Monday 31 July 2023

EL PAÍS in English

Dear readers,

With Trump facing new charges over the Mar-a-Lago papers, our guest columnist Ishmael Reed notes that many people would restore him to the presidency by force, and makes the case that "rather than exist in a society where members of all ethnic groups have an opportunity for success, millions of American whites would approve of a dictatorship."

This week we also analyzed the difficult situation that Spain finds itself in following a national election that failed to produce a clear governing majority.

And as part of our FIFA World Cup coverage, we ran a profile on the businesswoman Michele Kang, the "Queen of Women's Soccer," who is ready to take the sport to the next level.

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

Thursday 27 July 2023

Wednesday 26 July 2023

Heatwave in Murcia (By Murcia Today)

How to Cope on Holiday during a Spanish Heatwave

Key to Written Mediation

Check the suggested key here.

Remember that this Mediation Task might well have been an oral one. Do it in 3-4 mins. to practise. 

Tuesday 25 July 2023

Written Mediation Activity

CONTEXT: Your friend Dane received this infograph Consejos para ahorrar agua en el hogar from Cruz Roja, but he cannot fully understand all the tips. He asks you if you could write him an email with all the info.

TASK: Read the info and write him an email explaining the 6 most important tips.  

You have 20 minutes to write it in 100-150 words

[Key tomorrow]

Monday 24 July 2023

EL PAÍS in English

Dear readers,

The world is watching to see whether Spain will become the latest European country to swing to the right when voters cast their ballots at the national election scheduled for Sunday. Polls are predicting a victory for the center-right Popular Party, but it would likely need support from the far-right Vox to form a government.

This week we also bring you an investigation in partnership with Lighthouse Reports and other leading newspapers about the migrant smuggling network behind the shipwreck off southern Greece. Evidence closely links this mafia to Khalifa Hafter, the powerful warlord who dominates eastern Libya. Some EU states want to “collaborate” with Hafter to curb immigration.

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

You can also read:

Friday 21 July 2023

Murcia Today

Murcia Today

7 Pairs / Pears /peəz/ of Homophones

Accept – Except  /əkˈsept/

Ellicit – Illicit  /ɪˈlɪs.ɪt/ 

Threw – Through  /θruː/

Council – Counsel  /ˈkaʊn.səl/

One – Won  /wʌn/

Cue  - Queue  /kjuː/

A Guide to Disconnect and Recharge During the Summer

As the summer break approaches, it’s crucial for English language teachers and students to take time to disconnect from the demands of the academic year and recharge their energy. We all need to disconnect from the hectic year we’ve just had, but is simply taking time away from work enough? In today’s post we’ll look at some extra ways to focus on self-care.

Thursday 20 July 2023

World Chees Day

Play a game! Today is World Chess Day. Playing chess improves cognitive skills (including concentration, pattern recognition, decision making, algebraic and geometric thinking, problem-solving, spatial reasoning, and critical thinking) It also improves self-confidence and self-worth, and increases both attention span and memory capacity. Yes, it is true!

-ing or to-infinitive?

 

Wednesday 19 July 2023

Monday 17 July 2023

Port & Starboard / Bow & Stern

How To Remember The Difference? Ahoy, matey! Because they don’t want to walk the plank, sailors use the words port and starboard to make sure they know which direction the captain is talking about. However, it’s easy for landlubbers to get turned around by these words.
Other nautical terms are bow and fore (front) and stern and aft (back)

Dear readers,


The world's attention was this week focused on the NATO summit in Vilnius, where leaders approved new regional defense plans. But with all eyes on the Alliance's eastern flank, southern members feel that their concerns are not being properly addressed.

Also this week, the literary world mourned the passing of Czech-French writer Milan Kundera, known as much for his work as for his aversion to being in the limelight.

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

You can also read:

Saturday 15 July 2023

Francisco Ibáñez dies at the age of 87, creator of Mortadelo y Filemón

My childhood would have been really different if I hadn't read all Ibáñez's comics (article from The Guardian International). I still remember I used to enjoy each of his stories. RIP.

Thursday 13 July 2023

32 Commonly Mispronounced English Words

If you want to see more words (and didn't attend the talk in Jornadas Culturales this year) click here.

Wednesday 12 July 2023

Trivia

 

Tuesday 11 July 2023

Friday 7 July 2023

Written Mediation Activity

Read the contextualization, Cómo ahorrar en un crucero and do the task.

Suggested KEY on Monday 

Essential C1 VERBS

 

Thursday 6 July 2023

Ikigai

A Japanese concept to improve work and life. With no direct English translation, ikigai is a term that embodies the idea of happiness in living. Yukari Mitsuhashi explains. (From BBC Worklife)

Tuesday 4 July 2023

Fast Spoken English (By Lucy)

 
Read and do the activities in this document too, please.

Monday 3 July 2023

Hi July!

Yes, it is July already; and I'll still be posting useful material for those of you who either need to revise for September, or just want to keep up with English.

For those who will take September exam, do practise the parts you will be taking here.

During this month you'll be able to find videos (mostly) and other posts to revise / enjoy the language you love on this blog.

Ready?

My first piece of advise is read / watch (below) news at least twice a week! (Use both videos and articles


My second tip (as far as WRITING is concerned) is: Write & Improve (By Cambridge)

EL PAÍS in English

Dear readers,

While many cities in the world are these days hosting Pride celebrations, the world as a whole seems to be shifting towards greater restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights. In a special feature, our correspondents analyzed the changing situation in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia.

This week we also examined how capitalism is changing faster than ever before, and pondered whether Vladimir Putin could really "turn off" the internet.

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

You can also read: