold shoulder.

get the cold shoulder The young entrepreneur got the cold shoulder from the business establishment.

Smart English

Talk about Money

Shhhh!