Advice for C1 Oral Exam

This is in response to one of my students’ emails asking for advice about the oral exam.

I also recommend having a look at the assessment tables used for both Oral Expression (Monologue & Interaction) and Oral Mediation. They are extremely useful tools to help you understand exactly what you are being assessed on.

7 Grammar Mistakes Advanced Students Make

Find it in pdf. format HERE.

EL PAÍS (News in English)

The World Cup coach with the hardest mission of all

Dear readers,

As the World Cup finally kicks off, politics occupies an increasingly oppressive sphere in the United States, and the national team cannot escape it. After two decades of disappointment, the host team of the biggest World Cup in history faces the dual challenge of winning over a tense country and competing successfully on a historically unfavorable stage. Leading the operation is Mauricio Pochettino, arguably the national team coach with the most complex mission of all. We spoke with him about how he sees it all.

Also this week we looked at Pope Leo XIV, who was in Spain for a week-long visit during which he made a point of defending immigrants even as anti-immigrant sentiment appears on the rise in many places. Robert Prevost has gone from being an enigma, someone who seemed timid, to becoming a revelation in just two months. What is this pope thinking, and why has he been so disconcerting?

We also examined Bolivia's failed economic system based on natural gas reserves that were not quite as large as advertised, talked to the head of the Metropolitan opera about his efforts to raise much-needed funds, and analyzed why magical thinking appears to be on the rise everywhere.

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

You can also read:

• How the far right stirs up protests against immigration in Britain
• Andrew Stanton, director of ‘Toy Story 5’: Children should play at imagining, rather than have a screen explain the world to them
• ‘Enshittification’ reaches social media: ‘For Zuckerberg and Musk, your ‘friends’ are a burden. They just want you to see ads’
• Zapatero, a decade on the edge in Venezuela
• Violence erupts against immigrants in Belfast following attempted beheading: ‘Burning families out of their homes is nothing less than disgusting cowardice’

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. & Marimar

16.45-17.30: Lucía & Ma Dolores

17.30-18-15: Víctor & Pablo R.

18.30-19.15: Gonzalo & Fran

19.15-20.00: Álvaro & Antonio O.

20.00-20.30: Miriam & Víctor Tovar & Amy ? (Oral Mediation) 

C2

Thursday 18th, classroom 2

17.30-18.15: Daniel & Manuel

Tech & Internet Idioms

Smart English

School Phrasals

Soccer Slang Quiz: Do You Know the Words Behind the Game? (By Dictionary.com)

Think you know soccer? Test your knowledge of popular soccer slang used by fans, players, and commentators around the world. From match-day commentary to locker-room lingo, see how well you know the inside language of the game.

Admisión Nuevos alumnos EOI Cartagena 26-27

🤞Good Luck!!! 🤞

Lie vs Lay

Improve your Adverbs!

Punctuation Reminder

C2 Spanish Political & Corruption Terminology

While this blog usually focuses on broader language topics and everyday vocabulary, it only very occasionally ventures into the specialized world of political discourse. For that reason, the terms gathered here represent a glimpse into a more formal and often complex register of Spanish—one shaped by institutional language, legal nuances, and current affairs. Whether you’re reading the news, following debates, or simply expanding your linguistic range, this brief guide aims to clarify some of the expressions that, although not commonly featured here, can be essential for understanding contemporary discussions in Spanish-speaking contexts.

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

Tools & Equipment 2

C2 Modern English Slang

Talk about Travel

Advanced Comparatives 2