Cultural Activities in May

• Guided tour of MURAM (Museo Regional de Arte Moderno) in English: Thursday 12th at 6 pm.

• Book Club 3: Mrs Bixby (Roal Dahl), Tuesday 17th at midday (Salón de Actos / Aula 2)

Solidarity Concert for Ukraine

C1 & C2 Some extra interesting VOCABULARY to write reviews...

Have a look at these adjectives to describe films. 

Some vocabulary to mean Exciting and Interesting & collocations with Interesting.

C1 & C2: Review Writing

Let's start with an activity from Oxford Learner's Thesaurus Study Pages: A Film Review. Then have a look at some samples of Film Reviews (you choose them): study the structure, phrases and some useful vocabulary.
In this presentation (by Javi) you can see some more extra useful vocabulary for Book Reviews (remember to check How to Write a Book Review)
Check this Restaurant Review and Useful Vocabulary --both pages-- before getting down to writing.

        WRITING TASK

C1: Write a 250-word Review following the rubrics on EITHER p. 142  (8) OR p. 143 (10) in 8f. Deadline 5th May

[Check here all the answers to the textbook activities]

C2: Write a 250-word Review following the rubrics on p. 143  (10) in 8f. Deadline 4th May

[Check here all the answers to the textbook activities]

Another option (if you have already written book or film reviews other years) is to write a review of:

• a website / blog. Write about the layout, information provided and why people should use it.
• a new restaurant. Write about the decor, food and people you might find there.
• a gig / concert. Write about the singer / band, the audience and the performance.

Collocation Dictionary

Sentencedict.com is an extremely useful collocation dictionary where you can check words and phrases in their usual context. If you doubt whether what you thought is right (or wrong); if you want to know for sure whether these words go together (or not)... use it, you'll love it!!!

Treat Yourself To The Origins Of 11 Food Toponyms

Food Toponyms: Few things travel across borders as easily as food recipes and ingredients. So perhaps it should come as no surprise that there are so many foods named from where they originally come from. Sometimes the name comes from a specific ingredient like a fruit or vegetable that’s grown in a place, like Sichuan peppers or Fuji apples, while other times the name comes from a culture or cuisine, such as pad Thai or Boston baked beans. (From dictionary.com)

EOI Cartagena

Listen to Shopping Vocabulary

Listen to Shopping Vocabulary on High Level Listening Naturally Spoken English Practice 

and see all the words and phrases here.

Reading and Vocab activity with answers by OneStopEnglish / The Guardian  Shopping online? Don’t fall into the ratings trap

Revision activity sheet

It'll take you 15 mins to learn and revise something about To + Ving verbs, common comparisons and Phrases with HAND.

Heath and Disease Wordlist

Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) Speaking Test Tips

Even though CPE oral exams are not the same as EOI ones, I am abolutelely sure you will find many useful tips below:

Proficiency Speaking Test Tips

Spanish News in English

Dear readers

This week EL PAÍS interviewed Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, about Europe’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Borrell remains a vocal supporter of energy independence for Europe and of supplying Kyiv with more weapons for self-defense.

We also ran a profile on US ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar, who has been tasked with mending the bilateral relationship after years of strain under former US president Donald Trump, and flagged up the controversy surrounding the FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar later this year.

On the cultural stage we looked at the Venice Biennale, which opens on Saturday, and examined how art is impacted by war. And we analyzed how the enormously popular musical genre K-pop has evolved to become an online power that is shaping everything from Twitter to global politics.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from EL PAÍS English Edition. Thanks for reading.

Other pieces of news: Five Things to Know about Qatar World Cup 2022, 

The metaverse: A parallel universe that nobody wants to visit? and Finland named happiest country in the world for fifth year in a row

Autismo somos todos

World Book Day Activity

Tomorrow is Book Day in Spain (3rd March in the UK) Let's celebrate!

It's not Red Bull, it's a Book!!!

Thanks Concha!

Watch the presentation and be ready to do the following in class with Wesley (next Monday C2 group and next Thursday C1 group): 

· Provide a commentary about the whole presentation. 

· Choose 2 or 3 pictures, describe them and explain to your classmates why you selected them. 

Speaking time: 2 mins.

Earth Day

 

Earth Day

News & Stories

END PLASTIC POLLUTION Fact Sheet: Single-Use Plastics

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR EARTH? Test your Knowledge! Earth Day Quizzes

15 Earth Day Quotes That Remind Us To Appreciate And Preserve Our World

The Environment: Weather & Climate Change

The Weather & Climate Change. Read this blog entry on Tomeu's C2 Blog --really interesting  and excellent to improve your vocabulary on the topic.

Animal Crossings

Do this reading activity from OneStopEnglish: Animal crossings

Key

Everyday Phrases

Try learning and using these 30 Everyday Phrases (by Lucy). Do the quiz at the end and check answers! 

Spanish News in English

Dear readers,

This week EL PAÍS published a series of stories by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) exposing how shell companies are helping Russian oligarchs avoid Western sanctions. We also interviewed Andrei Kozyrev, who was the first foreign minister in post-Soviet Russia and who has shared his insights into what he views as the West's policy of appeasement towards Vladimir Putin.

In science news, we spoke with internationally renowned ethicist Bartha Knoppers about the implications of scientific advances in gene editing, and looked at what a 3,000-year-old body found in northern Spain reveals about the origins of the bubonic plague,

In culture, we examined how the towering figure of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda has been undermined by a feminist reassessment of his life (including a rape confession) and looked at new findings at a Guatemalan archeological site that shed light on the complexities of the Maya calendar.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from EL PAÍS English Edition. Thanks for reading.

Read Faces created by AI are more trustworthy than real ones and Why are vacations good for the brain? too.

The Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny

Lost in translation? The one-inch truth about Netflix’s subtitle problem

Read the article Lost in Translation? and do the activities proposed on News Lessons by OneStopEnglish / The Guardian

Key

Word Pronunciation

You needn't watch it all on the same day. You'd better divide it into parts and enjoy it on several days. 

It's worth watching!

Yes. I know you pronounce most of them correctly... but you reinforce the ones you already did well and learn some you didn't pronounce properly!

Thanks Lucy for this wonderful video and Pronunciation Ebook!

Spanish News in English EL PAÍS

Dear readers,

This week, we took an in-depth look at the first phase of the war in Ukraine, comparing the losses sustained by both sides, as well as their military power. EL PAÍS correspondents also traveled to Bucha, where hundreds of civilians were found dead on the street following the withdrawal of Russian troops.

In science news, we looked at new research from one of the world's largest particle accelerators, which suggests there is a "new mechanism in nature" that we are not aware of, and reviewed the medical breakthroughs that are on the horizon, from more gene editing to the race to slow aging.

And finally, in culture, we examined why female songwriters are falsely accused of not being the creators of their own work, and academic Mary Beard's findings on Roman humor.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from EL PAÍS English Edition. Thanks for reading.

Read too: New technique sheds light on the second secret of life: Allostery and Why vanilla is the most popular scent in 10 different cultures

Advanced Idioms & Phrases by ENGLISH WITH LUCY

An excellent read for the holidays to improve your Idioms and Phrases in English by Lucy. Do the activities, learn and have fun.

English with Lucy on YouTube

Revising during Holidays...

 ... is something really helpful and a fantastic idea. You can focus on your weakest points, which you already know, and also have fun with stories, activities or videos you didn't have time to study in detail before.

• One option is to look up in the given topics on the Labels section (below, on your right) on the blog: idioms, pronunciation, exam practice ... 

• If you want to be more specific, write on the Search this Blog section (first icon above on your right) the point you want to revise: passive sentences, article writing, typical mistakes ...

• Why not listen to some Documentaries BBC World Service? or specific points on the Reference Meterial Section: Advanced Collocations, Elementos de conversación, Funny English (presentation)... ? or visit interesting websites from the Links to Visit section: SkyNews, The Educarm Times, Breaking News English, ...?
  

• You might want to improve your vocabulary on one specific field: Education, IT, Work. Click on the Featured Post section.

The blog offers you plenty of possibilities... but you can also watch your favourite TV series in original version, read about your hobbies in English, enjoy a good novel (or short stories) written in English, talk to your English-speaking friends via Zoom, and so on and so forth. 

The idea is to be using your English (preferably all skills, not just one or two) so as it doesn't get rusty during the holiday.

World Health Day 2022

World Health Day 2022

Our planet, our health

Campaign Toolkit

Speaking & Writing: self-assessment checklists

These Checklists (by Nataliazam) are extremely useful tools to improve your speaking & writing in the final exam.

Speaking Checklist Presentation (Individual)

Speaking Checklist Interaction (In pairs)

Writing Checklist

Make them all green ticks!!!

Thanks once more, Natalia!

Chicago, an Unexpected Story

From its greatest inventions, to its amazing cuisine, Lisa will introduce you to her very own "Sweet home Chicago." Utilizing images and text, as well as through an interactive and explanatory talk with room and time for questions, you will learn how Chicago anchored the industrial revolution in the USA through is prime midwest location, and sparked an international cultural revolution with its Columbian Exhibition / Worlds Fair of 1893. We will talk people, places and food as well! 

While not as old as the history of Cartagena, Chicago has a rich story with unique global impacts to explore. Join Lisa Wagner on-line with the link provided on the Aula Virtual this afternoon at 7, as she talks about the history and culture of the great US city: Chicago.

Are you a clean freak?

C2 Compound Noun Test

 

Spanish News in English EL PAÍS

Dear readers,

This week our Ukraine correspondents talked to evacuees of Russian-controlled villages who reported extensive looting by soldiers. We also looked at a new book by the historian Javier Alonso López analyzing 13 of the most influential speeches in history, including those made most recently by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

In the wake of Sunday's eventful Academy Awards, EL PAÍS columnists dissected Will Smith's act of violence, and we also spoke with the director of 'CODA,' the surprise winner of the evening, about the experience of making the film.

Finally, we looked at the recent sharp rise in temperature in the Antarctic region and what its implications are for life on the planet.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from the EL PAÍS English Edition. Thanks for reading.
SUSANA URRA

And also: Anatomy of a slap: Seven sexist elements of Will Smith and Chris Rock’s confrontation plus 

At what age do people stop having sexual relations? and How teens perceive cyberdating aggression on WhatsApp: Common, but not serious